Will Gabby be 1st Team AA this Year?

[PacoSwede]

If Gabby improves her 15 footer just a bit she'll make great 3 or 4 at the next level.

How do we know how good her outside shot is? It's not her r0le on this years team.

 

[mauconnfan]

No. Unfortunately, AAs are chosen more for their offensive stats than anything else and while nobody impacts a game more than Williams, she simply does not score enough to garner AA distinction.

Then they would doing a great injustice to the womens game if this would be the case. She is more valuable than anyone on the best team overall, how can she not be an AA? Her defense is the best, her rebounding, she cans 12-15 footers at a nice % now, she goes to the hole and finishes with both hands as well as anyone due to her superior athleticism in the women's game, not to mention how intelligent she is on the court. Always the best athlete on the court.

Her numbers are very solid, other teams prep for her if they can and she guards the best player on the other team when needed. She's an AA no doubter, unless suddenly the intangibles mean zero?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Last season Geno said the criteria for Huskies of Honor were under review and the silence. I suspect we'll know when and if he changes them and voila there is a veiled banner hanging on the wall.

 

[UcMiami]

Well I did some research and 2012-2013 Chelsea Grey of Duke put up 10ppg and was named an All American, in 2014-2015 Brittany Boyd of Cal 13.4ppg and Samantha Logic of Iowa 13.4ppg 11.5 Career avg were named All Americans, and in 2006-2007 Lindsey Harding 13.6ppg, 9.3career avg was named an All American, so I would say Williams has a pretty good chance, just depends on who the coaches select out of Williams and Nerse.

You forgot to check your Uconn stats -
Moriah 2015 - 12.4
Moriah 2016 - 12.6
Morgan 2016 - 13.7
and going way back
Jen - 1995 - 12.5
Jen - 1996 - 11.0
I am sure there are others too, but doubt any Uconn player below 10 ppg.

 

[UcMiami]

Last season Geno said the criteria for Huskies of Honor were under review and the silence. I suspect we'll know when and if he changes them and voila there is a veiled banner hanging on the wall.

He really had stretch the criteria to get himself and CD up there!
It was never really defined when they started the program, but they figured first team AA was a good way to start with a limited number of honorees - but since then, there has been a steady stream of players who qualify based on the AA criteria so no real impetus to change it at this time.

 

[TitleTown]

Tuck made it scoring 12.5 pts per game. Gabby is at 11.9 right now.

Not that its a big difference but Tuck averaged 13.7 points a game.

 

[triaddukefan]

Well I did some research and 2012-2013 Chelsea Grey of Duke put up 10ppg and was named an All American, in 2014-2015 Brittany Boyd of Cal 13.4ppg and Samantha Logic of Iowa 13.4ppg 11.5 Career avg were named All Americans, and in 2006-2007 Lindsey Harding 13.6ppg, 9.3career avg was named an All American, so I would say Williams has a pretty good chance, just depends on who the coaches select out of Williams and Nerse.

Actually you shortchanged Gray a few points that year . She averaged 12.6 points. Along with 5.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 steals per game.

 

[EricSD]

Will Gabby be 1st Team AA this Year?

This year, no. Not sure if she will be 1st team AA next year either. She would need to have a scoring average of at least 14 PPG and 8-9 RPG to be a 2nd team AA IMO this year. Next year maybe she can have Tuck-like numbers and be on a 2nd team.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Sorry but the minutia in my head occasionally needs an outlet and this is a good opportunity. It is actually 3 years running now that UCONN has placed 3 players on WBCA AA list.
2016 Stewie, Morgan, Moriah
2015 Stewie, KML, Moriah
2014 Stefanie, Bria, Stewie
WBCA teams going back to 1975 can be found here. I don't see where any other school besides UCONN has ever placed 3 players on a team in one year and UCONN has done it a handful of times.
WBCA All-America teams: 1975-2015

Thanks for the link. I had it in my head that the '98 TN team had three. Obviously not.

 

[schmendrick]

Exactly. IMHO Williams is going to struggle to find a position in the WNBA. She is too small to rebound with the size and athleticism on WNBA posts and she does not possess the jump shot or handle to play the 3.

Nonsense. Consider her development from freshman year to now. It is Gabby's modus operandi to will herself to become whatever she needs to be to graduate to the next level. She has the natural talent to will herself into a sleek jump shooter, the hops to slither in where bigs can't, and--most of all-the desire to be great. Watch out, doubters.

 

[bballnut90]

I think it'll be Collier/KLS on first team, Williams 2nd team. At worst she makes 3rd. 12 points, 8 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals and 55% shooting...no way she's left off a team.

Also, I'm not sure why some people think voters will be anti-UCONN. At UCONN you are in the spotlight and get ample opportunity to impress voters. Moreso, has any deserving Huskie ever been shafted by the WBCA?

Last year Tuck was averaging 13/6 with 3 assists, 52% FG and missed 5 games on the year when she was announced as a WBCA AA. Those numbers weren't all American worthy IMO but there was no denying she was deserving based on her play. Gabby has been better than Morgan was last year and has stronger numbers.

