FSU Postgame Thread

[oldude]

Some thoughts on the FSU game:

• No Geno today. But with Nika & Dorka back in the starting lineup I felt reasonably good about the likelihood that CD would up her all-time record as UConn’s HC to 14-0.
• Against an aggressive FSU team there were still far too many Husky turnovers. Hopefully, with more healthy players practicing together, UConn will clean up the problem.
• FSU used multiple defenses to offset UConn’s advantage in the paint as the Huskies got the ball inside frequently for easy layups by Aaliyah in particular, along with Dorka, Aubrey & Caroline.
• Nika dished out a cool 12 assists but was not at her best coming out of the concussion protocol.
• We all know that Lou can score. But the more I watch her play, the clearer it is that she takes and makes BIG SHOTS. Whenever FSU looked like they might overtake UConn, Lou seemed to bury another shot.
• Aaliyah’s ability to establish consistently strong low-post position is in some ways reminiscent of Pheesa, although Aaliyah is bigger and stronger.
• UConn probably won this game at the foul line going 18/21.
• Bring on the Pirates!!!

 

[EricLA]

Ugly. we held on for the win.

No Geno - please feel better. People could point to the final score and say "Nika and Dorka just came back so they were rusty". That wasn't the case. we came out gangbusters in Q1, and then got outplayed for the entire 2nd half. This should be a concern for the team and the coaches.

Having said that, Nika was terrific. Picked up where she left off. 12 assists and 6 points. Man she is good.

Aaliyah and Lou were also really good and huge shoutout to Dorka for being all over the floor in Q1.

The team showed grit and determination. But the game should not have been this close. Sorry, I can't be all puppies and kitties today. FSU is solid, but not an upper echelon team.

 

[luminosity]

A win is a win. Not every win is going to be a 30 PT blowout, especially against solid competition. Bad second half but it never really felt like UCONN was going to lose.

 

[victor64]

Peck did a nice job explaining why UCONN owned the paint. FSU refused to cheat off UConn three point shooters. Dorka and Aaliyah took advantage.

“Silly” turnovers continue to plague UConn. Lob or sloppy passing are normally cleaned up by this time.

Edwards is heading toward team MVP and or All-American honors.

There can’t be a smoother transition in coaching than when CD steps in for Geno.

Question for the medical experts on the board. What are the spots on Dorka”s arm?

They seem determined to get Ducharme back to the level last of last year. Not there yet.

Good but not a great win. Happy for the return of Dorka and Nika.

 

[huskyd]

HalAliyah.

 

[veryolddog]

I am glad that they won. Lots of turnovers. Lots of fouls. Very glad that we saw the return of Dorka and Nika. We needed them to defeat FSU. Good job!

 

[SLY63]

Few comments

1. AE is doing everything -- scoring, rebounding, beat pressure
2. Love Dorka's energy, but never seen a 6-5 get blocked so often
3. Teams are going to continue to leave Aubrey open until she hits shots
4. Lou still a great option on offense
5. CD looking better, but still showing rust.

 

[Blueballer]

This game was a joy to watch and had wonderful flow until the refs got involved. I lost count of how many hands straight up fouls we got called on us. Let them PLAY!

 

[HuskyNan]

Question for the medical experts on the board. What are the spots on Dorka”s arm?

They are the result of a massage technique called cupping. When I have a chronic muscle spasm, my massage therapist will apply a suction type cup to the pressure point. It works very well

What Is Cupping Therapy—And Should You Try It?

You're definitely going to have bruises, JSYK.

www.womenshealthmag.com

 

[oldude]

Peck did a nice job explaining why UCONN owned the paint. FSU refused to cheat off UConn three point shooters. Dorka and Aaliyah took advantage.

“Silly” turnovers continue to plague UConn. Lob or sloppy passing are normally cleaned up by this time.

Edwards is heading toward team MVP and or All-American honors.

There can’t be a smoother transition in coaching than when CD steps in for Geno.

Question for the medical experts on the board. What are the spots on Dorka”s arm?

They seem determined to get Ducharme back to the level last of last year. Not there yet.

Good but not a great win. Happy for the return of Dorka and Nika.

Dorka's round spots are called "cupping therapy," usually done with hot cups placed and held on various parts of the body to promote a better flow of energy and healing. It goes back to the ancient Egyptians. Maybe Jana El Alfy was at the Mohegan Sun today giving Dorka some tips?

 

[Charliebball]

Where would this team be without Lou? I'd say in big trouble........so far she's the most important UConn transfer ever......

 

[Kaizen]

Just not the way I expected.
Too tired and too many TOs but we win anyway.

 

[HuskyNan]

Ugly. we held on for the win.

No Geno - please feel better. People could point to the final score and say "Nika and Dorka just came back so they were rusty". That wasn't the case. we came out gangbusters in Q1, and then got outplayed for the entire 2nd half. This should be a concern for the team and the coaches.

Having said that, Nika was terrific. Picked up where she left off. 12 assists and 6 points. Man she is good.

Aaliyah and Lou were also really good and huge shoutout to Dorka for being all over the floor in Q1.

