Game Analysis - Game 21 - UConn vs Creighton

[cferraro04]

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Creighton on paper looks to be UConn's biggest challenge in the Big East Conference. Regardless, the UConn dogs are too big and talented to tame. Creighton has a two-headed monster that UConn's defense will have to contain. Morgan Maly a 6'1" Senior and Lauren Jensen a 5'10" senior collectively average 35.6 of Creighton's game average 74 points. Creighton's defense stands out when you look at the team stats. Creighton forces their opponents into an average of 15.5 turnovers per game while only committing 11.0 themselves. They have capable three-point shooters so UConn will have to defend the perimeter. Creighton only plays 9 players so depth may be a problem for them. They will start with two forwards and three guards. They have a lot of experience in their starting line-up as they will start with two graduate students, two seniors, and a junior.

RPI / SoS:

Creighton's RPI - 8
Creighton opponent's RPI - 3, 11, 17, 25, 44, 75, 99, 109, 113, 126, 133, 136, 138, 156, 156, 166, 190, 211, 262
Creighton's SoS - 21
Creighton opponent's SoS - 14, 23, 24, 41, 44, 48, 64, 65, 68, 69, 71, 105, 127, 148, 154, 158, 171, 171, 207

UConn's RPI - 5
UConn Opponent's RPI - 6, 9, 15, 32, 44, 45, 45, 57, 68, 69, 69, 98, 106, 107, 109, 113, 146, 167, 254, 262
UConn's SoS - 10
UConn Opponent's SoS - 4, 4, 6, 20, 22, 25, 28, 28, 32, 41, 42, 57, 65, 105, 127, 154,189, 227, 230, 357

PLAYER MATCH-UPS:

Jana El-Alfy, 6'5" - RS Freshman - Center vs Mallory Brake, 6'0" - Graduate - Forward. Mallory averages 5.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.68 steals, and .8 blocks per game. Jana averages 5.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and .5 steals per game.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Sarah Strong, 6'5" - Freshman - Forward vs Morgan Maly, 6'1" - Senior - Forward - Morgan is one of Creighton's dynamic duo. She averages 17.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, .8 blocks, .8 steals and 2.57 three-pointers per game. Sarah is likewise part of UConn's three-headed monster. Sarah averages 17.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.1 blocks, and she hits 1.8 three-pointers per game.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Paige Bueckers, 6'0" - RS-Senior - Guard vs Lauren Jensen, 5'10" - Senior - Guard - Lauren is the 2nd part of the dynamic duo. She averages 17.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.42 steals, and she hits 2.21 three-pointers per game. Lauren will be facing UConn's best player, averaging 19.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals, and hits on 2.0 three-pointers per game. This should be an exciting match-up, but Paige is Paige and she is the best player in the country and is playing her best basketball now.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Azzi Fudd, 5'11" - Graduate - Guard vs Kiani Lockett, 5''8" - Junior - Guard - Kiani Lockett averages 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and .84 steals per game. Azzi is averaging 11.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, .8 steals, and hits 1.9 three-pointers per game. I would look to see Azzi continue to build upon her success as she rounds out into form and gets closer to her historic averages. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Kaitlin Chen, 5'9" Graduate - Guard vs Molly Mogeson, 5'7" - Graduate - Guard - Molly is averaging 9.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals and Molly hits 1 three-pointers per game. Kaitlyn has been playing better each game and is averaging 6'1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1 steal, and hits .6 three-pointers per game. Kaitlyn will be challenged in this game by Molly and this may also be defense by committee with KK Arnold coming in and splitting minutes with Kaitlyn in an attempt to contain Molly.
ADVANTAGE - CREIGHTON

BENCH:

UConn will bring in 28.7 points, and 16.8 rebounds off of the bench. Creighton will bring in 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds of their bench.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

INTANGIBLES:

This game will be played in Omaha, Nebraska but, I do not think that will bother UConn too much. Their suffocating defense, their ability to score the basketball, their size, and their talent will win this game for them. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Coaching:

Geno will keep his players focused on doing their job. The UConn cracker-jack coaching staff will have the Huskies ready to come and to get the win.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

SCORE:

UCONN - 82
CREIGHTON - 64
MOV - 18

 

[Dogdude]

Excellent. My only quibble would be with Kaitlin, who right now I feel would be at least even with Mogeson. I do agree that the primary job will be defensive in this case, with less emphasis on offense, but I'm not so sure that Kaitlin won't do well. Now that she's had a great offensive game, she's on the hook for another.