Game Analysis - Game 2 - UConn vs Florida State

[cferraro04]

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Florida State will start a very experienced starting five: Sydney Bowles, 6'0" Sr. Guard; Jasmine Shavers, 5'6" Sr. Guard; Amaya Bower, 6'0" Sr. Guard; Allie Kubek, 6'2" Gr. Forward: Pania Davis, 6'6" Jr. Center. Coming off the bench is a pair of very tall guards: Sole Williams, 6'3 Sophomore, and Tatum Greene, 6'3" Sophomore. Rounding out the bench are Avery Treadwell, 6'3" Jr. Forward, and Emma Risch, 6'1" Jr. Guard.

Because of their length throughout their line-up, they have been quite successful rebounding the basketball. Florida State is averaging 56 rebounds per game. That means they are either relentless on the glass or they miss a lot of shots, giving them many opportunities to rebound. Because this team has so many upperclassmen in the line-up, they tend to take care of the basketball, only averaging 12 turnovers per game. It is possible that with UConn playing this game at Gampel, and given that they have a pretty good stifling defense that Florida State will turn the ball over more than they are accustomed to. Florida State has two sharpshooters from three: Emma Risch and Sole Williams, both average 2.5 threes per game.

UConn is healthy, deep, and rounding into form, which makes them a formidable matchup for any team.

MATCH UPS:

Serah Williams, 6'4" Sr. Forward vs Pania Davis, 6'6" Jr. Center - Pania is a big body who can take up a lot of space under the basket. She averages 11 points and 5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Serah transferred from Wisconsin to UConn, so this is her first year playing within the UConn system. Serah averaged 19.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. In her first outing against Louisville, Serah scored 4 points and pulled down 8 rebounds in her first game in a UConn uniform. I think Serah will continue to build on her points/rebounds, especially playing in front of the home crowd at Storrs. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Sarah Strong, 6'2" So. Forward vs Allie Kubeck, 6'2" Gr. Forward - Allie averages 9.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks. Sarah Strong is a candidate for Player of the Year this season. She is averaging 21 points, 9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks. I do not think that Allie will be able to contain Sarah. I think Sarah will go above her average this game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Azzi Fudd, 5'11" Gr. Guard vs Sydney Bowles, 6'0" Sr. Guard - Sydney made 14 points, 1.5 3 pointers in her first outing. Sydney has also been contributing 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1 steal, and .5 blocks per game. Azzi Fudd scored 20 points, made 2 three-pointers, and grabbed 2 rebounds. She also averages 3.0 assists, 1 steal per game. This could end up being a good match-up, but at the end of the day, I think Azzi's shot will be back in this game, and she will be too much for Sydney. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Ashlynn Shade, 5'10" Jr. Guard vs Amaya Bonner, 6'0" Sr. Guard - Amaya averages 6.5 points, 1.0 three-pointer, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks. Ashlynn averages 5 points, 1 three-pointer, 7.0 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. I think this could be a pretty good match-up as well. ADVANTAGE - EVEN

KK Arnold, 5'9" Jr. Guard vs Jasmine Shavers, 5'6" Sr Guard - Jasmine averages 7.0 Points, she hits .5 three-pointers each game, while grabbing 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals per game, and 1.5 steals per game. KK had a great opening game against Louisville, where she scored 13 points, 1 three-pointer. She pulled down 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. KK's defense and her strength will give her the advantage over Jasmine. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

BENCH:

UConn has a deep bench. They have size, talent, and experience. Starting with Jana and Ice great tandem of bigs coming off the bench, and Gandy, whose upside is anyone's guess at this point, and who has a great opportunity to mentor under experienced bigs. Kayleigh Heckle, Blanca, Kelis, and Allie who are budding stars on the cusp of a breakout game. Patterson and Ducharme, who are off the injured list, and trying to find their way into the rotation. And, finally, we have Morgan Cheli, whose injury seems to be a mystery and who has yet to announce when she will return to the lineup. Geno only played 8 players in the season opener...so it is hard to tell what kind of production will come from UConn's bench. Geno only played Jana, Kayleigh, Allie and Ice and between them they averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds.

