How can we beat South Carolina

[Conndog]

It pains me to say this, but Geno gave Caroline eight (8) consecutive minutes in the first half last night and she did basically nothing. One very nice assist, but absolutely nothing else. No shots, no steals, no turnovers, no fouls ... nothing! He doesn't need her for that.

She did her job actually, if scoring chances presented themselves, she could take them. She played good defense, she did get ball once inside but was fouled before she could get a shot. Knowing she can shoot, SC had to have someone guard her, which frees up chances for others. It is still a team sport, and her playing doesn’t hurt the team, far from it.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

whack 'em in the sniffer, like last game. then, they had to stuff all that thick cotton stuff up there, and couldn't breathe too good. screwed them up big time on their 3s.
other than that, just show up. literally, just show up, and don't forget and instead go to a bieber show, or a bass tourny. plenty of time for that later.
mebbe coach should promise them a free sundae iffn they get to the game, on time. no partial credit iffn they come at half time, or when we're dancing around with the hardware. not one jimmie, or hunk of banana with the good, thick, chocolate fudge on it. no way.
coach is pretty sharp and knows that the less gooey mess floating around when the confetti part kicks in, the less it will end up in his hair, which seems to be a target lately by his pals.

 

[dcheng021]

hopefully playing with a Nike ball

 

[Kaizen]

This should be a double fouls but refs said Van Lith traveled ...

 

[shiverz45]

I just watched the highlight of LV and SC game last night. The YouTube comments are saying SC player flopped. LOL

If there is a stat, We probably take less charge calls than any team in the country. It is like Dawn does not emphasize that part of the game. We didn't get any charge calls last night, so I don't know what "YouTube comment" you are referring to. You probably the one who made the comment.

 

[shiverz45]

Will we be able to use a Wilson Ball. This could be key!

I hope you are a SC fan.

 

[eebmg]

In Paige's presser, I appreciated that she took responsibility for that 4th Q
collapse and not being able to get her team composed. I do not see any chance of that happening again.

 

[NU2BY]

She did her job actually, if scoring chances presented themselves, she could take them. She played good defense, she did get ball once inside but was fouled before she could get a shot. Knowing she can shoot, SC had to have someone guard her, which frees up chances for others. It is still a team sport, and her playing doesn’t hurt the team, far from it.

First of all, they were playing Stanford, not SC. That being said, if she wants playing time she's going to have to be assertive and be willing to make things happen. That's the way she played before and it's the only way she's going to earn playing time now and in the future. She can't be timid, and just be out there.

 

[TeamFirst!]

I think the only way to stop Boston is to front her. If she gets her hands on the ball down low it’s over. I also agree that she never gets called for a foul. She gets the Michael Jordan treatment. Saxton does a great job of setting picks for Boston which helps her a lot as well. The best thing we can do is make our shots. Paige is the key to that. We need to be efficient on offense, at least be in the ball park rebounding and limit our turnovers. It sure wold help to shoot 40% from 3 as well.

 

[tchalla1]

Unless they start calling her for ducking her shoulders in the post and shuffling her feet which they haven’t called against her all year UConn just needs to shut everyone else down and let her have hers

Boston is unquestionable the POY but I agree--she does shuffle her feet and is allowed additional steps while Liv seems to always get called for steps. Liv has had good games against her and with the way AE
has been hitting the boards, we can hold our own. SC does not shoot at a great percentage, but they get so many second chances--and that second chance often is a two-foot bunny for Boston.

I hope SC is remembering the game in the Bahamas and replaying that in their preparation for today's game because they're going to be playing an entirely different team and they will be in for the shock of their lives...

