Marquette Post-Game Thread

[Kaizen]

No Aubrey Griffin? I think she is still a roaster in UConn.

 

[The deacon]

DEFENSE

Sorry, Oldude, Christyn's defense, while at times effective, isn't at nearly the level to justify all the minutes she gets during games like this. Geno now has alternatives.

 

[Blueballer]

Agree about CW. So much talent but inconsistent and does disappear. And she played by far the most minutes tonite. Not sure why.

She doesn't have to score a lot to bring stability to the team. She played zero minutes when we played Oregon. Remember what happened? We got clobbered. She is vital to the success of this team regardless of her putting up huge scoring numbers.

 

[oldude]

Sorry, Oldude, Christyn's defense, while at times effective, isn't at nearly the level to justify all the minutes she gets during games like this. Geno now has alternatives.

Who would you play in her place? Tonight Nika was in foul trouble, putting up a goose egg, and Caroline was a turnover machine.

 

[jaydee602]

LOL.....Geno said that after getting stitches for that shot in her mouth, Dorka's English got much better. He finally understood her. Coach is in a joking mood tonight!

 

[oldude]

LOL.....Geno said that after getting stitches for that shot in her mouth, Dorka's English got much better. He finally understood her. Coach is in a joking mood tonight!

As much as I feel for Dorka, It’s good to know that it’s only stitches, which should not cause her to miss any time.

 

[hoopsfan22]

45 hours until the next game so hopefully Dorka heals as fast as Paige!

 

[jaydee602]

45 hours until the next game so hopefully Dorka heals as fast as Paige!

I wouldn't be surprised in Geno gives Dorka a game to heal. The Huskies are so deep right now & they shouldn't miss her vs, a struggling St. John's team.

 

[darkstar1]

She doesn't have to score a lot to bring stability to the team. She played zero minutes when we played Oregon. Remember what happened? We got clobbered. She is vital to the success of this team regardless of her putting up huge scoring numbers.

Don’t disagree about CW being vital. I’d say that if she wasn’t productive offensively. We’re not the same team that lost to Oregon. Just don’t see enough to justify all those minutes when others have come on and are more consistent. I leave it Geno to figure it all out.

 

[cohenzone]

Agree about CW. So much talent but inconsistent and does disappear. And she played by far the most minutes tonite. Not sure why.

She plays a decent all around game. She’s a very streaky shooter. I’m afraid we have to live with that and she scored later in the game. I don’t think you want her sitting all that long.

 

[jchusky]

Sorry, Oldude, Christyn's defense, while at times effective, isn't at nearly the level to justify all the minutes she gets during games like this. Geno now has alternatives.

you do realize she's the team's best defender right?

 

[JoePgh]

To me, one of more significant things that happened this evening happened before the opening tip-off. Liv was restored to the starting lineup, but Caroline was not. Since they both seem to be at the same (nearly complete) level of recovery from their injuries, this suggests to me that (at least for now) Azzi has taken Caroline's place in the UConn starting lineup.

While it is unkind for someone to lose her starter's status because of an injury, I think Caroline may find herself "Drew Bledsoe-d" by Azzi "TB12" Fudd. Given the way Azzi has played and shot the ball in the time she has been a starter, it is hard to argue with Geno making this decision. Caroline will still make a major contribution off the bench. What a luxury for Geno to have the "3" position covered by a depth chart of Azzi / Evina / Caroline! They could play together if need be, meaning that one or two of them would also cover the "2".

I think it's pretty clear that when Paige returns (no longer saying "if" after Geno's latest comments), she will replace Nika in the starting lineup, and the two of them will cover the PG position very adequately. Nika will still have a major role since I don't think Paige will play more than 20-25 minutes in any game this season.

Suddenly the front court is looking like the least deep part of the roster. I hope that after the last two games, no one still thinks the either Amari or Piath is ready for significant minutes in a "win or go home" game.

