Devastating Game

[Tonyc]

Welcome to your Nightmare. It looks like UConn is back to UConn form. Total destruction. KState is a pretty good team with height, and shooters. UConn dismantled them. We've seen it before but not from this group this season, not like this. I will be very surprised if UConn dosnt win the NC this season. Since their loss to STJohns they are a different team. BB and Kiah have matured. KML is showing great poise shooting the ball and playing with confidence. All 3 freshman are playing good defense. UConn is at a different level and last night appeared to be Kiahs breakout game. UConn is playing at a level that will make it hard for them to lose. Next game either LSU or Penn St. I believe UConn comes out on a mission of distruction. Then it looks like Samarie Walker and Kentucky or Gonzaga. Either way this UConn team is headed to the FF. Like a tornado they are destroying everyting in their way and nothing can stop them but themselves.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

I would be careful with the references to torandos after the storms that hit yesterday,.....

 

[doggydaddy]

Welcome to your Nightmare. It looks like UConn is back to UConn form. Total destruction. KState is a pretty good team with height, and shooters. UConn dismantled them. We've seen it before but not from this group this season, not like this. I will be very surprised if UConn dosnt win the NC this season. Since their loss to STJohns they are a different team. BB and Kiah have matured. KML is showing great poise shooting the ball and playing with confidence. All 3 freshman are playing good defense. UConn is at a different level and last night appeared to be Kiahs breakout game. UConn is playing at a level that will make it hard for them to lose. Next game either LSU or Penn St. I believe UConn comes out on a mission of distruction. Then it looks like Samarie Walker and Kentucky or Gonzaga. Either way this UConn team is headed to the FF. Like a tornado they are destroying everyting in their way and nothing can stop them but themselves.

"Since their loss to STJohns they are a different team. "

Well, they lost to ND since then in the last game of the regular season. So, it's since that loss, not the SJU loss. Other than that, I agree with everything you've said.

 

[huskeynut]

If you look back at the game against ND, the moment was when Geno pulled the starters and benched them. The look on their faces told the story.

Since then, this is a team with a different attitude. Their is a purpose to their play, a higher intensity in their defense, a killer instinct. LSU or Penn State or Kentucky or Gonzaga, it makes no difference.

 

[VAMike23]

Welcome to your Nightmare. It looks like UConn is back to UConn form. Total destruction. KState is a pretty good team with height, and shooters. UConn dismantled them. We've seen it before but not from this group this season, not like this. I will be very surprised if UConn dosnt win the NC this season. Since their loss to STJohns they are a different team. BB and Kiah have matured. KML is showing great poise shooting the ball and playing with confidence. All 3 freshman are playing good defense. UConn is at a different level and last night appeared to be Kiahs breakout game. UConn is playing at a level that will make it hard for them to lose. Next game either LSU or Penn St. I believe UConn comes out on a mission of distruction. Then it looks like Samarie Walker and Kentucky or Gonzaga. Either way this UConn team is headed to the FF. Like a tornado they are destroying everyting in their way and nothing can stop them but themselves.

I loved what I saw last night, but I'm not as optimistic as you, Optimus Prime. I was at the Duke game last year in Philly where they dominated a team that was much better than last night's K-State team. And we know what happened subsequently in the FF.

Will we make it to Denver this year, the way we're playing? Sure looks like it. After that, it depends on whether or not we step up with the supreme effort we showed in the BE final. It's a huge plus that they finally got to that point this season--like Geno said, it was a huge mental hump for this group to get over--but you just never know. I'm just going to enjoy the ride as long as it lasts!

 

[sarals24]

Last year I felt like the team was just holding on (barely) and any little blow would cost the team the chance at a NC. With only 6 players in the rotation and no real backup post, if anyone got in foul trouble or hurt we were screwed. And that's exactly what happened in the ND game. This year, I think the team is getting better and better. Sure, they hit a little slump near the end of the regular season, but Stokes has steadily improved, KML has proven she is more than just a streaky shooter, Banks has come on a bit, and Buck can still be counted on to play good D and get some boards if needed. I am more confident this year than last, actually...

