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Post by doggydaddy on Mar 24, 2024 8:21:00 GMT -5
Thoughts about how these players compare?
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Post by semper on Mar 24, 2024 11:15:42 GMT -5
Got any links?
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Post by doggydaddy on Mar 24, 2024 12:59:04 GMT -5
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Post by semper on Mar 24, 2024 13:37:48 GMT -5
OK, I'm going with Strong as she is younger and will have UConn coaching, if she comes here. Crooks is strong, but looks kinda out of shape, and Pili is set in her ways, good ways of course. I think they are certainly all three the same body type, position, etc. And I think Strong will become the kind of high scoring player you see in them now, but especially if she makes the smart decision and comes to UCONN. She could end up craftier, if that's a word. Maybe it will help her decide knowing that Geno is staying and Aaliyah is leaving. Plus a year with Paige as the point guard...oh man, lots of assists coming her way. That's gotta be a factor, right?
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Post by bulkey on Mar 24, 2024 14:51:32 GMT -5
I don't know if it's intended to compare "Charles Barkley-like" forwards or just a coincidence.
Either way, Crooks is amazing, a one-woman wrecking crew, and it's interesting and illuminating that her game translated so well from high school to college. This might get coaches thinking....
Sarah, I think, plays a very different game than either Crooks or Pili. She's like Paige, in that she's just as happy to facilitate others scoring as her own. The other two dominate by being on ball for so much of the game. Sarah is so valuable because she can excel at all 3 levels shooting-wise but loves the challenge of playing a coordinated and complex offensive style.
I do think Sarah is not strong on defense. I've watched a lot of video where she just waves as her opponent. OTOH, she's so valuable to her high school team that maybe she's on orders not to foul. But I suspect Geno's already told her that if she chooses UConn she must--and will--become a better defender.
As to body type, Ice carried more body fat in high school than she does now, but probably a lower percentage than does Sarah. Still, there's no comparison as to what Ice looks like, before and after. She is now super fit: after all, she can play 40 minutes, which is really impressive for a big. I have to believe that Sarah and family are adding this consideration in their decision. UConn players are all super fit and play 40 minutes of up tempo ball at peak efficiency. Sarah would eventually do that, too.
So, I think Sarah isn't comparable to the other two. Pili and Crooks are great players, but they will continue on the same trajectory that they started. If Sarah comes to UConn, her game will only get better and better, as she will be able to take advantage of an offense that compliments her game, radically transform her defensively, and a continue to evolve physically. She will play at a whole other level--a level that will make her far more successful as a pro.
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Post by doggydaddy on Mar 24, 2024 15:03:03 GMT -5
I don't know if it's intended to compare "Charles Barkley-like" forwards or just a coincidence. Either way, Crooks is amazing, a one-woman wrecking crew, and it's interesting and illuminating that her game translated so well from high school to college. This might get coaches thinking.... Sarah, I think, plays a very different game than either Crooks or Pili. She's like Paige, in that she's just as happy to facilitate others scoring as her own. The other two dominate by being on ball for so much of the game. Sarah is so valuable because she can excel at all 3 levels shooting-wise but loves the challenge of playing a coordinated and complex offensive style. I do think Sarah is not strong on defense. I've watched a lot of video where she just waves as her opponent. OTOH, she's so valuable to her high school team that maybe she's on orders not to foul. But I suspect Geno's already told her that if she chooses UConn she must--and will--become a better defender. As to body type, Ice carried more body fat in high school than she does now, but probably a lower percentage than does Sarah. Still, there's no comparison as to what Ice looks like, before and after. She is now super fit: after all, she can play 40 minutes, which is really impressive for a big. I have to believe that Sarah and family are adding this consideration in their decision. UConn players are all super fit and play 40 minutes of up tempo ball at peak efficiency. Sarah would eventually do that, too. So, I think Sarah isn't comparable to the other two. Pili and Crooks are great players, but they will continue on the same trajectory that they started. If Sarah comes to UConn, her game will only get better and better, as she will be able to take advantage of an offense that compliments her game, radically transform her defensively, and a continue to evolve physically. She will play at a whole other level. My point was that these are three players with similar body types that are really effective players. Crooks is the biggest for sure. But the two in college are proving their abilities. Piil has done that for several seasons. Crooks is just a freshman. Whoever gets strong will get a players that is even better than these two. A big part of that is what you have mentioned. Her playmaking ability. She won't be playing the middle of UConn if she comes here. The other two play center for their teams. |
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Post by bulkey on Mar 24, 2024 15:12:54 GMT -5
My point was that these are three players with similar body types that are really effective players. Crooks is the biggest for sure. But the two in college are proving their abilities. Piil has done that for several seasons. Crooks is just a freshman. Whoever gets strong will get a players that is even better than these two. A big part of that is what you have mentioned. Her playmaking ability. She won't be playing the middle of UConn if she comes here. The other two play center for their teams. +1. Crooks especially might transform how college coaches evaluate high school talent. Crooks is listed as 6'3", Pili and Sarah an inch shorter. So height isn't a determining factor in position. Sarah is just a lot more fluid and more gifted in facilitating. I've rarely seen a player with such good court vision and sense (okay, there is one already at UConn). Sarah is a classic 4 or even a 3/4, but at UConn that doesn't really matter. For her to maximize her pro career at her height, she needs to play a mobile, quick game, probably as a 3. UConn has all the tools to transform her into a great one. |
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Post by UConnChapette on Mar 24, 2024 15:28:45 GMT -5
OK, I'm going with Strong as she is younger and will have UConn coaching, if she comes here. Crooks is strong, but looks kinda out of shape, and Pili is set in her ways, good ways of course. I think they are certainly all three the same body type, position, etc. And I think Strong will become the kind of high scoring player you see in them now, but especially if she makes the smart decision and comes to UCONN. She could end up craftier, if that's a word. Maybe it will help her decide knowing that Geno is staying and Aaliyah is leaving. Plus a year with Paige as the point guard...oh man, lots of assists coming her way. That's gotta be a factor, right? I don’t know about Crooks being out of shape. She may not have a typical basketball player physique, but she moves very well on the court. |
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Post by semper on Mar 24, 2024 15:43:23 GMT -5
Good! I hope you are right. Time will tell. For now she is sure tearing up the court!
