DePaul Postgame Thread (merged)

[oldude]

I wasn't surprised at all. Most players move on beyond college rivalries, even though most fans do not.

Keep in mind that Candace’s issue with UConn and Geno had more to do with the 2016 Olympic team which selected Stewie, just out of college, while leaving her off, when she was an established veteran in the W. In addition, it was just within the last couple years when Candace publicly offered up her dislike of Geno.

If she has finally gotten over it, that’s great. She was a great basketball player and hopefully establishes herself as an exceptional reporter.

 

[Tonyc]

We came out on fire again. Shooting over 70% and scored over 30 pts in the first qtr. Azzi and Sarah carried the team. Therefore, less rebounds and not many teammates scored. It looked like to me Geno called off the pressure out of respect for Depaul who was over matched. Calling off the pressure D, was like letting the air out of a balloon which for me takes away some of the energy. From there UConn coasted. We didnt score alot of points in the second quarter and we didnt score as many points as we did in our first meeting and thats ok. Everybody got to play which was good and at times it looked like more of a practice working on different combinations and minor tweaking of players. Geno had a chance to take players out talk to them and send them back in. This is a good thing.

It was clear to me that UConn was trying to get Serah more involved with their passes into the middle. This was a good game to work on that. It was very apparent we need alot more work on how to execute getting the ball to Serah and Serah getting into position so the passes to her are catchable. I did like seeing KK and Ash dribble drive and a couple of pull up jumpers. This is good improvement for the tournament. I will agree that we are getting better both individually and working as a team. Allie has got to be the biggest surprise this season. She is very smooth and has a good head knowing what to do.

When its tournament time our starters will get more minutes. We saw that against Tenn and UConn responded with confidence and without hesitation. Last year Paige was there to take over games. This year everybody is stepping up when needed especially on defense. Our defense by far the best Ive seen. Unfortunately, the teams we play in the NCAAs havent played against our defense and those teams who dont have good ballhandlers at every position and who arent quick will have problems.

UConn is winning games by over 39 pts. Some teams are less talented than others however against the good teams theyve played the game and it was never in doubt. This UConn team is complete with depth. They have scorers, shooters a second to none Defense, they are quick, full of energy and athletic. UConn execution doesnt allow them to have to think, they just do what they were tuaght and there really isnt any second guessing. There isnt a team that can say that. Most of all UConn has a winning attitude and the belief in what they do. It works, they know it works, and they keep doing it. Belief and confidence will bring them number 13.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Wow - interesting stats, who did you steal this from! 😎
Do you know how the various rotations are defined? My guess is something like:
A = primary rotation whether the starters or the small line-up with Sarah as the 'post'.
B = rotation of post/power forward - Jana replacing Serah?
C = rotation of 2 or 3 starters with 2 or 3 bench
D = end of game rotation with 4 or 5 starters sitting. (Interesting to see that Sarah is in big negative numbers in C and D!)

The Rotation Stint Type splits are my concoction. &1

• (a) Winning Time Rotations: Any five in the Top Rotation &2 that also includes Azzi and Sarah; these rotations have maximum spurtability;
• (b) Pocket Bridge Rotations: bridge rotations (i.e. not Winning Time Rotations) designed to give one player in a Winning Time Rotation a breather;
• (c) Top Bridge Rotations: not (a) or (b), and involves a significant number &3 of Top Rotation Players;
• (d) Bottom Bridge Rotations: not (a), (b) or (c).

For next year, I can see how Geno and CD’s laboratory is self-perpetuating in a deeper Top Rotation (9/10 instead of 8 &2) with more high-quality (1)/(2)’s and (5)’s with the addition of Jovanna, Olivia and hopefully Sara (Okeke), along with returning little-used players like Morgan.

&1 The idea of stratifying Rotation Stints came from the observation in last year’s championship run that some rotations are better than others (better spurtability) in winning games;

• With a deep quality roster (the new norm), rotation stint bandwidth (stratification) is the precious resource to meet various program goals (win games, win March/April, farm system development, preparation for next-level “plug and play” “basketball player”) in a fast-paced mix-match that maximizes the deep quality roster.
• The stratification allows for some insights into the “sausage-making” in Geno and CD’s program.

&2 “Top Rotation”: KK, Azzi, Ash, Sarah, Serah, Kayleigh, Allie, Blanca.

&3 “Significant Number”:

• 4+ of the Top Rotation but not including Azzi and Sarah;
• 3+ of the Top Rotation and 1 of (Azzi, Sarah);
• 3 of the Top Rotation and both of Azzi and Sarah;
• 3 Starters.