Will Hailey Van Lith and Iowa's Caitlin Clark beat out Paige for first team AA during her four years.

[darkstar1]

That certainly is a valid point, but Bueckers and Clark don't play in a vacuum. I think if you look at everyone else on those 2 teams, clearly UConn is much better.

Which is why Clark puts up so many more shots.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Clark basically plays in glorified scrimmages.

You have to be kidding, right?

 

[hoopsfan22]

You have to be kidding, right?

No. They play in empty gyms and have a 0.0% chance of winning a national championship and players get a freebie year this season. Win or lose it doesn't matter. Even Geno calls his own games glorified scrimmages.

 

[nwhoopfan]

No. They play in empty gyms and have a 0.0% chance of winning a national championship and players get a freebie year this season. Win or lose it doesn't matter. Even Geno calls his own games glorified scrimmages.

Well, let's not even bother with this season then. Pack it up and wait til November.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Well, let's not even bother with this season then. Pack it up and wait til November.

And some teams have done just that.

 

[JordyG]

While Clark is having an awesome season, what differentiates her and Paige are Paige's 4th quarter performances. In the several games I have seen Clark play, she starts out hot and has the ball in her hands the majority of possessions. Fun to watch-suggest all women's basketball fans try to see an Iowa game since Clark will likely put up one of the all time frosh performances. Paige distributes then is unstoppable in the 4th quarter when it counts. Not to diminish Clark's leadership but last I looked, Iowa had 6 loses so you be the judge how much of a difference maker Clark is.

What differentiates them is Paige's efficiency across the board as well as her 4th quarter efficiency.

 

[JonathanXIV]

I also imagine it's easier when you don't have the pressure of a high profile situation like Paige. Clark can just go out there and play. If her team loses oh well. If they don't make the tournament, never mind the final four, oh well. Clark basically plays in glorified scrimmages.

I don’t think that’s a fair statement. Certainly the players don’t view their games that way. My daughter played a DI sport, but her team wasn’t going to come close to winning a national championship. Tell her that her games were just scrimmages. Then I suggest you run in the opposite direction.

 

[mbr33ct]

Not including the Georgetown game.

 

[Sched234]

Not including the Georgetown game.

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I’d be really surprised if Bueckers isn’t on this team and I don’t think I’d be shocked if both are on there. If UConn finishes the season at #1 (or even #2), I’d bet money the team gets a player on that list. And UConn’s best player is Paige.

Bueckers is just so efficient. Clark’s presence gives Iowa a chance to win every game they play. They’re both of such great importance to their teams.

 

[WBBSUperFan]

Clark is not slowing down. She has First Team AA locked up already. She will probably do the same thing her next three years. Paige can settle for Second Team AA one of these years. This will keep Paige from being on the UConn Huskies Of Honor Wall.

Clarks team has beat no one good. Paige is the most efficient guard in the country. If you look at the complete stat line Paige is better. Clark plays no defense and averages over 5 turnovers a game. Volume shooter as a freshman on an average team doesn’t equal 1st team AA.

 

[Hayven]

Clark said she wanted to go to a school where she would be the focus of the offense. She got what she wanted, and it’s reflected in her stats. Clark can score all she wants to, but in April every year, she’ll be at home, watching UConn in the tourney

Meanwhile, Paige is all about the team.

Two different mindsets. However, we all know who the future of USA basketball is, and she’s in Storrs

 

[Cuango]

I also imagine it's easier when you don't have the pressure of a high profile situation like Paige. Clark can just go out there and play. If her team loses oh well. If they don't make the tournament, never mind the final four, oh well. Clark basically plays in glorified scrimmages.

I can’t believe what I’m hearing! While I agree that Paige is great and will likely be All-American this season, how can anyone minimize what Clark is doing? She is having an incredible season and should get legit consideration as an All-American as well! You know, it doesn’t lessen our admiration for Paige if we praise other deserving players when they deserve that praise. I just wish Clark had come to UConn!

