Another UConn-ND Final?

[GoUconn7961]

The only game where I was really worried about the outcome? Maryland. I think they played us the closest all season so far. I'm not sure why no one mentions them unless they've really headed off a cliff during the regular season.

 

[rugbymate]

I too do not want to see ND in the FF or in the NC game......Especially in Indianapolis. But I recognize they certainly have been playing well and pulling out games all over the ACC. And MM has done a good coaching job I guess and maybe should be mentioned for COY Honors..But would someone please tell me why our own Geno is not mentioned more for COY when he has won far more games , and far more NC's , than anyone else out there?

I just don't understand it.

Interesting question...my take on it is usually the COY award goes to someone who has exceeded expectations. When one is expected to win the NC like GENO does seemingly every year , its difficult to exceed expectations. In some ways Geno gets penalized for outstanding recruiting , which is part of a coaches job, in terms of COY recognition. Not fair but a small price to pay for winning NCs.

 

[HGN]

Interesting question...my take on it is usually the COY award goes to someone who has exceeded expectations. When one is expected to win the NC like GENO does seemingly every year , its difficult to exceed expectations. In some ways Geno gets penalized for outstanding recruiting , which is part of a coaches job, in terms of COY recognition. Not fair but a small price to pay for winning NCs.

Good point............Penalized for being good at his job.

 

[HGN]

UConn has won 25 games this season while ND has won 24, presumably playing in a better conference (to what degree is debatable). How does one extra win equate to "far more games" in consideration for COY?

Yes , UConn has won 25 , and ND has played 25............And that one game they lost was to UConn.

 

[Bigpetunia]

Simply as an addendum to my original post on this thread, especially as it pertains to the out-sized influence of great coaching on the women's game in particular, I'd like to offer the following opinion:

Just as reports of the decline and demise of ND's extraordinary level of success in the aftermath of crucial personnel losses proved to be both premature and false, predictions of UConn's precipitous drop in future stature following the upcoming brutal losses to graduation will prove to be equally specious.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Yes , UConn has won 25 , and ND has played 25..And that one game they lost was to UConn.

So that one game decides COY? ND lost a guard to an ACL, granted she was a freshman so who knows what impact she would have had, but they lost Reimer, and also Turner at times, have had to rely heavily on two other freshmen, and Muffet has ND playing the second best basketball behind UConn in a tougher conference. If I had to choose between Geno or Muffet, absent a better choice, I'd pick Muffet right now.

 

[CocoHusky]

I'd MUCH rather see Turner in there if we meet them again; does anyone think she (Turner) is better in the post than Wilson or Coates? I didn't think so. We'd shut her down, which would put ND off balance, and we'd win by 20, IMO.

Turner is a significantly better post than Coates and slightly better than Wilson IMO.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Simply as an addendum to my original post on this thread, especially as it pertains to the out-sized influence of great coaching on the women's game in particular, I'd like to offer the following opinion:

Just as reports of the decline and demise of ND's extraordinary level of success in the aftermath of crucial personnel losses proved to be both premature and false, predictions of UConn's precipitous drop in future stature following the upcoming brutal losses to graduation will prove to be equally specious.

ND does have a couple advantages over us. One is conference, and the other is UConn will never be in the same league as ND academically. The one thing that keeps UConn at the top of the pile is Geno.

 

[easttexastrash]

How can it be another UCONN vs ND title game when Creme has you guys playing Baylor in the semis?

 

[CocoHusky]

How can it be another UCONN vs ND title game when Creme has you guys playing Baylor in the semis?

Ahh.. look what you done started!

 

[easttexastrash]

If the top 4 ranked teams retain their current rankings, Notre Dame and South Carolina will be on the same side of the bracket, meaning they will face each other in the semi-final round of the final four. If you recall, SC was only a rebound away from beating ND last year. An "air-ball" put back won it for the Irish by 1. If SC rebounds that missed shot, they send ND home, and play for the championship 2 days later.

I expect all of the 1 seeds to meet in Indiana in April. UConn can beat Baylor (no consistent outside shooting) in the other semi final game. Baylor's two bigs are freshmen, and may not be ready to perform in late post season play on a stage of this grandeur. It won't be easy, but Baylor will fall. I can't say who will emerge from the other side of the bracket; it's too close to call. Like last year, it may come down to the last shot. Sometimes the fate of these games rest in the hands of the players.

