Game Analysis - Game 24 - UConn vs DePaul

[cferraro04]

GENERAL COMMENTS:

This is the second meeting between UConn and DePaul. The first game took place on Pearl Harbor Day - December 7th. Like the American Battleship USS Arizona, the Blue Demons didn't fare so well. DePaul lost that game by 67 points. The only change I can see for DePaul is that DePaul will start Michele Ojo, 6'0" - Graduate Forward, in place of Meg Newman, 6'2" - R-SR Forward. Ojo averages 2 points more than Newman, and Newman averages 1.7 more rebounds than Ojo. Consequently, I do not see this game being much different from the first one. The starters played very limited minutes in the first matchup. Sarah (17), Azzi (20), Williams (17), KK (16), and Shade (21). Everyone scored except for Caroline Ducharme. Heckel scored 16 points, and Jana scored 11 points. Not knowing Blanca's availability for this game doesn't really create much of a problem for predicting the outcome, because in their first meeting, she contributed only 6 points and 2 rebounds in 16 minutes of play. UConn will flirt with scoring 100 points in this one.
UConn - 23-0: RPI - 1; SOS - 6; NET Rankings - 1
DePaul - 5-19: RPI - 270; SOS - 81: NET Rankings - 217

PLAYER MATCH UPS:

Serah Williams, 6'4" - Senior Forward vs Michele Ojo, 6'0" - Graduate Forward - Michele was added to the starting line-up 5 games ago. She averages 7.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, .3 blocks per game. Serah averages7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, .8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Sarah Strong, 6'2" - Sophomore Forward vs Kate Novik, 6'0" - Junior Guard - Kate is DePaul's most effective player. She averages 12.1 points, 6'3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals, .6 blocks and makes .6 three-pointers per game. Sarah averages 19.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 1.6 three-pointers per game. It is a good thing for Kate that Sarah will likely only see about 18 minutes. Kate played 26 minutes in the last matchup, and she was held way below her averages, only scoring 4 points, getting 2 rebounds, and turning the ball over 5 times in that game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Azzi Fudd, 5'11" - Graduate Guard vs Natiah Nelson, 5'9" - Sophomore Guard - Natiah averages 7.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and .5 blocks per game. Azzi averages 17.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 steals, .4 blocks, and 2.9 three-pointers per game. In the first match-up, Natiah played 23 minutes and only scored 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and had 3 turnovers. This is a huge mismatch for DePaul. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Ashlynn Shade, 5'10" - Junior Guard vs Gina Davorije, 5'9" - Freshman Guard - Davorije averages 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, .7 steals, and hits .5 three-pointers per game. Gina had a decent game the first time around against UConn. She played 28 minutes and scored 8 points, hitting 2 three-pointers, and she had 2 steals. I think Ashlynn will have a really good game against DePaul.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

KK Arnold, 5'9" - Junior Guard vs Devin Hagemann, 5'6" - Sophomore Guard - Devin averages 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and hits 1.4 three-points per game. KK averages 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.8 steals, and hits .6 three-pointers per game. Even though Hagemann was DePaul's best player in the first matchup, scoring 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, and hitting 2 threes in 36 minutes of play, KK's stellar defense makes this a definite mismatch. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

BENCH (TOP 3 PLAYERS):

DePaul (Top 3 Players)
Alayna West, 5'10" - Redshirt Freshman Guard - 8.2 points, .5 three-pointers, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals, in 21 minutes of play.
Ally Timm, 5'10 - Redshirt Freshman Guard - 7.8 points, 2.0 three-pointers, .8 rebounds, 1.2 Assists, and 6 steals in 22 minutes of play.
Meg Newmann, 6'2" - Redshirt Senior - Forward - 5.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and .5 assists in 19 minutes of play.

UConn (Top 3 Players with Blanca)
Blanca Quinones, 6'2" - Freshman Forward, 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 5 blocks, and 1.0 three-pointers in 19.8 minutes
Allie Ziebell, 6'0" - Sophomore Guard, 7.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 three-pointers in 17.2 minutes of play.
Kayleigh Heckel, 5'9" - Sophomore Guard, 6.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals in 18.5 minutes of play.

