How good is UConn really

[Urshurak]

Everyones talking about SC. How about we see how they do against ND?

UConn will struggle in the paint against a team like SC. The lost rebounds and second chance points is going to be hard to overcome. It really will come down to that IMHO.

Hoping UConn figures out a way. SC will need to shoot poorly and UConn will need to be red hot to win this one.

ND, I think with the UConn defense in high gear, they win that one.

Last year I said they can get to the sweet 16, but no further (I was right.)

This year, Elite 8. With some luck, maybe Final 4. Maybe. It would have to go really right for them. The injuries over the last two years has just really been too much to expect more. Pretty amazing how far they do get considering.


Most people here don't like my posts, as I don't own a pair of Rose colored glasses. Love UConn, but call it like I see it. Take it for what you will, but the outcomes of the last 4-5 seasons have been right in line with what I expected to happend, so......

 

[Bone Dog]

I think when we’re on, we’re FF material, but that all depends on two basic things and bunch of underlying things, but it’s ‘what Bracket’ and ‘keeping Edward’s on the floor.’ Saw K State and Baylor and Utah and UCLA last night. Can’t for the life of me figure out how Utah is where they are. That offense she ran twice, towards the end of regulation, was just plain idiotic and then Utah got lucky in OT. I think we’re a far different team today than when we first played UCLA and if a rematch came our way, I like our odds. Baylor? K-State? - I don’t think either one would give us a game, there was no real offensive rhythm from either team.

I saw what you saw in the Utah game. And the Colorado-USC game was even more puzzling. Both teams stood around most of the time on offense and waited for someone to do something. It was a good thing for. Colorado that Sherrod pinned a 5th foul on Juju, otherwise she'd just have won it in the final few minutes. But the offense on both teams was lackluster, and that's being really kind. Neither of them looked like top-10 teams ... measured against some absurd ideal that exists only in my imagination.

 

[oldude]

I think when we’re on, we’re FF material, but that all depends on two basic things and bunch of underlying things, but it’s ‘what Bracket’ and ‘keeping Edward’s on the floor.’ Saw K State and Baylor and Utah and UCLA last night. Can’t for the life of me figure out how Utah is where they are. That offense she ran twice, towards the end of regulation, was just plain idiotic and then Utah got lucky in OT. I think we’re a far different team today than when we first played UCLA and if a rematch came our way, I like our odds. Baylor? K-State? - I don’t think either one would give us a game, there was no real offensive rhythm from either team.

I watched the UCLA - Utah game as well. I think both teams struggled running their offense at times. Every time the ball went into Betts in the post for UCLA, Utah swarmed all over her, frequently leading to tie ups, turnovers and missed shots.

The one thing I did like about Utah is their unique offensive philosophy. They either shoot a 3 or a layup. There is no other option. Last night it worked just well enough to take down the #2 team in the nation.

 

[Dillon77]

I watched the UCLA - Utah game as well. I think both teams struggled running their offense at times. Every time the ball went into Betts in the post for UCLA, Utah swarmed all over her, frequently leading to tie ups, turnovers and missed shots.

The one thing I did like about Utah is their unique offensive philosophy. They either shoot a 3 or a layup. There is no other option. Last night it worked just well enough to take down the #2 team in the nation.

Coach Roberts of Utah apparently has an airhorn handy in practice and if she's a mid-range jumper when there could be a drive or a skip pass to a three, she'll blow it.

I watched the game, as well, and it was either pass into Pili (or drive by Pili) or the point guard or long bomb. It was one reason why Close took Betts out in crunch time -- too much motion by Utah.

 

[oldude]

Coach Roberts of Utah apparently has an airhorn handy in practice and if she's a mid-range jumper when there could be a drive or a skip pass to a three, she'll blow it.

I watched the game, as well, and it was either pass into Pili (or drive by Pili) or the point guard or long bomb. It was one reason why Close took Betts out in crunch time -- too much motion by Utah.

A lot of folks thought that when 6’7” Lauren Betts transferred from Stanford to UCLA, Close had secured the “missing piece” needed for a UCLA championship run. After last night’s game, it’s pretty clear that Betts has a long way to go, particularly if Close can’t play her in Big Games during crunch time.

 

[Dillon77]

This has been an interesting thread to peruse from time to time. While the majority of comments have been about S Carolina, you do have a game against a team I know pretty well on Saturday night.

