Creighton Postgame Thread

[HuskyNan]

When did Azzi gave a continuous run of really good games?

Sophomore year

 

[The deacon]

 

[BobbyJ]

“I thought Ice gave some solid minutes, I’ve noticed she helps Paige’s flow offensively. She looks for Paige and they work well on the handoff.” I agree, why does it seem that only Sarah, and sometimes Ice, set solid high screens for Paige?

Because it’s the specific job of the position they are playing to set that high screen within the offensive set they are running. Those screens and picks are not randomly done, they are designed as part of a sequence of movements.

 

[Ralph]

Pretty obvious why Jana had limited time. Not a bad game for Ash, she did lots of little things. When Morgan freezes on her brief shot opportunities, she diminishes her utility, Brady also Chen did lots of good things but disappointing that her shot has left her

Key play, or non play for Jana was on a Creighton missed free throw. Jana on the right side

Jana was banished to the bench due to her failed solo efforts to drive to the basket. She was out of position with no teammate in sight.

she also had a very bad play on a missed Creighton free throw. The player to her left was not boxed out at all, went around Jana and got the offensive rebound. For many of our players it seems like they have never been taught to box out, but somehow I think they have been taught to do it, they just don't. Maybe the plays are drawn up with so many far away from the basket they can't rebound. I don't know.

 

[Centerstream]

Interestingly, Sarah has quietly delivered on her top recruit rep whereas Azzi is nominally relevant. Would not have imagined that having watched her in HS

Probably has nothing to do with her injuries (I know, she was injured in HS too, but college bb is waaaaay more challenging than HS, especially playing for UConn)...

 

[The deacon]

Sophomore year

View attachment 106523

That early-season run in 22-23 was very impressive, Nan, and got all of us super excited about the years to follow.

Yet beyond that stretch, and I think more to the point, Azzi has had very little success in NCAA tournament games against the better teams, and that's what's most concerning to me. Will we be able to expect standout play from Azzi come the Sweet Sixteen and following games this season?

 

[RoadMaster]

Swipe..

 

[HuskyNan]

That early-season run in 22-23 was very impressive, Nan, and got all of us super excited about the years to follow.

Yet beyond that stretch, and I think more to the point, Azzi has had very little success in NCAA tournament games against the better teams, and that's what's most concerning to me. Will we be able to expect standout play from Azzi come the Sweet Sixteen and following games this season?

In her freshman year, Azzi was sick for the championship game. During the best game of the tourney, vs NC State, she put up 19 points. In her sophomore year, she came back from an injury during the Big East tournament but still put up double figure scoring vs Baylor and Ohio State. She DNP last year.

Final Four report: UConn's Azzi Fudd limited vs. South Carolina with illness

South Carolina brought its top-ranked season to a victorious end, but an injury-plagued season only got worse for UConn during Sunday's final.

www.startribune.com

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

Need more plays or picks designed to give Azzi space to shoot

Azzi just needs to play with more motivation, respectfully. Azzi has to remember that she was the best high school player coming out of high school. I'm craving for Azzi to just take over a game. Hopefully it can be against South Carolina or Tennessee.

 

[jdote33]

It's hard to assess this team. I'm happy that they won, and it's easy to assess Sarah. She's amazing. But overall, I'm not sure if this is a step in the right direction. I did like the defense. Paige on Lauren Jansen was super impressive at times. Sarah's blocks were equally as impressive. KC had some really good deflections. KK also was a pest. But offensively I'm disappointed that no one was really in a rthym. I feel like they should look into the post more. I think they look too much to get the ball to Paige. I'm actually not that concerned about Azzi.

 

[packwrap]

It's hard to assess this team. I'm happy that they won, and it's easy to assess Sarah. She's amazing. But overall, I'm not sure if this is a step in the right direction. I did like the defense. Paige on Lauren Jansen was super impressive at times. Sarah's blocks were equally as impressive. KC had some really good deflections. KK also was a pest. But offensively I'm disappointed that no one was really in a rthym. I feel like they should look into the post more. I think they look too much to get the ball to Paige. I'm actually not that concerned about Azzi.

Our post player scored 26 points. They got her the ball.

 

[Vowelguy]

Sophomore year

View attachment 106523
View attachment 106524

A 6 game stretch.

 

[towerman]

Me thinks it is time to wonder if Azzi is going to be what we need her to be.

