BC Post Exhibition Thread

[Linart]

I found this on YouTube, replay of the game (not highlights) but only for the first three quarters.

 

[FanSince17]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

Remember Arkansas a few years ago?
Dribble-drive-kick. Favorite offense from middle school to the pros. Because it’s the hardest thing in basketball to stop.
UConn last year (and 2024) bought into Geno’s team defensive cohesiveness. It’s not easy. Players don’t like working on it. (It’s boring) Look how long it took last year for the defense to gel.
If UConn had played ND from Feb on last year do we think they could have shut down Hidalgo? I say yes.

 

[DEpup]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

I have to think that teaching moment was being set up by the strategy they employed. They basically pressed the whole game which then challenges the ability of guards to stop ball and bigs to rim protect. I would assume Geno did that by design so he had film to show for instructional purposes.

 

[Bone Dog]

Late to this thread because I just found a full replay.

Yes, the team is ragged at both ends and didn’t stick to the ‘concept’ a lot of the time. It looks a lot better when the starters are on the floor. Azzi and Sarah in particular seemed to settle things down.

What really sticks out for me is:

• UConn is huge! OMG
• And quick!
• And long! (even Kelis seems big)

As for individuals:

• Blanca doesn’t know where she needs to be yet, and not just her. Serah Kayleigh and Kelis too. No surprise there.
• Serah can create her own shot pretty regularly, and she really knows how to play basketball. Very instinctive.
• Blanca is a very instinctive defender and she has the same sticky hands as Sarah
• KK is in game shape.
• Ash too, and she’s found her shot already.
• Kayleigh will get the time she needs.
• Azzi is in mid season form. Sarah too
• Sarah is not forcing anything and seems to be developing new shots, elbow jumper, fadeaway jumper, more little flip shots.

This is going to be a really fun season!

 

[msf22b]

2) As always, there is some discussion about the quality of the broadcast crew. We’ve been spoiled. And given that our games this year are going to be broadcast by multiple outlets, I think we’re generally going to be much more disappointed going forward without having a dedicated broadcast team. Plus I think many will find it more challenging to even watch the games in the first place.

Cabbie

I’m far from an expert of the intricacies of pro football; even basketball (though I still play a bit at 86)...

But I’ve found that watching with the sound (completely) off is increasingly satisfying...especially, with (IMHO) the diminution in quality of broadcast teams
and their utter refusal (probably on orders from above) to actually calI the game in a traditional sense.

I grew up on Red Barber and Mel Allen for baseball, and Bob Wolf and Marv Albert for BB...UConn’s Bob Joyce on radio calls a good game, but its not synced up to the TV pic

I would expect as a minimum be informed who a foul is on and to call the substitutions as they occur. These days, you can't even be guaranteed of that.

So for the most part, I just turn off the sound and do my own internal commentary.

 

[Charliebball]

Finally got to see the replay........Sarah looks quicker and more aggressive, Azzi look like.... Azzi, and Serah looks like she's going to be a huge addition.......as long as those three stay healthy, I expect big things from the team this season.....

 

[Bigboote]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

I've thought about this too, but am pretty sanguine about it. The kay, as always, is team defense. Azzi, Asnlynn, and KK have shown that they're good in the switching defense, and I think it likely that Kayleigh will pick it up, as well as Allie and Morgan if available. Sarah has shown she's capable of playing defense away from the basket. But the key to me is that UConn has rim-protectors this year. Serah and Sarah are both good shot blockers. I think Jana and Ayanna will learn to play defense without fouling this year.

So I think there's hope. 😁

 

[HuskyNan]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

Didn’t UConn take So Carolina to the woodshed twice last year?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I made the game a very lazy watch. The biggest impression I came away with was how big we were inside for a good chunk of the game, with Serah being the one getting the most done.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Didn’t UConn take So Carolina to the woodshed twice last year?

That seems to be the impression that Dawn is going with. 😂