- Much has been posted about UConn basically going with Aaliyah Edwards and four guards, three of which are point guards. Spectacular pressure defense, adept/crisp passing and good to great shooting. Here are some things that come to mind about ND:

- Like UConn, ND doesn't have much depth, but they do have some height. They'll start with 6'4" center Kylee Watson and bring in 6'5" front court sub Nat Marshall. Neither scores much but Watson is very adept to clogging the middle and doing dirty work.
However, recently --- and this is where it gets interesting -- ND also been going with four guards and one big.

- That big is 6'3" Maddy Westbeld, whom everyone on the Boneyard should know by now, much like we know Aaliyah Edwards. Maddy's averaging 9.5 rebounds per game and is doing her usual inside-outside (all the way past three) scoring. She's also an adept ball handler and passer.

- This means that the ND has other guards to help inside against your "power point guard," Paige Bueckers. A lot that will be on Sonia "Soni" Citron, ND's 6'1" glue player and perhaps it's most adept all-around player. Soni does this big guard thing well: Coach Cori Close had her play the "4" on the U.S.A. National team with Azzi Fudd, Caitlin Clark and Lauren Betts and she was named to the all-tourney team. Expect to see 5'11" KK Bransford take a turn there, too. Strong defender who rebounds well. Also, expect ND's patented 2-3 zone and some match-up zone, as well.

- One other aspect about Citron: she's doing that shoot better than 50% from the field (51%), better than 40% from 3-pt. land, and above 90% from the line. Paige has two of the three (just a bit short on the FT's). Bueckers is averaging just 20 ppg and Citron around 19. (Hidalgo is at 24 ppg).

- KK Arnold and Hannah Hidalgo were frequently mentioned in the same sentences as top PG prospects when in high school/AAU and both have done very well as frosh, to say the least. Lot of similarities (quick feet and hands, attack the basket, obvious handles). You know KK: Hidalgo has an adept jump shot at all levels and her focused energy output is....wild to watch. I'm not saying better, fans, just wild. Enjoy it. The 5.5 steals per game is due to amazingly quick hands and reactions. She is the daughter of a coach, the sister of many hoop-playing brothers and an energy source that knows hoops.

- ND won't try to dribble up-court now that Citron is back: they'll pass and dribble. Citron, Bransford, Westbeld and Anna DeWolfe don't fluster much. Hidalgo can dribble into corners so you can double her. But Citron and DeWolfe will talk to her.

- My worries: ND tends to lose focus from time to time, gets sloppy with the ball (passing) and I can't think of a better team to take advantage of that then a Geno-coached team. Coach Ivey worries about it, too.

- My worst thoughts for both teams: get Edwards or Westbeld in foul trouble. They both do so much it will incapacitate the others for awhile.

Should be interesting and instructive. ND has its core 2023-24 group back and are winding into shape. UConn will let them know how that's doing going into the heart of the ACC schedule. And ND will help get the Huskies ready for playing against a talented team in mid-season prior to S. Carolina. Enjoy.

 

[Dillon77]

A lot of folks thought that when 6’7” Lauren Betts transferred from Stanford to UCLA, Close had secured the “missing piece” needed for a UCLA championship run. After last night’s game, it’s pretty clear that Betts has a long way to go, particularly if Close can’t play her in Big Games during crunch time.

Point taken. On the other hand, it's a game of match-ups and Close will have to learn how to get Betts the ball so she can attack immediately.

I thought UCLA's Jasquez and Utah's McQueen were the best players on the court last night. Matyson Wilkie, the transfer from Wisconsin, has been a good pick-up for Utah.

 

[oldude]

This has been an interesting thread to peruse from time to time. While the majority of comments have been about S Carolina, you do have a game against a team I know pretty well on Saturday night.

- Much has been posted about UConn basically going with Aaliyah Edwards and four guards, three of which are point guards. Spectacular pressure defense, adept/crisp passing and good to great shooting. Here are some things that come to mind about ND:

- Like UConn, ND doesn't have much depth, but they do have some height. They'll start with 6'4" center Kylee Watson and bring in 6'5" front court sub Nat Marshall. Neither scores much but Watson is very adept to clogging the middle and doing dirty work.
However, recently --- and this is where it gets interesting -- ND also been going with four guards and one big.

- That big is 6'3" Maddy Westbeld, whom everyone on the Boneyard should know by now, much like we know Aaliyah Edwards. Maddy's averaging 9.5 rebounds per game and is doing her usual inside-outside (all the way past three) scoring. She's also an adept ball handler and passer.

