Game Analysis - Game 6 - UConn vs Ole' Miss

[Bone Dog]

You were right, @cferraro04. Scott did end up covering Paige much of the time.

 

[cferraro04]

You were right, @cferraro04. Scott did end up covering Paige much of the time.

Seemed to make sense...boy that third quarter was a nail-biter. I think UConn is in a good place right now. There are things to work on but all in all Geno has to be happy.

 

[PacoSwede]

Rowdy, what are you talking about? Of the nine Huskies averaging double digit minutes, six of them are shooting above 50% and one (Shade) is at a respectable 44%! The only two who are below what one MIGHT expect are Fudd (who, going into today, has only played two games recovering from an injury) and Cheli (a freshman). Overall the team is shooting above 50%.

Sheeesh.....

that's true ... but the number of wide open looks outside the paint -- and to the team's credit they've been numerous -- are not being drained at a rate that should expected. also, they have made many shots on the inside (layups, putbacls, gimmies that of course boost shooting percentages). so far (pre-OLE MISS), the only husky doing well from the perimeter is, of course, paige (i do not expect anybody to meet her standard BTW)

 

[HuskyNan]

People are aware Ole Miss is a ranked team, right? They’re #18. Some people are acting like UConn squeaked by Providence or something

 

[Boreifs]

People are aware Ole Miss is a ranked team, right? They’re #18. Some people are acting like UConn squeaked by Providence or something

That ranking is also too low, IMO.

 

[Dugway]

People are aware Ole Miss is a ranked team, right? They’re #18. Some people are acting like UConn squeaked by Providence or something

This is so true. UConn by 13 over Ole Miss is certainly not going to harm their standings.

Two days ago, there were many comments about how good our opponent was, how well we needed to play just to win, and how tight of a game it would be, etc., etc.

So just for fun, imagine Ole Miss playing North Carolina, neutral court. Which team is better? Toss up? And yet after the 11 point margin of victory over NC we didn’t see any hair on fire concerns.

I want to see the team play a solid 40- minutes, start to finish, tip-off to buzzer with no let-ups or slip-ups. Six games in and we still haven’t seen that. Maybe we’ll see it against Holy Cross; but I expect that one to be a blowout, after which a slow in play and potentially a bunch of bench players. So, Louisville better look out!

 

[Bone Dog]

That ranking is also too low, IMO.

I agree. I wonder if the voters pay enough attention to good losses. I mean, Ole Miss was exposed by UConn in this game and only kept it as close as it was because Todd-Williams had her best shooting night of her life -- not a reproducible event, I'll wager -- but that 3rd quarter showed them at their best. That and another near miss against USC in their season opener showed it wasn't a fluke. I have a feeling they'll be a menace in the tournament. What hurts them is they don't have a lot of highlight-reel scorers. Their helter-skelter, high energy trapping defense is really effective, and they can send a lot of long arms to the offensive glass, but it's not glamorous.

I assumed that because they play nobody taller than 6'2" that there'd be no height advantage, or that UConn would have it. But Jacobs plays well above her height in the low post. She impressed me. And Madison Scott is a really good player -- I've followed her since high school and she's always been the type a team could rally around. As a team, other than Deans and Sadler, they are long, lanky and quick. I expect they'll do well against bigger teams, especially ones who rely on slow moving super-bigs. I'm looking at you, UCLA and K-St. Come March, they could be giant killers.

 

[huskyd]

The Coach; it's all about Geno. His masterly substituting is a thing of beauty. You noticed that he kept Azzi in the game until she became reacclimated to playing. He insisted that Fudd get some results, and she did. It was Azzi's 3 that ended the Rebels' comeback, followed by a short jumper on the next possession. It was also Fudd who broke into the clear under the basket for a coupala bunnies. Her defense was also stellar; no one makes better interior passes than Azzi Fudd.
But Geno orchestrated it all. He kept Jana around when he might have taken her out, he flipped Sarah and Ice to effect. And, as always, Geno had his best 5 in at crucial times. That 5 included Azzi Fudd.
But let me repeat myself: this business of building leads and then frittering them away will not work indefinitely. We need some killer instinct.

 

[Phil]

That ranking is also too low, IMO.

Maybe. Massey has Miss at 28, not saying that is the right answer, but suggests 18 might be generous. However, it definitley is not Providence.

 

[Longtime fan]

That ranking is also too low, IMO.

I agree. They looked far better than North Carolina ( who was 14 when we played them ). As Geno said, "they were a handful."

 

[HuskyNan]

Maybe. Massey has Miss at 28, not saying that is the right answer, but suggests 18 might be generous. However, it definitley is not Providence.

Statistically speaking, Massey is unreliable until a certain number of games have been played. A lot of teams start with cupcakes that affect their SOS

 

[MSGRET]

Ash needs to show she is good enough to be in the starting lineup, never mind any heir apparent. Let's see how she does in tonight's game vs Ole Miss.

Ash is constantly breaking to the basket and is open, but Chen misses her. Nika was great at passing to the breakers over her time at UConn. Chen needs to step up her passing to the open breaker. As for being good enough she is a terror on defense and does all of the little things on offense. Currently she is one of the only two players that could play 40 minutes at full speed, if needed, the other is Paige.