 

[Cuango]

No. They play in empty gyms and have a 0.0% chance of winning a national championship and players get a freebie year this season. Win or lose it doesn't matter. Even Geno calls his own games glorified scrimmages.

Ludicrous! She is having a season for the ages as a freshman and instead of giving her the credit due her, you belittle her and her team. What she is doing is very rare and very difficult she deserves praise not contempt!

 

[huskeynut]

Clark is not slowing down. She has First Team AA locked up already. She will probably do the same thing her next three years. Paige can settle for Second Team AA one of these years. This will keep Paige from being on the UConn Huskies Of Honor Wall.

You know not of what you speak.

The UConn Wall of Honor is for those who achieve All American status. Once as AA is all that is needed. Paige will be on the Wall, make no mistake.

 

[Bald Husky]

This will keep Paige from being on the UConn Huskies Of Honor Wall.

They can both make the team at the same time if they are over and above everyone else. The question would be the individual awards. ie: Wade, Naismith, Wooden

 

[oldhusky]

First there appears to be an unrealistic assumption that AA teams are very position specific. Sometimes they have two point guards or two centers etc. I agree that many voters may consider that, but others tend to select the 5 best players regardless of position. So if the second best at any position is clearly one of the best 5 players they can still make it.

In addition one of the AA teams just picks 10 players, without distinguishing between first and second team status. If you make that team once, you get on the wall, so first team status is not a strict requirement.

Third if you are very efficient on a very good team, you don't have to put up anywhere near the nominal numbers of points/rebounds/or assists per game to achieve AA status. Another reason for that is great players on great teams are frequently sitting for the last few minutes of blowout wins.

The national leader in Points/Rebounds/ and Assists per game, rarely plays for a championship contender.

 

[dragon]

It looks like more than one point guard can be First Team AA. So Clark and Paige can both be on the first team. So maybe Paige can get up on the UConn Wall Of Honor because it is for First Team AA. Past Teams - NCAA Division I

 

[Gurleyman]

It looks like more than one point guard can be First Team AA. So Clark and Paige can both be on the first team. So maybe Paige can get up on the UConn Wall Of Honor because it is for First Team AA. Past Teams - NCAA Division I

I know you are trolling, but Bueckers doesn’t play point guard for UConn anyway. Muhl does now, and Westbrook really played point before Muhl started. Bueckers plays the wing, starting almost every offensive set off the ball. She‘s more of a 3 than a 1 the way UConn uses her.

 

[oldude]

From a UConn standpoint, AA honors have never been about statistics. Stewie was a 3-time AA and 2-time NPOY who never once lead the nation in a single individual statistical category. Individual awards have always tended to favor players from the top teams.

Van Lith has come back down to earth from her hot start. There really is no comparison between her and Paige. Clark continues to put up impressive numbers shooting a respectable 47% for an unranked, middle of the pack team in the BIG. Paige has taken almost 90 fewer shots than Clark and she’s shooting 10% higher at 57% on the soon-to-be #1 team in the nation.

If all 3 freshmen continue at their current pace, Paige is a shoo-in for AA, Clark has an outside opportunity and Van Lith is a “wait until next year.”

 

[WBBSUperFan]

I can’t believe what I’m hearing! While I agree that Paige is great and will likely be All-American this season, how can anyone minimize what Clark is doing? She is having an incredible season and should get legit consideration as an All-American as well! You know, it doesn’t lessen our admiration for Paige if we praise other deserving players when they deserve that praise. I just wish Clark had come to UConn!

Clark is having a great season, but if she was at UCONN she‘d be on the bench. Defense and body language matters at UCONN.

 

[bbsamjj]

Hi, Rutgers fan just popping here to say that Clark, Hailey Van Lith, and Paige are not the only freshman guards making waves this year. There's Paopao at Oregon, Leger-Walker at Washington St, and Diamond Johnson at RU (who was ranked about Hailey Van Lith by Hoopgulrz), who is averaging 18ppg, 4.2rpg, shooting 53% FG, and 50% from 3-pt range.