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I'm going to keep this here to remind you all to vote for UConn players!!!!!
Last Day!!!!
Lou, Gabby - Women's Citizen Naismith Trophy (vote March 19-30)
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Fun Day with Logan!!!!
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Well, here we go!!! Final Four! First night of Passover. I will certainly miss the first game live (I'll try to watch it late at night) and I'll try to peek at the UConn/ND game when I can. Timing of this tournament is not great for it's Jewish fans.
And then the Final Championship game is 6:00 on Easter Sunday. Is that an impact to my Christian friends?
Either way, the games will be played and I'll eventually watch them and then hopefully write about them.
So, let's just hope for a healthy and foul less game for all the teams and we see some terrific basketball. Oh yeah, and that UConn wins!!!
If you haven't seen it yet, here is my UConn/Notre Dame Pre Game Report.
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PART I
Exactly how talented is Gabby Williams? Well, she has scored enough points to currently sit 22nd on the all-time UConn points list. Her 1,570 points are 13 behind Swin Cash. So, she can score. What else can she do? Interestingly, she is also a great passer. Not all players who score tons of points like to pass the ball. Her 474 assists place her 14th all-time on that UConn list. Just nine more assists would get her to the 12th spot all-time.
Despite being only 5'11" tall, Gabby is also a great rebounder. In fact, she is 3 rebounds shy of 1,000. Her 997 boards put her in 7th place all-time. She will end up in that spot, behind Jamelle Elliott. Gabby will be only the seventh player to get 1,000 rebounds at UConn. So, she can play like a big, but can she keep up with the fast players? Well, she has 304 steals, good enough for 5th all-time at UConn. Just six more would put her past Maya Moore and into 4th place. Wow..!!
In summary, Gabby is on the all-time UConn lists for points, assists, rebounds and steals. If she gets the 3 rebounds she will join the 1,500 point-1,000 rebounds-300 steals club. The other members of that club are Maya Moore. Just Maya..!! Gabulous..!!
Go Huskies..!!
Despite being only 5'11" tall, Gabby is also a great rebounder. In fact, she is 3 rebounds shy of 1,000. Her 997 boards put her in 7th place all-time. She will end up in that spot, behind Jamelle Elliott. Gabby will be only the seventh player to get 1,000 rebounds at UConn. So, she can play like a big, but can she keep up with the fast players? Well, she has 304 steals, good enough for 5th all-time at UConn. Just six more would put her past Maya Moore and into 4th place. Wow..!!
In summary, Gabby is on the all-time UConn lists for points, assists, rebounds and steals. If she gets the 3 rebounds she will join the 1,500 point-1,000 rebounds-300 steals club. The other members of that club are Maya Moore. Just Maya..!! Gabulous..!!
Go Huskies..!!
PART II
With the answer to the first question, "How great is Kia Nurse?", you might ask.. Just so happens we know some of those numbers as well. She can really score points, even more than Gabby. Her 1,664 is currently 18th all-time for the Huskies..!! But it is a whole different kind of scoring. Where Gabby has 1 career three-point basket, Kia has 277..! Her 3 point production, by season, was 70, 51, 73 and 83 this year. Remarkably consistent. 
Kia's assists follow the same pattern. By season, the numbers are 108, 104, 128 and 100 so far this year. That totals 440, just 34 behind her best buddy, Gabby. Nurse's made baskets by year are, you guessed it, consistent at 138, 127, 138 and 170 so far this campaign. So her 573 career baskets break down to 277 threes and 296 non-threes. Very balanced.
Parts of Kia's game have improved over the seasons. For example, free throw % was 72.2%, then 75% and then 85.5% last year. This season, it is down slightly, but still great at 81%. Turnovers are another area of improvement. From 61 freshman year to 53 as a sophomore, to 50 last season and then 45 this year. About the only decline has been in the area of steals. From 55 to 50, to 33 and then back up to 46 so far. One can only assume opponents got wise and stopped passing to her man, or dribbling near her.
