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Message: [QUOTE="cferraro04, post: 4487597, member: 267"] [SIZE=5]Today was opening day for the CT General Assembly...I had to get up at 7:00 to get there by 8:00 am. I love opening day...so much enthusiasm, so much promise...let's hope all that promise works out. I will assume that we will once again be without the services of Caroline Ducharme and the ever talented Aubrey Griffin will pick up the slack in her absence. We can also hope that Azzi Fudd will finally see some minutes. In any case Xavier should not present too much of a problem for UConn. They will start 5'8", 5'10", 5'11", 6'0" and 6'1" While UConn will start 5'10", 6'1", 6'1", 6'3" and 6'5". This is a decisive height advantage for UConn. Coming off the bench Xavier's height issues don't get all that much better they bring 5'6", 5'11", 6'0" and 6'2" off the bench while UConn brings 5'8", 5'11" (if Azzi plays), 6'3" and 6'5" off the bench. It should be a difficult night for Xavier in the paint. UConn may be a little tired after playing on the road at Butler and traveling to Xavier sleeping one night in the hotel and then playing again on the road. [B][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Match-ups:[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Nika Muhl vs Taylor Smith[/COLOR][/B] - Taylor is Xavier's 2nd most productive guard. She averages 11.9 points a game while hitting about 3 three pointers every two games or so. She is a decent rebounding guard grabbing 2.6 rebounds per game. Defensively she is a pretty good on-ball defender and manages to get 1.3 steals per game. However, Nika has been stepping it up on the offensive end lately, she averages 6.5 points and hits 1 three pointers per game. She is a tenacious rebounding guard grabbing 4.6 per game. Defensively, she is a pest getting 1.5 steals per game. But, where she impacts the game like no other player in WCBB is with her assists per game...she is always ready to distribute the basketball putting players in a position to be able to score her 9.3 assists per game accounts fo 20 of the huskies total output. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Lou Lopez-Senachal vs Makayla Scarlett[/COLOR][/B] - Makayla is Xavier's most productive player averaging 12.9 points while hitting 2 threes per game, she grabs 3.6 rebounds, gets 3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Lou is an amazing player having acquired her through the portal as a Graduate transfer she has surprised many with how quickly she has been able to assimilate into the UConn offense. During the absence of Azzi she has emerged as UConn's 2nd option. Lou averages 16.9 points per game while hitting nearly 3 three pointers per game. She grabs 2.8 rebounds and is a pretty good on ball defender herself. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Aubrey Griffin vs Fernanda OValle[/COLOR][/B] - Fernanda is a scrappy, strong athlete for Xavier she averages 10.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. Fernanda also contributes with 1.9 assists per game however, Aubrey is a super athlete...she averages 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds. Additionally, Aubrey is quite disruptive on the defensive end. She is able to get 1.6 steals per game. Aubrey's speed, aggressiveness and basketball IQ really causes problems from opposing teams. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Aliyah Edwards vs Aanaya Harris [/COLOR][/B] - plays the guard / forward position bringing a lot of versatility to Xavier. She averages 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Aliyah will prove to just be too quick, too strong and too savvy a player for Aanaya. Look for Edwards to have a pretty good night scoring the basketball. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Dorka Juhasz vs Courtney Prenger[/COLOR][/B] - Courtney is a solid player for Xavier. She averages a solid 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game but she also impacts the game in all the other categories. She gets 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks per game...she is a great on ball defender. However, Dorka is just too big for Courtney...Dorka's 6'5" Is an imposing height advantage. Dorka averages 12.6 points and 10.6 rebounds. She will be doo much for Courtney to handle in the paint. I look for a Dorka to have a big night at Xavier. With both Dorka and Edwards playing in the middle...even with limited minutes they will dominate the paint. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN [/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Bench[/COLOR][/B] - Xavier will bring in 19.1 points and 18.5 rebounds off he bench to UConn's 7.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. Of course if Azzi plays she will change this dynamic...but as it stands now it would be hard not to give the: [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - XAVIER[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Intangibles[/COLOR][/B] - Home court advantage, a tired UConn team on the road for their second game vs UConn's talent and height advantage - [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Coaching[/COLOR][/B] - Melanie Moore is a new head coach coming to Xavier from Michigan where she served as Associate head coach and helped Michigan to a 156 - 85 record under her watch. On the other hand, Geno, Chris, Jamelle and Morgan...just too good a coaching staff. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]ADVANTAGE - UCONN[/COLOR][/B] [/SIZE] [/QUOTE]

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