Game Analysis - Game 19 - UConn vs Notre Dame

[oldude]

This is a worrisome interview. It’s really good to hear Hannah speak, of course, and she’s clearly being cautious not to give any ammunition to an opponent in advance. As the Ancient Greeks would say, beware of an enemy’s praise. But I also hear a hint of incompletely concealed eagerness and excitement. Hannah loves a challenge and this game may provide a perfect stage for her formidable talents. This could be the best game before the tournament for UConn too.

Or it could be a UConn blowout. HH can be spectacular and awful, sometimes in the same game. For ND to win she will need to play the kind of game that CC played a few years ago in the national semifinal upset of SC by Iowa. In that game, CC was hitting 3-pt shots from the logo.

The problem for HH and ND is twofold. HH is an average 3-pt shooter. She gets most of her points on drives to the basket, short jumpers and FT’s. Secondly, through the years Geno’s teams have always been very good at limiting an exceptional scorer from taking over a game, and he’s got the best defensive team he’s ever had.

I know we all have some nightmares about the games vs ND over the past 3 years. But those ND teams were absolutely loaded and deep with talented players at every position. This ND team goes 6 deep and, outside of HH, they are, at best, talented role players.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Or it could be a UConn blowout. HH can be spectacular and awful, sometimes in the same game. For ND to win she will need to play the kind of game that CC played a few years ago in the national semifinal upset of SC by Iowa. In that game, CC was hitting 3-pt shots from the logo.

The problem for HH and ND is twofold. HH is an average 3-pt shooter. She gets most of her points on drives to the basket, short jumpers and FT’s. Secondly, through the years Geno’s teams have always been very good at limiting an exceptional scorer from taking over a game, and he’s got the best defensive team he’s ever had.

I know we all have some nightmares about the games vs ND over the past 3 years. But those ND teams were absolutely loaded and deep with talented players at every position. This ND team goes 6 deep and, outside of HH, they are, at best, talented role players.

Particularly interesting to me is that uNd is Hidalgo and five Transfer Graduates for this game. Yes, they have experience, but they were "running away" from the places that gave them that experience.

uNd will not be able to "run away" from the UConn defense today. I expect Geno, CD, and company to switch up the defense a lot to force the ball away from HH, or prevent her from getting the ball in her favorite spots to drive the lane, and "receive her Oscar recommendations from the Academy" (referees) and get easy points at the charity stripe. If HH gets less than 10 FT attempts, I would call that a success, particularly if they all are 2 shot fouls, vice "and ones."

...but we will see by 7 pm tonight @ game over! time.

Go Huskies!!!

 

[azfan]

Didn't know where to post this question. I'm driving over for the game from Hartford best place to park. I plan to try to get there by 4:00

 

[Huskie78]

Didn't know where to post this question. I'm driving over for the game from Hartford best place to park. I plan to try to get there by 4:00

Got this from UConn yesterday.
I’m thinking the North Garage is the place, but perhaps others have better suggestions.

UConn Basketball Parking - University of Connecticut Athletics

University of Connecticut Athletics

uconnhuskies.com

 

[YKCornelius]

I have written several posts in other threads (not well received by some) about the scout on Hannah Hidalgo: force her to go left and play her on her right side.

I don't think we will see much - if any - double-teaming of Hidalgo. Instead, I think we will see UConn switching off defenders on the numerous high ball screens Notre Dame will use to try to free up Hidalgo. The Huskies have several outstanding defenders who are able to make Hannah work hard for every shot and every pass.

I hope KK, Azzi and K9 are chomping at the bit to defend against HH. Opportunities like this do not come often, so they have to take advantage of them whenever they arise. Because this is such an opportunity, I hope Geno keeps one of them (or Blanca), guarding Hannah whenever HH is on the court, regardless of the score. If he does, then I think we could very well see a 30+ MOV.

 

[Urshurak]

So, different spin here. ND is 3-0 against UConn last 3 years, by quite a comfortable margin also. This season, ND has looked uninspired to me. However, I don’t see them playing uninspired today. HH will go off, like she typically does against UConn. She will probably get her 25-30, I would be surprised if she didn’t. ND doesn’t have the horses to keep up with UConn for 40 minutes though. I see a 15 point win, maybe a little more.

This game will be tougher than 98% of you seem to think. I was one of, I think, 3 people in the prognosticators thread last year to predict a loss. This year, we have 40-45 point expected blowouts in the thread.

Regardless of injuries and this years outcomes, ND will be a tough out. Guarantee it. I expect a win but not like against a Big East team.

I hope I’m way off base, and I will glad eat raw crow. I guess we will find out.

 

[sno-cat]

These guys have a great game prediction model. They are almost always right. I don't believe they do much with individual matchup predictions.

