Creighton post game (merged thread)

[oldude]

One play that I liked a lot was Caroline's short shot inside against the much smaller defender in the second half. Caroline passed the ball from the corner to a teammate and went to basket, saw that the smaller defender was with her, immediately sealed off the defender and raised her hand to say "I'm open, feed me the ball", and she got the pass and just turned around quickly and put the ball in the basket without any thought to it.

I'm hoping that Ono can learn to do the same, that when she gets the ball down low, just pivot quickly and take the shot immediately. She'll get good results.

Throughout the second half, one of the change ups that UConn threw at Creighton was to flash their bigger guards into the lane with Liv feeding them from the high post. The Huskies did it successfully with both Caroline and Evina, and Liv lead the team in assists.

 

[sun]

When handling the ball, Azzi showed that she has a faster twitch than anyone else on the team except for maybe Paige.
There were way too many traveling calls which IMO some could be avoided if the bigs would develop a hook shot, or step back and make a turn around shot.
It was a very physical game.
Maybe that's why both teams stopped playing with ~20 seconds left on the clock, that must be part of the players union contract.

 

[Centerstream]

Throwing up after getting hit in the head warrants heading to the locker room a bit more than throwing up from a sickness.

And yet Caroline was sitting on the bench with a big ol trash can behind her, that the camera caught being put there.

 

[Centerstream]

Is it possible to get the replay…Please

Just check MJL243's YouTube channel a couple of hours after the game or the next morning.

 

[EasyEd]

When I was on the chat I noticed some people minimized CWs impact because she score after the work was done to get the lead. I thought she was great, it reminded me of past UConn teams that never let up on the gas and buried the other team, so there was no doubt about the victory. Several of the earlier games this season it seemed like we were just hanging on. The start of the game certainly didn't seem UConnesque, but the rest of the game brought back the same good feelings.

 

[HopJim]

She had multiple screens set for her, Nika for one set her up twice.

I may be old fashioned, but I always taught players to run their defender into the screen. Some of the UConn players tend to run around the screen, but usually not Fudd. Suspect we will see some great collisions as she and Edwards learn how to team up in the future.

 

[Huskee11]

I thought Nika played great and was very instrumental in the victory.

Steal and layup got us to down two at halftime instead of possibly down six.

39 minutes, no turnovers. We had about 15 total but none from her at the point guard position.

5 assists, 5 rebounds. A number of outstanding passes to the post or to cutters, especially in the second half. Some led to misses, some to fouls, could have easily had 8 or so assists.

Was instrumental in locking up Jensen in the second half. Jensen did not score after two threes early over somebody else. Her defense is relentless.

Great sharp pass to Azzi in the corner for a three.

Clearly the “floor general”.

She didn`t shoot it well. But she pretty much did everything else. Obviously the coaches value what she was doing or she would not have played 39 minutes.

 

[Carnac]

It was gratifying to see UConn respond and clamp down on defense. Creighton is well coached, but they are a perimeter based team, lacking height and athleticism. They squeeze every ounce of performance.

It remains concerning how UConn cannot put a full 40 minutes together. They may get away with it in the Big East, but UConn is playing with fire against top 20 teams, which they’ll see in the tournament. Nothing that has transpired this season so far in their play should instill confidence that it will magically turn around.

I realize that Azzi is getting back up to speed and the team is getting acclimated to her, but why aren’t the offensive sets doing more to get her clean looks. Her stroke is a thing of beauty. Azzi hitting a few 3’s opens the floor for everyone else. It’s also apparent that she has only begun to show her true potential. While it may not become fully evident this season, her sophomore year will be a coming out party. Particularly, when she has her riding partner alongside her. Just envision a thriving backcourt of Paige & Azzi leading a loaded arsenal of weapons next season. Till then, let’s see how far UConn can go this year.

Surely, I completely agree with every point in your narrative.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I may be old fashioned, but I always taught players to run their defender into the screen. Some of the UConn players tend to run around the screen, but usually not Fudd. Suspect we will see some great collisions as she and Edwards learn how to team up in the future.

