They were +32 last season (455-423), and could finish way above that this season.
Last year was the ONLY time that any Geno team has ever finished with more Steals than Turnovers which is quite an accomplishment.
Yes. This was discussed in a thread last season. It was done a few times in the past when the game was very different from today.
By the same token, Azzi’s clutch performance down the stretch in the MI game was critical for the Huskies in pulling out the win.
Did you watch Mi-Oreg last night? Swords and Olsen in clutch time? Oregon slowed MI to a crawl. UConn was not inclined to do that against them. I was at that game. I’m going to rewatch it.
HopJim, say what? From the moment Serah scored the first basket at 8:40 of the first period, UConn led the entire Iowa game! The Huskies had a double digit lead at the end of Q1, Q2, Q3, so when exactly was the game "tight" - the first five minutes of the game?? The same first five minutes when Sarah was 1 for 4 and Azzi was 2 for 3?
This is practically a definition of Azzi's game as well as Sarah's. Against UCLA last season, Azzi scored 19 in the first half and didn't score a point in the second half. But she didn't need to. Those 19 points built the lead they never surrendered, and forced UCLA to focus on her the rest of the game. That's the way it goes some games. In her sophomore year against Iowa, she did something similar to them in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Effectively took the game away from them while Nika was busy smothering Clark's offense. Did the same thing to Baylor in the tournament that year. Of course, there are some games when she dominates from start to finish, like the Texas and NC St games early that season. But she seems to have learned that it's better to open things up for teammates. This was always Paige's way, to beat opponents not with her scoring alone, but also with her teammates, who she sometimes seemed to wield like a cudgel. Sarah also has a very good sense of this bit of wisdom.
I’m shocked when she misses the first. She never misses the second.Ziebell just needs to get fouled a few more times.
Yeah, it's strange that although Azzi was 2-4 on threes, her percentage went down. That's the problem with great shooters; they have to shoot great every night.
On the flipside Azzi put the game away. I love teams that put their foot on someone's throat and don't let them get up. Earlier in the season they let other teams get back up.
Not by UConn. NEVER. I would be curious to see what "era" you are referring to "when the game was very different" as steals vs. turnovers would have to indicate significantly less turnovers, meaning significantly less steals on the other end, sort of mutual offset.
You are correct that Connecticut had never done it until last season. Here's the thread from this past March:
That’s a strong reaction. Sarah was the main scorer to get UConn the comfortable advantage against Iowa. It was far from clutch time but UConn rarely sees that. And, yes I agree Azzi came through when Michigan was making their late run. No one doubts her. She’s great.
cwh20, not clear at all with your response to my post, which was a response to HopJim's. His post spoke to a focus on Huskies scoring in tight games or pressure situations vice caring about Azzi's 50/40/90 which was the original subject of this thread. Then he offered Sarah's performance in the the Iowa game in an attempt to illustrate his point.
Hmmmm....Azzi? More like 50/55/100
When I originally wrote it, I had 100% in there. The only reason I changed it, was I did not want to jinx her. You know, the sports superstition, and all.
