Game Analysis and Comments - UCLA vs UCONN (Game 5)

[AgStatesman]

I have the over/under at 15 for the number of times we are laying the ball in the hoop on a break while Lauren Betts is still within a step of half court. Create steals and rebound just a little bet better then we have to let us run on them. UConn should want to make this a frantic, frenetic game. I would also not be too concerned with Betts. Let her get hers without getting into foul trouble. Shut everyone else down and win by 20.

 

[VA Huskie]

@cferraro04 - You do such a great job with your analysis and commentary. I don't always agree with everything, but I truly appreciate the complete mind stimulation. So thanks again.

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Ditto what Gordo said.

 

[Notyetready]

Betts is big but slow. Princeton triple teamed her down low and that worked sometimes. Aaliyah is 4" shorter but strong and quick and fast. If UConn can deny Betts the ball by fronting her effectively, and wear her down, she will not be a major factor in the game. The rest of their team does not match up well with UConn. Their vulnerability is turnovers. If UConn can keep their own turnovers to 12 or less and pressure the ball on defense, they should have a safe margin of victory. If Samuels is on her shooting game, or Ice has a breakout game, down goes the UCLA balloon. We have a deep bench in comparison to UCLA. Geno has a lot to work with. The players just need to execute his game plan.

 

[Notyetready]

I like this commentator's analysis. He has a realistic approach. You just have to get past the "alcoholic dad" analogy.

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[ConnecticutBB]

Team needs to start strong and play the full 40 minutes with intensity.
Only my opinion…this team isn’t one to play well from behind. If the score remains close I like UCONN chances. A nail biter is fun every once in a while…as long as UCONN comes out with a WIN.

 

[Huskee11]

I think it all turns on whether or not we can stay in front of their guards defensively. If we can make them uncomfortable, we will be in good shape. If they can roam free and penetrate, not so much.

KK, Q and Ashlynn will have to be a part of that effort. Big test.

Emily Bessoir of UCLA played the first game off the bench but has been out ever since. Not sure what her status is.

I`m glad our coaching staff has the Princeton game film to work with. That will help.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

I think it all turns on whether or not we can stay in front of their guards defensively. If we can make them uncomfortable, we will be in good shape. If they can roam free and penetrate, not so much.

KK, Q and Ashlynn will have to be a part of that effort. Big test.

Emily Bessoir of UCLA played the first game off the bench but has been out ever since. Not sure what her status is.

She's out for the season with a knee injury. Hurt it playing for her national team.

 

[PhillyCoach]

UCLA played 3 easy teams and rolled them. The Princeton game (top 30 team) had some interesting tidbits. The game was played in LA.
Final score 77-74 and there were 10 lead changes in the game.
Princeton outscored UCLA in the 2nd Quarter 27 to 15.
UCLA had 16 TO & 11 assists. Princeton had 9 TO and 7 assists.
UCLA 2 steals - Princeton 6 steals.
UCLA 3 blocks - Princeton 2 blocks.
UCLA shot 22% from the 3 pt line.
UCLA - 4 of their top 6 players are quick guards.
UCLA had a mostly 6 player rotation -- with 3 others getting single digit minutes.
Betts & Osbourne are the big scorers. They both had 20+ and played 35+ minutes.
IMHO - If UConn shooters show up then they can win.

 

[Phil]

Is Dugalic back (or will she be back by Friday)?

 

[and one]

I think it all turns on whether or not we can stay in front of their guards defensively. If we can make them uncomfortable, we will be in good shape. If they can roam free and penetrate, not so much.

KK, Q and Ashlynn will have to be a part of that effort. Big test.

Emily Bessoir of UCLA played the first game off the bench but has been out ever since. Not sure what her status is.

I`m glad our coaching staff has the Princeton game film to work with. That will help.

Prediction: KK will see plenty of time, even if Azzi plays. Q and Ash will get at least 10 minutes each. I'm always happy to see all three play and don't see any drop off in talent when they are. Ok, if Q subs for Paige there might be a teeny drop off but on the whole all three can hold their own. KK playing as well as she does, in a way unlike the other guards do, is a real bonus for this team. The more I see of Ash the more I like her game - the Yang to KK's Yin. Q looks good and just may turn into a big time scorer before it is all over.

 

[Cornell Lt]

Win on the boards = win the game. Plain and simple

 

[Audi1954]

Question. I’m seeing several people mention across the board, if Azzi plays. Is that really an option? Did I miss something?

 

[jake0414]

Is Dugalic back (or will she be back by Friday)?

Angela Dugalic returned last week from the Europe where she played for the Serbian Senior Women's team. She started against Princeton. played 27 minutes, scored 5 points, collected 4 rebounds and had 2 assists. She didn't seem sharp against the Tigers, missing a layup and missing all three 3-pt attempts.

