6 points away from being 3-0 vs ND.

[DanDar]

Last night they shot poorly (no 3 pointers made) and in last ten minutes a defensive change to trap and cause turnovers lead UConn to eliminate a 13 point deficit.

Sure they need to work on offensive execution late in games when you're tired, but the season is not over yet. They can still fix it.

If we meet them again, we can fix it. That's what happened to UConn 3 years ago but UConn was beating them by even more than that. Closest game then was 3 points and yet ND beat UConn in the NCAAs. There is still time to fix what ails them.

 

[bmayuc]

Last night they shot poorly (no 3 pointers made) and in last ten minutes a defensive change to trap and cause turnovers lead UConn to eliminate a 13 point deficit.

Sure they need to work on offensive execution late in games when you're tired, but the season is not over yet. They can still fix it.

If we meet them again, we can fix it. That's what happened to UConn 3 years ago but UConn was beating them by even more than that. Closest game then was 3 points and yet ND beat UConn in the NCAAs. There is still time to fix what ails them.

Uh yes. And due to epic collapses and problems that they cannot fix (lack of guard play, composure) they will be 6 points we will probably never be able to find.

sent from my Galaxy Note 2 using tapatalk

 

[trisailin]

Uh yes. And due to epic collapses and problems that they cannot fix (lack of guard play, composure) they will be 6 points we will probably never be able to find.

So to apply your "logic", then let's not even bother going to any more games. It's a lost cause. No need to practice any more since it's settled

Where do you come up with this stuff?

 

[bmayuc]

So to apply your "logic", then let's not even bother going to any more games. It's a lost cause. No need to practice any more since it's settled

Where do you come up with this stuff?

I didn't say that. I just said that our problems are structural and unlikely to change.

Teams with good guard-play tend to close out games well because the skills that grow in importance in the crunch are guard related skills : Composure, ball-handling, clock management, on-ball defense, speed/quickness, free throw shooting.

How did we lose those three games? Turnovers from guards, lack of composure, poor free throw shooting.
How did Notre Dame win three games? Making free throws, playing tenacious on-ball defense, and getting penetration on offense.

Given our guard play, it is unlikely that that changes. That's my only point. So we better be up 10 with 3 minutes to go.

 

[Icebear]

Uh yes. And due to epic collapses and problems that they cannot fix (lack of guard play, composure) they will be 6 points we will probably never be able to find.

sent from my Galaxy Note 2 using tapatalk

Simply one of the dumbest appraisals of the situation that one can imagine.

 

[Woof 101]

I have read dozens of reasons here on why we lost last night. I can't believe nobody has mentioned the perfect storm situation.
It is the week of St. Patricks Day!
A new pope is being elected!
Last but not least ND was the home team!

 

[glenn fisk]

Can we take a moment,before we micro-analyze rhe guard play,the team play,etc.,and realize that this team has had some bad luck with injuries of late.Hartley is just beginning to get her rhytmn,Kelly was hurt from the last game,Doty,another out of sorts all year after medical problems,Banks gone for the year.We are relying on hurt people,and untested frosh to be dominating in women's basketball.Few teams,including Notre Dame and Baylor,could win games against the best competition,with so many key people hurt,out,or untested.I say,that all these girls,deserve and should get high fives,for even being as close as they have been in their four loses.

 

[Sakibomb25]

Can we take a moment,before we micro-analyze rhe guard play,the team play,etc.,and realize that this team has had some bad luck with injuries of late.Hartley is just beginning to get her rhytmn,Kelly was hurt from the last game,Doty,another out of sorts all year after medical problems,Banks gone for the year.We are relying on hurt people,and untested frosh to be dominating in women's basketball.Few teams,including Notre Dame and Baylor,could win games against the best competition,with so many key people hurt,out,or untested.I say,that all these girls,deserve and should get high fives,for even being as close as they have been in their four loses.

I don't think that's the right approach. Every team is banged up, especially at this time of year. Every team has injuries that no one talks about. You just play with who you have and don't worry about who you don't have.

The team should get a high-five, regardless of injuries, because they competed hard and competed until the end. That's what should be celebrated.

 

[vtcwbuff]

I don't think that's the right approach. Every team is banged up, especially at this time of year. Every team has injuries that no one talks about. You just play with who you have and don't worry about who you don't have.