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Post by linkster on Mar 24, 2024 15:44:06 GMT -5
How about Crooks vs Brady?
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Post by doggydaddy on Mar 24, 2024 16:23:09 GMT -5
How about Crooks vs Brady? That is more of the Brady we will see next season. She is only missing confidence. I really miss that step through move she has. |
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Post by phil on Mar 24, 2024 17:05:15 GMT -5
Crooks went 18 for 20 or 90%
I think that was an NCAA record for a 40 point game.
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Post by magic on Mar 24, 2024 17:18:29 GMT -5
How about Crooks vs Brady? That is more of the Brady we will see next season. She is only missing confidence. I really miss that step through move she has. Saw this a couple years back. Ice looks to be in much better shape and more athletic than she does now. Right now we don't want to compare these two, do we ? |
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Post by bulkey on Mar 24, 2024 17:28:13 GMT -5
That is more of the Brady we will see next season. She is only missing confidence. I really miss that step through move she has. Saw this a couple years back. Ice looks to be in much better shape and more athletic than she does now. Right now we don't want to compare these two, do we ? You and I have must have different eyesight. Ice is in incredible shape. She plays 40 minutes. Do you see where she takes the ball out of bounds under the defensive end? That means she doesn't get a few seconds off to jog down with the rest of the team. She's taking on even greater cardiac load. She's not less athletic. She's playing among the most--perhaps the most--complicated position in WCBB: high post at UConn. All the practice in the world doesn't prepare you for game time tempo. Next year, she'll be a monster at that position. |
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Post by magic on Mar 24, 2024 17:38:43 GMT -5
Saw this a couple years back. Ice looks to be in much better shape and more athletic than she does now. Right now we don't want to compare these two, do we ? You and I have must have different eyesight. Ice is in incredible shape. She plays 40 minutes. Do you see where she takes the ball out of bounds under the defensive end? That means she doesn't get a few seconds off to jog down with the rest of the team. She's taking on even greater cardiac load. She's not less athletic. She's playing among the most--perhaps the most--complicated position in WCBB: high post at UConn. All the practice in the world doesn't prepare you for game time tempo. Next year, she'll be a monster at that position. Allow me to reword. Ice looks like a totally different player than she did in this video. Crooks has obviously had a way better season. The only point I ws making. And I hope next year Ice is a monster at her position . |
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Post by linkster on Mar 24, 2024 17:45:06 GMT -5
Crooks is very very good at being Courtney Paris, setting up in the low block and sealing her defender. She is on a team that takes advantage of that. I'd take a 3 level scoring wing every day.
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Post by semper on Mar 24, 2024 19:38:13 GMT -5
Yes, I was reminded of C. Paris right away!
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Post by linkster on Mar 24, 2024 20:32:18 GMT -5
I like to watch the defenses that Tara comes up with, but only when she isn't playing UConn. I'd rather face Crooks than Tara.
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Post by meyers7 on Mar 25, 2024 8:17:13 GMT -5
I like to watch the defenses that Tara comes up with, but only when she isn't playing UConn. I'd rather face Crooks than Tara. Well Crook follows up her great shooting with really poor shooting. Goes 3-21 against Stanford. 10 points and fouls out. Brinks only had 8 points and fouled out. BUT Iriafen took over for Stanford, 16-30 for 41 points. |
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Post by bulkey on Mar 25, 2024 11:28:54 GMT -5
Yesterday, we saw how to handle Crooks...sort of. Taller, more athletic players who mug her when the refs let them get away with it. But even without the refs' complicity, she can't jump very high and can't move lithely for a rebound outside of her immediate range. She can't change her game to be more effective when circumstances change.
I want to clarify what I wrote above, again keeping respect for how we discuss physical appearance. Unlike Pili and Crooks, I don't believe Sarah depends on her body type for her game. I think it's probably in her long term best interest as a basketball player to reshape her body somewhat. Diana Taurasi wasn't known as a large player in college, and yet when she got to the pros, she progressively modified her body so that she could star into her 40s. Sarah is a superior talent who will only get quicker, jump higher, and play longer with increased conditioning. UConn will give her that. C'mon Sarah. Make it so!
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Post by phil on Mar 25, 2024 12:50:02 GMT -5
I don't see Sarah as remotely like Crooks. I don't even see C Paris.
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Post by bulkey on Mar 25, 2024 13:02:59 GMT -5
I don't see Sarah as remotely like Crooks. I don't even see C Paris. agree completely. There may be no rational reason for this because they do play a somewhat different game, but I've always compared her to Maya. Body type just isn't a consideration in her playing style, though it may be for her long term durability. |
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Post by linkster on Mar 25, 2024 16:07:28 GMT -5
I don't see Sarah as remotely like Crooks. I don't even see C Paris. Risking a charge of blasphemy I'd say Strong's game is more similar to Maya Moore than Paris due to the versatility of her offense. |
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