Arkansas St Postgame Thread

[jaydee602]

It's UCONN vs. South Dakota State on Monday. The jackrabbits won, 74- 68.

 

[ABCDFE]

The eye test says these huskies are ready.

• Extremely positives are Azzi, Shade, Strong being aggressive. Geno is a master at this. He knows Paige will be Paige and can be trusted, but what he needs are uber confident Azzi, Shade, and Sarah for this team to reach its goal of a NC. Well done
• Is it me or does Caroline just remind of you of that crafty park player that you feel you don’t need to worry about and then proceeds to kick your butt. Man CD is just a gamer.
• Icen and Jana played decent, Jana needs to work on being stronger and also have stronger hands with the ball.
• KK and Chen played decently as well. If KK can knock down two 3 pts a game that will be really huge in the later stages of the tournament
• Nice to see Aubrey get. She definitely doesn’t look but hoping she will give us something important down the road like a key put back, offensive rebound or steal etc as I know she has it in her.
• Paige must be feeling good inside knowing she doesn’t need to do everything. And when the game is on the line I have no doubt this year she is going deliver.

 

[Charliebball]

It's UCONN vs. South Dakota State on Monday. The jackrabbits won, 74- 68.

and that game is not going to be so easy.......SDS is experienced and smart and they play a solid team game.....

 

[jaydee602]

and that game is not going to be so easy.......SDS is experienced and smart and they play a solid team game.....

But the Jackrabbits play a slow, deliberate game that plays into UCONN's hands. They don't have the ball handlers to break UCONN's press & they won't be able to set their defense again the Huskies' fast break.
They beat Oklahoma State because they shot 20 free throws.

 

[Dublin]

Try playing basketball without eating or drinking all day. Jana gets a pass.

too bad she couldn't get a religious pass so that she at least had some nourishment...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I have no knowledge of basketball offense styles, the triangle, the princeton offense, however there seemed to be a few new wrinkles today, more a vibe hunch on my part. I will say that I was impressed that more than once we broke the press in the same manner, and Azzi was waiting along the sideline for the pass and she swished a three.

The team played with a whole lot of joy today. It was incredible watching how in tune they all were.

That particular one is called The Azzi in BFlat Minor. It's real music.

 

[dtbtbtb]

Wow, what a game! UConn played like the best team in the country! the crisp passes on offense, the suffocating defense, shot making, the clear togetherness, a real fun fun game to watch. Basketball played the way it should.
*Azzi: POG. If Azzi plays like this the rest of the tournament, it will be very difficuly to beat UConn. Loved the sequence where she missed a 3 but next opportunity took a 3 with no hesitation and hit it.
*Sarah: the miracle kid. What a player! is there anything she does not do on the court...and to think she is only a freshman is mind boggling. She got the potential to be one of UConn greatest!
*Ash: the grit and fight of this kid is unmatched. And when she hits her shots like she did today, she is a real X factor.
*Paige: didn't have to wear a cape today and had a good game with some amazing passes and defense.
*CD: it is so good to see her playing and with confidence. She is clearly a leader on the team.
All in all a real treat of a game to watch! On to the round of 32.

 

[BRS24]

too bad she couldn't get a religious pass so that she at least had some nourishment...

I admire the college and professional athletes who have strong convictions, regardless of the time of year, aka, March Madness. There are a number of UConn MBB players who also observe, and a grad assistant also fasts in solidarity with them, both last year and this year.

 

[msf22b]

Nothing can be said negatively about that game: My2 cents
see below
And it really was not even as close as the final score indicated: Dugway
Caroline looked good, made a few shots, got some rebounds, and ran the floor really well: Bonedog

A fine opener against a severely disadvantaged and over-matched team
I agree with Dugway that with foot, hard on the pedal, we might have scored 150

And I also agree with those who praised Caroline's early appearance and seemingly rapid regaining of form...She might well turn out to be the secret weapon that I hope we don't need. She thrived in that role early in her career.

Without having looked at the press conference, I'm sure there are things that Geno didn't care for...The posts do not seem completely ready for prime time (based on today). they might well be eaten up by more experienced bigs who rebound better and have sophisticated moves and good hands.

Likewise the 4th quarter with our talented subs was a bit of a bust...I'm sure Geno put Kaitlyn back in to steady the ship. Allie especially seemed overwhelmed by the occasion, passed up shots, had questionable hands, seemed off...

So yes, 2cents, there are always things to clean up.

But when UConn comes out like they did today and the big 3 plus anyone else are hitting their shots and making offensive sets miserable for their opponents, they are very difficult (perhaps impossible) to beat.

 

[Charliebball]

But the Jackrabbits play a slow, deliberate game that plays into UCONN's hands. They don't have the ball handlers to break UCONN's press & they won't be able to set their defense again the Huskies' fast break.
They beat Oklahoma State because they shot 20 free throws.

I'm confident UConn will win but the Jackrabbits could be pretty pesky.........

 

[uconnfan68]

Nothing can be said negatively about that game: My2 cents
see below
And it really was not even as close as the final score indicated: Dugway
Caroline looked good, made a few shots, got some rebounds, and ran the floor really well: Bonedog

A fine opener against a severely disadvantaged and over-matched team
I agree with Dugway that with foot, hard on the pedal, we might have scored 150

And I also agree with those who praised Caroline's early appearance and seemingly rapid regaining of form...She might well turn out to be the secret weapon that I hope we don't need. She thrived in that role early in her career.

