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Michigan Postgame Thread

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I am very surprised with the outcome. I thought we would run away with this game. Swords shot out light out and they doubled Strong forcing everyone to score and no one else we did except Azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzi Swords was unconscienced. expect the unexpected. We will learn from this game. It was a surprise comeback. Geno will fix it and we will be OK We will be fine.

We let up and we will learn from it. Michigan slowed it down and hit some unbelievable shots. This is good for us. We won a game and were tested. We need to make adjustments, and Geno will make it happen.
 
Serah had an off night. She’s been much better in earlier games. I had hoped to see more of Jana, but Geno pulled her quickly.
Jana committed two quick fouls within 4 minutes and had one turnover. She commits the same over the back fouls each game. If you’re boxed/ blocked out, the defender did their job. Get back on defense and do the same on the other end.
 
Sarah and Azzi played 40 minutes each, as did Swords and Olson for Michigan. Sarah and Azzi are incredibly tough customers. Sarah in particular looked really tired in the last few minutes. The Paige question re-emerges: can Geno afford to sit her down in close games? It isn't clear this question has been answered yet. I hope that eventually Blanca can be the one who holds the fort while Sarah gets a blow. But currently there's no one who can really do that.

The other thing this game shows is that we're not as deep as everyone has been thinking. Geno effectively played 6 deep. Blanca and Allie played 8 minutes each. But he didn't trust them in crunch time. Only Kayleigh got real minutes off the bench. And I think we saw exactly how far from big game ready Blanca still is. She'll get there soon enough. But not yet.

Once again, UConn's kryptonite turns out to be a zone defense. Their execution isn't crisp enough yet to reliably break a zone. It will come, but we're not there yet. And opponents perimeter shooting is another weakness. Syla Swords hit 8-14 from 3 including some really clutch shots down the stretch. Azzi did too, so it's not like we're the only team who can be beaten from the perimeter.

In closing, Michigan is a really good, well-coached team. But UConn is better. Olson and Swords are two of the best players in the country. But Sarah and Azzi are better. Personally, even though it was a nail biter, I appreciate games like this one. When pushed really hard, to their limit, the Huskies dug deep and grabbed a hard fought win with both hands.
It may be time to stop running players in and out. If you are playing a weak team, you can get away with that. The bench is not proven, yet.
 
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Geno’s biggest issue right now is settling on a post player. Serah is athletic but not very physical. Jana is physical but not particularly athletic. Blanca is athletic and physical but undisciplined. If I were Geno, I would consider going back to Jana as the starter and then substitute off her.
I agree about the question, but I’m not sure the answer. I would love for Jana with her size to take on that role, but her offensive game isn’t developed yet. So Williams, I guess, who should be able to rebound and score
 
Geno’s biggest issue right now is settling on a post player. Serah is athletic but not very physical. Jana is physical but not particularly athletic. Blanca is athletic and physical but undisciplined. If I were Geno, I would consider going back to Jana as the starter and then substitute off her.
I tend to agree. I think it's a lot easier for Jana to find her confidence and feel for her game as a starter, rather than being randomly subbed in.
 
Ash looked like she was trying to get it to Azzi as Michigan was likely to foul. This was another tentative play by someone maybe not wanting the pressure of free throws with the game on the line.
I am a diehard Ashlyn Shade fan & I admire her tenacity. But sometimes her frantic style turns into a panic mode, leading to bad shots & poor decisions. Tonight, she played out of control at times.
 
I wondered why Serah didn't play more. The small ball lineup wasn't working in the second half because KK, Ashlynn, Allie and Kayleigh were not hitting shots (KK did in the 4th quarter) so I didn't understand Serah sitting. I thought one reason we went after Serah was so that she would bring more size. We could have used a few more high-low plays between Serah and Sarah.
Serah didn’t accomplish enough to warrant more minutes
 
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Maybe... Azzi's 3pt shots were mostly open, Swords' 3pt shots were much tougher.
C'mon, Swords played over her head. She averages 12.2 points per game. Swords rose to the moment and played her best game. I do not think we will see her play that kind of game the next time she faces UConn. I will credit Michigan for their toughness...they battled back from 20 down against the number one team in the nation. Respect!
 
