It kills me to say it but....

[pap49cba]

Diggins just may be a DT-type of player who can somehow will her team to victory. It will be fascinating to see how it all plays out.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Diggins just may be a DT-type of player who can somehow will her team to victory. It will be fascinating to see how it all plays out.

She's 0-3 so far.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Before the season started a huge number of Boneyarders assured us that ND would not be a top ten team this year. I disagreed vociferously. Most Boneyarders at the time badly underestimated how good ND would be.

Right now a lot of people are making the opposite mistake. ND is a very, very good team. But they are not at the same level as the team that beat Ky and Md by 30 and 26 points respectively. Will that team show up on Sunday? I think so. I hope so. But I could be wrong. What I'm sure of is that if we bring our A game we will win.

When DT willed the team to victory in 2003 and 2004 we were fortunate in that there were not a lot of great teams. The one team with great talent was Duke if I remember correctly (at least in one of those years). But they were not well coached and did not rise to the occasion in big games. All credit for DT for putting the team on her shoulders and taking advantage. But she didn't have to play against a team playing the way UConn played in Bridgeport.

 

[meyers7]

She's 0-3 so far.

Was just gonna say, she hasn't done it yet.

 

[meyers7]

Before the season started a huge number of Boneyarders assured us that ND would not be a top ten team this year. I disagreed vociferously. Most Boneyarders at the time badly underestimated how good ND would be.

I was one of them. They have really surprised me this year.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Before the season started a huge number of Boneyarders assured us that ND would not be a top ten team this year. I disagreed vociferously. Most Boneyarders at the time badly underestimated how good ND would be.

Right now a lot of people are making the opposite mistake. ND is a very, very good team. But they are not at the same level as the team that beat Ky and Md by 30 and 26 points respectively. Will that team show up on Sunday? I think so. I hope so. But I could be wrong. What I'm sure of is that if we bring our A game we will win.

When DT willed the team to victory in 2003 and 2004 we were fortunate in that there were not a lot of great teams. The one team with great talent was Duke if I remember correctly (at least in one of those years). But they were not well coached and did not rise to the occasion in big games. All credit for DT for putting the team on her shoulders and taking advantage. But she didn't have to play against a team playing the way UConn played in Bridgeport.

I think you forgot UTenn there, the team that UConn played in both of those finals and was a better team than the Alana Beard take-a-dive-and-rack-up-a-foul Devils. Just because UConn won both finals behind a DT who always got pissy at the thought of losing to the Vols does not mean that Pat wasn't doing a strong job those years. Texas was also very strong at the end of 2003, and in some ways looked like a better team than UConn.

Good omen: UConn is undefeated on April 7th. Okay it was just one game, but they beat one of this year's FF members for the NC in 2009 on that date.

 

[RadyLady]

Diggins just may be a DT-type of player who can somehow will her team to victory. It will be fascinating to see how it all plays out.

She may be a lot of things... but Diana she is not

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[dogfan96]

She may be a lot of things... but Diana she is not

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Not even in the same solar system as DT

 

[pap49cba]

For the record I wrote "may be", not "is".

Detailed below is a list of all those who predicted ND would be 35-1 this year and would end up winning 7 of the last 8 games against Uconn:

 

[DanDar]

Diana's third championship just proved how great a player she was. Her other teams had stars, but her last year's team was a borderline top 20 team without her. They had no business winning that championship but she took them on her back and made everyone around her better. She was someone that stats alone could not describe. She was incredible.

 

[JoePgh]

There is not a close comparison in basketball skills between Diana and Skylar, but there is a close resemblance in personality and team leadership. And ... there is a close resemblance in how opponents' fans react. Reaction to Skylar on this board reminds me of reaction to DT on The Summitt.

 

[OneTrickPony]

If Skylar wins the National Championship this year...that will be quite an extraordinary accomplishment...not up there with Diana's multiple championships, perhaps, but excellent all the same. What she's done so far this year certainly indicates her value to the two prior ND teams that made the NC game even if they weren't wins. And I don't think losing this semi-final, should she lose it, invalidates the great season she and Notre Dame have had. The winner of this next game will have to be very special, indeed!

 

[katiecrum1992]

She's 0-3 so far.

Technically 0-2. We'll see what happens Sunday.
I'm pretty sure the Louisville-Cal game will be close too.

 

[RadyLady]

Diana's third championship just proved how great a player she was. Her other teams had stars, but her last year's team was a borderline top 20 team without her. They had no business winning that championship but she took them on her back and made everyone around her better. She was someone that stats alone could not describe. She was incredible.

