Buescher to be Named WNBA MIP Today

[1kingzfan]

Congrats to Erin for a great season!!!!

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14301849p-15170151c.html

Monarchs forward Erin Buescher is expected to be named the WNBA's Most Improved Player before today's 12:30 p.m. game against the Houston Comets at Arco Arena, league officials said Friday.

This season, Buescher, a fifth-year player, is averaging a career-best 9.7 points. She played in all 34 regular-season games, including 12 starts, and provided a much-needed offensive option as DeMya Walker returned from having a baby in April.

In her second year with the Monarchs, Buescher set career highs in points (25, vs. Minnesota, June 29); field goals made (eight, vs. Minnesota, June 29); field-goal attempts (15, vs. Minnesota, June 29); free throws made (nine, vs. Minnesota, June 29); free-throw attempts (14, vs. Minnesota, June 29); offensive rebounds (nine, at Charlotte, July 1); and total rebounds (13, at Charlotte, July 1). She also led the team in scoring eight times.

Monarchs coach John Whisenant has said he feels very fortunate to have Buescher on his team, especially knowing she was a throw-in when Charlotte traded Nicole Powell and Olympia Scott-Richardson to Sacramento in 2005.

Buescher scored 3.3 points a game last season and averaged a point during Sacramento's playoff run. Thursday, in the Monarchs' 93-78 victory over Houston, she had four points.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Congratulations Erin!!!! What a season this has been!!!

 

[NothinButHoops]

Major props to Erin Buescher! You have brought it all season, stepped up when the team struggled. The fans are very proud & we have enjoyed watching you play. The work is not done...lets go get Houston!

 

[6th]

Woohoo! You deserve it, Erin. At times, you have been our rock, and you always bring it. You must know the fans love you. The cheers when your name is announced are thunderous. And, who can deny that smile.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised to learn this; I knew that Buescher was a contender, but I still figured that Whitmore was a lock for the award. Buescher worked hard all season, though, and deserves this.

As an aside, I find myself wondering how Trudi Lacey feels about this: we've now traded Tangela Smith for back-to-back MIP's, and won a championship. This has the potential to become a trade of "Parish for Carroll" proportions.

 

[6th]

I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised to learn this; I knew that Buescher was a contender, but I still figured that Whitmore was a lock for the award. Buescher worked hard all season, though, and deserves this.

As an aside, I find myself wondering how Trudi Lacey feels about this: we've now traded Tangela Smith for back-to-back MIP's, and won a championship. This has the potential to become a trade of "Parish for Carroll" proportions.

Bwahahahahahahaha!!! I hadn't thought of that, Mr. Slim. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[StevenHW]

Part of Mr. S£im Citrus' post:

...As an aside, I find myself wondering how Trudi Lacey feels about this: we've now traded Tangela Smith for back-to-back MIP's, and won a championship. This has the potential to become a trade of "Parish for Carroll" proportions.

I said it before (probably on another message board), but I'll say it here:

Trudi Lacey (the Charlotte Sting G.M.) is the best G.M. the Monarchs never had!

We could also thank Roger Griffiths, the Minnesota Lynx G.M., for having traded away Erin after her fine rookie year in 2001.

Thanks Trudi and Roger!

 

[Carole]

Yeah, but it's all about fit. We needed Erin and they didn't. She wouldn't star there like she had a chance to do here. Look at Seimone Augustus. She can't really do what she could do if she had the professional help we do; maybe next year, but this year she doesn't really fit that team. Maybe we could get her!!! She'd fit here, really good. Hey, Seimone.........

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Yeah, but it's all about fit. We needed Erin and they didn't...

That works well enough with Buescher, but how'd she drop the ball on Powell?

Seeing the way that Charlotte utilizes their personnel makes me wonder if we should make an offer for McCarville?

 

[StevenHW]

I haven't been keeping all that much on the Charlotte Sting, but I get the impression that Janel McCarville has been somewhat disappointing in the WNBA ever since she was the #1 draft pick in 2005.

With Yo likely to retire (although there's been no "official" announcement yet) after this season, I wonder who we should get for next year, either in terms of trades or draft picks? Would Janel fit with us? Who should we trade to get her?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I haven't been keeping all that much on the Charlotte Sting, but I get the impression that Janel McCarville has been somewhat disappointing in the WNBA ever since she was the #1 draft pick in 2005...

That was kind of my point: if you just went by Powell's time in Charlotte, you'd swear that she was disappointing, too.

EDIT - As to whom we would trade to get her, after looking at Charlotte's roster, and their relative strengths and weaknesses, I think that we might be able to get a deal done for Kim Smith and a 2nd; that's what I'd offer, anyway.

 

[VF21]

Major props to Erin!

 

[1kingzfan]

Just wanted to say props to the Arco crowd today who gave a tremendous (almost unbelievable) ovation to Erin throughout the award ceremony.

 

[kennadog]

The ovation was great at Arco and Erin just beamed. Great job Erin, you deserved this award! Monarchs fans love you!

 

[6th]

Just wanted to say props to the Arco crowd today who gave a tremendous (almost unbelievable) ovation to Erin throughout the award ceremony.

It was surely something to see (and hear). The crowd was every bit as loud as I expected. The Monarchs faithful really love Erin. What's not to love? She always brings it...and always with a smile.

 

[GeorgeofSacramento]

Erin always smiles during her gritty play and today she made that smile very contagious!

Here's a few grabshots from her award ceremony.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

That ovation was thunderous...what was even better was her teammates reaction to her..I noticed this when I looked at the cover of the folder with the season ticket renewal and playoff ticket stuff. I was looking at that and thinking these pictures are from this year and it looked like all the photos on it were from opening day. While Whiz was unleashing the greatness that was Erin Buescher on the Merc...the starters we all on the sideline giving her the surfer hand signal and that was captured in the cover photo. When she was getting her award, they all had the high sign up again, and she returned the sign to all of them with a huge smile. Thanks George, you captured that return sign moment. Talk about making someone teary-eyed.

The "Erin Will You Marry Me" sign from Monty was CLASSIC. He snuck out there with it and ended up standing behind Erin, Ticha and Renee Brown and when Erin turned around and saw it, she busted up laughing.

 

[StevenHW]

Congratulations to Erin Buescher for a great season!

From the WNBA website, here's an article, and the voting results:

http://www.wnba.com/news/awards06_mostimproved.html

I could understand Tamika Whitmore (of Indiana Fever) getting votes, but the others?

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I honestly can't imagine Whitmore getting votes...she had a fantastic season and all, but she was a freakin' starter for a good portion of her career wasn't she. And she made a heckuva lotta money as a free agent in LA. That was the last award I'd want my name associated with, even considering the cash award and the tiffany knicknack. Mazzante makes sense since she actually got minutes and a role this year, Dydek? (see: Whitmore), Douglass (see: Whitmore..but with an addendum...she went FREAK this season, so I can see a few MIP votes, but it should be MVP or bust for her). Sanford...meh...