I have to say, I’m glad they pulled it out. I still have PTSD from the men’s game on Wednesday when they lost after holding an 18 point lead at the half. It was another top 10 matchup and eerily similar to tonight’s game
??? I think you are combining BYU and Zona games LOL
 
It may be time to stop running players in and out. If you are playing a weak team, you can get away with that. The bench is not proven, yet.
On the other hand you need to find out what you have in your bench and what rotations and groupings work, earlier in the season, so later in the season and tourney time you know what works and what doesn’t.

In others words IMO now is the time to move things around and move players around.
 
Geno’s biggest issue right now is settling on a post player. Serah is athletic but not very physical. Jana is physical but not particularly athletic. Blanca is athletic and physical but undisciplined. If I were Geno, I would consider going back to Jana as the starter and then substitute off her.
I agree about Jana. Serah is quicker than Jana, but she is not using that quickness to get the ball. I also don't think Serah jumps very well.
Jana might give us more rebounds, but has got to stop plowing people over running to her spot.
 
I wondered why Serah didn't play more. The small ball lineup wasn't working in the second half because KK, Ashlynn, Allie and Kayleigh were not hitting shots (KK did in the 4th quarter) so I didn't understand Serah sitting. I thought one reason we went after Serah was so that she would bring more size. We could have used a few more high-low plays between Serah and Sarah.
I think Williams didn’t switch fast enough on some screens and Swords took advantage and made some shots- possibly it was someone else though. Williams- everyone, really- needs to perform her role effectively- for her, she has to score & defend down low and get rebounds.
 
Wow great game. It really shouldn’t have been that close. Our defense coming around and under screens was terrible. Instead of us hedging on the screens we stayed back and let Swords kill us. The last 3 shots that sword took were the same and KK went under and let swords get loose. I think the moments were too big for a lot of huskies. Ziebell looked really nervous. Blanca wasn’t that bad but 2 critical turnovers took her out the game. Jana I’m not sure what she was doing. Going over the back of players and never really getting any type of position in the post offensively or defensively. KK really needs to work on her 3-point shot. Every time she shoots it make me nervous.

If it wasn’t for Azzi, Sarah and we would have been in a world of hurt. Ashlyn, after hitting a couple of 3’s in the first half was just running around missing shots and at the end of the game instead of just holding onto the ball threw it to another player and it was stolen, almost giving the game away. I would have liked to have seen Ice Brady though against Olson. Michigan really doesn’t have a low post presence, so I’m surprised they came back in the second half.
If it were not for Swords and Olson, Michigan would have been in a world of hurt.
 
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Very odd to me how CBB players do help defense on almost every player regardless of situation — ie, they will leave open a deadly 3 point shooter to try to double someone else.
Both teams did it — leaving Azzi and Swords open for 3s. I kinda think UConns were worse bc it helped Michigan get back in the game.
 
I agree about Jana. Serah is quicker than Jana, but she is not using that quickness to get the ball. I also don't think Serah jumps very well.
Jana might give us more rebounds, but has got to stop plowing people over running to her spot.
I think it s going to take some adjustment time before we know whether Serah will click here or not.

She’s been a double double threat the last two years and right now doesn’t look anything like that.

New system, different team and responsibilities. See how she is looking 5 to 7 games from now. Still think she is the best option in the paint for us.
 
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With over 5 minutes left azzi made her third 3 pointer of the 4 th quarter giving us an 11 point lead. She never got another shot from the floor. Little effort made to even get her the ball. With 17 sec. Left she made 4 free throws to clinch the game. Maybe do a little more next time to get Azzi a shot or two.
 
Thankfully the game was played in Conn..Geno has a lot of film to show them .Azzi and Sara were great..everyone else not so much
When KK scored her 6 points up to that point she had done nothing all game
The zone really bothered the offense
Swords looked like C.C. out there
Uconn hung on but they have a lot of work to do
It;s nice to have a deep bench but even nicer if they could contribute some
 
I said earlier we will see who we really are after 20 or so games. I may have to skip watching the next 15 games if they are as nerve wracking as this one tonight lol
Only 4 ranked teams left on the sked (as of right now). None top 10.
 
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