Thanks again, for the analysis,
@cferraro04.
I think I have to disagree with some of your observations this time, though it may be merely my own anxieties.
Aaliyah vs Jones -- I think this is advantage Texas. Playing next to Dorka last year, this was a manageable matchup, but even then and with Jones recovering from injury, she was a handful.
I don't know what Geno can do with Muhammad. She's long and tall and pretty quick. Caroline is not a match for her on D, even healthy. Neither is Aubrey. If that's the way Geno goes, I think we're looking at foul trouble. But can Ice play enough minutes to make an impact on her?
Will Moore play? If she does, then we are in deep trouble. Aaliyah is the only possible matchup there, but then Muhammad and Jones are unleashed against the rest of the frontline.
Mwenentanda? She doesn't usually start, but she is a scrappy long limbed 6'2". Who matches up against her? My initial reaction would be Qadence, but she has yet to become the defensive force she can be.
I think our only real strength in this game is in the back court. Paige, Nika, KK, and Ashlynn are good matchups for Rori, Shaylee and Shay. If we can out-quick this trio, we have a chance. Otherwise, I'm not at all confident. In part, that's because we have yet to see Geno play the pressing game. That's how we discombobulated Texas last season. And they pressed us, too, and it took Azzi to defeat it.
And, by the way,
Texas has played a team like UConn before -- they played us last season and it was pretty much the same players minus Rori, who was injured. I don't think we'll look at all surprising to them. We ran them off the floor, powered by a career game from Azzi. But the current Huskies don't appear configured to do that again.
My main fear is that the starters will play too many minutes, especially Paige, and they'll be exhausted by the 4th quarter. And that's not even considering the injury risk this could entail.