DePaul Post-game Thread

[todbo]

From a most memorable game, the moment I'll remember best: Evina steals the inbound pass, shoots, rebounds, and scores.

 

[MSGRET]

From a most memorable game, the moment I'll remember best: Evina steals the inbound pass, shoots, rebounds, and scores.

You forgot and lays out a DePaul player with an inadvertent elbow at the same time.

 

[Carnac]

Article from the Hartford Courant: Shorthanded UConn women's basketball rebounds from Villanova loss to demolish DePaul, 84-60

UConn hasn’t always answered the call in that regard this year, but it did Friday night with two (really, three) of its starters sidelined. Without Olivia Nelson-Ododa (groin) for the second straight game and Caroline Ducharme (head) for the third, UConn avoided back-to-back losses, which it hasn’t suffered since 1993, for the 1,044th consecutive contest behind a resounding 84-60 win over conference foe DePaul.​

 

[darrell]

Aaliyah took that first matchup against Morrow personal. She looked incredible tonight.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Doug Bruno said afterwards that the defense was focused on limiting Azzi, but the price they paid was not being able to double on Edwards or Juhasz. Azzi's mere presence changes the defense and gives other teammates opportunities to score.

 

[Childhood]

Doug Bruno said afterwards that the defense was focused on limiting Azzi, but the price they paid was not being able to double on Edwards or Juhasz. Azzi's mere presence changes the defense and gives other teammates opportunities to score.

Is it the second coach said their strategy was focused on limiting Azzi?

 

[Mdoggie]

Dang. He finally gets a blue-chip big and he goes and retires. And he might have only one more chance to beat Geno.

Maybe he will send her our way?

 

[uconnfan68]

As an aside, Nova beat Marquette in OT. Siegrist had 2 FTs with no time in regulation and sank both. She finished with 42 and 13. I think they may be in the dance!

Big East may get 3-5 teams in. Depends on how the last few weeks go. Some savvy players in the league.

 

[MSGRET]

Is it the second coach said their strategy was focused on limiting Azzi?

Yes I believe the other one has a last name of Harper. She coaches some team from Knoxville.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yes I believe the other one has a last name of Harper. She coaches some team from Knoxville.

Actually, Kelly said it was not their game plan to leave Azzi open. That was a comment on how many times Azzi was wide open. She didn't explicitly say that their primary focus was to shut down Azzi, but Doug was clearer about that as his defensive strategy.

 

[Geesworld]

FINALLY!!! A UCONN game plan concentrated on the Post Players getting the ball in the paint. I believe Azzi's recent hot shooting helped post offense in this game.

Great Defense, Great Movement on offense and most importantly Great effort. If UCONN plays with that kind of energy and effort, no one in the Big East should beat them regardless of all the injuries.

 

[jchusky]

when Edwards plays like this she is so much fun to watch, I said it before, I really believe that Olympic camp while some say it helped her, I really feel that is why she fell behind and chemistry with the other players seemed to not be there. I prefer her over Dorka because of her ability to impose her will on opponents. She has deceiving speed.

 

[TeamFirst!]

We've been thinking for some time that we had to hit some 3's in order to open up the paint. Now we are seeing it happen. And Paige, Liv and Caroline are not even playing. It's the Azzi effect. She has gotten their attention.

 

[eebmg]

From a most memorable game, the moment I'll remember best: Evina steals the inbound pass, shoots, rebounds, and scores.

She did the same move to DePaul last year. Bruno could not be pleased.

 

[Littlemin]

You can nitpick whatever you want, opponents make plays too. According to some of you the only game you would be satisfied with is if Uconn scored on every possession and pitched a shutout.

 

[Ralph]

Azzi scores 4 points, 0 for 7 from 3, and we win. Yeah right, no way that happens. Dorka and Edwards combine for over 40 and 14 rebounds. What are you smoking. What a pleasant surprise.

Random thoughts:

Dorka's hurt foot healed overnight. She was just what we needed. Wow. She looked like all Big Ten first team.
Edwards saw the world's best therapist and he hypnotized her and told her she was a freshman again. She believed him.
Liv being out could have a silver lining, like the other injuries. It lets some other people play and they can learn to believe in what they can do.
If all healthy I think we are a power. Liv, Paige, Williams and Bueckers with Dorka as a likely 5th starter. Muhl to relieve at PG, Westbrook to give 10 minutes rest to Williams, and Ducharme. Edwards gives 10 plus minutes rest to Liv and Dorka. That is a strong 8 person rotation. But as this last point started out, "If all healthy..."

