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Message: [QUOTE="Surly1, post: 4941682, member: 11599"] USC on paper features similarities to the top teams that beat UConn this season. At every spot, USC will have a size advantage. Since Geno is reluctant to use his short bench, it is even more incumbent on the starters to play intelligently and relatively foul free. This is a tall task given that JuJu Watkins is the nation's leader in free throw attempts. Whoever is assigned to guard her must stay in front of her or else risking fouling on her drives to the basket. So who will be given the task? In my mind, I would start Ashlynn out on Watkins, who will have a size advantage over any player covering her. Although Paige would be up for the task and probably welcome the challenge, she is already asked to do too many things for the team. UConn needs her scoring and assistance in helping Aaliyah on the boards. Following around Watkins would wear her out and zap her energy as the game progresses. UConn doesn't need a repeat of the 4th quarter of the Duke contest. Nika is too valuable and has to stay on the court. Guarding JuJu, she'd likely get into foul trouble. However, she can do a lock-down job on Forbes, taking away USC's secondary scoring option. KK can be assigned to cover Padilla. That leaves Aaliyah on Marshall and keeping her off the offensive glass. Ashlynn won't be able to shut down Watkins, but if she's able to stay in front of her and UConn is tight on their switches, JuJu might fall in love with the 3-pt shot, like she did in the Baylor game, where she was 2-11. She is most dangerous when getting into the midrange. She would do UConn a favor by launching double digit 3-pt attempts. Watkins is a tremendous talent and I feel she's more of a threat and makes USC more dangerous when she tries to facilitate, getting her teammates involved. When she's in this mode, she creates space and collects fouls - something UConn can ill afford to do. Aaliyah has to step up offensively and help out Paige. We witnessed how gassed the team was, particularly Paige, in the 4th quarter. It's imperative that UConn control tempo and either be in the lead or keep the game close in the 4th. USC has played a lot of big games, but this is for a berth in the Final Four. UConn's 3 seniors have been there before, and if experience is a true separator, then UConn should have an advantage in a tight ballgame. That, and also Paige. Should UConn get by USC, let's hope that Iowa can beat LSU. They are a better matchup for UConn. Before getting ahead of ourselves, there's a game to be played Monday night. [/QUOTE]

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