I don’t think this is true. I do believe it is important for the league to have more young talent receiving attention. I don’t think anytime believes CC can be replaced as the face of the WNBA.
JuJu Watkins (in 38 games) is 4th fastest to 1,000 points. Took Caitlin 40 games
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Just a reminder: because of covid, Caitlin lost 6 games her freshman year.
The season did not start until Nov 25, 2020.
Empty arenas, too.
Check this out & Watch:
The season did not start until Nov 25, 2020.
Empty arenas, too.
Check this out & Watch:
To be honest, I grew up a Boston fan (largely because my dad was a Boston fan). However, that said ... I was always a fan of Kareem ... serious grudging respect for the man. Loved how he has a strong intellect ... and basketball talent to boot. Boy was it annoying seeing his sky-hook go over the respective heads of Parish and McHale.
I'll agree though ... Magic and Worthy are the guys who made the Lakers fun to watch though ('fun' being a relative term here ... because it seriously irked me at the time watching them dispatch the Celtics ... a great brand of basketball though).
JuJu is off to a rough start from three this season. In five games, she is only 5 of 28 (18%). She is averaging 22 pts/gm.
Baked into all the points and assists was showmanship. When Caitlin was in the game, you could barely blink because suddenly she would make a highlight play. A simple miss from the other team would become a sport center top10 layup in seconds. Casually bringing the ball up court, and bam draining a shot from Cedar Rapids. It wasn’t the consistent scoring and assist numbers, but the flair and excitement with them. Paige is steady as you go with smooth regularity. Juju gets her points every game, but highlights are “another jumper”, more free throws”.
For years, WBB was looked down on as boring without the dunks, but Caitlin’s high risk/reward passing and shooting broke the norm.
For years, WBB was looked down on as boring without the dunks, but Caitlin’s high risk/reward passing and shooting broke the norm.
Kareem was not interesting to watch? I read too fast and thought the discussion was about Hakeem Olajuwon and I concurred. But I don't think Kareem lacked charisma.
My comment wasn't about Kareem's charisma. I think that your response would have more accurately been to pablow's comment.
Well, you did say Magic and Worthy were the guys who made the Lakers fun to watch, not Kareem. I found Kareem very fun to watch.
Unfortunately, I think JuJu is currently suffering from a little too much hype and her game right now is a little sub par because of it. Being anointed as the next "Caitlin" is grossly unfair at this point in her career.
Magic and Worthy ran the court really well ... lots of fast-breaks and whatnot. From Kareem, you got a lot of really skilled post-play ... but, at the time back then, that was less exciting. Not long thereafter ... Michael Jordan then "took over."
I still remember being floored seeing Jordan score 63 points in a losing effort to the Celtics (back in the 80s).
That's why there is only one G.O.A.T. Only one in a lifetime?
Clark only had 30 games as a Freshman and 32 games as a sophomore. Juju had 34 games as a freshmen. 2 straight championship runs bumped CC’s career total up to 139 games. If USC keeps getting bounced early, CC could still end up with more career games. Juju is averaging 21.7 points a game currently in her sophomore year. Unless she starts going on a monstrous tear, she’s not going to catch Clark.
I think she just has more good players around her then last year, and teams know whats coming when she hits the floor. If she averages 30 points on that team there will be star players transferring out of USC. People underestimate the job Lisa and her staff did in blended CC22 megawatt star power within a team concept, and keeping all the other players engaged with a sense of self worth and each player having an important role on the team.
I agree CC’s scoring record will be difficult to top. Too many more elite players entering the major programs to compete for shots. Also, USC & UCLA signed up for a meat grinder B10 schedule where defense is emphasized much more than PAC schools.
I think the next player to break CC’s scoring record will most likely be a mid-major or small D1 school where the player gets -as you said- the keys to the car and a perpetual green light.
If USC averages 85, 90 points like Iowa did, JuJu scoring 30 a game does not mean other star players don't have chances. Unfortunately, too often USC can only grind out 60 some points in a game.
Thats the thing. They don't generally score like that. Remember Iowa led the nation in scoring the last two years at around 92 points per game.
SOLD OUT ARENAS!!! Right? Nope.
AMAZING TV NUMBERS on NBC TV!!! Right? Nope.
