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Message: [QUOTE="JoePgh, post: 4245124, member: 1131"] You are right. I think that the two most overlooked aspects of Aaliyah's recent play have been: (a) the accuracy of her jump shot from 15 feet out to 3-point range; and (b) her ability to defend on the perimeter as well as in the paint. Along with Olivia's newly accurate midrange jump shot, this is the biggest problem for teams like South Carolina who think that all they have to do to stop the UConn offense is to guard the 3-point line effectively, and/or that they stop the backdoor cuts simply by keeping their center planted under the basket. What teams have bigs with the ability to defend Liv / Aaliyah out to 18 feet, or to defend Dorka out to the 3-point line? Nearly all of the top teams have been willing to concede those shots, figuring that the UConn bigs would miss and they could easily get the rebound. That strategy probably won't work any more. Also regarding AE's recent play, have you noticed a reduction in her propensity to foul? She still fouls, but rarely commits the "dumb fouls" that plagued her last year and early this year. That has allowed her to play more minutes, and to be a bigger factor in more games. [/QUOTE]