Two other comments, mostly unrelated to the above:

1. Those who think Christyn should get far fewer minutes are still failing to identify who else we have on the roster who can successfully defend an opponent's fast guard. Evina is not particularly quick, Azzi less so, and Caroline Ducharme is not quick at all. Nika and Paige are not fast enough to do that job, and Paige in particular should not be asked to do that in the next six weeks.
2. Caroline scored OK in tonight's game (though I can't remember her missing a layup like she did tonight), but she has a real problem with turnovers. This was true even before her injury, and it continues to be true. If there is a concrete reason why she should get fewer minutes than Azzi or the current version of Evina, that is it.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

45 hours until the next game so hopefully Dorka heals as fast as Paige!

Wounds in the mouth (and at the other end of the food processing system)
tend to heal more rapidly than wounds to other parts of the body.

 

[LoboDays]

Evina was great but the team we saw tonight loses in the Elite Eight. They just need to play better for all four quarters.

 

[jdote33]

To me, one of more significant things that happened this evening happened before the opening tip-off. Liv was restored to the starting lineup, but Caroline was not. Since they both seem to be at the same (nearly complete) level of recovery from their injuries, this suggests to me that (at least for now) Azzi has taken Caroline's place in the UConn starting lineup.

While it is unkind for someone to lose her starter's status because of an injury, I think Caroline may find herself "Drew Bledsoe-d" by Azzi "TB12" Fudd. Given the way Azzi has played and shot the ball in the time she has been a starter, it is hard to argue with Geno making this decision. Caroline will still make a major contribution off the bench. What a luxury for Geno to have the "3" position covered by a depth chart of Azzi / Evina / Caroline! They could play together if need be, meaning that one or two of them would also cover the "2".

I think it's pretty clear that when Paige returns (no longer saying "if" after Geno's latest comments), she will replace Nika in the starting lineup, and the two of them will cover the PG position very adequately. Nika will still have a major role since I don't think Paige will play more than 20-25 minutes in any game this season.

Suddenly the front court is looking like the least deep part of the roster. I hope that after the last two games, no one still thinks the either Amari or Piath is ready for significant minutes in a "win or go home" game.

Two other comments, mostly unrelated to the above:

1. Those who think Christyn should get far fewer minutes are still failing to identify who else we have on the roster who can successfully defend an opponent's fast guard. Evina is not particularly quick, Azzi less so, and Caroline Ducharme is not quick at all. Nika and Paige are not fast enough to do that job, and Paige in particular should not be asked to do that in the next six weeks.
2. Caroline scored OK in tonight's game (though I can't remember her missing a layup like she did tonight), but she has a real problem with turnovers. This was true even before her injury, and it continues to be true. If there is a concrete reason why she should get fewer minutes than Azzi or the current version of Evina, that is it.

To your first point, that's what I found most interesting as well. I kinda had a hunch based on last game, that when ONO was ready to start again, she would replace Dorka instead of replace AE. I watched some games from last year, and I sort've forgot how great the team was by the end of the year. They were really humming last year during the BE tournament, and they were actually starting EW at the 4. So I was thinking maybe when ONO started, CD would start as well, but it looks like that's not that case.

Anyways, I agree with your second comment as well, regarding CD, who has low key turned into one of my favorite players to watch this season. She was doing the turnover thing early on in the season. I wasn't sure if it was a conditioning thing, or a physical strength thing, but I was a bit disappointed in some of the one's she had today. On the other end, she did score pretty well. I'm going to take a quick look at some of the games when she was in a groove, because another thing I feel like I'm seeing with her recently, is not really sprinting or turning and running, when getting back on defense. Regardless if she comes of the bench or starts I hope she realizes that she's super crucial.

I like when Azzi does that thing where she doesn't miss in the second half if she starts slow in the first. jk.

I was really happy with the way ONO played. I thought her passing, and her scoring inside was great. As everyone has stated, I hope Dorka is ok. She played a very good floor game and it seemed like when she was on the floor good things happened.

Of course, EW was the star of the game. The praise from Geno was really high, and I think this is what we saw from EW during some big time games last season. I love how she is driving, and taking pull-ups. I felt like for a period this year, she was only looking to take open threes. Additionally, and it's weird to say, but I think a big part of this may be that when she replaces Nika she gets to be the only point guard.

