MilfordHusky
Voice of Reason
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 38,320
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I'm glad to see Kaleena getting some love. Though I don't put her in the top 4, I think she is under-appreciated.
She came in as a freshman after Maya Moore's departure left a HUGE void and led the team in scoring. She also was perhaps the only player willing to take the big shot. As a sophomore, Kaleena was overshadowed by Stewie, but still led the team in scoring and because a 1st-team All-American, shooting nearly 50% from the arc.
As a junior, Kaleena was poised to have a great season, but had a serious elbow injury plus a bout with mono that cost her a dozen or so games.
As a senior, she returned to All-American status and again shot nearly 50% from the arc. She set the NCAA career record for most 3-pointers made, 398. She finished tied with Nykesha Sales for 3rd in UConn career scoring, behind only Maya and Tina. (Stewie since passed everyone but Maya.) If not for those missed games, Kaleena would have passed Tina to be #2 all-time (as of 2015).
Over her career, Kaleena had to learn to become a better passer and defender and to expend her offensive repertoire. She did all of those, but she remained perhaps the key offensive player in the country. Her ability to hit the 3-pointer opened the floor for Stewie and Stefanie inside and for Bria's and Moriah's drives to the basket. Geno notes it's when a player scores that may be more important than how many she scores. Kaleena hit several threes, including in transition, that were parts of major scoring runs. She could put up 8-10 points in a minute. Her daggers deflated the opposition. She also hit shots to stop runs by the other team. KML was a major momentum changer. Her game against Stanford as a freshman, the regional games in Omaha (?) when everyone else was cold, her comeback game against Duke, her 3-point show against South Carolina, and her key jumpers in the low-scoring championship game to close out her career with a third championship were all great showpieces.
Don't judge Kaleena by her limited success to date at the pro level (which could change with a new coach). She was one of the very best collegiate players.
She came in as a freshman after Maya Moore's departure left a HUGE void and led the team in scoring. She also was perhaps the only player willing to take the big shot. As a sophomore, Kaleena was overshadowed by Stewie, but still led the team in scoring and because a 1st-team All-American, shooting nearly 50% from the arc.
As a junior, Kaleena was poised to have a great season, but had a serious elbow injury plus a bout with mono that cost her a dozen or so games.
As a senior, she returned to All-American status and again shot nearly 50% from the arc. She set the NCAA career record for most 3-pointers made, 398. She finished tied with Nykesha Sales for 3rd in UConn career scoring, behind only Maya and Tina. (Stewie since passed everyone but Maya.) If not for those missed games, Kaleena would have passed Tina to be #2 all-time (as of 2015).
Over her career, Kaleena had to learn to become a better passer and defender and to expend her offensive repertoire. She did all of those, but she remained perhaps the key offensive player in the country. Her ability to hit the 3-pointer opened the floor for Stewie and Stefanie inside and for Bria's and Moriah's drives to the basket. Geno notes it's when a player scores that may be more important than how many she scores. Kaleena hit several threes, including in transition, that were parts of major scoring runs. She could put up 8-10 points in a minute. Her daggers deflated the opposition. She also hit shots to stop runs by the other team. KML was a major momentum changer. Her game against Stanford as a freshman, the regional games in Omaha (?) when everyone else was cold, her comeback game against Duke, her 3-point show against South Carolina, and her key jumpers in the low-scoring championship game to close out her career with a third championship were all great showpieces.
Don't judge Kaleena by her limited success to date at the pro level (which could change with a new coach). She was one of the very best collegiate players.