 

[browns]

Thank God for Sara..if she didn't dominate the first half Uconn would have lost..she's the best player on the team and more and more peope are seeing that.
I think by now Paige would realize she can't start off so slow..Today she took the whole first half off..Does Geno have to yell at her every game to be more aggresive..he must have had some choice words for her at half time the way she was a no show the first half
Uconn out rebounded Creighton by 1..thats not going to get it done by any top 20 team never mind the likes of Tenn or SC
A lot of negative thought on Azzi..I just don't think she's a superstar..maybe if she didn't have all the injuries she may have become one..right now she is a very good player who now and than has a great game..but even if her shot is off she pays tremendous defense every game
So now 2 practice games before they head to Tenn

 

[hookshot]

The hot shooting of the last couple of games was bound to cool off at some point and today was that point. Sarah and Paige kept up.the pace, the rest of the crew not so much. The sound of the ball hitting those rims was like the sound of a dentists drill, which is to say unpleasant. They were tight rims. If a shot wasn't a swish it was probably a miss.

I know the rotation tightened but no minutes for Aubrey? Was there a reason for that I wasn't aware of?

More like the slamming of a jail door

 

[Blue Huskie]

Azzi just needs to play with more motivation, respectfully. Azzi has to remember that she was the best high school player coming out of high school. I'm craving for Azzi to just take over a game. Hopefully it can be against South Carolina or Tennessee.

IDK. It was one game. Azzi could have been slightly under the weather for all we know. As for Aubrey, after playing a couple of games she could have had soreness. Also she has a history of back issues as well. If she feels so much as a twinge anywhere at this stage they will probably keep her out for a game precautionary reasons.

 

[hookshot]

Jana was banished to the bench due to her failed solo efforts to drive to the basket. She was out of position with no teammate in sight.

actually her unexpected drives to the rim were her highlights. It is her inability to convert when she receives a good pass in the deep post that dampens interest in feeding her

 

[ERWUC65]

When did Azzi gave a continuous run of really good games?

I am sure when she was fully healthy, before her injuries. But even when she doesn't have a good game she still has a positive attitude, something you could learn from.

 

[The deacon]

In her freshman year, Azzi was sick for the championship game. During the best game of the tourney, vs NC State, she put up 19 points. In her sophomore year, she came back from an injury during the Big East tournament but still put up double figure scoring vs Baylor and Ohio State. She DNP last year.

Final Four report: UConn's Azzi Fudd limited vs. South Carolina with illness

South Carolina brought its top-ranked season to a victorious end, but an injury-plagued season only got worse for UConn during Sunday's final.

www.startribune.com

I well remember all of those games, Nan, but thanks for your thoughts. I didn't offer a reason, other than that she had had very little success. To set expectations for Azzi to play at an elite level in this year's tournament might not be smart. To be hopeful might be a wiser course...

 

[VA Huskie]

My view, without reading the above ( which I shall do ).
1. We have two players who are stars and can do it all Paige and Sarah. Two stars is not going to be enough against the South Carolina and Notre Dame and UCLA's of the world.
2. We have a good supporting cast who contribute in varying amounts, game to game. Azzi is a fine defender and a good BB player. She is not the shooter she once was, nor the shooter we hoped her to be. She does not create her own shot at all. KK is a disrupter and a temporary game changer. Great on defense, lightening fast, and fearless. Not a great shooter but drives to the hoop well. ASH is a workhorse and an effective defender and can rebound. She has a great shot when open, but doesn't create it. And we all know, if her early shot fails, she goes into assist mode. Jana and Ice can do some good work, but they are not ready for the big time. Not really close. Kaitlyn will likely never take an outside shot again. She was 0-7 , and counting, when she started to be unguarded at the arc. And she drove to the hoop rather than shoot again. She is a good ball handler, an effective defender, and can cause trouble when driving and either scoring or dishing off. But she is still a level below what we are going to see at guard vs, South Carolina, ND, etc. Morgan does not trust her shot ( probably correctly ) and isn't ready for the big time either. No one else got in the game and that tells you where they stand. I don't know how this team gets to a higher level. Sarah and Paige can take us a long way as long as the others do positive things. But we can't win it all with two stars. That used to be enough, but it no longer is. A kind of ugly win against a scrappy, and decent , Big East team. But they aren't in the big time by a long shot.

Well, I’ll just say that Sarah and Paige are as good as any two players on any other team in the country. Beyond that, I’m not a sure how we stack up.