If Skylar wins the National Championship this year...that will be quite an extraordinary accomplishment...not up there with Diana's multiple championships, perhaps, but excellent all the same. What she's done so far this year certainly indicates her value to the two prior ND teams that made the NC game even if they weren't wins. And I don't think losing this semi-final, should she lose it, invalidates the great season she and Notre Dame have had. The winner of this next game will have to be very special, indeed!

Apples and oranges....In the first post, it is noted that Diana took a supposed top 20 team on her back and brought home the championship. She made everyone better.

Post #2 says that ND winning with Diggins will be extraordinary accomplishment. Well, anyone who wins it all is extraordinary. Diggins, however is not surrounded by a such a team as Diana. She has Jewell Loyd and McBride for starters, one of whom has had her best games against UConn. Diggins doesn't go about setting up her players to be better either. They win, but they don't win like Diana.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Technically 0-2. We'll see what happens Sunday.
I'm pretty sure the Louisville-Cal game will be close too.

Freshman year she went 4-14 from the field as her #2 Irish lost to OK in the Sweet 16. That doesn't count for some reason?

 

[snlMINAJ]

Diana's third championship just proved how great a player she was. Her other teams had stars, but her last year's team was a borderline top 20 team without her. They had no business winning that championship but she took them on her back and made everyone around her better. She was someone that stats alone could not describe. She was incredible.

well her last two championships were the same roster...... so basically it would be her 2nd title where she proved how great she was, not the 3rd.

 

[Waquoit]

Just because UConn won both finals behind a DT who always got pissy at the thought of losing to the Vols does not mean that Pat wasn't doing a strong job those years.

She got to the finals and that ain't hay. But she had the stronger team both years and lost. And that one game where Kelly Schumacher beat her just slew me. Do you think Schuey develops into the player she became at UT? I don't think she even gets on to the court.

 

[katiecrum1992]

Freshman year she went 4-14 from the field as her #2 Irish lost to OK in the Sweet 16. That doesn't count for some reason?

I thought you meant in the NC. My bad.

 

[Scotter]

Diggins doesn't go about setting up her players to be better either. They win, but they don't win like Diana.

Diggins absolutely goes about setting up her teammates, that's a big part of Notrre Dame's success against UConn. They've actually out passed UConn including Diggins creating easy opportunities for her teammates.

 

[ThisJustIn]

During the Kentucky game I notice something and your post inspired me to go back and take a look. Yes, there were lots of steals and layups, but the assist to basket ratio was rather UConn-esque: 12 on 29 baskets. Not good or bad -- and observation (and probably 'cause MoJeff discovered her quick).

 

[Icebear]

To me what ND has understood better than most when playing us is ou passing preferences and patterns and repeatedly jumped our passes in those passing lanes.

 

[Danzz]

She may be a lot of things... but Diana she is not

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I had a customer who played for an outstanding Purdue team. She told me that Diana was the best womens bb player she has ever seen. I agree.

 

[DobbsRover2]

To me what ND has understood better than most when playing us is ou passing preferences and patterns and repeatedly jumped our passes in those passing lanes.

Sounds then like Geno needs a few new wrinkles in the playbook to confuse the Irish. Maybe if he throws a UTenn scheme at ND they will be so befuddled they'll collapse. Also maybe change up the defense more during the game to throw them off balance. Gotta do something new while still relying on the old strengths.

 

[Icebear]

Sounds then like Geno needs a few new wrinkles in the playbook to confuse the Irish. Maybe if he throws a UTenn scheme at ND they will be so befuddled they'll collapse. Also maybe change up the defense more during the game to throw them off balance. Gotta do something new while still relying on the old strengths.

Exactly, and, also, double check the passing lane before releasing the ball and go to option 2 or three. Geno has said that UCONN doesn't run plays they run a system that teaches option. Use some of the other options and if you make mistakes make sure they do not lead to breakaways and easy buckets.

 

[VAMike23]

To me what ND has understood better than most when playing us is ou passing preferences and patterns and repeatedly jumped our passes in those passing lanes.

Not just that, but more importantly (IMO) they are able to pressure the perimeter like no other team we face, so that it's harder for us to make good entry passes, and the passes we *can* make are either 1) weak--and easier to pick off--or 2) steered to spots that they are only too happy to see the ball go. IOW they don't just jump the lanes; many times they alter them considerably.

As Cat has mentioned a number of times, the real key for us is making ND pay for this pressure. To date, we haven't been able to do that. There are a number of things you can try, and I'm sure Geno and Shea are focusing on them big time in the lead up to Sunday. Our guards have to avoid/anticipate traps and do a better job of getting past the initial perimeter D via the dribble when needed. Far too often, we have let them play 'offense' on defense by bringing pressure to us. We can't have that. We need to dictate on our end of the floor.