Best comment of the night....

[pap49cba]

...was late in the second half when one of the announcers said "this team [Uconn] is just relentless."

 

[sarals24]

It's always interesting to hear outside announcers (not ESPN) that might not have a chance to see UCONN play regularly. They are usually very respectful and impressed. In some ways I like these type games even better, because the announcers obviously know a lot about the home team and we ge tto learn something besides where their brothers play DIII football...

 

[MilfordHusky]

Relentless, indeed. It is the "play hard" part of "Play hard, play smart, and have fun."

 

[UConnBBall]

I am curious as to why Geno kept the starters in as long as he did, and that they did not just dribble out the last seconds. Any ideas?

 

[Fiftyish]

I am curious as to why Geno kept the starters in as long as he did, and that they did not just dribble out the last seconds. Any ideas?

Not sure why the starters stayed as long as they did but I think during the last UConn possession the shot clock time was slightly less than the game clock. If they dribbled out the time it would have been a shot clock violation.

 

[Phil]

According the play by play, Syracuse took at shot with 27 seconds left, so the shot clock should have been off. I wasn't watching the game, did Syracuse back off to let them dribble it out? Sometimes opponents don't recognize what is happening and continue to press, in which case it may have just been instincts, but again, I didn't see it so I'm speculating

 

[schmendrick]

I am curious as to why Geno kept the starters in as long as he did, and that they did not just dribble out the last seconds. Any ideas?

Lingering effects of tripping incident on handshake line a few years back? Geno trying to send some sort of message?

 

[rjuconn]

No message in my mind. If they had been trying to send a message, they sure as heck would have gotten a better shot than an off-balance 15-footer from Johnson!

 

[VAMike23]

Relentless, indeed. It is the "play hard" part of "Play hard, play smart, and have fun."

Case in point re: "relentless" -- do you recall that play where SU got a steal and started running the break, and Tiff went at a full-out sprint to catch up to the girl and steal it from behind, just as they were about at the top of the key? That was my favorite "Tiff play" of the night. Just a freak-out, 110% effort play. And we were up 30 at the time probably.

The funny, and endearing, thing about the way Tiff did that steal compared to Maya's steal at DePaul is that Tiff is like a whirling dirvish---a blur of elbows and knees--she looks like she's on overdrive and about to explode, ready to accept floor burns at a moment's notice if that's the price that need be paid. Which, for Tiff, it usually is! Maya, on the other hand sprints even a bit faster down the court but with a more contained control, like Secretariat making a bee line to the defender. Then of course, she also *takes* the steal, not only causing it, and then calls time-out. Not that I would change a THING about Tiffany Hayes! Far from it !!

 

[MilfordHusky]

I like the Secretariat comparison for Maya. Her upright gait was very distinctive.

 

[speedoo]

According the play by play, Syracuse took at shot with 27 seconds left, so the shot clock should have been off. I wasn't watching the game, did Syracuse back off to let them dribble it out? Sometimes opponents don't recognize what is happening and continue to press, in which case it may have just been instincts, but again, I didn't see it so I'm speculating

Cuse did not back off but rather kept pressing and doubling the ball. Maybe the UConn players saw that and decided to respond in kind.

 

[Timeout]

I am curious as to why Geno kept the starters in as long as he did, and that they did not just dribble out the last seconds. Any ideas?

Geno was probably working on some things on the court. He also, I think, wants his players to understand there is no such thing has garbage time when he needs all his players to get better and this means not losing concentration - no time for bad habits to take hold.

 

[pppggg]

Kara also said they had the "Petal to the metal." What this game means to me is that they are coming together as a team. Geno can go eight deep before there is any falling off. KLM, Kaih and Bria will be coming of the bench and fully engaged in the offensive and defensive system. That will be trouble for anyone including Baylor in March.

 

[alexrgct]

Kara also said they had the "Petal to the metal." What this game means to me is that they are coming together as a team. Geno can go eight deep before there is any falling off. KLM, Kaih and Bria will be coming of the bench and fully engaged in the offensive and defensive system. That will be trouble for anyone including Baylor in March.

Is the petal to the metal like Guns n Roses? Used to love those guys as a lad...