Baylor is BIG

[hoophuskee]

I think that the most negative thing that came out of the FSU game for UConn was the small number of steals and forced turnovers. I don't see how they can compete seriously against Baylor unless they can get more than 15 Baylor turnovers, maybe a lot more, and score on a lot of them. A blowout in the wrong direction is possible if the play is predominantly in the half-court, or if UConn cannot disrupt passes into the post or make them prohibitively difficult by picking up the guards near mid-court.

With a small, fast team playing against a fleet of battleships, turnovers and tipped passes are absolutely an essential part of the defense. I really expected to see much more of that against FSU, particularly since FSU was Romero-less.

I also think that Natalie has to play 25 to 30 minutes and have a good defensive game. I'm thinking she may start in Kia's place, just for this one game.

I was with you quite a bit until the last sentence. IMO you can't look to deliberately slow down the game without strong guard play and play Baylor's game because you're scared. Nor should this team feel the pressure of the wining streak. Everyone and their brother is expecting them to lose games this year and a lot of those wins came due to the magnificent 3. In a way they should be playing with a chip on their shoulder.

Anyhow the ability to score will be essential because they can't keep Baylor completely off the boards or completely shut down their inside. But with good guard play they can consistently work for good shots. If they lose- so be it. Work to improve "what you are" for March. That's what UCONN should try to do until maybe the last half of the 4th quarter.

 

[magic]

6'7"
6'4"
6'4"
6'3"

6'7"
6'4"
6'4"
6'3"
6'2"
6'2"

Don't know where this info came from. But from Baylor site : 6-4 Montremier, 6-2 Prince, 5-11 Davis, 5-11Wallace, 5-9 Jones all started. 6-7 Brown and 5-11 Chou played off the bench. Montpremiere and Brown rarely play together.

 

[Intpseeker]

5 players in double figures for points, and 30 assists/game. Only 2 games, but impressive.

 

[easttexastrash]

For the record, Natalie Chou is 6-1, not 5-11. KK Cave, who stands 6-3, was not able to play as she was in South Carolina for her grandfather's funeral. Cave was voted as the 6th woman of the year in the Big 12 in her sophomore season and she will be a valuable part of the team this season. This is a player that Mulkey trusts as a senior.

 

[magic]

I doubt it he's just making light of it.... He knew she wasn't coming back... GENO is a mastermind .. He knows what he's doing ...

I agree Mike. There is no way Geno and staff were caught off guard by Tuck's decision to go to wnba. Uconn's practice of playing teams that will challege for a championship early in the season is great for the huskies, but especially good for wcbb. He wants the game to grow, and knows Huskies are the ambassadors. This is why I cannot understand Mulkey's attitude about espn. She could have scheduled Huskies the last few years and been on tv, or even scheduled more road games against other top teams. IMHO, this has really hurt Baylor in the tournament.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

You guys do realize that many of these out of conference games are scheduled years in advance. No way the coaches are going to completely know what players they will have at the time.

 

[housekeys]

The key to UConn winning will be to stop, not the "bigs", but Davis, Wallace and Jones. Let's face it. UConn has enough scoring punch to match and overcome whatever the Baylor "bigs" put up, but not enough to counter additional offensive contributions from Davis, Wallace and Jones. Besides, UConn matches better on those three than they do on the "bigs". So, IMO, that is where the defensive focus should be. I do not mean to imply, that the UConn defense should roll out the red carpet for Brown, Cox and M, but the defense should concentrate on the other 3.

 

[CocoHusky]

I did watch and no disrespect here either but UCLA is not UCONN. Baylor vs. UCLA was a close game until late in the game when Baylor pulled away. If UCLA was playing UCONN I would have expected a similar result. Baylor goes on the road, I am not saying UCONN is going to win the paint battle with Baylor, I'm saying the difference in height is "manageable" for UCONN and will not be decisive to the outcome.

Aw what the hell not often I get to quote myself. @easttexastrash @HopJim @MikeR01950 consider this my I told you so.

 

[easttexastrash]

Aw what the hell not often I get to quote myself. @easttexastrash @HopJim @MikeR01950 consider this my I told you so.

UCONN did a masterful job of collapsing around the Baylor post players. I have to give it to Geno and his ladies, they played one hell of a game. And the arena was also rocking and I think that did rattle the players down the stretch. After Baylor tied the game at 54 in the fourth quarter UCONN started a run, the crowd got into and the game was over.

 

[warbler1055]

I might be wrong but I thought the return of Collier and the play of Crystal Dangerfield won the game after the 54 tie. No disrespect for the defensive play on the Baylor post players.