 

[AJay11]

One of the things that seems crazy to me is that Uconn effectively has four point guards sometimes on the floor at the same time. Paige, Azzi, Kaitlyn and KK are all point guards . Why then does it sometimes feel like the offense is disjointed? I know Azzi hasn’t really played at the point at UConn, but she was certainly one coming out of high school. I think it’s her natural position. I think maybe coach needs to tell one player “you are running the offense”. It seemed like there was less confusion last year when Nika was clearly the point guard.

Maybe it's just me, but I am always scared when Azzi brings the ball up. I have PTSD from that Ohio game, but even this year I have seen her dribble the ball into the defense. I am actually surprised no has said anything about it.

 

[PJCLaw]

Is Creighton a very good team? How did they get smoked by UCLA by 29 pts?

Early in the season games are not a good barometer of how a team will be by seasons end. They are much improved since that game and will be a tough out in the tournament, BE and NCAA.

 

[AJay11]

Based on this game, Chen/KK have to have great/excellent games OR Azzi and/or Shade have to show up if UConn plans on winning big games. Tbh, I worry about Azzi and Shade performances in big games. I noticed some fans have blamed coaching decisions but why are Sarah and Paige able to get theirs almost every game? Meanwhile Azzi will just disappear, especially if she's struggling.

 

[donalddoowop]

actually her unexpected drives to the rim were her highlights. It is her inability to convert when she receives a good pass in the deep post that dampens interest in feeding her

How many times did that happen? Strong missed at least four layups. Why can't Jana be given more than just two chances? UConn finally has a 6'5" post player who is not thin and if she does not play flawlessly, she is taken out. There have been times she was pulled right after making a good play. Azzi is the one who has got to step up offensively, imo.

 

[AzzisBraids]

A win is a win. Strong and Bueckers made clutch plays and buckets to ensure that. Chen is finding her groove, KK is as well.

Azzi had a unmemorable showing and she needs to realize that the screens, looks and plays when Bueckers is in just isn't the same. The team is not finding her or getting her open and she's doesn't seem interested right now in taking contested shots. It was all resolve, but Shade is seeing this as well.

Credit to Creighton because they would not go away like a mosquito in the summer.

 

[hookshot]

How many times did that happen? Strong missed at least four layups. Why can't Jana be given more than just two chances? UConn finally has a 6'5" post player who is not thin and if she does not play flawlessly, she is taken out. There have been times she was pulled right after making a good play. Azzi is the one who has got to step up offensively, imo.

Jana will be fine. Just let her develop at her own pace like everybody else. She is a victim of excessive expectations. You can't make her be something she isn't ready to be yet. You'll k’ow when she's ready when she shows you (and Geno)

 

[Rowdy831]

Creighton is pretty good. We did what I thought we could do defensively. Keyed in on Maly and Jensen and really limited them.

I wasn’t thrilled by Chen passing up shots though. That worries me long term.

KC can't shoot. She missed every outside shot tonight and she was the one they were leaving open. She hustles and plays hard but she will struggle against SC.

 

[Just.A.Fan]

Morgan also had an open three and decided not to take it. Instead, she made some awkward drive to the hoop, through heavy traffic, and lost the ball.

Yes, Morgan (unfortunately) may have just played herself out of the rotation today.

 

[Rowdy831]

Sarah is very calm. When she has the ball in her hands she reminds me of a great QB, she doesn't see the defenders coming at her she just looks and makes the right play. She missed 3 or 4 easy shots or she might have scored mid 30s with double digit boards. She really is a complete player and I think UConn will go as far as she can carry them.

Paige played a great second half but other than those two no one had a complete game. Creighton played solid defense but UConn had a lot of open looks that they simply couldn't make tonight. In the end though it was a double digit win on the road.

 

[Stagnant]

Yes, Morgan (unfortunately) may have just played herself out of the rotation today.

Geno was always going to trim the rotation down for the big games. I speculated on that in another thread. And Morgan was not part of my predicted ncaa rotation. I think we kind of saw that today. Zero minutes in the second half.

There were plenty of players on the court that passed up shots. Aubrey and Nika routinely passed up shots during their careers at UConn. So, I don’t think she played her way out of the rotation because she didn’t take a shot against Creighton. I just think that is inevitably where we are headed. And it more about having other players on the court than it is a slight against Morgan.