I noticed that players don't always properly use a screen. You can tell when they don't because the defender isn't trailing the offensive player. Shoulder to shoulder around a screen...and the defender has two choices...trail or go under. If a player goes around a screen along with the defender...they weren't shoulder to shoulder....or they were fouled.

 

[hoopingcrane]

Good win, thanks to ONO and CW each has 17 pts. And 5 players with double.

View attachment 72925

22 assists on 29 baskets.

 

[Conndog]

There were way too many traveling calls which IMO some could be avoided if the bigs would develop a hook shot, or step back and make a turn around shot.

Exactly. Liv especially should be using the quick turn around shot (perfect example was Caroline early in the 2nd half when she sealed off the smaller defender and just turned and put the ball in the basket). Also, both Liv and Aaliyah should work on drills to improve their footwork.

 

[donalddoowop]

I see so many post players on other teams that receive a pass and just turn and shoot. UConn's posts should watch Evina and Caroline post up. They position themselves in a place where they don't have to dribble, and they keep the ball high.

 

[FanFromMaine]

At the risk of sounding like I'm piling on Nika was very hands on with her defense tonight. She got a way with a lot of hand checking and shoving that the refs did not call. Hopefully some of the BYs that are prone to complain about refs after a game will remember this game.

Both teams hand-checked consistently.

 

[Cecil9]

I will defend Nika no matter what. Code of the west. It's retro Judge Roy Bean and Miss Lily Langtry sans the romantic implications.

 

[oldude]

I see so many post players on other teams that receive a pass and just turn and shoot. UConn's posts should watch Evina and Caroline post up. They position themselves in a place where they don't have to dribble, and they keep the ball high.

Funny you should mention that. It seems to me that last season, on several occasions, Liv hit a little 5-ft jumper where she would spin away from the basket. For the life of me, I cannot remember a single time this season when Liv tried that shot.

 

[BobbyJ]

Funny you should mention that. It seems to me that last season, on several occasions, Liv hit a little 5-ft jumper where she would spin away from the basket. For the life of me, I cannot remember a single time this season when Liv tried that shot.

You're asking a lot to expect 3-4 post moves and shots plus only 3+ years to work on them.

 

[TeamFirst!]

Evina has been kind of a co-point guard. You can see her directing younger players where to go in the offensive sets and she’s more than capable of avoiding the press bringing the ball up the court. I think some people have undervalued E this season.

Yeah, half the time Nika has been our point guard. Which is even more crazy. I love Nika but if we want to win a NC she needs to be a 5-8 minute per game player. Hopefully we are healthy enough for that to happen. And I'm fine with Azzi stepping into the PG role sharing it with Evina for a while. We need Azzi fully operational asap. If she's healthy, play her. Hopefully when Dorka comes back we can start that process.

 

[UConnCat]

 

[oldude]

You're asking a lot to expect 3-4 post moves and shots plus only 3+ years to work on them.

Pheesa ruined it for all of us….

 

[MD#12Fan]

You're asking a lot to expect 3-4 post moves and shots plus only 3+ years to work on them.

Post moves are fundamental to the game. Pete Newell, longtime Cal coach and NCAA champion, was the post-move guru of the 60's and 70's. Google him and you can glance at the 10 books he wrote on the subject. Long story short, every decent basketball coach can teach the basic moves. 1) chin the ball (classic stuff- grip the ball in the middle of your chest with elbows out in an athletic position, google Bill Walton) 2) see and feel the position of the defender(s) 3) based on #2, make a move and score and/or get fouled. Basic moves- drop step baseline (if defender is favoring middle) and add a "crab dribble" to get closer to the rim, drop step middle (vice versa) opens up a hook shot or a shot with the ball away from defenders (Robert Parish short J), pivot and face up, and up and under (Kevin McHale).
Stuff is taught at every decent summer camp from ES on up. Not just bigs as you say. Maybe our guards are better than our bigs at posting up. If our bigs chinned it and felt the D, they would be more effective. Actually move more deliberately not less. A double team means someone is open, pass the ball crisply, and jockey for rebounding position .

