Md. Game thread

[Blueballer]

Chris said on Post Game she has a headache - wonder why?

 

[donalddoowop]

Again UCONN missed wide open layups. Also, hitting two free throws instead one down the stretch would have taken some of the pressure off. Thank goodness for Jefferson hitting hers.

 

[hoophuskee]

A few, but also very little player or ball movement against the zone. Just standing around.

I don't know about standing around. But I'm with nan. I think their is a mis-perception when a player misses shots - "they are standing around or "they are settling" You and I had a disagreement last time about KLS. You had said she shouldn't be taking shots from when a player is close to her. Yet from what I saw tonight the only 3 she hit was when in fact two (not one but 2) players were close to her.

The other shots she is wide open and not only missed but they weren't even close.

 

[JColes]

What do you mean her true status? She was scheduled to miss games through the end of the calendar year. If she plays a little on Wednesday, that would make her return right on schedule.

I'm not suggesting anything, it just seems like there hasn't been any updates on her status in a long time. Just looking for a progress report.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I'm not suggesting anything, it just seems like there hasn't been any updates on her status in a long time. Just looking for a progress report.

I would say day to day is about the closest way to describe her status. Basically she could enter the game at any time if she feels up to it.

 

[Zorro]

Hey, thanks a lot. Right in the flow. That is what I was wondering about.

 

[calpedaler]

Chris said on Post Game she has a headache - wonder why?

I also have a headache. Maybe she read the Boneyard game thread like I did.

 

[HuskyNan]

I would say day to day is about the closest way to describe her status. Basically she could enter the game at any time if she feels up to it.

Yes, it's Natalie who's holding off due to pain in her thumb. It was in the papers last week.

 

[bballnut90]

For as much as she is harped on, Frese's team looked well coached tonight. Their players sprinted the floor well and did a great job spreading the floor in a half court setting to create space for Jones and lanes for their guards. Players know their role on the court and they executed quite well tonight. Moseley is a little out of control but absolutely blew by her defenders, and Walker-Kimbrough is lightning quick and a big scorer. Jones is automatic around the basket and looks more nimble this year. Maryland is a tough match up for UCONN because they can run with the Huskies and aren't afraid to pull the trigger early in the offense so they don't get stuck trying to score in a halfcourt setting against UCONN's defense.

Stewart and Tuck were outstanding tonight. Stewart was great the last 2 years but has been on another planet this season.

Last comment-they put up a statistic stating Stewart is the only player in NCAA history to have 300 blocks and assists, but that's incorrect. Off hand I know Miller has 300+ in both categories (not to mention 3000+ points, 1500+ rebounds and 450+ steals) so minor error there but she's in elite company nonetheless.

 

[hoophuskee]

md 8/21, UConn 6/17. Pretty comparable.

You're right - I thought they scored more from 3. So they scored 6 more points from three and shot more efficiently. Our bigs of Stewie and Tuck scored 40 points, shooting 17-30. The way the other poster is making it - it's as if Jones was dominating the game on both ends. When you shoot 38.5% from 3 that is pretty good. Not great. But good. Butler would help. But we could score r get open looks basically anytime we wanted. There was nothing Jones could do about that.

 

[hoophuskee]

md 8/21, UConn 6/17. Pretty comparable.

They don't have a lot, really. There's a reason most of these teams are playing constant zone.

I'm sure a reason is we aren't that great yet from 3. But we also know our one two combination in the paint of Tuck and Stewie is amazing.

 

[hoophuskee]

Becca's point is spot on. The rest of WCBB - South Carolina in particular -- now knows that we can be beaten. It will take a great game, but they've got to have hope now.

I thought Becca and as usual I thought Doris were wrong. I think she is wrong so much. Anyways, what keeps game close is also the ability to hit 3's too. We are playing in USC - so maybe they can. But what if USC can't shoot from the outside? How much will Coates hurt us?

IMO same as last year we heard how USC and Duke we'd have to worry about getting beaten up in the paint. Sooner or later this year next year two years from now etc - yes it will happen.

Two weeks ago we heard all fear about our perimeter defense. Now it's the paint. What will it be next week? Suprisingly we are beatable. But still- got to play real real real good to beat our Huskies. And imo - you need balance.

 

[NewCorn]

I feel Geno's staying with her, waiting for her HS confidence to return. But I'm seeing a Nicole Wolff type of career with Lou. Hope I'm wrong.

No way.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I'm sure a reason is we aren't that great yet from 3. But we also know our one two combination in the paint of Tuck and Stewie is amazing.

I think they go hand-in-hand, yeah. Still, outside of Stewart who has far exceeded her career 3-pt% so far, nobody is really having a good year from outside the arc. Chong is now 5-12 in few minutes.

