npignatjr
Npignatjr
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Fouls 23 UConn. 13 Arkansas
Arkansas Postgame Thread
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That’s who I was counting as the one quality opponent. I don’t really consider DePaul to be on that level, that’s why I said “not to dis DePaul”.
My first have 2 cents on the first half:
We have only played 10 games and ARK has played several more than us. They have 3 5th year seniors and we are young. They have savvy players and we are naïve. That and very poor perimeter defense which became horrendous defense in the 3rd Qtr, lost us the game.
We are getting that pull-up jumper past the first line of defense in 1st Qtr and making most of them. Defense backed off AG to double Liv and AG has to hit that shot.
Miscommunication on zone defense (CW involved THREE times – second time AG covers CW’s space in the zone and then can’t get back to the corner in time for the 3) leads to 9 easy points for Ark. This is just too easy for ARK. Find where CW is and shoot it from her area….
AG – nice defense on several possessions, can only blame her once. Nice post up, rebound and steal. Nice recognition in the offense to swing the ball to a wide open CW for a brick. Needs to pass or shoot and not think so much. Nice hustle to get the held ball. Terrific offensive board. Hit the three before half-huge! Had good Defense in the early 2nd but just better offense by Dungee. Another good defensive possession on Dungee. Poor defense against McDaniels. I don’t think you can complain too much with AG’s defensive performance in the first half.
Liv – so far from the basket that she has to dribble and back down and not being careful of the double team. Where is she? This isn’t her type of game. Pace is too fast and not going to a script that she is comfortable with.
CW – missed roughly 15 three pointers in a row now counting the last game. She throws up some ugly bricks! Poor defense on multiple occasions, and then gave up on a rebound after getting beat which cost us 2pts. Poor recognition on the double team. Does CW know how to anticipate or fight through a screen? No instincts on defense!
EW -nice pick and roll with AE on the soft finish – AE not breaking backboards today! Don’t agree with first offensive foul on AE. You can call this every time down the court and then we don’t have anybody to play the second half! Two takes to the basket – nice work. Terrific offensive board.
NM – excellent defense in stopping the player, despite the change of direction. No shucking and no jiving, just catch and shoot. She got the second and third ones down! Got juked to the baseline and fouled. Then over-played badly to her left in anticipation of the pick. Love the recognition though. Kid is learning and watching film. She almost recovered.
PB – not in the flow yet but we still scored 43 and it would have been close to 50 if CW can just hit the darn shot!!
We have only played 10 games and ARK has played several more than us. They have 3 5th year seniors and we are young. They have savvy players and we are naïve. That and very poor perimeter defense which became horrendous defense in the 3rd Qtr, lost us the game.
We are getting that pull-up jumper past the first line of defense in 1st Qtr and making most of them. Defense backed off AG to double Liv and AG has to hit that shot.
Miscommunication on zone defense (CW involved THREE times – second time AG covers CW’s space in the zone and then can’t get back to the corner in time for the 3) leads to 9 easy points for Ark. This is just too easy for ARK. Find where CW is and shoot it from her area….
AG – nice defense on several possessions, can only blame her once. Nice post up, rebound and steal. Nice recognition in the offense to swing the ball to a wide open CW for a brick. Needs to pass or shoot and not think so much. Nice hustle to get the held ball. Terrific offensive board. Hit the three before half-huge! Had good Defense in the early 2nd but just better offense by Dungee. Another good defensive possession on Dungee. Poor defense against McDaniels. I don’t think you can complain too much with AG’s defensive performance in the first half.
Liv – so far from the basket that she has to dribble and back down and not being careful of the double team. Where is she? This isn’t her type of game. Pace is too fast and not going to a script that she is comfortable with.
CW – missed roughly 15 three pointers in a row now counting the last game. She throws up some ugly bricks! Poor defense on multiple occasions, and then gave up on a rebound after getting beat which cost us 2pts. Poor recognition on the double team. Does CW know how to anticipate or fight through a screen? No instincts on defense!
EW -nice pick and roll with AE on the soft finish – AE not breaking backboards today! Don’t agree with first offensive foul on AE. You can call this every time down the court and then we don’t have anybody to play the second half! Two takes to the basket – nice work. Terrific offensive board.
NM – excellent defense in stopping the player, despite the change of direction. No shucking and no jiving, just catch and shoot. She got the second and third ones down! Got juked to the baseline and fouled. Then over-played badly to her left in anticipation of the pick. Love the recognition though. Kid is learning and watching film. She almost recovered.
PB – not in the flow yet but we still scored 43 and it would have been close to 50 if CW can just hit the darn shot!!
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My first have 2 cents on the pivotal 3rd Qtr:
Third Qtr perimeter defense was awful. Uconn lost the game in the first 5 minutes of the third! Ark hitting wide open 3s and Uconn missing short to mid range jumpers. So many open 3 pointers for Ark. Did out team get a scouting report?
