As I stated in another thread, I thought the one player on this year's UConn team who underperformed during the regular season according to my expectations (apart from Natalie Butler of course), was Kia Nurse. I actually thought she would have had a stronger sophomore season as well, after she led Canada to a gold medal upset of a USA team featuring Breanna Stewart and Mo Jefferson, dropping 33 on Team USA in that gold medal game.
Although she was far from an outright disappointment the past two years, she got off to a slow start this year with her shooting, but she got stronger as the season went along and was playing very well before she got hurt. The coaching staff was wise to hold her out the last few weeks, even though they almost lost a game in the process. Now, Nurse is playing her best ball. I predicted that she would have a big NCAA tourney and so far, 26.5 ppg. I think one of the reasons I and many others have expected more from her is that she is the most unselfish player with scoring ability I think I have ever seen. At one point in the game tonight she had a wide open 3, but she saw Williams open inside and passed to her for a layup. She has the mentality of delivering the highest % shot available, whether it's for her or a teammate. That incredible unselfishness, coupled with occasional struggles with her confidence, are the only 2 things that have held her back in my opinion. She is big, athletic, shoots well, defends well, is a terror in transition, and drives to the hole with total lack of fear of contact, thereby absorbing many hard fouls- which she, unlike many women's players at the guard position, has the body to do. She is a key cog in this team and we are now seeing her realize the potential to be the player I always believed she would be. It's in her bloodlines (uncle is Donovan McNabb, father played in CFL, brother is a starting NHL defenseman). It was only a matter of time.
Although she was far from an outright disappointment the past two years, she got off to a slow start this year with her shooting, but she got stronger as the season went along and was playing very well before she got hurt. The coaching staff was wise to hold her out the last few weeks, even though they almost lost a game in the process. Now, Nurse is playing her best ball. I predicted that she would have a big NCAA tourney and so far, 26.5 ppg. I think one of the reasons I and many others have expected more from her is that she is the most unselfish player with scoring ability I think I have ever seen. At one point in the game tonight she had a wide open 3, but she saw Williams open inside and passed to her for a layup. She has the mentality of delivering the highest % shot available, whether it's for her or a teammate. That incredible unselfishness, coupled with occasional struggles with her confidence, are the only 2 things that have held her back in my opinion. She is big, athletic, shoots well, defends well, is a terror in transition, and drives to the hole with total lack of fear of contact, thereby absorbing many hard fouls- which she, unlike many women's players at the guard position, has the body to do. She is a key cog in this team and we are now seeing her realize the potential to be the player I always believed she would be. It's in her bloodlines (uncle is Donovan McNabb, father played in CFL, brother is a starting NHL defenseman). It was only a matter of time.