 

[Bajan Best]

Keys to UCONN beating SC this year

1) UCONN have to be confident and the aggressor.
2) Use our bench, keep our legs fresh, it will be an exhausting 40 mins
3) Get some help from the refs, let's hope they call fouls when they are committed
4) get 20 or more points on fast breaks, tire Aliyah Boston with a fast paced game
5) Make 8 or more 3's
6) Rebound the basket ball, box out and be quicker to the ball.
6) If all else fails, put Nika on Boston

UCONN by 12 points 72-60

Azzi 15 Pts 4 ast, 0 TO,
CW 14 Pts, 6 rb, 2 steals
PAige 18 Pts, 5rb, 3 steals
Evina 9 Pts, 4 rb, 3 asst, 2 steals
Edwards 8 Pts, 10 rb,
Olivia 8 Pts, 10 rb, 4 blks, 6 ast
Caroline, 4 rb, 4 blocks
Nika 5 steals, 4 rb, 0 TO

there you have it folks... SO Let's cut some nets down

Gigi Bryant, "WHen you think you cant, YESS UCONN" !!!

 

[HopJim]

Many of Boston's points have been when opposition guard drives and UConn big needs to come over and help. Boston or the SC big often left open for pass or rebound. Even with Evina is in at the 4, we have done relatively well especially boxing out. Stopping the drive near the key would be helpful as well.

 

[Bill In Georgia]

Geeze ...love to see this on one of the X-Box or what ever games where you can simulate your own offense/defensive plan/plans..what would the computer do to offset a 5 guard shooter offense? If the CPU brought out the center then a blow-by and layup would be in order. Center on a guard would cause fouls due to un-natural position. Bench the center and bring in a defensive guard..
Interesting!!

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Get Boston in foul trouble. Sure, that will happen.

1. Can we stop Boston? Liv has done a pretty good job the past two games
2. Can we score on their defense
3. Will they wear us down like they did at our game early in the season
4. Who is going to step up for this one

I like our chances tonight. This is not the same team that lost to SC the beginning of the season. Our star freshman are veterans now, they are not newbies stepping onto the court for the first time. All UConn needs to do is find the open man, and there will be one, almost every play.

 

[Tonyc]

Don't bet against Paige

 

[Kat]

Even though it has its superstar, there isn't a player on this squad who is afraid of taking a shot in crunch time. It'll be interesting to see if SC can do the same or if their players feel the pressure, give up good shot opportunities, and put the load completely on Boston. The other key is rebounds, of course.

 

[CL82]

Haha that’s great. So is this what we can expect to hear from Dawn Staley‘s post game presser…



(We are still doomed.)

 

[GoUconn7961]

UConn is the underdog. They’re DOOMED.

it will be interesting to see if they thrive in that role. UConn has nothing to lose. SC has been predicting winning a NC all year. Have at it ladies.

 

[npignatjr]

How is that possible? She may be the best player in the country, but 3 fouls in 5 games is a little sus.

A little? Follow the money. ESPN owns the SEC network, ESPN pays the NCAA to broadcast the games, pays the officials. A SEC win is a big $+ for ESPN.

 

[jchusky]

Name min. pts rbs Asst 3pts 3pt avg. year

Christyn Williams 34.2 14.6 3.5 72/32 50 .345 Sr. 5’11”

Paige Bueckers 28.6 14.6 3.9 65/16 17 .354 So. 5’11”

Azzi Fudd 28.4 12.5 2.8 24/24 57 .429 Fr 5’11”

Caroline Ducharme 20.9 9.8 3.3 39/30 33 .287 Fr 6’2”

Olivia Nelson-Ododa 27.3 9.3 7.6 115/32 11 .273 Sr 6’5”

Evina Westbrook 27.7 9.0 3.7 111/35 38 .309 Sr. 6’0”

Aliyah Edwards 24.6 7.9 5. 2 4 9/35 2 .400 So 6’3”

Nika Muhl 21.8 3.9 3.1 84/32 24 .426 So 5’10:

Gabriel Piath 4.9 3.0 1.9 3/13 0 .000 So 6’5”

Amari DeBerry 5.3 1.7 0.7 12/15 3 .214 Fr 6’5”



