Butler Postgame Thread

[JellyBean]

Like the rest of the Yard family, the game didn't matter once I saw Caroline out there on the floor! That was an awesome sight. Glad to see Caroline back out there.

 

[The deacon]

My Bad.

We'll grant you one of these each season, Oldude.

 

[Ron and Vida]

Yeah, it was a head scratcher to me why he would switch to zone in the 3rd quarter and then get mad when Butler's threes started falling. IMO Butler would have not even scored 40 points if they stayed man-to-man in the 3rd.

Better to see how the zone works out now rather than later

 

[msf22b]

Better to see how the zone works out now rather than later

True enough
But why get mad at the team when your instructions are the cause of the difficulty?
Three's are generally available in a zone application
So they hit a bunch.

 

[oldude]

Better to see how the zone works out now rather than later

I almost think that the zone is just Geno, the master psychologist. UConn has barely played any zone all season. Their man defense in the 1st half was excellent. The zone in the 2nd half looked soft, as if they had hardly practiced it, allowing Butler a bunch of open looks and makes from 3. It gave Geno the opportunity to get on his team about their effort.

Sly like a fox….

 

[my2cents]

I was hoping our first quarter woes were over, but they are not. Butler made the first basket and took a 2-0 lead.
The coaches made no adjustments at half time and we were out scored in the 3rd qtr. 25-22. What terrible defense. They deserved to be yelled at. Good thing they turned it around in q4 and only gave up 5.
Even though Azzi was 5 for 6 shooting, she didn't make a three pointer. Let's hope this slump doesn't continue.
Really disappointed we didn't win this game by a 100 points.

 

[Conndog]

I almost think that the zone is just Geno, the master psychologist. UConn has barely played any zone all season. Their man defense in the 1st half was excellent. The zone in the 2nd half looked soft, as if they had hardly practiced it, allowing Butler a bunch of open looks and makes from 3. It gave Geno the opportunity to get on his team about their effort.

Sly like a fox….

Sometimes it is the particular zone being played and not that it’s a zone per se- but, UConn’s man-to-man is really sharp right now.

 

[donalddoowop]

Some thoughts on the Butler game:

• UConn’s win on the road today puts the Huskies on a “glide path” into the postseason, with the probable scenario that their next 7 games will all be played in the state of CT, on familiar courts, in front of loud supportive fans, with little or no travel involved.
• From the cheering of the crowd, it sounded as if both Ash & KK had a few hundred friends and family at the game.
• The BE awards an annual Sixth Woman of the Year award. I am sure there are a lot of deserving candidates. But for my money, Ashlynn is as good a player off the bench as I have seen anywhere in the conference this season.
• UConn’s offense is streaky at times, but they have really ramped up their defense since the TN game, and you got to believe that if the Huskies can earn #12 this season, relentless defensive pressure will be critical to their effort. The Huskies played great defense in the 1st half. A soft zone and a little lack of focus in the 3rd qtr allowed Butler to make it respectable. But the old adage that DEFENSE TRAVELS needs to carry UConn once they get to the Big Dance.
• Great to see KK knock down a 3 today. It is so important for KK to make an occasional 3-pt shot as we get closer to the Big Dance.
• I sure hope Geno yelled at Azzi at halftime after she scored 2 points on 1/1 shooting. She did manage to put up 5-2nd half shots, making 4 of them.
• Congratulations to Paige on moving past a trio of legends (Kerry, KML & Nykesha) into 6th place on UConn’s all-time scoring list. She has a little work to do to make it into the top 5, but it’s certainly not out of the question.
• CAROLINE!!!!!!!
• Next up, Marquette at XL. LET'S GO HUSKIES!!!

I thought I heard the announcer say the next game is Thursday against Creighton.

 

[Centerstream]

I was hoping our first quarter woes were over, but they are not. Butler made the first basket and took a 2-0 lead.
The coaches made no adjustments at half time and we were out scored in the 3rd qtr. 25-22. What terrible defense. They deserved to be yelled at. Good thing they turned it around in q4 and only gave up 5.
Even though Azzi was 5 for 6 shooting, she didn't make a three pointer. Let's hope this slump doesn't continue.
Really disappointed we didn't win this game by a 100 points.

