Gold Medal Game

[RSHERMVIKES]

I felt bad for Tamika Catchings as her minutes were almost nonexistent! I guess we can put to bed the Stewie or EDD took Parker's spot on the roster. Tamika Catchings was the last choice on the roster! Geno and Tamika understood that her playing time was going to be minimal! But she took what cards she was dealt and made the best of it! And she was a class act through the medal ceremony! She was crying tears of joy the whole time! She loved the whole Olympic experience!

 

[UcMiami]

I felt bad for Tamika Catchings as her minutes were almost nonexistent! I guess we can put to bed the Stewie or EDD took Parker's spot on the roster. Tamika Catchings was the last choice on the roster! Geno and Tamika understood that her playing time was going to be minimal! But she took what cards she was dealt and made the best of it! And she was a class act through the medal ceremony! She was crying tears of joy the whole time! She loved the whole Olympic experience!

She was pretty important on Thursday in the semi-final. She was this teams Jones - there as an emergency jack of all trades in case she was needed, and with the grace to defer to her younger teammates with enthusiasm. I thought it was fun that she was between Stewart and EDD (two rookies) in the award line-up, and they both at different points put their arm around her as the tears were flowing.

Was sort of hoping Geno would put DT, Sue, and Tamika back into the game with a couple of minutes left, so he could then bring them off together in the last minute. He did bring them out together but with about sic minutes left, so it was recognized as a 'curtain call' moment.

 

[UcMiami]

Just read an interesting bit of trivia - USA scored 28 points in the second quarter and the first 26 of those points were scored by Uconn grads - Whalen scored the basket at the half time buzzer off a feed from Maya for the only two non-Uconn points in the quarter!

 

[ricky]

Maya took a back seat to the scoring honors and did all the more important things. In earlier games, she made some incredible out of bounds saves when everyone else gave up on the ball. She only took the shot to keep the defense honest and diverted to make her teammates look good. She was all about rebounding, dishing, defense and just incredible pure hussle. She is pure team.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Not every player with Angel's talent level would stand to benefit from being coached by Geno in college. When you're that talented, you'll be good no matter who you're coached by.

But I think Angel is one of the ones who would have benefited. I think that her professional game would have been closer to her Olympics game, if Geno had been around in those formative college years. Her pro game's great, but the Olympic game is even better, IMO. (I think Griner is another one who would have benefited)

Don't forget Odyssey Sims and EDD. Four players who could have been SOOOO much better if they had gone to UConn. EDD is making up for it; she's just a couple of years behind where she could have been.

However, I'm not sure that Sims could have handled it; I think she would have left UConn after a year. Same with Diggins; I think neither she nor Sims are mentally tough enough.

Conversely, IMO Charde Houston would have done better under another coach, like Kim Mulkey.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Brittney, Tina will be back, Imani Boyette, A'Ja Wison should join them, and Nneka, along with Stewie , and EDD, Angel should have one more go. Moriah, Maya, Sims, and either Diggins, or Loyd as your 4th guard. Brittney, Stewie, EDD, Maya, and either Moriah, or Sims, an explosive starting 5, with quickness and size on the wings. You have to guard EDD, Stewie, and Maya out to the 3 point line, which lets Brittney operate in the lane. With that lineup Cambage would be in a lot of foul trouble, and she doesn't get up, and down the floor fast.

I agree with all, with the exception of Boyette. Maybe she'll grow as a basketball player, or fit in REALLY well in the international game, but at this point I don't see her getting consideration. At this time all she really has is height going for her; of course, Griner made a college career out of that, and now she's growing and learning to be a good player. However, she has Taurasi as a mentor; Boyette doesn't have that advantage.

 

[CajunHusky]

Just read an interesting bit of trivia - USA scored 28 points in the second quarter and the first 26 of those points were scored by Uconn grads - Whalen scored the basket at the half time buzzer off a feed from Maya for the only two non-Uconn points in the quarter!

Interesting I guess but not unexpected when for a good part of the second quarter there were ONLY UConn players on the floor for USA.

 

[CajunHusky]

She was pretty important on Thursday in the semi-final. She was this teams Jones - there as an emergency jack of all trades in case she was needed, and with the grace to defer to her younger teammates with enthusiasm. I thought it was fun that she was between Stewart and EDD (two rookies) in the award line-up, and they both at different points put their arm around her as the tears were flowing.

