Just because ND'd defense "wasn't as super great as UCONN" two years ago doesn't mean ND's defense wasn't great. Two years ago Stewie shredded them. When number 2 loses number 1 it doesn't mean number stinks.
Secondly I spoke of "money games" which is the NCAA tourney. A reg season matchup in which Loyd gets 31 at home and they are a decided underdog which means you can play loose vs UCONN is very different than a "money game" which I referenced above in NCAA's.
Third- as I stated before - Loyd is going to be facing teams professionally more like UCONN not like teams like Mich State. Big difference.
Fourth- just becuase McBride had struggled in other games doesn't take away from the "money game" last year in which she was terrific vs UCONN. I speak of the money game- when all the cards on the table - winner take all. That's where you make your bones. Loyd's money games vs UCONN have been awful thus far. On the flip side Stewie's "money games" have been terrific. You can downplay last year but NOT the year before.
FIve- all I'm saying is money game in NCAA's "do it" vs UCONN. The real great ones - you give thme three or four shots in a "meony game" they will eventually explode or justplay really "big." Just as Larry Bird had done as teams collapsed on him. Justas eventually McBride was terrific- loyd may vey well have two more shots vs UCONN. SHOW ME- in a money game vs UCONN she can be efficient. You don't have to win.
1. Notre Dame's defense wasn't great in 2013, 2014, and they aren't a great defensive team this year. What about their defense is great in your opinion? Also, not sure what you're saying in the last part of this one.
2. If you're only willing to look at Loyd's body of work in the NCAA Tournament, you will see that Loyd has played very well in non-UCONN "money games." She had 17 points against Duke in the regional final in 2013, 30 against Baylor in last year's regional final, and had 16 in their Final Four romp of Maryland.
And Notre Dame was not a huge underdog at all going into the Connecticut game. UCONN was ranked lower in the polls and there were ample questions about how good UCONN was this season after their loss at Stanford. People on this board were even picking Notre Dame to win the game, and I don't think I've seen so many people pick a team to beat UCONN on the BY since pre-Maya Moore days.
3. As I said previously, how you perform against Connecticut is not an indication of how well you'll perform at the next level. Chiney Ogwumike was outstanding as a rookie and I don't think she ever had a stand out game against Connecticut in 5 tries. Odyssey Sims shot 4-25 against UCONN last season and had a great rookie year. And even with that said, Loyd scored 31 points against UCONN this season which is more than McBride, Griner, Diggins, Parker, Sims, etc. ever scored in one game against UCONN.
4. I think you're a little too preoccupied on the UCONN-Notre Dame head to head matchups in the NCAAs. As I pointed out earlier in this post, Loyd has been pretty darn good in other "money games." Stewart has outplayed her head to head in the Final Four. I'm not arguing that, nor did I try to discredit Stewart's outstanding game in 2013 against ND.
5. I don't know why you're hung up on the two Final Four games against Connecticut where she struggled. Almost everybody struggles against Connecticut. Her first year she was the fourth option offensively. Last year she was playing without Achonwa so UCONN was able to smother her and McBride defensively. McBride was able to hit a few more shots than Loyd, but I don't think Loyd's poor showing the title game warrants a label of crumbling in big games.