Marquette postgame thread

[freshler40]

A few observations from someone who only saw it on TV.

• The defensive and offensive effort in the 1st quarter was outstanding. There was some slight drop off in the later quarters and a few too many TOs. But that opening was amazing.
• Aubrey was impressive. I hope she's really back and can sustain this level of athleticism through both tournaments. She forced TOs, crashed boards, got putbacks, and made good cuts.
• Paige and Sarah can do pretty much whatever they want on the court. Yes, there were a few miscues. But there were also a lot of really crisp plays and excellent reads.
• I liked what I saw of Jana -- 3 for 3 for 6 pts in 13 mins. Also 4 fouls. But what I mainly noticed was the glimmer of the beast in the low post she was in high school. No more mincing moves. Also, she read what the ball handlers were doing and responded well. Her defensive lapses are till a problem. But that's a manageable problem, especially with Ice and Sara and Aubrey available. Meg had a great comment on one needless foul: "You're 6'5", just occupy the baseline with your arms up and be big." This is a bit of wisdom she'll come to soon enough.
• If I had to guess, on the strength of this performance, Azzi is returning. Her defense is excellent, but her offensive production comes and goes. This is as much about the problem of sharing the shot opportunities as it is about consistency. If she comes back, she'll be the focus of the offense that Paige is now, and she'll have a resumé that will get her a better lottery position.
• Ice looked really good on the court again. She moved well, handled the ball well, and even drove the lane for a score at one point. She's back just in time.

Something else occurred to me, while watching the other games on today and last night: UConn can beat any of the top teams, or lose to them. No team is safe from Paige & Co. Our defense is at least as good as ND's or USC's or SC's, and our offense is best in the nation when Azzi is hitting.

Loved seeing the more creative play from the players on the floor. While this can result in some turnovers, the mix it creates on offense is nasty for our opponents. All our players are a scoring threat. The current faster pace of play and dribble penetration is a thing of beauty. The ball is not getting stuck. This is a basketball clinic.

 

[HuskyNan]

Boy, do the Huskies need a post presence to step up

 

[Ralph]

Fantastic game for the seniors to go finish their regular season play with! In particular let me note how nice it was seeing Ice picking up right where she left off!!

Thank you seniors!!! Still more work to be done, but savor the success for tonight!!

I don't think Ice picked up where she left off, she played like she played last year in the BE tourney. I think this was her best game of the season. Even if not a ton on minutes, she played great when she was in, and we will need her to help us get to number 12.

 

[Ralph]

The first and hopefully second.

hopefully??????? total lack of 100% faith in the team. As we are going to win number 12, second round win is a forgone conclusion.

 

[Ralph]

I really liked the idea that the ceremony was after the game. In the past, the seniors would get all emotional and teary eyed, then they all started and were not really ready to play ball, and UConn would be behind after 5 minutes looking terrible. They the regular starters would go in and the team would gradually get back to playing a good game. And as someone mentioned traffic getting out it awful. So this way a few can leave who don't want to stay. And as the ceremony goes on, more and more can gradually leave. Much better traffic flow.

 

[yhun89]

Geno was right when he said Ice looked better than she was before the injury… she looks like she had zero rust coming off yesterday.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I would love it if Geno kept that senior & Sarah starting lineup. It was very effective. Usually Aubrey comes off the bench, but she was even better getting the start.

 

[yhun89]

I would love it if Geno kept that senior & Sarah starting lineup. It was very effective. Usually Aubrey comes off the bench, but she was even better getting the start.

Agreed. In my opinion, our "sparks" off the bench are now KK and Ash, who come in and absolutely decimate ball handlers on a press.

 

[Bone Dog]

So the question is what happens in the inevitable game when we are having an off shooting might. To me, the difference between now and the ND, USC or Tennessee game is that our defense is probably 25% better and that can make all the difference.

I think the defense in the second half of the USC game was already 25% better. UConn dominated the second half just as they were dominated in the first half. It’s all about consistency now.

 

[yhun89]

So the question is what happens in the inevitable game when we are having an off shooting might. To me, the difference between now and the ND, USC or Tennessee game is that our defense is probably 25% better and that can make all the difference.

