Just some thoughts

[Tonyc]

What a terrific game. For the team this might be looked on later in the season as the game that turned everything around. The game where finally everybody got into the action and where our team came together. Why? UConn played as a team, executing, playing inspired and not being dependent on any one player. They had been so dependent on Stef and found another way to win without having to go to her.

The dibble penetration opened things up. Rebounding and just playin darn good defense. Somebody lit a fire under Kelly and it was contagious. At the end of the first half UConn had 12 TOs and Duke had 3. I turned to cferr and said that wont last. What happened in the second half was a thing of beauty for UConn and a nitemare for Duke. Everybody contributed in their own way. It wasnt about how many points anybody scored it was about playing intense, inspired BB. The execution of team basketball was something to learn from. Kelly is willing this team to a NC. KML imo is becoming an all time great.

Those of you who like to compare, look at the Cuse game and look at the Duke game. In the Cuse game Stef Stewart and KML all scored 20+ pts. The carried the team, because thats what the defense gave them. Some fans questioned our guard play because they didnt score alot. The Duke game didnt give that and UConn had to adjust depending more on execution of the offense which they do better then any team in WCBB.

I cant wait for Bria and Kiah to get to where they should be at this time in the season. Right now theyre playing catchup due to the fact they have been out for so long. When that happens there isnt a team in WCBB that can touch them. Last night UConn showed America how to play BB, Last night just may have been UConns breakthough. Over the past couple of months this team has been stumbling forward coming out of injuries and sickness. Last night was the first night in a long time where everybody played. This could be the start of something special.

 

[Kibitzer]

There has been some reporting and much speculation about what Geno said or did at halftime to inspire the team.

I know what he did.

Master Chef Auriemma got out his tried-and-true Recipe for Success and whipped up a large portion of Whoop-Ass, then had Kelly Faris supervise serving it hot and in large portions to the Dookies. Works every time.

 

[CL82]

I suspect that he invoked the memory of the ND game. When you let a team hang around they can steal one from you.

 

[RoyDodger]

What a truly satisfying game. Haven't had such a pleasant feeling after a win in a long time. And one of the feelings I had as I watched the second half rout of Duke, was that I was very proud to realize that I've had the honor of seeing virtually every college game Kelly Faris has played in (with the minimal exceptions of games that were not televised). Faris played like she was possessed (in a great way, of course).

And it was of course another example of Geno Auriemma half-time magic.

 

[boontonbomber]

What a terrific game. For the team this might be looked on later in the season as the game that turned everything around. The game where finally everybody got into the action and where our team came together. Why? UConn played as a team, executing, playing inspired and not being dependent on any one player. They had been so dependent on Stef and found another way to win without having to go to her.

The dibble penetration opened things up. Rebounding and just playin darn good defense. Somebody lit a fire under Kelly and it was contagious. At the end of the first half UConn had 12 TOs and Duke had 3. I turned to cferr and said that wont last. What happened in the second half was a thing of beauty for UConn and a nitemare for Duke. Everybody contributed in their own way. It wasnt about how many points anybody scored it was about playing intense, inspired BB. The execution of team basketball was something to learn from. Kelly is willing this team to a NC. KML imo is becoming an all time great.

Those of you who like to compare, look at the Cuse game and look at the Duke game. In the Cuse game Stef Stewart and KML all scored 20+ pts. The carried the team, because thats what the defense gave them. Some fans questioned our guard play because they didnt score alot. The Duke game didnt give that and UConn had to adjust depending more on execution of the offense which they do better then any team in WCBB.

I cant wait for Bria and Kiah to get to where they should be at this time in the season. Right now theyre playing catchup due to the fact they have been out for so long. When that happens there isnt a team in WCBB that can touch them. Last night UConn showed America how to play BB, Last night just may have been UConns breakthough. Over the past couple of months this team has been stumbling forward coming out of injuries and sickness. Last night was the first night in a long time where everybody played. This could be the start of something special.

i'm disappointed that you did not mention bria's 9 assists last night, which should have been more ,had players handled other passes of hers. she was looking more to penetrate and/or set up people, and did a very good job of it, especially in the early minutes of both halves. she didn't get her points, but i don't think that was her first priority last night. she gets out on the break making the correct passes better than anyone else on the team. she's been roundly criticized on this board. let's give her some credit when it's due.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Tremendous basketball by UConn in the 2nd half. Probably the best half of basketball in five or six years. We've seen four or five minutes of similar basketball, but not the 20 minutes we saw last night. Kelly put the team on her back and showed her teammates we're not going to lose this game and the players responded in kind.

Duke didn't have a player last night that put her team on her back and said we're not going to let UConn do this to us again. Alexis Jones; Freshmen; tried at the start of the game by scoring 10 of her 14 points in the first seven minutes of the game. However, after that UConn shut her down. It helped she got into foul trouble but IMHO she wouldn't have scored many more points even if she had not gotten into foul trouble. She did play 35 minutes.

If I'm Coach P I'm extremely disappointed with Chelsea Gray and Elizabeth Williams. They're the All Americans and should be the leaders of this team. They've also experienced the blowouts and should have been the emotional leaders to get Duke to respond after being punched when UConn went on their initial run in the 2nd half. It didn't happen, no one on Duke stepped up to the plate and UConn had their way.

I've been critical of Skylar Diggins but IMHO if she was on Duke's team last night instead of Chelsea, no way Duke loses by 30 points. They probably don't win as UConn's play in the 2nd half was spectacular, but Skylar would have been the emotional and physical leader and put Duke on her back to keep the game from becoming a blow out. I think Odyssey Sims would have done the same. If Duke hopes to make the Final Four, someone on the team needs to become the leader and take over when the going gets tough. Duke is an extremely talented team and no way should they be blown out by 30 points regardless of who they play.

 

[pap49cba]

As usual, despite top recruiting classes, Duke is offensively challenged. That falls on the coaches.

 

[Tonyc]

i'm disappointed that you did not mention bria's 9 assists last night, which should have been more ,had players handled other passes of hers. she was looking more to penetrate and/or set up people, and did a very good job of it, especially in the early minutes of both halves. she didn't get her points, but i don't think that was her first priority last night. she gets out on the break making the correct passes better than anyone else on the team. she's been roundly criticized on this board. let's give her some credit when it's due.

I one of Brias biggest fans and yes her leadership last night was second to none. Having her and Caroline control the tempo, breaks and half court showed us what were in for. Again its not about scoring its about playing team ball. In some games depending on the defense the posts can score in some games the guards can score. Last nite Caroline and Bria led the offense. They were the two who drove the team. What a fantastic game.

 

[stillinstorrs]

my 2-cents-- best half by UConn since-- the first half at Stanford!