Women’s CBB & WNBA Draft Lottery Ratings:
— Saturday Nov 23rd’s #6 Notre Dame at #3 USC women’s college basketball game on NBC averaged 519,000 viewers (including additional streaming viewership tracked by Adobe Analytics).
Attendance (total tickets sold AND distributed) at the Galen Center (USC’s home) for this game was just 7,894. The Galen Center's capacity is 10,258.
— The November 17 WNBA Draft Lottery averaged 137,000 viewers on ESPN, down 32% from last year, when Caitlin Clark was the expected top pick. UConn G Paige Bueckers is expected to go #1 this year.
www.sportsmediawatch.com
AMAZING TV NUMBERS on NBC TV!!! Right? Nope.
Women’s CBB & WNBA Draft Lottery Ratings:
— Saturday Nov 23rd’s #6 Notre Dame at #3 USC women’s college basketball game on NBC averaged 519,000 viewers (including additional streaming viewership tracked by Adobe Analytics).
Attendance (total tickets sold AND distributed) at the Galen Center (USC’s home) for this game was just 7,894. The Galen Center's capacity is 10,258.
— The November 17 WNBA Draft Lottery averaged 137,000 viewers on ESPN, down 32% from last year, when Caitlin Clark was the expected top pick. UConn G Paige Bueckers is expected to go #1 this year.
Ratings: NWSL, Tuesday hoops, F1 and more
Ratings roundup -- a record weekend for the NWSL; another down night for the NBA was a strong one for college hoops; plus F1 and more.
www.sportsmediawatch.com
She is not the draw Caitlin is. Of course no one isAttendance (tickets sold & distributed) for USC's 81-50 home win last night over Santa Clara was just 3,594.
Will JuJu threaten Caitlin's career scoring mark? It will come down to career games x career ppg.
* Caitlin averaged 35 games/year x 4 years. JuJu played 34 games in year 1.
* Right now there's quite the gap in career ppg.
Current Numbers:
Games....Career...........Career
Played.......PPG.............Points
.......38................26.47....................1,006.........JuJu Watkins
.....139...............28.42...................3,951..........Caitlin Clark
USC's Watkins reaches 1,000 points in 38th game
USC's JuJu Watkins reached 1,000 career points in her 38th game, tying the fourth-fewest games in NCAA Division I history, and two games quicker than former Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark.www.espn.com
Don't tell Sheryl Swoopes that!
USC playing California Baptist tonite, up 90-40 with 5 minutes left in game and JuJu still playing.
LOL
LOL
She ends up with ONE assist & 40 of USC's 94 points in their 94-52 win.
Announced attendance (total tickets sold & distributed) was just 2,489
JuJu's stats:
32 minutes
9-11 (81%) from 3
3-7 (43%) from 2
..................................
12-18 (67%) overall shooting
7-8 (88%) FTs
40 Points
1 Assist
6 Rebounds
3 Blocks
1 Steal
I figure it's the 5+ blocks part that Caitlin Clark didn't have?
It will be another three months before ESPN has a chance to broadcast another USC game.
Her shooting %s are up, but she is also taking 4 less shots per game. Her rebounds are down from 7.3 to 6.3, her assts are up .3 & TOs down .3
She is a combo 2/3 who could play 4 in a stretch. She is not a PG and will never pass or shoot w/range like CC.
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Yes but, in my humble opinion, I don’t think they treat the European stars that great
Well these last two games cup cake games have at least lifted her scoring average for the season from nowhere near the top to being second nationally. Her average is getting up to the level she'll need to maintain for the next three years to have a shot at the scoring title.
She's a great player, no doubt about.
Her college stats MAY POSSIBLY eclipse CC by the time she is done, but she will never have the magic and aura that CC generated. CC was on a mid-talented team that allowed her to hit late game daggers to get the win and in a sports market not as packed with competition for fans adoration. JuJu is on a very talented team that will blow out most of their opponents and in a market saturated with greats sports teams drawing away fans attention.
All these teams playing "exhibition teams" as part of their schedule, and winning by 40-85 points. Yeah, no big mystery why nobody is showing up to watch USC practice.
