Another blast from the past: 2003 UConn vs Tenn

[HuskyNan]

This was the Diana-makes-the 3/4 court-shot game at the Civic Center.

I'm struck by some similarities between the 2002-03 squad and this year's:

• UConn had a star guard (DT/Bria), a second guard that was streaky but who could kill an opponent with dagger 3's (Maria/Caroline), a tall guard that could drive or shoot threes at will (Ann/Tiff), an undersized defensive specialist that was really a guard at power forward (AB/Kelly), and a sophomore post that was a star in the making (Jess/Stefanie).
• The '02-03 team turned the ball over an awful lot and could be offensively inept at times but the defense was stifling.
• This year's bench is better than that team's mostly because there was no Kaleena coming off the bench in 2003. But both were/are young.
• There wasn't a lot of height on that team. After 6-3 Jess Moore, the post players were 6-2 Willnett Crockett and 6-0 (but really 5-10) Barbara Turner.
• The big difference is that that team had an elite, All-American superstar go-to player. Can Tiff or Bria be that for this year's team? Absolutely.
• I loved BT's game. Can you image if she were 6-2? Yowza.
• The announcers were a man (sorry, forgot the name) and Lisa Leslie. They were very good. They stuck to describing and analyzing the action and didn't feel compelled to fill up every second of air time with chatter. There were even several second of silence here and there when nothing was happening. Very refreshing.
• LOL, C Vivian Stringer at half time praising UConn's defense, "They don't get enough credit for their defense", says she.

 

[sarals24]

Ha! At some point we must all admit that Uconn does, in fact, get credit for their defense.

 

[UConnCat]

Perhaps another similarity: both the '02-'03 team and this year's team have a post player who didn't begin their freshman year playing with the level of intensity and effort that is a hallmark of this program. Yet, as the season progressed, their effort and intensity increased and they seem to play their best when their team needs them the most. I'm talking about Willnett and Kiah, whose personalities may be more alike than different (I don't know that there was a sweeter kid to come through the program than Willnett). I know I'll never forget Will's play in the '03 FF in Atlanta, particularly the semi-final game against Texas.

 

[Wonkster]

Ha! At some point we must all admit that Uconn does, in fact, get credit for their defense.

.
You've uncovered Geno's dark secret! Begone, witch!
.

 

[magical2]

Ha! At some point we must all admit that Uconn does, in fact, get credit for their defense.

Ha I love when our defense is brought up as a staple item of the team. I am ecstatic when they are knowledgable to know and be able to talk at length about Kelly.You win championships with players like Kelly!

 

[HuskyNan]

Perhaps another similarity: both the '02-'03 team and this year's team have a post player who didn't begin their freshman year playing with the level of intensity and effort that is a hallmark of this program. Yet, as the season progressed, their effort and intensity increased and they seem to play their best when their team needs them the most. I'm talking about Willnett and Kiah, whose personalities may be more alike than different (I don't know that there was a sweeter kid to come through the program than Willnett). I know I'll never forget Will's play in the '03 FF in Atlanta, particularly the semi-final game against Texas.

Geno called Willnett both Miss March and Miss ESPN and Diana called her a gamer. Will was terrific this game (remember her throwing herself on the ground to save a ball from going out of bounds?) but would disappear against lesser opponents. If she'd lived up to her potential, she could have been an All-American.

 

[UConnCat]

Geno called Willnett both Miss March and Miss ESPN and Diana called her a gamer. Will was terrific this game (remember her throwing herself on the ground to save a ball from going out of bounds?) but would disappear against lesser opponents. If she'd lived up to her potential, she could have been an All-American.

I'll always remember two play from the Texas game. The first was the FT rebound Will grabbed that led to Diana's 3 from the top of the key that put UConn in the lead after being down by 9. The second was Diana's one-handed bullet pass from mid-court to a wide open Will under the basket. It's one of the best passes I've ever seen in wcbb. As Will used to say, "that pass was lovely."

 

[UcMiami]

Nan - thanks for bringing this topic up - that was some year, and the comparison is a good one. I do think the big question for this team is the Diana factor - is there a player who has the 'will' to not let her team lose. I also think it was not just her play but the way she infected the whole team with that will, including Willnett. I loved the way Will almost sleep-walked her way through her seasons and would only 'wake up' if the team really, really, really needed her.

On Uconn defense ... I think the reason everyone says Uconn doesn't get the respect (which isn't true) is that when people talk about strong defensive teams, it usually is because the team is offensively challenged - think Rutgers, WV, etc. or because part of their defensive strategy is to play a very methodical offensive game to reduce scoring opportunities for their opponent. Uconn doesn't fall into either category. I think you could also say the same about ND by the way - I think their defense is really good, but people don't really focus on it because they are a well balanced team.

 

[alexrgct]

This was the Diana-makes-the 3/4 court-shot game at the Civic Center.

