Game Changer

[Sweetest OU Girl]

We see that term used quite a bit on the board. Let's discuss what we think it means to different people.

To me it means exactly what it says: Someone who changes the way the game is played. Courtney was a game changer. Griner was one.

Just being a great player is not a game changer in my mind. For example, players like Martin, Davis, Sims, etc. Not game changers in my mind. Very good players? Yes.

I would not even call someone like Stewart a game changer. She is possibly the best in the country this year, but we see others somewhat like her almost every year. One everyone sees as likely player of the year.

I think there is a chance Nancy might be one because she has height we have so seldom seen. But it is not a sure thing at this point. By any means, it will take a couple of years of development to see how she plays. Can she dominate the game? Will teams have to develop new methods to deal with her? No one knows. We may have opinions, but it is an open question.

So, what does the term mean to you?

 

[tycat947]

I think Stewart is a game changer just because of what she can do with her size. Nancy has a chance but I think her most important contributions will be on defense. IF she can shoot from outside that will make her much stronger on the offensive end. Also, if she's good enough around the basket to draw defenders in on her that should help our outside game as I think she'll be good passer.

I agree that there aren't many game changers out there. Lots of very good players though.

 

[SoonerNorm]

The question about Nancy is, how hard is she willing to work in the weight room? If she becomes a workout junkie and gets a lot stronger and more aggressive, she will help us a lot.

 

[sybarite]

I think a game-changer is someone who shows us something new that we haven't had to contend with before. This might result in an advantage that would take a lesser team to the top before they learn to deal with it.

I think Chamberlain was a game-changer. We had seen tall players before, but not with athletic ability. It took a last place team to the point where they were a definite threat to the world champions.

I see Magic Johnson as a game-changer in that he was able to play any position on the court while leading his team to an NBA title, a combination of height and ball-handling skill.

Curry may be a game-changer. They certainly don't know how to contend with it yet.

I think of Courtney as a partial game-changer. We knew that a post was important from the time of Anne Donovan. Four years of dominance reinforced that. Everyone decided that a strong post was necessary after Courtney.

Griner showed that height could be coupled with skill. Now, everyone is looking for the 6-6 to 6-8 player.

I thought that Breanna Stewart was a game changer in that she could do as Magic had done, play almost any position. She might not be a great point, but she can handle the ball, and she has some range. She is versatile.

I think, or thought, Maddie had the ability to be in the mold of Stewart. She isn't quite as strong inside, but is stronger outside and has the versatility to get inside and block shots or bring the ball up court against a press.

If Nancy can actually handle herself at 6-9 or 6-10, she seems to have the ability to take the middle away, more so than a Boyette. She has better hands. The only question is strength, and I think that may be underrated. I've seen her rip the ball out of a forward's hands. She isn't a puny kid. If she can play, it will mean that everyone will be looking for the 6-9 kid to clog the lane.

 

[skilledserv]

I think a game-changer is someone who shows us something new that we haven't had to contend with before. This might result in an advantage that would take a lesser team to the top before they learn to deal with it.

I think Chamberlain was a game-changer. We had seen tall players before, but not with athletic ability. It took a last place team to the point where they were a definite threat to the world champions.

I see Magic Johnson as a game-changer in that he was able to play any position on the court while leading his team to an NBA title, a combination of height and ball-handling skill.

Curry may be a game-changer. They certainly don't know how to contend with it yet.

I think of Courtney as a partial game-changer. We knew that a post was important from the time of Anne Donovan. Four years of dominance reinforced that. Everyone decided that a strong post was necessary after Courtney.

Griner showed that height could be coupled with skill. Now, everyone is looking for the 6-6 to 6-8 player.

I thought that Breanna Stewart was a game changer in that she could do as Magic had done, play almost any position. She might not be a great point, but she can handle the ball, and she has some range. She is versatile.

I think, or thought, Maddie had the ability to be in the mold of Stewart. She isn't quite as strong inside, but is stronger outside and has the versatility to get inside and block shots or bring the ball up court against a press.

If Nancy can actually handle herself at 6-9 or 6-10, she seems to have the ability to take the middle away, more so than a Boyette. She has better hands. The only question is strength, and I think that may be underrated. I've seen her rip the ball out of a forward's hands. She isn't a puny kid. If she can play, it will mean that everyone will be looking for the 6-9 kid to clog the lane.