 

[HuskyNan]

DOOOOOOOOMED!

 

[Phil]

Notre Dame is a depleted team, often dressing only six players. They are essentially 2 injuries or two players fouling out away from forfeiting their games.

Two injuries before the game? yes. They have to start the game with five players. Two players fouling out? No that's not a forfeit.


SECTION 2. THE TEAM
Art. 1. At the start of the game, each team shall consist of five players, one of
whom shall be the captain.
Art. 2. Each team may continue to play with fewer than five players when all
other team members are not eligible or able to play.
Art. 3. When there is only one player participating for a team, that team shall
forfeit unless the referee believes that both teams have an opportunity to win

 

[Phil]

This is great as always. One nitpick, if you have six players to start and two foul out, you don’t forfeit, you play with four.

Sorry, I glanced to see if someone else would pick up on this and I missed your comment. Yes, you can play with four. Or three, Or two, or one, and under some circumstances, zero.

 

[YKCornelius]

So, different spin here. ND is 3-0 against UConn last 3 years, by quite a comfortable margin also. This season, ND has looked uninspired to me. However, I don’t see them playing uninspired today. HH will go off, like she typically does against UConn. She will probably get her 25-30, I would be surprised if she didn’t. ND doesn’t have the horses to keep up with UConn for 40 minutes though. I see a 15 point win, maybe a little more.

This game will be tougher than 98% of you seem to think. I was one of, I think, 3 people in the prognosticators thread last year to predict a loss. This year, we have 40-45 point expected blowouts in the thread.

Regardless of injuries and this years outcomes, ND will be a tough out. Guarantee it. I expect a win but not like against a Big East team.

I hope I’m way off base, and I will glad eat raw crow. I guess we will find out.

Urshurak, while I greatly admire you going out on a limb and predicting a relatively closer game than what most of the Boneyarders are currently prognostication, I am on the other side of the street. I would actually be surprised in Hannah is able to "go off like she typically does against UConn". Said differently, I think it will be very difficult for her this time around.

Massey, like you, is predicting a 15 MOV favoring the Huskies. I am going much higher.

On a side note, I just sent you a PM.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Live Stats &1:

• 1/19/2026: Notre Dame at UConn

&1 Live Stats for yet-to-be-played games are available via this schedule.

• The link is removed for played games.
• The schedule links are useful as to when pre-published links don’t work (as the case was for MI and Utah) as the game is in-progress.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[HuskyNan]

The 6th man is ready. Posted at 3:41

 

[YKCornelius]

An interesting factoid heading into the game: there is only one current Husky who has played in a victory over Notre Dame: Caroline Ducharme in 2021-22.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

DOOOOOOOOMED!

Particularly since TCU got beat by 2 vs. tOSU, and Vandy stayed Undefeated vs. UMich by 3 pts. Looks good for a 33 pt win by UConn to stay undefeated (need two three's side by side = 33 pts!!! - Costello math class is finally paying off! (Abbott & Costello that is)) 😎 🔥😍🔥😎

 

[Urshurak]

Urshurak, while I greatly admire you going out on a limb and predicting a relatively closer game than what most of the Boneyarders are currently prognostication, I am on the other side of the street. I would actually be surprised in Hannah is able to "go off like she typically does against UConn". Said differently, I think it will be very difficult for her this time around.

Massey, like you, is predicting a 15 MOV favoring the Huskies. I am going much higher.

On a side note, I just sent you a PM.

You were right. I did predict a UConn win last two years. I was thinking of one of the SC games I believe a couple years ago.

At halftime it was a 9 point game and closer than I even expected, but the second half was all UConn. Overall, they did great handling Hidalgo. Defense for UConn is unstoppable! You guys were much closer than I on the MOV, but I’m happy to be wrong! Go UConn!

 

[Huskie78]

So, different spin here. ND is 3-0 against UConn last 3 years, by quite a comfortable margin also. This season, ND has looked uninspired to me. However, I don’t see them playing uninspired today. HH will go off, like she typically does against UConn. She will probably get her 25-30, I would be surprised if she didn’t. ND doesn’t have the horses to keep up with UConn for 40 minutes though. I see a 15 point win, maybe a little more.

This game will be tougher than 98% of you seem to think. I was one of, I think, 3 people in the prognosticators thread last year to predict a loss. This year, we have 40-45 point expected blowouts in the thread.

Regardless of injuries and this years outcomes, ND will be a tough out. Guarantee it. I expect a win but not like against a Big East team.

I hope I’m way off base, and I will glad eat raw crow. I guess we will find out.

Hope you are enjoying the raw crow.
Wash it down with some crab juice. 😋

 

[Urshurak]

Hope you are enjoying the raw crow.
Wash it down with some crab juice. 😋

See my post right above yours!