Ashley Owusu and Jaz Shelley I would think are obvious PGs, but are on the SG list.
Deja Kelly and Anastasia Hayes I would think are obvious SGs, but are on the PG list.
That PG list itself has a few mid- to low-majors on there, which – while it's a great honor for those players – probably speaks to the lack of PG depth across Division I these days. (As always, no dearth of SG talent at the high-major/Power-5 level.)
And then there's Diamond Miller, who at 6-3 is more of a combo forward and might even have to play some 5 this year, showing up on the SG list... uhh...
Not sure why Collins is even on that list. Her skill set is nothing above average.
I would add -- when you're about to play for your 3rd team in 4 years, and you've never been higher than the 4th or 5th scoring option at any given point in your career, you shouldn't make a preseason watch list.
Last Edit: Oct 20, 2022 13:38:18 GMT -5 by Deleted
Not sure why Collins is even on that list. Her skill set is nothing above average.
I would add -- when you're about to play for your 3rd team in 4 years, and you've never been higher than the 4th or 5th scoring option at any given point in your career, you shouldn't make a preseason watch list.
I think it's just one of those things where she hasn't found the right situation she missed that 19-20 season after transferring because she wasn't the kind of player Kellie Harper wanted on her roster so she transferred to Maryland where she was solid in 20-21 then the 21-22 roster just had too many mouths to feed Ashley Owusu, (healthy) Angel Reese, AND Diamond Miller. The idea behind her placement there is probably that with Cunane gone, the center minutes will go to her and Hobby, Mimi could usurp her with experience and Wes Moore could experiment with a big-ish/versatile lineup up Hobby, Collins, Boyd, Brown-Turner and maybe Saniya Rivers, these won't be the starters for sure but it's a lineup we could see, that could be dangerous on both sides. If a couple game into conference play Collins has taken a spot in the starting lineup, shoots 38% from three on and the Pack are sitting atop a deep ACC at the end of the year.... who knows
So then if Collins is more likely to get minutes at the 4 & 5, it's even more nonsensical as to why she'd be on a Watch List for players who play the 3. 😩
To me, Collins seems like the truest 4 on that Wolfpack roster, considering her "stretch" abilities. Hobby & Baldwin are both listed as centers; and while Boyd will surely start and is an inch shorter than Collins, we saw Boyd get minutes at both the 4 and the 5, and she doesn't really stretch the floor the same way. Shit, maybe – dare I say it – Collins even plays a little 3 (the position she's on a Watch List for, after all!) in a super-big lineup. 🥴 Wuh-oh!
I would add -- when you're about to play for your 3rd team in 4 years, and you've never been higher than the 4th or 5th scoring option at any given point in your career, you shouldn't make a preseason watch list.
I think it's just one of those things where she hasn't found the right situation she missed that 19-20 season after transferring because she wasn't the kind of player Kellie Harper wanted on her roster so she transferred to Maryland where she was solid in 20-21 then the 21-22 roster just had too many mouths to feed Ashley Owusu, (healthy) Angel Reese, AND Diamond Miller. The idea behind her placement there is probably that with Cunane gone, the center minutes will go to her and Hobby, Mimi could usurp her with experience and Wes Moore could experiment with a big-ish/versatile lineup up Hobby, Collins, Boyd, Brown-Turner and maybe Saniya Rivers, these won't be the starters for sure but it's a lineup we could see, that could be dangerous on both sides. If a couple game into conference play Collins has taken a spot in the starting lineup, shoots 38% from three on and the Pack are sitting atop a deep ACC at the end of the year.... who knows
Translation: Players who are highly ranked out of high school and play for blue blood programs (not one but *two* in her case) will always be given the benefit of the doubt by the committees who oversee award lists like this. Even if they haven't necessarily earned it based on their on-the-court production.
(edit:) A perfect example of this is Christyn Williams being a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale award list last season.
I'm not ranting out of hate for Collins or Williams. I don't wish them personally any ill will. It's just that, as a general rule, I'd like to see players from less prestigious programs who have *actually* been balling out get more love.
Last Edit: Oct 22, 2022 11:49:33 GMT -5 by Deleted