Only a fool cannot see that Paige plays at the highest level of basketball. First things first, is there any one in women’s collegiate basketball who can manage bank shot or direct shots from the left or right as well as Paige? She is proficient shooting with either hand from close in. She one of a few that chooses not to risk having a lay up blocked and shoots the short jumper. Paige can do it all.
I am reminded of a comment Geno made regarding last year's team without Paige. If had something to do with making bad plays and turnovers. It was something like: I tell these guys what to do, and they don't do it. Either they don't want to, or they don'tthey need to or they can't. I see what's wrong, and I can tell them until I'm blue in the face. If Paige was out there, she'll see it, and she'll fix it. All those team huddles during stoppages usually involve Paige giving instructions. That really was missed last season.
Those 4 and Paige against any other schools top 5. No contest. Although there are great players that would have a say in it at some schools. Like Tennessee
Strangley, they all had weaknesses. DT was not a great shooter and defender, but the ultimate winner. Maya couldn't spell D at first and had no idea how to do anything but iso until her Sr year. Sue wasn't as much an offensive force and couldn't take over games like Paige can on both ends. Stewie was the closest, both unbelievably impactful on both ends, but Paige has had more pressure, less talented teammates, and doesnt have to rely on others getting her the ball. Paige is also the psychologist and teacher on the floor, by necessity, and is even playing out of position. Stewie was the star, but Paige has to be the star and the coach on the floor, and only DT had as much Dawg and clutch gene as Paige. The one thing that separates her from everyone I've ever seen in women's ball is her knack for knowing exactly what to do and when. It's not always the last 2 minutes, sometimes you can break a team early. Just the other night she led 17-0 run practically by herself, early on, and that was it. She often, with this team, gets them out to an early lead by being more aggressive offensively than is her nature, but she does it to take the pressure off the freshmen. Get a lead, they're less afraid of missing an open look and they stay agreesive and confident. That's particularly important for this team, as they can only win if they really bust it defensively. D is all about energy and focus, and if younger players are not contributing offensively, it gets in their heads and it hurts the D effort. Paige knows this, so she both takes the pressure off of them by getting them to a lead, but she knows where they like the ball and she purposely passes up her own looks to get them the ball where they want it. Her belief in them is not lost on them and it's hard to overestimate how important that is or how difficult is is to do. She's one of a kind.....no weaknesses at all in her skills(in fact,elite across the board), but the most intangibly gifted player since DT, and considering the things she's had to do ( work with freshmen, change positions), perhaps even more so. She not the most accomplished player in UConn history, because titles will always bias that, but I'd challenge anyone to make a case that she not the best player. Both traditional and advanced metrics point to her in a big way, but I beleive her unmeasureables are even greater. I can only imagine what she'd be like teamed with some of the UConn greats. Watch her HS and FIBA film and you see something no one ever mentions....her passing is other worldly when she has talent around her that lets it manifest. DT actually called her the best player already as a freshman and specifically noted her passing. She's one of one.
@@cbrend22 Shaq, wilt, Larry Bird , John Stockton, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Hakeem and more are some of the greatest players ever to play. Top 10 players. HOF players. They have 1 thing in common. None of them won a college championship. Mostly because their team didn't have enough talent. Also, college is single elimination. 1 bad game or an opponent getting hot. Foul trouble. Anything can happen. Stars usually play well. It's not enough sometimes .
Paige is the second best player in women’s college basketball and only a hair behind Caitlin. UConn will make it to the final 4 because she is that good and UConn is decimated with injuries and has been all year
Of course she isn't going to compete with them in terms of legacy (a lot of that has to do with missing so much time due to injuries), but that doesn't mean she isn't arguably a better basketball player than some of them.
Yeah.... she is better than 7 championship in 15 years or something crazy like that... She is barely top 3 in her class. But she will be on top of top 10 female players all time... Common felisha...
@@baudrex Championships take a team effort and require you to be on the floor to compete for them. What she is talking about is simply how good of a basketball player Paige is and I agree with her. You can say what you want about Diana and Breanna, but they weren't exactly carrying a team to titles, but were simply the best player on a talented team with a great coach. Paige has been out the last two tournaments and may have won a title in one of those years if not injured. Her team is also depleted with injuries this year so it will be a major uphill battle to take them all the way this year.
@@cobra7282Exactly. People mix up/confuse legacy (titles, etc) with sheer talent and ability. My favorite player was Sue Bird. Paige has more overall ability than Sue, and if you ask her, she would most likely agree.
I cannot stand Geno for the unethical, heartless turd that he is, and consequently wasn't feeling Paige (or most UConn players in general) til I heard she (Paige) ignores and waives him off when he's acting up 😂😂😂.... Coach Legette, Dawn (Gamecock Nation), and Mr. Kenny (V Tech, now Kentucky) are pure...... You see they are different...... and that makes all the difference. I wish all 3 programs nothing but the best.
