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Message: [QUOTE="cferraro04, post: 5163435, member: 267"] [B][SIZE=5][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]GENERAL COMMENTS: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] UConn will face a Big East Bottom dweller on Wednesday without their All-American Paige Bueckers. I must admit it was one scary moment when Paige had her leg and ankle rolled over by a Providence player. I watched the video over and over and I was convinced that it was a season-ending injury. My heart sank to my feet. I think Paige, the UConn Huskies, and the Husky Nation were all given a blessing. The fact that she may only miss 0ne to two weeks (a couple of games) was frankly much better than I expected. I do not believe that Paige will be needed for this game. It will give the bench players and the current role players a chance to work out some kinks as we move toward better competition and the postseason. [B]For Xavier: - [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]THE GOOD:[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] They can go 8 deep, I suspect with the way UConn pressures the ball they are going to need all of them. They have 4 players who can hit the three: Meri Kaverva (1.43 / game); Daniela Lopez (1.0 / game); Aizhanique Mayo (1.43 / game); Petra Oborilova (1.2 / game). They may be somewhat pesty on the defensive end causing 17.6 turnovers on their opponents. [B][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]THE BAD: [/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] They are 5 and 9 on the season so far. Their opponents average 2 more steals per game than they do; They only hit 6.4 three-pointers per game; Their opponents average 4 points more off-turnovers than they do; Their opponents average 10 more rebounds per game than they do; They are a small team with starters being 6'3", 6'2", 5'9", 5'7", 5'7". [B][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]THE UGLY: [/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] They only average 56.7 per game; Their RPI is 291 and their SOS is 234; They only average 28.8 rebounds per game; They turn the ball over 18 times per game. [B][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]RPI / SOS:[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]Xavier - RPI[/COLOR][/B] = 291 [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]Opponent's RPIs: [/COLOR][/B] 10, 55, 67, 81, 100, 103, 144, 145, 159, 292, 309, 315, 322, 362 [COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][B]UConn - RPI [/B][/COLOR][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 0)]= 4[/COLOR] [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]Opponent's RPIs: [/COLOR][/B] 12, 14, 17, 35, 54, 55, 65, 92, 105, 120, 122, 126, 128, 157, 240 [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]Xavier SOS [/COLOR][/B]= 234 [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]Opponent's SOS: [/COLOR][/B] 15, 24, 54, 73, 82, 101, 129, 146, 203, 245, 275, 328, 356, 358 [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]UConn - SOS[/COLOR][/B] = 7 [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]Opponent's SOS: [/COLOR][/B] 5, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, 29, 34 35, 70, 223, 247,280, 306,316 [B][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]PLAYER MATCH-UPS:[/SIZE][/COLOR] [SIZE=5]Jana El-Alfy, 6'5" - R-Freshman - Center vs Loren Christie, 6'3" - Graduate - Forward[/SIZE][/B] - Loren is Xavier's biggest player at 6'3". Loren averages 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, .6 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. Unfortunately, she is turnover prone committing 4.14 per game. Loren will be facing Jana El-Alfy who is playing better each game she plays. I hope that this game will allow Jana to build on what she has been doing of late. Jana averages: 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, .7 assists, and .5 steals per game. I would expect we will see Ice Brady splitting time with Jana in this game as I would expect to see Irune Orio splitting time with Loren. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - XAVIER[/SIZE][/COLOR] [SIZE=5]Sarah Strong, 6'2" - Freshman - Forward vs Petra Oborilova, 6'2" -[/SIZE][/B] Petra plays about 25 minutes per game and is averaging 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and .5 steals per game. Petra also hits 1.21 three-pointers per game. Unfortunately for Petra is will played by Sarah Strong who I believe is on track to becoming an All-American by the end of the season. Sarah is averaging 17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. She also hits on 1.9 three-pointers per game. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [SIZE=5]Azzi Fudd, 5'11' - Graduate - Guard vs Meri Kanerva, 5'9" - Freshman - Guard - Junior - Forward[/SIZE][/B] - Meri only a freshman is Xavier's most productive player. She averages 11.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and makes 1.43 three-pointers per game. She will be guarded by Azzi who I believe has a great opportunity in this game with Paige more than likely not playing as being UConn's number two scoring option. I am looking for Azzi to get back on track as being the most dangerous three-point shooter in the college game. Azzi averages 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds 1.7 assists, 1 steal, and hits on 1.44 three-pointers per game. Given the level of competition Azzi has faced versus Meri and Azzi's overall experience... [SIZE=5][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][B]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [B][SIZE=5]Ashlynn Shade, 5'10" - Sophomore - Guard vs Tae'lor Purvis, 5'7" - Graduate - Guard [/SIZE][/B]- With Paige probably sitting this game out...I wondered if Geno would go with Ashlynn or KK Arnold. After thinking about it...I think Geno feels that KK is already rounding out into form and that Ashlynn is lagging slightly behind her play of last year. So, I figured he just might want to give Ashlynn the start and help build her confidence as he knows he will need both KK and Ashlynn in the postseason. Tae'lor Purvis is averaging: 6.1 points; 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Ashlynn is averaging 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and hits on 1.7 three-pointers per game. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [SIZE=5]Kaitlyn Chen, 5'9" - Graduate - Guard vs Julia Garcia Roig, 5'7" - Sophomore -[/SIZE][/B] Guard - Julia 5'7" became a starter 4 games ago after Irune Orio 6'2" went to the bench after starting in 6 games. Given the height disparity between the two players, I have to think the coach wanted more speed on the floor. Julia averages 5.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Kaitlyn averages: 6.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]BENCH:[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] UConn's bench players should see a lot of minutes in this one. With Paige out of the game and Ashlynn in the starting role, the UConn bench will bring 18 points and 9.8 rebounds into the game. Xavier's bench will bring 20.1 points and 12. 1 rebounds into the game. Given that UConn plays much stronger competition than Xavier I don't see Xavier's 2 points and 3 rebounds as much of an advantage. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]COACHING:[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] Hall of Fame coaches Geno Auriemma and Chris Daly along with their cracker-jack coaching staff will have the Huskies prepared to play without their super-star All-American shooting guard. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)][SIZE=5]INTANGIBLES: [/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] UConn playing in front of the home crowd at the XL Center... Too much height, skill, and experience. [B][COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)][SIZE=5]ADVANTAGE - UCONN SCORE: UConn - 92 Xavier - 41 MOV - 51[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B] [/QUOTE]

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