Defense wins games. With ND and USC, we had no Aubrey and Azzi. Both of them have improved greatly on defense/were already great in the past. USC was so winnable if our press had activated earlier. Tennessee is one game where we were exposed as not having a proper rim protector. This could come back to bite us potentially. But that game, Paige and Azzi both got into foul trouble early as well, Azzi having to sit down when she was starting to get hot.

 

[OldSchooler]

As to starting lineup going forward, Geno said in the post-game presser that each game's starting lineup would be dictated by who the opponent is and what the game plan is for that particular foe. This year's healthy bench has afforded him this unusual flexibility.

 

[Ozimoto]

Not much to say about yesterday's game. Total domination of a team that was no pushover. One small nit to pick is that the team is still vulnerable to quick penetrating ball handlers and there is no consistent last ditch rim defender. Fortunately, the defense otherwise is more than solid.

 

[TAK]

Not much to say about yesterday's game. Total domination of a team that was no pushover. One small nit to pick is that the team is still vulnerable to quick penetrating ball handlers and there is no consistent last ditch rim defender. Fortunately, the defense otherwise is more than solid.

Agree. Marquette’s speedy guard #2 Mason was everywhere even disrupting UConn’s transition offense.

 

[uconnfan68]

The first and hopefully second.

The half empty guy?

 

[BBallF]

Defense wins games. With ND and USC, we had no Aubrey and Azzi. Both of them have improved greatly on defense/were already great in the past. USC was so winnable if our press had activated earlier. Tennessee is one game where we were exposed as not having a proper rim protector. This could come back to bite us potentially. But that game, Paige and Azzi both got into foul trouble early as well, Azzi having to sit down when she was starting to get hot.

I think that defense wins championships as the old adage goes. I just worry about a team wide cold spell. When we are hot like at SC, a rim protector will not matter. Plus we have a leaner, meaner Ice back and an Aubrey in playing form. I think the weakness in the post that we all saw in November is still there but it is lessened now.

 

[ERWUC65]

Agree. Marquette’s speedy guard #2 Mason was everywhere even disrupting UConn’s transition offense.

Marquette is a good team, certainly up there with Creighton. Mason is unique, not sure we will see anyone else like her, maybe HH, but KK can usually cover the opposition speed.

 

[HuskyNan]

There are some good coaches in the Big East. They just need the talent to get to the next level

 

[BBallF]

The half empty guy?

Ya think? In that second game we will likely play anywhere from the 7th to16th seeded team in the region at worst. That makes them ranked absolutely no higher than 25th in the country. Nuff said.

 

[ERWUC65]

Creighton, Seton Hall & Marquette all have 20+ wins, all 3 can beat each other on any given day, so while only Creighton is in the NCAA right now, one of the others might also get in?

 

[Longtime fan]

Loved everything about the game. Loved the seniors showing the youngsters the Husky way! While we still have a ways to go this season, will miss these seniors. Loved seeing the emotion of their teammates during the ceremony. Would have loved to see carol’s three go in, would have completed the day. Well done!

She'll get one in the first round of the BE tournament.

 

[Longtime fan]

She'll get one in the first round of the BE tournament.

Geno ( and others ) often say that, in practice, Caroline is by far the deadliest three point shooter. How that environment changes in a live game.

 

[HuskyNan]

Creighton, Seton Hall & Marquette all have 20+ wins, all 3 can beat each other on any given day, so while only Creighton is in the NCAA right now, one of the others might also get in?

Marquette is listed as one of the first four teams out in this week’s bracketology (I.e. educated guess). In other words, a bubble team that needs to do reasonably well in the Big East tournament to get an invite to the Big Dance

 

[BRS24]

One play I loved that Paige and Sarah ran a few times yesterday was a high low. Paige passing from the top of the arc, while Sarah had her man pinned at the free throw line, and then released for the lob pass and layup. Mmmm.

 

[Rowdy831]

I think we should have a guessing game on the number of turnovers when using bounce passes.

Especially to a 6'5 post player.

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

I would love for Ice to turn up her game during conference and ncaa tournament. Ice has the ability to change the trajectory of this team this year. I would also love to see her shoot the 3 more often, it will open up the floor for a slashing Strong or Griffin.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Captain Obvious here. Besides the likelihood of the game being replayed on FS1 and/or FS2 in the next couple of days, it is already available on the good ol' Fox Sports App. No idea if the replay contains the Postgame festivities.

In case someone has not seen the Senior Ceremony:


Go Huskies!!!