Um...we won the 1st quarter 21-9. I wouldn't call that a woe but if you do...well.

 

[BobbyJ]

I almost think that the zone is just Geno, the master psychologist. UConn has barely played any zone all season. Their man defense in the 1st half was excellent. The zone in the 2nd half looked soft, as if they had hardly practiced it, allowing Butler a bunch of open looks and makes from 3. It gave Geno the opportunity to get on his team about their effort.

Sly like a fox….

Or it allowed him to see how badly they play it against a poor team and what it might look like against a really good one.

 

[Ali-oop]

I was hoping our first quarter woes were over, but they are not. Butler made the first basket and took a 2-0 lead.
The coaches made no adjustments at half time and we were out scored in the 3rd qtr. 25-22. What terrible defense. They deserved to be yelled at. Good thing they turned it around in q4 and only gave up 5.
Even though Azzi was 5 for 6 shooting, she didn't make a three pointer. Let's hope this slump doesn't continue.
Really disappointed we didn't win this game by a 100 points.

Sarcasm, I believe?

 

[my2cents]

I hope everyone realizes that I was sarcastic,

 

[uconnfan68]

Yeah, it was a head scratcher to me why he would switch to zone in the 3rd quarter and then get mad when Butler's threes started falling. IMO Butler would have not even scored 40 points if they stayed man-to-man in the 3rd.

He needs ammunition.

 

[Bone Dog]

I loved how Sarah blocks shots so that she can grab them immediately after. No big swats. Just pokes it upwards and then gets after it.

Also a comical moment in the closing minutes after Geno had taken out Paige Azzi Sarah Kaitlyn KK and Ash, and Aubrey needed to inbound the ball to someone. Allie went back to the other end to get the inbounds pass as she was now the PG.

 

[AzzisBraids]

Paige had a strong Big East showing, Sarah as well. Chen played a great floor game and Ashlynn is superb in this new role. She showed out in front of her home crowd.

The team has gone back to leaving Fudd to her own devices. She didn't get an offensive touch in the first half, that made her passive in the second. But when she created for herself, it went well with 5/6 shooting. there wasn't a concerted effort to screen or get her involved today and Butler defended her well all night.

Caroline Ducharme returning was a pleasant surprise, I almost didn't recognize her. If Geno can get her revved up for March, this UConn team will be in full flight.

 

[Centerstream]

I hope everyone realizes that I was sarcastic,

I apologize for my reply.

 

[Centerstream]

UConn's Ducharme cheered in long-awaited return

UConn guard Caroline Ducharme, who hadn't played since November 2023 due to a head injury, was embraced by her teammates as she returned to the court in the waning minutes of Saturday's blowout win over Butler.

www.espn.com

 

[Rowdy831]

Yeah, it was a head scratcher to me why he would switch to zone in the 3rd quarter and then get mad when Butler's threes started falling. IMO Butler would have not even scored 40 points if they stayed man-to-man in the 3rd.

When you play teams that can't compete with you there is a tendency to prepare for other opponents during the game. I am sure that Geno thinks they will need an effective zone to get a win and my guess it today was practice for that time.

 

[Rowdy831]

Paige came out and asserted herself showing teams she is ready for the postseason. Defense was good again holding Butler to less than 10 points in three of the four quarters. I was a little surprised to see Azzi with no shots in almost the whole first half.

I would add that it is great that Caroline played in the game.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Yeah, it was a head scratcher to me why he would switch to zone in the 3rd quarter and then get mad when Butler's threes started falling. IMO Butler would have not even scored 40 points if they stayed man-to-man in the 3rd.

Geno's not worried about beating Butler; he plays zone today because they may need it down the road. He'll probably continue to look at it for a few minutes here and there because it appears to need a little work.
Edit: posted this before Rowdy831's similar post.