Yes she very puny and no she isn't strong. I do see Stewart as a game changer but Nancy is not

 

[sybarite]

Yes she very puny and no she isn't strong. I do see Stewart as a game changer but Nancy is not

From your very first post, you have attacked our recruit.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Yes she very puny and no she isn't strong. I do see Stewart as a game changer but Nancy is not

It would seem that a more intelligent response might be more like "I don't believe Nancy will be" since none of us can be certain about just what the future holds.

In what way has Stewart "changed the game"? How are you defining the term, SS?

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

UCONN has had Diana and Mya. At least. I would almost put that little guard Jefferson in there too. She stepped in from day one - I believe - and has run the best team in the country. JMO

 

[skilledserv]

It would seem that a more intelligent response might be more like "I don't believe Nancy will be" since none of us can be certain about just what the future holds.

In what way has Stewart "changed the game"? How are you defining the term, SS?

Of all the great players that have come through UConn..... Stewart leads in 3 of the major categories for her career. I would call that a game changer

 

[skilledserv]

From your very first post, you have attacked our recruit.

Not an attack just disagreeing with your statement

 

[SOONERGRAD]

I believe C. Paris was a game changer as well. You didn't find to many 6'3 220lbs post who effected the game in ways she did after her era.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Our game changers have been Dales, Courtney and D-Rob. We haven't had one even close since and I don't see one on the horizon. Mulkey, maybe. Dundee, maybe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[scrybe]

Yes she very puny and no she isn't strong. I do see Stewart as a game changer but Nancy is not

There are puny players, I suppose…and certainly puny posters.

In some ways, you seem like a knowledgeable poster. But it's become very apparent to anyone possessing even a modicum of honesty that your sole agenda is to attack Nancy Mulkey in particular, and the entire OU Women's program in general.

I really wish you'd vacate this board.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

It is still not clear to me how most of us define the term "game changer". Is it just an extremely good player? Perhaps just a player who makes her own team really successful?

It seems many see it as a player who allows her own team to be more successful than it has been in the recent past. Is that all the term means to many of us?

Or is it someone who alters what we have seen in the game in the past? Perhaps someone (like a Wayman Tisdale) who becomes the first player in 50 years to make All American 1st team every year in college - including the freshman year)?

 

[bluesooner17]

Game changer - refers to a player who revolutionized how a position was played. Wilt Chamberlin was one of the first in our era to redefine how a position was played and create rule changes in the game as in including widening the lane, instituting offensive goaltending and revising rules governing inbounding the ball and shooting free throws so in my mind he would be considered a game changer on two levels. Magic Johnson redefined how the position of Point Guard was played. 6"9" PG are rare even today, but at his time no one knew how to handle him. To me this is how you describe a game changer as a person who changes the position as it is played today whether by changing rules of the game or defenses to defend the position. Can Nancy be a person that changes the position as it is played? It depends where Sherri plays her as in at the 5 or 4 position. I mentioned once before about the Houston Rockets having Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon playing at the same time. Ralph was (depending on who you talk to) 7' 4" and Hakeem was 7' 1". Both played the 5 position in college, but Ralph played mostly the 4 position in the NBA. Sherri could put Nancy at the 4 and Viv or someone else at the 5 which would Nancy redefine how teams have to play the 4 position? Yes very possible, because how many 6'9" players are at the 4 position. Nancy at the 5 position I don't see her as a game changer, but she possible could make teams stay away from the rim more than usual. I struggle to come up with a game changer in Women's basketball just because none have affected the rules of the game or caused all teams to change how they would defend a certain position. Sure as Griner came into the league she caused a lot of teams to adjust how the center position was defended, but against the top 5 teams not so much. I would say Lisa Leslie would be the closes I can think of as a game changer just because she was one of the first true big girls to play the game and really the only one that caused teams to readjust in the WNBA. As women seemed to be getting taller then there could be a 6'9" PG sometime down the road, but I can never see a game changer like Wilt on the women's side.

 

[womenssports]

UCONN has had Diana and Mya. At least. I would almost put that little guard Jefferson in there too. She stepped in from day one - I believe - and has run the best team in the country. JMO

Would add Sue Bird to the UCONN players mentioned.

