cferraro04
Sensei
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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COMMENTS
Well, let's see now does a week off help the Huskies or hurt them? I guess that since the Huskies have been pretty banged up and because they have had to shuffle the starting line-up around quite a bit with the uncertainty of Caroline Ducharme and the inconsistent play of Aubrey this lay-off has helped the Huskies. Hopefully, they have healed somewhat, are rejuvenized, and have worked out some of the kinks with the small line-up and the big line-up. Because Louisville more than likely will start two forwards and three guards I am going to guess that Geno will go with Aubrey in the starting line-up. Of course, if Ice was able to gain Geno's confidence in the out-of-conference schedule it would be a no-brainer to play Ice with Edwards but I don't think we are there yet...hopefully, by mid-February, we will be there...we will see. So, Louisville will go with 6'3", 6'2", 6'1", 5'9" and 5'9" while UConn will go with 6'3", 6'1", 6'0", 5'11" and 5'10". Louisville is a very experienced team starting with three graduate students, one senior, and one sophomore. UConn plays one graduate student, two seniors, one red-shirt Junior, and a freshman.
MSGRET did a great job comparing the level of competition these two teams have played and I would recommend reading his preamble to the prognostication thread. In a nutshell, MSGRET points out that UConn has played a much tougher schedule to date and that as a result UConn is rated higher in RPI and SOS. Additionally, he pointed out the similarity in the stats between the two teams...I would add a couple of points for consideration...UConn must take care of the basketball as Louisville forces 21.9 turnovers per game while only committing 15 themselves. Louisville capitalizes on the turnovers it creates by getting 25.2 points per game off turnovers while their opponents are only able to get 12 points off turnovers. This statistic becomes more relevant when you consider that 33 percent of Louisville's total points per game come off turnovers.
If UConn continues to play the level of defense that they have been playing and assuming they have addressed some of their issues and their defense has improved I don't see Louisville beating UConn at home. UConn is at its best when it defends and lets the offense develop from its defense. Their half-court game is a work in progress but it isn't that bad.
MATCH-UPS
Aaliyah Edwards 6'3" vs Olivia Cochran 6'3" - Olivia is on all the watch lists (Wooden, Naismith, etc.) she is Louisville's top scorer and rebounder which makes it fitting that she draws Aaliyah in this match up. Aaliyah is also on everyone's list and it was recently revealed that in a mock draft, she would go number 4. Aaliyah is having a decent season averaging 15.8 points and 7.7 rebounds. Defensively Aaliyah has picked it up and I expect that Olivia will have to work hard to outplay Aaliyah. I hope both of these players can stay on the floor and give us fans a great show in the post. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Aubrey Griffin 6'1" vs Nyla Harris 6'2" - Nyla is Louisville's other starting forward. Aubrey is technically a G/F and will be a little undersized in this match-up but with her athleticism and experience, she should be fine. Nyla averages 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Aubrey's game stats are similar at 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. However, I don't think we have seen Aubrey playing up to her potential. I don't know if she is dealing with physical issues or if there is something else. I think the week off will help Aubrey and if we see any resemblance of the Aubrey we know then I think we will see Aubrey come out on top in this match-up. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Paige Bueckers 6'0" vs Kiki Jefferson 6'1" - At 6'1" Jefferson is a tall guard. Before transferring to Louisville in Aprile 2023, Kiki had a great career at James Madison where she ranked second in career free throws made (550), fifth in scoring average, sixth all-time in points (1,838), tied for sixth in free throw percentage (80.2), ninth in rebounds (815), tied for ninth in made field goals (518), and tied for 10th in three-point percentage (33.9). Well, unfortunately for Kiki she may have drawn a match-up with UConn's surging all-everything Paige Bueckers who after winning the player of the year in her freshman outing was beset with injuries that kept her off the court for over 500 days. Well, she is back and she is making up for lost time averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, approximately 2 three-pointers, 2.7 assists, and 2 steals per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Nika Muhl 5'11" vs Sydney Taylor - 5'9" - Sydney is another transfer student who came from the University of Massachusetts where she was First Team All-Conference in her Junior and Senior years. Sydney is averaging 10.5 points 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 Assists...she also contributes 2 three-pointers per game for the Cardinals. Nika averages 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists as well as contributing 1 three per game. The rub on Nika is that she doesn't shoot enough and she has to cut down on her turnovers. Nika should have a good night matched up with Sydney. ADVANTAGE - UCONN.
Ashlynn Shade 5'10" vs Nina Rickards 5'9" - Here we have yet another transfer this time from Florida. Nina had a very good career at Florida where she averaged in her senior year a career-best 12.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. She is a very experienced player who has played a lot of college basketball minutes. Ashlynn is a budding freshman who has been doing quite well but has only played in 8 college games. Nina has so far this season averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals but, don't let the stats fool you she has scored in double figures in 2 of her last three games. Ashlynn has done quite well so far in her freshman outing averaging 6.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. She has helped UConn by being a second option for shooting threes she is averaging one 3-pointer per game. Ashlynn has done an adequate job on defense. I think in this match-up Nina may prove to be the better player. ADVANTAGE - LOUISVILLE
BENCH
Louisville brings 28.8 points and 15 rebounds off the bench while UConn brings in 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds. Louisville appears to be the deeper team - ADVANTAGE - LOUISVILLE
INTANGIBLES
UConn will be well-rested and will have had time to tweak some of its issues. They will be playing in front of a home crowd. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
COACHING
I love the Geno Auriemma vs Jeff Walz match-ups. It is always entertaining. Louisville is now 2/17 against the Huskies. The last time Louisville beat UConn was on March 17, 1993, 74-71 in the NCAA tournament. Geno seems to have Jeff's number. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Well, let's see now does a week off help the Huskies or hurt them? I guess that since the Huskies have been pretty banged up and because they have had to shuffle the starting line-up around quite a bit with the uncertainty of Caroline Ducharme and the inconsistent play of Aubrey this lay-off has helped the Huskies. Hopefully, they have healed somewhat, are rejuvenized, and have worked out some of the kinks with the small line-up and the big line-up. Because Louisville more than likely will start two forwards and three guards I am going to guess that Geno will go with Aubrey in the starting line-up. Of course, if Ice was able to gain Geno's confidence in the out-of-conference schedule it would be a no-brainer to play Ice with Edwards but I don't think we are there yet...hopefully, by mid-February, we will be there...we will see. So, Louisville will go with 6'3", 6'2", 6'1", 5'9" and 5'9" while UConn will go with 6'3", 6'1", 6'0", 5'11" and 5'10". Louisville is a very experienced team starting with three graduate students, one senior, and one sophomore. UConn plays one graduate student, two seniors, one red-shirt Junior, and a freshman.