The team showed grit and determination. But the game should not have been this close. Sorry, I can't be all puppies and kitties today. FSU is solid, but not an upper echelon team.

I thought our beloved coach CD made a strategic error by pulling Dorka and Caroline and putting Aubrey and Ayanna in. Aubrey reverted to two years ago and just stood on the perimeter; Ayanna couldn’t handle the slapping at the ball and got flustered. Florida State went on a run, then was able to regroup mentally and settle in.

 

[LarryLegend]

Edwards having an AA year. Dorka great along with Nika and LLS. I only saw the second half, I dont care what anyone says but Caroline Ducharme still does not look right.

 

[Urshurak]

I hate the saying “a win is a win” but it applies here. Silly silly turnovers have to get fixed. Toughness needs to be at 100% all game. Not just one half.

Seton Hall is going to be tougher than everyone realizes. UConn always gets every teams best. Always. Always.

Also, again, the opposing team has a player who doesn’t normally light it up from 3, light it up from 3 (Howard.). It really is unbelievable.

 

[JordyG]

In the 2nd half UConn failed to show effective offensive ball handling, screening, pace in the quarter court, and movement of the ball side to side. FSU was able to pressure the ball handlers at the arc, double Nika on the perimeter, and work through screens to effectively cut off the outside shot and the entry passes.

UConn failed to respond to FSU defense. FSU made it difficult for UConn to run their actions such as the 45 or the Wave, or any type of chin action on the weak side because of that pressure. Yes, again, TO's hurt them. But UConn was not able to score at a high rate off the 13 TO's FSU gave them, nor was UConn able to have any type of transition game after the first period. AG's poor play today was puzzling, but once the UConn transition game was shut down so was AG. She was in constant foul trouble, and AG also took only one mid range shot. So UConn again was relegated to only two real offensive threats: AE and Lou.

Defensively UConn, again, failed to effectively cover the arc, and even a poor shooting 3 point team took advantage of it. When they did FSU dribbled around them. FSU also had success working one on one inside the nail, and were frequently able to beat UConn along the baseline. Azzi, get well soon.

 

[Topdawg]

Was a good win and there were contributions from all the players. Yes, the turnovers need to be fewer if we want to beat top 10 Teams going forward. Aliyah was superb in the first half and Lou was scoring well. It was clear that Dorka was happy to be back. A double double is something she can do every time out. I expect that Caroline and Dorka will improve in fitness and play at a better speed as the season progresses.
a step in the right direction!

 

[Centerstream]

Even though only FSU players fouled out, it seemed that we were the team in foul trouble and we played that way on defense. Especially late in the 2nd quarter and the whole 2nd half our defense seemed a little less intense.
I could be mistaken, but this is the first time that I can remember the starters not starting the second half. Caroline started the second half instead of Aubrey due to Aubrey being in foul trouble.
It was a good win, we allowed a great comeback in the 2nd half but didn't fold under pressure. Except maybe when Dave O'Brian jinxed our FTs late in the 4th quarter.
Another game where watching @MJL243 's replay tomorrow isn't going to be as much fun as I had hoped it would be but it is a win, so...

 

[pghhuskydoc]

Whew. Hey, it’s a win. Sometimes you just have to gut it out, and this team does over and over.
The TOS, are, I think, a function of fatigue, both physical and mental. The starters are playing a ton of minutes.

 

[Surly1]

Sometimes you can look at the boxscore and read into the game based on stats. Having Dorka back brings so many intangibles that doesn't show. Yes, she was a little rusty, but her size was sorely missed, and her high/low chemistry with Aaliyah was definitely missed. Her 5 blocks caused the FSU players to think about her presence in the paint.

As Oldude stated, Nika was slightly off with 5 TO's, but she countered with 12 assists. Her presence picks up the tempo on offense. Yes, the ongoing turnovers are a disturbing trend, but with a little continuity, I do believe this will get under control.

Every game, I have to acknowledge what a godsend Lou has been. Like Carolyn Peck mentioned, she is a huntress, a scorer always looking for an opening. Just luv watching her play.

It was a little nervy down the stretch, but again, Aaliyah took care of things. She is becoming the player we all envisioned in her freshman year when she flashed her potential.

Lastly, Caroline didn't press, letting the game come to her. One positive was her first three was a shot - she took her time and the ball had a nice arc. Let's hope for more.

 

[Happydad745]

Florida defense was not good for Aubrey, and I am not sure why we are turning the ball over so much....something is not right yet. We miss Azzi, but Lou is awesome, her and AE really helped us win this game....Kudos to Nika for 12 assists.

 

[SLY63]

Great to see AE's play against top teams. Her drive left going up with her right hand was the drive of the game. She is playing like an AA

 

[AmeriConn]

I need a Tums.

 

[HuskyNan]

I want to add that the sometimes bizarre calls by the refs, who appeared to think that they were getting paid per whistle, disrupted both teams. Before anyone claims the refs caused UConn’s problems- no, they didn’t. I actually thought FSU got hosed on some calls in the first half. But, anywho, the refs let some obvious things go then called touch fouls. I thought UConn was more confused about how to play than FSU, who probably figured they were getting called for fouls anyway, might as well play their game