It’s going to be strange when the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team takes the court at the XL Center on Saturday and we don’t see the familiar #25 of Mel Thomas. Usually we think like this at the beginning of the season when the new and returning faces during the court.
We probably won’t see Thomas behind the bench on Saturday either as she is having her knee surgery Friday at the UConn Health Center. The best bet for her to return to the bench will probably be on Monday night against North Carolina as she will be honored before the game for scoring 1,000 points in her career.
The Huskies had already lost one starter this season, Kalana Greene, with a torn ACL. Now with Thomas out, other Huskies will have to step up their games, primarily Lorin Dixon and Meghan Gardler. I’d have to think Ketia Swanier will move into the starting lineup now to replace Thomas just as Maya Moore stepped in for Greene.
Greene unlike Thomas will be able to play again next season. Thomas, a senior, has used all her of eligibility up and has played in too many games this season to be considered for a medical redshirt.
Given what we’ve heard about the work habits of Thomas, you know she’s going to work hard at coming back 100% to play, whether it be in the WNBA or overseas if she so chooses. Hopefully, the younger girls on the team have seen how hard Mel worked to get where she was at UConn and work just as hard.
I know we will as miss the quick release of Mel as she sticks a 3 or gives her all to hustle back on defense or gives her body diving for a loose ball or her tenacious defensive prowess.
The Hartford Courant put together a list of some of Mel’s accomplishments at UConn and I’ve listed them for you here.
- Against Virginia Dec. 5, became the 29th player to reach 1,000 career points. She finished with 1,098 points, 27th all-time
- Had 224 career three-pointers, fourth-most in school history. Her 40.4 percentage was also fourth-best
- Had 87 three-pointers as a junior, the third-highest single-season total in school history. She hit at least one three in 35 of 36 games.
- Shot 81.6 percent (142-for-174) from the free-throw line in her career, fourth-best in program history. She was 17-for-17 this season.
- Led the Big East in three-point shooting as a junior (42.4 percent).
- Named Big East’s most improved player after her sophomore season. A business major, was named Big East Academic All-Star as a junior for the third straight season. She had a 3.97 grade point average this fall.
- Big East honorable mention as a sophomore.
- This summer, helped U.S. win gold at the Pan American Games for the first time since 1987.
