Anyone else nervous already?

[CL82]

It's been a while since we had a national championship and I want this one an awful lot for so many reasons, not the least of which is I really want Paige to leave with one. I don't take a lot of comfort in the results from our head to head matchup earlier this year. I have lot of respect for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina program. Staley is one of the best coaches in the game today and she is unlikely to let her team make the same errors. We are a much better team, but undoubtedly, so are they.

So here I am nervously waiting for the 3 PM tipoff. I am channeling the nervous energy into productivity, but it's definitely there and won't dissipate until the final buzzer sounds.

(And just so I don't offend the college basketball deities, whatever they may be...
We are doomed.)

 

[maple]

Right now:

 

[Kaizen]

Which team will win the championship?

Adelson: UConn. The Huskies have better, more consistent shooters. Even though they say defense wins championships, the better offense will win.


Katie Barnes: UConn. The Huskies are playing their best basketball at the right time.

Alexa Philippou: UConn. While the Gamecocks looked better against Texas than they did earlier in the tournament, the Huskies feel like a freight train barreling toward the championship. The game should be much closer than February's meeting -- and if South Carolina gets in a hole early, it will respond much better than UCLA did Friday. But UConn's combination of Bueckers, Fudd and Strong will be the difference, and Bueckers will win a championship in her final collegiate game.

Voepel: South Carolina. I've stuck with the Gamecocks to repeat all season. This game seems very likely to be much closer than South Carolina's three previous NCAA final wins: by 12 vs. both Mississippi State in 2017 and Iowa in 2024, and by 15 vs. UConn in 2022. This could come down to the final minute. If it does, that's where the Gamecocks' defense could come up big for the most important play.

How UConn beat South Carolina to win the women's NCAA championship

UConn beat South Carolina to win its 12th NCAA championship. We tracked all the action live from Tampa.

www.espn.com

 

[GoUconn7961]

 

[Bone Dog]

Nervous? OMG, yes!

 

[huskeynut]

Keeping the nerves in check. It ain't easy.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Yea!! When the bracket was released I said I didn’t care who we played as long as it wasn’t South Carolina in the final. They will be out for blood over that February loss. Revenge can be a great motivator.

 

[Next 12]

Yea!! When the bracket was released I said I didn’t care who we played as long as it wasn’t South Carolina in the final. They will be out for blood over that February loss. Revenge can be a great motivator.

I wanted SC, just to show them that FEB. was no fluke, that Uconn is back and better than ever!WEEERREE BAAAAAAAAAAACCKKK!!!!!

 

[FairView]

I've been nervous since November.

 

[cohenzone]

I stopped being nervous about sports the last few years. But winning today would be sweet. One way or the other, we spoiled UConn fans have been treated to another great year - hate to see it end - with a lot of obvious growth over the last 2 months. Go Huskies.

 

[CL82]

Which team will win the championship?

Adelson: UConn. The Huskies have better, more consistent shooters. Even though they say defense wins championships, the better offense will win.


Katie Barnes: UConn. The Huskies are playing their best basketball at the right time.

Alexa Philippou: UConn. While the Gamecocks looked better against Texas than they did earlier in the tournament, the Huskies feel like a freight train barreling toward the championship. The game should be much closer than February's meeting -- and if South Carolina gets in a hole early, it will respond much better than UCLA did Friday. But UConn's combination of Bueckers, Fudd and Strong will be the difference, and Bueckers will win a championship in her final collegiate game.

Voepel: South Carolina. I've stuck with the Gamecocks to repeat all season. This game seems very likely to be much closer than South Carolina's three previous NCAA final wins: by 12 vs. both Mississippi State in 2017 and Iowa in 2024, and by 15 vs. UConn in 2022. This could come down to the final minute. If it does, that's where the Gamecocks' defense could come up big for the most important play.

How UConn beat South Carolina to win the women's NCAA championship

UConn beat South Carolina to win its 12th NCAA championship. We tracked all the action live from Tampa.

www.espn.com

(Although I felt a little better when I got down to Voepel.)

 

[CL82]

I wanted SC, just to show them that FEB. was no fluke, that Uconn is back and better than ever!WEEERREE BAAAAAAAAAAACCKKK!!!!!

