Maybe now the experts will stop wetting themselves over Baylor

[freshler40]

Even though my pants are still dry, I thought. and still think, that Baylor is a very impressive team. That said, as one poster said, if UConn shows up firing on all cylinders, they can win. But to me, it's all about matchups. And while Bueckers presents problems for any team, Baylor's size could be a real issue, especially if our bigs get into foul trouble. That's been noticeably absent from the team recently, but it's been an issue in the past, and would really create problems if it were to happen.

Much depends upon how the game is refed. If it's called tight, this can be a problem of us. Baylor didn't seem to have a 3 point game, pushed the ball inside where they were somewhat effective but also missed a large number of layups. I don't know if this is a chronic problem for them, it sure was for our men's team. We also go 8 deep but not inside if foul trouble arrives.

 

[Bama fan]

There were some posters on here wetting their pants over Baylor as well. Hopefully they showered and changed drawls at least.

When speaking of Baylor , drawls are quite appropriate.

 

[fomalhaut]

Anyone who thinks Baylor is going to be an easy opponent, because they didn't play as well as Connecticut today, is the one wetting themselves.

 

[HuskyNan]

Baylor is 3rd in team defense, Iowa 215th.

Baylor is #1 in rebound margin, Iowa 144th.

UConn is:
#2 in scoring defense
#3 in field goal defense
#4 in scoring offense
#1 in field goal %
#4 in personal fouls
#4 in assist to turnover ratio
#1 in assists per game
#6 in rebound margin

 

[hoopsfan22]

When speaking of Baylor , drawls are quite appropriate.

Where did Kim Mulkey get hers? I was unaware people from Los Angeles talk with that kind of accent.

 

[Urshurak]

Baylor will be a lot tougher than Iowa. Iowa had a weak defense, and gave up a lot of offensive rebounds. Baylor has good defenders and rebounders. Expect a tough game. Will we shoot 60% against Baylor?

Agree. Second chance points will be very difficult against Baylor. We need to shoot 46-48% and at least stay competitive in rebounds. I think these two things are key to winning for the Huskies.

 

[HopJim]

Baylor is 3rd in team defense, Iowa 215th.

Baylor is #1 in rebound margin, Iowa 144th.

Anyone who takes Baylor for granted has not followed women's college basketball this year. My assessment is that they had their eyes on UConn and were not prepared to play a good Mich. team. Baylor has as much talent as anyone in the country but we have Paige and a better team.

 

[HuskyNan]

Where did Kim Mulkey get hers? I was unaware people from Los Angeles talk with that kind of accent.

It’s all those years in Louisiana

 

[Urshurak]

It’s all those years in Louisiana

Looooose-iana

 

[ochoopsfan]

UConn is:
#2 in scoring defense
#3 in field goal defense
#4 in scoring offense
#1 in field goal %
#4 in personal fouls
#4 in assist to turnover ratio
#1 in assists per game
#6 in rebound margin

UConn actually is 2nd in APG. Cal Baptist is first. 21.3 to 20.9
NCAA puts CBU stats, "Below the Line" because of the transition to DI(3rd year). Dumbest thing NCAA does.

When looking at NCAA stats, NCAA.org is more detailed than NCAA.com

NCAA Statistics

stats.ncaa.org

You will have to got to each stat, then scroll down, below the line.

 

[EricSD]

Anyone who thinks Baylor is going to be an easy opponent, because they didn't play as well as Connecticut today, is the one wetting themselves.

Has literally ANYONE on this board said anything about Baylor being "easy"? Not sure why you even made the comment.

Everyone here knows Baylor is tough as hell. My point was that maybe now the so-called "experts" will stop with the "Baylor is the team to beat" mantra. Obviously the game has to be played. But if Baylor plays like they did today and UCONN plays like we did today, I like our chances a LOT more than I like Baylor's.

 

[bluedevil]

Kim is the second best coach in the country(sorry Tara). Her teams are always prepared.. I think 68 points will win it.

 

[Kmoney]

A good team should be able to back door or back screen Baylor to death.

 

[jabstep]

Smith going 11 for 11 is hardly ordinary. More All American, and the first time it's been done.

She is a bit of a matchup problem for us. I think Aaliyah is athletic enough and will be up for the challenge. If she gets in foul trouble we have Aubrey and Anna to take her on. We are a better offensive team than Baylor. Texas held them to 66. We are going to need Chrystn and E to play like they did today. UConn wins 74-68.

 

[Stymie]

Way to many late mistakes by Michigan

Late turnovers=R.I.P.

 

[Bama fan]

Where did Kim Mulkey get hers? I was unaware people from Los Angeles talk with that kind of accent.

Maybe the twenty years she spent in Ruston, La.

 

[Golden Husky]

Kim is the second best coach in the country(sorry Tara). Her teams are always prepared.. I think 68 points will win it.

Agree, Kim is the second best coach in the country:

Tara: Two national championships, both before Connecticut became the dominant team in NCAA women's basketball.
Kim: Three national championships, all three during the era Connecticut became the dominant team in NCAA women's basketball.

 

[Charliebball]

UCONN systematically dismantled a really good Iowa team, and it took everything Baylor had in OT to beat 6 seed Michigan, who by the way, apparently was without their starting PG.

