Looking ahead to USC while looking back at ND | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Looking ahead to USC while looking back at ND

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Juju suffered an ankle injury in the Elon game. USC was up 50 points and she was still in the game, a questionable decision by their coach. Looks like Stat stuffing might have backfired if she misses the UConn game. No comments about severity of injury yet.
Thanks for the input... I missed that!
 
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UCONN's recruiting has resulted in a supposed strength of mostly shooters but other than Paige, the other shooters are young. so, until Azzi is back at full strength and has had a bunch of games under her belt - we just have to "flip a coin," as to whether they will play great, good, average, etc. especially vs quality teams. UCONN is not going to win the battle in the paint very often at all vs high quality teams. They have to win by spreading the floor which means impose their will upon the other team. Which means the combo of Page/Azzi and Sarah have to control the game.

If one of them doesn't play vs a high quality team, they will struggle. Not saying they will automatically lose but will struggle. So, it doesn't matter SoCar, ND or SoCal etc., if the Big 3 aren't healthy and also unable to play much time together, they are going to have difficulty spreading the floor, so more than likely the opposing team will be able to exploit UCONN's youth inside no matter how many minutes Geno gives them.

We're just going to have to deal with inconsistent play until Azzi comes back and is in top form along with eventual Aubrey along with this being Sarah's 1st year. UCONN has the highest ceiling of any team but Azzi not playing this late hurts this team a lot.
 
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Yesterday USC was 4-21 from beyond the line. They have level scoring in their starting line up. UConn depends on two with Paige and Sarah. Ashlynn’s smile was huge when making her three. But that three has to be drained 3 to 4 times a game if she is going to start while we wait for Azzi.

Ice has me fooled am not sure whats up. Other than she’s a four playing the five. It’s great to step out and take shots as it opens up the offense. But those shots have to fall more often than not. Missing the bunnies at the rim need to stop. Once this is fixed the rhythm will flow. We all expected Jana to battle and possibly start. This lady has talent. She is a true 5. But she is still learning. The fouls hurt her and she is needed on the floor. The Iowa State game will show if she has progressed.

Everyone expected with a deep bench at the start of the season for minutes to drop. Against the lowly Big East teams it will. But when UConn is going to be playing the big girl teams plan on seeing Paige and Sarah at 38 minutes per game.

Defense has to step up. Will Aubrey bring that? Am sure that it will. But when and for how long? KK will be playing more minutes as she is our quickest player. Granted there are not many ND type guards left on our schedule until tournament time.

UConn has four games remaining against quality teams. They should win vs Iowa State if Crooks doesn’t go off for 50 points. I even think that they can beat Tennessee at home. Hopefully they don’t drain 30 3-pointers again. Is there a chance that we can beat JUJU and friends. I think so but it depends on who is in the floor from our team.
I think we are favorites against both Iowa State and USC! Especially, if JuJu is either out or less than 100%! You have to give Hidalgo her flowers as a UConn killer! She is a serious problem for us and I don’t mind saying I hope we don’t see her again! However, she is a unique player and one that no one else has, with the possible exception of Fulwiley. Now I do not say Fulwiley is anywhere near HH’s class but she does make me nervous in terms of a one game scenario on the road! The players I fear most are HH, Fulwiley, Flau’Jae, and Betts. The first three obviously because of their speed, and of course Betts not for her speed!:p

Obviously, JuJu is a problem as well but I think we match up better with her than those others. She is much more of a problem now that she has Iriafen but again, we are home and I think we match up better with them! Crooks could also be a problem but I’m not sure she has enough help around her in order to beat us. Getting back to these next two games, the big question of course, is whether Azzi plays and if so, how effective can/will she be? With her, I have to say we are pretty big favorites! Even if she does not play, we are at home and I believe Geno will have our team ready for both of these games!

Yes, both are talented teams (especially USC) but though JuJu & Iriafen are very good, they are gonna have to deal with Paige & Sarah! (and hopefully Azzi) I think we have potential problem players beyond those two/three as well. I believe any one (or more) of Jana, Kaitlyn, Ash, KK, Ice, or Morgan certainly have the potential for a single game go off against either of these two teams! (A modest go off!):rolleyes:

SC is another matter entirely, and cannot be evaluated this early. They, to me, represent our toughest test though! We should be a completely different team by then, assuming we can stay healthy of course! As for Tennessee, they are beginning to look pretty scary as well! At present, it is difficult to believe they are a serious threat to us but every time I watch them play, they become less and less of a sure win!
 