While Florida State's bench isn't as deep or as talented...they can be deceptive in that they bring two sophomore 6'3" guards off the bench in Sole Williams and Tatum Greene. Between those two, they are averaging 27.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. In fact, the entire bench averages 48.5 points and 22.5 rebounds per game.

On paper, Florida State should have the advantage; however, with so many unknowns with UConn's bench, and without knowing how Florida State will handle UConn's pressure defense, it is difficult to call the bench in favor of Florida State. ADVANTAGE - EVEN

COACHING:

The advantage is clearly in UConn's favor after all 12 natys kind of says it all. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

INTANGIBLES:

This game is being played at Gampel Pavilion and with five players itching to play who did not play in the opener, and UConn coming off a bad shooting night in the opener...I look for UConn to play for the home crowd and to bring the energy. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

SCORE:

UCONN - 95
FLORIDA STATE - 64
MOV - 31

 

[Bone Dog]

Excellent analysis Sensei! Thank you again.

Blanca is out for tomorrow. Morgan too, and maybe also Gandy. This makes me think Geno’s bench is still going to be shorter than any of us will like. FSU will be able to give more players minutes, which will allow the faster game they prefer. If we rely so heavily on Azzi and Sarah again, it may wear them out in the 4th quarter. I think a lot depends on building a big lead in the first half so Geno can rely more on Allie and Kelis in the backcourt, and Jana and Ice in the frontcourt. In the best case, we could see Caroline and Ayanna if, and it’s a big if, the game is not close. This is what I’m hoping for instead of Geno having to rely so heavily on a core of 6 players again.

I’d have expected the wildcard on FSU’s bench would be Emma Risch. But I haven’t heard how her rehab went. Has she fully recovered or is she still showing the after effects?

As for Pania, she’s new to FSU’s system, but also to D1 competition. The result is that she’s very foul prone. I think she’ll be shown up badly by Serah as well as Jana and Ice. All three already play at a level she hasn’t seen before. I suspect we’ll see more of the smaller backup forwards than Pania in this game.

 

[Centerstream]

As I posted in another thread I would like to see Jana, and possibly Ice, on the court whenever Davis is playing. Give them more game time experience against a taller opponent. The goal for them would be to stay out of foul trouble and to score against her. I don't think that Serah and Sarah really need much game experience against her, Davis didn't impress me in the GA Southern game. And I'm easily impressed 🤣

 

[FanSince17]

As I posted in another thread I would like to see Jana, and possibly Ice, on the court whenever Davis is playing. Give them more game time experience against a taller opponent. The goal for them would be to stay out of foul trouble and to score against her. I don't think that Serah and Sarah really need much game experience against her, Davis didn't impress me in the GA Southern game. And I'm easily impressed 🤣

Like last year, he can play small and Sarah can totally bake that girl. Add the pressure D and transition and that tall player will find a nice comfortable seat on the bench.

 

[Next 12]

No matter what, no matter who, no matter where UCONN will prevail. You can't fight Destiny. This is OUR time in the spotlight and our time as the BEST team in the country and Geno's mastery of the game will see that it gets done. One down, 39 more to go. This is UCONN's year. GO HUSKIES!!!!!! GO TEAM!!!!!!

 

[The CDR-Ret]

No matter what, no matter who, no matter where UCONN will prevail. You can't fight Destiny. This is OUR time in the spotlight and our time as the BEST team in the country and Geno's mastery of the game will see that it gets done. One down, 39 more to go. This is UCONN's year. GO HUSKIES!!!!!! GO TEAM!!!!!!

Great attitude!

Your handle can now mean "The first 12 are in the bank, time for the 'Next 12'!"

Go Huskies!!!