 

[Longtime fan]

I agree. I wonder if the voters pay enough attention to good losses. I mean, Ole Miss was exposed by UConn in this game and only kept it as close as it was because Todd-Williams had her best shooting night of her life -- not a reproducible event, I'll wager -- but that 3rd quarter showed them at their best. That and another near miss against USC in their season opener showed it wasn't a fluke. I have a feeling they'll be a menace in the tournament. What hurts them is they don't have a lot of highlight-reel scorers. Their helter-skelter, high energy trapping defense is really effective, and they can send a lot of long arms to the offensive glass, but it's not glamorous.

I assumed that because they play nobody taller than 6'2" that there'd be no height advantage, or that UConn would have it. But Jacobs plays well above her height in the low post. She impressed me. And Madison Scott is a really good player -- I've followed her since high school and she's always been the type a team could rally around. As a team, other than Deans and Sadler, they are long, lanky and quick. I expect they'll do well against bigger teams, especially ones who rely on slow moving super-bigs. I'm looking at you, UCLA and K-St. Come March, they could be giant killers.

Ole Miss was loaded with kids with decent height, long arms and jumping ability. They were athletic and deadly , yesterday, from three point range. The game was close to going south until AZZI took the lead. She showed her basketball skills. She is so much more than a three point shooter, and it mattered. It is scary to think of her and Paige at the guard positions together. Azzi , at times, looked better at driving and seeing the court. Jana hit another gear and she has a high ceiling. She will soon shoot effectively from 12 foot range and she will make free throws. Ice was excellent, although she gets a bit down on herself when she misses her three point shots. Paige was overworked but always came through. ASH is losing court time to AZZI, which is understandable. But she gives it all. She does not focus on shooting. KK is a pest and fine defender. She still thinks she can drive whenever she wishes...and is right half the time. KK is a first team point guard for anyone ( else). Chen does not reckon to be an offensive force, but she does well at everything else. And it is clear , though disappointing to me , that Q, Morgan and Allie are only going to see court time against the Holy Crosses of the world, when the game is out of reach. I still believe they would benefit from a taste of high level stress and competition. But that is why I am a fan and not a coach. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

 

[Longtime fan]

The Coach; it's all about Geno. His masterly substituting is a thing of beauty. You noticed that he kept Azzi in the game until she became reacclimated to playing. He insisted that Fudd get some results, and she did. It was Azzi's 3 that ended the Rebels' comeback, followed by a short jumper on the next possession. It was also Fudd who broke into the clear under the basket for a coupala bunnies. Her defense was also stellar; no one makes better interior passes than Azzi Fudd.
But Geno orchestrated it all. He kept Jana around when he might have taken her out, he flipped Sarah and Ice to effect. And, as always, Geno had his best 5 in at crucial times. That 5 included Azzi Fudd.
But let me repeat myself: this business of building leads and then frittering them away will not work indefinitely. We need some killer instinct.

Sarah is the killer ( in addition to Paige and Azzi. She was a bit off yesterday. When she " air balls" a three, you know something is not right. But when she is hot no one can stop her.

 

[mhshuskies]

Geno appeared somewhat excited in the post game presser, talked about adding Ayanna and Aubrey to the mix.

 

[Doctor G]

Geno appeared somewhat excited in the post game presser, talked about adding Ayanna and Aubrey to the mix.

He can see the possibilities. Huskies don’t really have a compelling sub for Strong until Aubrey returns and gets up to game speed. We haven’t seen Ayanna play in a long time. No way of knowing if she is better now than she was during her freshman year but she gives the team more height and athleticism when needed.

 

[Bone Dog]

We haven’t seen Ayanna play in a long time. No way of knowing if she is better now than she was during her freshman year but she gives the team more height and athleticism when needed.

I doubt very much she will return more skilled than she was as a freshman. But this may be enough. That season, before her knee troubled her, she was a decent defender, a good rebounder and could score on putbacks. At first, she was overanxious and gave too many shot fakes. Eventually she outgrew this habit. I hope she doesn’t retreat to the shot fake phase.

Her virtues are strength and quickness. Geno will know how to make use of those. Ayanna runs the floor very well for a big.

 

[mhshuskies]

He can see the possibilities. Huskies don’t really have a compelling sub for Strong until Aubrey returns and gets up to game speed. We haven’t seen Ayanna play in a long time. No way of knowing if she is better now than she was during her freshman year but she gives the team more height and athleticism when needed.

No mention of CD playing anytime.

 

[Doctor G]

No mention of CD playing anytime.

Head injuries have no magic cure, unfortunately. The stakes are beyond high at this point so caution rules. I doubt anyone knows when CD will be cleared to play again.

 

[ERWUC65]

Head injuries have no magic cure, unfortunately. The stakes are beyond high at this point so caution rules. I doubt anyone knows when CD will be cleared to play again.

Did CD even travel with the team?

 

[Bone Dog]

Did CD even travel with the team?

Yes, I thought I saw her on the sidelines