I'm struck by some similarities between the 2002-03 squad and this year's:

• UConn had a star guard (DT/Bria), a second guard that was streaky but who could kill an opponent with dagger 3's (Maria/Caroline), a tall guard that could drive or shoot threes at will (Ann/Tiff), an undersized defensive specialist that was really a guard at power forward (AB/Kelly), and a sophomore post that was a star in the making (Jess/Stefanie).
• The '02-03 team turned the ball over an awful lot and could be offensively inept at times but the defense was stifling.
• This year's bench is better than that team's mostly because there was no Kaleena coming off the bench in 2003. But both were/are young.
• There wasn't a lot of height on that team. After 6-3 Jess Moore, the post players were 6-2 Willnett Crockett and 6-0 (but really 5-10) Barbara Turner.
• The big difference is that that team had an elite, All-American superstar go-to player. Can Tiff or Bria be that for this year's team? Absolutely.
• I loved BT's game. Can you image if she were 6-2? Yowza.
• The announcers were a man (sorry, forgot the name) and Lisa Leslie. They were very good. They stuck to describing and analyzing the action and didn't feel compelled to fill up every second of air time with chatter. There were even several second of silence here and there when nothing was happening. Very refreshing.
• LOL, C Vivian Stringer at half time praising UConn's defense, "They don't get enough credit for their defense", says she.

Fortunately, Maria Conlon played virtually all of two championship games in 2003 and 2004 with only one TO.

DT willed UConn to beat Tennessee in that game for sure. The halftime bomb was amazing, obviously. CD was impressed. Geno had the best non-reaction ever. But that three-pointer to send the game to overtime was almost more impressive. There was never a doubt that was going in.

 

[ctfjr]

Fortunately, Maria Conlon played virtually all of two championship games in 2003 and 2004 with only one TO.

DT willed UConn to beat Tennessee in that game for sure. The halftime bomb was amazing, obviously. CD was impressed. Geno had the best non-reaction ever. But that three-pointer to send the game to overtime was almost more impressive. There was never a doubt that was going in.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I was at that game and as unbelievable the 3/4 court shot was, the absolute killer was the 3 at the end of regulation.

 

[blackbird]

Interesting, we've had a few players who have been expected to be the guy, Diana and Maya for starters. But when's the last time we had a sophomore depended on that heavily?

 

[EricLA]

Geno called Willnett both Miss March and Miss ESPN and Diana called her a gamer. Will was terrific this game (remember her throwing herself on the ground to save a ball from going out of bounds?) but would disappear against lesser opponents. If she'd lived up to her potential, she could have been an All-American.

that is my all time favorite Willnett moment, and IIRC, a game saver. she was so strong, but sadly, woefully inconsistent.

 

[CalifHusky]

here is the link to diana's 3/4 court shot

Watch CD as she says OMG!

 

[Samanthabrown3]

Oh, yeah! Now I remember that game!

 

[DobbsRover2]

here is the link to diana's 3/4 court shot

Watch CD as she says OMG!

That shot was just too easy with that type of "wave of the distant hand" defense. How can you not be bellying up close to DT when she gets within 70 ft. of the basket? That was like a short jumper for her. Think her eyes may have been closed too.

 

[choochoo]

This was the Diana-makes-the 3/4 court-shot game at the Civic Center.

I'm struck by some similarities between the 2002-03 squad and this year's:

• UConn had a star guard (DT/Bria), a second guard that was streaky but who could kill an opponent with dagger 3's (Maria/Caroline), a tall guard that could drive or shoot threes at will (Ann/Tiff), an undersized defensive specialist that was really a guard at power forward (AB/Kelly), and a sophomore post that was a star in the making (Jess/Stefanie).
• The '02-03 team turned the ball over an awful lot and could be offensively inept at times but the defense was stifling.
• This year's bench is better than that team's mostly because there was no Kaleena coming off the bench in 2003. But both were/are young.
• There wasn't a lot of height on that team. After 6-3 Jess Moore, the post players were 6-2 Willnett Crockett and 6-0 (but really 5-10) Barbara Turner.
• The big difference is that that team had an elite, All-American superstar go-to player. Can Tiff or Bria be that for this year's team? Absolutely.
• I loved BT's game. Can you image if she were 6-2? Yowza.
• The announcers were a man (sorry, forgot the name) and Lisa Leslie. They were very good. They stuck to describing and analyzing the action and didn't feel compelled to fill up every second of air time with chatter. There were even several second of silence here and there when nothing was happening. Very refreshing.
• LOL, C Vivian Stringer at half time praising UConn's defense, "They don't get enough credit for their defense", says she.

I my memory serves me right it may have been Jay Billis. One of the best in my book!

 

[Kibitzer]

A couple of quotes by Diana about that game are permanently etched in my mind.

When facetiously asked, after the game, if that 3/4 shot had been taken from a favorite spot on the court, she had a ready reply: "Yeah, but at the other basket."

She made that incredible 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. As the buzzer sounded, she was close by one of the refs. Referring to the upcoming overtime period, she asked the whistle-blower, "Do you get paid extra for this?"

We will never see her likes again.

 

[Kait14]

here is the link to diana's 3/4 court shot

Watch CD as she says OMG!

Ugh.. love this.. This was the first game I had lower bowl seats and went with my mom.. Best game I've ever been to