Mandy Morales on another Watch List

[GrizBBIsKing]

This makes it two watch lists she is on for this year. This is for the Naismith Trophy. The other is for the Wooden Award.

Morales named to another national watch list
by: Joel Carlson of the UM Sports Information Department
Tuesday, 12/18/2007


University of Montana junior Mandy Morales was one of 50 players named to the 2007-08 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T women's candidate watch list the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday. Morales was named to the 30-player Wooden Award watch list in October.

The Naismith Trophy is presented annually to college basketball's players of the year. The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its preseason criteria on player performances from last season and expectations for the 2007-08 campaign. There are 27 seniors, 18 juniors and five sophomores on the list, which does not include incoming freshmen, who will be considered for the first ballot in January.

"While the major conferences are well-represented, we are also impressed by the players from mid-majors," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "It's proof positive that the talent level of women's basketball is as strong as it's ever been. Selecting the Naismith winner this year will be a challenge."

In January, the Naismith Trophy voting academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, will narrow its preseason list to the top 30 players in the nation. Those players will be eligible for the final ballot in March. In April, the Naismith Trophy winner will be recognized at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Tampa, Fla.

Last year's Naismith Trophy recipient was Duke guard Lindsey Harding.

Morales was the Big Sky Conference MVP as a sophomore in 2006-07 and has earned Kodak honorable mention All-America honors her first two seasons at Montana.

The 5-9 guard is averaging 19.8 points per game through five games this season for the 6-3 Lady Griz. She has missed the last four games with an injury. Morales is also averaging 7.4 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game and is shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from 3-point range.

2007-08 Naismith Trophy Watch List

Name ... Yr. ... Pos. ... School
Matee Ajavon ... Sr. ... G ... Rutgers
Charel Allen ... Sr. ... G ... Notre Dame
Jolene Anderson ... Sr. ... G ... Wisconsin
Nicky Anosike ... Sr. ... C ... Tennessee
Jayne Appel ... So. ... F/C ... Stanford
Tahnee Balerio ... Sr. ... G ... Missouri State
Kimberly Beck ... Sr. ... G ... George Washington
Jernisha Cann ... Jr. ... F ... IUPUI
Essence Carson ... Sr. ... G/F ... Rutgers
Tina Charles ... So. ... C ... Connecticut
Kristi Cirone ... Jr. ... G ... Illinois State
Marissa Coleman ... Jr. ... G/F ... Maryland
Meagan Cowher ... Sr. ... F ... Princeton
Brandy Dahir ... Sr. ... F ... Drake
Allyssa DeHaan ... So. ... C ... Michigan State
Traci Edwards ... Jr. ... C ... Wis.-Milwaukee
Krystal Ellis ... Jr. ... G ... Marquette
Sylvia Fowles ... Sr. ... C ... Louisiana State
Devanei Hampton ... Jr. ... F/C ... California
Laura Harper ... Sr. ... F/C ... Maryland
Amber Harris ... So. ... F ... Xavier
Carlene Hightower ... Sr. ... G/F ... La Salle
Alexis Hornbuckle ... Sr. ... G ... Tennessee
Charde Houston ... Sr. ... F ... Connecticut
Tasha Humphrey ... Sr. ... F ... Georgia
Tye Jackson ... Sr. ... G ... Houston
Kelsey Kahle ... Jr. ... G/F ... Portland State
Crystal Kelly ... Sr. ... F ... Western Kentucky
Crystal Langhorne ... Sr. ... F/C ... Maryland
Erlana Larkins ... Sr. ... F ... North Carolina
Angel McCoughtry ... Jr. ... F ... Louisville
Jackie McFarland ... Sr. ... F ... Colorado
Renee Montgomery ... Jr. ... G ... Connecticut
Mandy Morales ... Jr. ... G ... Montana
Marlena Murphy ... Sr. ... F ... Campbell
Sherell Neal ... Sr. ... F ... New Mexico State
Marscilla Packer ... Sr. ... G ... Ohio State
Courtney Paris ... Jr. ... C ... Oklahoma
Candace Parker ... Jr. ... G/F/C ... Tennessee
Rebekah Parker ... Sr. ... G/F ... Evansville
Tanya Smith ... Sr. ... F ... Hawaii
Takia Starks ... Jr. ... G ... Texas A&M
Toni Thomas ... Jr. ... F ... Cal State Fullerton
Kristi Toliver ... Jr. ... G ... Maryland
Kia Vaughn ... Jr. ... C ... Rutgers
Ashley Walker ... Jr. ... F/C ... California
Marcedes Walker ... Sr. ... C ... Pittsburgh
Abby Waner ... Jr. ... G ... Duke
Candice Wiggins ... Sr. ... G ... Stanford
Monica Wright ... So. ... G ... Virginia

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

Now all she has to do is get healthy so she can get out on the floor and earn this award, and the other one also.

 

[BelierPeaux]

That was going to be my question. I guess she is not healthy yet? Anyone have a clue when she will be? Or even what her injury is, baring any hippa sheenanigans?

 

[Grizbacker1]

That was going to be my question. I guess she is not healthy yet? Anyone have a clue when she will be? Or even what her injury is, baring any hippa sheenanigans?

Selvig has been very open discussing Mandy. He said she got the protective boot removed and has been shooting on her own. He said he hopes to have her back after Christmas. I think he is making a wise choice, Mandy doesn't need playing time. Rob can get some younger players valuable court time, and the ladies have learned they can win without geting 25 points from Mandy, so it is a win-win situation. On top of that, Mandy shouldn't have to play as many minutes with the added depth. :twocents:

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

Mandy should be back for the Santa Barbara game. Likely won't be playing to long.

Cote is getting better and better at point and so is Lauren Beck.

Team is starting to jell. Time without Mandy actually may be a blessing. Instead of depending on Mandy so much for scoring and setting up the play like earlier this season, they are starting do just great without her. Today's game against Washington State was the best game so far this year.

What really is missing when Mandy is out is the transition game. But, hopefully that will return when Mandy returns and gets back to 100% (hopefully by the start of conference). Anyway, the rest of the players are playing better and with mucho more confidence.

And Sonya is shooting the lights out.

 

[votb]

there's no way morales can win that award with the games she's lost. You can dream all you want, but it's not going to happen. The only player in the Big Sky this year even close to qualifying for the list should be Natalie Doma of ISU. 4th in the nation in both scoring and rebounding...9 double-doubles in 10 games...leading ISU to wins over UCLA and Oregon State (in Corvallis)...

I'm usually pretty good at not letting my Bengal colors get away with me...but I just had to speak up about this one...

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

there's no way morales can win that award with the games she's lost. You can dream all you want, but it's not going to happen. The only player in the Big Sky this year even close to qualifying for the list should be Natalie Doma of ISU. 4th in the nation in both scoring and rebounding...9 double-doubles in 10 games...leading ISU to wins over UCLA and Oregon State (in Corvallis)...

I'm usually pretty good at not letting my Bengal colors get away with me...but I just had to speak up about this one...

They must not like Doma. But, they like Mandy and Portland State's Kelsey Kahle. Kahle is also on the list I just posted. So Mandy isn't the only Big Sky player.

 

[votb]

I have to admit it's puzzling. Doma scored 32 on national tv last year vs. Stanford, has done all those other things I mentioned before...and still no recognition.

Actually, I don't know why I'm getting so worked up...she'll get all she wants when she leads ISU to another Big Sky Title!

Can't wait for Mandy to come back...she IS a great player...