The only time a Huskie will be left off is if they are the 4th best player on the team.
If Williams keeps up her averages and level of play, there is no way she gets left off. Especially if UCONN makes the Final Four with an undefeated record

 

[Los24]

Gabby First team AA? No.
Gabby AA? Yes, ....well maybe! Gabby is playing better basketball than at least 3 players (forwards) that were listed as pre-season AA. ( Nina Davis-Baylor , Brianna Turner-ND, Myisha Hines-Allen-Louisville).
The maybe part is ironic because the same can be said for KLS, Napheesa Chantel Osahor . I predict that the selections will be creative for the 10 person team consisting of 4 guards, 5 forwards and 1 post/center.
Plum and Mitchell are locks for the Guard positions and A'Ja Wilson is also a lock for a forward spot.
Creative would be 1 Big (center type player) which would be Kristine Anigwe-Cal or Coates-SC, or Jones-MD.
Creative could also be sliding KLS into a Guard spot.
My 10 person team would look like this:
1) Plum-G
2) Mitchell-G
3) Greenwell-G
4) Jones-G
5) Osahor-F
6) Wilson-F
7) Collier-F
8) KLS-F
9) Williams-F
10) Jones-C

How about Lindsy Allen from ND at guard?

 

[Los24]

Tuck made it scoring 12.5 pts per game. Gabby is at 11.9 right now.

Tuck was at 13.7 and Jefferson was at 12.5 last year. Gabby is AA especially.if she professing on the offensive side. I honestly think 2nd team is realistic.

 

[Los24]

If Gabby improves her 15 footer just a bit she'll make great 3 or 4 at the next level.

She is not a four, but a three yes. If she had to bang all the time against 4s at next level it would be wearing.... She said it's tough on her now against the bugs at this level.

 

[Wolfdog]

At 6.0 in height, Maya More is second in rebounds on the Minnesota Lynx team with 7.3 rebounds per game, second to Sylvia Fowles at 9.8 rpg. Gabby and Napheesa, along with Maya share these abilities that make them great rebounders: 1) Desire, 2)Hustle, 3)Timing, and 4) The ability to anticipate the ball's trajectory and flight patterns. Oh, and they can all jump. Gabby and Maya both have great leaps, but I believe Gabby can slightly out-jump Maya. Whereas Maya has a more rugged body type. These traits also help Gabby with Steals and Blocks, which Maya, on the Lynx team leads, 1st in Steals and 3rd in Blocks. Gabby's outside shooting and ball handling will have to improve, but it is well within her ability to take them both into the next level. And Gabby, like Maya is exciting to watch.

 

[Bigpetunia]

Lou and Napheesa are unbelievable talents, without either of whom UConn would not be the number one team in the country this year...no doubt about it. But, when contribution to all phases of the winning formula are considered, Gabby Williams, who is still just learning the game, is the number one, most valuable player in the country...not just my opinion...see Geno's post-game, on-floor interview after Tulsa. Will she be named first team AA ? Nah, not a chance. The voters aren't that knowledgeable!

 

[triaddukefan]

Gabby First team AA? No.
Gabby AA? Yes, ....well maybe! Gabby is playing better basketball than at least 3 players (forwards) that were listed as pre-season AA. ( Nina Davis-Baylor , Brianna Turner-ND, Myisha Hines-Allen-Louisville).
The maybe part is ironic because the same can be said for KLS, Napheesa Chantel Osahor . I predict that the selections will be creative for the 10 person team consisting of 4 guards, 5 forwards and 1 post/center.
Plum and Mitchell are locks for the Guard positions and A'Ja Wilson is also a lock for a forward spot.
Creative would be 1 Big (center type player) which would be Kristine Anigwe-Cal or Coates-SC, or Jones-MD.
Creative could also be sliding KLS into a Guard spot.
My 10 person team would look like this:
1) Plum-G
2) Mitchell-G
3) Greenwell-G
4) Jones-G
5) Osahor-F
6) Wilson-F
7) Collier-F
8) KLS-F
9) Williams-F
10) Jones-C

Greenwell is in a protracted slump.... unless she breaks out of it.. she's slipping out of consideration for any A-A teams. I could see Lexie Brown slipping into the 3rd team AP squad.

 

[easttexastrash]

I doubt that the rest of the country will let there be 3 UCONN All-Americans on the 1st team. Heck, they are all already jealous of UCONN and wont give us any further props.

This is such an amusing post. Who is the "rest of the country" and "they" that you are referring to? Are you forgetting what is about to happen on January 20?

 

[HoopsFan21]

This is such an amusing post. Who is the "rest of the country" and "they" that you are referring to? Are you forgetting what is about to happen on January 20?

I had no idea that President Trump was such a yuge Gabby fan!

 

[easttexastrash]

I had no idea that President Trump was such a yuge Gabby fan!

There are so many directions I could take with that quote, but since I am classy, I will not.

