Doggydaddy's Den: DoggyDaddy's Dailies 4/15/16

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Continuing there incredible record breaking careers, Brianna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck were picked 1,2,3 in the draft with Stewart heading to Seattle to join Bird and KML, Jefferson heads to her home state with San Antonio and Tuck staying in Connecticut joining the Sun.

The drafting of 1,2,3 from one team has never been done, but UConn in 2002 had the 1,2,4, and 6 picked in Bird, Cash, Jones and Williams. We UConn fans are so blessed.

Watching these beautiful young women represent UConn so well makes me kvell (look up the word). They gave us so much over four years and I just hope they get everything they want in their future.

I've linked as many articles as I could find. I'll keep adding more as I find them. The UConn picks will be in the UConn section and the rest of the player articles will be in the College and WNBA sections.

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My last look at the returning players in Kia Nurse and Katie Lou Samuelson.

Kia Nurse comes into the 2016-17 season with the most minutes played than anyone else on the roster. And much will be expected from her. I believe that she deferred her first two years and based on her Team Canada performance, when you need her to score, she can. I'd like to dispel the idea that she gets all these offensive fouls. It's just not true. I believe she had 7 all season, and 4 of those were in the first ten games of the season. She needs to continue to play with aggressiveness on her drives to the basket. I'd like to see her increase her assists to around four per game.

I did some legwork on looking at her three point shooting and her improvement after the first 21 games was stunning. After her 0-6 outing (the crying game) against Tulane she was shooting a season low 31% in her first 22 games. But since that game, over her last 16 games, she was 24-54 for a terrific 44.4% bringing her season average to 37%. In the post season over her last 9 games she was 13-23, and amazing 56.5%. I think her shooting over 40% will be a big part of UConn's success next season.

But the biggest think that she will bring is leadership and intensity. With Chong and Lawlor the only seniors, much of the leadership will fall on the junior Nurse's broad and muscular shoulders. I think she will be up to the task. The only question is where Geno will play her. She might be playing a lot point guard until Geno sees if Chong or Dangerfield are up to the task.

2015-16 Stats

38 Games - MPG 28.3, FG% .443, 3PT% .370, PPG 9.3, RPG 1.9, APG 2.7, 50 steals, 6 blocks

It's hard to disagree with anyone that says that Katie Lou is the key to UConn's success in the 2016-17 season. Assuming her full recovery from her broken foot. Thankfully, she doesn't need any surgery and she will have no limitations once UConn begins summer workouts.

As the No. 1 recruit last year, she showed over the second half of the season that she could live up to her advanced billing. She became the second high scorer, leading the team in 6 our of 9 games before the big three took over in the post season. Her early season three point shooting woes disappears as she improved from 25% before the new year and by the end of the season she was shooting 39.4%. And incredible improvement. I could see her shooting 45% next year as she learns to come off screens better and finds a way to get her shot off even quicker.

She really needs to hit the weight room, just like Stewart did. In getting strong, she should be able to absorb the hits and finish on her drives to the basket. And UConn will need her to hit the boards harder than she ever has. She already is a terrific ball handler and passer for a 6'3" player and hopefully with more experience she will continue to improve in those areas. She has a chance to be a BIG impact player her sophomore season. UConn's next AA, in my opinion.

2015-16 Stats

37 Games - MPG 23.5, FG% .493, 3PT% .394, PPG 11.0, RPG 3.4, APG 2.2, 38 steals, 6 blocks

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After a self imposed exile for R & R, Fun with Numbers is back.

Kobe Bryant finished his NBA career by scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz. While 60 points is high, he took 50 shots and 12 free throws to reach that number. Included in his totals was a 6-21 night from three point range and 10-12 from the free throw line. He played 42 minutes and had only 4 rebounds and 4 assists. The goal, clearly, was to retire with a high scoring performance. To those who love him, it is irrelevant that it took 50 shots to get there.

If Breanna Stewart took 50 shots in a single game, how many points would she score? If we apply her season averages, we get the answer. Well, her free throw average was 83.6% so she would have matched Kobe with 10 makes in 12 tries. Her 3 pt average of 42.6% would have improved her accuracy to 9-21. So that is another 27 points. Stewie scores inside the arc at a 62.5% rate. Taking 29 shots would have resulted in 18 baskets. That is 36 more points. So 10 + 27 + 36 = 73 So, Stewie would have scored 73 points to Kobe's meager 60. 8-)

Sorry Kobe. Compared to Stewie's 73, your 60 points sucks in comparison. And by the way. Stewie would NEVER take 50 shots. That speaks volumes about Kobe.