- This means that the ND has other guards to help inside against your "power point guard," Paige Bueckers. A lot that will be on Sonia "Soni" Citron, ND's 6'1" glue player and perhaps it's most adept all-around player. Soni does this big guard thing well: Coach Cori Close had her play the "4" on the U.S.A. National team with Azzi Fudd, Caitlin Clark and Lauren Betts and she was named to the all-tourney team. Expect to see 5'11" KK Bransford take a turn there, too. Strong defender who rebounds well. Also, expect ND's patented 2-3 zone and some match-up zone, as well.

- One other aspect about Citron: she's doing that shoot better than 50% from the field (51%), better than 40% from 3-pt. land, and above 90% from the line. Paige has two of the three (just a bit short on the FT's). Bueckers is averaging just 20 ppg and Citron around 19. (Hidalgo is at 24 ppg).

- KK Arnold and Hannah Hidalgo were frequently mentioned in the same sentences as top PG prospects when in high school/AAU and both have done very well as frosh, to say the least. Lot of similarities (quick feet and hands, attack the basket, obvious handles). You know KK: Hidalgo has an adept jump shot at all levels and her focused energy output is....wild to watch. I'm not saying better, fans, just wild. Enjoy it. The 5.5 steals per game is due to amazingly quick hands and reactions. She is the daughter of a coach, the sister of many hoop-playing brothers and an energy source that knows hoops.

- ND won't try to dribble up-court now that Citron is back: they'll pass and dribble. Citron, Bransford, Westbeld and Anna DeWolfe don't fluster much. Hidalgo can dribble into corners so you can double her. But Citron and DeWolfe will talk to her.

- My worries: ND tends to lose focus from time to time, gets sloppy with the ball (passing) and I can't think of a better team to take advantage of that then a Geno-coached team. Coach Ivey worries about it, too.

- My worst thoughts for both teams: get Edwards or Westbeld in foul trouble. They both do so much it will incapacitate the others for awhile.

Should be interesting and instructive. ND has its core 2023-24 group back and are winding into shape. UConn will let them know how that's doing going into the heart of the ACC schedule. And ND will help get the Huskies ready for playing against a talented team in mid-season prior to S. Carolina. Enjoy.

Westbeld is 6’3”? Are you measuring that height in Hartley units?

 

[sun]

How far UConn can go could depend in part on the upcoming decision about Carol's playing status.
IMO if she can add experience & another shooting option to the team then UConn's chances would be enhanced.
There's been some scoring inconsistencies & extended PT by some players can impact UConn's depth.
My concern is about young UConn players over-relying on Paige to score against the defense of very athletic opponents.
UConn would be better off with Carol as a playing option than without her.

 

[Dillon77]

Westbeld is 6’3”? Are you measuring that height in Hartley units?

No, not in this case. She's listed 6'3" with ND and when she played for U.S.A. Basketball in the 3x3 tourney. She's both taller and more solid than older sister, Kat (who was 6'1" and change). Take a look Saturday.

 

[oldude]

No, not in this case. She's listed 6'3" with ND and when she played for U.S.A. Basketball in the 3x3 tourney. She's both taller and more solid than older sister, Kat (who was 6'1" and change). Take a look Saturday.

I defer to your assessment. However, Westbeld will have her hands full on Saturday. She’ll be matched up with UConn’s “power forward,” who is currently playing at a level above and beyond her performance 3 seasons ago when she was the consensus NPOY.

 

[Jmsdawg]

After yesterdays blow out it is becoming expected by some fans to blow out everybody, because UConn is playing at a different level. UConn is playing suffocating defense and enjoying it. UConn is playing with high energy, intensity and confidence and having fun doing it. Because theyre having fun they are relaxed confident and can operate and doing it. Alot of fans are saying the BE is weak. Well Creighton and Marquette are are ranked in the top 25 and we play them twice during the season, not once like some teams in other conferences. How many top conferences have teams at the bottom of their conference that are close in caliber to the bottom teams in the BE conference? Most do. I look at other conferences and see teams that arent very good just like the BE. I dont see the top teams in those conferences beating the bottom teams by 30+ let alone 40+ consistently. I look at UConn with 5 top players on the bench winning by 30+ pts against some pretty good teams and some not such pretty good teams and some of those teams are top teams in other conferences and UConn is doing this with 5 of their top players on the bench. Then I look at teams with one top player on the bench and they struggle and some have been loosing games to unranked teams.

