I Watched Baylor Annihilate OK Last Night (TV). It Appears UConn Is in for a Tussle!

[CTtoSanDiego]

The Lady Bears are long and strong and athletic.... also very experienced. UConn is going to need to play a great game in order win. I think we will need substantial contributions from Anna and/or Aubrey, as well as improved scoring from Christyn. Meg, Liv and Crystal will need to continue their mostly excellent play, with Liv staying out of foul trouble.
Let's hope the home crowd is worth some points, especially since Baylor hasn't really played any away games yet.

 

[reno tony]

Is this the same Oklahoma that UCONN beat by more than 40 points?

 

[j66kicker]

The Lady Bears are long and strong and athletic.... also very experienced. UConn is going to need to play a great game in order win. I think we will need substantial contributions from Anna and/or Aubrey, as well as improved scoring from Christyn. Meg, Liv and Crystal will need to continue their mostly excellent play, with Liv staying out of foul trouble.
Let's hope the home crowd is worth some points, especially since Baylor hasn't really played any away games yet.

Well Baylor only annihilated Oklahoma by 21 points, while UConn annihilated them by 44 two weeks ago. I know the relative MOV's don't really mean much, but I think we'll be OK.

The one area that worries me is how Kyla will match up. IMO Geno has given her a more than generous opportunity to show what she can do, but now it's time to put somebody in there (Anna?) who might be more of a difference maker. With that one caveat, I think we'll hold out own vs. Baylor. Oregon scares me more.

 

[Carnac]

Agreed, Baylor had a good run. Te'a Cooper had an exceptional shooting night, scoring a career high 32 points. She and Lauren Cox put up 39 shots between them. On the other hand, OU's 3 point specialist Taylor Robertson only made 4-12 from behind the arc. She led her team in scoring with 20. Only one other OU player scored in double figures.

As to your point, yes, UConn will have their hands full of a mean grizzly bear on Thursday. Baylor's bite isn't as forceful on the road as it is at home. Their only loss this year was in the Virgin Islands. They lost their only game last year on the road at Stanford. Let's hope a similar fate awaits them Thursday. I would love nothing better that to see UConn send them back home with one of Shannon Sharp's (Co-host of Fox's morning sports show Undisputed) "Hot L's" (a loss).

 

[diggerfoot]

Well Baylor only annihilated Oklahoma by 21 points, while UConn annihilated them by 44 two weeks ago. I know the relative MOV's don't really mean much, but I think we'll be OK.

The one area that worries me is how Kyla will match up. IMO Geno has given her a more than generous opportunity to show what she can do, but now it's time to put somebody in there (Anna?) who might be more of a difference maker. With that one caveat, I think we'll hold out own vs. Baylor. Oregon scares me more.

I am seeing Irwin differently than most it seems, and I'm the one who bet JoePgh that Makurat would start. Whoever is the fifth starter is going to be the fifth option. Does Auriemma want that fifth option to be better at scoring or screening? Despite her stat line I saw Irwin set the most screens this side of Dolson in the last game. Or, to look at it another way, the difference between Irwin and the freshmen in ability is not as great as was the difference between Webber and Sales, yet Auriemma chose Webber to start the games in a perfect season. Hey! I don't mind being right and seeing Makurat become the fifth starter, but I will be more satisfied than many a BYer if Irwin continues starting.

 

[WNBA 09]

Kyla will have to be a factor on both ends. Baylor has Nalyssa Smith and Queen Egbo along with Erin Degrate to throw at her if fouls become an issue. Hopefully Baylor’s guards are rattled and shoot a bad percentage. If they come out swinging it will be hard for UCONN to take this one. DiDi Richards will be on Megatron so someone else will need to step up. Richards shut down KLS last season so WILLIAMS I’m looking at you come Thursday night!

 

[j66kicker]

I am seeing Irwin differently than most it seems, and I'm the one who bet JoePgh that Makurat would start. Whoever is the fifth starter is going to be the fifth option. Does Auriemma want that fifth option to be better at scoring or screening? Despite her stat line I saw Irwin set the most screens this side of Dolson in the last game. Or, to look at it another way, the difference between Irwin and the freshmen in ability is not as great as was the difference between Webber and Sales, yet Auriemma chose Webber to start the games in a perfect season. Hey! I don't mind being right and seeing Makurat become the fifth starter, but I will be more satisfied than many a BYer if Irwin continues starting.

I’m just worried about when we play teams where she will be matched up with a player who’s a whole lot more athletic than her. Like Baylor (you pick the matchup - Kyla will be at a physical disadvantage).

 

[DEpup]

Is this the same Oklahoma that UCONN beat by more than 40 points?

Preach!

 

[DEvJ]

Preach!

That doesn’t really matter tho. It’s all about how a team matches up on that given time and place. For example, SC lost to Indiana But baylor Beat Indiana. The next Day, SC womps Baylor.

 

[Centerstream]

I watched some of this game, part of which was when OU was up 15-4 (I believe) before BU got things going an ran away from the Sooners, and I thought that Lauren Cox was not herself. It looked like she was playing a one person zone on defense and more interested in passing than banging in the lane to score on offense. This could have been by design to help get her back into game shape though. Bottom line - when I saw her play, she did not look like Lauren Cox as a Junior. Time will tell.

 

[WNBA 09]

That doesn’t really matter tho. It’s all about how a team matches up on that given time and place. For example, SC lost to Indiana But baylor Beat Indiana. The next Day, SC womps Baylor.

+1 style of play and matchups matter. Also factor Cox did not play either of those games makes this a totally different situation. May the force be with you!

