Who has been the biggest surprise this season?

[Fairfield Fan]

I think the sky is the limit for Aaliyah.

Yes, but that's not a "surprise."

 

[#12in21]

NO ONE ... not so. I may be stupid but I'm loyal to a fault. BTW I forgive you.

Ditto. Not surprised that she has found her way into the starting five but thankful that she has. By her own admission she came to the game late, five years ago, after trying all sports. Glad she picked BB and Uconn. Who knows where her ceiling is but I'm confident that both she and Geno want her bumping into it before she graduates!

 

[Waquoit]

Nika showed she can play and excel at the highest level last night, just a few games into her college career. However, that late turnover was as lazy and brutal as it gets. Let's not do that again.

 

[jazz]

I only selected Nika because I thought she would struggle early against top level teams but yet she was outstanding against SC. Now I have never been very impressed with the SC guards, but in saying that, they are still quick and can be hard to keep in front of you. Nika wasn't perfect, but she was really good on defense and as much as I like the player, I thought she might struggle this early in her career. Instead, she exceeded my expectations.

To make it clear, my expectations this year is that she would be a solid role player and she is that no doubt. She has shown now that she definitely belongs and she showed it with the way she handled the SC guards with the ball in her hands. She had no worries about them. Ran the offense, made the passes. She has ice in her veins. Maybe not the best scorer but you better not under-estimate her. They didn't rattle her at all and there were moments that she showed out with some big plays. On defense, she was also up to the challenge. Honestly, what else can you want from her??

I have confidence now that she can give us some quality minutes. She is making GA stay with her as a freshman and that says a lot.....

 

[cancontent]

The entire freshman class. I knew Aaliyah and Nika were mis-ranked. I think Aaliyah is top 8-10, and Nika is top 10-15. Nika's shooting of late has been a pleasant surprise, and Aaliyah is as physical as anyone in the country. Plus, Mir is finding her niche. I knew Paige would be really good, but not a serious contender for the best player in college as a freshman. Right now, I put her on a par with Maya, maybe even higher. Bueckers at the Buzzer!

In fairness, international players don't always get seen. Fortunately, UConn has great scouting abilities to find players that they believe will fit their program.

They caught onto Kia Nurse fairly late in her HS career too. Can't remember how high she was ranked when she graduated.

 

[SLY63]

Aaliyah - has had some up and down games, but showed when given minutes, can put up eye popping numbers with incredible efficiency. And has there ever been a stronger freshman??!!

NO

 

[Carnac]

Even with the hype, PAIGE. I never thought I'd see a freshman point guard do so much this early and shoot lights out on a team without great shooters so teams know it's basically Paige and streaky shooters. What Paige has done in almost every statistical category to me has far exceeded expectations. This is how crazy good she's been thus far.

I don’t have to explain my vote for Paige. Your comments articulated everything I was going to say.

 

[Sanka541]

I would have said Aaliyah because she has been great and is playing herself into a big role and the coaches trust her, but I will now say Nika given her improvements since the first few games. After her first few games and that moment where she was in tears on the bench after being yelled at im not sure anyone saw this coming from her. Whether she continues to start or not, she is playing big minutes and is being trusted in big moments, thats huge.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I only selected Nika because I thought she would struggle early against top level teams but yet she was outstanding against SC. Now I have never been very impressed with the SC guards, but in saying that, they are still quick and can be hard to keep in front of you. Nika wasn't perfect, but she was really good on defense and as much as I like the player, I thought she might struggle this early in her career. Instead, she exceeded my expectations.

To make it clear, my expectations this year is that she would be a solid role player and she is that no doubt. She has shown now that she definitely belongs and she showed it with the way she handled the SC guards with the ball in her hands. She had no worries about them. Ran the offense, made the passes. She has ice in her veins. Maybe not the best scorer but you better not under-estimate her. They didn't rattle her at all and there were moments that she showed out with some big plays. On defense, she was also up to the challenge. Honestly, what else can you want from her??

I have confidence now that she can give us some quality minutes. She is making GA stay with her as a freshman and that says a lot.....

Muhl is the big surprise, because she doesn't appear to possess the physical tools to excel. She's not tall, nor particularly strong, nor quick. She seems rather ordinary physically. So her emergence into a strong competitor and player who can hold up her end of the game is a surprise.

 

[Go/huskies]

I voted for Westbrook, I thought she would play at an All American level this season, even though that hasn’t happened, she’s still been pretty good, the mom of the team, durable, and eliminated any of the baggage that some Tennessee fans said she would take with her to Storrs. She’s also been the ultimate team player, playing anywhere from lead guard, to power forward.

Mir has also surprised me, I knew she was undersized but I thought she would be getting more playing time then she has, it’s to bad she couldn’t make it on to the floor vs South Carolina last night. It looks like Geno has his top 7 rotation going forward.

