What We Learned from Bay-Tenn

[HuskyNan]

I agree Stricklen could have used some rest in the second half. Manning, Simmons, or Burdick all could have spelled her. All I'm saying is don't write her off or imply she was overrated this early in her career. She came in to a veteran team loaded at her positions.

I think you misunderstood if you think people here were saying Burdick is overrated. The UConn fans' point was more about how an elite player was being used, or not being used, as the case may be.

 

[doggydaddy]

Stricklen is a top 3 player now for this class. Se could even be the number 2 pick in the next draft. Same way that Nneka is the best player in this class regardless of their high school rankings.

She might be the third pick behind Ogwumike and Delle Donne.

I agree Stricklen could have used some rest in the second half. Manning, Simmons, or Burdick all could have spelled her. Cierra will see more time as the year goes on. They've played four games. All I'm saying is don't write her off or imply she was overrated this early in her career.

I was doing neither. But I would think the 3rd ranked player with her pedigree would get more playing time, even after 4 games.

She came in to a veteran team loaded at her positions.

Loaded at her positions? So much so that they can't find more than 7 minutes a game? I'm not buying that one.

It was one of my worries when we were recruiting E. Williams. If we had landed her, but still had a healthy Vicki, Cain, and Brewer, she would have been struggling for playing time as well. Especially this early in the season. However, also similar to Burdick's situation, she would have been a shoe-in starter for the next 3 years.

Now Williams would have struggled for playing time? You have WAY to high an opinion of a team that hasn't been able to get to the FF.
And I never said Spani was better than KML. Just that you can't say KML is a better shooter based on their stats so far. Her reputation is heresay. She's had two 0fer games already this year.

She is streaky and a freshman. But there isn't a coach around that would take Spani over Lewis. And you were wrong about the stats, or did you forget that already.

 

[triaddukefan]

I agree Stricklen could have used some rest in the second half. Manning, Simmons, or Burdick all could have spelled her. Cierra will see more time as the year goes on. They've played four games. All I'm saying is don't write her off or imply she was overrated this early in her career. She came in to a veteran team loaded at her positions. It was one of my worries when we were recruiting E. Williams. If we had landed her, but still had a healthy Vicki, Cain, and Brewer, she would have been struggling for playing time as well. Especially this early in the season. However, also similar to Burdick's situation, she would have been a shoe-in starter for the next 3 years.

No offense.... but I find it hard to believe that Williams would have struggled for playing time at ANY school this year... even if she were at Tenn... and even if all of those players would have returned healthy.

But I do expect Burdick to be an impact player for Tenn... I expect her to be a star actually. As for any high impact recruit from my state... I root for them to do well..... unless they choose to attend UNC

 

[UConnCat]

Her reputation is heresay. She's had two 0fer games already this year.

Her reputation isn't hearsay as it can be substantiated by looking at facts. As a senior at Mater Dei (nationally ranked #1) she led her team in scoring while making 58% of her FGs and 52% of her 3-pointers. She made 116 3-pointers as a senior. Her reputation as a great shooter is based on a career of great shooting.

Yes, she's already had a couple of 0-fers. It happens. Taurasi had a couple during her freshman year too. I suspect Spani's had at least a couple. But to your point, KML will need to prove she's a great shooter at the collegiate level. I think she's well on her way to doing just that despite a couple of 0-fers.

 

[speedoo]

And I never said Spani was better than KML. Just that you can't say KML is a better shooter based on their stats so far. Her reputation is heresay. She's had two 0fer games already this year.

One more time. You have no idea how good Kaleena is. You are making yourself look silly every time you say something about her.

 

[UConnCat]

I think you misunderstood if you think people here were saying Burdick is overrated. The UConn fans' point was more about how an elite player was being used, or not being used, as the case may be.

Actually, Nan, I made the point in an earlier post that someone whose opinion I trust does indeed think Burdick was rated too highly (i.e., not in the same impact category as KML or Williams). I also pointed out, however, that this was not my opinion as I've only seen Burdick play since she's been at Tennessee. I just mentioned it as a possible explanation for why she hasn't played the minutes some expected.

 

[Icebear]

And I never said Spani was better than KML. Just that you can't say KML is a better shooter based on their stats so far. Her reputation is heresay. She's had two 0fer games already this year.

Her reputation is not hearsay. It is based on amazing shooting %s in high school. At or near 50% on 3s for the last two seasons. but it is her defense that leaves Spani behind.

