Michigan Postgame Thread

[ctchamps]

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.

I don’t believe Geno was experimenting in this game. He was trying to find players that could give the starters some rest. Unfortunately only K9 could offer some help and even she was a net negative when in.

She is one of four players that I hope to see improve considerably over the season. The others being Serah, Blanca, and Allie.

We have two super offensive players. Hopefully one more player can develop into a reliable offensive player.

But more important than that is we need a bench that can come in and play enough minutes without a drop off to allow our starters to rest.

I loved our defensive effort in the first half. We might have the best full court defensive team in the nation. But we exert a lot of energy employing it. I was nervous at halftime because I wasn’t sure we could sustain it. My concern was realized.

Michigan didn’t exert the same amount of energy in the first half. Plus they employed a lot of zone in the second half.

They had less tired legs at the end of the game. If we want to employ that first half defense against top teams we need that bench improvement. I’m cautiously optimistic it will happen. But that’s what makes sports exciting. There are no guarantees.

 

[PacoSwede]

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...

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.

actually, allie's minutes were largely in 'crunch time' and i think that was highly significant. she did her job under pressure. hope geno gives her more chances to prove herself.

 

[Doctor G]

I thought the game was well officiated. The refs let them play. The game wasn't bogged down with foul shots despite several loose ball scrambles & physical play under the boards.

Officiating was great except for the clearly incorrect out of bounds call that cost Michigan a possession.

 

[browns]

Yes. There is a question as to who the single best player was. No doubt Syla's performance was great but certainly no better than those by Azzi and Sarah. You really can't disregard the sum total of Sarah's talent and effort in that game because you have been blinded the brilliance of Syla's clutch 3-pt shooting in a close match.

Syla also had 9 rebounds for her team

 

[Doctor G]

Where was their pressure defense ? Also , was Azzi taken off Swords ? She was guarding her well and giving her a problem I thought

Pressure defense needs depth to work all game. Clearly, Geno did not trust the subs so he backed off the pressure. Azzi was guarding Swords brilliantly but once Azzi got her second foul, Geno switched her off of Swords.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Some moderately good news from the game: In the pre-game presser, Geno said there was no news on Ice or Morgan, however, Morgan Cheli was NOT wearing a boot at last night's game. Fingers crossed!

 

[Dove]

You mean losing Paige was a big deal?

Paige who, again?

 

[boontonbomber]

You mean those same teams that UCONN has beaten these last 30+ years?

Yeah as they watch UCONN win 12 titles and go to final four after final four, I'm sure they are thrilled that their players are less tired.

If you don't have anything relevant to the present situation why say anything at all?

 

[cancontent]

Officiating was great except for the clearly incorrect out of bounds call that cost Michigan a possession.

Was surprised Coach Barnes-Arico didn't ask for it to be reviewed. That's allowed now this season.

 

[browns]

Geno is obviously the "goat"but I don't understand how with 22 seconds left and even worse with 12 seconds left they would not foul Swords.. having 3 fouls to give stay on her like glue and don't let her get off a 3

 

[Dove]

Geno is obviously the "goat"but I don't understand how with 22 seconds left and even worse with 12 seconds left they would not foul Swords.. having 3 fouls to give stay on her like glue and don't let her get off a 3

When Mich got ball with 12 secs to go, I was yelling "Just foul!!!!"

He may have feared the foul would have been on a trey attempt.

 

[Doctor G]

Was surprised Coach Barnes-Arico didn't ask for it to be reviewed. That's allowed now this season.

Tough decision to make quickly ( vs the eons coaches have to decide in football). She had the exact same view as the official and she knows timeouts are crucial in a game like this when you are coaching against the GOAT.

 

[Doctor G]

Some moderately good news from the game: In the pre-game presser, Geno said there was no news on Ice or Morgan, however, Morgan Cheli was NOT wearing a boot at last night's game. Fingers crossed!

Ice still has some knee stuff. Team missed her last night as she is the best big not named Sarah at passing, picking and hitting the elbow jumper and would have been a big help against the zone. We all hope Morgan can come back this year. She is a winner and might just be the best glue player on the team when healthy.