Was sort of hoping Geno would put DT, Sue, and Tamika back into the game with a couple of minutes left, so he could then bring them off together in the last minute. He did bring them out together but with about sic minutes left, so it was recognized as a 'curtain call' moment.

USA started the fourth against Spain with Sue Diana and Catch on the floor. Catch put in some solid minutes and rallied the team when the going was really physical. She might have gotten her bell rung at one point because I think I saw her going thru a concussion protocol with the trainer. I glas she was able to come back out with Sue and D for the fourth quarter start

 

[mhshuskies]

Observations from the Olympics and the Gold Medal game:
If USABB wants to keep winning gold, make sure Geno is the coach.
Just in case anyone thinks there are too many UCONN players on the team, it is pretty obvious there aren't better players to replace any of the 5.
The rest of the world needs to up it's game and so do the officials.
Like Sue said "if you're an elite player and want to be the best you can be, you should go to UCONN and play for Geno".
Who said there was no notre dame influence at the games? With 40 seconds to go in the 3rd of the gold game, #10 (Xargay) for Spain misses a three from the corner so she flops. A classic domer play!

 

[Bigpetunia]

Just a few observations:

1. DT, as usual, was the best player on the court.
2. Maya was a close second
3. Generally speaking, I thought the team was less effective when Griner was in there.
4. I thought the team was much more effective when Seimone was in there.
5. Whalen continues to be better than most anticipated.

 

[VA Huskie]

Can anyone tell me when 5 UCONN players were on the floor together. I watched, and taped, the entire game, but missed it.

 

[UcMiami]

Can anyone tell me when 5 UCONN players were on the floor together. I watched, and taped, the entire game, but missed it.

It happened first about the 4 minute mark of the second quarter - just before Breanna was fouled and made her two foul shots (drawing the third foul on Ndour.) About two minutes later Whalen and Augustus came back in I think.

Bigpetunia - I agree with most of your points:
#3. Griner and to some degree Fowles never got to play the game they were specifically on the team to play - against Cambage. Because of that, and most teams playing an international style with good outside shooting centers and with constant pick and roll offense, their lack of mobility on the perimeter and slower recovery to provide help defense was exposed more. Still they occupied a lot of attention inside when on offense which opened up the outside more. (Stewart, EDD, and Charles being more mobile were often more effective defensively.)

#4. I thought Augustus had a great Olympics (her shot was a bit off early, but she was money as the games went on.) I only disagree with your point because 'more effective than' what - she most often replaced Moore or DT who as you say in 1 and 2 were fabulous. She played great defense, passed really well, and chose well when to look for her shot. She was really effective, I just have a hard time saying 'more effective'. By the way, I felt the same way about Angel, she was a really effective player of the bench as well, and she and Seimone were very good when on the court together, applying pressure and making important offensive contributions.

5. Agree that Whalen continues to be a really good member of the USA team - don't understand some of the complaints that get posted here regarding her play. She is and has always been a different player than Sue who depends more on aggressive dribble penetration to stress the defense, but she is very effective and efficient. The team looks different when she is in, but that is not a bad thing at all.

 

[VA Huskie]

It happened first about the 4 minute mark of the second quarter - just before Breanna was fouled and made her two foul shots (drawing the third foul on Ndour.) About two minutes later Whalen and Augustus came back in I think.

Bigpetunia - I agree with most of your points:
#3. Griner and to some degree Fowles never got to play the game they were specifically on the team to play - against Cambage. Because of that, and most teams playing an international style with good outside shooting centers and with constant pick and roll offense, their lack of mobility on the perimeter and slower recovery to provide help defense was exposed more. Still they occupied a lot of attention inside when on offense which opened up the outside more. (Stewart, EDD, and Charles being more mobile were often more effective defensively.)

#4. I thought Augustus had a great Olympics (her shot was a bit off early, but she was money as the games went on.) I only disagree with your point because 'more effective than' what - she most often replaced Moore or DT who as you say in 1 and 2 were fabulous. She played great defense, passed really well, and chose well when to look for her shot. She was really effective, I just have a hard time saying 'more effective'. By the way, I felt the same way about Angel, she was a really effective player of the bench as well, and she and Seimone were very good when on the court together, applying pressure and making important offensive contributions.

5. Agree that Whalen continues to be a really good member of the USA team - don't understand some of the complaints that get posted here regarding her play. She is and has always been a different player than Sue who depends more on aggressive dribble penetration to stress the defense, but she is very effective and efficient. The team looks different when she is in, but that is not a bad thing at all.