Team

Pts. - 74.5 Opponents - 54.7 Margin - 19.8

FG/G 29.0 Opponents - 20.5

3pt/G 6.9 Opponents - 5.6

FT % .693 Opponents - .720

FT/G 9.5 Opponents - 8.1

RBS 39.0 Opponents - 31.7

Asst 18 Opponents - 10.6

TOs 14.0 Opponents - 16.1

STLs 9.1 Opponents - 5.9

Blks 4.6 Opponents - 2.4





Name Min. pts. Rbs. Assist. 3pts 3pt. avg . year

Aliyah Boston 28.4 17.0 12.4 72/36 14 .292 Jr. 6’5”

Destanni Henderson 30.9 11.1 3.2 129/33 52 .394 Sr 5’9”

Zia Cooke 27.2 10.7 2.0 60/35 45 .294 Jr. 5’9”

Laeticia Amihere 17.0 6.4 3.7 37/30 5 .455 Jr. 6’4”

Victaria Saxton 21.4 5.8 5.9 43/36 0 .000 Sr. 6’2”

Kamilla Cardoso 13.5 5.5 5.2 30/31 0 . 000 So. 6’7”

Brea Beal 23.9 5.1 5.1 46/36 15 .246 Jr. 6’1”

LeLe Grissett 12.5 3.4 2.0 14/24 1 1.000 Gr 6’2”

Bree Hall 9.1 2.7 1.4 1/35 14 .326 Fr 6’0”

Destiny Littleton 9.3 2.7 1.3 7/30 21 .344 Sr 5’9”

Eniya Russell 8.0 2.4 1.4 19/22 5 .417 So 6’1”

Saniya Rivers 13.2 2.3 1.7 38/26 1 .033 Fr 6’1”

Sania Feagin 4.4 1.9 1.5 6/30 0 .000 Fr 6’3”

Team

Pts. 71.1 Opponents 50.7 Margin 20.4

3pts. 4.9 Opponents 3.7 FT 13.3 / g Avg. .677 Opp. 7.8

Rbs 47.8 Opponents 30.4 Assts 14.1 Opponents 8.9

Stls 6.5 Opponents 6.3

Blks 7.5 Opponents 4.1

TOs 14.4 Opponents 13.6

3pts Avg. .309 Opponents .267

*While I expect UConn to play a lot of zone...player by player match-ups are for the purposes of comparisons to see where each team will have their advantages and disadvantages.

Aliyah Boston vs Ododa - Too much size for Ododa, Ododa needs to stay out of foul trouble and stay on the floor. In UConn's first match-up Boson had 22 points, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 fouls; Ododa's stats were 6 points, 5 rebounds, 5 blocks, and she fouled out. Dorka gave us 2 points and 3 rebounds while Aliyah Edwards gave us 6 points, 3 rebounds and she also fouled out. As you can see...if UConn has an army of bigs it won't be enough to stop Boston. We need both Aliyah and Ododa to stay on the floor...I repeat they must not get into foul trouble. In any case: Huge Advantage - South Carolina

Destiny Henderson vs Christyn Williams - Christyn Williams did not play well in the first match-up. Being that this is her last game I don't expect a repeat performance. In the first match-up Christyn had 10 points was an 0fer from 3 point land. Henderson on the other had, while she fouled out of that game...still managed to have 15 points, 6 steals, 6 assists and was 1-5 from three. While I expect a better match-up from Christyn this time I still have to call it a Slight Advantage South Carolina

Zia Cooke vs Paige Bueckers - In the first match-up Paige had 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and was 1 for 3 on 3 pointers while Zia had 17 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound and went 1 for 4 on three pointers. Point wise they managed to cancelled each other out but Paige assisted on at least fourteen of UConn's other points to Zia assisting on only 2 of South Carolina's other points. Advantage UConn

Bree Beal vs Azzi Fudd - Here is where I think it gets interesting. Essentially Azzi Fudd was a no-show in the first match-up... Evina had a pretty good game scoring 14 points, 3 assists and going 2 for 2 for three pointers. Azzi is averaging 12.5 points, 1 assist and 2.2 three pointers / game. Geno can pick his poison here...I think he goes with Azzi Fudd and brings Evina off the bench. Geno loses nothing with either of them with this match-up. Beal had only 6 points and 4 rebounds in the first match-up which is just about at her average. I am going with a Sizeable Advantage for UConn here

