A Few Observations on Tonight's ESPN Doubleheader

[JoePgh]

After watching the two games on ESPN2 tonight, I offer the following observations:

1. Tennessee played a game tonight that UConn would have been proud of. Kentucky didn't play great, but they played at least as well as Georgetown played on Saturday, and TN beat them just as soundly. TN even had a high percentage of assists to made baskets, which is a statistic in which they do not usually excel. I'm not sure why TN decided to play really well tonight, but it shows what they could be if they used the talent at their disposal. I think Johnson, Stricklen, and maybe even Baugh will be drafted in the first round of the WNBA draft -- and will all have more conspicuous WNBA careers than they have had in college.

2. The second game represented a major victory for Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. After a few horrendous and futile minutes in the first half, I thought she was done and would be ineffective for the entire evening (pouting). But she came back to play a lot of minutes in the second half very effectively, not only scoring but rebounding as well. And her points were needed, and they were earned in a hostile atmosphere in which the game was genuinely in doubt. It was a triumph of character for her.

3. Is Kelly Faris developing a fouling problem? This is one of several recent games where she has been in foul trouble, and the fouls in some cases have been undisciplined and unnecessary.

4. Why was Caroline used so little in the second half? Was her knee sore again?

5. I was surprised to look at the box score and see that UConn had only 8 turnovers for the game. In fact, I wonder if that is correct. After watching the live game, I thought they were continuing their recent tendency towards excessive turnovers. If the figure is correct, it is a major positive sign.

6. I thought Kiah had less impact than she should have had against the Oklahoma bigs, who should not have been able to contain her. It seemed that she may have slipped back into a "second gear" level of effort in this game.

 

[Kibitzer]

Tennessee played up to their capabilities, much to the joy of their loyal (and vocal) fan base, and they indicated that they are a team to be avoided at the big dance.

Kentucky was just awful.

Oklahoma played with lots of heart, supported by a wonderful crowd, got a few bad calls and have a really great player named Whitney Hand. But they are not yet in UConn's league.

Once again, UConn had Hayes and Hartley, a great pair of "money" players who want the ball to take the Big Shot at crunch time. Call them both "go-to" players, the ultimate compliment.

 

[alexrgct]

You have to give props to Tennessee for showing some pride and bringing it tonight against a budding rival. Kudos to them for not letting their season go down the drain. Now they have four easy games left to close out the regular season, and they STILL have a good shot at a #2 seed.

I do, however, think there's some fool's gold there. Simmons and Stricklen are not going to go 18-29 on a regular basis. If they do, yeah, Tennessee will be very tough to beat. But I don't see it.

 

[alexrgct]

KML also hit some HUGE shots tonight down the stretch.

 

[msf22b]

Woman's BB is the better with a strong Tennessee and tonight they played with the heart and enthusiasm of a typical Pat-led team. Kudos! No one can know what these girls are feeling this season. They could still regress to their more passive state in the next few games or during the SEC tournament but watch out for them in the NCAA's

UCONN started this evening like the way they ended the G'town game but the euphoria was short-loved with many calls going against them and quite fierce resistance from the Sooners, esp on Defense.

Steph was wonderful, decent, and disappointing, depending on the moment and Kiah, perhaps had a regressive game. Its too be expected, the line doesn't always go up for frosh.

Kelly is tired. She does more heavy lifting on D than anyone and she is wearing down. it will be interesting to see if Geno can sub her out a bit more.

Without our almost noticing it, Tiff has become the consistent star we always hoped for and Bria is Bria; ice water in her veins and few turnovers tonight. When KLM started hitting in the 2nd half, one could see the disruption to the OK defense, just too many good shooters to guard.

When (if) the posts play with the fierceness that characterized Tina's last year and a half, this will be a very formidable team,

 

[NCorBust]

Why was Caroline used so little in the second half? Was her knee sore again?

