It's All About Paige On Thursday Night and From Here On In

[BBallF]

I saw a different Paige on Sunday. She had her game face on, was determined, aggressive and most importantly, looking to score on every possession. This is a hard thing to say because it creates nothing but pressure but it is all about her from here on in. The best analogy given was by oldude comparing her now to Diana in 2002. It think it is the same. She has to put this team on her shoulders now because Thursday, despite what Geno and Kara Wolters said after the game, is important for seedings in the Big Dance and moreover for team confidence. It will always be a big game. Tennessee is still Tennessee, just like the Yankees will always be the Yankees to the Red Sox and vice versa, just like the Lakers will always be the Lakers to the Celts and vice versa.

If Paige plays like she played against Butler in the first half, our team just became better, more difficult to defend, more self- assured, and a well oiled machine with many moving parts. When she leads, great things happen. Geno has been saying it for years now. When she is aggressive offensively from the beginning and plays like she knows that she has to win the game, it energizes everyone else and most importantly, uplifts them. One thing they always said about MJ that was certainly true was that he made everyone around him better. You would not remember John Paxson or Steve Kerr as players if the Jordan confidence hadn't infused them. It's what Diana did also. It's a hallmark of greatness.

Simply put it's Paige time. You will have any questions about her answered on Thursday night. I think she will answer the bell big time.

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[GoUconn7961]

I think it's about Paige, Sarah and Azzi

 

[ucbart]

I think it's about Paige, Sarah and Azzi

Agree, I think that we've yet to see all 3 of them shine in a big game atmosphere(largely because we went through our non-conference gauntlet without Azzi). While Tennessee has lost 3 of 4, they play in the toughest conference and are far better than anyone we've played since USC. Not to be lost on this as well, but this game is on ESPN. They are the leading media outlet in wbb and this game will be a showcase on a network who has largely forgotten about us and just plain, doesn't like us.

 

[BBallF]

I think it's about Paige, Sarah and Azzi

The point of the post is that Paige has to be the engine. When she has been, Azzi, Sarah, Ash and now Chen and KK get combustion and extra confidence also. If Paige starts out aggressively on offense and takes control against the Tennessee press on Thursday and from hereon in, you will see a different team.

 

[jdote33]

I kinda think that's what makes this team a bit different. I don't think it's all on Paige but Paige playing great would be great. I also am looking forward to seeing how the team responds to the Tennessee pressure. And if everyone is crumbling, then I will say the OP is 1000 percent correct. But I just think the way Azzi and Kaitlyn play when there aggressive takes a lot of pressure off Paige. Of course Sarah is great too. IDK where people put Azzi or assess her but I was thinking she's been so solid this year beyond her stats. And this last two months I could see her playing her best ball. If you take out like her first two games coming off injury, and the USC game, she's pretty close to like 13 pts on 50 fg 45 3pt 80 ft (unfortunately she really doesn't get to the line) in like 24 minutes a game. She's just a joy to watch and I do think there's another level that better competition will bring out of her. I think people worry about her shot creation but it's just hard in a 40 minute game with all the talent UConn has to not lose track of her or not get caught behind a ball screen.

 

[Bone Dog]

For the last few months Paige has regularly been forecast as the likely #1 draft pick. Whether this is accurate or not, it suggests that a lot of people close to the game think she can play well in the W. This thought is incongruous with the fear that she won’t be able to play well against a team like Tennessee if she has a healthy team around her.

Well, Paige has a mostly healthy team around her. She played well in our two losses, scoring 25 and 22 points. A critical factor in those games was that she shot poorly from 3. It’s worth adding that Azzi didn’t play in the first and could only play 8 mins in the second. Also, Ash shot 0-5 in the first loss but found her sea legs in the second and scored 9 which helped fuel our near comeback in the second half.

Paige is going to do what she does, I’m pretty sure, which is play like a possible #1 draft pick. Much more depends on what the team around her does. If Azzi and Ash hit their shots so that Tennessee can’t focus on taking away any open perimeter looks from Paige, we will prevail.

And if KK Kaitlyn and Ash make the right switches on defense, I expect UConn will smother Tennessee’s ragged halfcourt offense. And if all of our ball handlers keep their heads against the press we will deny them the easy transition scores that make up much of their vaunted offense. And the list of ball handlers is long: Kaitlyn KK and Paige, of course, but also Azzi Sarah Ash and even Morgan. Morgan could see some minutes for this reason alone, to help break the press, even if she doesn’t take a single shot.