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I think we are favorites against both Iowa State and USC! Especially, if JuJu is either out or less than 100%! You have to give Hidalgo her flowers as a UConn killer! She is a serious problem for us and I don’t mind saying I hope we don’t see her again! However, she is a unique player and one that no one else has, with the possible exception of Fulwiley. Now I do not say Fulwiley is anywhere near HH’s class but she does make me nervous in terms of a one game scenario on the road! The players I fear most are HH, Fulwiley, Flau’Jae, and Betts. The first three obviously because of their speed, and of course Betts not for her speed!:p

Obviously, JuJu is a problem as well but I think we match up better with her than those others. She is much more of a problem now that she has Iriafen but again, we are home and I think we match up better with them! Crooks could also be a problem but I’m not sure she has enough help around her in order to beat us. Getting back to these next two games, the big question of course, is whether Azzi plays and if so, how effective can/will she be? With her, I have to say we are pretty big favorites! Even if she does not play, we are at home and I believe Geno will have our team ready for both of these games!

Yes, both are talented teams (especially USC) but though JuJu & Iriafen are very good, they are gonna have to deal with Paige & Sarah! (and hopefully Azzi) I think we have potential problem players beyond those two/three as well. I believe any one (or more) of Jana, Kaitlyn, Ash, KK, Ice, or Morgan certainly have the potential for a single game go off against either of these two teams! (A modest go off!):rolleyes:

SC is another matter entirely, and cannot be evaluated this early. They, to me, represent our toughest test though! We should be a completely different team by then, assuming we can stay healthy of course! As for Tennessee, they are beginning to look pretty scary as well! At present, it is difficult to believe they are a serious threat to us but every time I watch them play, they become less and less of a sure win!
I pray - yes even at the Notre Dame alter - that UCONN gets a chance to play ND again. Though health and enough playing time is mandatory before meeting again.
 
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UCONN's recruiting has resulted in a supposed strength of mostly shooters but other than Paige, the other shooters are young. so, until Azzi is back at full strength and has had a bunch of games under her belt - we just have to "flip a coin," as to whether they will play great, good, average, etc. especially vs quality teams. UCONN is not going to win the battle in the paint very often at all vs high quality teams. They have to win by spreading the floor which means impose their will upon the other team. Which means the combo of Page/Azzi and Sarah have to control the game.

If one of them doesn't play vs a high quality team, they will struggle. Not saying they will automatically lose but will struggle. So, it doesn't matter SoCar, ND or SoCal etc., if the Big 3 aren't healthy and also unable to play much time together, they are going to have difficulty spreading the floor, so more than likely the opposing team will be able to exploit UCONN's youth inside no matter how many minutes Geno gives them.

We're just going to have to deal with inconsistent play until Azzi comes back and is in top form along with eventual Aubrey along with this being Sarah's 1st year. UCONN has the highest ceiling of any team but Azzi not playing this late hurts this team a lot.
Yes, I agree. Not having Azzi in the lineup hurts in a number of ways. The team has now been structured for her to be in the starting lineup. As a result the demotion of Shade has hurt her confidence greatly. When Azzi can't play, Shade gets her starting role back, but she's pressing to do good rather than just playing with confidence. I would almost prefer to have Shade be the starter and if & when Azzi can play she comes off the bench. It would appear that Azzi simply cannot be counted upon. When Shade is playing with confidence, she scores very well and is capable of giving us that all important third offensive threat. When she's pressing to prove she's good, all is lost. So, we can't count on Azzi which leaves the team without any real chemistry. Shade, as Azzi's replacement, and playing without confidence just won't get the job done. Morgan could perhaps be the answer, but she must begin showing some real offensive skills (meaning scoring in a variety of ways and at will).

Paige, along with Sarah, can carry this team against all but the top rated opponents. In those games, at least someone else must step up and score an additional 15 points or so. We aren't going to run into many buzzsaws like ND. They were primed to beat us and everything worked for them in that game. Very little worked for us. Paige couldn't hit a 3 if her llife depended upon it (primarily because of Citron's defense) and Sarah found herself in early foul trouble. No Azzi and Shade goes scoreless. Chen and Arnold did well, but the rest of the team was in shock.

USC will be a different challenge. Basically this is a completely new team which has yet to find chemistry. JuJu hasn't opened the season as many thought she would. However, she's going to explode back on the scene soon, and our game with them could be the one. She, Kiki and Talia are still figuring out how to play toegther. If JuJu doesn't have a big game, I think we win easily.
 
