Will Paige out play "pick a name" ... Yes, she already has

[SVCBeercats]

Whether she starts the first game or not, when she hits the floor she will earn a starting role in short order. FIBA 19 2019 Champions USA team roster: Fran Belibi, Aliyh Boston, Cameron Brink, Paige Buecker, Caitlin Clark, Queen Egbo, Nazahrah Hillman-Baker, Rhyne Howard, Ashley Joens, Diamond Miller, Celeste Taylor, and Hailey Van Lithe. Who on this team was the FIBA 19 2019 MVP? PAIGE BUECKERS

 

[Go/huskies]

I agree Paige will be great, but expecting her to be better right off the bat or comparing her to the names listed above could be silly.

 

[Skeets]

This poor kid. In her first game, if she is just "pretty good". The BY will light up. Please remember we are talking about a high school kid, OK an accomplished high school kid. Shouldn't we give her a break? I go back to DT (arguably the best WBB ever) didn't start until others got injured, although she got her share of PT.

OT: maybe it's covid, but are posts getting a little bit snarky (other threads) the deeper into this we get? We really need this season to start... Deep breath, Breathe, breathe. We have a lot of answers. Oh, BTW, I'm kind of a snarky guy...

 

[CL82]

This poor kid. In her first game, if she is just "pretty good". The BY will light up. Please remember we are talking about a high school kid, OK an accomplished high school kid. Shouldn't we give her a break? I go back to DT (arguably the best WBB ever) didn't start until others got injured, although she got her share of PT.

This. There’s no doubt in my mind that Paige is going to be a special player for us but that doesn’t necessarily mean she will be from the first moment.

 

[Alydar]

I agree Paige will be great, but expecting her to be better right off the bat or comparing her to the names listed above could be silly.

I'd say that based on that U19 experience that any comparison of the above to her is what is silly. I understand the lack of college experience but some astute HS/AAU writers suggested over 2 years ago that she was college-ready as a HS sophomore, except for her body.

The coaches (and media) are trying to "take the pressure off" but if you go back a year or 2 Geno was quoted as saying that (as a soph) "she is ahead of where Taurasi was at the same point", or "she's the best I've ever seen with the ball in her hands", or the winner, Geno: "next year, when we win the championship, I'll be telling you we wouldn't have without her"

If Geno can wax poetic then so can we.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Watching the game videos, it looks like Paige has some of that DT moxie to her game. Should be a fun 4 years.

 

[cbraarj]

This poor kid. In her first game, if she is just "pretty good". The BY will light up. Please remember we are talking about a high school kid, OK an accomplished high school kid. Shouldn't we give her a break? I go back to DT (arguably the best WBB ever) didn't start until others got injured, although she got her share of PT.

maybe it's covid, but are posts getting a little bit snarky (other threads) the deeper into this we get? We really need this season to start... Deep breath, Breathe, breathe. We have a lot of answers. Oh, BTW, I'm kind of a snarky guy...

You can't compare her to Taurasi. Her freshman year the 2001 team just came off a NC and had 8 returning players including the starting 5. Also with 2 AAs and the Nancy Lieberman award winner for best PG in the country. Arguably Uconns best and deepest team of All-time. That's why Taurasi didn't start! This team has a lot to prove individually and team abilities. It's going to be fun to watch!

 

[dragon]

Hailey Van Lith or Caitlin Clark will be the freshman of the year.

 

[Alydar]

Hailey Van Lith or Caitlin Clark will be the freshman of the year.

I thought that it might be Van Lith. Points/game is a huge vote-getter and she will get a lot of shots.

 

[willtalk]

I hope Boneyarders do not repeat the mistake the made with Williams. Lets not put to high an expectation on her. Let her become what she will become. These players will develop much better without the added pressure of expectation.

 

[Argonaut]

Hailey Van Lith or Caitlin Clark will be the freshman of the year.

That's fine. Jewell Lloyd was named FOY in 2013, but I think Stewie won a national championship or four to make up for it.

 

[meyers7]

I agree Paige will be great, but expecting her to be better right off the bat or comparing her to the names listed above could be silly.

Not sure why it would be silly to compare her to the names listed. That's who she played with. If you can't compare her to her peers (who she out-performed), then who can you compare her to???

 

[Cuango]

Those two (Van Lith & Clark) have leapt out to an early lead and very likely may beat Paige out for freshman of the year. They are (in addition to being very talented) both on teams where they are likely to get more shots, more playing time, and at least in Van Lith’s case, not playing point guard for their respective teams. Points per game is obviously the sexiest stat for players and it is difficult to see Paige averaging 15+ points per game on a team with as much talent as we have. The main question we all should consider is whether anyone on this board would trade Paige for either of those players? I certainly would not and even with the disadvantages mentioned above I would not be surprised if she proves to be the best freshman anyway. After all, she clearly outplayed both of those players in high school and scoring is only one stat. I’m sure Paige is chomping at the bit to get started!

 

[cbraarj]

Paige will be the only one with a NC or more.

 

[dragon]

You can put Coach Jeff and Hailey down for 2 Nat Champs.