 

[oldude]

In selecting AA teams, there has always been a bias towards championship teams. Had UConn not been so successful last year, it is unlikely that Tuck would have made AA. This year is a little different because there was nowhere near the preseason hype regarding the Huskies as last year.

If the Huskies continue to win; and most importantly take down SC on Feb 13 with their two AA candidates, it seems likely that both Lou & Pheesa will earn AA honors. Gabby is more problematic, because she is such an unconventionally brilliant basketball player who fills up a stat sheet like nobody we've ever seen.

The good news is that the folks who are tuned in to WBB are starting to take notice of Gabby's exploits. Just this morning I noticed on the ESPN trailer that they highlighted the stat lines of Lou, Pheesa & Gabby. In addition, Geno continues to praise Gabby's performance, and when Geno talks, people listen. IMO, Geno's comparison of Gabby Williams to Lawrence Taylor will be repeated over and over again by WBB pundits until it becomes a universal truth. Hopefully, when the AA teams are announced at the end of the season, there will be 3 new names added to the HOH.

 

[Los24]

Nonsense. Consider her development from freshman year to now. It is Gabby's modus operandi to will herself to become whatever she needs to be to graduate to the next level. She has the natural talent to will herself into a sleek jump shooter, the hops to slither in where bigs can't, and--most of all-the desire to be great. Watch out, doubters.

I agree, folks can't judge her potential on where she is now, although she is obviously one of the best college players. In highschool she was not 100% focused on BB and missed significant time with injury so her offensive skillset is behind (but has improved each year.). I think in the 2 or 3 POS in WNBA she can eventually excel as the rest of her game is either plus or plus plus.

 

[CocoHusky]

Also, I'm not sure why some people think voters will be anti-UCONN.

1) Some people can find an anti-UCONN bias at Sunday school.
2) Some people here do not watch WCBB outside of UCONN games.
3) The UCONN team has been so dominant for so long that some people think UCONN players should be penciled in for every award.
4) There will always be some people-that is a good thing!

 

[CocoHusky]

The good news is that the folks who are tuned in to WBB are starting to take notice of Gabby's exploits.

Gabby path to WBCA AA might be easier that we think. First of all it is coaches voting & second Gabby is the leading candidate to be National DPOY. I am looking it up now- but I don't believe the National DPOY has ever been left off the AA team. Coaches value defense.

 

[iamcbs]

No. Unfortunately, AAs are chosen more for their offensive stats than anything else and while nobody impacts a game more than Williams, she simply does not score enough to garner AA distinction.

I agree, Tuck was named her Senior year averaging 12.5 ppg, but 4 Nattys and 75 consecutive wins are hard to argue with when selecting and AA. The rule was changed last year to accommodate Connecticut having Tuck as a 3rd AA. If Connecticut is the winner of 107 consecutive games and makes another FF, which is probable, then Gabulous would have to be under strong consideration with Lou and Pheesa. Kia Nurse is the player no one talks about, her stats aren't as good as some other guards, but man I'd love to have her on my team. She's tough as nails and when her offense is needed she can certainly step it up. The Kelseys put on a show and are really entertaining and fun to watch, but Kia is the type of guard that gets you Nattys....

 

[CocoHusky]

Gabby path to WBCA AA might be easier that we think. First of all it is coaches voting & second Gabby is the leading candidate to be National DPOY. I am looking it up now- but I don't believe the National DPOY has ever been left off the AA team. Coaches value defense.

It (National DPOY not being AA) has happened at least 1 time. In 2007 Jennifer Risper of Vandy was named National DPOY by WBCA and was not on the WBCA AA team.
WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year

 

[CocoHusky]

The rule was changed last year to accommodate Connecticut having Tuck as a 3rd AA.

The rule was not changed last year nor has it been changed this year. The rule has always been that a school can only nominate a maximum of 3 players for the WBCA AA team. Morgan was excluded in 2015 because she would have been UCONN's 4th along with Stewie, KML, Moriah. [/QUOTE]

 

[Go/huskies]

Actually you shortchanged Gray a few points that year . She averaged 12.6 points. Along with 5.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 steals per game.

Yes your right that's mybad, her Sr year it was 10ppg, but even at 12.6ppg 5.4apg 5.3rpg and 3.6 spg her numbers compare pretty well to the numbers of Williams.

 

[Los24]

How do we know how good her outside shot is? It's not her r0le on this years team.

Because we have seen her taking a couple mid-range shots every game. Also she is wide open and doesn't take it many times and hardly ever from 3pt (1-6). Tuck and Stewie and even Pheese took/take outside shots so trying to say it's not her role is not valid.

 

[CocoHusky]

Because we have seen her taking a couple mid-range shots every game. Also she is wide open and doesn't take it many times and hardly ever from 3pt (1-6). Tuck and Stewie and even Pheese took/take outside shots so trying to say it's not her role is not valid.

That would make Gabby pretty darn smart, giving up a mid range two for a layup. Gabby is shooting 55% for the year 2nd best on the team. #LetGABBYbeGREAT!