UConn fans are excited about UConn again. We have a suffocating defense. We have alot of players who look to score and are not dependent on Paige and Aaliyah where most teams direct their attention. Have you noticed are balanced scoring in the past few games. Look at box scores of other teams. Look at UConns shooting percentages. Look at UConns starting 5-7 players and notice the decreased turnovers made and the increase in turnovers by opponents. We are reaching our stride.

We have games coming up that will be a real test. A much improved ND team that has gotten Westbeld and Citron back. ND too has suffered alot of injuries. How will they hold up against UConns defense. We have SC down the road. When we play these teams one thing will stand out. How well their ball handlers handle UConns defense. Alot of UConns success has been directly related to opponents not being able to handle UConns defense because they dont have the ball handlers and passing to release the pressure to operate their offense. I dont care how good a team is, trying to operate and run your offense under duress is very difficult and thats how UConn has been blowing teams out. Playing under duress affects the way you think and causes panic and panic causes you to speed up loosing your poise. Will opponenets down the road be able to make adjustments? We will see. ND now has some scorers and so does SC. These games will be a good test for UConn. Both teams have more height then UConn but the one thing imo they dont have is UConns defense

I believe UConn is better than the record indicates but the lack of a dominating post is hard to overcome if the opposing team has a really physical post player. South Carolina, UCLA, Stanford, Utah, Texas, LSU, have very physical post players and will all pose a problem for any team they play without physical post play. UConn needs a physical presence in the post position to be a serious NC contender.

 

[Tonyc]

I believe UConn is better than the record indicates but the lack of a dominating post is hard to overcome if the opposing team has a really physical post player. South Carolina, UCLA, Stanford, Utah, Texas, LSU, have very physical post players and will all pose a problem for any team they play without physical post play. UConn needs a physical presence in the post position to be a serious NC contender.

Your right UConn does not have a physical post player however UConn has a terrific defense that causes opponents to rush their shots and get rid of the ball like theyre holding a hot potato. UConns defense causes duruss which forces turnovers and rushed shots. This is what has helped UConn since the Texas game blow out opponents. I believe their 4 guard offense promotes UConns quickness, energy and breeds intensity. This will help make up for their lack of physicality. The key for UConn is Aaliyah Edwards must stay out of foul trouble against top teams. UConn starters are shooting the ball over 50% from the floor. Opponents have their hands full defending UConn. We play SC in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to seeing that game which will be a barometer showing where we are.

 

[msf22b]

How good is UConn?
after watching significant stretches of creative and effective BB, last night....they're very good.
I'm not in the least worried about Notre Dame.

I have a terrible record of prognosticating when they're going to dominate...somewhat better when I sense they're vulnerable.

But if they play like the best of last night; they can make most teams look like amateurs...as they have been doing.

And the Notre Dame game could look just like any of our recent dismantling of the Big East...

I really liked that Nika realized. after not shooting much in the last game, that she might be the key to
unlocking our offensive potential...which was a bit stagnant...which opened up Ash (who had also been very circumspect about shooting early on).

How smart of Nika to realize it mid-game...they left her wide open...just what she feasts on.

I wouldn't relish being Niele, a fine defensive player in her day...on a plan to disrupt our offense.

Should be an interesting game...and a most satisfactory one if my analysis is correct.

 

[Tonyc]

Last nite Paige did what Geno has been talking about. Shoot more and shoot early. She got UConn going along with Aaliyah No one else was involved early on. Once we got off to that good start everybody else got involved mainly because Paige set them up. Reminded me alot of how DT played. Remarkable

 

[Dillon77]

I defer to your assessment. However, Westbeld will have her hands full on Saturday. She’ll be matched up with UConn’s “power forward,” who is currently playing at a level above and beyond her performance 3 seasons ago when she was the consensus NPOY.
.

It's not my assessment...it's the records of both ND and U.S.A. I saw Maddy once in person this year (NJIT game) and didn't have my tape measure handy. However, I'm 6'2" and from 20 ft. away, she's at least my height or a tinge taller.

Per my other post, I don't think you'll see Maddy much on Paige Saturday. Maddy can't match her foot speed. Could be a zone (2-3 or match-up). If Irish go man, expect them to move Maddy to the middle (Aaliyah Edwards) and Paige will see KK Bransford or -- if audiences are lucky -- Sonia Citron.

 

[Stinger92860]

We have a suffocating defense. We have alot of players who look to score and are not dependent on Paige and Aaliyah where most teams direct their attention. Have you noticed are balanced scoring in the past few games.

