Over the last couple of years I've heard more than my share of opposing coaches rave about the skills and work ethic of Maya Moore but today Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw took it to a new level by calling her "the best player ever in the game."

Now those words would be impressive coming from anybody but the fact that they were uttered by a coach who led Notre Dame to the 2001 national title and whose 2000-01 squad beat perhaps the most talented UConn squad of all time (before injuries sidelined Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph) and who will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame later this year made her proclamation carry even more weight in my eyes.

Here is what she said about Moore in an interview I had with her earlier today.

"She's, I think, the best player ever in the game and not just at Connecticut but at the game. She is a really special player who can do pretty much everything that she wants because she works so hard at her game. She can obviously score from the 3-point line, she can drive the ball, she can block shots, she can rebound, she can pass. She has a really complete game. When you watch her work, you have so much respect for her and her accomplishments. She is now the Big East leader in scoring is something she deserves. She is amazing. She is one in a million and she has had just a fantastic career."

Having never heard McGraw speak in such reverent tones about Moore, I was naturally curious when Moore ascended into the "best ever" category in her eyes.

"She has been national player of the year but last year I felt Tina Charles had a great year too so I think with Tina playing so well, I don't think Maya was ever overshadowed but if you looked at what Tina Charles brought, she is pretty good too. Maya is in a class by herself this year and she is head and shoulders above anybody else in the country."