 

[cardfan]

You know that Kaleena plays the 3/4, right? UConn's backcourt players are Bria Hartley, Tiffany Hayes, Caroline Doty, Kelly Faris and Brianna Banks. There are also no All Americans on the UConn squad this year, unlike Stanford.

BTW, Kaleena is only a freshman herself and the Stanford game was the third of her college career.

yep. I consider the 3 the backcourt. I know who your backcourt players are, which is FAR better than ours.We have no All Americans in the backcourt. We have one in the front court, who only played 23 min. And yes, I know KML is a frosh, but she was the #1 player out of h.s.

 

[EricSD]

yep. I consider the 3 the backcourt. I know who your backcourt players are, which is FAR better than ours.We have no All Americans in the backcourt. We have one in the front court, who only played 23 min. And yes, I know KML is a frosh, but she was the #1 player out of h.s.

i'm not sure i'd say "far" better. i originally thought that when looking at the pre-game breakdown, but after watching the game, i think Kokenis is very good and fairly equal to Caroline in a lot of ways. i think that the "weak links", if you will, were Laroque and Greenfield. i know it's about more than scoring, but those 2 don't compare favorably to Hartley and Hayes. of course, Chiney was a nightmare for Kelly, but that's a whole different topic!

 

[UConnCat]

yep. I consider the 3 the backcourt. I know who your backcourt players are, which is FAR better than ours.We have no All Americans in the backcourt. We have one in the front court, who only played 23 min. And yes, I know KML is a frosh, but she was the #1 player out of h.s.

I'm really struggling to understand your point. Chiney was the #1 player out of high school and I'm sure she's had some great games against frontcourts that lacked All Americans and just weren't very good. She didn't play very well against UConn and there are no All Americans on UConn's young team. Yet, I'm not aware of anyone on this board who has ever discounted Chiney's play in any game. Why have you chosen to do that with KML's game against Stanford?

 

[DaddyChoc]

incredible comments about KML's game... ask any coach in America about how good she is and/or could be.

nothing against Spani or the O sisters but if KML could be in the WNBA draft tomorrow she'd be picked just under and above either of them.

 

[Vowelguy]

Ha. So I guess someone in K-ville was reading our board: Burdick had 14 pts/10 reb in 26 mins tonight. (Though it was only the last 8 of the 1st half.)

 

[DaddyChoc]

Ha. So I guess someone in K-ville was reading our board: Burdick had 14 pts/10 reb in 26 mins tonight. (Though it was only the last 8 of the 1st half.)

dont understand that part

 

[cardfan]

I'm really struggling to understand your point. Chiney was the #1 player out of high school and I'm sure she's had some great games against frontcourts that lacked All Americans and just weren't very good. She didn't play very well against UConn and there are no All Americans on UConn's young team. Yet, I'm not aware of anyone on this board who has ever discounted Chiney's play in any game. Why have you chosen to do that with KML's game against Stanford?

I never discredited KMLs game. I merely said our backcourt is weaker UConn's, which was pretty easy to see. KML has much more of perimeter game than Chiney, and certainly more Nneka, the only All American on the floor, who was limited to 23 min. KML was 3-8 from 3pt and Chiney didn't even attempt one. She and Hartley exposed Stanford's weaker backcourt, with help from HAYES and Doty. Your backcourt (and front court) doesn't have All Americans, but your have a lot more experience in the backcourt and talent with KML, than Stanford. That was my pt.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Greene?

 

[Vowelguy]

dont understand that part

It wasnt 26 minutes interspersed thru the game, it was 26 of the final 28 minutes - largely after the game was won.

 

[cardfan]

i'm not sure i'd say "far" better. i originally thought that when looking at the pre-game breakdown, but after watching the game, i think Kokenis is very good and fairly equal to Caroline in a lot of ways. i think that the "weak links", if you will, were Laroque and Greenfield. i know it's about more than scoring, but those 2 don't compare favorably to Hartley and Hayes. of course, Chiney was a nightmare for Kelly, but that's a whole different topic!

agree about Toni. She is only a soph and played limited last yr due to Pohlen running the pt. She is fast an will get better when she learns the system better. Also agree that our weak links (for now) are the 2 and 3. I'm really, really sad that Alex Green torn her achilles. Sad for her since she was recently cleared to play after recovering from ACL last year, and sad we won't get to see her play this year. Of course, we have Orrange, Camp and Greenfield, Samelson, but frosh playing the triangle is a whole new experience. If you have a chance, go to the Bootleg front page and read the post game analysis written by Ros Gold-Onwude, an excellent break down from a player's perspective.