 

[Alydar]

I hope Boneyarders do not repeat the mistake the made with Williams. Lets not put to high an expectation on her. Let her become what she will become. These players will develop much better without the added pressure of expectation.

Bueckers is on another level from Williams as a freshman. And that isn't a slur on Williams.

 

[TB12]

You can put Coach Jeff and Hailey down for 2 Nat Champs.

Guess we have an outsider here

 

[beauxregard]

I get it, the truth hurts doesnt it?!!!!

 

[blkkirk]

It is not unreasonable for Hailey Van Lith to out play (have a better season) than Bueckers. She is off to a good start. However, I think comparing her to Bueckers is not fair as Bueckers will have the ball in her hands a lot more. She will be responsible for running the offense. Being the point is harder than being the two guard. I am excited to see how things play out. My money is on our girl!!!!!

 

[Flyinsouth]

This is a stellar Freshman class of young Point Guard/Combo Guards. Paige might not get the numbers/stats that some of the others get this year as she will have more talent and less required of her and will likely play fewer minutes as a result. She will be judged largely by the team's success. She will be intertwined with Van Lith, Clark, Diamond Johnson, Pao Pao, Deja Kelly, Sarah Andrews. It's rare to have 7 of the top 12 players/recruits be point, ball dominant guards. I feel Paige, Van Lith, Clark and Pao Pao are the cream of this abundant crop. This will be a fun discussion, rivalry and great for the sport over the next 4 years.

 

[MooseJaw]

You can put Coach Jeff and Hailey down for 2 Nat Champs.

Maybe if Hailey Van Lith transfers, only chance is this season and odds say no way, not gonna happen.

 

[eebmg]

You can put Coach Jeff and Hailey down for 2 Nat Champs.

well, in Bob Joyce's podcast, Geno said he most impressed with Louisville and joked that maybe it was good the Louisville game was cancelled. But I do not see 2 Nats.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Those two (Van Lith & Clark) have leapt out to an early lead and very likely may beat Paige out for freshman of the year. They are (in addition to being very talented) both on teams where they are likely to get more shots, more playing time, and at least in Van Lith’s case, not playing point guard for their respective teams. Points per game is obviously the sexiest stat for players and it is difficult to see Paige averaging 15+ points per game on a team with as much talent as we have. The main question we all should consider is whether anyone on this board would trade Paige for either of those players? I certainly would not and even with the disadvantages mentioned above I would not be surprised if she proves to be the best freshman anyway. After all, she clearly outplayed both of those players in high school and scoring is only one stat. I’m sure Paige is chomping at the bit to get started!

Is it really an "early lead" two weeks into the season, with Paige not playing yet? Can we at least wait until January?

 

[cbraarj]

You can put Coach Jeff and Hailey down for 2 Nat Champs.

Picture that without film in your camera!

 

[DEpup]

Paige will be Paige which means she will still out shine "the others" even if they have a headstart. She's been out shining them since basically birth and I don't see it changing any time soon.

 

[dragon]

Another good day at the office today for Hailey and Caitlin Clark.

 

[willtalk]

Bueckers is on another level from Williams as a freshman. And that isn't a slur on Williams.

Bueckers has not played as a freshman yet so how would you really know? What you might say is that Bueckers was a better player coming out of high school than Williams. You have a standard of comparison there. It is really difficult to gage a players ceiling in todays WCBB scene. Most of them have developed most of their individual skill level already. The only thing they have left is playing as a team, adjusting to the higher level and developing better on court judgement. Frankly I have always felt that people have set too high a standard for Williams based on her being rated the top player of her class and her showing in the McDonalds AA game. If we actually remember there was not real standout number one rated player. A few players changed positions trough out their four years and Williams just ended up on top during the last poll. It wasn't even a strong year.
Well she worked hard and remade her body so perhaps that will give her a higher ceiling.

 

[WBBSUperFan]

Clark is good on offense only if so he she has the ball in her hands. She cannot run a an offense and stands around when she doesn’t have the ball in her hands. She forces a lot. She plays no defense and her body language is not great. It will be interesting to see how she develops. Only two weeks in Pao Pao and Hailey Van Lith are both fair better all around players. Haven‘t really watched the others

 

[Tonyc]

I would expect Paige to see less playtime then some of the other freshman who you want to compare her to. I believe she will average more assists and be a better team leader and all round player then most of the others. The others may score more points then Paige and play more minutes then Paige and and be their team maybe more dependent on them to score however UConn is too good for that. We've seen teams with one dominate player before that the team depended on. LVille a few years ago is one. NC's are won by teams not individual players.

 

[eebmg]

I would expect Paige to see less playtime then some of the other freshman who you want to compare her to. I believe she will average more assists and be a better team leader and all round player then most of the others. The others may score more points then Paige and play more minutes then Paige and and be their team maybe more dependent on them to score however UConn is too good for that. We've seen teams with one dominate player before that the team depended on. LVille a few years ago is one. NC's are won by teams not individual players.

With Evina not at 100% and Nika nursing some nagging injuries, I expect Paige to be getting major minutes (30+) and if she performs as well as I think she will, that will not change.