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Yes, I agree. Not having Azzi in the lineup hurts in a number of ways. The team has now been structured for her to be in the starting lineup. As a result the demotion of Shade has hurt her confidence greatly. When Azzi can't play, Shade gets her starting role back, but she's pressing to do good rather than just playing with confidence. I would almost prefer to have Shade be the starter and if & when Azzi can play she comes off the bench. It would appear that Azzi simply cannot be counted upon. When Shade is playing with confidence, she scores very well and is capable of giving us that all important third offensive threat. When she's pressing to prove she's good, all is lost. So, we can't count on Azzi which leaves the team without any real chemistry. Shade, as Azzi's replacement, and playing without confidence just won't get the job done. Morgan could perhaps be the answer, but she must begin showing some real offensive skills (meaning scoring in a variety of ways and at will).

Paige, along with Sarah, can carry this team against all but the top rated opponents. In those games, at least someone else must step up and score an additional 15 points or so. We aren't going to run into many buzzsaws like ND. They were primed to beat us and everything worked for them in that game. Very little worked for us. Paige couldn't hit a 3 if her llife depended upon it (primarily because of Citron's defense) and Sarah found herself in early foul trouble. No Azzi and Shade goes scoreless. Chen and Arnold did well, but the rest of the team was in shock.

USC will be a different challenge. Basically this is a completely new team which has yet to find chemistry. JuJu hasn't opened the season as many thought she would. However, she's going to explode back on the scene soon, and our game with them could be the one. She, Kiki and Talia are still figuring out how to play toegther. If JuJu doesn't have a big game, I think we win easily.
I just dont think their Defense can be "great" this year because of such inexperience in the frontcourt. OFC Aubrey will help but still she's missed/will miss a lot of time. As a result we're playing in nailbiters with low margin for error vs very good teams if Azzi is unable to reach full throttle. .
 

Bigboote

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I think UConn matches up well against USC. Front court will have Strong vs Iriafen. Both tall, long, talented. We’ll have Iriafen’s greater experience vs Strong’s higher ceiling. Brady/El Alfy vs Marshall. Size and strength vs size and strength, all secondary scorers.

Paige vs Juju, nuff said

USC’s other guards have good size, but not a lot of experience outside of von Oelhoffen. They’re highly touted freshmen (maybe a sophomore or two?), but I think the combinations of Chen/Arnold and Fudd/Shade offer more.

Cheli can offer a few minutes rest for Sarah and Paige.Depending on how the game goes, we might not see much of her, but I think a couple of minutes here and there for Paige and Sarah could be really helpful.
 
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I pray - yes even at the Notre Dame alter - that UCONN gets a chance to play ND again. Though health and enough playing time is mandatory before meeting again.
I pray - yes even at the Notre Dame alter - ND doesnt have an alter but we have lots of altars.

But I too would like to see another round, sorry to play spelling games.
 
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Where would you place a team like SC in that thought pattern?
I was just responding to the post that ND showed some magic formula for beating UConn. No one else has NDs guards.

Not that there aren’t other ways to beat UConn. Just saying that the ND game might not be all that useful a template
 
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In my opinion, although USC is more talented and experienced this year compared to last year, as a whole, they aren’t better than last year’s team. They are missing the toughness and grit of those seniors/grads. I remember watching the game they played against UConn in the tournament last year, those girls were TOUGH. I don’t see that this year.

Sadly, I think the same is happening to UConn so far this year (compared to last year). We are miss Nika’s and Aaliyah’s toughness.
 
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I think UConn will be fine against USC. Y'all have Geno, and they have Gottlieb. They've been beating up on lower-level competition since their loss. Who knows if they have fully incorporated Iriafen yet. I haven't watched any games of them since, but I don't think they can replicate playing against another quality team.
 

HuskyNan

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You should be ashamed of yourself ... correcting someone's spelling when you yourself misspelled a word in your reply (it's doesn't, not doesnt). I'm surprised the staff here allowed your post? If any misspellings truly need correcting it is the incorrect spelling of our players names. That to me, is inexcusable!

And by the way, since you like correcting things, let me point out another error you made. You already quoted the comment when you hit the Reply button. So, there was no need to repeat it in your post. However, if you insist doing so, use quotes around it. Otherwise it's confusing to the reader!
Fair enough. Not an excuse but I was having trouble with the reply, at first I got the wrong post and was having trouble deleting it before going back to the right post. I must have rewritten my lime four times.

Is there an easy way to delete a partial comment?
With so many people typing on iPhones or tablets, we have many spelling errors due to autocorrect. I try to discourage the Grammar Police since no one is immune to human or tech error
 

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