EricLA
Cronus
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
- Messages
- 15,114
- Reaction Score
- 82,696
Fun seeing the game. Great seeing the UCONN fans there in the warm and sunny Bahamas!!
Overall a really good game. But... after a 10-0 start, the game was even for the rest of the half. Minny 9-15 from 3, 2 of their players did the most damage going 9-14. I suppose you have to play the odds and hope that they cool off - they were shooting from well beyond the 3 point line, but at some point that needs to be addressed during a game. You can't just look at the scouting report and say "for the entire game we will do ____". Players get hot or cold for a game and you have to adjust.
And adjust they did. Minny only took 3 deep shots in Q3 as we outscored them 25-8. That is much more what I was expecting in the first half. Our defense IMHO was much better in the 2nd half. Forcing high degree of difficulty shots without fouling. Really pushed the lead and that was great to see. Minny only made a pair of 3-pointers in the 2nd half. Q4 not as strong, but the damage was already done. I was surprised Geno did not empty his bench sooner.
Christyn was unreal. 21 points in the 1st half on 8-10 shooting. 31 points for the game. So far this season she's 1st team AA to me. If she continues to play anything close to what she's done so far, at worst she should be 2nd team AA. Her defensive intensity was on display today, and offense was not forced at all.
Evina was almost as efficient and great in the 1st half. She never takes a bad shot either. 16 points. Just love her on the floor.
Olivia had a few lapses on defense, but overall even tho she didn't score much, a bunch of nice assists and rebounds. I noticed specifically on one play in the 2nd half, she got the ball fairly close to the basket but was double teamed. She moved towards the basket as much as she could and then found a cutting Edwards for a wide open layup. In the past, Olivia would have just stepped back and tried a fade away. I like her on the floor a lot.
Aaliyah - very efficient from the floor and the recipient of several great passes from Paige and Olivia, and she took a charge getting "knocked" to the floor beyond the 3-point arc.
We know Paige can take over a game any time she wants. She started the 2nd half on a mission, at least from a scoring perspective, and even tho her shooting % wasn't great, she never takes a bad shot.
Dorka seems to often get good position in the post getting herself open. she didn't finish as well this game as others and got her pocket picked - but not as many mental lapses as in game 1. What a treat to have 3 really good and really different post players.
Azzi continues to struggle shooting the ball. For all we heard about her shooting prowess, it's been nowhere to be seen in the 1st 2 games. Her defense is adequate but she's in a shooting funk to start her UCONN career.
Caroline looked more comfortable and plays hard. She's got a bright future. She's long and deceptively hard to score over. Had a great drive on a nice pass and grabbed a tough rebound and got fouled on her way to the FT line.
Nika is a bit of an enigma to me. I'm not sure what the deal is, but she just does not look like the same player at times - mental lapses, shooting airballs, but then towards the end of the game, a few great steals and scores. Rooting so hard for her. Love her intensity and attitude.
Overall a really solid game for the 2nd game of the season. Much better 2nd half than 1st half. Interesting that PIath got into the game but Amari and Mir did not. Evina played until the very end of the game.
Overall a really good game. But... after a 10-0 start, the game was even for the rest of the half. Minny 9-15 from 3, 2 of their players did the most damage going 9-14. I suppose you have to play the odds and hope that they cool off - they were shooting from well beyond the 3 point line, but at some point that needs to be addressed during a game. You can't just look at the scouting report and say "for the entire game we will do ____". Players get hot or cold for a game and you have to adjust.
And adjust they did. Minny only took 3 deep shots in Q3 as we outscored them 25-8. That is much more what I was expecting in the first half. Our defense IMHO was much better in the 2nd half. Forcing high degree of difficulty shots without fouling. Really pushed the lead and that was great to see. Minny only made a pair of 3-pointers in the 2nd half. Q4 not as strong, but the damage was already done. I was surprised Geno did not empty his bench sooner.
Christyn was unreal. 21 points in the 1st half on 8-10 shooting. 31 points for the game. So far this season she's 1st team AA to me. If she continues to play anything close to what she's done so far, at worst she should be 2nd team AA. Her defensive intensity was on display today, and offense was not forced at all.
Evina was almost as efficient and great in the 1st half. She never takes a bad shot either. 16 points. Just love her on the floor.
Olivia had a few lapses on defense, but overall even tho she didn't score much, a bunch of nice assists and rebounds. I noticed specifically on one play in the 2nd half, she got the ball fairly close to the basket but was double teamed. She moved towards the basket as much as she could and then found a cutting Edwards for a wide open layup. In the past, Olivia would have just stepped back and tried a fade away. I like her on the floor a lot.
Aaliyah - very efficient from the floor and the recipient of several great passes from Paige and Olivia, and she took a charge getting "knocked" to the floor beyond the 3-point arc.
We know Paige can take over a game any time she wants. She started the 2nd half on a mission, at least from a scoring perspective, and even tho her shooting % wasn't great, she never takes a bad shot.
Dorka seems to often get good position in the post getting herself open. she didn't finish as well this game as others and got her pocket picked - but not as many mental lapses as in game 1. What a treat to have 3 really good and really different post players.
Azzi continues to struggle shooting the ball. For all we heard about her shooting prowess, it's been nowhere to be seen in the 1st 2 games. Her defense is adequate but she's in a shooting funk to start her UCONN career.
Caroline looked more comfortable and plays hard. She's got a bright future. She's long and deceptively hard to score over. Had a great drive on a nice pass and grabbed a tough rebound and got fouled on her way to the FT line.
Nika is a bit of an enigma to me. I'm not sure what the deal is, but she just does not look like the same player at times - mental lapses, shooting airballs, but then towards the end of the game, a few great steals and scores. Rooting so hard for her. Love her intensity and attitude.
Overall a really solid game for the 2nd game of the season. Much better 2nd half than 1st half. Interesting that PIath got into the game but Amari and Mir did not. Evina played until the very end of the game.