 

[oldude]

UConn has not lost a game in the state of CT in almost 7 years, including the game played on Nov 17, 2016 against a massive Baylor team after the Big 3 graduated the prior season........just sayin......

 

[WNBA 09]

They

UConn has not lost a game in the state of CT in almost 6 years, including the game played on Nov 17, 2016 against a massive Baylor team after the Big 3 graduated the prior season........just sayin......

Baylor beat UCONN last season. With 4 of the 5 players they will be starting. Throw in combo guard Tea cooper and I’d say they have an advantage in this game . UCONN has the more potent offense but they can’t allow Baylor to get a lead like Wichita state. The bears are too good on defense.

 

[WNBA 09]

Baylor also has a bench. I’d foul trouble comes into play the edge definitely goes to Baylor.

 

[southofnorth]

Who guards Lauren Cox? In the game against OU she was driving even when she was given space at the high post so would Kyla be able to draw some charges and then have Olivia Nelson-Ododa in the low post as help? Vice-versa so Kyla can get into position to draw a charge? I’d probably spring for the second option and tell Olivia if Cox gets by her drop down to Kyla’s man and have Kyla move over to draw a charge and let Cox shoot the free throw line jumper all day.

 

[southofnorth]

UConn has not lost a game in the state of CT in almost 6 years, including the game played on Nov 17, 2016 against a massive Baylor team after the Big 3 graduated the prior season........just sayin......

That was Crystal’s coming out party, too! 19 points and some incredible shots. Let’s hope this year follows the last three years where a freshman steps up in a huge game and UConn wins because of it.

Dangerfield vs. Baylor 2016
Walker vs. UCLA 2017
Williams vs. Notre Dame 2018
??? vs. Baylor* 2020

*Maybe UConn won’t need it and there will be another game where the freshmen are needed (like Aubrey Griffin’s 25 & 12 vs. Seton Hall)

 

[oldude]

They

Baylor beat UCONN last season. With 4 of the 5 players they will be starting. Throw in combo guard Tea cooper and I’d say they have an advantage in this game . UCONN has the more potent offense but they can’t allow Baylor to get a lead like Wichita state. The bears are too good on defense.

Beating UConn in Waco with Kalani Brown in your lineup is a lot different than beating UConn in Hartford with only one true big.

 

[Urshurak]

Unless UConn is really top shelf on all facets of the game (unlikely) then they lose this one. UConn is not as good as #1. Geno has even said so and so has CD. Who knows, maybe Baylor will lay an egg.

 

[Steelerone]

I think that this will be the first time this season where, after the game, we can look at our team and say, "This is where we are".

 

[Tonyc]

I was very please to see Kyla CW Mak and Griff play well and score. That's what we need. The core 4 will draw a lot of attention. I like UConn winning by double digets 74-60.

 

[BroadwayVa]

The Lady Bears are long and strong and athletic.... also very experienced. UConn is going to need to play a great game in order win. I think we will need substantial contributions from Anna and/or Aubrey, as well as improved scoring from Christyn. Meg, Liv and Crystal will need to continue their mostly excellent play, with Liv staying out of foul trouble.
Let's hope the home crowd is worth some points, especially since Baylor hasn't really played any away games yet.

This UConn team tends to play down or UP to the team they are playing.
My thoughts on the Baylor game is: It's a learning and teaching game. It is not the war of the Roses or the NC it's just a game along the way. To win would be nice. To lose is no disaster. I'd rather have a lost in January than the last game in April.
Uconn's kids are among the best of the best in every aspect of life and Basketball. They SHALL do their best against Baylor. I ask no more than that.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I was very please to see Kyla CW Mak and Griff play well and score. That's what we need. The core 4 will draw a lot of attention. I like UConn winning by double digets 74-60.

@Tonyc I like Uconn winning by one digit. After that it all gravy or bragging rights and Uconn doesn't brag ---much! I agree if Kyla, Aubrey (who played well again today, Ania (who plays well all the time), ONO, and Molly step up big time and shoot when open and defend as taught winning against Baylor is NOT out of the question. Uconn by 1 to 10.

 

[Tonyc]

I have not seen Baylor this season however I watched Tenn KY SC Bama today and Im not scared of either. Geno may say we're not number 1 but from what Ive see the 2 best teams are Oregon and UConn. UConn is young and will make mistakes. So will other teams. However UConns core 4 can put up alot of points. We may loose Thursday and I will be there but Im pretty confident that if we play our game we win

 

[BroadwayVa]

Unless UConn is really top shelf on all facets of the game (unlikely) then they lose this one. UConn is not as good as #1. Geno has even said so and so has CD. Who knows, maybe Baylor will lay an egg.

I'm a glass 3/4th's empty in most games. I fretted that Uconn wasn't prepared to be number one and according to Geno and CD that may still be true. They are playing in Uconn's back yard with UConn's ball with Uconn friendly people in the stands a loss in this atmosphere would embarrass 11 kids, 1 head coach, 1 associate and 2 assistant coaches --it AIN't Gonna happen.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I have not seen Baylor this season however I watched Tenn KY SC Bama today and Im not scared of either. Geno may say we're not number 1 but from what Ive see the 2 best teams are Oregon and UConn. UConn is young and will make mistakes. So will other teams. However UConns core 4 can put up alot of points. We may loose Thursday and I will be there but Im pretty confident that if we play our game we win

If Uconn plays "their game" they win?? Which game is that? I don't know of a time Uconn played their "A" game and lost. Today was a start in the right direction. Geno knows how to pace his teams to explode in end for March/April that is what great coaches do. Winning along the way is nice but the prize is playing the last game of the year. Let us not lose sight of the real prize.