 

[MilfordHusky]

Devastating is the right word. Watching from mid court 6 rows up, I could really see the team effort, speed, and energy. And they used their depth, so the energy level stayed high. The crowd--loud for only 4,300--loved it. Blocks and other hustle plays got the loudest cheers.

 

[Kibitzer]

The persistent knock on this team for much of the season has been that it has had "no leader." If it were once true, it is no longer.

Caroline is a leader, by example, and a steadying influence on the many younger players.

Heather (yes, Heather!) is a leader. Despite theknowledge that her playing time is normally scarce, she is always ready and she must really bear down in practice -- day after grueling day, week after week, month after month -- and I have never heard of her being in Geno's doghouse for lack of effort.

Tiffany? What can be said that hasn't been said already. She gives everything she's got. Every play and every possession.

Ditto Kelly.

Kiah and Stefanie seem to have gottenpost-season religion together.

Kaleena and Bria are go-to players if I ever saw one before.

No leaders? I rest my case.

 

[Tonyc]

Thanks for the correction Doggy. Last seasons FF some quick poor calls on Stef and the middle opened up for ND. With the inability to play defense because of foul trouble UConn lost. We are deeper this year and I think thats the difference. The BE and now the NCAA UConn looks like a machine. Outside of shaking the dust off in the Praiview game in the first half Uconn has gotten better each game. I really like our chance alot, and alot more then last season. This season is a total team effort and a couple of fouls on Stef and Kiah comes in who is more then able to hold her own.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Another big story is that the fear factor is coming back in regards to UConn. In 2009 and 2010, the UConn undefeated domination aura hovered over WCBB. This year's team does not have that reputation, but teams know that the Huskies' defense is on an all-time record setting pace against a top 10 schedule, and after what happened to KSU, the fear factor is creeping in again. Sagarin now has UConn widening its lead over Baylor to more than 3 points in the Predictor indicator (generally consider the more accurate of ratings), and that is mainly because the defense and depth can do nasty things to even the prettiest offense.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I loved what I saw last night, but I'm not as optimistic as you, Optimus Prime. I was at the Duke game last year in Philly where they dominated a team that was much better than last night's K-State team. And we know what happened subsequently in the FF.

Will we make it to Denver this year, the way we're playing? Sure looks like it. After that, it depends on whether or not we step up with the supreme effort we showed in the BE final. It's a huge plus that they finally got to that point this season--like Geno said, it was a huge mental hump for this group to get over--but you just never know. I'm just going to enjoy the ride as long as it lasts!

" After that, it depends on whether or not we step up "

Don't all teams have to "step up"...??

 

[Kait14]

Besides obviously being impressed with Kiah's performance, I was equally as impressed with Caroline.. the way she directs the entire team when she is handling the ball is remarkable

 

[VAMike23]

" After that, it depends on whether or not we step up "

Don't all teams have to "step up"...??

+with the supreme effort we showed in the BE final

The BE final was a breakthrough for us this season. Can we bring it like that again? That was my [open] question.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

+with the supreme effort we showed in the BE final

The BE final was a breakthrough for us this season. Can we bring it like that again? That was my [open] question.

OK...I see the glass from a different view. Others better step up the second our team hits the court.

 

[JellyBean]

I agree. That was a devastating game. KSU went scoreless for 12-13 mins in the first half!!! Then they followed that up with another 3-5 min scoreless drought. I have never seen anything like that in my two decades of following women's basketball. This is the UConn team that I like to see playing....agressive and attacking.

 

[VAMike23]

I agree. That was a devastating game. KSU went scoreless for 12-13 mins in the first half!!! Then they followed that up with another 3-5 min scoreless drought. I have never seen anything like that in my two decades of following women's basketball. This is the UConn team that I like to see playing....agressive and attacking.

Well, we had only 12 pts in the Half-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named a few years ago. That was pretty surreal, too. But we followed it up with a *much* better half !!

 

[tomcat]

There's no doubt the win against KState was incredible, a great follow-up after a good win against PV. It appears the Final Four is in the cards this year, almost for sure. Still.....
I'm a glass-half-empty kind of guy, and will feel better if I see another effort like last night against either Penn State or LSU, who cares which? If UConn proves to be devastating against the next team, that'll be a team that I could see going all the way.