Baylor plays some smothering defense and has good size, but they don't seem to have a true PG. Michigan is noticeably smaller than UCONN, and still almost sprung the upset. Not saying it will be an easy game by any stretch, but man was I sick of the "Baylor has been the most impressive team in the NCAA's".

Not to mention the predictions by some that "Baylor will come out of that region and make it to the final 4".

NO THANK YOU. Or to quote Dikembe Mutombo from those commercials "NO NO NO... Not in my house!"...

Baylor is hardly an offensive juggernaut but don't sell them short regardless of how they looked today...........they are big, physical and play tough defense so the odds of an easy victory are pretty low in my opinion.........Of course if UConn shoots well from the outside they should win this battle but I
have a feeling it's not going to be a high scoring game as Baylor slows play in the half court.............

 

[Heytherego]

 

[SallyH]

I apologize if I sound like Tony +

I thought Baylor looked very ordinary today
Missed loads of chipie's, not so hot from the outside.
Thought that Iowa presented more problems (solved) for our defense
OK, their D and certainly their rebounding is a bit better than the Hawkeyes
But I don't foresee an especially difficult game

Tony's contagious, isn't he?

 

[Childhood]

Nice answer, a humble coach

 

[JoePgh]

It should be noted that:

1. Michigan (Baylor's opponent today) was a #6 seed in the tournament, and therefore (at least in the Committee's judgment) a slightly inferior opponent to Iowa, who was a #5 seed. This is despite the fact that Michigan was ahead of Iowa in the Big 10 standings -- but the Wolverines played many fewer games than Iowa due to COVID.
2. There was one head-to-head meeting between Michigan and Iowa, on February 25, and the result was a 22-point Iowa victory. Note that this was quite late in the season when both teams were presumably playing at or near the best.

So these data points suggest that UConn defeated a slightly better team by 20 points than Baylor beat in overtime by 3 points.

Just sayin' ...

 

[mag 7]

I, for one, was a lot more afraid of Baylor before I watched them play.

 

[willtalk]

Some of the posters were wetting themselves in two places over Baylor not getting a #1 seed... hopefully they washed their faces as well.

I was not one of them, but until this game I was beginning to think I had severly underestimated Baylor and the Big 12. But its all about matchups and when you catch the other team. I did underestimate both. They are better than I thought. Still UConn should win because they have the better and more complete team. Baylor relies a lot on matchups.

 

[UConnCat]

Michigan played Baylor exactly how teams should play them. Limit transition and force Baylor's guards to dribble the ball and make jump shots in the half court. Richards is not a good shooter and Ursin and Carrington are going to make some but mostly 2-point shots. Baylor's guards can be loose with the ball. Michigan had no answer for Smith but most teams don't.

Michigan's biggest problems in the game were the lack of a 3rd scorer after Hillmon and Brown and some critical live-ball turnovers that allowed Carrington to score on the break.

Baylor is a very difficult match-up for any team because of how they defend and rebound. If UConn can limit transition like Michigan did and hold their own on the boards they can certainly win the game.

 

[Zinethar]

From my coaching days every contest was going to be a dog fight. If we won easily and I was questioned about it the answer always was it was easy because you stepped up and performed. Could Baylor be easy for us - not likely but possible. Could they beat us - I don't think it is likely considering how we have been playing but certainly is possible. I believe That our coaches will have the Huskies prepared. I have faith.

 

[mattlow710]

Play inside, queen always has the issue of fouling,i can see AE or ONO will get shine this battle

 

[JoePgh]

I wonder whether this is an appropriate thing for Kim Mulkey to say before the game. It's certainly surprising. What if Olivia were to say, "I'm certainly not going to outplay Nalyssa Smith, so the other players and the coach will have to step up and win this game"?

Kim Mulkey is playing a position for the Baylor Bear WCBB team: the position of head coach. It seems to me that she has to project the same confident attitude that she undoubtedly expects of each of her players -- that she can outplay her UConn counterpart at her position.

 

[UConnCat]

I wonder whether this is an appropriate thing for Kim Mulkey to say before the game. It's certainly surprising. What if Olivia were to say, "I'm certainly not going to outplay Nalyssa Smith, so the other players and the coach will have to step up and win this game"?

Kim Mulkey is playing a position for the Baylor Bear WCBB team: the position of head coach. It seems to me that she has to project the same confident attitude that she undoubtedly expects of each of her players -- that she can outplay her UConn counterpart at her position.

Silly comment by Kim because there's not an ounce of sincerity or humility in it.

Kim being Kim.

 

[PacoSwede]

exactly. could go any way depending on varied factors. .... like who is 'hot' or 'not' or who has 'just not their day.' who knows?

but, it's a real hoot when people here pontificate that 'sue's gotta do thus and so if we are to have any chance' or 'all is lost unless we shoot at least 40% from the arc' etc. GEEZ, like there are so many other variables, but you think you know the one key!

i do know that uconn has a history of doing pretty well in these circumstances in the past and we've been playing OK recently. and that's even without one of our regular starters who had been a significant energizer. i'm comfortable as things stand, but uncertain of the future.