That was not an offensive foul on EW. Player still moving her feet and EW didn’t plow into her.
CW-Two open mid to short-range shots = two bricks! Blocked on another and then GA says to hell with this, let’s do the same thing with PB instead. Then she blows two FTs! Then misses from the corner. Incredibly poor defense. She is bringing nothing to the game. If you she can’t score, then she needs to be sat on the bench and let AG play instead. At least then, you got some defense, rebounding and some points as well. Not sure why Geno kept her in so long. I thought a group with PB, NM, EW, AG and AE would give a good balance of offense and defense – at least in this game anyway. CW is a liability on defense.
EW and CW can’t stay with Dungee.
Not fair to ask Mir to guard Dungee. Dungee is too savvy. Refs like their offensive charges calls on UCONN but what about the obvious pushoff by Dungee??
Stop the presses: At 2:35 of the 3rd, NM has made her first layup in a UCONN uniform, after a beautiful hesitation and take to the hoop. Kid is getting beeettttteeeer…..
MM finally gets the charge call and then nails the 3 pointer. Not sure I care for her reaction afterwards though…Good minutes!
NM shows some nice defense on Dungee. Not perfect but Dungee is crafty and a 5th year senior and NM is in her 9 or 10 game as a freshie…
CW has one responsibility on D when she comes back in, guard the darn corner shot and instead, she gets lost and Ark hits the 3. Same theme over and over…Let’s just say it like it is: CW can’t play defense!
EW – she has been very good all game long on the offensive end..hits the three, takes it to the hole, etc. . Not the best on defense or fighting through a screen.
Late three at the end of the third really hurt. Good defense but better offense.
Third Qtr perimeter defense was awful. Uconn lost the game in the first 5 minutes of the third! Ark hitting wide open 3s and Uconn missing short to mid range jumpers. So many open 3 pointers for Ark. Did out team get a scouting report?
That was not an offensive foul on EW. Player still moving her feet and EW didn’t plow into her.
CW-Two open mid to short-range shots = two bricks! Blocked on another and then GA says to hell with this, let’s do the same thing with PB instead. Then she blows two FTs! Then misses from the corner. Incredibly poor defense. She is bringing nothing to the game. If you she can’t score, then she needs to be sat on the bench and let AG play instead. At least then, you got some defense, rebounding and some points as well. Not sure why Geno kept her in so long. I thought a group with PB, NM, EW, AG and AE would give a good balance of offense and defense – at least in this game anyway. CW is a liability on defense.
EW and CW can’t stay with Dungee.
Not fair to ask Mir to guard Dungee. Dungee is too savvy. Refs like their offensive charges calls on UCONN but what about the obvious pushoff by Dungee??
Stop the presses: At 2:35 of the 3rd, NM has made her first layup in a UCONN uniform, after a beautiful hesitation and take to the hoop. Kid is getting beeettttteeeer…..
MM finally gets the charge call and then nails the 3 pointer. Not sure I care for her reaction afterwards though…Good minutes!
NM shows some nice defense on Dungee. Not perfect but Dungee is crafty and a 5th year senior and NM is in her 9 or 10 game as a freshie…
CW has one responsibility on D when she comes back in, guard the darn corner shot and instead, she gets lost and Ark hits the 3. Same theme over and over…Let’s just say it like it is: CW can’t play defense!
EW – she has been very good all game long on the offensive end..hits the three, takes it to the hole, etc. . Not the best on defense or fighting through a screen.
Late three at the end of the third really hurt. Good defense but better offense.
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Ok-but being a high draft pick and actually making a roster or an impact in this draft, don't go hand in hand.
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Yeah, but look at the conference wins, one patsy after another.
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UConnCat: Absolutely no attack here but maybe I can help one with the tag line of wise woman.
I'll answer your questions with a question. Why does a blue moon, solar eclipse or someone struck by lightning make the news?
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They needed the few seconds since the official waved off Westbrook's shot as she was taking it.
MooseJaw
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I agree in most part. Where I differ is with AE, I would hope by now she would be learning to temper her bull in a china shop mentality. Yes I want her to play hard and physical BB, however she needs to stay in the game. It has become obvious that Liv is having some of the problems she displayed in the past, making it more important for AE to be available for more minutes.
vaeman
CT transplant to DMV
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Complete agreement. First step is to keep your head up. No need to look down when dribbling
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Olivia goes missing every time we play a ranked opponent besides DePaul and CW just does way to much to prove to us she’s a star. I had to get that off my chest.
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HuskyNan
You Know Who
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It’s not unusual for a post player to have a longer learning curve than guards. They’re used to being the tallest, strongest player on the floor in high school but in college, there are a lot of players as tall or strong, if not stronger. Now, a post player needs to learn plays, how to work within the flow of an offense, and proper footwork rather than just shoot over the shorter high school kids. It takes a while.