 

[Huskie837]

It’s a four team tournament run by the Hall of Fame, not a UConn home game. All four teams were given an allotment of tickets and fans of other teams may not travel like Husky fans. Save your disappointment for something else

Not for nothing but the game vs Ohio State was far from a sell out as well and that was a Sunday noon tip off....

 

[donalddoowop]

Somewhat like: if it were not for Fudd and Strong Uconn.....

That is a post I was responding to.

 

[Closer Look]

Azzi played 39 min and 31 pts... just unbelievable ...

It was actually more unbelievable as she didn't score a point in close to the first 9 minutes of the game-2 free throws at 1:18, first basket in last minute of first quarter-she is a slow starter most of the time. So, 31 points in really about 30 minutes is actually the better stat here.

 

[donalddoowop]

They won but they got exposed badly tonight. Only Azzi and Strong are capable three point shooters. The rest are bricklayers. This is probably Geno’s worst shooting team in years. Im not so confident about repeat anymore.

What was your confidence built on? Azzi and Strong are not the only capable three-point shooters on the team. It is just that they were last night

 

[Pharos]

Great 1st quarter for sure, won the game right there. Strange loss of momentum just couldn’t make a shot and also made some bad decisions. I read some say “not as deep as we thought” and not sure why. Part of the reason they only scored 4 pts in the 3rd was because, for me at least, Shade and KK played basically 10 minutes each and did nothing offensively. Use the bench to find a spark, Shade when not making shots can be replaced. They then looked like they’ve never seen a zone. Even Sarah had trouble with her decision making from the foul line, threw a couple away. She’s an excellent passer and shooter, catch turn and square them figure out where the zone can be attacked. It was very strange. I mean Swords was incredible, when she got comfortable after struggling early she showed how good of a player she is as did Olson, good team,

Honestly thought Geno had a rough game, in game adjustments and substitutions. Also up 3 with 17 seconds left and 3 fouls to give, how does swords dribble to a spot to get a 3? Coming out of the time out I thought they’d use the fouls. Too good too deep for this to have changed so dramatically.

Win is a win, but practice will be full of working offense against the zone. Teams will see the film, it’s coming.

2nd time they dominated a first quarter and then lost (cummulatively) the next 3. One thing that happens November to March is growing consistency.

 

[donalddoowop]

We were very lucky to come away with the W. That 3rd Quarter could be considered to be the Worst Quarter of play in UCONN Women's Basketball History. We had Azzi, Sarah, and KK and Michigan didn't. However, no matter how great those 3 were and are, and how they saved our Bacon today, there is no doubt who the single Best Player on the Court was. And that was Michigan's Sword. She was INSANE !!

She was insane against SC in her first game last season. She is an outstanding player, but she does not play like that all the time. I thought she should have gotten more support for freshman of the year than she did.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[TheGOAT23]

I didn't see Geno guarding anyone

Geno couldn’t guard a chair last night. That’s why he stood up most of the game. Geesh! After 41 years and 12 championships, he has to do better. 😵‍💫

 

[GoCardinal]

⁉️

Arnold is shooting 22% from 3 and Shade is sitting at a tick under 24% lol. That absolutely will be an issue moving forward if they continue firing off bricks. Any coach with an ounce of common sense will start throwing more zones at UConn if you’re only gonna house 2 shooters out there.

Nevermind the fact both of them make very questionable decisions because of a lack of court vision and awareness . One being the unnecessary bounce pass Shade made with a few seconds left that gave Michigan another unwarranted possession to tie the game. Arnold in particular isn’t very great at creating in the halfcourt, if the ball is going to be in her hands she’s gotta be a threat outside of transition. But to each its own.

 

[TheGOAT23]

It sounds like Azzi still has her cold

Thread 'Storrs Central Michigan Postgame Media Availability'

Today at 4:00 AM

Geno, Azzi and Sarah together at the microphone

• Centerstream
• Replies: 4
• Forum: UConn Women's Basketball Forum

• 

Nan, she better keep that cold then or at least in her back pocket.

 

[sledog]

Both men and women played a #4 rank this week. Both struggled. Different outcomes, but WIERD.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Except for Q1, where even then we missed easy shots, it was sloppy. Too many turnovers. Shade started out on fire and then seemed tentative throughout, even that last turnover could have cost us. Consistency down low will go a long way to getting back on track but it’s early and good test for the team in November.