Baylor is not going to kill you with the 3-ball on most nights, mostly because they choose not to shoot the 3 very often due to the heavy emphasis on points in the paint. However, thinking that Wallace, Jones and Prince cannot light you up from three point range could hold a big surprise for you. They all have a very nice stroke from behind the arc and are more than capable shooters. Prince's numbers were affected by her knee injury, but have no doubt that she has deep range.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Baylor is not going to kill you with the 3-ball on most nights, mostly because they choose not to shoot the 3 very often due to the heavy emphasis on points in the paint. However, thinking that Wallace, Jones and Prince cannot light you up from three point range could hold a big surprise for you. They all have a very nice stroke from behind the arc and are more than capable shooters. Prince's numbers were affected by her knee injury, but have no doubt that she has deep range.

UConn is out scoring opponents 1000-464 in the paint this year. If a team wants to play in the paint I like our chances.

 

[Carnac]

Baylor is not going to kill you with the 3-ball on most nights, mostly because they choose not to shoot the 3 very often due to the heavy emphasis on points in the paint. However, thinking that Wallace, Jones and Prince cannot light you up from three point range could hold a big surprise for you. They all have a very nice stroke from behind the arc and are more than capable shooters. Prince's numbers were affected by her knee injury, but have no doubt that she has deep range.

So.....bottom line it, what are you saying?

 

[ME Husky Fan]

If Lloyd came back and Reimer didn't put herself in the position she did then Cable would have the back seat role as she did in year's past, so with these two voids it actually begged for someone to step up and to her credit Cable did just that. Presuming they meet again, if UCONN can limit those ally-oops to Turner down low, it's s no-brainer. The younger Mabrey had the game of her short career against UCONN earlier and doubtful she can repeat, especially if Geno puts Mo on her, when she gets in the game. Ogunbowale is awesome in the open court but I think plays way too much out of the style Muffet wants to play most. Huffman - what a poster kid for someone with little to no talent, but what grit and determination. She gives anyone who has just a little bit of talent the dream they can play D1 ball..She reminds me of street basketball and someone you just want to slap side the head to get her off your back. I don't think Allen can put this team on her back as Lloyd could and did at times.

 

[easttexastrash]

So.....bottom line it, what are you saying?

I'm saying that Baylor is much more capable from three point range than you are giving them credit for, shooting a very respectable 37.2% from behind the arc. Like Kim has said, "we can shoot the 3, we just don't have to."

What will more likely be Baylor's downfall is free throw shooting (65%).

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

As MHS said above Stewie and MoJeff and Tuck won't let the Championship get away!
Someone was saying, if UCONN stays healthy & makes the FF, Stewart, MoJeff, & Tuck will play above anything they've ever done before. Take their best game ever and triple it!
Chances are good that UCONN/ND/SoCar/ & Baylor (if brackets are right) will be in the FF.
UCONN'll be like junk yard dogs ripping the meat apart, you'll see the greatest performances ever in FF history!
They'll be so zoned-in on the wins in semi's & finals that any of the other 3 FF teams will lose by 40+ points!
UCONN 2015-2016 will go down as the greatest WCBB team of all time!

By the way, HoopFan21- - - -ND has only one BIG that's any good, Turner. UCONN kills ND inside!

 

[easttexastrash]

As MHS said above Stewie and MoJeff and Tuck won't let the Championship get away!
Someone was saying, if UCONN stays healthy & makes the FF, Stewart, MoJeff, & Tuck will play above anything they've ever done before. Take their best game ever and triple it!
Chances are good that UCONN/ND/SoCar/ & Baylor (if brackets are right) will be in the FF.
UCONN'll be like junk yard dogs ripping the meat apart, you'll see the greatest performances ever in FF history!
They'll be so zoned-in on the wins in semi's & finals that any of the other 3 FF teams will lose by 40+ points!
UCONN 2015-2016 will go down as the greatest WCBB team of all time!

I applaud your enthusiasm. Well done!