Look at the box score. She was ineffectual in all areas of the game. Perhaps because her knee was bothering her. She was held out of practice for a day's rest.

 

[Kibitzer]

Look at the box score. She was ineffectual in all areas of the game. Perhaps because her knee was bothering her. She was held out of practice for a day's rest.

No box score displays what Caroline means to this team. For her to suit up and go on the court entitles her to a pass in the scorebook. Ineffectual to some, inspiritional to her teammates. Sales was precious. Doty is sweet.

 

[Icebear]

Look at the box score. She was ineffectual in all areas of the game. Perhaps because her knee was bothering her. She was held out of practice for a day's rest.

She was not ineffectual at all. She was differently effective. She was critical to the first half when Huskies were falling to fouls like flies. Caroline played 14 first half minutes and had 0 TOs. If nothing else that was a very important contribution. She helped to steady the team several times when the pace of play became too frantic.

 

[Sonny44]

Kelly did look tired to me, and frustrated. Maybe putting too much pressure on her self even thouh Geno seems satisfied with her performance.
Oklahoma was better than I thought though especially on defense, limiting our breaks and making us work for our shots. So I think the 19 point win was good for us, they gave us what we needed to grow. We can't beat everyone by 30+ points.

 

[DaddyChoc]

She was not ineffectual at all. She was differently effective. She was critical to the first half when Huskies were falling to fouls like flies. Caroline played 14 first half minutes and had 0 TOs. If nothing else that was a very important contribution. She helped to steady the team several times when the pace of play became too frantic.

How many TO's total did the team have in the 1st half?

 

[Icebear]

How many TO's total did the team have in the 1st half?

7 while Doty had none. Second half the team had one. Doty still had none. She settled play with the numerous lineups a couple of times when the team was becoming frenetic. In the second half that was less of a problem as the starters played more minutes and OK pressured less.

 

[Tonyc]

It seemed to me every time UConn got going something happened to change their momemtum. thing was clear. When Bria TIff and KML are knocking down shots UConn is very difficult to contain. This team has improved so much from the beginning of the season and continues to improve. They need a little tweaking and and they will be almost unbeatable.

 

[Georgestarr7]

A couple of points I carried from the game:

• Tough game Saturday, travel Sunday, Tough game Monday: It was really evident that after the first few minutes that the team was running on reserve. They really deserve kudos for grinding it out in a hostile environment.
• Little mention of the officiating here, probably because it was impartial for the most part. However they let go a street fight under both baskets. Tiff and Bria got pummeled whenever they drove the lane.

 

[phil sampieri]

A couple of points I carried from the game:

• Tough game Saturday, travel Sunday, Tough game Monday: It was really evident that after the first few minutes that the team was running on reserve. They really deserve kudos for grinding it out in a hostile environment.
• Little mention of the officiating here, probably because it was impartial for the most part. However they let go a street fight under both baskets. Tiff and Bria got pummeled whenever they drove the lane.

I think we would have beaten OS by 30 or more, were we able to continue to press. Geno had to call off the press because the refs called ticky-tack fouls during the whole first half.13 fouls to 4 for us. They let them play in the 2nd half, thank god.

 

[Bestiarius]

In my view, both TN and KY were terrible at the beginning of the game. No defense, no offense and they couldn't even make layups. At some point, TN said to themselves, KYsucks! They then became joyous, forgot all of their woes, and just played in the moment. KY never got out of their funk and this enabled TN to keep morale high. The girls were downright giddy, particularly Simmons. I think if KY could have played well for the first several minutes, the outcome could have been different. TN fans will now expect a NC.

I can understand why Kelly was exhausted. Whitney Hand is a handfull. She couldn't be defended with a cargo net.