The team should get a high-five, regardless of injuries, because they competed hard and competed until the end. That's what should be celebrated.

I agree. None of us have a clue about how much injuries (if any) impacted play.
People on here tend to look for excuses for poor play. Most often it's the refs or it's nagging injuries.

 

[ladybears4eva]

Last night they shot poorly (no 3 pointers made) and in last ten minutes a defensive change to trap and cause turnovers lead UConn to eliminate a 13 point deficit.

Sure they need to work on offensive execution late in games when you're tired, but the season is not over yet. They can still fix it.

If we meet them again, we can fix it. That's what happened to UConn 3 years ago but UConn was beating them by even more than that. Closest game then was 3 points and yet ND beat UConn in the NCAAs. There is still time to fix what ails them.

I doubt that anyone likes to think of moral victories, but this can become painful.

I wonder if can take the moral vistory from stanford since the team almost beat them without Sims and allowed our frosh PG to grow up quick?...

its a rough bargaining tool.

Although i do believe UCONN is a great team, ND is ahead at this time of the year, despite their 12 point loss to Baylor.

 

[ladybears4eva]

Injuries are a terrible thing to ponder, on both sides of the court.

 

[bmayuc]

Simply one of the dumbest appraisals of the situation that one can imagine.

Appreciate the insult, but do you have a counterpoint?

We did everything we needed to do in all 3 of those games to win, with the exception of 1 thing: close it out. And the problem is guard play. And that is not going to change this season.

Its not complicated.

 

[Icebear]

Appreciate the insult, but do you have a counterpoint?

We did everything we needed to do in all 3 of those games to win, with the exception of 1 thing: close it out. And the problem is guard play. And that is not going to change this season.

Its not complicated.

Yes, it has been stated in several threads. The dumbest part was your assumption that there are things that cannot be fixed, as well, as that the games were lost by EPIC collapses.

 

[Aluminny69]

Simply one of the dumbest appraisals of the situation that one can imagine.

I can't believe you felt the urge to post this. How does this statement add anything to the discussion?

 

[Icebear]

I can't believe you felt the urge to post this. How does this statement add anything to the discussion?

In the same manner your post has by holding someone to be accountable for the language they choose. The losses were neither Epic nor uncorrectable.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Yes, it has been stated in several threads. The dumbest part was your assumption that there are things that cannot be fixed, as well, as that the games were lost by EPIC collapses.

I don't think the guard play can be fixed. I wonder if Lauren Engeln can be talked into returning for the tournament?

 

[Icebear]

First of all, correct that to "the offensive guard play." All year long the defensive play of our guards has been excellent. It has only been particular match ups at guard that have been problematic. Second of all, the problems with guard play are only under particular game situations. Third, sometimes you fix a problem is by setting up differently and changing your approach to the problem. In other words, since the goal is to win the game you ask yourself the question, "How do I change the game to take the pressure off of our guard play in those particular moments where it has hurt us?" In other words, what trade ooffs can I make to gain the 2-5 points that change the game.

 

[bmayuc]

Yes, it has been stated in several threads. The dumbest part was your assumption that there are things that cannot be fixed, as well, as that the games were lost by EPIC collapses.

Here are the three outcomes :

1. close game, loss. whatever.
2. Leads in 3 separate overtimes, including like 6 points with a minute to go, can't close it out in either case.
3. (in my mind the most epic) 18 seconds, the ball, 2 timeouts, and a foul to give. And we lose in regulation. That is almost impossible to do!

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Here are the three outcomes :

1. close game, loss. whatever.
2. Leads in 3 separate overtimes, including like 6 points with a minute to go, can't close it out in either case.
3. (in my mind the most epic) 18 seconds, the ball, 2 timeouts, and a foul to give. And we lose in regulation. That is almost impossible to do!

3-0? UConn is 7 games away from being 2-8 against Notre Dame if they were able to play each other that many times. Who is kidding who here?

Why?
1. UConn hasn't had an inside game or a dominant post player since '10 when the last won the national championship. They are awful on the offensive boards particularly late in the game when collars tighten and shots start to be off the mark. Bottom line - no second shots.

2. UConn's offense since Maya Moore left (and even some signs during her senior year) is all guards, all outside jumpers. Just as soon as the shooting percentages start to drop the wheels come off the wagon in their offense.