 

[Geno-ista]

No way.

Nutmeg dog- Seeing Nicole Wolff in KLS already??? Where do you come up with that one?
Omg. She's already played big important minutes vs 4-5 ranked teams and is performing really well. Where am I. I was floor level for most of Nicole Wolff's career. She had injuries. But she never got in a comfort zone- timid/hesitant. Beautiful young woman- but KLS is already a light year ahead of her----

 

[SCGamecock]

I thought Becca and as usual I thought Doris were wrong. I think she is wrong so much. Anyways, what keeps game close is also the ability to hit 3's too. We are playing in USC - so maybe they can. But what if USC can't shoot from the outside? How much will Coates hurt us?

IMO same as last year we heard how USC and Duke we'd have to worry about getting beaten up in the paint. Sooner or later this year next year two years from now etc - yes it will happen.

Two weeks ago we heard all fear about our perimeter defense. Now it's the paint. What will it be next week? Suprisingly we are beatable. But still- got to play real real real good to beat our Huskies. And imo - you need balance.

Lately SC has been a much better three point shooting team IMO. Mitchell has found her shot again and is arguably near 100% health wise. Dozier is WAY more comfortable shooting from the perimeter this year and her three ball is finally dropping. Oddly enough, Roy (our 3pt. "specialist") has struggled for most of the season but she hit 3 or 4 threes our last game. Sessions is way more comfortable shooting the three this year, she's been very good from behind the arc even with the few shots she has taken. Cuevas is shooting a lot of threes and needs to make more but even she looks more comfortable on the perimeter.

SC will not be a prolific three point shooting team this year but we do have three bonafide zone busters in Mitchell, Dozier and Roy. A few of our other guards.. Sessions, Cuevas and Colley have shown the ability to knock down shots when called upon.

SC's problem is streaky shooting. Our inside game will be there and they will challenge UCONN inside (Wilson was a problem for most teams last year but she's playing on another level for SC right now). But it's going to take more than Wilson and Coates high-lowing it the entire game to beat the Huskies. Unless they become more consistent and dynamic on offense then they won't be challenging UCONN in February or anytime after that.

 

[Huskies Rule]

Moriah's incredible, twisting, reverse driving layup on 6'3" Brionna Jones made today's ESPN SportsCenter Top Ten Plays of the Day (#5 or 6). She is the best.

 

[AussieHusky]

Hello mates…. & fellow BYers from the Land Down Under (the beautiful city of Brisbane, in the State of Queensland, Australia.)

A little background: resided in CT for 10 yrs.…. Hamden, Trumbull, Stamford…..school and then work…..currently lives in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Been a convert ever since I took my 10 year old daughter to the XL Center to watch Maya et al break The Record against FSU…….. I live and breathe UCONN women basketball here (though about 14 hours later than you…and mostly online as my cable provider thinks that Aussie Rules Football or Netball for that matter was real sports…lol!)

Anyway, I just watched the UCONN vs Maryland game, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would not say that I was totally unsure of the outcome, but to be honest, this game had the feel of the April championship against Notre Dame or the last Stanford game in some respects. We will have a lead and then the opponent will counter…we will then have some “uncharacteristic” turnovers leading to more points for the opposition. Our players sometimes had that look of uncertainty…..3-pt shots were not falling for the most part….our guards and others (Moriah, Kiah & Stewie) will have turn overs…leading to more points for the other team. I was waiting for the patented “run” ……15-2, 22-6, etc.…but none came.

But I enjoyed the game for three main reasons:

(1) We played a worthy opponent….didn’t play out of their set….nothing gimmicky, ie., 5 in 5 out substitution (I have no problem with that but to be honest it is unusual and undoable in most basketball games)…. no shooting 3s at an uncharacteristic click,….. opponent was balanced…..inside game + outside shooting (especially from spacing, ball movement and dribble penetration, etc.…… AND WE WON!!!

(2) Our “big pieces” performed in the clutch……Mo, Morgan & Stewie, ie., the senior elders…played the UCONN System…defense, clutch shot making and calming influence. Saniya, the junior elder, put to rest (hopefully for the doubters) any misgivings about her capability (when given the opportunity) to carry the torch. Gabby and Kiah played as expected against a first rate opposition……within the UCONN System (hard-nose defense, taking opportunities to score when available and limiting mistakes. (some mistakes are to be expected when playing against quality opposition with equally capable athletes as sophomores….on National TV and on such a grand stage).