Could we press them in return? Sure, and probably to good effect. But I’m not sure Geno will want to tire out the Big Three with this, given they’ll probably have to play >30 mins. I wouldn’t be surprised to see KK Kaitlyn Ash Morgan or Aubrey enlisted in a press. For example, against Tennessee’s second unit, a press could be an interesting move, and if it were to prove effective it might force Caldwell to play her first unit longer.

So, yes, a lot will be on Paige’s shoulders, as usual. But the outcome may rest as much on her teammates. They need to show their stuff, too. In my crystal ball, a win looks like Paige and Sarah merely hitting their averages while Azzi Ash KK and Kaitlyn all score in double figures and everyone plays UConn defense.

 

[Rowdy831]

For this game to be close Tennessee needs to shoot lights out from three. I do expect UConn to play a full 40 minutes for the first time in a long time and that is what I want to see. Are they physically fit enough to play a fast paced game for the full 40? The thought that Paige is a key to me is dismissing everything you know you will get from her every night.

If this is going to be a look into future success I think you need to focus on two players, Jana and KC. I feel good about Azzi and Sarah and expect they will raise their games to a level needed for tournament ball but I don't know if Jana is ready to take that step. She won't be vital in this game but there are a couple teams where she will be. KC on the other hand looks great against poor teams but hasn't really had the chance to show what she can do against top competition now that she has been around UConn for a while. This Tennessee team will certainly present a challenge for her and provide a glimpse of what can be expected down the road.

 

[Geew1992]

For this game to be close Tennessee needs to shoot lights out from three. I do expect UConn to play a full 40 minutes for the first time in a long time and that is what I want to see. Are they physically fit enough to play a fast paced game for the full 40? The thought that Paige is a key to me is dismissing everything you know you will get from her every night.

If this is going to be a look into future success I think you need to focus on two players, Jana and KC. I feel good about Azzi and Sarah and expect they will raise their games to a level needed for tournament ball but I don't know if Jana is ready to take that step. She won't be vital in this game but there are a couple teams where she will be. KC on the other hand looks great against poor teams but hasn't really had the chance to show what she can do against top competition now that she has been around UConn for a while. This Tennessee team will certainly present a challenge for her and provide a glimpse of what can be expected down the road.

First 40 minutes of what? Press?

 

[my2cents]

I think it was more on Paige last year because of injuries. She has way more support this year.
Offensively we are so far ahead of last year.
I think our biggest challenge is going to be rebounding against bigger and sometimes quicker players.
We rebound well , we win easily.

 

[Bone Dog]

KC on the other hand looks great against poor teams but hasn't really had the chance to show what she can do against top competition now that she has been around UConn for a while.

I look at this game in the same way. Kaitlyn had a few really good games against top opponents at Princeton last season, like UCLA, IU and OU. But their system is less demanding, especially for a PG: less about set plays, more about read and react. She’s had to relearn her game in a new system. These recent games, albeit against weaker opponents, could be the sign that she’s achieved a comfort level with Geno’s offense. And Tennessee is the perfect opponent to show this against. No more hesitation, no more doubts. You got this Kaitlyn!

 

[PacoSwede]

the whole point of the OP is that paige is what enables the other players to perform up to their potential ... that's #1. without paige playing smart (i.e., aggressive, with leadership, but not necessarily being a scoring machine) the rest of the team is behind the 8-ball.

OF COURSE, sarah, azzi, kaitlyn and others have to contribute, but it will be a lot easier for them when paige does paige. the superstar.

 

[Zonepress]

For the last few months Paige has regularly been forecast as the likely #1 draft pick. Whether this is accurate or not, it suggests that a lot of people close to the game think she can play well in the W. This thought is incongruous with the fear that she won’t be able to play well against a team like Tennessee if she has a healthy team around her.

Well, Paige has a mostly healthy team around her. She played well in our two losses, scoring 25 and 22 points. A critical factor in those games was that she shot poorly from 3. It’s worth adding that Azzi didn’t play in the first and could only play 8 mins in the second. Also, Ash shot 0-5 in the first loss but found her sea legs in the second and scored 9 which helped fuel our near comeback in the second half.

