How will Slow down Betts tonight?

[jabstep]

I think this is the Key to this game. Let's see what I believe will be multiple options we will use to slow her down.

1. Will we just let her get her points?
2. Will we double or triple team her?
3. Will we have Sarah guard her? This will make Betts guard Sarah and draw her away from the basket. Open the lane up for us.
4. Will we pressure the player who delivers the ball to Betts. I think Gardiner is a very good entry passer. She throws it high from the top of the key that way Betts can spin
left or right when she receives the pass.
5. Full Court press the whole game in order to use the clock to our advantage.
6. Any other ideas?

 

[cohenzone]

I think this is the Key to this game. Let's see what I believe will be multiple options we will use to slow her down.

1. Will we just let her get her points?
2. Will we double or triple team her?
3. Will we have Sarah guard her? This will make Betts guard Sarah and draw her away from the basket. Open the lane up for us.
4. Will we pressure the player who delivers the ball to Betts. I think Gardiner is a very good entry passer. She throws it high from the top of the key that way Betts can spin
left or right when she receives the pass.
5. Full Court press the whole game in order to use the clock to our advantage.
6. Any other ideas?

UConn men played LSU in the NCAAs when Dhaq played for them. Shaq scored around 30 but UConn won easily. Really kept the rest of LSU under control. Also UConn did a good on Beers and Crooks.

 

[Jim]

I think the key will be to make passes into the low post difficult and to mix things up defensively so that UCLA doesn't know if/when double teams are coming or from which non-post player. On the defensive end, UCLA will likely pressure the 3-pt shooters and get them to drive into the lane where Betts can alter shots. Fortunately, Paige, Azzi, Kaitlyn, and Ash are all good at pulling up and hitting 10-ft jumpers before getting in too deep and getting their shots blocked. KK might struggle on the offensive end if her outside shot is not falling. Sarah and Ice hitting foul line or even 3-pt shots will force Betts away from the basket to guard them. If those shots aren't falling, it could be a long night. Jana will be asked to do her best from keeping Betts away from the basket, but I don't expect much offense from her. Just do her best to block out and get rebounds.

 

[Bone Dog]

If the question is about slowing Betts down, the answer is the same as it's always been for opposition bigs: make her run the floor on defense. This means:

1. Run the transition game after misses and makes. We did this pretty effectively against Ark St, admittedly not UCLA caliber, but they are rather speedy.
2. Don't allow UCLA players to swat the ball away after makes to delay the game. Geno should complain about this and demand technicals if they resort to this tactic, which was a favorite trick of the Lakers when they played Boston in the Bird-Magic rivalry.
3. Don't focus on stopping Betts's offense so much as hindering her defense.

 

[Scot-e]

The UConn men also played against Zac Eday in FF and basically allowed him to score his points- shut down everyone else. That might be the way to go.

 

[Ozimoto]

Deny the entry pass as best as they can.

Block out on defensive rebounds to limit second chance points.

They won't shut Betts down, but they can make her work hard for her points.

 

[Bigboote]

Put a body on her before she gets to her block.

When she gets the ball, keep a body on her to keep her there for a split second and allow a guard to come in for a quick swipe. She averages 2.7 turnovers a game.

 

[Hayven]

Other than getting her tired, I don’t think you can slow her down. I’d let her have her scoring and slow down everyone else. Make the passes into her hard. And stay on the shooters.
And build a lead when she is sitting on the bench

 

[CL82]

How will Slow down Betts tonight?​

Well, I plan on limiting myself to only wagering before the game.

 

[fireford]

Need our defense to be more disruptive than ever to force a lot of turnovers and limit her touches. I especially look for our super sophomores, Arnold and Shade, to ramp up the pressure when they come in off the bench.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Pace of the game and El Alfy putting a body on her. Even if she got 20 and 10…that’s a win. I actually believe that it’s Jaquez and Jones that need to be disrupted.

 

[faninwisc]

We obviously need to make Betts run and force her to move on defense. If we can force UCLA to turn the ball over and knock down shots in transition, she will not be effective at all. If we get stuck in a half-court game with them, she has a huge advantage against us. I think Geno is going to utilize the small line up a lot tonight and make her guard Sarah. She won't leave the paint and Sarah could have a huge night knocking down threes. If she does leave the paint, that will leave the basket open for our guards to drive.

 

[Charliebball]

I believe Geno has a new play to slow down Betts down low........from what I've heard it involves KK and a Werner ladder........

 

[leepaul]

6. Any other ideas?

 

[Kat]

On offense, take it to her. Get Betts in foul trouble.

 

[Geew1992]

I think this is the Key to this game. Let's see what I believe will be multiple options we will use to slow her down.

1. Will we just let her get her points?
2. Will we double or triple team her?
3. Will we have Sarah guard her? This will make Betts guard Sarah and draw her away from the basket. Open the lane up for us.
4. Will we pressure the player who delivers the ball to Betts. I think Gardiner is a very good entry passer. She throws it high from the top of the key that way Betts can spin
left or right when she receives the pass.
5. Full Court press the whole game in order to use the clock to our advantage.
6. Any other ideas?

Yes to all of them

 

[Hist-teacher]

The UConn men also played against Zac Eday in FF and basically allowed him to score his points- shut down everyone else. That might be the way to go.

I was thinking the same thing. 10 fouls between Jana and Ice. Let her have 30-35 and shut down the 3-game for UCLA. Also, strong ball pressure to make entry passes more difficult.

 

[Vowelguy]

On offense, take it to her. Get Betts in foul trouble.

Does that ever work?

Doesnt strike me as Geno style.

 

[Blond D.]

Just like they did in Star Wars

 

[Vowelguy]

Key thing for me is making sure Sarah doesn’t get fouls when guarding her

 

[faninwisc]

Key thing for me is making sure Sarah doesn’t get fouls when guarding her

I think she can guard her without fouling. She only averages two fouls a game and is a rock solid defender.

 

[ConnMotors]

What will slow down Betts tonight? I think Super Glue would.

 

[cancontent]

On offense, take it to her. Get Betts in foul trouble.

This happened in their game against LSU, and LSU wasn't able to take advantage. Ideally, UConn shouldn't have the same challenge if this were to happen tonight.

 

[Kat]

This happened in their game against LSU, and LSU wasn't able to take advantage. Ideally, UConn shouldn't have the same challenge if this were to happen tonight.

Yes, she missed a lot of minutes in that game.

 

[JRRRJ]

I think this is the Key to this game. Let's see what I believe will be multiple options we will use to slow her down.

1. Will we just let her get her points?
2. Will we double or triple team her?
3. Will we have Sarah guard her? This will make Betts guard Sarah and draw her away from the basket. Open the lane up for us.
4. Will we pressure the player who delivers the ball to Betts. I think Gardiner is a very good entry passer. She throws it high from the top of the key that way Betts can spin
left or right when she receives the pass.
5. Full Court press the whole game in order to use the clock to our advantage.
6. Any other ideas?

Seems to me you can work on #4 by having Aubrey front her in the paint. Her long arms and leaping ability should allow her to interfere with some of the high passes.

Other than that, I'm in agreement with those who want to try to run her into the ground. Guarding Sarah at the top of the key, fast breaks, fast pace overall.

And lots of the highlight moments we see show her waiting for the ball before the defense fully arrives, which I don't expect to happen often with UConn's defense.