(Reckless. Have I taught you people nothing?)

 

[OviedoFLHusky]

I'm so nervous that I can't even take delight (yet) in the Duke men's team losing last night, for fear that the "ill wish" would boomerang back on us!

 

[cellocgg]

Yea!! When the bracket was released I said I didn’t care who we played as long as it wasn’t South Carolina in the final. They will be out for blood over that February loss. Revenge can be a great motivator.

This is our revenge game for 2022!

 

[Mike72fl]

I don’t know why everyone is so nervous about today’s game. UConn won’t beat SC 29 points this afternoon, but UConn will beat them at least 12 points. Sure, SC will try to play SEC style, physical and ugly, but they won’t win. The 3 times that they won it all, they had dominant post players. They don’t have that this year.

The keys for UConn are: get Azzi going early, stay calm and composed, stay out of foul trouble, and take advantage of Sarah’s and Jana’s size in the paint.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I've been nervous for this game for maybe 2 weeks. I have great confidence in our Huskies, but on any given day either of these teams might rise above. The nerves are made worse by wanting it so bad for Paige. She is one of the Greats ( per Geno 1-3 range) and she so deserves not to have to carry around the "but she didn't win a Championship malarkey".

 

[CL82]

I'm so nervous that I can't even take delight (yet) in the Duke men's team losing last night, for fear that the "ill wish" would boomerang back on us!

 

[CL82]

I don’t know why everyone is so nervous about today’s game. UConn won’t beat SC 29 points this afternoon, but UConn will beat them at least 12 points. Sure, SC will try to play SEC style, physical and ugly, but they won’t win. The 3 times that they won it all, they had dominant post players. They don’t have that this year.

The keys for UConn are: get Azzi going early, stay calm and composed, stay out of foul trouble, and take advantage of Sarah’s and Jana’s size in the paint.

It's clear that I am going to be a busy man today.

 

[bantamlaker]

I've been nervous for this game for maybe 2 weeks. I have great confidence in our Huskies, but on any given day either of these teams might rise above. The nerves are made worse by wanting it so bad for Paige. She is one of the Greats ( per Geno 1-3 range) and she so deserves not to have to carry around the "but she didn't win a Championship malarkey".

I totally agree with you Rocky. I think all UConn fans want it really bad for Paige. Not only for the reason you state but because she has worked so hard to come back from all her injuries. This also holds true for Caroline, Azzi, Aubrey, Ice and Jana. I wonder if there has ever been a team in the championship game with six players who have missed so much time due to injuries. I am sure SCarolina has worked really hard to get here but our girls really do deserve this one!

 

[REB1094]

Paige Bueckers isn't nervous, so I'm not nervous

 

[Cornell Lt]

Not worried one iota . The women have been on a heater the entire post season and I'm confident it will continue today.

 

[HuskyNan]

I totally agree with you Rocky. I think all UConn fans want it really bad for Paige. Not only for the reason you state but because she has worked so hard to come back from all her injuries. This also holds true for Azzi, Aubrey, Ice and Jana. I wonder if there has ever been a team in the champioship game with five players who have missed so much time due to injuries. I am sure SCarolina has worked really hard to get here but our girls really do deserve this one!

Ahem - Caroline, too

 

[Dove]

Nope.

Geno's game planning has been epic. Dawn Staley has her white towel ready.

 

[broooce]

I’m here in Tampa and will soon be heading to Amalie Arena. Believe me when I tell you that South Carolina fans are just as if not more nervous than us. They watched what we did to UCLA and all the SC fans I’ve spoken to admit that UConn is playing so well and that we deserve to be the odds-on favorite today.

They’re confident in their team as we are of our Huskies and think it’ll be a great game. Like every other championship game the winner will be the team that executes the best, makes the fewest mistakes and scores the most points.

Mutual respect for our players and coaches. Certainly respect from UConn fans for SC’s 5th consecutive Final Four. Not overlooking their quest for a repeat and third in four years.

A heavyweight championship battle!

Nervous? Naturally. Confident? Absolutely!!

Go Huskies!!

 

[Dove]

Paige Bueckers isn't nervous, so I'm not nervous

This is the right answer.