Can UConn win a Natty without scoring a point at the #5 position

[UCONNRPh]

Against Betts, we’ll probably just be trading buckets.

She’ll get her offensive putbacks. Maybe we can limit the entry pass.

There’s no one on UCLA who can really guard Paige IMO. Smith was elite last night, yet Paige still dropped 30. UCLA doesn’t have a Smith like defender IMO.

We can’t stop Betts, they can't stop Bueckers.

However, we can try and run Betts ragged and capitalize off the non Betts minutes.

I know I am not a coach... but I have a hunch that we are going to let her be the Betts she is and treat her like we did to Edey last year. His statline numbers he got were crazy wild, but we were able to shut down EVERYONE else from what I recall. That prevented them from anyone else to harm us. (but then again, we were soooo solid that noone could come close to us).

I expect her to get very high stats but they do not have a specific 1-B that can take over next when she is out resting, etc or shot may be off. They step up as whoever is on or hot will get the ball. A true very Strong Plan B is needed (notice how I used the word Strong with a capital "S" )

But regardless of my two cents, I am 1000% sure that our coaches will have the correct gameplan to win. Can't wait til work is over this week and I can get on plane to Tampa Friday morning to watch games live !!

 

[Glenn]

As others have remarked, the question essentially goes against Geno's coaching philosophy: each player contributes what they are good at and doesn't try to do things that are not part of their skill set. We don't need points from the post, we need them from our big 3. From the post we need defense and boxing out--if they don't rebound it is ok if they are creating rebound opportunities for our guards.

 

[TAK]

I know I am not a coach... but I have a hunch that we are going to let her be the Betts she is and treat her like we did to Edey last year. His statline numbers he got were crazy wild, but we were able to shut down EVERYONE else from what I recall. That prevented them from anyone else to harm us. (but then again, we were soooo solid that noone could come close to us).

Yes, the strategy the UConn men used against 7’4” Zach Edey and Pudue in last year’s men’s tournament won the game. The defensive game plan was to NOT double team Edey in the post letting him get his points. Instead UConn focused on defending the other four Purdue players tightly forcing contested shots and difficult entry passes to Edy.

 

[my2cents]

I know I am not a coach... but I have a hunch that we are going to let her be the Betts she is and treat her like we did to Edey last year. His statline numbers he got were crazy wild, but we were able to shut down EVERYONE else from what I recall. That prevented them from anyone else to harm us. (but then again, we were soooo solid that noone could come close to us).

I expect her to get very high stats but they do not have a specific 1-B that can take over next when she is out resting, etc or shot may be off. They step up as whoever is on or hot will get the ball. A true very Strong Plan B is needed (notice how I used the word Strong with a capital "S" )

But regardless of my two cents, I am 1000% sure that our coaches will have the correct gameplan to win. Can't wait til work is over this week and I can get on plane to Tampa Friday morning to watch games live !!

Regardless of me?

 

[Conndog]

Yes, the strategy the UConn men used against 7’4” Zach Edey and Pudue in last year’s men’s tournament won the game. The defensive game plan was to NOT double team Edey in the post letting him get his points. Instead UConn focused on defending the other four Purdue players tightly forcing contested shots and difficult entry passes to Edy.

But occasional double-teaming was effective against Edey - and I think UConn would do well to use it a little, maybe in specific situations such as when shot clock is getting low and UCLA might dump it into Betts to make something happen down low.

 

[Just.A.Fan]

In the next game they will absolutely need Jana to step up her game to at least slow down Betts inside. At the same time they don't need her to score points for them to win. They have a bunch of players capable of putting the ball in the basket and if the ones counted on to do that are on point UConn will win.

Can they play like they did last night and win out? The short answer is no. I thought that KC came up big in a game that without her contribution could have gone the other way. Her value to the team to me is her patience against pressure and her offense and she needs to be good at those things. Sarah played outstanding in the post for most of the game so saying they got nothing from the 5 might also be a stretch.

KC = Kaitlyn Chen.

Otherwise good comments!

 

[housekeys]

If Jena or Brady can knock down some outside shots early in the game, it will do wonders for UConn's offense. It should pull Betts out and make for some easier points inside. UCLA will stop trying to "run UConn off the 3 point line", like they are likely planning to do now. That in turn will make it easy to get points outside. Should be interesting. Let's see what happens.

 

[Cuango]

I’d like to be able to bet on the chances that neither Jana nor Ice will score a point in the next one or two games! I think they will end that discussion against UCLA. However, if they don’t, it’s not as though we have relied on ether to be a “scorer”. Their job is defense and rebounding and if they can do even a little more than they’ve been doing in that respect, I’ll be happy. Having said that, I think their scoring drought will end on Friday night. It would be nice to get 6-12 points apiece from them though! The big thing is that they slow down Betts and (hopefully) draw some fouls on her. If that happens, I like our chances!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Sarah may play the 5 in which case my answer is No. But even if she does not I can see the Natie without points from the 5.

 

[Bone Dog]

IMHO ( H for humble), Jana needs to work in the weight room over the summer. She loses the ball too easily on rebounds or close in shots.

IKR! Betts needs some work in the weight room too. Did you see how often LSU tore the ball away from her down low or blocked her shot under the rim? And all those missed bunnies.

 

[Linart]

One 6'7" post does not make a championship team. Remember that Brittney Griner did not get to the Final Four her senior year.

 

[jcoton56]

I recall us doing fairly well with that scoring machine Stokes playing the 5 for us for a while. She also has a nice pro career going.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I recall us doing fairly well with that scoring machine Stokes playing the 5 for us for a while. She also has a nice pro career going.

She had plenty of other scorers around her and had seven other future WNBA players with her for most if not her entire career here. Saying that, her play would fit in very well here now.

 

[Blue Huskie]

UConn just won a Sweet 16 and an Elite 8 game without scoring a single point from the 5 position. No I am not counting Sarah in the small lineup, just true post players. Just wondering if this has ever been done before and how long it can continue against the very best teams in the game My guess is that it hasn’t happened, but if it has you could count those on one hand and have several fingers left. That fact is really irrelevant since at the end of any contest they never ask you how, just how many and to this point UConn has passed the how many test with flying colors. I don’t recall ever seeing this in the round of 16 and the round of 8 in either gender, but if isn’t broken please don’t try to fix it for just 2 more games. JMO

How about 2 points? That was IT and we won easily!! Asked and answered.

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

Yes