Paige is going to do what she does, I’m pretty sure, which is play like a possible #1 draft pick. Much more depends on what the team around her does. If Azzi and Ash hit their shots so that Tennessee can’t focus on taking away any open perimeter looks from Paige, we will prevail.

And if KK Kaitlyn and Ash make the right switches on defense, I expect UConn will smother Tennessee’s ragged halfcourt offense. And if all of our ball handlers keep their heads against the press we will deny them the easy transition scores that make up much of their vaunted offense. And the list of ball handlers is long: Kaitlyn KK and Paige, of course, but also Azzi Sarah Ash and even Morgan. Morgan could see some minutes for this reason alone, to help break the press, even if she doesn’t take a single shot.

Could we press them in return? Sure, and probably to good effect. But I’m not sure Geno will want to tire out the Big Three with this, given they’ll probably have to play >30 mins. I wouldn’t be surprised to see KK Kaitlyn Ash Morgan or Aubrey enlisted in a press. For example, against Tennessee’s second unit, a press could be an interesting move, and if it were to prove effective it might force Caldwell to play her first unit longer.

So, yes, a lot will be on Paige’s shoulders, as usual. But the outcome may rest as much on her teammates. They need to show their stuff, too. In my crystal ball, a win looks like Paige and Sarah merely hitting their averages while Azzi Ash KK and Kaitlyn all score in double figures and everyone plays UConn defense.

I don’t think it’s accurate to say Paige played
Well ( like a player of the year)in either loss especially in the first half of both games even though statistically it looks good
Both Citron from nd and juju played great individual
Defense on Paige especially in the half court and stopped her from controlling the gane
Re Tennessee : UConn will have the 2 best players
In the game by a wide margin and are the more
Talented team.unfortunately they haven’t played
A competitive game in almost two months
Obviously the game Thursday will tell
A lot about the team

 

[GoUconn7961]

The point of the post is that Paige has to be the engine. When she has been, Azzi, Sarah, Ash and now Chen and KK get combustion and extra confidence also. If Paige starts out aggressively on offense and takes control against the Tennessee press on Thursday and from hereon in, you will see a different team.

I understand the point of the post. I was giving my response.
I get flack on everything I post on this site. It's exhausting. I don't agree on everything, and everyone doesn't have to agree with me, but I understand things I read and respond to.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Remind me why arguably the best PG/SG in Div I was moved?

 

[snowkot]

They key defensively, for me, is Azzi Fudd, owing to her defensive positioning, court instincts / ability to read plays, beat her defender to spots, and, perhaps, most importantly, defeat screens. Her lateral quickness is elite (perhaps even more impressive having recovered from ACLs), as is her energy. Her presence is a double plus, as whoever replaces her (without naming names) is poor. We've seen this in the 2-man screen game between a 4/5 & 1/2. Reference Notre Dame (Hidalgo 34 points off Westbeld, 29 off Koval) and USC (Watkins 25 off Iriafen). Ms. Fudd didn't play in either Notre Dame game, barely in the other (8 minutes). Be interesting to see the team's defensive metrics with and without her on the court, for those games in which she does appear.

Secondarily, for me, it'd be El Alfy as the rim protector. There's been improvement over time, but she'll need more minutes, especially against teams with posts. Can't overstate the game impact of this sort of player. Witness the men's team last year with Clingan, this year without.

 

[TB12]

Hailey Van Lith ?

 

[hoopsfan22]

Hailey Van Lith ?

Who?

 

[EricLA]

For this game to be close Tennessee needs to shoot lights out from three. I do expect UConn to play a full 40 minutes for the first time in a long time and that is what I want to see. Are they physically fit enough to play a fast paced game for the full 40? The thought that Paige is a key to me is dismissing everything you know you will get from her every night.

If this is going to be a look into future success I think you need to focus on two players, Jana and KC. I feel good about Azzi and Sarah and expect they will raise their games to a level needed for tournament ball but I don't know if Jana is ready to take that step. She won't be vital in this game but there are a couple teams where she will be. KC on the other hand looks great against poor teams but hasn't really had the chance to show what she can do against top competition now that she has been around UConn for a while. This Tennessee team will certainly present a challenge for her and provide a glimpse of what can be expected down the road.

That's a great question and one reason why KK, Ash, Ice, Morgan, and Aubrey will be very important. Tennessee has made huge comebacks in the 4th quarter, and I think it's because the other team just tires out.