American Athletic Conference Women Basketball

[teacherdean]

I've watched several of Dukes games the past 3, 4, years and have never seen EW play a good game. biggest bust as a #1 ever... imho... Russell did more last year playing on 2 bad feet.

Williams also gets in foul trouble and sometimes does not use common sense on the court and makes foolish mistakes. Izzy is w/o a doubt the better choice of the two. I feel that Izzy places Tennessee in a better position to win than Williams does for Duke.

 

[Amb3096]

A little unfair to compare a senior to a freshmen that was playing on two bad feet.

I wasn't the one who brought Mercedes into the conversation, but even comparing their freshmen years, it was no contest in favor of EW. Yes, Mercedes was hurt and she was more for depth than as an anchor...so saying that she with her forgettable year and below average productivity was better than EW, who finished the year again as an AA and solid numbers across the board, is a head scratcher.

Williams also gets in foul trouble and sometimes does not use common sense on the court and makes foolish mistakes. Izzy is w/o a doubt the better choice of the two. I feel that Izzy places Tennessee in a better position to win than Williams does for Duke.

Well, to be fair...so does Izzy.

The comparison between EW and Izzy is opposite ends of the spectrum for offense and defense. Izzy is a much more complete offensive player, and is skilled enough that she can be the go to player for her team...but somewhat average on the defense. EW is a monster on the defensive end, and has limited offensive arsenal. Both of them are skilled rebounders and are physical players.

Tennessee benefits from having Izzy more than a player like EW because they need her ability to create offense and her defense has been "good enough". But with an inexperienced team, I also think that Duke would be completely lost without EW and she's the only one keeping them in the top 20 right now..

I do think that when the WNBA comes calling, it will be really hard for teams to pass up on EW's defensive skills, and she will likely be drafted ahead of Izzy unless she has a monster year and improves her defense.

 

[teacherdean]

I think that before we can call Russell a bust, we need to see her playing in good health. Last year I felt that she was a little too tentative in the way she played. Look like she depended upon the seasoned players to make plays, however, there were glimpses of the potential she showed in high school. I think we will see a different Russell next year. By the way any news about Tucker?

 

[Amb3096]

I think that before we can call Russell a bust, we need to see her playing in good health. Last year I felt that she was a little too tentative in the way she played. Look like she depended upon the seasoned players to make plays, however, there were glimpses of the potential she showed in high school. I think we will see a different Russell next year. By the way any news about Tucker?

I think that she was a bust as a freshman, but she has 3 years to improve. I mean, she's 6'6, and there are many things that players can be taught, but being 6'6 is not one of them. Just her size alone will make her indispensable next year. I watched most of the games, and honestly didn't see anything other than a tall girl shooting layups when already facing the basket. I didn't know she was hurt, so maybe we'll see more of her talents next year, but last year was not her coming out party.

Haven't heard anything about Tucker. I'm hoping that Tennessee puts Mizzou away early so that Jannah can get at least 10 minutes of court time tomorrow.

 

[gule]

Russell shot almost 60%, had 40 blocks, and > 5 rebounds while playing only 18 minutes per game,,,, on 2 bad feet. That's statistically better than what EW did playing > 36 minutes(avg) .

If she had not deferred so much to Izzy & Graves she'd have done better.

 

[gule]

But, like I said. I personally have NEVER seen (on TV) EW play a dominant and impressive game. Most of the time she gets dominated. disclaimer.. most of those games were against UConn UNC ND and the like.... but still... facts are facts...

 

[teacherdean]

I think that she was a bust as a freshman, but she has 3 years to improve. I mean, she's 6'6, and there are many things that players can be taught, but being 6'6 is not one of them. Just her size alone will make her indispensable next year. I watched most of the games, and honestly didn't see anything other than a tall girl shooting layups when already facing the basket. I didn't know she was hurt, so maybe we'll see more of her talents next year, but last year was not her coming out party.

Haven't heard anything about Tucker. I'm hoping that Tennessee puts Mizzou away early so that Jannah can get at least 10 minutes of court time tomorrow.

I am hoping and praying that Russell does not turn into a Kelly Cain. However, Kelly seemed like a lazy player but Russell does not seem to be lazy. Wasn't she also 6'6", and a big girl with little desire to use her God given talent?