(3) Pheesa and KLS did not make major mistakes to cause us the game. I gave them double mulligans because to be honest, whatever we get from them on such a stage at such a time in their careers is bonus. We cannot extrapolate the outcome of their performances in HS to this stage…..the type of opposition is different, the speed of the game is different……they have to “learn” to thrive in this environment just as they “learned” to thrive in HS when they matriculated from JHS.

Finally, a word or two to my fellow BYers, especially the old timers (from a lurker who has finally come in from the cold to post)……JUST ENJOY THE GAME. Forget about whether they win by 20 or 15 or whatever…..especially for quality opposition, enjoy how our young ladies performed under the spotlight…..did they wilt in the heat of the moment…?....or did they execute the plays…the high-lows (Stewie to Morgan, etc)….did Moriah break the press as instructed by Geno and CD…?...did they move both ball and man to find the weakness in the Zone…? and most important of all…did they make the shot after implementing the scheme…ala Saniya’s from Kiah’s dribble penetration of the Zone…? Let’s enjoy the mechanics of basketball that this team plays and not obsess over trivial. I hope I do not come across as harsh in these final statements because I love this team and love you guys for the honest back and forth on this board….

 

[hoophuskee]

I think they go hand-in-hand, yeah. Still, outside of Stewart who has far exceeded her career 3-pt% so far, nobody is really having a good year from outside the arc. Chong is now 5-12 in few minutes.

Tuck is also shooting better. She is hitting at a 34.8% clip vs 29.2% and is averaging over 2 3's per game. Last year it was just under 2 3's a game.

Just have to keep taking them when they are open. Just last year Tuck was shooting miserably from 3. If she stopped taking close to 2 3's a game - she would never have gotten better.

I just remember last week - Meg whom I love- was talking about "settling." Yet early in the 2nd half Tuck takes a 3 after about one pass and nothing comes out Meg's mouth. That's because the ball went in. IMO there tends to be an over-reaction of "in the moment" from some media.

The thing is- Tuck and MoJeff and Nurse have the ability to be fine shooters from 3. But Stewie and KLS have the ability to be scorers from 3. IMO Geno has to keep trying with KLS. Though he has the luxury of practices. I suppose if he sees practices she isn't hitting too at some point he'll shut her down. But the upside is way too much to give up on (I know you aren't saying "give-up."). Just saying - as long as practice she is shooting decent - I keep letting her go bombs away like what she has been doing. The payoff IF she starts hitting like projected - would wipe out the zone defense.

***She is 6'3. Everyone saw today the 1st 3 she hit. She was defended and still got off her shot - and it was unaffected. Unlike MoJeff or Nurse or Tuck when they shoot 3's they need more time or need to be hit in rhythm. Stewie and KLS have the ability to be big time scorers (like a pro Reggie Miller or Ray Allen or Dirk Nowitzki) from 3 not JUST shooters (like a pro Steve Kerr).

 

[hoophuskee]

Lately SC has been a much better three point shooting team IMO. Mitchell has found her shot again and is arguably near 100% health wise. Dozier is WAY more comfortable shooting from the perimeter this year and her three ball is finally dropping. Oddly enough, Roy (our 3pt. "specialist") has struggled for most of the season but she hit 3 or 4 threes our last game. Sessions is way more comfortable shooting the three this year, she's been very good from behind the arc even with the few shots she has taken. Cuevas is shooting a lot of threes and needs to make more but even she looks more comfortable on the perimeter.

SC will not be a prolific three point shooting team this year but we do have three bonafide zone busters in Mitchell, Dozier and Roy. A few of our other guards.. Sessions, Cuevas and Colley have shown the ability to knock down shots when called upon.

SC's problem is streaky shooting. Our inside game will be there and they will challenge UCONN inside (Wilson was a problem for most teams last year but she's playing on another level for SC right now). But it's going to take more than Wilson and Coates high-lowing it the entire game to beat the Huskies. Unless they become more consistent and dynamic on offense then they won't be challenging UCONN in February or anytime after that.

No offense - but what I don't like about your team is your pg's. I'm not sold on your team until one of your pg's "becomes more." Yeah they can give UCONN fits. Until UCONN can stroke more 3's efficiently and with volume or have a wipeout defense defending the 3 - we can be had on a given day.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

(2) Gabby and Kiah played as expected against a first rate opposition……within the UCONN System (hard-nose defense, taking opportunities to score when available and limiting mistakes. (some mistakes are to be expected when playing against quality opposition with equally capable athletes as sophomores….on National TV and on such a grand stage).

(3) Pheesa and KLS did not make major mistakes to cause us the game.

This is very generous. Neither of the frosh nor Gabby had particularly good games. Collier, in fact, played less than two minutes the second half.

 

[Kevin G]

Do you take Stewie or Morgan out to play Natalie? And can she score as well as either one of them?