 

[Littlemin]

Nika played at least 11 more minutes than Caroline, CW, Azzi or Evina. I'm dumbfounded.

Why?
I’ve said this before, have you even bothered to read what Auriemna’s has said multiple times for two years what Muhl, and frankly, she alone, brings to the team? Did you notice how aggressively she pushed the ball last night, and then listened to Dailey‘s post game comments about wanting to get good shots before the defense can get set up? Have you noticed who does the vast majority of talking in the player huddles on the court? Do you notice the veteran players paying attention? Have you noticed who most frequently is called to the sideline for communications with Auriemma, and last night with Dailey? All the players you listed above have pure offensive basketball skills superior to Muhl, no question, but……………
read olddude’s post on this thread regarding the disruption Muhl caused to Creighton‘s offensive continuity last night fighting over picks and switching constantly and seamlessly at the top of the defense. Creighton scored 20 points in the middle two quarters when Uconn erased the Creighton lead and took command of the game and Muhl was a huge part of that defensive domination.
She also had five rebounds and five assists and lost at least two more with excellent passes, one to Ono in the post and one to Williams cutting to the basket where they both got fouled and made all 4 foul shots. She had no turnovers.
I call it as I see it and shared that she played very poorly against Providence and she rightly got very limited minutes but IMO she played an outstanding game last night. She didn’t score, but again, my opinion, she had more of an impact on the game than any Uconn player outside of Ono.
I don’t mean to be rude or condescending but there is much more to the game than watching the ball and shooting, much more. In a world of highlight reel adoration and judging players solely or primarily on points scored, Muhl is just not that kind of player. IMO, it’s a good thing for Uconn, Auriemma and Dailey certainly know the game far better than that.

 

[hoopsfan22]

longer version of CD's post-game

 

[MD#12Fan]

Why?
I’ve said this before, have you even bothered to read what Auriemna’s has said multiple times for two years what Muhl, and frankly, she alone, brings to the team? Did you notice how aggressively she pushed the ball last night, and then listened to Dailey‘s post game comments about wanting to get good shots before the defense can get set up? Have you noticed who does the vast majority of talking in the player huddles on the court? Do you notice the veteran players paying attention? Have you noticed who most frequently is called to the sideline for communications with Auriemma, and last night with Dailey? All the players you listed above have pure offensive basketball skills superior to Muhl, no question, but……………
read olddude’s post on this thread regarding the disruption Muhl caused to Creighton‘s offensive continuity last night fighting over picks and switching constantly and seamlessly at the top of the defense. Creighton scored 20 points in the middle two quarters when Uconn erased the Creighton lead and took command of the game and Muhl was a huge part of that defensive domination.
She also had five rebounds and five assists and lost at least two more with excellent passes, one to Ono in the post and one to Williams cutting to the basket where they both got fouled and made all 4 foul shots. She had no turnovers.
I call it as I see it and shared that she played very poorly against Providence and she rightly got very limited minutes but IMO she played an outstanding game last night. She didn’t score, but again, my opinion, she had more of an impact on the game than any Uconn player outside of Ono.
I don’t mean to be rude or condescending but there is much more to the game than watching the ball and shooting, much more. In a world of highlight reel adoration and judging players solely or primarily on points scored, Muhl is just not that kind of player. IMO, it’s a good thing for Uconn, Auriemma and Dailey certainly know the game far better than that.

100%
Like you said, shooting just one aspect of the game. No doubt, E's 3's loosened the team up offensively, but Nika was key to turning around the defensive effort and performance.
We all love TV and sitting on our couches with our fridge's 5 feet away, but we don't really get the feel of the game from the camera at the top of the 1st deck. If we were court-side, we'd literally feel the impact Nika has. She's a rock. Nobody wants to come into contact with Nika. It's like having a bike accident on pavement. Asphalt don't give. Nika don't give.

