Is T. McCowan really that good?

[SirBarksalot]

, or is it that she’s just taller than everyone.

I admittedly don’t watch much women’s basketball. I’ve got the game on now, but have really only watched the big games the last two years.

seems like every time I watch, she’s missing point blank shots. Noticed tonight, and then there’s the championship game last year.

I think even Vic mentioned it tonight.
Maybe it’s just the games I’ve watched , which is few.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Ask that question when she is in the pros. Obviously, you have never played center and do not see what she has to put up with each night. She gets fouls just for standing her ground.

I have seen tall girls who could not do **** on the floor. I understand your position but watch the hands, bodies and hits she takes this next half that don't get called and then revisit your question. Most elite centers in the game became elite in the pros, not college anyway.

 

[SyonaraStanz]

I've always thought this. She's decent but relying mostly on size. She's slow and has no jump shot. She gets beat often in man because she can't move with the opponent. Vick just pulled her for Carter because she couldn't hang with her (wo)man.

 

[Len2003]

She's limited offensively. I can't see her doing a lot in the WNBA. She's essential to our rebounding and putting up offensive misses, but she is slow on D. We are getting burned in the paint tonight.

 

[L4Dawg]

She almost literally gets fouled every time she touches the ball on the offensive end. Less than half of them get called. It has to be frustrating.

 

[Len2003]

UGA just needs to keep drawing T out and going inside. They will win if they do that.

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

The short range shot is her arch nemesis. Often she misses her first attempt, then rebounds and makes her second attempt or gets fouled. Just a moment ago in the 3rd quarter, she AIR BALLED a shot 18 inches from the rim.

 

[SirBarksalot]

Ask that question when she is in the pros. Obviously, you have never played center and do not see what she has to put up with each night. She gets fouls just for standing her ground

Is it really that obvious I never played center? Didn’t know it showed that much.

 

[triton28]

Her attitude will cost us a game at some point this season. Something changed with her since last year mentally.

 

[Hankp22]

Hmm

She struggled her way to 17/20 tonight. And she is the best rebounder in the country. And she is very athletic and a candidate for defender of the year.

 

[mstateglfr]

, or is it that she’s just taller than everyone.

I admittedly don’t watch much women’s basketball. I’ve got the game on now, but have really only watched the big games the last two years.

seems like every time I watch, she’s missing point blank shots. Noticed tonight, and then there’s the championship game last year.

I think even Vic mentioned it tonight.
Maybe it’s just the games I’ve watched , which is few.

She is an excellent rebounder.

Unless something suddenly changes, her lack of straight ahead speed and lateral quickness will limit her significantly at the next level.

I do hope she is able to adjust, but...

 

[She Mate Me]

I can't project her into the pros, but if height was all there was to it, Marcus Campbell would've been an All American and T would've gotten off the bench more as a frosh.

As others have said, she's clearly, not even close, the most effective rebounder in the country. That's a pretty impressive and important thing. I have no doubt she is working hard on the rest of her game, but I'll take best rebounder in the country every day and twice on Sundays.

 

[dickiedawg]

She's got a good shot to go 1:1 in the WNBA draft. So yeah, she's really that good.

Check out this latest mock draft.
http://apne.ws/PVLriwr

 

[MSUDC11]

She’s improved dramatically from her freshman and early sophomore years. Her field goal and free throw percentage this year are the highest of her career. And oh yeah she had 18 and 21 tonight on an off shooting night for her. But of course we have fans who thinks she’s not any good.

She is the Shaquille O’Neal of women’s basketball right now. Sure her game isn’t flashy and her size definitely helps her a lot, but she’s still a fantastic basketbal player and one of the most unstoppable players in the college game right now. The fact that Georgia had a good gameplan to take her out of the game and she still had 18 and 21 tells you all you need to know. Appreciate her while we still have her, because we will probably miss her a lot next year as our young forwards go through some growing pains.

 

[Shamoan]

If she could hit 1 of 4 point-blank layups and not spaz out and just wildly throw the ball in the air, we would be national champions. We are lucky to have her but damn she needs a xanax when she shoots.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Is it really that obvious I never played center? Didn’t know it showed that much.