I thought about that as well. I think Natalie could have been substituted in to give Stewie/Morgan a breather for a minute or two without having Jones expose us in the inside while they are out. At least let her work over a 6'5 post player. Geno typically does not do this but it is an option to use Natalie on defensive positions and then substitute on the offensive end.

I understand this was a big game, but Natalie practices with the team everyday and works with Stewie and Morgan so I am not sold on the fact that this game was too big to put Natalie in [response to another comment I read in this thread] even for a few minute stretches.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I thought about that as well. I think Natalie could have been substituted in to give Stewie/Morgan a breather for a minute or two without having Jones expose us in the inside while they are out. At least let her work over a 6'5 post player. Geno typically does not do this but it is an option to use Natalie on defensive positions and then substitute on the offensive end.

I understand this was a big game, but Natalie practices with the team everyday and works with Stewie and Morgan so I am not sold on the fact that this game was too big to put Natalie in [response to another comment I read in this thread] even for a few minute stretches.

There's a difference between playing in a game versus practice. In practice you screw up and the whistle blows so coach can yell at you. In a (close) game you screw up and you lose taking whatever streaks the team had going with it. Huge difference. I don't care how difficult they make the practices. They are still just that - practices. The last time Butler played in a game was March 2014. That's almost two years ago. I think some type of easing in to games is called for especially when recovering from an injury.

 

[johnnyc]

Hello mates…. & fellow BYers from the Land Down Under (the beautiful city of Brisbane, in the State of Queensland, Australia.)

But I enjoyed the game for three main reasons:

(1) We played a worthy opponent….didn’t play out of their set….nothing gimmicky, ie., 5 in 5 out substitution (I have no problem with that but to be honest it is unusual and undoable in most basketball games)…. no shooting 3s at an uncharacteristic click,….. opponent was balanced…..inside game + outside shooting (especially from spacing, ball movement and dribble penetration, etc.…… AND WE WON!!!

(2) Our “big pieces” performed in the clutch……Mo, Morgan & Stewie, ie., the senior elders…played the UCONN System…defense, clutch shot making and calming influence. Saniya, the junior elder, put to rest (hopefully for the doubters) any misgivings about her capability (when given the opportunity) to carry the torch. Gabby and Kiah played as expected against a first rate opposition……within the UCONN System (hard-nose defense, taking opportunities to score when available and limiting mistakes. (some mistakes are to be expected when playing against quality opposition with equally capable athletes as sophomores….on National TV and on such a grand stage).

(3) Pheesa and KLS did not make major mistakes to cause us the game. I gave them double mulligans because to be honest, whatever we get from them on such a stage at such a time in their careers is bonus. We cannot extrapolate the outcome of their performances in HS to this stage…..the type of opposition is different, the speed of the game is different……they have to “learn” to thrive in this environment just as they “learned” to thrive in HS when they matriculated from JHS.

Finally, a word or two to my fellow BYers, especially the old timers (from a lurker who has finally come in from the cold to post)……JUST ENJOY THE GAME. Forget about whether they win by 20 or 15 or whatever…..especially for quality opposition, enjoy how our young ladies performed under the spotlight…..did they wilt in the heat of the moment…?....or did they execute the plays…the high-lows (Stewie to Morgan, etc)….did Moriah break the press as instructed by Geno and CD…?...did they move both ball and man to find the weakness in the Zone…? and most important of all…did they make the shot after implementing the scheme…ala Saniya’s from Kiah’s dribble penetration of the Zone…? Let’s enjoy the mechanics of basketball that this team plays and not obsess over trivial. I hope I do not come across as harsh in these final statements because I love this team and love you guys for the honest back and forth on this board….

Welcome to the boneyard Aussie! Enjoying the team and what it can accomplish is not harsh advice at all. Compliments to you for 'getting it'. Geno made a very good point about the freshmen. They are playing tentative because they are on the floor with three of the top 15 players in WCB, one of them one of the greatest players in the game period. They are still trying to find their place. It will happen.

 

[hoophuskee]

Actually, the games were nearly identical. UConn mostly leading by a small margin, opponent with a close lead, UConn retakes lead, stretches game open, opponent cuts lead down. Only difference is that UConn lead ND by 22 and MD by 13.

It was nothing like the ND game. When you are up by 22 in the 2nd half at UCONN the game is over. The difference of 13 vs 22 points is not something that can be glossed over. Nine points in the 2nd half in which your defense is resigned in giving up open perimeter shots and have to defend the overall bets player in the nation without a clear defender who is at the top of he game -- those nine extra points are a huge difference. If they could push pace that would be one thing but they couldn't do that either. They slow the game down - they have to run a near flawless offensive half-court sets.