Louisville Post-Game Thread

[shizam]

I don’t think this team is as good as last year’s team The chemistry last year seemed a lot better. If I were a UConn fan Stevens would be a concern especially based on the hype on this board going into the season. I’m not a UConn follower though. Just my own observations.

 

[Huskie78]

UConn clearly took their foot off the gas.... I wonder if that was on purpose.

Definetly in Q4.
Running as much clock as possible.
At halftime I was pretty confident the Huskies would get to at least 60 and Louisville would not.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Looks like our 3 shooters were pretty much all off.

Lou was fine. Unfortunately Crystal was cold as ice!

 

[Centerstream]

Did anyone notice how physical #23 was with KLS in the 2Q?

That's the usual MO for defending Lou.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Somebody send a pizza to Crystal's dorm suite ... maybe 2.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Official Photo Galleries are already up! UConn vs. Louisville (USATSI)

I like this shot because it shows some definition to Lou's arms. As a freshman, I think very few would have believed she would ever develop any strength or definition.

 

[Blue Huskie]

I am guessing that Geno didn't appreciate Crystal continuing to shoot long distance 3s instead of running the offense and getting assists and that's why she sat.

I'm guessing it's because she was hurting.

 

[Bama fan]

Love it when analysts say that a team played the better second half. Oh wait, but they still LOST!!!!!!!

So you are saying that they count both halves?

 

[Centerstream]

I don’t think this team is as good as last year’s team The chemistry last year seemed a lot better. If I were a UConn fan Stevens would be a concern especially based on the hype on this board going into the season. I’m not a UConn follower though. Just my own observations.

You may be right when discussing the "team" but IMHO, the starters are waaaaay better.

 

[HoopsFan21]

That's the usual MO for defending Lou.

Yep. If you can't stop her, and not too many teams can, punch her in the eyeball.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I don’t think this team is as good as last year’s team The chemistry last year seemed a lot better. If I were a UConn fan Stevens would be a concern especially based on the hype on this board going into the season. I’m not a UConn follower though. Just my own observations.

I don't think this was a very good game for Azura and I know it wasn't a good game for Crystal either while Napheesa had a mediocre game, at best.

 

[Centerstream]

So you are saying that they count both halves?

I always thought that was how the games were played, but I could be wrong. Happens quite often.

 

[HoopsFan21]

You may be right when discussing the "team" but IMHO, the starters are waaaaay better.

I agree about the starters. Our starting five look good and I don't think there is a better starting five out there. But when you sub, and even Geno has to at some point, yikes. I like the starting five being roughly the same height, 4 of the 5 can shoot the 3, they can all defend, spacing tends to very good, everyone is fast enough to run the fast break, or cut for back doors, etc. When they sub in Z everything is disrupted.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I am guessing that Geno didn't appreciate Crystal continuing to shoot long distance 3s instead of running the offense and getting assists and that's why she sat.

Her shot selection left much to be desired and she didn't seem to be that concerned with getting her teammates involved. I haven't had the opportunity to see a lot of this year's Huskie games but her performance tonight left a lot to be desired!

 

[Los24]

Thank You UConnCat... truly a wise woman!!!

Kia probably increased her chances for at least consideration for DPOY...although I can't see Gabby losing it.

Kia face guards and stays in front of player better while Gabby creates more turnovers, can recover better if initially beat, help defends better and obviously (defensive) rebounds better. Gabby also contributes on offense more even when guarding a tough opponent where it seems Kia does not score much (when guarding/focusing on a high scorer.) Both should be all defense though.

 

[rt bb fan]

Why were they not looking for Lou in the second half. Players were taking shots they shouldn't have.

 

[Bama fan]

Did anyone notice how physical #23 was with KLS in the 2Q?

I sure think Lou noticed. She got banged around for three quarters. Tough kid.

 

[Centerstream]

I'm guessing it's because she was hurting.

You could be right, I was just giving my opinion.

 

[Buzzyboy]

The idea that there would be a different result if the game was played in LV is a feel good thought for the opposing fans, but proven by UConn to be a fallacy. South Carolina, Texas and UCLA said the same thing last year. All lost at home this year. I can recall from previous years, ND, Maryland and Baylor, with similar, "wait til we play them at home". Games might be a bit closer, but the results will likely be the same. In the end UConn only needs to win not blow out teams. UConn fans are spoiled and opposing fans always have hope. That's the way it is, and I hope, that is the way it stays.

I'd be inclined to think that UConn's performance would have probably been better, at least in the latter part of the game. I think they had a bit of a letdown and that's pretty idiotic that Louisville automatically been better because they lost their one previous game at home, didn't they? Does that suggest that the team (mediocre) who beat them would like to play them at their respective home so they could have an even easier time beating them?

 

[HuskyNan]

Funny, but that's not how games are decided.