 

[cardfan]

Greene?

sorry Hayes. It's late, I've been traveling.

 

[cardfan]

incredible comments about KML's game... ask any coach in America about how good she is and/or could be.

nothing against Spani or the O sisters but if KML could be in the WNBA draft tomorrow she'd be picked just under and above either of them.

not Nneka

 

[DaddyChoc]

not Nneka

under or above... is what I said

 

[DaddyChoc]

If you have a chance, go to the Bootleg front page and read the post game analysis written by Ros Gold-Onwude, an excellent break down from a player's perspective.

is it free and open to the public?

 

[cardfan]

under or above... is what I said

got that.

 

[cardfan]

is it free and open to the public?

I believe so

 

[cardfan]

try this
http://stanford.scout.com/2/1131973.html

 

[DaddyChoc]

23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 6-0 Forward FR Anaheim Hills, Calif.

*from the UConn website

Ros called her a guard... and was bias thru out the article.

 

[cardfan]

23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 6-0 Forward FR Anaheim Hills, Calif.

*from the UConn website

Ros called her a guard... and was bias thru out the article.

She played that game more as a perimeter player. The game is about match-ups, not what it says on the roster. Geno used her in the backcourt to expose ours. Ros was writing for her audience, which was the bootleg readers. She shared her experience playing for Tara and reminded readers that Tara (and any coach) will use a game in Nov. vs. a top opponent as a measuring stick.

 

[DaddyChoc]

She played that game more as a perimeter player. The game is about match-ups, not what it says on the roster. Geno used her in the backcourt to expose ours. Ros was writing for her audience, which was the bootleg readers. She shared her experience playing for Tara and reminded readers that Tara (and any coach) will use a game in Nov. vs. a top opponent as a measuring stick.

ok...KML shot lights out and UConn won, next!

 

[tnvolfan65]

There you go doggydaddy...Burdick had 14 and 10 tonight off of 5-6 shooting in 26 minutes, all of which were team highs. She had 3 blocks to boot. I don't know how she had 0 assists. She had a number of great passes.

However my points still remain the same. She is a freshman working her way into an established lineup littered with high school All-Americans. Her first four games have included 2 top 10 teams and a loss on the road.

And I know KML is a great shooter, however when Taber is shooting a better percentage from the 3, you can't say KML is a better shooter based off of her reputation. Maybe the numbers will say something different at the end of the season or the end of their careers. But at this point, you have nothing to back it up with.

As far as Williams, she's great and I know how good she'll be. There is still a learning curve for freshmen, and had we had those four posts playing and healthy, there's no way Williams starts. Again, they were all four HS AA's and when healthy would've been the best collection of post talent in the country.

 

[HuskyNan]

She played that game more as a perimeter player. The game is about match-ups, not what it says on the roster. Geno used her in the backcourt to expose ours.

And those 8 rebounds Kaleena got all bounced out to the perimeter?

Just because a player makes threes, she's not automatically a guard. UConn has almost always had a forward that can shoot from the perimeter - Maya, Ashja Jones and Rebecca Lobo are three such players that come immediately to mind (I haven't had my first cup of coffee yet). Stef Dolson has started shooting from the perimeter this season, btw, she's not a guard, either.

 

[doggydaddy]

There you go doggydaddy...Burdick had 14 and 10 tonight off of 5-6 shooting in 26 minutes, all of which were team highs. She had 3 blocks to boot. I don't know how she had 0 assists. She had a number of great passes.

There I go what??? She played after the game was out of hand against an overmatched opponent. Good for her for getting back on the court and for Pat giving her the minutes she will need to progress. Clearly she is not ready for prime time against tougher opponent. Hopefully this game will help her if Pat players her in a tougher game.

However my points still remain the same. She is a freshman working her way into an established lineup littered with high school All-Americans. Her first four games have included 2 top 10 teams and a loss on the road.

And my point remains the same as well. Clearly she wasn't ready for a big game.

And I know KML is a great shooter, however when Taber is shooting a better percentage from the 3, you can't say KML is a better shooter based off of her reputation. Maybe the numbers will say something different at the end of the season or the end of their careers. But at this point, you have nothing to back it up with.

5 games? Please....give it a rest.

As far as Williams, she's great and I know how good she'll be. There is still a learning curve for freshmen, and had we had those four posts playing and healthy, there's no way Williams starts. Again, they were all four HS AA's and when healthy would've been the best collection of post talent in the country.

Who said Williams would start? But she would get more than 3 minutes against Baylor. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.