2 Big Obstacles out of the way - Baylor & Texas

[BostonFan]

Both were threats to UConn because of their front line size & style of play. Odds just went up!!

 

[LoTrader]

Not sure what teams are "real" threats to UCONN, but UCLA & OSU are both BIG (long). OSU's starting 5 are:

6'5"
6'3"
6'2"
6'
5'10" (but top rebounding guard in the PAC-12)

 

[Reypl21]

Not sure what teams are "real" threats to UCONN, but UCLA & OSU are both BIG (long). OSU's starting 5 are:

6'5"
6'3"
6'2"
6'
5'10" (but top rebounding guard in the PAC-12)

Holy cow. They are big.

 

[JordyG]

Not sure what teams are "real" threats to UCONN, but UCLA & OSU are both BIG (long). OSU's starting 5 are:

6'5"
6'3"
6'2"
6'
5'10" (but top rebounding guard in the PAC-12)

Yep they're big. But we've beaten these teams and will so again.

 

[CBear01]

Both were threats to UConn because of their front line size & style of play. Odds just went up!!

Wouldn't it seem logical, then, that the teams that just beat our threats are threatener?

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wouldn't it seem logical, then, that the teams that just beat our threats are threatener?

Or conversely if UCLA and Oregon St. took them out, UConn would've been able to handle them as well.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Yep they're big. But we've beaten these teams and will so again.

I think UConn is a nightmare matchup for OSU, just like 2 years ago. They play solid post defense, get out to shooters on the perimeter, force turnovers and score lots of points in transition. Efficient and disciplined on offense. Very well coached so Rueck wouldn't have a big edge in the coaching department like he did against Tennessee. They couldn't meet until the Championship Game, I have a hard time seeing OSU getting that far. If they do and they meet UConn I don't think it would go well for OSU.

 

[eebmg]

Never thought of TX as a threat. Baylor on the other hand.

I think Miss St is our biggest threat and will throttle UCLA. I think Oregon gets through over ND who blitzes TAMU and would give UConn all it could handle. I also think OSU gets in over Louisville (not convinced) and perhaps has a puncher's chance at Miss St which should be a fantastic game. I am really getting into the tournament. A lot of good teams, more than I can remember in a single tournament.

Still, we got to take care of business.

 

[Sonny44]

So much for Texas Titans BB!

 

[MainefanSC]

Let's take care of the big obstacle in front of us today. We, as fans can look ahead, but must keep focus on the present.

 

[Bobcat]

And maybe the Big 12 or SW conference, or whatever they call themselves these days, is not as strong as they think they are. Which is interesting because Mulkey often cites the allegedly strong competition in conference as reason for Baylor’s weak OOC schedule.

 

[oldude]

Agree that getting rid of Baylor feels good, but frankly the Bears played a weak schedule and without Wallace, they were exposed by the Beavers.

TX played their very best game of the year against UConn in Austin and lost. Since that time, the Longhorns have looked like a team in turmoil, particularly against good teams. I never considered them a threat.

OSU is extremely well coached, they have a really good post player and they shoot the ball well, but they don’t have the athleticism to beat UConn. I do believe OSU will give Louisville a battle but end up losing.

UCLA is playing their best basketball of the year right now, but they have a matchup with the 2nd best team in the country ahead of them. Don’t see them beating MS St.

 

[Centerstream]

Not sure what teams are "real" threats to UCONN, but UCLA & OSU are both BIG (long). OSU's starting 5 are:

6'5"
6'3"
6'2"
6'
5'10" (but top rebounding guard in the PAC-12)

And their win against Baylor was basically due to 3 players, Gulich who played great, Cox who fouled out (rightfully so) and Brown who disappeared offensively in the second half. UConn usually has no problem defensing a single player, no matter how tall she is. But I am glad that OSU beat Baylor, but the MOV should have been a bit larger....

 

[GoUconn7961]

Well so far I'm batting 1000 on my picks for this weekend.
After watching Baylor and TX play last night I'm not sure what we were all worried about...

 

[jdubct]

It seems every tournament some difficult matchups for Uconn lose. Yet other challengers remain: most notably Louisville, N. Dame and Miss. State. Assuming Uconn plays reasonably well and takes, as always, one game at a time, the team should make the championship game. Probably Uconn will meet its chief challenger, Miss. State, in the championship game.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I also just realized that I'll be in Vancouver on vacation during the FF and the NC game.
I'll have to set my DVR...

 

[scubadog]

Both were threats to UConn because of their front line size & style of play. Odds just went up!!

Neither team was ever a threat to UConn ! Only in Antonelli's head !

 

[Geew1992]

Never thought of TX as a threat. Baylor on the other hand.

I think Miss St is our biggest threat and will throttle UCLA. I think Oregon gets through over ND who blitzes TAMU and would give UConn all it could handle. I also think OSU gets in over Louisville (not convinced) and perhaps has a puncher's chance at Miss St which should be a fantastic game. I am really getting into the tournament. A lot of good teams, more than I can remember in a single tournament.

Still, we got to take care of business.

Doesn’t Oregon state play Louisville

 

[MilfordHusky]

I had a list of about 6 teams that I thought could challenge UConn. Because of their size, Texas and Baylor were 2 of them. Plus, Texas played us very tough. I think the matchups just got a little easier for us. Not easy, but easier. Let’s focus on Duke for now.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Doesn’t Oregon state play Louisville

Oregon is in the bracket with ND. Oregon State is in with Louisville.

 

[scubadog]

I had a list of about 6 teams that I thought could challenge UConn. Because of their size, Texas and Baylor were 2 of them. Plus, Texas played us very tough. I think the matchups just got a little easier for us. Not easy, but easier. Let’s focus on Duke for now.

So you drank the " size " coolaid, huh ?

 

[HuskylnSC]

Not sure what teams are "real" threats to UCONN, but UCLA & OSU are both BIG (long). OSU's starting 5 are:

6'5"
6'3"
6'2"
6'
5'10" (but top rebounding guard in the PAC-12)

I believe O state is our toughest competition. They are not only big but mobile, I have more concern about O state than either Baylor or Texas. O state has athletic bigs where Baylor Miss St and Texas has size and bulk. This team can run with us and can match up with our big guards. . The question is can the run long enough to stay in the game.

 

[Geew1992]

Oregon is in the bracket with ND. Oregon State is in with Louisville.

I knew that. And was thinking OSU cuz the post spike of last nights games. Ugh...it would just be easier if they both bow out

 

[msf22b]

It seems every tournament some difficult matchups for Uconn lose. Yet other challengers remain: most notably Louisville, N. Dame and Miss. State. Assuming Uconn plays reasonably well and takes, as always, one game at a time, the team should make the championship game. Probably Uconn will meet its chief challenger, Miss. State, in the championship game.

The Mississippi St offense looks an awful lot like one Geno could have created

 

[cohenzone]

Duke is a threat to UConn because that’s who we have to beat in order to beat the next threat to UConn. But of course Duke and hopefully whoever else has to deal with us. But overall the level of coaching seems deeper than it’s been. I don’t know about Mulkey. She’s wound tight and that probably affects her players. I can’t imagine Geno winning just one championship with Griner and Sims together for 3 years.