Despite solid play her whole career, Kia was an understudy to Kaleena, Stewie, MoJeff and even Katie Lou. Not this year..! She and Gabby are the leaders both on and off the court. Her newest honor, National Defensive Player of the Year, is well deserved. She is the Huskies latest in a long line of shut down defenders. Now do it two more times..!
Go Huskies..!!
Kia's assists follow the same pattern. By season, the numbers are 108, 104, 128 and 100 so far this year. That totals 440, just 34 behind her best buddy, Gabby. Nurse's made baskets by year are, you guessed it, consistent at 138, 127, 138 and 170 so far this campaign. So her 573 career baskets break down to 277 threes and 296 non-threes. Very balanced.
Parts of Kia's game have improved over the seasons. For example, free throw % was 72.2%, then 75% and then 85.5% last year. This season, it is down slightly, but still great at 81%. Turnovers are another area of improvement. From 61 freshman year to 53 as a sophomore, to 50 last season and then 45 this year. About the only decline has been in the area of steals. From 55 to 50, to 33 and then back up to 46 so far. One can only assume opponents got wise and stopped passing to her man, or dribbling near her.
Despite solid play her whole career, Kia was an understudy to Kaleena, Stewie, MoJeff and even Katie Lou. Not this year..! She and Gabby are the leaders both on and off the court. Her newest honor, National Defensive Player of the Year, is well deserved. She is the Huskies latest in a long line of shut down defenders. Now do it two more times..!
Go Huskies..!!
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BY
THE WA ITING AND THE WEGHING OF IT
Another Final Four approaches and as it does the nervous anticipation builds. I turned in early last night , joined by two dogs who enjoyed the room a wife away on business had left them in our king size bed. Of course they were also seeking comfort, because their world was amiss with her not there. Something woke me in the middle of the night and I took the occasion to do what old men do when wakened in the middle of the night. Returning to find neither dog had stolen my warm spot, I found sleep came hard.
My mind turned to the Final Four and the Husky retinue and players in Columbus. How many of them couldn’t sleep? How hard is it for them, particularly our starting 5, to be so close to their goal and have to both continue to wait and deal with the nervous anticipation of vindication or stinging loss “suddenly” just around the corner? Last April Geno sort of gruffly suggested: ‘ you lost, this is real life, get over it.’ He said it more sagely and fondly in the corridor with Holly Rowe immediately following the loss and it’s worth a listen:
My mind turned to the Final Four and the Husky retinue and players in Columbus. How many of them couldn’t sleep? How hard is it for them, particularly our starting 5, to be so close to their goal and have to both continue to wait and deal with the nervous anticipation of vindication or stinging loss “suddenly” just around the corner? Last April Geno sort of gruffly suggested: ‘ you lost, this is real life, get over it.’ He said it more sagely and fondly in the corridor with Holly Rowe immediately following the loss and it’s worth a listen:
And he said maybe some of our young guys have to go through this, being not ready, in order to be ready next year. I hope so.
I’m thinking the wait is harder on us fans than our girls because we cannot play, only cheer. Our only solace comes not with the striving, but the win. Of course this is myopic nonsense that comes to old fans in the middle of the night. These terrific young women bear not only the weight of our expectations, but of the All American, All WNBA, and All World alumni in the stands, not to mention an unparalleled 30 years of Uconn’s winning tradition. If they don’t win it is a massive failure; there is no way to sugar coat that truth because the knowledge of it is in their hearts.
How do they bear the weight of that? What leads them to Uconn to take on the burdens of carrying on an unrivaled legacy? The answer lies in each of them. Geno has often described the ever small pool of basketball players he is looking for. Superbly talented, good passers and sharers of the ball, unselfish team players. The team shares the load they carry; they have each others backs. And they are happy to be in “this very special place, different from anywhere else.” The right people in a simple formula for success.