 

[Reypl21]

Betts is big but slow. Princeton triple teamed her down low and that worked sometimes. Aaliyah is 4" shorter but strong and quick and fast. If UConn can deny Betts the ball by fronting her effectively, and wear her down, she will not be a major factor in the game. The rest of their team does not match up well with UConn. Their vulnerability is turnovers. If UConn can keep their own turnovers to 12 or less and pressure the ball on defense, they should have a safe margin of victory. If Samuels is on her shooting game, or Ice has a breakout game, down goes the UCLA balloon. We have a deep bench in comparison to UCLA. Geno has a lot to work with. The players just need to execute his game plan.

Wasn't Betts perfect from the field against Princeton? I don't think what they did can be used as a good example to stop Betts. I don't see how fronting her will be effective to take her out of the game. That sounds like easy layups by throwing it over the top. Stop her from getting deep position and throw a double and let the guards beat you.

I think Betts will be a problem for UConn. Edwards should get her points as well. If those two cancel each other out that would be a plus for UConn.

 

[Cuango]

I think this game will turn on whether we can bring the same defensive intensity we brought to the NC State game. I have a feeling this may be the game that Caroline breaks out. Betts is a concern but if Geno can come up with some kind of effective strategy to keep her from going off, I think we will win this game handily.
I’d certainly feel better with Azzi and Yanna available but I think we can get it done anyway. I must say, it’s very nice to go into games with a realistic expectation that our bench can actually affect the game in a positive way. Here’s hoping for a big win on Friday!

I just realized I said NC State! How embarrassing! I meant Maryland!

 

[HopJim]

Betts is big but slow. Princeton triple teamed her down low and that worked sometimes. Aaliyah is 4" shorter but strong and quick and fast. If UConn can deny Betts the ball by fronting her effectively, and wear her down, she will not be a major factor in the game. The rest of their team does not match up well with UConn. Their vulnerability is turnovers. If UConn can keep their own turnovers to 12 or less and pressure the ball on defense, they should have a safe margin of victory. If Samuels is on her shooting game, or Ice has a breakout game, down goes the UCLA balloon. We have a deep bench in comparison to UCLA. Geno has a lot to work with. The players just need to execute his game plan.

Good assessment and would add, while Betts has spots that she likes to shot from, both Edwards and Ice have the strength to deny her position. She is also good at getting passes down low from guards that are double teamed. Execution without fouling and rotating to the open big are critical.

 

[Tonyc]

I like UConns chances in this game. The biggest reason is UConn held their last two opponents to under 50pts.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I think Geno needs to put Ice on Betts for much of the game to give Aaliyah some relief and keep her out of foul trouble. Is she ready for that? Who knows, but these are the kind of match-ups where we need production from more bigs. We don't have time to bring her along slowly.

If this was a game you were likely to win without Azzi, and avoiding using another big, then maybe you go conservative with the more experienced known quantities. but this is a game we need to win, not avoid losing.

In a similar vein Geno might need to make a bold in game move regarding Caroline. If it looks like we are getting this year's or last year's version of Caroline early he could give her a quick hook depending on what was most needed. It could be any of the three freshmen. KK by the way might be a good defensive match-up against Jones.

We don't want to have to rely on freshmen when they might be rushed into their role, but with Azzi, Ayanna and Jana unavailable we don't have another big option beyond Ice and we don't know what we have or will have with Caroline. In the former case, Ice has not yet earned big minutes but we are small and facing a very good big. In Caroline's case if she is good no problem, but so far she hasn't been and the other freshmen have earned a chance based on their play. Hoping for the best but I think Caroline should be on a pretty short leash so to speak.

We'll have a better understanding after this game of whether Paige today is the Paige of Old, or whether, after two major knee injuries, Paige is not, and never will be again, the Paige of Old.

 

[Urshurak]

Analysis is spot on. I think defensively, UConn can limit their points. They still need to do a better job of chasing opponents from the 3 point shot. Teams seem to light it up against UConn.

I’m worried about offense. It was MIA against MN and this is a whole different movie with UCLA. Paige can’t do it all. That being said, offensive rebounds have to get a whole lot better to win this.

Unfortunately, too soon to fix all this IMHO, but this game will be good for UConn.

UCLA 74, UConn 70

 

[wingsfan055]

We'll have a better understanding after this game of whether Paige today is the Paige of Old, or whether, after two major knee injuries, Paige is not, and never will be again, the Paige of Old.

Could take a year or more to get back to the "Paige of Old"..Its not a switch she can immediately turn on.

 

[Skeets]

If Paige is almost her old self that would mean she is only better than 99.9% of the players in the country (world?).