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?

 

[Tufkas]

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?

 

[EricSD]

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.

 

[browns]

Paige has to take over the game from the start.play like she's one of the top 5 players in the nation
Uconn has more talent then Tenn and shouldn't have trouble with the press with KK and Paige but I wonder about Azzi and how the press effected her against Ohio State 2 years ago..Uconn has been great all year long not tuurning the ball over and I don't think the press will bother them that much
Be close in rebounds especially offensive rebounds and Uconn wins by double didgits

 

[dogpause]

I don't know that Paige has the shoulders, but I would be happy to be wrong.

 

[Zarathustra]

Hailey Van Lith ?

I heard that Hailey Van Lith first went SOUTH and then went (somewhat) WEST by Northwest.

 

[BBallF]

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.

If Paige and Sarah have average games you are talking about 36 points and if Azzi, Ash, KK and KC are in double figures that's another 40 points minimum for 76 points minimum and of course we will win. I see it this way. The team is different with Paige leading the way. To me it's like having Sandy Koufax or Bob Gibson on the mound. And I will go one step further. The only way Azzi, Ash, KK and KC all get double figures is if Paige explodes out of the gate which I am predicting she will do. If that happens, everyone else will get open shots. Finally, look for Aubrey to have a big game Thursday. It's her kind of game especially if we press which we will do at least for a portion of the game.

 

[Tonyc]

This is the kind of game that makes AA's. UConn has 3 HS number 1's This is there time. I feel because of all our injuries UConn is looked at as beatable. We are not the team we were when we were injured and we are not the team we were in December. We are better and improving. Tenn and SC will see that. This is UConns chance to prove WE ARE BACK.

 

[Alydar]

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.

Bueckers is the engine. You want her to be Clark or MJ. Bueckers won NPOY in 2001 when Clark led the country in scoring. When Bird was still playing MJ would score 50 and the Bulls would still lose to the Celtics.
In another post you brought up Taurasi. She never averaged 20pts/game in any of her 4 years. Yes she was a scorer. Not as good or as efficient as Bueckers but still very potent. The one game when she did as you want Bueckers to do and came out shooting in a FF game she was 1-15 and lost the game.

 

[BBallF]

Bueckers is the engine. You want her to be Clark or MJ. Bueckers won NPOY in 2001 when Clark led the country in scoring. When Bird was still playing MJ would score 50 and the Bulls would still lose to the Celtics.
In another post you brought up Taurasi. She never averaged 20pts/game in any of her 4 years. Yes she was a scorer. Not as good or as efficient as Bueckers but still very potent. The one game when she did as you want Bueckers to do and came out shooting in a FF game she was 1-15 and lost the game.

I read your post a few times and I think I understand it now. I'm not suggesting that the scoring is everything. It's how she starts the game that matters, aggressively, fearlessly. This isn't my idea, Geno has been preaching this for years and said it most recently in the post game interview after the Butler game. Diana and Paige are very different players on very different teams. Paige is a much more prolific and gifted scorer to be sure but Diana had that air of invincibility. She did go 1-15 in the FF when she was a freshman. She learned. As a sophomore in the FF on the greatest team ever in women's college basketball Geno gave her, a sophomore, the ball on clear out to beat Oklahoma. He knew. He also knows now that Paige has to assert herself early and often for us to beat the best teams.

 

[Alydar]

I read your post a few times and I think I understand it now. I'm not suggesting that the scoring is everything. It's how she starts the game that matters, aggressively, fearlessly. This isn't my idea, Geno has been preaching this for years and said it most recently in the post game interview after the Butler game. Diana and Paige are very different players on very different teams. Paige is a much more prolific and gifted scorer to be sure but Diana had that air of invincibility. She did go 1-15 in the FF when she was a freshman. She learned. As a sophomore in the FF on the greatest team ever in women's college basketball Geno gave her, a sophomore, the ball on clear out to beat Oklahoma. He knew. He also knows now that Paige has to assert herself early and often for us to beat the best teams.

Bueckers' high school coach had the same complaint as Geno has been voicing, wishing she shot more, especially early in games. Fearlessly yes, aggressively sure. Forcing shots when doubled? Ignoring open team mates? When players focus on finding their own shots there's a price to pay. I prefer that Bueckers save her one-man shows for the 4th period and OT.
This year's UConn team has Strong and Fudd. Bueckers hasn't had 2 team mates of their caliber ever and if she can find them early in games I have no problem with her passing to them. In fact I could see those two leading the scoring on the way to a title. In the U19's in 2019 Bueckers won the MOP award despite a few team mates scoring more.

 

[Skeets]

If Paige gets P.O'ed. and gets in her mind that she is going to score, then she is going to score. There's not much anyone can do about it. We've seen this before. We (hopefully) will see it again. Remember we have Paige and no one else has Paige. That ladies and gentlemen is a big advantage.

 

[jabstep]

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.

.

I agree with you to a point. Most good teams can take a player off there usual point production just like we do to others except Hildago so far. We need all of the others on the team to step up their game and help us win. I know we have them on this team. I have seen Sarah, Azzi, Kaitlyn, Jana,Ash,KK and Aubrey do it at the Highest levels. Q, Allie and Morgan have yet to get the chance yet to do that not saying they couldn't. It will take our whole team to play well to win it. I think we can!!!!!

 

[BBallF]

Bueckers' high school coach had the same complaint as Geno has been voicing, wishing she shot more, especially early in games. Fearlessly yes, aggressively sure. Forcing shots when doubled? Ignoring open team mates? When players focus on finding their own shots there's a price to pay. I prefer that Bueckers save her one-man shows for the 4th period and OT.
This year's UConn team has Strong and Fudd. Bueckers hasn't had 2 team mates of their caliber ever and if she can find them early in games I have no problem with her passing to them. In fact I could see those two leading the scoring on the way to a title. In the U19's in 2019 Bueckers won the MOP award despite a few team mates scoring more.

If Paige starts agressively on offense and then starts to get doubled, she will not force shots, she will pass to the open man who could be Azzi, not likely in my mind if they are smart on defense, Sarah, also not likely, but then to KC or Ash, who are likely. The point is that starting out that way on offense by Paige will force double teaming on her. This is not last year when the open players might be freshmen Ash and KK or Nika. Who do you leave open on this team? Not Azzi or Sarah. I see nothing bad at all with Paige starting out strongly, especially against Tennessee, which will neutralize the press if Paige gets open in transition for her pull ups or 3s. Expect an early barrage and some pressing.

 

[BBallF]

I agree with you to a point. Most good teams can take a player off there usual point production just like we do to others except Hildago so far. We need all of the others on the team to step up their game and help us win. I know we have them on this team. I have seen Sarah, Azzi, Kaitlyn, Jana,Ash,KK and Aubrey do it at the Highest levels. Q, Allie and Morgan have yet to get the chance yet to do that not saying they couldn't. It will take our whole team to play well to win it. I think we can!!!!!

Yes for sure but Geno is of the opinion that Paige has to lead the way and when she does we are that team you are talking about. She elevates everyone else's game when she starts out strong.