Interesting factoid in Graham Hays' latest piece...

[pap49cba]

"Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel combined for 19 free throws when the Fighting Irish won an overtime thriller in South Bend earlier this season. In 15 games since, only one Connecticut opponent -- the entire team -- attempted as many as 19 free throws (Louisville's 21 attempts on Feb. 7)."

LINK

 

[ThisJustIn]

Just proving Geno's point -- one he tried to make with Maya and one many have also urged: drive to the basket, go for the shot and get fouled.

Hard to go to the line when we're shooting so many threes.

 

[rocky rococo]

Easy to go to the line when you can jump backwards and to the side into a defender and get the whistle.

 

[Kevin G]

Easy to go to the line when you can jump backwards and to the side into a defender and get the whistle.

Amen!

 

[pap49cba]

Geno's 'point' has been that for some reason Uconn only commits a lot of fouls against Notre Dame.

 

[UConnCat]

"Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel combined for 19 free throws when the Fighting Irish won an overtime thriller in South Bend earlier this season. In 15 games since, only one Connecticut opponent -- the entire team -- attempted as many as 19 free throws (Louisville's 21 attempts on Feb. 7)."

LINK

Here's another:

Diggins and Novosel have combined for 303 FTAs
UConn's starting five has combined for 327 FTAs

 

[MilfordHusky]

We need to keep ND off the line. If they get 30 FT attempts, we lose. If we keep them close to 18, I really like our chances.

 

[Icebear]

Easy to go to the line when you can jump backwards and to the side into a defender and get the whistle.

And again I say, Amen!

 

[pap49cba]

I would not be surprised if Geno gets T'd up tonight if he thinks our opponents are up to their same old tricks. I sense he has had just about enough....

 

[Icebear]

I would not be surprised if Geno gets T'd up tonight if he thinks our opponents are up to their same old tricks. I sense he has had just about enough....

That's why he was practicing against Marquette.

 

[UConnCat]

Geno's 'point' has been that for some reason Uconn only commits a lot of fouls against Notre Dame.

Excluding the 1/7/12 ND game, UConn commits 13.2 Fouls/gm
Against ND on 1/7/12, UConn committed 23 fouls (5 in OT)

Excluding the 1/7/12 game, UConn opponents shoot 12.3 FTs/gm
Against ND on 1/7/12, ND shot 29 FTs (8 in OT)

Notre Dame is better at drawing fouls than UConn. The reasons are personnel and style of play (which is largely driven by personnel). With the exception of Hayes, UConn scores most of its points from the perimeter. Notre Dame scores most of its points in the lane. Novosel and Diggins are very aggressive at going to the basket and very adept at drawing fouls. That's exactly what happened in the first game and ND took advantage by shooting 23-29 from the line. I don't know the exact numbers, but Novosel has been getting to the FT line less in the 2nd half of the season largely because defenses have made adjustments and forced her to hit perimeter jumpers which she was able to do against USF on Saturday.

Notre Dame also commits more fouls than UConn (1/7/12 game excluded) and put UConn on the line for 20 FTAs but UConn didn't take advantage shooting 12-20.

 

[MilfordHusky]

That's why he was practicing against Marquette.

Precisely. He was rusty and wanted to see exactly what he needed to do. If he does not like the way the game is called, look for him to be all over the refs early and often.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Excluding the 1/7/12 ND game, UConn commits 13.2 Fouls/gm
Against ND on 1/7/12, UConn committed 23 fouls (5 in OT)

Excluding the 1/7/12 game, UConn opponents shoot 12.3 FTs/gm
Against ND on 1/7/12, ND shot 29 FTs (8 in OT)

Notre Dame is better at drawing fouls than UConn. The reasons are personnel and style of play (which is largely driven by personnel). With the exception of Hayes, UConn scores most of its points from the perimeter. Notre Dame scores most of its points in the lane. Novosel and Diggins are very aggressive at going to the basket and very adept at drawing fouls. That's exactly what happened in the first game and ND took advantage by shooting 23-29 from the line. I don't know the exact numbers, but Novosel has been getting to the FT line less in the 2nd half of the season largely because defenses have made adjustments and forced her to hit perimeter jumpers which she was able to do against USF on Saturday.

Notre Dame also commits more fouls than UConn and put UConn on the line for 20 FTAs but UConn didn't take advantage shooting 12-20.

Tonight's game should be close. We need to make FTs. Every point counts.

 

[bruinbball]

I would not be surprised if Geno gets T'd up tonight if he thinks our opponents are up to their same old tricks. I sense he has had just about enough....

It did spark quite a run Saturday. 41-15 after the two technical free throws. Hopefully, it won't be needed again. The players should have received his message loud and clear.

