UConn-Notre Dame Preview

by doggydaddy

UConn / Notre Dame BE Championship game
Tuesday March 12th, 2013 , 7:00 PM.
TV – ESPN2

UConn – 29-3 overall, 14-2 conference
Notre Dame – 30-1 overall, 16-0 conference

Semi-Final results

Notre Dame – 83-59 over Louisville. Notre Dame had another slow start, this time against Louisville, but ite didn’t take long into the second half to pull away and win this game fairly easily. Diggins was on fire from beyond the arc and the usual suspects, Ochonwa and McBride contributed to the win. ND was able to keep everyone under 30 minutes, so they will be fresh and rested for the championship game

UConn – 64-51 over Syracuse. UConn was as efficient as they have been all season in this tourney.The only reason SU was even close in the first half was great 3 point shooting, something I mentioned they wouldn’t be able to repeat from the first Syracuse/UConn game this season. Connecticut picked apart the SU zone with pinpoint passing and solid shooting. They played a true 9 players again and everyone contributed. Then they played the second half. UConn held on, but it was anything but pretty. All the starters played extended minutes but UConn is so well conditioned, I don’t see that big an impact in the final against ND. Sloppy play that can’t be part of the ND game.

Probable Starters

UCONN
G – Jefferson FR 5’7″ (4.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.8 apg)
G – Hartley 5’9” JR (9.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.8 apg)
G – Faris 5’11” SR (10.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.0 apg)
F – KML SO 6’ (17.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg)
C – Dolson 6’5” (14.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.2 apg)

Bench
Doty 5’10” SR (3.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Stewart 6’4″ FR ( 12.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, .9 apg)
Tuck FR 6’2” (6.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Stokes SO 6’3″ (2.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .7 apg)

Coach – Geno Auriemma

NOTRE DAME
PG – Diggins 5’9” SR (17.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.9 apg)
SG – Loyd 5’10” FR (11.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg)
SF – McBride 5’11” JR (15.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg)
PF – Braker 6’2” JR (5.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.5 apg)
C – Achonwa 6’3” JR (14.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Bench
Turner 5’8” SR (4.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Wright 6’2” SO (4.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .9 apg)
Cable 5’11” SO (4.4 ppg, 3.36 rpg, .9 apg)
Mabrey 5’10” FR (3.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.1 apg)

Coach – Muffett McGraw

Team Stats Uconn listed first

Points PG – 82.6 81.5
Rebounds PG – 43.3 44.1
Assists PG – 21.1 19.4
TO/G – 14.3 15.7
Opponents PPG – 49.1 57.7
FG % – 49.3 45.8
Opponents FG% 31.2 36.7
3pt % – 37.7 33.4
Steals PG – 10.7 11.1
Block PG – 6.0 3.9

Final analysis – Ladies and Gentelmen, Boys and Girls. For the thousands in attendance and the millions watching around the world…..LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLE!!!!!!!!!!

Doesn’t it feel like a heavyweight boxing match? Two great teams, facing off for the third time this season. The first game decided by 1 point and the second went into 3 OT’s before being decided. Although UConn was on the short end of the outcomes both times, don’t count them out by a long shot. And, as UConn fans know, it’s much more than that. Winning breeds confidence and there is not team as confident in themselves and their ability to beat UConn as ND. All you had to see was the halftime interview with Coach McGraw and Skylar Diggins. UConn really struggled in the the second half against Syracuse and that team will lose to ND. UConn will have to play smart AND aggressive, not an easy task against Notre Dame.

Final prediction – I think it comes down to mistakes and Uconn keeping them to a minimum. ND will play their game. Tough defense, aggressive offense and clutch shooting. UConn has to match that toughness and keep their composure, something they struggled with against SU. UConn in another close one. I’ll keep picking them until they win.

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