Durr took 19 shots and was 3-12 on 3-pointers. Of course she's good, we knew that. But she had to work extremely hard for her shots and 3-12 on three-pointers is not a winning formula for her team. Oh, and Lou is pretty good too. In fact, Lou was better tonight.

I'm sure Louisville will take positives from this game. That's what losing teams try to do. If these teams meet again this season it won't be on Louisville's home court (last I checked) and it will be with a lot more pressure so we'll see who makes shots and who doesn't. Overall, UConn's defense was pretty good.

All that said, folks here still need to lower the expectations a bit. There's a lot of talent on this team but there's an obvious weakness in the lane. Azura isn't a strong finisher at the rim and doesn't have back-to-the-basket moves. I wish she did but she doesn't. Funny, I watched some video today of Stewie over in China and she made a couple of jump-hooks. My first thought was: why doesn't Azura have that move? The answer probably goes back a few years but maybe she can develop one by next year.

We should enjoy the tremendous success of this team while understanding that there are weaknesses that can be exposed down the road.

Overall, a good win.

Well said. I would add that there are always weaknesses but part of Geno’s genius is his ability to cover them up. Against most teams, no problem, but certain matchups or styles of play can make it more difficult.

 

[UConnCat]

I do realize that this game may be an aberration for her because she has supposedly been very good this year though I haven't had a chance to see a lot of their games because I live in Florida.

Not supposedly, Crystal has been terrific this season. That's a fact. Not her best game tonight.

 

[Centerstream]

According to Andy Landers, Louisville won the second half because Coach Walz made the correct adjustments at halftime which I guess also means that Andy doesn't think that Geno did. Hmmm.

 

[Carnac]

Congratulations to Geno, his staff and the players for a hard fought win over the #4 team in the country. Congratulations are also in order for those posters that had the conviction and the onions to predict a double digit win tonight. My hat is off to you all!!!

 

[Zinethar]

To me it appeared that the starters pushed hard to get up 20 then they took the foot off the petal and just tried to maintain. Many teams do that for just as many reasons. Problem with that strategy is when the other team gets hot that lead can shrink. Each time it did plays were run to bring it back under control. I never felt the result was in danger. Biggest thing I've noticed since Chrystal has had to rest is that when Kia runs the point her place as the #2 scoring threat stops. It then makes the offense much more limited.Relax all, Louisville was/is the #4 team in the country. Handled. No one appears to have been seriously injured. I thought the announcing was outstanding from both the studio and arena. The conditioning is a result of trying to get more floor time for the bench. Can't do both - give bench time and get starters in shape for 40 minutes.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Hopefully teams will learn from playing against us (UConn) and make adjustments so come tournament time we get really exciting games where we don’t no the outcome of the game until the very end.

Is this a serious take?

I hope we win every game by 50.

 

[UConnCat]

According to Andy Landers, Louisville won the second half because Coach Walz made the correct adjustments at halftime which I guess also means that Andy doesn't think that Geno did. Hmmm.

Good for Jeff. He made adjustments.

Not all games are decided in the 2nd half or the 4th quarter. Some games are decided in the first half or, like tonight, in the 1st quarter. When the game was being decided Jeff's team didn't make shots and turned the ball over.

A month ago UConn was down 10 in the 1st quarter to an inspired Texas team in front of a raucous crowd. That game could have been decided in the 1st quarter had UConn not made plays and made shots to keep it close. That's what winning teams do.

 

[eebmg]

In the second half, we got open shots but missed more than usual and Durr played outstanding and Hines played well against a pretty tight defense imho. We probably should have tried a little more pressure because we did not force turnovers but I think we felt the offense would come naturally.

 

[Jaybird65]

A very interesting game to watch from the UConn side. Foot on the gas like crazy 1st half. Louisville cut down on turnovers & made shots 2nd half; we cooled off shooting as one would expect; sometimes pass a little too much. I actually thought the pace of the 2nd half played into UConn's hands; Louisville was pretty much in a position where they needed to make just about every shot in the 2nd half to come back because of the length of possessions; the time of each possession minimized the number of possessions for Louisville. We did what we needed to do to win the game & that's the objective.

 

[Lynx23]

Kia face guards and stays in front of player better while Gabby creates more turnovers, can recover better if initially beat, help defends better and obviously (defensive) rebounds better. Gabby also contributes on offense more even when guarding a tough opponent where it seems Kia does not score much (when guarding/focusing on a high scorer.) Both should be all defense though.

Your points are well taken but Kia usually has the tougher assignment, chasing the opponent's best shooter all over the floor all game long, which may explain why her offensive production suffers. However, the remaining four on the floor are all shooters and don't ordinarily require her points so this is rarely an issue. Kia simply does her job as a defender, which becomes her primary role on the floor. She played great tonight and wasn't personally responsible for many of Durr's points, which came when she was either on the bench or after she had switched off to another player on defense.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Is this a serious take?

I hope we win every game by 50.

Yes, it’s a serious take. I personally prefer to watch close games in lieu of blowouts. To me they’re more entertaining.