How does UConn beat Creighton Tenn and SC

[Tonyc]

All we have to do is outscore them. It's that simple. We have a team shooting percentage of over 50%. We have 3 superstars. No team in WCBB has a Paige Azzi and Sarah. Its that simple

 

[AmeriConn]

All we have to do is outscore them. It's that simple. We have a team shooting percentage of over 50%. We have 3 superstars. No team in WCBB has a Paige Azzi and Sarah. Its that simple

I’d like to see them play Tenn and SC like they have a chip on their shoulders. Take the lead from the get go instead of playing catch up in big games.

 

[Rowdy831]

Soundly, soundly and play a great game. Tennessee can beat any team but they would have to be super hot from three and the other team would have to have difficulty with the pressure defense. UConn is not that team. Creighton will be lucky to stay within 50 unless Geno decides to make the conference look better by keeping it close through substitution patterns. South Carolina will be a challenge and will win unless Geno outcoaches Dawn which is possible.

To me UConn has the best players in the country, but I think that is true every year. Can any of these teams put a group on the floor that creates a massive mismatch? I don't think they can but I do think one player on UConn will be exposed early defensively but Geno will adjust.

I just don't see these teams beating UConn if UConn is at full strength. A team will need to be able to create mismatches and to me against UConn that is length. Only a couple teams have the length to be problematic and they are on the west coast.

 

[Charliebball]

it's quite simple........shoot 40% plus from three, limit turnovers, play great team defense and rebound the ball.....

 

[Bone Dog]

I’ve been saying I think the challenge SC poses is to the backcourt. They’re deep and talented. Raven is a Nika-level defender. Milaysia is a Hidalgo-esque scorer. That’s a lot to deal with right there. PaoPao is a serious perimeter threat, though she is not their strongest defender — I think KK can contain her. Bree and Tessa are very sturdy, clever scorers and defenders.

Geno’s backcourt is one of the best in D1. Certainly Paige is as good as they come, and Azzi is an excellent defender and scorer. Kaitlyn needs to sustain her recent offensive outburst for us to be competitive, but I think she can hang with Raven. KK is a first rate defender and can make life miserable for whomever she defends, maybe even Milaysia. Ash is a tremendous ‘utility infielder’ able to fill several needs: defense, rebounding, scoring.

The question has two parts: 1) can we defend them, and 2) can they defend us? I think it will be a close call either way, but i have a feeling SC will win this battle. I just hope they don’t win the next one, if a second game arises this season. Why? Because Aubrey may not be ready in 3 weeks. But she may well be ready in two months. She’s the unaccounted for player in this matchup as she can defend the perimeter and the paint. In that possible second game, Aubrey and Morgan may be enough to shut down Chloe Kitts, leaving Sarah Jana and Ice to deal with Joyce and Sania. And Aubrey may be able to provide valuable assistance to whomever is stuck guarding PaoPao and Milaysia.

I also think SC wins the first game because they specialize in speeding up opponents, and we have been vulnerable to that in our two losses. The second half of the SC game gives me some hope that we are better able to withstand that onslaught. but it is a concern. I particularly, if Ash feels the pressure and rushes her shot, we lose an important scoring outlet. Same with Azzi. If it’s just Paige and Sarah carrying the scoring load, that may not be enough to win. But in a second game, I can hope Ash and Azzi will be ready, and the addition of Aubrey will help a lot too.

 

[Stagnant]

Creighton - show up.
Tennessee - guard the 3 pointer. If Tennessee has 10 or more. UConn could be in trouble.
South Carolina - need another snow storm in the south to cancel the game.

 

[BobbyJ]

All we have to do is outscore them. It's that simple. We have a team shooting percentage of over 50%. We have 3 superstars. No team in WCBB has a Paige Azzi and Sarah. Its that simple

These type of games don't get decided by cocky fan talk, HS rankings and on paper "superstars", or gaudy stats piled up against soft competition. To be a superstar you have to play like one in big games. These games get decided by who has the toughest kids that can play hard defense and run their offense and make shots against tough, physical defense under pressure. We'll find out if UConn has those kids.

 

[YSRFrisbee]

At this point, the following is a “win” IMHO vs SC:

1. No one gets injured
2. Score differential is within 6 points

Let’s continue to build momentum and be the most dangerous team come March!

“In a world where you can be anything…be KIND”

 

[Bigboote]

Creighton: Play UConn basketball.

Tennessee: 1) Don’t get rattled by the press. Texas had a few oopses early on, then Vic gave them a talking to. I think Texas had about five turnovers the last three quarters. UConn shouldn’t have a problem with 2-3 point guards and 1-2 more ball handlers on the floor. 2) Cover the three-point line. 3) Rebound.

South Carolina: Don’t get into foul trouble.

 

[Bone Dog]

These games get decided by who has the toughest kids that can play hard defense and run their offense and make shots against tough, physical defense under pressure. We'll find out if UConn has those kids.

I think we have "those kids." I'm not sure who you think the softies in our rotation might be. Certainly not Paige Azzi or Sarah. And Kaitlyn looks plenty tough to me. KK Ash and Morgan too. Jana and Ice seem pretty tough to me. I don't know how tough Aubrey will be by the Tennessee game, though if she's going to return to form (which was plenty tough) she has 3 weeks before the SC game. Who's left? Allie and Q. I'll leave you to answer that question.

Comparatively, I'd say Tennessee does not have as many tough kids as UConn does, though Hollingshead, Spearman Spear and Spencer are pretty tough. As for SC, they are as tough as anyone in D1, and we'll have to see if we can match them in toughness, with or without a fully recovered Aubrey.

 

[BobbyJ]

I think we have "those kids." I'm not sure who you think the softies in our rotation might be. Certainly not Paige Azzi or Sarah. And Kaitlyn looks plenty tough to me. KK Ash and Morgan too. Jana and Ice seem pretty tough to me. I don't know how tough Aubrey will be by the Tennessee game, though if she's going to return to form (which was plenty tough) she has 3 weeks before the SC game. Who's left? Allie and Q. I'll leave you to answer that question.

Comparatively, I'd say Tennessee does not have as many tough kids as UConn does, though Hollingshead, Spearman Spear and Spencer are pretty tough. As for SC, they are as tough as anyone in D1, and we'll have to see if we can match them in toughness, with or without a fully recovered Aubrey.

1) I don't believe I called anyone soft. I commented on what determines highly competitive games. Handling business under pressure.
2) If that's the case then UConn shouldn't have any problem with them right? Hopefully they'll be up to the challenge but claiming in advance, as the OP did, that nobody can match them is foolish.

 

[Bone Dog]

1) I don't believe I called anyone soft. I commented on what determines highly competitive games. Handling business under pressure.
2) If that's the case then UConn shouldn't have any problem with them right? Hopefully they'll be up to the challenge but claiming in advance, as the OP did, that nobody can match them is foolish.

Fair enough.

As it happens, I don't agree that expressing optimism in a fan forum is foolish. It's usually referred to as supporting our team. Still, even if we think it's somehow destructive, I have no interest in calling out foolishness everywhere I see it. I've got better things to do.