I did at an itty-bitty school in MS because I was one of the biggest dudes at 6'3" but had no business there.

Sorry if I seemed assholish but those memories of that **** before semi-pro at F/G are awful.

Have a good weekend.

 

[She Mate Me]

If she could hit 1 of 4 point-blank layups and not spaz out and just wildly throw the ball in the air, we would be national champions. We are lucky to have her but damn she needs a xanax when she shoots.

She's shooting 66% from the floor and made 22 straight shots at one point this year.

 

[tenureplan]

If she could hit 1 of 4 point-blank layups and not spaz out and just wildly throw the ball in the air, we would be national champions. We are lucky to have her but damn she needs a xanax when she shoots.

Now I feel better about our men's team. You must have killed it at the tin gym.

 

[Dawg1976]

She can be frustrating to watch but she more than gets the job done. We will miss her when she's gone.

 

[klong-dog]

She's had her roughest stretch here the last few games. She's getting mentally shaken or frustrated early in games. It happened against Oregon and a couple of games since. Regardless, she's still projected #1 pick and reigning National defensive player of the year.

 

[Mayor of Little London]

Best center in wbb we have ever had. No complaints from me.

 

[Shamoan]

So she doesn't need to improve her layup percentage?

 

[Len2003]

She is tremendously important to our team, but the WNBA is going away from true centers like the NBA did. I expect her to get drafted but not do very much. But we will miss her next year. Carter has a high ceiling though. We will probably drop off a little next year due to youth, but we will be back at the top after that.

 

[dawgstudent]

Yes. She's a female version of Shaq.

 

[thekimmer]

Teira is the best center we have ever had and I am thrilled we have her even if she never plays any better than is she right now. With that said, something I believe it was johnnie harris, said last night on the post game caught my attention. She opined that Teira COULD absolutely dominate at her position implying that for whatever reason she does not play up to her potential. Perhaps she has not yet acquired the necessary mental toughness whatever. I really don't expect her to play significantly different with just a half season to go so my attitude is you just take what you have with T and that is still a very valuable asset to the team.

 

[kired]

Was Jerry Rice really that good? Or was he just better at catching footballs than everyone? Would Jeffrey Simmons be the best DL most of us have ever seen at MSU if he was only 6'0" and 200 lbs?

It takes certain attributes to be good at any sport. And obviously height is a key attribute to being successful in basketball. Maybe she's a little clumsy and not the most athletic person... but when you're a 6'7" woman you don't have to be smooth or great shooter to dominate a basketball game.

 

[QuadrupleOption]

, or is it that she’s just taller than everyone.

I admittedly don’t watch much women’s basketball. I’ve got the game on now, but have really only watched the big games the last two years.

seems like every time I watch, she’s missing point blank shots. Noticed tonight, and then there’s the championship game last year.

I think even Vic mentioned it tonight.
Maybe it’s just the games I’ve watched , which is few.

If we hadn't had her last night, we lose that game. She went for like 18/21 or something like that. You think any other center on the team could have done that? Georgia matched her up with a 6'6" center of their own and she more than won that battle.

 

[QuadrupleOption]

She’s improved dramatically from her freshman and early sophomore years. Her field goal and free throw percentage this year are the highest of her career. And oh yeah she had 18 and 21 tonight on an off shooting night for her. But of course we have fans who thinks she’s not any good.

She is the Shaquille O’Neal of women’s basketball right now. Sure her game isn’t flashy and her size definitely helps her a lot, but she’s still a fantastic basketbal player and one of the most unstoppable players in the college game right now. The fact that Georgia had a good gameplan to take her out of the game and she still had 18 and 21 tells you all you need to know. Appreciate her while we still have her, because we will probably miss her a lot next year as our young forwards go through some growing pains.

The number of "fans" we have that continually go full retard with respect to our sports programs always amazes me.