Victoria Saxton vs Aliyah Edwards - In the first match-up Saxton had 2 points, 2 assists and 3 rebounds...she only averages 5 points and 5 rebounds per game. Aliyah in the first match-up had 6 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. She averages 7.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Additionally, she is playing better of late. I am of course, concerned that Aliyah stay out of foul trouble and stays on the floor. If Aliyah can do that then I give a Slight Advantage to UCONN

Bench: South Carolina vs UConn - South Carolina could bring off the bench Laeticia Amihere, Kamilla Cardoso, LeLe Grissett, Bree Hall and Destiny Littleton who collectively average 20.7 points and 13.9 rebounds; UConn could bring and probably will bring in off the bench Evina Westbrook, Nika Muhl and Caroline Ducharme who collectively average 22.7 points and 9.1 rebounds. Bench - EVEN

Coaching: EVEN

Intangibles: Neutral Court, however...Bueckers grew up 10 miles away from the tournament site. While this makes for a good back story...it does nothing to create an advantage. EVEN

Dawn said Beal was going to be on Paige, she shut down Hailey Van Lith. Also very good analysis.

 

[SLY63]

The teams are close enough where a couple of 3 pointers, layup or foul shots can be the difference. In my opinion the x factor in the Stanford game was E hitting 3's and Stanford missing theirs. Who will step up tonight will decide the game.

 

[housekeys]

For everyone who predicts rebounds, turnovers, and fouls will be key in this game; the most important question, with the largest affect on these variables, has not been asked (I don't think).

Who are the officials for this game?

 

[hoopsfan22]

Dawn said Beal was going to be on Paige, she shut down Hailey Van Lith. Also very good analysis.

Beal was on Paige in last year's game and Paige knocked down big shot after big shot like she wasn't even being guarded.

 

[Pharos]

Defense the UConn way will, obviously, be super key.
Offense with a twist might, hopefully, get UConn super free.
Looking at the shot chart for the Louisville/SC game, LV took a lot of mid-range shots and made a high percentage. Leading to the conclusion that SC doesn't defend those very well. Over the past couple of games, UConn has had good (and timely) success with the mid-range shooting approache. I posted this earlier:
If you look at the shot selection data (ESPN), UConn (PB and Azzi Fudd in particular, but CW, too) they switched from 3s to mid-range and the shooting percentage went way up... almost double I want to say. I think they'll get these openings against Stanford.
And they did.
My thought is: why not begin looking to exploit openings for mid-range shots, and, as the game progresses and as SC's defense slumps in, begin to take open 3s when available.

 

[TC22]

Defense the UConn way will, obviously, be super key.
Offense with a twist might, hopefully, get UConn super free.
Looking at the shot chart for the Louisville/SC game, LV took a lot of mid-range shots and made a high percentage. Leading to the conclusion that SC doesn't defend those very well. Over the past couple of games, UConn has had good (and timely) success with the mid-range shooting approache. I posted this earlier:
If you look at the shot selection data (ESPN), UConn (PB and Azzi Fudd in particular, but CW, too) they switched from 3s to mid-range and the shooting percentage went way up... almost double I want to say. I think they'll get these openings against Stanford.
And they did.
My thought is: why not begin looking to exploit openings for mid-range shots, and, as the game progresses and as SC's defense slumps in, begin to take open 3s when available.

Th reason LV got all those 2s is because that’s what SC defense wanted them to take. The gamble is we can beat you if we can make you take 2s. It’s what we also did against Creighton, MD, and Stanford (2nd half) Whether or not we are able to dictate that same strategy with UConn is what we will try to do. It’s going to be a battle for sure. Kind of crazy that it’s come down to the two teams that everybody thought it would be at the beginning of the season.