 

[magic]

After watching the two games on ESPN2 tonight, I offer the following observations:

1. Tennessee played a game tonight that UConn would have been proud of. Kentucky didn't play great, but they played at least as well as Georgetown played on Saturday, and TN beat them just as soundly. TN even had a high percentage of assists to made baskets, which is a statistic in which they do not usually excel. I'm not sure why TN decided to play really well tonight, but it shows what they could be if they used the talent at their disposal. I think Johnson, Stricklen, and maybe even Baugh will be drafted in the first round of the WNBA draft -- and will all have more conspicuous WNBA careers than they have had in college.

2. The second game represented a major victory for Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. After a few horrendous and futile minutes in the first half, I thought she was done and would be ineffective for the entire evening (pouting). But she came back to play a lot of minutes in the second half very effectively, not only scoring but rebounding as well. And her points were needed, and they were earned in a hostile atmosphere in which the game was genuinely in doubt. It was a triumph of character for her.

3. Is Kelly Faris developing a fouling problem? This is one of several recent games where she has been in foul trouble, and the fouls in some cases have been undisciplined and unnecessary.

4. Why was Caroline used so little in the second half? Was her knee sore again?

5. I was surprised to look at the box score and see that UConn had only 8 turnovers for the game. In fact, I wonder if that is correct. After watching the live game, I thought they were continuing their recent tendency towards excessive turnovers. If the figure is correct, it is a major positive sign.

6. I thought Kiah had less impact than she should have had against the Oklahoma bigs, who should not have been able to contain her. It seemed that she may have slipped back into a "second gear" level of effort in this game.

I am still not impressed by anything Kentucky does . I am still scratching my head over Samarie transfering to "that " team. She is a talented player , but her ability will never shine through in that system.

 

[trb123]

I am wondering if Mitchell will now be considered for Pat's job.

 

[NCorBust]

She was not ineffectual at all. She was differently effective. She was critical to the first half when Huskies were falling to fouls like flies. Caroline played 14 first half minutes and had 0 TOs. If nothing else that was a very important contribution. She helped to steady the team several times when the pace of play became too frantic.

Her positive impact was minimal.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Her positive impact was minimal.

It would would be fabulous if you could identify specifically how minimal it was -- you know, like citing particular moments when she exhibited he ineffectualness -- rather than simply making sweeping denial statements.

 

[Icebear]

It would would be fabulous if you could identify specifically how minimal it was -- you know, like citing particular moments when she exhibited he ineffectualness -- rather than simply making sweeping denial statements.

Thanks, TJI, that's why I explained why I thought she made important contributions in the first.

 

[doggydaddy]

It would would be fabulous if you could identify specifically how minimal it was -- you know, like citing particular moments when she exhibited he ineffectualness -- rather than simply making sweeping denial statements.

Don't hold your breath waiting.

 

[Forty_four]

In the early stages of the 1st half, Doty had a turnover, a foul and threw up an airball. Geno took her out quickly after that. Also, the OK guards looked to quick for her last night. I agree that she has a calming influence on the team and Geno trusts her completely but there were reasons for her low minutes.

 

[HuskyNan]

In the early stages of the 1st half, Doty had a turnover, a foul and threw up an airball. Geno took her out quickly after that. Also, the OK guards looked to quick for her last night. I agree that she has a calming influence on the team and Geno trusts her completely but there were reasons for her low minutes.

Caroline didn't have any turnovers last night. However, she also didn't score and the team needed scoring. Sometimes a shooter is on and sometimes she isn't; last night Caroline wasn't on.

 

[pap49cba]

Caroline didn't have any turnovers last night. However, she also didn't score and the team needed scoring. Sometimes a shooter is on and sometimes she isn't; last night Caroline wasn't on.

I agree. It wasn't hard to tell her shot was way off last night although on one of them I thought she might have been fouled.

 

[huskybill]

I don't think KU has played well at the beginning and in the first half of most of their games since they beat Utenn. They remind me somewhat of the 2006 Husky men whose midseason win against Nova seemed to be the summit of their season. After that they never played with the passion they exhibited in the Nova game; lost in the first round of the big east tourney and lost to George Mason in what was one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history.