I’m thinking the wait is harder on us fans than our girls because we cannot play, only cheer. Our only solace comes not with the striving, but the win. Of course this is myopic nonsense that comes to old fans in the middle of the night. These terrific young women bear not only the weight of our expectations, but of the All American, All WNBA, and All World alumni in the stands, not to mention an unparalleled 30 years of Uconn’s winning tradition. If they don’t win it is a massive failure; there is no way to sugar coat that truth because the knowledge of it is in their hearts.
How do they bear the weight of that? What leads them to Uconn to take on the burdens of carrying on an unrivaled legacy? The answer lies in each of them. Geno has often described the ever small pool of basketball players he is looking for. Superbly talented, good passers and sharers of the ball, unselfish team players. The team shares the load they carry; they have each others backs. And they are happy to be in “this very special place, different from anywhere else.” The right people in a simple formula for success.
Success secrets from the Uconn Huskies Womens Basketball
Look at Kia talk Final Four after the Elite 8 gob stomping of South Carolina and I think you’ll find it reassuring. I did. The whole thing is a gem.
Look at Kia talk Final Four after the Elite 8 gob stomping of South Carolina and I think you’ll find it reassuring. I did. The whole thing is a gem.
And besides - Didn't Dawn say order has been restored in WCBB??
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Gabby Williams on boards as milestone approaches Carl Adamec
UConn Hits The Final Four Scene, Prepares For Friday's Game vs. Notre Dame Courant
UConn Women and Notre Dame Prepare For NCAA Tournament Courant
Wilson Surpasses Samuelson For Top AP Player; McGraw Earns COY Honors Courant
Positionless basketball on display when UConn, Notre Dame meet Register
ND, UConn women ready for latest chapter in sport’s best rivalry Register
Samuelson, Williams earn WBCA All-American honors once again Register
Jeff Jacobs: How to beat UConn? Be fearless Register
Williams nears special stature for UConn women JI
[Christyn] Williams stands out as all-star NWA Online
Final Four teams look to stay on top with impactful incoming recruiting classes ESPNW
In her first Final Four, Azurá Stevens is ready for another breakout game, ESPN
Is There Any Way UConn Blows This? Deadspin
At UConn, No Losses and No Apologies NY Times
UConn Women Head To Final Four, Trailing A Familiar Controversy WNPR
For UConn, heavy is the head that (usually) wears the crown The Athletic
UConn has piled up miles with demanding schedule Columbus Dispatch
UConn Women and Notre Dame Prepare For NCAA Tournament Courant
Wilson Surpasses Samuelson For Top AP Player; McGraw Earns COY Honors Courant
Positionless basketball on display when UConn, Notre Dame meet Register
ND, UConn women ready for latest chapter in sport’s best rivalry Register
Samuelson, Williams earn WBCA All-American honors once again Register
Jeff Jacobs: How to beat UConn? Be fearless Register
Williams nears special stature for UConn women JI
[Christyn] Williams stands out as all-star NWA Online
Final Four teams look to stay on top with impactful incoming recruiting classes ESPNW
In her first Final Four, Azurá Stevens is ready for another breakout game, ESPN
Is There Any Way UConn Blows This? Deadspin
At UConn, No Losses and No Apologies NY Times
UConn Women Head To Final Four, Trailing A Familiar Controversy WNPR
For UConn, heavy is the head that (usually) wears the crown The Athletic
UConn has piled up miles with demanding schedule Columbus Dispatch
MSU's McCowan poses a problem for Louisville Courier Journal
Bulldogs, Cards eager to make their own mark The Alliance Review
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It is ironic how us jaded UConn fans exaggerate the team's rare losses and nitpick the consistent wins that sometimes do not possess sufficient "style points".
ReplyDeleteI have watched WCBB since early 1980s and UConn since a move in 1995. Even now, after historical, dominant success after success, I have a simple expectation.
Get to the FF and the season is a good one. Get a NC and the season is a great one. An OT loss in the FF is heart-wrenching, but it is no massive failure or a terrible season. They fell short, in a single game, where another excellent team was striving very hard as well. It was good season, kudos to the players and the coaches. UConn still has 11 NC's and no one else does. Next season will be much fun and will be a success as well I suspect.