 

[jdubct]

NO

Tina Charles.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Wait. Let's reconsider. Mir has played 115 minutes versus 253 minutes for Nika. But Mir has scored more points than Nika: 50 versus 49. She's pulled down twice as many rebounds: 40 versus 21. And five times more offensive rebounds: 21 versus 4. She's got to the free throw line more often: 14 versus 3. Nika has recorded more assists: 24 versus 7 (but in two and a half times more minutes). Nika also leads in steals: 18 versus 5.

But overall, this Mir has lit up the stats when she manages to get in. Does Coach Geno have a reason for playing Nika more? Would never second guess him. But Mir is putting up some startling numbers. She deserves a lot more "biggest surprise" votes than she's got so far....

 

[Sanka541]

Wait. Let's reconsider. Mir has played 115 minutes versus 253 minutes for Nika. But Mir has scored more points than Nika: 50 versus 49. She's pulled down twice as many rebounds: 40 versus 21. And five times more offensive rebounds: 21 versus 4. She's got to the free throw line more often: 14 versus 3. Nika has recorded more assists: 24 versus 7 (but in two and a half times more minutes). Nika also leads in steals: 18 versus 5.

But overall, this Mir has lit up the stats when she manages to get in. Does Coach Geno have a reason for playing Nika more? Would never second guess him. But Mir is putting up some startling numbers. She deserves a lot more "biggest surprise" votes than she's got so far....

they dont play the same position for a start so its hard to directly compare their stats like that. Mir is trying to beat out ONO, AE and AG for minutes and she is very much 4th choice in that. The coaches clearly dont trust her to a) not foul every 10 seconds shes out there and b) understand the offence and work within the system. At times she has looked a little lost.
Come March I would not expect Mir to be in the game in close, tough games honestly which is absolutely nothing against her but even with foul trouble last night she didnt get in the game so that tells you all you need to know.

 

[BostonBay]

I predicted Nika would be a starter by end of the year. Her video & assessments from those who knew her game in Europe were glowing. Paige is Paige - sweetest shot in wcbb from Day 1. To me, its been a very pleasant surprise by how much & how quickly AE has picked up the game on both ends of the floor. Very impressed by her game. She has a chance to be the next Tina Charles or Morgan Tuck.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Nika has a chance to be one of the top PG in the Country and NO ONE, including me, thought that she would get more than clean-up minutes after her first couple of games. So to me it has to be Nika.

Do not map your short comings on others who are more prescient.

 

[hoophuskee]

Wait. Let's reconsider. Mir has played 115 minutes versus 253 minutes for Nika. But Mir has scored more points than Nika: 50 versus 49. She's pulled down twice as many rebounds: 40 versus 21. And five times more offensive rebounds: 21 versus 4. She's got to the free throw line more often: 14 versus 3. Nika has recorded more assists: 24 versus 7 (but in two and a half times more minutes). Nika also leads in steals: 18 versus 5.

But overall, this Mir has lit up the stats when she manages to get in. Does Coach Geno have a reason for playing Nika more? Would never second guess him. But Mir is putting up some startling numbers. She deserves a lot more "biggest surprise" votes than she's got so far....

Absolutely there are reasons imo.

1-- In regards to playing time - it has nothing to do with who is individually better - it matters who is best fit for what the team is trying to do - which is to best support PAIGE. Thus the stats aren't as relevant rather hwo works best with her.

2--- Nika spreads the floor more for Paige because she can hit outside shots.

3-- Nika is arguably the 2nd best 3 pt shooter on the team at this moment. And arguably one of the top 2 passers. These factors help Paige a little ot make it easier for Paige.

4-- Mir's strength isn't that much better than Edwards or Griffin's strength while Nika's strength of shooting and passing is arguably better than one or both of Evina and CWill. Not saying Nika is better than either- but the strengths Nika has make it easier for Paige vs Mir. Edwards and Griff can do what Mir does.

5-- Against tall teams Mir is going to struggle more than both Griff and Edwards in both scoring inside and defending inside.

 

[Waquoit]

Muhl is the big surprise, because she doesn't appear to possess the physical tools to excel. She's not tall, nor particularly strong, nor quick. She seems rather ordinary physically. So her emergence into a strong competitor and player who can hold up her end of the game is a surprise.

If Bueckers wasn't on the team, Muhl would be getting more credit for her court vision. It's really top notch. And not just "for a freshman", for a BB player.

 

[Waquoit]

Wait. Let's reconsider. Mir has played 115 minutes versus 253 minutes for Nika. But Mir has scored more points than Nika: 50 versus 49. She's pulled down twice as many rebounds: 40 versus 21. And five times more offensive rebounds: 21 versus 4. She's got to the free throw line more often: 14 versus 3. Nika has recorded more assists: 24 versus 7 (but in two and a half times more minutes). Nika also leads in steals: 18 versus 5.

