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Ava Heiden appreciation thread

Ava Heiden basketball IQ is light yrs ahead of ogrady. Ogrady has had a few to many turnovers handling the ball on inbound plays. Ava never paniced once help getting the ball up court.
She needed MANY more minutes this year. I appreciate OGrady and how hard she has worked but Ava has the skill set. She will learn as she goes forward how to play defense without fouling so much and she is even getting better at that now. On offense she runs the floor well, her footwork is really strong on offense and her body positioning is strong. She is going to be a difference maker next year. Huge upside! Need to make sure we have the gals that understand how to feed the post. Lucy is really good at that but it is a bit lacking with others.
I was so happy for Ava last night.....she was the difference in that game.
 
Ava came to the rescue at Michigan too. Michigan had gone on a 15-2 run when Heiden hit that reverse layup and started our turn around.

She brings her own energy when she steps on the court. She's looking to score at all times. She runs the court with her hand waiving for the ball. She rolls off picks looking for a pass. She posts and reposts to get in scoring position. She never stops. In crunch time, others look as though they don't want to shot - not Ava. That's a very good trait.
 
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I love Ava’s potential, but if Iowa can make Saturday night, will need a monster game from OGrady on defense to take down UCLA.
We have more bodies now which will help. It’s also nice to see that she has quickness and good hands that will mean fewer turnovers on entry passes
 
I love Ava’s potential, but if Iowa can make Saturday night, will need a monster game from OGrady on defense to take down UCLA.
Might be we will need the best zone defense....collapse in and make he give up the ball.
 
Announcers said (I think) that Ava has long arms. Anyone have info on this? It would certainly help if true.
Also, I think either Hannah's height is not quite what the roster says - 6'2" OR Ava has grown and is taller than 6'4". She seems 3 or 4 inches taller than Hannah in some pictures.
 
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I don't see Jensen suddenly going away from AOG at this point, but I'd certainly expect Heiden to keep getting important minutes. So, we best get behind O'Grady and hope she can do some good things while on the court. If not, I think she's been pulled lately when it's evident her game isn't working.

Conversely, you hope that if Heiden is doing well, she stays with her longer. We'll see.

Great thing to have 3-player depth. Not a big problem if any of them get into foul trouble.
 
Agree but will add more. Ava is better (IMO) then AOG in almost every category every day.
except a 15 foot shot and backdoor pass. I will give AOG that, she is fare better at those two things.
High low.... at least 3-5 minutes a game. At this point mellani's minutes need to be cut to play both hannah and ava.
 
I don't see Jensen suddenly going away from AOG at this point, but I'd certainly expect Heiden to keep getting important minutes. So, we best get behind O'Grady and hope she can do some good things while on the court. If not, I think she's been pulled lately when it's evident her game isn't working.

Conversely, you hope that if Heiden is doing well, she stays with her longer. We'll see.

Great thing to have 3-player depth. Not a big problem if any of them get into foul trouble.

She won’t, but that won’t stop anyone
 
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I wish that Olsen had one more year.
A player like her is so important. I hope like hell we try to find one in the portal. I don’t wanna see the load going on at Addie Deal or Guyton next season. I think our front liners what we have will be fine.
 
A player like her is so important. I hope like hell we try to find one in the portal. I don’t wanna see the load going on at Addie Deal or Guyton next season. I think our front liners what we have will be fine.
Addie Deal is a very good player so I think she will help out a lot
 
except a 15 foot shot and backdoor pass. I will give AOG that, she is fare better at those two things.
High low.... at least 3-5 minutes a game. At this point mellani's minutes need to be cut to play both hannah and ava.
Yep, I was thinking the same thing. Here's my analysis on that and I acknowledge I might be far off.

Those 2 things that AOG does well doesn't necessarily mean that AOG is better at them. It just means that Ava hasn't had the need to utilize those skills.
  • Ava doesn't get the ball far away from the basket because her footwork, strength, and perseverance gets her the ball deep under the basket. Maybe Ava doesn't stray too far from the basket because she can't shoot. I like to think Ava does a better job of working her position to shoot from 2 feet instead of not working/unable to work to get 12-15 foot shot.
  • The backdoor pass works for AOG because she can't do anything else from that position. Her teammates know that and that is why they slash to the basket looking for the bounce pass from AOG. Ava is athletic and fast enough to get the ball deep and creates her own shot from that position. Sometimes, she's already started the offensive move as the ball is in the air. There might come a time when she is doubled teamed or neutralized and needs to add the backdoor pass, but she hasn't had the need to do that yet.
 
I’m well aware how good Deal is. But she still a freshman and I’m not totally sold on Guyton yet but getting close. Another good point guard would go a long ways. on another point, you can never have enough guards so I hope like hell Kylie comes back, her defense is special along with her over all play.
 
I love Ava’s potential, but if Iowa can make Saturday night, will need a monster game from OGrady on defense to take down UCLA.
Just don't agree at all. I'd let Ava front Betts, and not play behind her. Shes long enough and can get off the floor, and would force the Bruins to throw perfect passes, and not double off their shooters. I'd like to see some good minutes with Ava or AOG playing with Stuelke.
 
Yep, I was thinking the same thing. Here's my analysis on that and I acknowledge I might be far off.

Those 2 things that AOG does well doesn't necessarily mean that AOG is better at them. It just means that Ava hasn't had the need to utilize those skills.
  • Ava doesn't get the ball far away from the basket because her footwork, strength, and perseverance gets her the ball deep under the basket. Maybe Ava doesn't stray too far from the basket because she can't shoot. I like to think Ava does a better job of working her position to shoot from 2 feet instead of not working/unable to work to get 12-15 foot shot.
  • The backdoor pass works for AOG because she can't do anything else from that position. Her teammates know that and that is why they slash to the basket looking for the bounce pass from AOG. Ava is athletic and fast enough to get the ball deep and creates her own shot from that position. Sometimes, she's already started the offensive move as the ball is in the air. There might come a time when she is doubled teamed or neutralized and needs to add the backdoor pass, but she hasn't had the need to do that yet.
Agree. Am much as I think Ava should play 30 at the 5. I will say I feel good every time aog shoots from 15. She’s got that down.
 
In tonight's 60-59 loss to Ohio State, here were Ava's stats:

14 minutes

0-0 (0%) from 3
4-6 (67%) from inside the arc
............................................................
4-6 (67%) Overall shooting

2-4 (50%) FTs

10 Points

4 Rebounds (0 offensive)
1 Assist (1 turnover)
1 Block
0 Steals
 
Tonight's leading scorers:

14: Lucy...................................(38 min)
14: Syd.....................................(30 min)
14: Hannah.............................(33 min)
10: Ava freakin' Heiden......(14 min)
7: Kylie....................................(35 min)
....................................................
0: McCabe............................(27 min)
0: Addie....................................(4 min)
0: Stremlow............................(5 min)
0: Guyton...............................(13 min)
.....................................................................................
59 Pts Scored.............200 Min. Available
===============================
 
In tonight's 60-59 loss to Ohio State, here were Ava's stats:

14 minutes

0-0 (0%) from 3
4-6 (67%) from inside the arc
............................................................
4-6 (67%) Overall shooting

2-4 (50%) FTs

10 Points

4 Rebounds (0 offensive)
1 Assist (1 turnover)
1 Block
0 Steals
The block she had was on a shot at the rim just before the 2:10 mark in the 4th and never returned. Sad.
 
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