 

[Carnac]

As MHS said above Stewie and MoJeff and Tuck won't let the Championship get away!
Someone was saying, if UCONN stays healthy & makes the FF, Stewart, MoJeff, & Tuck will play above anything they've ever done before. Take their best game ever and triple it!
Chances are good that UCONN/ND/SoCar/ & Baylor (if brackets are right) will be in the FF.
UCONN'll be like junk yard dogs ripping the meat apart, you'll see the greatest performances ever in FF history!
They'll be so zoned-in on the wins in semi's & finals that any of the other 3 FF teams will lose by 40+ points!
UCONN 2015-2016 will go down as the greatest WCBB team of all time!

By the way, HoopFan21- - - -ND has only one BIG that's any good, Turner. UCONN kills ND inside!

Hey RSHERMVIKES, Pour me a TALL glass of whatever it is you're drinking!!

 

[Ozimoto]

I think both Maryland and Ohio State could be dangerous teams. Their problems this year can be traced to inconsistency. It is all going to depend on which team shows up on which night.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Maryland and ND shoot 42 and 41% from 3 respectively - much better than UConn. I think there is one kid from Maryland shooting at a better clip from 3 than KML could ever dream of. Winning the championship is far from a foregone conclusion. UConn beat ND and Maryland by 10 and South Carolina by 12. Hardly blowouts.

 

[Dillon77]

Turner is a significantly better post than Coates and slightly better than Wilson IMO.

Turner brings an interesting skill set, one in which the total - in my opinion -- exceeds the sum of it's parts. She's quick on her feet in traffic and also runs the floor well. Defensively, this allows her to provide good weakside help and block drives. Offensively, she gets out on the break and rarely misses layups. I like the way she block..uses her height and reach and goes straight up. Avoids foul trouble and when she does block the shot, she keeps it bounds for her teammates to possibly get (usually the omnipresent Maddie Cable).

Offensively, she does not create a lot of her own shots with back to the basket moves, up and unders, etc. but rather gets herself in position to receive the ball and simply go up with a layup, soft hook or short bank shot. Lindsay Allen, the Mabreys and Westbeld do a good job of getting her the ball in primo position.

I'm showing my age here, but her value to Notre Dame is similar to what a Bill Russell would do...be the focal point of defense and a dependable, but not central, part of the offense. Seems to work for this team's approach.

 

[CocoHusky]

Turner brings an interesting skill set, one in which the total - in my opinion -- exceeds the sum of it's parts. She's quick on her feet in traffic and also runs the floor well. Defensively, this allows her to provide good weakside help and block drives. Offensively, she gets out on the break and rarely misses layups. I like the way she block..uses her height and reach and goes straight up. Avoids foul trouble and when she does block the shot, she keeps it bounds for her teammates to possibly get (usually the omnipresent Maddie Cable).

Offensively, she does not create a lot of her own shots with back to the basket moves, up and unders, etc. but rather gets herself in position to receive the ball and simply go up with a layup, soft hook or short bank shot. Lindsay Allen, the Mabreys and Westbeld do a good job of getting her the ball in primo position.

I'm showing my age here, but her value to Notre Dame is similar to what a Bill Russell would do...be the focal point of defense and a dependable, but not central, part of the offense. Seems to work for this team's approach.

I agree with all that except you are missing what IMO is one of the best most distinguishing parts of Turner's game and that is her ability to purposely run the floor and get you 2 easy baskets per game. This might sound like a nit but I do not believe she has been maximized at ND because she has been relegated to the post. She grew up as predominiantly a wing/slashing type player who could create her own shot and handle & shoot away from the basket. I also don't think she is going to be a post at the next level.

 

[UcMiami]

Maryland and ND shoot 42 and 41% from 3 respectively - much better than UConn. I think there is one kid from Maryland shooting at a better clip from 3 than KML could ever dream of. Winning the championship is far from a foregone conclusion. UConn beat ND and Maryland by 10 and South Carolina by 12. Hardly blowouts.

I posted a few weeks ago about the ND 3 point shooting (it was then about 45%) that it would not last - it has fallen about 4% since then - teams just do not sustain that level of 3 point shooting for a year - you have to go back to 2008 for the last team to shoot above 42% for a year in D1. The same is likely for W-K at Maryland - she is currently at 57% on 98 total attempts which is outstanding (she is the only D1 player above 50%) and I suspect she will have a few 0-fers in the next couple of weeks and drop back to the field a bit. Laksa at USF was burning it up earlier this year, but is now at 42%. Interesting to see Lou's sister is at 46.6% this year - by far her best year.