When folks go to something like this, I have to bring up the varsity/JV thing. The eye test has shown who is ready to get minutes against the varsity and who isn't quite there yet.

 

[PacoSwede]

Wait. Let's reconsider. Mir has played 115 minutes versus 253 minutes for Nika. But Mir has scored more points than Nika: 50 versus 49. She's pulled down twice as many rebounds: 40 versus 21. And five times more offensive rebounds: 21 versus 4. She's got to the free throw line more often: 14 versus 3. Nika has recorded more assists: 24 versus 7 (but in two and a half times more minutes). Nika also leads in steals: 18 versus 5.

But overall, this Mir has lit up the stats when she manages to get in. Does Coach Geno have a reason for playing Nika more? Would never second guess him. But Mir is putting up some startling numbers. She deserves a lot more "biggest surprise" votes than she's got so far....

i take it this is a spellcheck problem, no?

 

[HuskyNan]

Tina Charles.

Asjha Jones, Kiah Stokes

 

[Shenandoah]

ain't no way paige is a surprise. egads.

ye of little faith

the stats aren't gonna continue as is -- but the performance certainly is and her leadership and influence is gonna grow. not a surprise

UConn has had a slew of #1 recruits in the past. Some have lived up to their ranking, some have not. Paige has blown away any and every expectation that I had for her coming in.

 

[BBallF]

A surprise means something unexpected or that was not anticipated. I didn't anticipate 3 30 point games in a row from a freshman, a killer 3 against Tennessee, and 13 straight points to beat the #1 team in the country in overtime. It's Paige.

 

[chrissaran]

I didn't think Nika would be this good so soon. Thought she would be stuck on the bench, coming in during mop up time. Congratulations, Nika.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

they dont play the same position for a start so its hard to directly compare their stats like that. Mir is trying to beat out ONO, AE and AG for minutes and she is very much 4th choice in that. The coaches clearly dont trust her to a) not foul every 10 seconds shes out there and b) understand the offence and work within the system. At times she has looked a little lost.
Come March I would not expect Mir to be in the game in close, tough games honestly which is absolutely nothing against her but even with foul trouble last night she didnt get in the game so that tells you all you need to know.

Wait. Mir Mclean is just one inch taller than Nika Muhl 5'11" versus 5'10". Hard to say that she is in a completely different category.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

i take it this is a spellcheck problem, no?

My mistake.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

When folks go to something like this, I have to bring up the varsity/JV thing. The eye test has shown who is ready to get minutes against the varsity and who isn't quite there yet.

Not sure this makes sense. They're playing on the same team against the same competition in the same games. Output matters.

 

[Waquoit]

Not sure this makes sense. They're playing on the same team against the same competition in the same games. Output matters.

Not against the JV it doesn't.

 

[MSGRET]

Wait. Let's reconsider. Mir has played 115 minutes versus 253 minutes for Nika. But Mir has scored more points than Nika: 50 versus 49. She's pulled down twice as many rebounds: 40 versus 21. And five times more offensive rebounds: 21 versus 4. She's got to the free throw line more often: 14 versus 3. Nika has recorded more assists: 24 versus 7 (but in two and a half times more minutes). Nika also leads in steals: 18 versus 5.

But overall, this Mir has lit up the stats when she manages to get in. Does Coach Geno have a reason for playing Nika more? Would never second guess him. But Mir is putting up some startling numbers. She deserves a lot more "biggest surprise" votes than she's got so far....

Nika!

 

[EricSD]

I love that almost 200 people voted, and I love that every single player got some votes. ♥️ Obviously this was not about who is the best, but rather about who exceeded pre-season expectations the most.

Nika has the most votes - (no real winners or losers in the poll - that wasn't the point). In another post about comparing Nika to Maria Conlon, most disagreed, with @JRRRJ saying Nika plays more like Jen Rizotti. Certainly from a heart and fire perspective, but I don't remember Jen as a freshman. Is that comparison accurate?

If Nika grows and develops as Jen did over 4 years, that would be something indeed!!

 

[#12in21]

Not sure this makes sense. They're playing on the same team against the same competition in the same games. Output matters.

I think the point is, comparing Nika and Mir is sort of like apples to oranges. They play totally different positions, Nika plays point guard, that is where her skill set is, Mir is not competing for point guard minutes. As mentioned Mir is in the mix with AG, AE, AM and maybe ONO ( when she's playing more of a forward). Mir does some amazing stuff when she is on the floor and she's finding more and more minutes of playing time. She is part of a really special freshman class.