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Message: [QUOTE="cferraro04, post: 4797680, member: 267"] [B][SIZE=5][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]COMMENTS[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] How could I start off any commentary without first expressing how sorry I am for Azzi, her family, and the team? Losing Azzi for the season is significant. Say what you want about making up the difference...the sad truth is when you need that knock-down shooter, that extra outside shooter who you can rely on...she isn't going to be there. It is a long season and the loss of Azzi on the roster will be felt in many ways. UConn is fortunate in that they do have options that can develop and make up for the loss of Azizi's 12-15 points / 2.0 rebounds and 2.5 three-pointers per game. Despite the obvious, everyone is keenly aware that Azzi could at any time have a breakout game where she goes off for 30 and that option just isn't going to be there for this season. I will not understate what Azzi means to this team. However, going forward UConn must remake itself, the starters who are struggling need to get back into form, and the new players have to mature earlier than was planned/expected. As far as raw game stats are concerned I believe that UConn has the right player mix who can make up for what UConn loses without having Azzi on the floor. Getting into Saturday's game on a Wednesday is not all that unusual, however, since we will play UCLA before we play Kansas it is a little unusual for me to do the game analysis now. However, with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up and since I will be traveling to New York to visit grandchildren I will not have access to a computer until late Saturday afternoon therefore the most opportune time for me to do this write-up is now. I am assuming that UConn wins a tough game the night before this match-up on Friday evening. Kansas will also play a fairly tough game the night before against Virginia Tech. Both teams will be playing on Saturday with tired legs and the offense may be a tad off. The defensive intensity may also not be at the same level as the night before. I am also assuming no more injuries to UConn players. With that being said Kansas' offense averages 81 points a game while UConn's averages 81.25; Kansas' defense holds teams to an average of 66 points and forces their opponents to turnover the ball 15 times per game while UConn's defense holds teams to 60.5 points and forces opponents to turn the ball over 18.3 times per game. Kansas has made 8.7 three-pointers per game while UConn shoots the three at 6.5 per game. UConn makes 17.5 assists while only turning the ball over 12.5 times per game and Kansas makes 18.0 assists while only turning the ball over 11 times per game. Kansas - Massey Rating 48, SOS 98, RPI 15. UConn - Massey Rating 4, SOS 4, RPI 30 UConn has played: Dayton - Massey Rating 201; SOS 210. NC State - Massey Rating 3; SOS 36. Maryland - Massey Rating 15; SOS 3. Minnesota - Massey Rating 73; SOS 124 UCLA - Massey Rating 10; SOS 93 Kansas has played: Penn State - Massey Rating 31; SOS 55 Northwestern LA - Massey Rating 345; SOS 140 Missouri KC - Massey Rating 266; SOS 174 Virginia Tech - Massey Rating 18; SOS 96 Kansas will start: Wynette Mayberry - 5'7" Senior Guard (13.0 pts; 1.3 RBs; 4 Asst; 2 (3s) per game Taiyanna Jackson - 6'6" Super Senior Center (14.7 pts; 10 RBs; 3 Blks per game S'Maya Nichols - 6.0 Freshman Guard (12.7 pts; 3.0 RBs; 3.66 Asst; 1 (3) per game Holly Kergieter - 5'11" Super Senior Guard (18.7 pts; 4.7 RBs; 3.6 Asst; 3.6 (3s) per game Zakiyah Franklin - 5'8" Super Senior Guard (9.0 pts; 1.7 RBs; 2.6 Asst per game UConn's defense is starting to ramp up to mid-season form. UConn has been suffocating their opponents in the last two games... I look for UConn to continue its oppressive defense against Kansas. [B][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]MATCH-UPS[/SIZE] [SIZE=4]Aaliyah Edwards, 6'3" Senior Forward vs Taiyanna Jackson, 6'6" Super Senior Center[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] Aaliyah is no stranger to giving up inches, in this case, 3 inches to her opponent. Aaliyah is a strong defender and if she stays out of foul trouble should be able to contain Taiyanna who only averages 14.7 points per game. She will need to front Taiyanna and limit her touches...additionally, she will need to box out and compete for rebounds. If Edwards can draw Taiyanna out to the foul line or mid-range area it will free up the middle for UConn's guards to slash and drive the middle. I don't see Jackson giving Edwards as much trouble as Betts did the night before. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=4]Paige Bueckers, 6'0 RS Junior Guard vs Holly Kersgieter, 5'11" Super Senior Guard[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] Holly is a solid ball player but I expect that Paige will be embracing her role as the go-to player now that Azzi isn't coming back. She will look for her shot and she will look to make other players on our team better... I believe she will be a solid 20 and 6 player going forward. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=4]Aubrey Griffin, 6'1" Graduate Guard/Forward vs S'Maya Nichols, 6.0 Freshman Guard[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] Aubrey will bring too much athleticism for Nichols to contain. I think Aubrey has a great game in both points and rebounds in this one. [B][SIZE=5][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/COLOR][/SIZE] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=4]Caroline Ducharme, 6'2" Junior Guard vs Zakiya Franklin, 5'8" Super Senior Gaurd[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] I am still not sure what Caroline will bring to the floor. She is definitely not playing up to form. Given that she has 6 inches on Zakiya and given Caroline's strength she should be able to score on Zakiya. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=4]Nika Muhl, 5'11" Senior Guard vs Wynette Mayberry, 5'7" Senior Guard[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] Nika's speed, and experience ought to be enough to outplay Wynette at this position. I will be looking for Nika to push the ball and get her teammates involved. Lot's of assists tonight for Nika. Nika's defense will make for a difficult night for Wynette. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [SIZE=5][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]BENCH [/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] UConn will be bringing a lot of scoring and power off the bench. Samuels, Shade, KK, and Brady should allow the UConn offense to continue without a noticeable drop-off. Kansas brings roughly 15 points and 4 rebounds off the bench while UConn will bring 24 points and 9 rebounds off the bench... [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]COACHING[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] Too much experience on UConn's coaching staff - [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]INTANGIBLES[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] I do not see any glaring advantage for either team... neutral court, both teams play the night before... [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - EVEN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [SIZE=5][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]SCORE[/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=4][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]UCONN - 88[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=4][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][B]KANSAS - 65[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [B][SIZE=4][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]MOV - 23[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [/QUOTE]

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