 

[BobbyJ]

Post moves are fundamental to the game. Pete Newell, longtime Cal coach and NCAA champion, was the post-move guru of the 60's and 70's. Google him and you can glance at the 10 books he wrote on the subject. Long story short, every decent basketball coach can teach the basic moves. 1) chin the ball (classic stuff- grip the ball in the middle of your chest with elbows out in an athletic position, google Bill Walton) 2) see and feel the position of the defender(s) 3) based on #2, make a move and score and/or get fouled. Basic moves- drop step baseline (if defender is favoring middle) and add a "crab dribble" to get closer to the rim, drop step middle (vice versa) opens up a hook shot or a shot with the ball away from defenders (Robert Parish short J), pivot and face up, and up and under (Kevin McHale).
Stuff is taught at every decent summer camp from ES on up. Not just bigs as you say. Maybe our guards are better than our bigs at posting up. If our bigs chinned it and felt the D, they would be more effective. Actually move more deliberately not less. A double team means someone is open, pass the ball crisply, and jockey for rebounding position .

I've read 4 of Newell's books and am well aware of all of this. I was referring to her picking up little of it in 3+ years.

 

[Carnac]

Dailey did a classic job of coaching. Didn't yell. Instead of side stink eyes, spoke calmly to each player, coaching them up on what to do on offense and in particular on defense. Changed the defensive switching to cut off the 3 pointers shut down Creighton's offense and led to numerous fast breaks for UConn.

That's NOT her style. She's the "good cop" vs Geno's bad cop episodes. She provides some "balance" at times to offset some of Geno's tirades. She's hard and direct on her the players, and like Geno, won't settle for mediocrity. She'll get the girls told when they need to be. No doubt there was less tension on the bench during the 1st 15 minutes of the game yesterday than it would have been if Geno had been there. There are a lot of WCBB head coaches that would love to have Dailey on their staff.

 

[MD#12Fan]

I've read 4 of Newell's books and am well aware of all of this. I was referring to her picking up little of it in 3+ years.

Wow, you da man!
Too bad, she should have had it since she was about 10. (5th grade)
Maybe it's more of an indictment on BBall fundamentals in general, that bigs don't have post moves. I have to look at a calendar to remember the last good pump fake I've seen inside. Lost art.
IMO the ugliest play in hoops is when a player drives hard to the hole for a layup or slam and passes to a spot up 3-point shooter. Crap, it's worth 3, not a meager 2.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I realize that I am a little late to this party but I wanted to see what my fellow BYers had to say and to think about the game.

First, I though the early lead by Creighton was not mostly the result of our offense but rather our defense. They are a very good open three point shooting team, not so much when they are being covered. A lot of missed assignments, bad switches, and confusion. Evina actually helped the team not just with her 2 important 3s but also with her defense and by steadying the ship. I just don't understand why she doesn't drive and post up more and shoot mid range pull ups. I just hope to see it before she leaves us. It would change the team.

Second, AE has some serious flaws to her game that have to be fixed this off season. She needs a few muscle memory basic moves from both sides of the basket and she should stick to them. She walks whenever she has to make an interior move off more than 1 or 2 dribbles. She has to learn at 6-3 that if she receives a pass at head level to just go up , not bring the ball down. Also, her decision making with the ball is slow. She has a tendency to hold it, not pass at all at times when Caroline and Azzi are open. It is important Azzi gets the ball on cuts. It will get her some lay ups and foul shots but more importantly will make the defender back up a little on defense making her jump shots have more space.

Third, Caroline has to let the game come to her and her teammates have to look for her. She has forced shots in the last two games and doesn't have to if she gets the ball in the right position.

Fourth, Liv had a great game. A little less forcing of moves underneath will go a long way. She also got the benefit of the "playground few shooting fouls called" refereeing last night but won't in other games especially in the NCAA. Keep both arms up, don't swat down when the shot is taken.

Azzi is still feeling her way. Her defense has to improve and it will and I was happy to see her drive last night and finish. I think that is her first time here at UCONN doing that. Keep moving on offense and please get her the ball when she is open. If she sets, it's in.

