Early line on UConn vs SC | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Early line on UConn vs SC

jaundicedeye said:
I contend that our role players have to be viable scoring options to keep the SC defense from sagging off and free to double Sarah and Azzi. I know they will get shot opportunities and I just hope they can make good on them.
Last year was last year. We do not have Paige and I believe SC is much better and they will be better prepared.
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UConn has more depth, more options and the most relentless defensive pressure in college basketball. If SC can’t score 70 points, they won’t win.
 
oldude said:
UConn has more depth, more options and the most relentless defensive pressure in college basketball. If SC can’t score 70 points, they won’t win.
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I am hoping that is the case, but I would bet that Dawn's game plan will center around stopping Sarah and Azzi and taking her chances on the other players beating them (SC).
 
oldude said:
UConn has more depth, more options and the most relentless defensive pressure in college basketball. If SC can’t score 70 points, they won’t win.
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This is true, but I think there are some vulnerabilities in the offense where they don't score for several possessions in a row or can go scoreless for several minutes. Not saying that Paige would solve every problem, but when you have a player like Paige, she brings that one player who can break down the defense on her own and take that shot that stops the bleeding as well as that final shot to win the game. Azzi and Sarah have the potential to do so but I don't think there's enough of a sample size for me to be as confident at this moment. Lets hope they won't be in tight games and will be comfortably in the lead late in the game Friday and if they progress Sunday.
 
ABCDFE said:
This is true, but I think there are some vulnerabilities in the offense where they don't score for several possessions in a row or can go scoreless for several minutes. Not saying that Paige would solve every problem, but when you have a player like Paige, she brings that one player who can break down the defense on her own and take that shot that stops the bleeding as well as that final shot to win the game. Azzi and Sarah have the potential to do so but I don't think there's enough of a sample size for me to be as confident at this moment. Let’s hope they won't be in tight games and will be comfortably in the lead late in the game Friday and if they progress Sunday.
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I agree with you on Paige’s ability to break down a defense. But this year, when UConn hits a cold shooting stretch, they never stop playing relentless defense.

“Defense travels” and “Defense wins championships” are both cliches. But they are absolutely true nonetheless.
 
oldude said:
I agree with you on Paige’s ability to break down a defense. But this year, when UConn hits a cold shooting stretch, they never stop playing relentless defense.

“Defense travels” and “Defense wins championships” are both cliches. But they are absolutely true nonetheless.
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I don’t disagree with your comments about UConn’s defense or your earlier comments that the role players don’t have to score a lot for UConn to win, however I believe those same role players do have to be a threat to score to keep SC’s defense honest. I believe SC will start the game daring KK to shoot from the perimeter & may do the same with Ashlyn making both prove it before adjusting which will make any interior pass from either very difficult. If either or both prove that strategy wrong I think UConn opens the floor up, spacing improves, and gives the good guys a much better opportunity to win the game.
Both are more than capable of doing just that. JMO
 
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martyn said:
I thought UConn last two games had a case of the nerves, which surprised me. When they have that supreme self confidence you can't touch them. Just hope they have that coming up.
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I don't know if it was nerves. Sometimes the ball just refuses to go in the basket. What saves UConn is defense. There is never an excuse for having a bad defensive day.

I want to see Jordans furniture (actually their insurance company) lose $50M.
 
ERWUC65 said:
Well, no Paige this year and SC is considerably better and looking for revenge. And by the way, one of the Role (not Roll) players KK had 9 points in that game. I hope you're right, but I think we win with consequential scoring from one or more of KK, Ash, K9 and Blanca.
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SC is considerably better? I don't know about that, but what I do know is that UConn is NOT considerably worse.
 
The bottom line, if Connecticut is hot then South Carolina likely loses. If they are not South Carolina has a chance to win. And as far as rebounding advantage, it’s not a big issue if Connecticut is making their shots. I am hoping UConn misses the first few shots, then it’s on like Donkey Kong.

As far as all the Defense travels talk, South Carolina’s defense is every bit as good. I haven’t looked at UConn’s entire schedule, but I dare say they have not played today that caliber of defense.
 
Tngamecock said:
The bottom line, if Connecticut is hot then South Carolina likely loses. If they are not South Carolina has a chance to win. And as far as rebounding advantage, it’s not a big issue if Connecticut is making their shots. I am hoping UConn misses the first few shots, then it’s on like Donkey Kong.

As far as all the Defense travels talk, South Carolina’s defense is every bit as good. I haven’t looked at UConn’s entire schedule, but I dare say they have not played today that caliber of defense.
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Just the facts: Scoring Defense, UConn #1, SC #26. Field Goal Defense, UConn #1, SC #6. etc.,etc..etc.
 
I am taking UConn to cover and to cover easily. They beat good teams last week by nearly 20 points without playing very well offensively and not applying the full court pressure. The only team that can make it a game with UConn is if UConn plays very sloppy and gets into foul trouble. They just have too many ways they can play and all of their players are really good.
 
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Both teams are quite different from last year. SC despite the change, offers their highest scoring team ever. The group of Johnson, Latson, Johnson, Edwards and Okot all score 10.0+ per game with freshman Mateer bringing 15 per game now as 6th man during tournament. This SC team brings skill and speed, compared to some past teams that more out heighted, and out strengthed UConn.

UConn of course has no Paige...but it's a different team offering a lot. Stars Sarah&Azzi are back with one more year of experience. Blanca like Mateer has become a game changing 6th man. Our so called 'role players' KK and Ash are in their 3rd final four! K9, Allie and Jana allow us to go 9 deep with little drop off in ability.

Up front the rotation of Sarah, Serah, Blanca and Jana, give us a variety of options, pending how the game develops.
Jana, who is now basically our ninth player, last year played 35 combined minutes in the final four and plays her best in big games!

This group should match up well with Edwards/Okot and backups Dauda, Tournebize and Tac.

I wish we would have faced one of these final four teams earlier, but all the UConn players still have experience v the best teams in other seasons.

All in, UConn has the goods to win. We will not be intimidated and have the speed, athleticism and skill to match up with this excellent SC team.

Less than 24 hours! Looking forward to one of the best basketball days of the year.🥰
 
Tngamecock said:
As far as all the Defense travels talk, South Carolina’s defense is every bit as good. I haven’t looked at UConn’s entire schedule, but I dare say they have not played today that caliber of defense.
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South Carolina has not played Connecticut's caliber of defense. Possibly no one has before this year: no team has ever led Division 1 in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, and steals per game in the same season.
 
martyn said:
I thought UConn last two games had a case of the nerves, which surprised me. When they have that supreme self confidence you can't touch them. Just hope they have that coming up.
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I'm just hoping that it was just the facility that did not agree with them. Azzi has to make those pull-ups she likes to take early on. I get nervous when she shoots and misses early on, she is the gauge that I use to see how the team will be playing. Not scientific, but that's how my brain works at this time of year. Your best players will win or lose the championship.
 
oldude said:
UConn has more depth, more options and the most relentless defensive pressure in college basketball. If SC can’t score 70 points, they won’t win.
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Oldude, how did that turn out? Maybe we should have left that one for Carnac (oops). Just sayin'.
 
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