 

[UConnChapette]

Novosel is particularly adept at getting the calls by simply driving into the lane and falling to the floor while throwing the ball in the air. The refs figure she must have been fouled. Players just don't fall on their own, right? I guess they don't know that some schools incorporate "flopping drills" into every practice.

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[UConnCat]

Novosel is particularly adept at getting the calls by simply driving into the lane and falling to the floor while throwing the ball in the air. The refs figure she must have been fouled. Players just don't fall on their own, right? I guess they don't know that some schools incorporate "flopping drills" into every practice.

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There had been talk about Novosel's scoring slump which began with the Tenn game. That slump included a significant drop in her trips to the FT line. In ND's first 20 games this year, Novosel averaged 5.5 FTs/gm. In the next 8 games beginning with Tenn, Novosel averaged 1.5 FTs/gm and there were 2 games in which she didn't attempt any FTs (vs Syr and L'Ville). So, it appears that defenses have adjusted.

Apparently USF didn't get the memo. Against USF, Novosel doubled her FT attempts in the previous 8 games with 12 FTAs. She made all 12 on her way to 32 points. Hope that's not the start of a trend.

 

[doggydaddy]

There had been talk about Novosel's scoring slump which began with the Tenn game. That slump included a significant drop in her trips to the FT line. In ND's first 20 games this year, Novosel averaged 5.5 FTs/gm. In the next 8 games beginning with Tenn, Novosel averaged 1.5 FTs/gm and there were 2 games in which she didn't attempt any FTs (vs Syr and L'Ville). So, it appears that defenses have adjusted.

Apparently USF didn't get the memo. Against USF, Novosel attempted 12 FTs and made all 12 on her way to 32 points. Hope that's not the start of a trend.

Maybe she'll be overconfident???

 

[Icebear]

In the next 8 games beginning with Tenn, Novosel averaged 1.5 FTs/gm and there were 2 games in which she didn't attempt any FTs (vs Syr and L'Ville). So, it appears that defenses have adjusted.

It, also, may be that officials are now watching more carefully HOW she is creating the contact and not simply blowing the whistle on the contact.

 

[Biff]

It, also, may be that officials are now watching more carefully HOW she is creating the contact and not simply blowing the whistle on the contact.

Not to launch another thread on officials but any word on what the officials team is tonight? I'm putting money on Dee as the lead official.

 

[speedoo]

Not to launch another thread on officials but any word on what the officials team is tonight? I'm putting money on Dee as the lead official.

Geez, I hope not. She and her crew failed miserably last time in South Bend.

 

[pap49cba]

I spent awhile looking but struck out. I won't take your bet.


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[Alydar]

If I remember correctly Ruth Riley was also adept at putting her shoulder into a defender to draw a whistle and then going up for a shot. It was effective but IMO it made games boring to watch.
.
Also, driving to the hoop and drawing contact may be an effective tool but over the course of a season or over several seasons it takes a toll on bodies. Many of the guards at the college level aren't strong enough to take that punishment all season.

 

[Replicant]

I would not be surprised if Geno gets T'd up tonight if he thinks our opponents are up to their same old tricks. I sense he has had just about enough....

Agreed, but let's hope he's already done enough advance work on league management so that it won't be necessary. It could be a really great game IF it's called straight!

 

[AboutWeston]

How about DK and BonitaS and an official to be named later?

 

[bruinbball]

I'd like to see Enterline...he usually let's them play in big games.

 

[jsloanjr]

ND gameplan is pressure UCONN into stupid fouls or throw the ball away and on the other end make them foul them and get to the line.......UCONN's pressure defense needs a lot more pressure to cause ND any problems......Get the ball out of Sky's hands and force the other guards to make plays and feed the post....I would have Tiff and bria driving the lane and shooting or kicking out to Doty or KML for open 3's.......Stef and Kiah need huge games.....25 and 20 rebounds

 

[UConnChapette]

If I remember correctly Ruth Riley was also adept at putting her shoulder into a defender to draw a whistle and then going up for a shot. It was effective but IMO it made games boring to watch.
.
Also, driving to the hoop and drawing contact may be an effective tool but over the course of a season or over several seasons it takes a toll on bodies. Many of the guards at the college level aren't strong enough to take that punishment all season.

Who? Ruth "Travelin'" Riley? Yes she was good at that, but also got away with more travels than any other player I have ever seen. I had a discussion once with someone who noticed that Ruth wore black shoes while the rest of the team wore white. I still maintain it was to help hide her extra steps when the shoe color blended closer to the darker color in the lane. That's my story, and I am sticking to it!