 

[StarkVegas Steve]

She’s improved dramatically from her freshman and early sophomore years. Her field goal and free throw percentage this year are the highest of her career. And oh yeah she had 18 and 21 tonight on an off shooting night for her. But of course we have fans who thinks she’s not any good.

She is the Shaquille O’Neal of women’s basketball right now. Sure her game isn’t flashy and her size definitely helps her a lot, but she’s still a fantastic basketbal player and one of the most unstoppable players in the college game right now. The fact that Georgia had a good gameplan to take her out of the game and she still had 18 and 21 tells you all you need to know. Appreciate her while we still have her, because we will probably miss her a lot next year as our young forwards go through some growing pains.

What?!?!?! Did you ever watch Shaq play the game. She's not in the same stratosphere as Shaq. She might be comparable to Shaq's last couple of years, but Shaq had otherworldly finishing ability and could run the floor. She can't run the floor at all and she has spotty finishing ability. Now saying that, she definitely makes her presence felt inside and her rebounding is elite. If you're looking for a comparison maybe someone like a Tyson Chandler or if you want a throwback player someone like a Luc Longley or Rick Smits.

 

[Go Budaw]

She’s good but woefully inconsistent with her touch around the basket. In the ND game she had some misses that killed us and were flat out inexcusable. In one instance, she caught it and went up, point blank with no foul, and shot it right off the bottom of the rim. That’s just ridiculous for any human being (man or woman) who is 6’7” to ever do.

To her credit, she does practice very good fundamentals that get ignored far too often by players her size. She high points rebounds and keeps the ball high until the traffic clears. She catches it down low and doesn’t bring the ball down to get stripped, just turns and shoots. She’s at her best on the offensive glass, even after her own misses. She’s a much better free throw shooter than you would think someone her size would or should be. Just has some weaknesses in her offensive repertoire that need cleaning up.

 

[MSUDC11]

What?!?!?! Did you ever watch Shaq play the game. She's not in the same stratosphere as Shaq. She might be comparable to Shaq's last couple of years, but Shaq had otherworldly finishing ability and could run the floor. She can't run the floor at all and she has spotty finishing ability. Now saying that, she definitely makes her presence felt inside and her rebounding is elite. If you're looking for a comparison maybe someone like a Tyson Chandler or if you want a throwback player someone like a Luc Longley or Rick Smits.

No idea what she will be like in the WNBA, but the way everything the other team does is focused on her and how she is a super imposing presence on the inside does remind me a lot of Shaq. I’d be willing to bet there’s not another player in the country that has three players draped over her back defending her every game like she has to deal with.

 

[patdog]

What?!?!?! Did you ever watch Shaq play the game. She's not in the same stratosphere as Shaq.

She had 18 points 21 rebounds & 2 blocks last night and everyone's talking about how she's not playing well. Shaq would gladly take those numbers any time in his career.

 

[anon1787432961]

She's frustrated when the other team bodies her up all game. And she kind of just accepts it. I think that's what everyone is talking about.

At Oregon the refs screwed us over with fake flops on the girl guarding her. Since then yes she's seemed to lose a bit of tenacity and swagger. But yes still with less body language she's still all American.

I think we all just want to see her dominate like she can.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

She has height, that's it. She is not "skilled", but uses enough fundamentals to get the job done. She's clumsy (understandably so at that height) and predictable with all post moves. Put a good body on her and she's ineffective as a primary offensive player. As a rebounder/scorer she gets an A+ grade. Compare her to let's say A) Brittney Griner or B) A'Ja Wilson:
Griner would mop the floor with her skillset at 6'8" compared to T because she is "skilled" AND athletic. Would T put up a fight? Sure, but Griner is far superior athletically.
Now for Wilson: At 6'4" She would (and did) mop the floor with T. She's skilled AND athletic, not just tall.

Is T a once in a generation player for State? Absolutely. But I don't see a high level of success beyond college for her.

And no, there is ZERO comparison to Shaq.......

 

[Misfit]

She's not in the same stratosphere as Shaq. .