Thanks...it was actually around the 2 minute mark and only lasted for about a minute. Very cool though. I paused at a point where all 5 could be clearly seen. Almost cried. I doubt there have EVER been 5 better UCONN players on the floor at the same time!

 

[BobbyJ]

Just a few observations:

1. DT, as usual, was the best player on the court.
2. Maya was a close second
3. Generally speaking, I thought the team was less effective when Griner was in there.
4. I thought the team was much more effective when Seimone was in there.
5. Whalen continues to be better than most anticipated.

Agree on the first two and especially #3. They didn't really need Griner other than to occupy Cambage if needed. She just slows down their transition game and on offense, her moving picks get in the way of cutters.

 

[Carnac]

Notes on a score card. A few observations from yesterday’s USA Women’s gold medal game.

• Diana Taurasi can come off a screen or fill a lane and put in a jumper that’s smooth as a baby's cheek, and do it ever so effortlessly.

• Sue Bird runs an offense like no one else. If Bird is not the best PG ever, she’s in the picture. When Bird came out of the game, the tenor of the offense changed.

• The announcing team of Marc Zumoff & Ann Meyers-Drysdale was excellent. I really enjoyed her work. Ann is a veteran basketball player and announcer and it shows. She knows the game.I'd like to hear more of Ann calling games.

• Breanna Stewart did not look over-whelmed, or out of place. She looked as though she belonged. No doubt Dee, Sue and Catch handed her the baton after the game.

• Maya Moore led Lindsey Whalen with a perfect fast break bounce pass to end the 1st half. A thing of beauty. It looks like they've played together before.

• It appears that there may be only 3 openings for the women’s basketball team for the 2020 games in Tokyo. I wonder who they will be.

• I join with others that believe this was THE best USA women’s basketball team ever. This team really enjoyed each other on and off the court. No doubt they’ll each remember their 2016 Olympics experience the rest of their lives, I sure will.

I wonder if this team could go through the WNBA season undefeated, and win it all?

 

[j66kicker]

Notes on a score card. A few observations from yesterday’s USA Women’s gold medal game.

I wonder if this team could go through the WNBA season undefeated, and win it all?

Yes they could

 

[iri10]

However, I'm not sure that Sims could have handled it; I think she would have left UConn after a year. Same with Diggins; I think neither she nor Sims are mentally tough enough.

Both of them are easily tough enough, IMO. It's more about personalities, and whether or not they would mesh with Geno's. We will never know for sure, but my gut says that Sims would not be able to mesh with Geno's style in college, leading to a clash not unlike that with Houston. I think Diggins would have been fine, though.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Notes on a score card. A few observations from yesterday’s USA Women’s gold medal game.

• Diana Taurasi can come off a screen or fill a lane and put in a jumper that’s smooth as a baby's cheek, and do it ever so effortlessly.

• Sue Bird runs an offense like no one else. If Bird is not the best PG ever, she’s in the picture. When Bird came out of the game, the tenor of the offense changed.

• The announcing team of Marc Zumoff & Ann Meyers-Drysdale was excellent. I really enjoyed her work. Ann is a veteran basketball player and announcer and it shows. She knows the game.I'd like to hear more of Ann calling games.

• Breanna Stewart did not look over-whelmed, or out of place. She looked as though she belonged. No doubt Dee, Sue and Catch handed her the baton after the game.

• Maya Moore led Lindsey Whalen with a perfect fast break bounce pass to end the 1st half. A thing of beauty. It looks like they've played together before.

• It appears that there may be only 3 openings for the women’s basketball team for the 2020 games in Tokyo. I wonder who they will be.

• I join with others that believe this was THE best USA women’s basketball team ever. This team really enjoyed each other on and off the court. No doubt they’ll each remember their 2016 Olympics experience the rest of their lives, I sure will.

I wonder if this team could go through the WNBA season undefeated, and win it all?

Diana was just toying with the opposition.

Sue Bird is the ultimate leader. It's too bad she thinks Storrs is too small a town for her, because she could replace Geno. Can we add a campus in NYC? We are the 6th borough, after all.

Stewie scored almost a point per minute--shooting 73%!--and got lots of blocks. Her wingspan surprised the other teams.

Maya is becoming Magic Johnson.

I think Nneka is Catch's replacement. I really think Moriah will be our secret weapon. She certainly should be.

I thought that Zumoff was pretty good, though a few catch phrases became annoying. Ann knows a lot about basketball, but confuses her info and mangles sentences. I'd like to hear her talk about 20% less.