Nika just needs to keep playing and leading. When the shot is open she has to take it so she has to just practice and not worry if she misses. She did that last night. She needs drive moves and a pull up but that is for the off season.

It was great to see all three seniors step up last night when needed. CW was a force in the second half and still goes to the basket in transition better than anyone. She played a very solid all around game.

I hope Kara Wolters is right about this game being the turning point for this team We have all been waiting for it. Butler has to be crushed early the way we used to do it and then Tennessee becomes an enormous game, in my view, the biggest one of the season. It's time to play UCONN hard, as Geno would say. As for our HOF coach last night, she showed why. It was a masterful job.

Totally agree!!!

I was shocked that ONO got her first foul called on her (not for lack of trying all game) with two minutes to go in the game....

 

[tchalla1]

I couldn't understand why Nika was getting a lot more PT than Caroline or CW but maybe there was some sickness.

Well you have to remember that the players are not interchangeable parts--true, we call them all guards maybe, but Nika is the only true point guard (although EW spells her at times) now available on the team. Caroline actually is a SF or a wing, and CW is a SG who is not adept at all at ball movement and being a floor general... I do agree, that Nika should be a little more circumspect about launching 3's--Azzi was open several times on the perimeter and of course she shoots the 3 better...

 

[MD#12Fan]

Totally agree!!!

I was shocked that ONO got her first foul called on her (not for lack of trying all game) with two minutes to go in the game....

I'm worried about her "hook" when she goes to the basket. Seems like a habit. Cringe to think about the call being made in a big game down the stretch. I thought the hook was a no-brainer for refs, like the move had been eradicated from the game, like small pox.
Maybe refs let it go because they realize 1 or 2 defenders are basically grabbing her and that's the only way she can get them off her.

 

[JordyG]

Truth be told neither player is doing a good enough job of facilitating this UCONN offense and that will be readily apparent against the better opponent. The offense does stall when Evina is in there but the real contrast is that as the PG Nika is also missing a significant number of the cutters in the lane and more significantly her post entry passes are not in a position where the post players can beat the defense with the first move. In fairness our post players need to be more productive with the paint touches. The other issue is shooting with Nika you get a deep ball or a layup and literally nothing in between. @JordyG has been harping on this all season. Nika needs to mix in some mid range-43 of her 63 FGA this season have been from deep and 20 have been at or near basket.

Thanks. What I was ecstatic to see was how the offense worked off a hybrid 23 keep. That is, when the guard gets the hand off they then have the option to shoot the pull up, pass to the rolling pick, of pass to the strong or weak side corner. This was the most prominent action Geno used for Paige. When Paige went down I've been screaming for them to do this action with Caroline Ducharme, and now, with Azzi. During the chat early on in the first quarter I kept saying the screener was wide open on the roll. When UConn got going this was the play that worked for them time and again until the end of the game. UConn now has two players that are money off that curl action and they need to utilize it. I've also been screaming for Caroline Ducharme to shoot more pullups than 3's, and that happened last game as well. The team needs to find Caroline Ducharme on the block more as well. She was open time and again yesterday and the guards missed her. One thing people don't seem to see is how much movement Azzi does. She works hard to get open and is frequently unrewarded for it. I counted at least 3 occasions yesterday where she was wide open at the arc and no one could find her.

I really liked that UConn finally did some effective screening, and most importantly, the guards did a better job of running their mark into those screens, although UConn was guilty of a lot of moving screens against Creighton that wasn't called. UConn still needs to do better on their down screens, but their high screens were much more effective.

Finally Evina did what I've been harping on since her return from Christmas break: make some good passes from the perimeter. Now, she still forces that boneheaded pass inside that makes me scratch my head, and she's good for one per game. But still, this game she made timely passes when players were in position. Nika as well. Now, Nika got beat a lot off the dribble yesterday, but although it may not have shown in the box score, she made quite a few really sweet passes. Though yes, Nika needs to shoot pullups, which she never does, to keep the defense honest. CW on the other hand is terrible at pullups. Once again, yesterday she shot maybe 4 and missed them all.