 

[Carnac]

Now don't be surprised if a team unknown to us at the moment, pulls an upset against ND. Because anything can happen during the tournament... See: Louisville vs #1 Baylor.

God forbid it happens to Uconn. Because I am sure we will be there.
And as much as I never get tired of Uconn beating ND, I'd rather see some new blood. Rematch with SC anyone?

Anyway this is going to be an interesting tournament. Because teams like Maryland, Baylor, & Ohio State cannot be taking for granted in the tournament at all. Texas so so.

MV, I completely agree with you. ANYTHING can happen. Maryland, Ohio State, Florida State and maybe even Oregon State may have something to say about who goes to Indiana. Anybody can get hot in the tournament.

Every year there emerges a "dark horse". I vividly remember Louisville's run that you referenced in the 2013 tournament. After the final game, I posted that UConn should send Louisville flowers, a "Thank You" card and a replica of the NC trophy. Because UConn would not have beaten Baylor had Baylor got by Louisville. Las Vegas and everyone else had Baylor repeating as national champs. As I remember, Louisville shot 64% from behind the arc. EVERYTHING they threw up went in............and they still only won by 1 point.

Unless something drastic happens (injury, etc), the way the top 4 teams are playing right now, I don't see them losing before they arrive in Indiana in April. Baylor is on a roll. Did you see that "beat down" (66-41) they gave Oklahoma State last evening? Revenge at its finest. I must admit, IMHO, if any of the top seeds falter, my guest would be Baylor or South Carolina. The top 4 teams are top 4 for a reason!! This is going to be a very interesting tournament.

I do expect UConn to hoist the trophy after the championship game. The BIG 3 WILL NOT be denied!!

 

[Carnac]

I think both Maryland and Ohio State could be dangerous teams. Their problems this year can be traced to inconsistency. It is all going to depend on which team shows up on which night.

Agreed. They've both got post season travel plans that include Indiana. They'll both be a real tough nut to crack.
To use an old baseball term: "they're going to be a tough out".

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

I have a LOT of respect for Muffet and her coaching ability. That said, third to Geno and Walz, Kim Mulkey is may fav Womens BBall coach. She does an awful lot with very little (but not so much with a lot). Add the Lamé to the equation and...well...things will get interesting.

I would prefer not to have Baylor on our side of the bracket.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

I have a LOT of respect for Muffet and her coaching ability. That said, third to Geno and Walz, Kim Mulkey is may fav Womens BBall coach. She does an awful lot with very little (but not so much with a lot). Add the Lamé to the equation and...well...things will get interesting.

I would prefer not to have Baylor on our side of the bracket.

Can't disagree with your mentions here (not so sure I concur with Mulkey though) but I would absolutely include Gary Blair (Texas A&M) in the mix here. The guy can coach and knows basketball..

 

[Carnac]

Can't disagree with your mentions here (not so sure I concur with Mulkey though) but I would absolutely include Gary Blair (Texas A&M) in the mix here. The guy can coach and knows basketball..

I just perused Texas A&M's schedule. You're right Blair's team has a good record, and some impressive wins. They lost several close games they could/should have won, including a 1 point loss @ South Carolina. Texas A&M should make it to the round of 16, maybe the elite 8.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Can't disagree with your mentions here (not so sure I concur with Mulkey though) but I would absolutely include Gary Blair (Texas A&M) in the mix here. The guy can coach and knows basketball..

But he's so....nice....

 

[Dillon77]

I agree with all that except you are missing what IMO is one of the best most distinguishing parts of Turner's game and that is her ability to purposely run the floor and get you 2 easy baskets per game. This might sound like a nit but I do not believe she has been maximized at ND because she has been relegated to the post. She grew up as predominiantly a wing/slashing type player who could create her own shot and handle & shoot away from the basket. I also don't think she is going to be a post at the next level.

Morning. Missed your post last night -- was busy "listening" to the ND-Wake game at that time. Player in question, Ms.Turner, had a strong first quarter and finished up with 19 pts, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. Agree with you that she has been relegated to the post thus far. However, as I think I posted, she will get out and run the floor when someone else (Westbeld, Cable) gets the defensive rebound. And, you're right, when she does do it, they're easy baskets. Next stop: FSU and a match-up with Adut Bulgak and the Seminoles.