An early UConn vs Stanford analysis

[ladybears4eva]

She reportedly worked on it over the summer and has tried it 2-3 times in the first 2 games with no success. I hope she doesn't get discouraged because it could be such a weapon for her. She's so quick but defenders drew many charges against her last year.

Sue Bird and Renee Montgomery are 2 of the best I've seen at the pull-up jumper.

You are deifinitely right there, those two had that shot like an art form. Rene's 3s were lethal in that respect, also C Toliver from Maryland.

 

[ladybears4eva]

Because it is a tough matchup for a 6'3" player who is not overley quick to guard one of the quickest players on the UConn roster.

Tiff is not Maya. Totally different matchup. Faris is not that much easier.

Maya, for all her greatness, is an easier cover for someone like Chiney.

Honestly, Farris doesn't score like Maya, Tiff, Dolson or Hartley against great teams anyways... So i'm sure shes an easier person to guard than those four.

 

[ladybears4eva]

I was listening to Mulk's comments for her haltime adjustments and it reminded me of this match up in regards to using your defense to win the game even if you are having a bad shooting night. you can listen to the postgame comments
http://www.baylorbears.com/allaccess/?media=283909

I think UCONN does win despite all it's possble shooting woes because of the uncanny team defense. Shooting opportunities will come from great defensive plays. Thats how i forsee it playing out.

 

[doggydaddy]

Honestly, Farris doesn't score like Maya, Tiff, Dolson or Hartley against great teams anyways... So i'm sure shes an easier person to guard than those four.

Faris (one "r") was the leading scorer in last years game with 19 points. Left open, she took 9 3's.

There is a reason you don't cover a smaller quick player with a taller slower player, no matter how talented that player is.

 

[doggydaddy]

Ok. Maya was athletic and fast, if she touched the ball it would almost always go in the net. So lets not get carried away and mek her seem slow and incapable. Who stopped Maya at all in her four years at UCONN, i can't remember anyone other than Chiney/Pederson. I hate selective memory.

Selective memory? I have no idea why you are saying that. I certainly know and appreciate the greatness of Maya.

And Maya had other bad games. Talk about selective memory.

 

[ladybears4eva]

Selective memory? I have no idea why you are saying that. I certainly know and appreciate the greatness of Maya.

And Maya had other bad games. Talk about selective memory.

Counting the bad games in one hand versus all the other hundred is a different kind of selection in my eyes.

 

[UConnCat]

I don't get the Kokenis connection with speed... I've seen her play quite a bit and never felt like she had more than average speed. And i don't see ND giving UConn more trouble than the Aggies.

Other than those quibbles, I agree with your post.

Kokenis has excellent speed. I haven't noticed the upright dribbling that Wallman mentions so I'll have to pay attention to that. I know Pohlen was an upright dribbler as well and for that reason was vulnerable to pressure defense earlier in her career.

I have to agree with Wallman on ND. I see ND as a tougher game for UConn than Texas A&M. Diggins is such a handful to guard. But I also think ND will have difficulty defending Dolson.

 

[Vowelguy]

Because it is a tough matchup for a 6'3" player who is not overley quick to guard one of the quickest players on the UConn roster.

Tiff is not Maya. Totally different matchup. Faris is not that much easier.

Maya, for all her greatness, is an easier cover for someone like Chiney.

This baffles me. You are saying both that Maya wasnt quick (Chiney is "not quick", yet she was able to stay with Maya), and that it's harder to guard Tiff or even Faris than her.

 

[Vowelguy]

As great as Maya was, she was no threat to put the ball on the floor. Tiff and Faris present that challenge, Tiff more so.

In the 2010 Dec game against Stanford, Tiffany played great and successfully took Pedersen off the dribble. In last year's game, Stanford's defense was ready for Tiffany and drew a charge on one of UConn's first possessions of the game. That charge call and another subsequent foul call seemed to take Tiff our of her game (and out of THE game). Tiffany will be able to take whoever is guarding her off the dribble but will, as always, need to avoid the charge.

Thank you for the explanation, Cat.
This will be an interesting test for Tiff. I would expect Stanford to go at her hard to start in hopes that if they contain her initially she'll get frustrated and lose confidence (since she's well aware that the knock on her is not showing in big games).

 

[speedoo]

Thank you for the explanation, Cat.
This will be an interesting test for Tiff. I would expect Stanford to go at her hard to start in hopes that if they contain her initially she'll get frustrated and lose confidence (since she's well aware that the knock on her is not showing in big games).

"go at her hard" to contain her? I don't see how that will work. Would it not make it easier for her to drive by them? And which Stanford player(s) would go at her hard?

 

[Vowelguy]

"go at her hard" to contain her? I don't see how that will work. Would it not make it easier for her to drive by them? And which Stanford player(s) would go at her hard?

Sorry, poor choice of words. I didnt mean them literally. I meant they might be focused early on trying to stop her.

 

[doggydaddy]

This baffles me. You are saying both that Maya wasnt quick (Chiney is "not quick", yet she was able to stay with Maya), and that it's harder to guard Tiff or even Faris than her.

I guess you don't understand that Hayes is quicker than Moore.

Not saying more talented, but quicker.

And it was certainly more than just Chiney guarding Moore.

Sorry you are so baffled by this.

 

[speedoo]

Sorry, poor choice of words. I didnt mean them literally. I meant they might be focused early on trying to stop her.

OK, understood. Of course containing Tiff without doing the same with Stef, Bria and a few other Huskies won't accomplish much. Last year they handled Maya and that won the game because no one else scored much for UConn. It's more complicated this year.

 

[Bestiarius]

I am very afraid of the O sisters. They seem to own all real estate near the basket and shouldn't be underestimated in any regard. Keys to victory? I'd like to see Faris have a good shooting night. That would take some pressure off Stef and Stamford will not be able to disregard her from a shooting perspective. It will also be important for Buck to have a good game. To my eye, she looks much more confident this year and I hope that translates into better decision making and fewer awkward blunders making her size and strength a real asset.

Regardless of the outcome, this game will have many sub plots to pay attention to. I'm expecting a great game that will answer many of the questions posed in this thread.