Shaq's stats for his final year at LSU: 61% of his shots, compared to T's 66.3%; 52.8% of free throws, compared to T's 71.6%; 12 rebounds per game, compared to
T's 13.5 per game. She's not only in his stratosphere, she's on a plant a little closer to the sun than he was.

 

[Walter White.sixpack]

She's got a good shot to go 1:1 in the WNBA draft. So yeah, she's really that good.

Check out this latest mock draft.
http://apne.ws/PVLriwr

This mock draft has her teaming up with A'ja Wilson in LV. That would be quite a pair. Wilson, while shorter, is a much more versatile player. But that combo could be very effective for LV.

The draft also has Lashes going #12 in the first round. So our Women's team could have two first rounders on the team right now.

Notre Dame has FOUR girls projected as being drafted. That's crazy (and they smacked Louisville last night too.)

Other notables:
Sophie Cunningham (MIZ) going first round.
Robinson from last night (UGA) going 2nd round.
Baylor has two girls going.
And everyone's favorite choker, Katie Lou, is a first rounder too.

 

[MSUDC11]

She has height, that's it. She is not "skilled", but uses enough fundamentals to get the job done. She's clumsy (understandably so at that height) and predictable with all post moves. Put a good body on her and she's ineffective as a primary offensive player. As a rebounder/scorer she gets an A+ grade. Compare her to let's say A) Brittney Griner or B) A'Ja Wilson:
Griner would mop the floor with her skillset at 6'8" compared to T because she is "skilled" AND athletic. Would T put up a fight? Sure, but Griner is far superior athletically.
Now for Wilson: At 6'4" She would (and did) mop the floor with T. She's skilled AND athletic, not just tall.

Is T a once in a generation player for State? Absolutely. But I don't see a high level of success beyond college for her.

And no, there is ZERO comparison to Shaq.......

You’re comparing her to two of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Of course Griner and Wilson are better. That’s not the question that was posed though. The question was is McCowan really that good? The answer is absolutely yes. She’s not the best center in the history of women’s basketball, but she’s still a great player at the college level that only a small number of teams have any kind of answer for, and someone who the pro’s think could be very good in the WNBA, as shown by the fact that she’s projected to go 1:1 in the draft this spring, ahead of the 6’8” girl from Baylor.

 

[HotMop]

Yes, she is really good. Proof being that this gets posted after going for18 points and 21 rebounds. We look at these numbers as pedestrian.

We suck.

 

[kired]

Even comparing her to them... her FG% is as good or better, better rebounder than either but doesn't score as much. So it's just a different skill set. I think she'll still be very valuable in the WNBA. One thing you have to consider is she was not near as polished as Griner or Wilson when she started college. Both of those came in as top recruits in the nation. I know T was a 5-star recruit, but she wasn't anywhere near the #1 player. She has improved a lot to get to where she is today.

 

[thekimmer]

She has height, that's it. She is not "skilled", but uses enough fundamentals to get the job done. She's clumsy (understandably so at that height) and predictable with all post moves. Put a good body on her and she's ineffective as a primary offensive player. As a rebounder/scorer she gets an A+ grade. Compare her to let's say A) Brittney Griner or B) A'Ja Wilson:
Griner would mop the floor with her skillset at 6'8" compared to T because she is "skilled" AND athletic. Would T put up a fight? Sure, but Griner is far superior athletically.
Now for Wilson: At 6'4" She would (and did) mop the floor with T. She's skilled AND athletic, not just tall.

Is T a once in a generation player for State? Absolutely. But I don't see a high level of success beyond college for her.

And no, there is ZERO comparison to Shaq.......

I must disagree with you on two points.

1) I agree about Griner and Wilson but then they mop the floor up with pretty much everybody they play against. I fail to see how that is somehow evidence that T is not a great player?

2) You said, "She has height, that's it". Well based on that logic, because her height now is the same as it was when she was a freshman her level of play should be the same. It clearly is not the same thus I must conclude that she has indeed acquired some level of skill that has absolutely nothing to do with her height. Perhaps it is not as much as you and I would like but skills nonetheless.