3. A big part of the reason for #2 is that there is still a lack of pariety in girls' basketball. UConn spends most of the season playing the Sisters of the Poor and winning comfortably (I've always said these games are like Dinner Theatre with everyone watch a choreographed performance that ends up with the darlings coming out victorious.) It wasn't so long ago that I can remember a die hard UConn womens' fan franctically wondering-out-loud what was wrong with UConn because they had missed three jump shots in a row . . . I had to talk them off the ledge by reminding them that it was OK, the Huskies still had a 19 point lead. Amazing the difference when they play against other equally talented teams.

4. UConn's offense is use to setting the pace of the game (see #3 and the business of mismatched opponents). They are much better when the pace of the game is slowed down (aren't we all). Notre Dame and Baylor press the pace and UConn reacts by turning the ball over again and again - not to mention the resultant plummeting shooting percentage.

 

[Icebear]

Here are the three outcomes :

1. close game, loss. whatever.
2. Leads in 3 separate overtimes, including like 6 points with a minute to go, can't close it out in either case.
3. (in my mind the most epic) 18 seconds, the ball, 2 timeouts, and a foul to give. And we lose in regulation. That is almost impossible to do!

If you had stuck to facts like this I wouldn't have given you flack. I disagree with #3 and simply note that all three losses are sufficiently different to belie there being any pattern that is unfixable.

 

[Sakibomb25]

3. A big part of the reason for #2 is that there is still a lack of pariety in girls' basketball. UConn spends most of the season playing the Sisters of the Poor and winning comfortably (I've always said these games are like Dinner Theatre with everyone watch a choreographed performance that ends up with the darlings coming out victorious.) It wasn't so long ago that I can remember a die hard UConn womens' fan franctically wondering-out-loud what was wrong with UConn because they had missed three jump shots in a row . . . I had to talk them off the ledge by reminding them that it was OK, the Huskies still had a 19 point lead. Amazing the difference when they play against other equally talented teams.

This makes no sense. Notre Dame plays in the same conference, so they are playing the same "Sisters of the Poor." And UConn has had a tougher OOC schedule than Notre Dame as well. Their strength of opponents is not the problem here.

 

[vtcwbuff]

This makes no sense. Notre Dame plays in the same conference, so they are playing the same "Sisters of the Poor." And UConn has had a tougher OOC schedule than Notre Dame as well. Their strength of opponents is not the problem here.

I agree. UConn's problem is talent (gasp) and manpower. They have a shooter playing point (and struggling), a point (not really) not playing, and a freshman that's not up to speed yet. I really don't think there is anything that can be done about that over the few remaining games.

ICE - I believe that if there was some adjustment that could be made to compensate for the "weakness" in the offensive guard play Auriemma would be all over it. I think he ran out of options when Banks went down and Doty went ?

I don't think that defense has ever been questioned. At least outside of the ND games. If it wasn't for UConn's defense, their season may have been even worse. Before everyone jumps - that's worse by UConn standards where losing both the BE titles is unheard of.

 

[Icebear]

Geno has made several adjustments, including line up and defensive adjustments across the three games. Each has resulted in differences between the games if not the outcome. Is he still looking for the key, absolutely.

 

[Blueballer]

I agree. UConn's problem is talent (gasp) and manpower. They have a shooter playing point (and struggling), a point (not really) not playing, and a freshman that's not up to speed yet. I really don't think there is anything that can be done about that over the few remaining games.

ICE - I believe that if there was some adjustment that could be made to compensate for the "weakness" in the offensive guard play Auriemma would be all over it. I think he ran out of options when Banks went down and Doty went ?

I don't think that defense has ever been questioned. At least outside of the ND games. If it wasn't for UConn's defense, their season may have been even worse. Before everyone jumps - that's worse by UConn standards where losing both the BE titles is unheard of.

I don't think talent is the problem at all. We have talent. It's confidence and attitude. As for the freshmen much of that comes with experience of course. As good as Lloyd has been even she showed that freshmen inexperience at the ends of these tight games. And this thread is an excellent way to address our season against Notre Dame. Compliments to "Dandar" for the thread and the subject Line. But for a few lousy points all these conversations are very different. It's not like we're getting blown out by these guys. It's not going to take much to get over the hump.

 

[wes33]

You guys need a little stormy weather to get ready for all the sunny days starting next year. At least a 3 year run.