 

[Woof 101]

The calls are not BS. I very disappointed that the team has not adjusted to that call this late in the season. Clearly this has been a point of emphasis from the refs since game 1 and UCONN has not adjusted. BTW the refs missed several of those travel calls as well.

@CocoHusky I agree but the game should have been called this way earlier in the season for players to adjust. Tonight this late in the season was a bit much to watch. Simply inconsistent overall. See below for more...

The Rules Committee instructed the refs to prioritize calls on the shuffling of feet far away from the basket.

@jaydee602 No attack and thank you for the info, but why in the world of basketball would shuffling of the feet not be the same anywhere on the court???
Not at you jay but what is going to happen if they start calling carrying (which is rampant) double dribbling and God forbid pivot foot movement. A Marquette player in the first quarter pivoted one way twice and then changed her pivot foot without dribbling the ball.
Officials and taking heads never saw it. Consistency in how the game is called is very much in order.

 

[RedStickHusky]

She is not the most athletic Husky, but she plays a steady game within her physical abilities, mostly because she has limited her mistakes and seems to be playing smarter with each game, especially on defense. She has become a reliable, positive presence on the floor. Kudos for her.

Geno answered this the other day... Defense, she can play the most positions, and she's the healthiest.. As for scoring, she'll get more when Azzi is hitting jumpers. Some nights there's no room for Slashing.

 

[Carnac]

Looked like elbow to mouth.

Ditto.

 

[uconnfan68]

Obviously the mens refs didnt get the traveling call emphasis last night. Villanova walked numerous times and I dont think they ever had it called.

NBA rules.

 

[FridaFriend]

Olivia was smiling tonight.

 

[donalddoowop]

To me, one of more significant things that happened this evening happened before the opening tip-off. Liv was restored to the starting lineup, but Caroline was not. Since they both seem to be at the same (nearly complete) level of recovery from their injuries, this suggests to me that (at least for now) Azzi has taken Caroline's place in the UConn starting lineup.

While it is unkind for someone to lose her starter's status because of an injury, I think Caroline may find herself "Drew Bledsoe-d" by Azzi "TB12" Fudd. Given the way Azzi has played and shot the ball in the time she has been a starter, it is hard to argue with Geno making this decision. Caroline will still make a major contribution off the bench. What a luxury for Geno to have the "3" position covered by a depth chart of Azzi / Evina / Caroline! They could play together if need be, meaning that one or two of them would also cover the "2".

I think it's pretty clear that when Paige returns (no longer saying "if" after Geno's latest comments), she will replace Nika in the starting lineup, and the two of them will cover the PG position very adequately. Nika will still have a major role since I don't think Paige will play more than 20-25 minutes in any game this season.

Suddenly the front court is looking like the least deep part of the roster. I hope that after the last two games, no one still thinks the either Amari or Piath is ready for significant minutes in a "win or go home" game.

Two other comments, mostly unrelated to the above:

1. Those who think Christyn should get far fewer minutes are still failing to identify who else we have on the roster who can successfully defend an opponent's fast guard. Evina is not particularly quick, Azzi less so, and Caroline Ducharme is not quick at all. Nika and Paige are not fast enough to do that job, and Paige in particular should not be asked to do that in the next six weeks.
2. Caroline scored OK in tonight's game (though I can't remember her missing a layup like she did tonight), but she has a real problem with turnovers. This was true even before her injury, and it continues to be true. If there is a concrete reason why she should get fewer minutes than Azzi or the current version of Evina, that is it.

Please show me one instance where someone posted that Piath and/or Amari is ready for significant minutes in a "win or go home" game. Every post I have seen state they should get to play when the game is well in hand. Maybe I missed something.

 

[Redux]

the team we saw tonight loses in the Elite Eight

Probably true. But I just looked at the schedule and I don't see that game tomorrow or anytime real soon. I like the trajectory.