MSGRET did a great job comparing the level of competition these two teams have played and I would recommend reading his preamble to the prognostication thread. In a nutshell, MSGRET points out that UConn has played a much tougher schedule to date and that as a result UConn is rated higher in RPI and SOS. Additionally, he pointed out the similarity in the stats between the two teams...I would add a couple of points for consideration...UConn must take care of the basketball as Louisville forces 21.9 turnovers per game while only committing 15 themselves. Louisville capitalizes on the turnovers it creates by getting 25.2 points per game off turnovers while their opponents are only able to get 12 points off turnovers. This statistic becomes more relevant when you consider that 33 percent of Louisville's total points per game come off turnovers.
If UConn continues to play the level of defense that they have been playing and assuming they have addressed some of their issues and their defense has improved I don't see Louisville beating UConn at home. UConn is at its best when it defends and lets the offense develop from its defense. Their half-court game is a work in progress but it isn't that bad.
MATCH-UPS
Aaliyah Edwards 6'3" vs Olivia Cochran 6'3" - Olivia is on all the watch lists (Wooden, Naismith, etc.) she is Louisville's top scorer and rebounder which makes it fitting that she draws Aaliyah in this match up. Aaliyah is also on everyone's list and it was recently revealed that in a mock draft, she would go number 4. Aaliyah is having a decent season averaging 15.8 points and 7.7 rebounds. Defensively Aaliyah has picked it up and I expect that Olivia will have to work hard to outplay Aaliyah. I hope both of these players can stay on the floor and give us fans a great show in the post. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Aubrey Griffin 6'1" vs Nyla Harris 6'2" - Nyla is Louisville's other starting forward. Aubrey is technically a G/F and will be a little undersized in this match-up but with her athleticism and experience, she should be fine. Nyla averages 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Aubrey's game stats are similar at 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. However, I don't think we have seen Aubrey playing up to her potential. I don't know if she is dealing with physical issues or if there is something else. I think the week off will help Aubrey and if we see any resemblance of the Aubrey we know then I think we will see Aubrey come out on top in this match-up. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Paige Bueckers 6'0" vs Kiki Jefferson 6'1" - At 6'1" Jefferson is a tall guard. Before transferring to Louisville in Aprile 2023, Kiki had a great career at James Madison where she ranked second in career free throws made (550), fifth in scoring average, sixth all-time in points (1,838), tied for sixth in free throw percentage (80.2), ninth in rebounds (815), tied for ninth in made field goals (518), and tied for 10th in three-point percentage (33.9). Well, unfortunately for Kiki she may have drawn a match-up with UConn's surging all-everything Paige Bueckers who after winning the player of the year in her freshman outing was beset with injuries that kept her off the court for over 500 days. Well, she is back and she is making up for lost time averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, approximately 2 three-pointers, 2.7 assists, and 2 steals per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Nika Muhl 5'11" vs Sydney Taylor - 5'9" - Sydney is another transfer student who came from the University of Massachusetts where she was First Team All-Conference in her Junior and Senior years. Sydney is averaging 10.5 points 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 Assists...she also contributes 2 three-pointers per game for the Cardinals. Nika averages 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists as well as contributing 1 three per game. The rub on Nika is that she doesn't shoot enough and she has to cut down on her turnovers. Nika should have a good night matched up with Sydney. ADVANTAGE - UCONN.
Ashlynn Shade 5'10" vs Nina Rickards 5'9" - Here we have yet another transfer this time from Florida. Nina had a very good career at Florida where she averaged in her senior year a career-best 12.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. She is a very experienced player who has played a lot of college basketball minutes. Ashlynn is a budding freshman who has been doing quite well but has only played in 8 college games. Nina has so far this season averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals but, don't let the stats fool you she has scored in double figures in 2 of her last three games. Ashlynn has done quite well so far in her freshman outing averaging 6.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. She has helped UConn by being a second option for shooting threes she is averaging one 3-pointer per game. Ashlynn has done an adequate job on defense. I think in this match-up Nina may prove to be the better player. ADVANTAGE - LOUISVILLE
BENCH
Louisville brings 28.8 points and 15 rebounds off the bench while UConn brings in 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds. Louisville appears to be the deeper team - ADVANTAGE - LOUISVILLE
INTANGIBLES
UConn will be well-rested and will have had time to tweak some of its issues. They will be playing in front of a home crowd. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
COACHING
I love the Geno Auriemma vs Jeff Walz match-ups. It is always entertaining. Louisville is now 2/17 against the Huskies. The last time Louisville beat UConn was on March 17, 1993, 74-71 in the NCAA tournament. Geno seems to have Jeff's number. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