IF Sherri had been hired in spring of 1995, instead of 1996 she probably would have had a player, Lee Ann Bezner a point guard that went to Southern Nazarene University, who really had wanted to go to OU. Obviously did not want to go in the mess it was in. Also, a freshman player at OU whom she knew advised her against it. The other player ended up transferring to SNU her sophomore year, same year Lee Ann was a freshman. Lee Ann was recruited by Notre Dame and had she gone there, I believe she would have played in the WNBA. Sue Bird reminded me of her, even in appearance. Great point guard who got lost in the game, the way Chelsi Welch did her freshman year. Lee Ann and Chelsi are my all time favorite players because of their attitude and the way they played.

 

[womenssports]

I think a game-changer is someone who shows us something new that we haven't had to contend with before. This might result in an advantage that would take a lesser team to the top before they learn to deal with it.

I think Chamberlain was a game-changer. We had seen tall players before, but not with athletic ability. It took a last place team to the point where they were a definite threat to the world champions.

I see Magic Johnson as a game-changer in that he was able to play any position on the court while leading his team to an NBA title, a combination of height and ball-handling skill.

Curry may be a game-changer. They certainly don't know how to contend with it yet.

I think of Courtney as a partial game-changer. We knew that a post was important from the time of Anne Donovan. Four years of dominance reinforced that. Everyone decided that a strong post was necessary after Courtney.

Griner showed that height could be coupled with skill. Now, everyone is looking for the 6-6 to 6-8 player.

I thought that Breanna Stewart was a game changer in that she could do as Magic had done, play almost any position. She might not be a great point, but she can handle the ball, and she has some range. She is versatile.

I think, or thought, Maddie had the ability to be in the mold of Stewart. She isn't quite as strong inside, but is stronger outside and has the versatility to get inside and block shots or bring the ball up court against a press.

If Nancy can actually handle herself at 6-9 or 6-10, she seems to have the ability to take the middle away, more so than a Boyette. She has better hands. The only question is strength, and I think that may be underrated. I've seen her rip the ball out of a forward's hands. She isn't a puny kid. If she can play, it will mean that everyone will be looking for the 6-9 kid to clog the lane.

Like all recruits, we can't be sure what they will do. Nancy does look like she needs to bulk up a little to help her stand her ground; however, she may be very good without doing that. Looking forward to seeing her play at OU. Believe her mother and aunt might also be an asset for her career. You have family who has been in the same position it can make a difference.

Boyette seems to be having her best year. Not sure why it took her so long but her personal story of sexual abuse probably hindered her progress. Just glad she is playing well and hope to see her in the W along with Kay Kay (crossing my fingers.)

 

[tycat947]

Would add Sue Bird to the UCONN players mentioned.

IF Sherri had been hired in spring of 1995, instead of 1996 she probably would have had a player, Lee Ann Bezner a point guard that went to Southern Nazarene University, who really had wanted to go to OU. Obviously did not want to go in the mess it was in. Also, a freshman player at OU whom she knew advised her against it. The other player ended up transferring to SNU her sophomore year, same year Lee Ann was a freshman. Lee Ann was recruited by Notre Dame and had she gone there, I believe she would have played in the WNBA. Sue Bird reminded me of her, even in appearance. Great point guard who got lost in the game, the way Chelsi Welch did her freshman year. Lee Ann and Chelsi are my all time favorite players because of their attitude and the way they played.

What was the mess in 1995? That was after temporary shutdown and during Burl Plunkett's tenure. I haven't heard any complaints of him.

 

[womenssports]

What was the mess in 1995? That was after temporary shutdown and during Burl Plunkett's tenure. I haven't heard any complaints of him.

Thanks. You made me think about this. I believed I was familiar with this when I posted but I should have fact checked. So all I know is the rumor I heard while attending SNU games Lee Ann's freshman year and the transfer's sophomore. That Lee Ann wanted to go OU but then didn't, guess I do not know the reason. Did hear that the soph. transfer from OU was not happy there andd that she had told Lee Ann so. The young woman who transferred was a great person, so not sure why she transferred or what her beef was with OU, if any.

Wow, that was embarrassing, not into throwing rumors around. Had the impression I knew, but it has been almost 20 years, so I just had forgotten the surrounding situation. Maybe she would have gone with Sherri if she had been a year younger and Sherri had recruited her.