- Joined
- Apr 15, 2021
- Messages
- 674
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Chaotic year that could easily have been discouraging, spinning into a collapse.
But as one or more key players were out, another or more produced - newcomer and/or veteran to keep the season afloat.
The team was never able to settle on a rotation, least of all the expected one, throughout the season....unable to refine team play or even how they would play with the constant changes in mix of players available to practice, never mind to play.....
By some miracle, the team became whole as the regular season was coming to a close but with oh so short a time to work on team play and settling on the rotation for the tournaments
Azzi finally gets a run of games to show what she brings to the team, the seniors start to play better with the urgency demanded by their dwindling time with the team.....their last chance to define their legacy
The final important piece returns but oh so tentative, showing only flashes of what defined her as the player of the year before....
After an easy Big East tournament run, the crucible began with surviving UCF....then flashes of brilliance against Indiana
Suddenly Paige returns, snaps into the player she is and carries the team to the FF against NCState....
But, before that, just as the team had become whole, Dorka, the insurance and potential difference-maker in the post for this Big Dance goes down....the insurance gone!.....this team embraced her in spirit for that resolute regional final win to reserve their place in the FF.
As they start in foul trouble against Stanford in the SF, with Aaliyah and Azzi taking a seat, the young ones brought energy and Momma E played like Cool Hand Luke - steely nerves.
Who would have expected Nika, the shortest in the team, to grab 8 rebounds in 18 minutes and was all over the floor covering whoever; Caroline too, played good defense.....
Ah, the defense.....confused and harried Stanford into missing badly from distance!
As Azzi sat, Evina cooly delivered a trifecta of 3 pointers in the first half
Cold-shooting Christyn delivers a crucial 3 pointer as Stanford closes in late in the game, shooting without hesitation
Perfect foul-shooting from Azzi was expected but the rest of the team delivered as never before, including Olivia and Aaliyah!
And then they survived the last minutes of careless play that narrowed the score for some nervous moments, perhaps to test the depth of their resolve?
And, Paige was Paige for the 2nd game in a row....
Time stood still for a few seconds, no exuberant celebration at the buzzer....
Finally, the team declaring "One More" in a huddle at the end before they faced the world, post game.
Oh yes, they have rendered their Coach speechless, now repeating what he has said before about them....
If this is not Destiny, Kismet, then what is?
And for it to happen again where the string of 11 NCs began; what could be more poetic than that? (Never mind that it is Paige's home city!)
UConn WBB fandom.....all together now, wish it to be true!
But as one or more key players were out, another or more produced - newcomer and/or veteran to keep the season afloat.
The team was never able to settle on a rotation, least of all the expected one, throughout the season....unable to refine team play or even how they would play with the constant changes in mix of players available to practice, never mind to play.....
By some miracle, the team became whole as the regular season was coming to a close but with oh so short a time to work on team play and settling on the rotation for the tournaments
Azzi finally gets a run of games to show what she brings to the team, the seniors start to play better with the urgency demanded by their dwindling time with the team.....their last chance to define their legacy
The final important piece returns but oh so tentative, showing only flashes of what defined her as the player of the year before....
After an easy Big East tournament run, the crucible began with surviving UCF....then flashes of brilliance against Indiana
Suddenly Paige returns, snaps into the player she is and carries the team to the FF against NCState....
But, before that, just as the team had become whole, Dorka, the insurance and potential difference-maker in the post for this Big Dance goes down....the insurance gone!.....this team embraced her in spirit for that resolute regional final win to reserve their place in the FF.
As they start in foul trouble against Stanford in the SF, with Aaliyah and Azzi taking a seat, the young ones brought energy and Momma E played like Cool Hand Luke - steely nerves.
Who would have expected Nika, the shortest in the team, to grab 8 rebounds in 18 minutes and was all over the floor covering whoever; Caroline too, played good defense.....
Ah, the defense.....confused and harried Stanford into missing badly from distance!
As Azzi sat, Evina cooly delivered a trifecta of 3 pointers in the first half
Cold-shooting Christyn delivers a crucial 3 pointer as Stanford closes in late in the game, shooting without hesitation
Perfect foul-shooting from Azzi was expected but the rest of the team delivered as never before, including Olivia and Aaliyah!
And then they survived the last minutes of careless play that narrowed the score for some nervous moments, perhaps to test the depth of their resolve?
And, Paige was Paige for the 2nd game in a row....
Time stood still for a few seconds, no exuberant celebration at the buzzer....
Finally, the team declaring "One More" in a huddle at the end before they faced the world, post game.
Oh yes, they have rendered their Coach speechless, now repeating what he has said before about them....
If this is not Destiny, Kismet, then what is?
And for it to happen again where the string of 11 NCs began; what could be more poetic than that? (Never mind that it is Paige's home city!)
UConn WBB fandom.....all together now, wish it to be true!
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