Without having looked at the press conference, I'm sure there are things that Geno didn't care for...The posts do not seem completely ready for prime time (based on today). they might well be eaten up by more experienced bigs who rebound better and have sophisticated moves and good hands.

Likewise the 4th quarter with our talented subs was a bit of a bust...I'm sure Geno put Kaitlyn back in to steady the ship. Allie especially seemed overwhelmed by the occasion, passed up shots, had questionable hands, seemed off...

So yes, 2cents, there are always things to clean up.

But when UConn comes out like they did today and the big 3 plus anyone else are hitting their shots and making offensive sets miserable for their opponents, they are very difficult (perhaps impossible) to beat.

Don’t need any talk of any part of this game after halftime. Geno did his best to keep it under 100, but they made an extra shot. They could had 140 if they chose to.

 

[jaydee602]

I'm confident UConn will win but the Jackrabbits could be pretty pesky.........

Yeah, they are one of those teams that can keep it close at the start. But for them to sustain a quality performance for 40 minutes vs. UCONN is a tall task.

 

[JoePgh]

Frustrated headline writer proposes two unused headlines for this game:

• "UCONN PLAYER'S 3-POINT SHOT RISES FROM THE ASH -- OR WAS IT JUST HIDING IN THE SHADE?" (She was 3-for-6 from 3 today after being 0-for-8 in the previous five games.)
• "UCONN CENTER SEEN ENTERING RIM PROTECTION PROGRAM IN FIRST QUARTER" (Jana blocked two layups in the first quarter after the Arkansas State player beat her primary defender and was headed for the basket.)

 

[jaydee602]

South Dakota State is the only double digit seeded team to win a game. The 10th seeded Jackrabbits beat 7th seed Oklahoma State.
All the other double digit seeded teams have lost, with most of them suffering blowouts.

 

[ERWUC65]

But the Jackrabbits play a slow, deliberate game that plays into UCONN's hands. They don't have the ball handlers to break UCONN's press & they won't be able to set their defense again the Huskies' fast break.
They beat Oklahoma State because they shot 20 free throws.

I guess I must have watched a different game, because I thought SDS won it in the 2nd half by outhustling OS, especially with their speed and ball handling on offense. Like AS today, they may be intimidated by the venue and the UConn aura, but I see them giving us some concern early with that offense. They are well coached and are better in close to the basket - one of our remaining weaknesses. I think we will pull away in the 2nd half due to our size advantage, shooting and conditioning, but it will be a game for a while.

 

[TAK]

Oregon (10) beat Vandy (7).

 

[maple]

I suspect the Jacks will play tough, and it might even be relatively close at halftime. But the Huskies should be able to handle them.

 

[Longtime fan]

And it really was not even as close as the final score indicated.

And that team from Arkansas had some skills. They could run, they had energy, they were relentless, they could handle the ball pretty well, and they could shoot threes if given an opening. We were simply spectacular. If we can keep the " pedal to the metal...." should be a fun tourney. The jackrabbits are pretty good, too.

 

[todbo]

Amazing display by UConn of every aspect of the game. Despite the huge team difference in skill and performance, consider that every Red Wolf player on the court today was surely on full scholarship and in high school was probably team captain, all-conference, or all-state.

 

[jaydee602]

Oregon (10) beat Vandy (7).

Thanks for the correction. There are two 10th seeded teams that advanced to round 2.

 

[Ozimoto]

The piranha were on the roast.

 

[packwrap]

South Dakota State is the only double digit seeded team to win a game. The 10th seeded Jackrabbits beat 7th seed Oklahoma State.
All the other double digit seeded teams have lost, with most of them suffering blowouts.

Technically UConn represents a small mid major conference. Now SDSt gets unlucky that they have to face UConn, as that ensures that one of the few remaining non P4 teams will be forced to go home.

Hopefully, SD St.

 

[donalddoowop]

I am trying to think of a tournament game that was so incredible. I am sure there were some but holy cow! Just incredible. The stars shown out.

Yes, there has been when Nurse and Collier played. There were others and every time UConn struggled offensively the next game.

 

[mainerhuski]

Paige Bueckers postgame locker room

I love to see her genuine joy when she speaks of how well Azzi, Sarah, Caro & others played today!

 

[Just.A.Fan]

Some thoughts on the Arkansas St game:

• Wonderful to see Caroline sub in for some meaningful PT during the 1st half of today’s game. Also, really good to see Aubrey on the court and moving well. This team goes 10 deep, and that will be a challenge to every team the Huskies face as the tournament progresses.

The eye test says these huskies are ready.

• Is it me or does Caroline just remind of you of that crafty park player that you feel you don’t need to worry about and then proceeds to kick your butt. Man CD is just a gamer.

*CD: it is so good to see her playing and with confidence. She is clearly a leader on the team.

Caroline Ducharme postgame locker room

It is so great to see Caroline being talked about again, playing again, taking a leadership role when she's out there. It warms my heart!