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Message: [QUOTE="BfromCT, post: 4197256, member: 10542"] After the loss to Villanova, let me reopen this thread with some additional comments, most of which have been discussed on the postgame thread and I am certain that I will be repeating most of the thoughts relayed at that time. This also follows Carnac’s message #25. It looks as though UConn will be a #3 seed for the Big Dance, assuming no more stumbles along the way and, since the team will be facing DePaul and Marquette again in the regular season and probably two of DePaul, Marquette, and Villanova in the Big East tournament, we cannot automatically assume that the Huskies will not lose any more games before the NCAAs. Such largely depends on whom is available to play. The Huskies will have a tough haul against both DePaul today and Marquette on Sunday if ONO and Ducharme continue to be unavailable. As I see it, the team has two difficulties that must be overcome for any deep run in the NCAA tournament. First, inconsistent front court play and, second, lack of shooters. Our down low weakness was on full display against Villanova - ONO was out, Dorka is injured, and Edwards was totally ineffective. In the Edwards case, the problem was largely due to fouls away from the ball not due to trying to block shots or preventing an opponent of getting to the basket. The Huskies basically have three good outside shooters - Bueckers, Ducharme, and Fudd - and thus far it seems as though only one has been available at a time. Nika, Evina, and Christyn are too inconsistent from long range and without enough good shooters, the inside gets clogged up and limits driving to basket. To have any chance of getting to the Final Four, UConn needs healthy ONO, Dorka, and Edwards, and Aaliyah needs to play the way she did against Tennessee and not against Villanova. In addition, we need a healthy back court with at least Azzi and Caroline in full stride. We can hope that Bueckers will be available and healthy, but I don’t think we can count on it. It is possible that she will be back for the Big East tournament and/or the NCAAs but we cannot know for certain. If the bigs are healthy and we have two of our most reliable outside shooters available, then a march to the regional finals is not out of the question. To go any farther, we need Paige. Otherwise, I’m afraid that our streak of Final Fours will end, as have several other streaks during the season. Go Huskies! [/QUOTE]

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