 

[huskeynut]

Aaliyah took that first matchup against Morrow personal. She looked incredible tonight.

This was the second time Aaliyah had to deal with Morrow. Aaliyah learned from the first matchup how to deal with her. Last night was the result. Morrow got her double double but she had to work her tail off to get it.

 

[jabstep]

Nika played her best game. She drove to the hoop and scored and she seemed a lot faster than the whole DePaul team on the break and the pass to Aaliyah as she was cutting across the middle looked like UConn basketball. She along with all of the other guards doubled down on Morrow very effectively.
We took advantage of our size matchups.
Evina did the little things and did what she does best slash to the hoop and that inbounds steal WOW
Great coaching job tonight. Its nice to have subs. When all get back the team will have confidence in all its players and depends on who is hot or has the matchup advantage we can go to them. Go Huskies!!!!!

 

[freshler40]

Not sure why SNY decided to spotlight Doug Bruno throughout the whole game. He was on the screen after every basket, turnover & foul call.

Bruno had that lost, no answers look!

 

[freshler40]

Nika played her best game. She drove to the hoop and scored and she seemed a lot faster than the whole DePaul team on the break and the pass to Aaliyah as she was cutting across the middle looked like UConn basketball. She along with all of the other guards doubled down on Morrow very effectively.
We took advantage of our size matchups.
Evina did the little things and did what she does best slash to the hoop and that inbounds steal WOW
Great coaching job tonight. Its nice to have subs. When all get back the team will have confidence in all its players and depends on who is hot or has the matchup advantage we can go to them. Go Huskies!!!!!

The coaching plan was a masterpiece. Play zone, press their passing guards, double / front Morrow. All this on a very short turnaround. Kados to Geno's staff. KISS. Make them play at our pace, a steady 80 MPH on offense, 60% on defense.

Make them work for the extra pass, 11 of which were picked up for many fast break points on our side. With Nika now operating at a smooth 80 MPH, the court opened up with some great early possessions. Their defense had a hard time getting set as we played much faster but under control. It was impressive to see so many effective pick and rolls for easy baskets. We can clean up the misses, no worry, we at least got the shots.
I hope this game plan, against similar foes, is labeled and filed for future use! It's a winner against most teams where they can't match our size and interchangeable among our players.

It was great to see the fun that the team, including the bench, was having in this game. WOW, the joy in mid-season was infectious. The players are just so happy for each other!

 

[JonathanXIV]

The assist distribution and total tonight was closer to what it was in the TN game.
The key part of this is practice and also simply having time to react. For the Nova game Liv's injury was announced literally right before tip off leaving the team sort of shell shocked. Dorka deservedly won the badass award for this game but this may also have been Nika's best game as a Husky. Nika was very efficient with the basketball (5 assists and only 2 turnover) finally shot a couple of mid range jumpers (made 1 of 2) and was the only UCONN player not to commit a foul tonight.

According to Nika, she never commits a foul.

 

[freshler40]

This was an interesting look for our possible starting front-court next year. It was also the first game where Dorka could play most of the time as a C with Liv out. Dorka looks much much better as a C than a PF. It seemed like it worked well for Aaliyah too. We have had to use a three big rotation mostly because of having Aubrey out. If not for that, Dorka could have played almost all of her minutes at C and been more effective, and likewise Aaliyah and Aubrey could have focused just on their more natural PF position.

If Dorka and Aaliyah can play together next year like they combined tonight, then it is much easier to feel good when teamed with the anticipated guard ultimate starters of Paige, Azzi and Caroline. Like much of the season, however, one game does not constitute a trend, particularly when you remember how little we got from Dorka and Aaliyah in the prior game.

I do feel that Dorka at C instead of PF makes a very big difference though.

Yours were great observations and possible views of the future. Dorka and Edwards showed a lot in this game, quickly cleared rebounds and sped down the court. Eighty MPH seems to be our sweet spot, not a 25 second ball possession finished with desperation 3 point shots.

 

[freshler40]

According to Nika, she never commits a foul.

Nika now has proof, a clean game for sure!

 

[eebmg]

Bruno had that lost, no answers look!

I would to. UConn moved without the ball more than all other games combined.