She's just a sophomore, so it's definitely impressive. Hope Iowa can compete by the time they play. Would be a fun game to win.
She's just a sophomore, so it's definitely impressive. Hope Iowa can compete by the time they play. Would be a fun game to win.
I’m waiting to see how Olsen moves around & handles the press. With that said, if it goes as I see it, we will win by double digits. ISU will be tough as a rival as will UNI, but again double digits. MSU is scary because they are good, in conference and there.
We are better than people are assuming.
In that post ^ I'm talking USC in February (2/2/25). Hopefully it will be a big game.
I do like Iowa's chances in all these December games--assuming Olsen can come back at speed. They are all on that equal tier of teams below the top. Watching Tennessee, they are tall and can shoot 3s. If the press throttles Iowa it is going to be tough sledding. If Iowa continues unforced turnovers, also a problem. I think it could go to the wire.
Haven't yet watched MSU, so not sure about that one.
Having watched some USC, Texas, WV, UConn, TCU, LSU, ND, there's a big gap to climb yet. Would love for this team to get there and shock everyone, but it's a tough hill. It's interesting because while Olsen is great, she's not a dominant player taking over any games. Truly requires a team effort.
Too me UCLA, then UCONN (beatable) then Gamecocks, maybe Texas….the rest are barely above us. If our defense is LEGIT and based on the teams we’ve played I see no reason to pretend like it isn’t. We’re a top 15 team or better.
Only 1 assist and only 6 rebounds against Cal Baptist. Better get to work.
Looking at some raw numbers, through 42 games ....
JuJu has had 1124 points, 298 rebounds, and 141 assists.
Caitlin had 1102 points, 274 rebounds, and 299 assists.
JuJu has an interesting skill set insofar that she's a bit more like a big wing ... she can pretty much playing anything from the 2 to the 4. She CAN play the 1 ... but she's still more of a shooting guard.
Anyhow, this flexibility can lead to some interesting match-ups. If she guards a shorter guard ... it's easier pickin's to block shots ... it's not uncommon for her to be matched on a woman who is 5-7. When you have 7 inches on somebody and you have a good wingspan too ... if you have good timing, you're going to block a bunch of shots.
What I find interesting is that she has a great outside game ... but she really is a player who could exploit mismatches in the paint too (although I don't think that this is that much of a part of her game).
JuJu has the potential to be significantly more of an asset on the defensive side of the ball (compared to Caitlin) ... however, on the other hand, Caitlin demonstrated insane range ... AND her ability to see the court is pretty unparalleled.
JuJu has had 1124 points, 298 rebounds, and 141 assists.
Caitlin had 1102 points, 274 rebounds, and 299 assists.
JuJu has an interesting skill set insofar that she's a bit more like a big wing ... she can pretty much playing anything from the 2 to the 4. She CAN play the 1 ... but she's still more of a shooting guard.
Anyhow, this flexibility can lead to some interesting match-ups. If she guards a shorter guard ... it's easier pickin's to block shots ... it's not uncommon for her to be matched on a woman who is 5-7. When you have 7 inches on somebody and you have a good wingspan too ... if you have good timing, you're going to block a bunch of shots.
What I find interesting is that she has a great outside game ... but she really is a player who could exploit mismatches in the paint too (although I don't think that this is that much of a part of her game).
JuJu has the potential to be significantly more of an asset on the defensive side of the ball (compared to Caitlin) ... however, on the other hand, Caitlin demonstrated insane range ... AND her ability to see the court is pretty unparalleled.
UConn has 3 or 4 players that can all create their own shot. Pretty stacked roster. Texas has the Michigan guard from last year (Phelia ?sp) riding bench. With Harmon and Booker they are tough. There are probably eight teams with odds on for the E8. Idk.
We will learn a lot about Iowa in the next 3 games.
We saw over the prior 2 games how our O can go stagnant without Lucy. I love how our players DO look to make the extra pass ... but sometimes if you get an opening you need to able to take it and finish. Kylie and Syd try to dribble drive ... but they're more slashers. The don't have the best off-dribble shot (not comparable to Lucy, at least).
In terms of creating their own shot on the perimeter ... I'd say that Mallegni and Guyton show that potential ... however, on the college-level, I wouldn't say that they are "there" yet.