DePaul TOTALS: 21.3 points, 2.5 three-pointers, 13.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.9 steals.
UConn TOTALS: 25.2 points, 2.8 three-pointers, 7.4 Rebounds, 6.1 assists, 4.3 steals. (with Blanca)
ADVANTAGE UCONN
UConn Totals: 19.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.0 steals. (with Jana instead of Blanca)
ADVANTAGE - EVEN

REST OF THE BENCH:
DePaul: 14.8 points, 2.9 three-pointers, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals. (DePaul's bench players will see fewer minutes)
UConn: 11.5 points, 0 three-pointers, 10.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 2.4 blocks. (UConn's bench players will see more minutes)
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

COACHING:

UConn's coaching staff has already proven that they know how to beat DePaul, having come away with a 67-point victory in the first outing. More experience, proven track record. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

INTANGIBLES:

DePaul will have home court advantage but, I do not see that affecting this game at all. UConn is comfortable playing on the road. The talent for UConn is incomparable to that of DePaul. UConn is too big, too talented, too experienced. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

SCORE:

UConn - 107
DePaul - 39
MOV - 68

 

[Bone Dog]

Thanks again, sensei!

The real questions for this game, in my mind at least, concern how much playing time Blanca and Jana will get. Blanca may not get any. Jana may get a lot, since I suspect Geno will want to get her ready for the tournament. The only thing standing in the way is his expressed interest in getting the starters more minutes to build up their stamina. I also expect Kayleigh and Allie to get more minutes. Over the next few weeks, the minutes distribution will move into its final form.

 

[Huskee11]

This is a mid-week road game in early February, three days after an exhilarating home win. So the hope is that UConn will guard against a letdown and come out of the gates firing on all cylinders. I think they will but the first quarter will tell.

In the 102-35 win earlier this year, no starter played more than 21 minutes. Geno may want to play his starters more here to get them ready. That is not good news for DePaul.

Hopefully Blanca, but unlikely given the quick turnaround.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Thanks sensei for your hard work!
Two teams going in opposite directions.

 

[cferraro04]

Thanks sensei for your hard work!
Two teams going in opposite directions.

I love it, RSHERMVIKES...you are waxing philosophical. lol

 

[Dogdude]

I feel sorry for Sensei having to make these matchups for this game seem interesting. This game has to be played, it's on the schedule, so UConn just has to use it to their advantage somehow, but it will be ugly. It will be either a beatdown, or we'll play kind of sloppy after the weekend thriller. It's a Wednesday. In February. Try to stay sharp out there, UConn.

 

[Urshurak]

Not a fan of making light of the demise of the USS Arizona, but good analysis. My .02.

If Blanca is 100%, she should play. If not, no need. Let her rest up.

 

[meyers7]

The worst team in a not very good league. Hopefully Geno let's them play a half before he shuts everything down.

Maybe Geno can get some Chicago deep dish pizza delivered after the game?

 

[cferraro04]

Not a fan of making light of the demise of the USS Arizona, but good analysis. My .02.

If Blanca is 100%, she should play. If not, no need. Let her rest up.

It was not my intention to make light of the tragedy of the USS Arizona...I have total respect for our Veterans and for those who have paid the ultimate price. It was a shame that the USS Arizona was unable to get out of dry dock, unlike the other battleships, which were able to clear the harbor. We took some horrible casualties that day as a result of Japan's sneak attack. When I saw the date that we played DePaul, my first thought was Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the USS Arizona and the 1177 sailors and marines who died aboard the Ship during the attack. Over 900 were entombed in the ship as it went down. As Roosevelt said, it was a date that would live on in infamy. Thanks for allowing me to clear up my use of the analogy.

 

[Skeets]

The worst team in a not very good league. Hopefully Geno let's them play a half before he shuts everything down.

Maybe Geno can get some Chicago deep dish pizza delivered after the game?

Only if he's PO'ed at the team. Otherwise maybe good pizza if it could be found. I think he'll play the starters just enough to keep them sharp, then the subs get above average minutes. He needs sharp subs too.

 

[meyers7]

Only if he's PO'ed at the team. Otherwise maybe good pizza if it could be found. I think he'll play the starters just enough to keep them sharp, then the subs get above average minutes. He needs sharp subs too.

You don't go to Philly and order a Reuben. You're in Chicago.

 

[Next 12]

No offense DePaul, but I consider this game an exhibition game with a high school team. I'll enjoy the stats and individual play of Uconn, I will cringe at DePaul's efforts that they will have to endure in the game. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!

 

[MSGRET]

Thanks for the game analysis, as a 24 year retired vet I have no issue with using the analogy of Pearl Harbor, it was not used in disrespect as far as I'm concerned. Keep up the good work, I always enjoy reading these analogies.