 

[boxerpupsrcool]

I too am hoping we come out and just blow the doors of Missouri early mainly because I want to see more of what jannah can do out there. from the very limited minutes I watched her play against Stanford, she def looks like she needs some game action to shake all the rust off and she still looks a bit gimpy on that knee.

 

[Smallvol#1]

I am hoping and praying that Russell does not turn into a Kelly Cain. However, Kelly seemed like a lazy player but Russell does not seem to be lazy. Wasn't she also 6'6", and a big girl with little desire to use her God given talent?

The only LV (that was here 4 years) I do not like. She 'couldn't' play, was always hurt, quit the team, and then showed up overseas playing. She really let Pat down big time. That is just my opinion. Maybe something going on I never knew, but, sitting in the stands, that is how it looked.

If someone knows differently, please post. I would like to able to respect her and not feel she really did Pat dirty.

 

[volfanIND]

I am hoping and praying that Russell does not turn into a Kelly Cain. However, Kelly seemed like a lazy player but Russell does not seem to be lazy. Wasn't she also 6'6", and a big girl with little desire to use her God given talent?

Looking at Russell at the game last week on the sidelines it looked like has lost weight. It seemed like each year Kelly gained weight. And I'm seriously not making any jokes here at all. Just the commitment of loosing weight itself shows where her head/heart is at for this program. Just something I noticed. Russell is going to be special. She is not going to come back next season and being scoring 20 points though like everybody thinks she is. Sitting out a year in college ball is a big deal and takes many games to get back into the grove of things. #brighterfuture

 

[Amb3096]

Russell shot almost 60%, had 40 blocks, and > 5 rebounds while playing only 18 minutes per game,,,, on 2 bad feet. That's statistically better than what EW did playing > 36 minutes(avg).

EW was first string. Mercedes was not. EW was on the court against the best. When the game was tight, then Izzy was playing, not Mercedes.

Even if you do the 40 minute statistics (pts/rebounds/blocks), EW is still ahead.

EW: 18.1/10/4
MR: 13.6/10.8/2.5

For good measure, let's add Nia Moore
NM: 14.6/13.3/4.5

No one will suggest that Nia is better than EW or MR because of her "statistical" superiority.

If she had not deferred so much to Izzy & Graves she'd have done better.

If she was a better player that Holly could have left on the court more against the better competition, then she would have done better. She had one move: layup when she catches the ball facing the basket. And she hit 60% of those. I didn't know if this was the result of the injury or her game was that one dimensional, but she didn't look like anything other than a tall girl shooting over shorter opponents.

But, like I said. I personally have NEVER seen (on TV) EW play a dominant and impressive game. Most of the time she gets dominated. disclaimer.. most of those games were against UConn UNC ND and the like.... but still... facts are facts...

UConn will make pretty much any player look silly. Chiney looked positively average anytime they played.

Here's how EW did against the rest of the competition last year. I didn't include the first game against ND where she stunk it up, but everyone is entitled to a bad game. Overall, she has been very solid. The numbers don't lie, and like you said...facts are facts

Game 2 vs. ND last year: 20pts/6rbd/2blk/52% FG
Game 3 s. ND last year: 17pts/16rbd/3blk/54% FG
Game vs. MD last year: 17pts/11rbd/3blk/50%
3 Games vs. UNC last year: 17pts/8rbs/45%FG

 

[Darth_Vol]

The comparison between EW and Izzy is opposite ends of the spectrum for offense and defense. Izzy is a much more complete offensive player, and is skilled enough that she can be the go to player for her team...

Not really. Izzy is a better face up shooter. Williams is more consistent down low. Their scoring is almost identical.

 

[Amb3096]

Not really. Izzy is a better face up shooter. Williams is more consistent down low. Their scoring is almost identical.

Izzy has more post moves and footwork. EW is more of a power post.

 

[gule]

why leave out the 1st ND if as you claim, "Facts are Facts",?

 

[Amb3096]

why leave out the 1st ND if as you claim, "Facts are Facts",?

Much as how Izzy's career shouldn't be judged based on fouling out in 7 minutes against an SEC cellar dweller, then EW's year shouldn't be based on a stinker in the first game against ND...especially when she went on to average 18.5 pts and 11 rebounds in the next two games against them.