Heck, Tina Charles and Asjha Jones, two of my favorites, were always good but they both needed until their late sophomore/early junior years to “get it” and start dominating with regularity.
In this game, the problem was not our offense, despite numerous miss shots by CW and nothing from Liv. We scored 87 – could have been 100.
Can’t give up 90 and expect to win. Ark must have shot over 50% from 3 and from the field. But…..they have a lot of experienced players and have played a lot more games and they were at home and had a hot hand! We played about as bad on defense as I think any UCONN team has in a long time. This team will not go far until it gets better on the defensive end!
My 2 cents on the 4th Qtr:
Early on - Nice dribble drive with a cross over by NM to get the ball to CW then to EW for the three. This is how to do it!!! Dribble penetrate and kick!
CW loses her man on the inbounds pass and Mir gets the foul trying to cover for her mistake. CW has NO sense of urgency on defense! I think next year, she will not play much unless her overall game, especially her defense improves. Allows yet another dribble penetration but gets the block…at least she didn’t give up on it. Any coach who watches UCONN is telling his guards that anytime they are matched up with CW, just take her to the hole!
Mir- very poor defensive technique that she should have learned when she was 12 years old – don’t give up the baseline! Got her second charge call…that is like getting two steals. Should have been 3. Doesn’t need to act as much as she does however. She likes to take the big flop. She is going to get whiplash swinging her head back like that! Nice job though! Poor defense on Ramiriz. Her defense is a ‘hit and miss’ at this point, but expected from a freshie.
NM – nice pass to Mir on the roll – I think Mir was fouled. Another nice dribble drive by NM and kick to EW. This is what happens when we can hit open jumpers!!! EW getting it done!! I will say that NM made Dungee work and that is all you can ask the freshie to do. Dungee got bailed out with the foul by Mir. Dungee has about the quickest spin move I’ve seen this side of Kobe Bryant! Dungee is like A Dantley and knows how to draw the fouls as well. If Mir was one more inch further out, I think it is a charge. Mir is entitled to jump straight up which she did and then Dungee wisely launched herself into her to get the bail out foul. Savvy 5th year senior.
PB – took over the 4th. She is flat out amazing good. Thus far she is as good as any freshie we have had. I thought she was due for a real break out game that ended up being a breakout 4th quarter.
Tied with 5 to go and had the ball…what happened? Why is AG not in the game? I like Mir but we need more size to snag offensive rebounds. Should have taken CW out and put AG in. AG can throw up bricks just as good as CW can! She might even make one!!
Poor NM – her 3rd three was half way down at around 3 to go….that shot would have been huge!! Then she has another nice dribble penetrate and kick…Kid is getting consistent with it! EW strikes again!
Then Dungee abuses CW again! Why is our worst perimeter defender on Dungee?? Shot by Slocum over PB was a killer at 1.56. Just after the Liv block (CW can’t fight through the screen). That was a back-breaker!
Explosive take by CW. Now that was nice! Missed the FT AGAIN!
Look like a shot clock violation to me at the end.
Can’t give up 90 and expect to win. Ark must have shot over 50% from 3 and from the field. But…..they have a lot of experienced players and have played a lot more games and they were at home and had a hot hand! We played about as bad on defense as I think any UCONN team has in a long time. This team will not go far until it gets better on the defensive end!
My 2 cents on the 4th Qtr:
Early on - Nice dribble drive with a cross over by NM to get the ball to CW then to EW for the three. This is how to do it!!! Dribble penetrate and kick!
CW loses her man on the inbounds pass and Mir gets the foul trying to cover for her mistake. CW has NO sense of urgency on defense! I think next year, she will not play much unless her overall game, especially her defense improves. Allows yet another dribble penetration but gets the block…at least she didn’t give up on it. Any coach who watches UCONN is telling his guards that anytime they are matched up with CW, just take her to the hole!
Mir- very poor defensive technique that she should have learned when she was 12 years old – don’t give up the baseline! Got her second charge call…that is like getting two steals. Should have been 3. Doesn’t need to act as much as she does however. She likes to take the big flop. She is going to get whiplash swinging her head back like that! Nice job though! Poor defense on Ramiriz. Her defense is a ‘hit and miss’ at this point, but expected from a freshie.
NM – nice pass to Mir on the roll – I think Mir was fouled. Another nice dribble drive by NM and kick to EW. This is what happens when we can hit open jumpers!!! EW getting it done!! I will say that NM made Dungee work and that is all you can ask the freshie to do. Dungee got bailed out with the foul by Mir. Dungee has about the quickest spin move I’ve seen this side of Kobe Bryant! Dungee is like A Dantley and knows how to draw the fouls as well. If Mir was one more inch further out, I think it is a charge. Mir is entitled to jump straight up which she did and then Dungee wisely launched herself into her to get the bail out foul. Savvy 5th year senior.