Yet Geno mentioned at the half that he would like to see Paige be more aggressive taking shots rather than giving the ball to players in poor position. I think we have, depending on the draw, E8 to S16 capabilities. Any further would be phenomenal!

 

[cferraro04]

SC ranked #10 in defense..Uconn ranked #81

Rankings are a result of a snapshot in time. A ranking is determined at a given time based on the data points available at that time. Things on the ground are fluid and are changing all the time. I do believe that at the beginning of the season after major losses to UConn's expected starting lineup began occurring UConn deserved its 81 ranking. However, since Geno has gone to his 4 guard lineup I am quite sure that number is trending downward. Currently, SC is ranked in scoring defense #5 and UConn is ranked number 64.

 

[maple]

 

[Longtime fan]

We can beat good teams by applying our suffocating defense. If we dont have a suffocating defense we will have problems. Our defense causes duress when played with intensity and energy as a team. I feel we can beat any team when we create duress including SC. So when we play ND we have to put pressure on Hidalgo and make her play under duress. The harder we make it for her the more chance that she will make mistakes. Heres a blerb from the Virgina ND game.

The Irish led by 20 late in the third quarter and 66-49 inside of eight minutes to go in the fourth, but the pressing Hoos (8-9, 0-6) scrapped to as close as 76-70 at 2:52 remaining.

We can beat ND with good pressure defense.

I don't think we can beat ND if they play as they did yesterday. Our only hope, as has been pointed out, is that our three seniors play an effective 40 minutes each. Can't be done ( fatigue factor ) and , at the same time, Ash and KK have to be at their best. They weren't close to that yesterday. Ice seems a light year away from being an effective post player, but what choice do we have? She is the one Geno brought to the dance, and we have to keep her active. But yesterday, she reverted to the DeBerry-like three point shot, and lost all one v one battles under the hoop. Q is lost on offense at the moment. Good hustle elsewhere, however. But our freshman aren't good enough to win when four of them are on the floor at the same moment. We don't have four Hidalgos. Shooting was off, decision making was poor. Someone said the team was not ready. But let's not grade the coaches on this one.

 

[Longtime fan]

How good is UConn?
after watching significant stretches of creative and effective BB, last night....they're very good.
I'm not in the least worried about Notre Dame.

I have a terrible record of prognosticating when they're going to dominate...somewhat better when I sense they're vulnerable.

But if they play like the best of last night; they can make most teams look like amateurs...as they have been doing.

And the Notre Dame game could look just like any of our recent dismantling of the Big East...

I really liked that Nika realized. after not shooting much in the last game, that she might be the key to
unlocking our offensive potential...which was a bit stagnant...which opened up Ash (who had also been very circumspect about shooting early on).

How smart of Nika to realize it mid-game...they left her wide open...just what she feasts on.

I wouldn't relish being Niele, a fine defensive player in her day...on a plan to disrupt our offense.

Should be an interesting game...and a most satisfactory one if my analysis is correct.

ASH does tend to " back off" a bit when her first shot doesn't go in. Such as was the case yesterday. And several her shots ( which did go in ) were wiped away due to some unidentifiable offensive foul called, elsewhere, on UCCNN

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I don't think we can beat ND if they play as they did yesterday. Our only hope, as has been pointed out, is that our three seniors play an effective 40 minutes each. Can't be done ( fatigue factor ) and , at the same time, Ash and KK have to be at their best. They weren't close to that yesterday. Ice seems a light year away from being an effective post player, but what choice do we have? She is the one Geno brought to the dance, and we have to keep her active. But yesterday, she reverted to the DeBerry-like three point shot, and lost all one v one battles under the hoop. Q is lost on offense at the moment. Good hustle elsewhere, however. But our freshman aren't good enough to win when four of them are on the floor at the same moment. We don't have four Hidalgos. Shooting was off, decision making was poor. Someone said the team was not ready. But let's not grade the coaches on this one.

Listen to Geno starting around the 6:30 mark.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

So... Dawn Staley is magnanimous and noble when she schedules pre-conference cream puffs, Kim Mulkey is manipulative and cowardly when she does the same thing?

(I have no issue with Coach Staley, who may be the best coach in the game right now. I just find the juxtaposition of the two takes regarding scheduling low ranked opponents in the preseason interesting.)

Were you really doing some kind of riff on S.C. doesn't schedule aggressively?

Hard to believe.

 

[CL82]

Were you really doing some kind of riff on S.C. doesn't schedule aggressively?

Hard to believe.

Reread my post and try again.