PB – took over the 4th. She is flat out amazing good. Thus far she is as good as any freshie we have had. I thought she was due for a real break out game that ended up being a breakout 4th quarter.
Tied with 5 to go and had the ball…what happened? Why is AG not in the game? I like Mir but we need more size to snag offensive rebounds. Should have taken CW out and put AG in. AG can throw up bricks just as good as CW can! She might even make one!!
Poor NM – her 3rd three was half way down at around 3 to go….that shot would have been huge!! Then she has another nice dribble penetrate and kick…Kid is getting consistent with it! EW strikes again!
Then Dungee abuses CW again! Why is our worst perimeter defender on Dungee?? Shot by Slocum over PB was a killer at 1.56. Just after the Liv block (CW can’t fight through the screen). That was a back-breaker!
Explosive take by CW. Now that was nice! Missed the FT AGAIN!
Look like a shot clock violation to me at the end.
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CocoHusky
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Would it be possible to unbold your post. You make some good points just strains the eye.
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donalddoowop
Who put the Bop in the Bop Shoo Bop?
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I evidently was thinking about another game Georgia won. I thought it was that one.
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Both of SC guards are listed in the ESPN midseason top 25 players in the country but you are saying we "lack sufficient guard play". I know it is your opinion but obviously you haven't watched a lot of SC games. Cooke leads the team in scoring and Henderson is one of the fastest if not the fastest point guard in the country.
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Just as many of the players are still learning, so is Geno. Alot of new moving parts that perform differently depending on what combinations are in game. Geno has been the first to comment on the defensive and offensive strategies that currently are not working. Certainly fair for the Boneyard to also comment on the results of the many "tests" he is putting team through. A good coach evolves depending on the feedback his team gives him. Suggest we minimize the overreaction from the blow out games and look forward to how Geno gets team ready for Final 4.
RockyMTblue2
Don't Look Up!
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Unfortunately I am not living in the last decade! Had to say something to give folks a second chance at your post.
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I believe so too.
I'm still getting used to seeing her at a 5 versus a 3/4 position player. It's not something I recall her doing a lot of when she played in HS. Not saying that she can't but it's definitely an adjustment which I think she's has been handling well considering. Hopefully once Gabriel and DeBerry get acclimated (and yes I know it could be a while), she'll be able to be more of the wing player I've seen her excel at.
Even with the fouls, her numbers were better than Nelson-Ododa and even Coach Auriemma said she provided better minutes when in the game. I have to find this game on YouTube as I was confused as to how she was at 4 fouls in the 3rd. I thought she only had 2 at half time. 🤷♀️
Good one! Like anywhere on the court, you work to get open. Cutting, screening, getting in an athletic position, giving the passer a target, chinning the ball (old school- receive ball, hold it firmly in your 2 hands under your chin with elbows out, then you look and feel for the defender and you make a move dependent on where the defender is playing you), DON'T PUT THE BALL ON THE FLOOR OR BRING IT DOWN.
done.
A fair observation.
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Like I said, we’re gonna win that game. It won’t be easy, but we will win.
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I believe that Aaliyah got her 4th and 5th fouls about 30 seconds apart (guesstimate). She got a defensive foul and as she was moving to get offensive position on the very next UConn possession, she ran into a Razorback who blindsided Aaliyah. I don't remember any of her other fouls.
This is from memory as I have not seen the replay (and will not watch it).
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Thanks. I saw the back to back ones. It's the 3rd foul that I'm perplexed about.
Will hand it to Martinez (begrudgingly) as she knew how to take advantage of the situation. I think she was the player who drew both of the fouls on Aaliyah in the 3rd.
i thought her first foul was BS. the last one was bad luck and lack of awareness but mostly bad luck
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Geno should lose some sleep over this one. For the 2nd consecutive Thursday he was totally out-coached. Jim Neighbors totally nullified our size advantage [Liv got off only two shots, making one] and our most unreliable shooter took the most shots [17] and missed many open 3s, making none.
For the past two years, our offense has bogged down against the good teams forcing us to go one-on-one just to get off a shot! We need to re-think our offense with all of the [supposed] talent we have, eh?
Against Arkansas, with their dribble-drive offense, UConn played their version of the "matador defense", allowing their guards to drive [unimpeded] to the bottom of the circle. My question is: what are they spending their time doing in practice? With all of the [supposed] talent we have, why aren't our players getting good defensive instructions in practice?
It's a conundrum for sure!
Hey, we almost won the game! I personally like close games vs blow-outs! I bet these kids can’t wait until Sunday’s game vs DePaul! I know I’m really looking forward to it! Lots of bright moments yesterday, just needed to guard Dungee better. Bring on DePaul! And...I’d love to see Arkansas again in March Madness......
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