My thoughts on Tues.

[UcMiami]

This is a very different team from last year - not saying better or worse, just very different. But I think the biggest difference this year in WCBB is ND. Last year they were truly dominant arriving at the NC game undefeated and rarely tested - they had a 4 point win against MD and a 7 point win against Virginia both in January, but otherwise were manhandling teams in Uconn fashion. This year has been much more of a struggle - 8 games in single digit or loss - and there were two losses - one can be excused because they didn't play Uconn last year, but they are 'getting by' in a way that they didn't have to last year. In addition to the single digit games there have also been more of those 10-15 point struggles instead of the 20+ point breezes.

Uconn has actually gone in the opposite direction - if anything they have had few challenges and an easier year - part of that is schedule which has definitely not had as many quality teams, but somehow a healthy Kaleena, a returned Morgan, an even better Moriah and Stewart, and a very surprising freshman Kia have more than made up for the loss of Stef and Bria. And the bench is no longer just Kiah as both Gabby and Saniya have stepped up to provide additional options as needs arise.

So I am quietly confident that a healthy ND this year will actually pose less of a challenge than last year's ND minus their center. Doesn't mean that I will not be feeling nauseous on Tuesday!!

 

[meyers7]

This is a very different team from last year - not saying better or worse, just very different. But I think the biggest difference this year in WCBB is ND. Last year they were truly dominant arriving at the NC game undefeated and rarely tested - they had a 4 point win against MD and a 7 point win against Virginia both in January, but otherwise were manhandling teams in Uconn fashion. This year has been much more of a struggle - 8 games in single digit or loss - and there were two losses - one can be excused because they didn't play Uconn last year, but they are 'getting by' in a way that they didn't have to last year. In addition to the single digit games there have also been more of those 10-15 point struggles instead of the 20+ point breezes.

Uconn has actually gone in the opposite direction - if anything they have had few challenges and an easier year - part of that is schedule which has definitely not had as many quality teams, but somehow a healthy Kaleena, a returned Morgan, an even better Moriah and Stewart, and a very surprising freshman Kia have more than made up for the loss of Stef and Bria. And the bench is no longer just Kiah as both Gabby and Saniya have stepped up to provide additional options as needs arise.

So I am quietly confident that a healthy ND this year will actually pose less of a challenge than last year's ND minus their center. Doesn't mean that I will not be feeling nauseous on Tuesday!!

I'm not worried. But will still do my due diligence and DVR the game and watch it after. Don't want to mess anything up.

Actually I usually check in on the score around half time and in the second half, if UCONN is far enough ahead I'll watch the last few minutes to see the celebration live. (but don't tell anyone)

 

[CocoHusky]

It will take a monster (25-30 points) contribution from Loyd and another monster contribution (20+ points) from another ND player to make this game competitive in the last 5 minutes. I don't see anyone on ND capable of this and I don't see Loyd getting there either. UCONN is just too focused on whatever is necessary to win. Example: The best 3 Pointer in the history of NCAA realized she was the focus of the defense last night and just decided her contribution was going to be 7 assists.

 

[hussybulldog]

It will take a monster (25-30 points) contribution from Loyd and another monster contribution (20+ points) from another ND player to make this game competitive in the last 5 minutes. I don't see anyone on ND capable of this and I don't see Loyd getting there either. UCONN is just too focused on whatever is necessary to win. Example: The best 3 Pointer in the history of NCAA realized she was the focus of the defense last night and just decided her contribution was going to be 7 assists.

Lloyd is capable of doing her share of damage. Uconn just needs to make sure that neither Allen nor Turner scores big.

 

[SportsPageMike]

Still, I would had preferred that UConn play South Carolina. Muffet knows how to win. I'm saying that Dawn doesn't but I didn't want to see ND in the finals.

 

[bleeckerhusky]

Sagarin indicates that UConn is favored by 11.5 and all 5 ESPN experts pick UConn, so there is reason to be optimistic. Still, everyone in white will need to come ready to play. Even Muffet acknowledged that she was surprised to be in the final game. However, I'm feeling nervous already.

 

[HuskyStars]

I'm not worried. But will still do my due diligence and DVR the game and watch it after. Don't want to mess anything up.

Actually I usually check in on the score around half time and in the second half, if UCONN is far enough ahead I'll watch the last few minutes to see the celebration live. (but don't tell anyone)

Meyers, my husband and I do the same thing in nerve-wracking important games like this, especially when playing a team we cannot stand. Can NOT watch on TV!! I check in here from time to time and if we are far enough ahead, we will watch the end/celebration.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Still, I would had preferred that UConn play South Carolina. Muffet knows how to win. I'm saying that Dawn doesn't but I didn't want to see ND in the finals.

South Carolina isn't as disciplined as ND in my opinion. I would have rather played South Carolina as well because ND has great guards and that is one of the defense's vulnerabilities. The other big factor is that ND has played UConn so much recently, so the familiarity helps ND not to mention they've actually won some of those games.

 

[huskies29]

Meyers, my husband and I do the same thing in nerve-wracking important games like this, especially when playing a team we cannot stand. Can NOT watch on TV!! I check in here from time to time and if we are far enough ahead, we will watch the end/celebration.

me too

 

[John Glass]

Sagarin indicates that UConn is favored by 11.5 and all 5 ESPN experts pick UConn, so there is reason to be optimistic. Still, everyone in white will need to come ready to play. Even Muffet acknowledged that she was surprised to be in the final game. However, I'm feeling nervous already.

I will take that bet, baring a miraculous turnaround Notre Dame will lose by 20+. They lack depth, and foul trouble could be a major problem.

 

[Paul1969]

Food for thought: The only team to beat us this year had to score 88 to do it in OT.

 

[UcMiami]

Yeah, but the 'team memory' of winning is dwindling down to the seniors at this point.

I too go to the DVR for the important games!

 

[CocoHusky]

Lloyd is capable of doing her share of damage. Uconn just needs to make sure that neither Allen nor Turner scores big.

Capable yes, but recently trending down. Jewell shot 9 of 24 against SC and 5 of 18 vs Baylor and 7 of 21 vs Stanford and 3 of 15 against DePaul =only 30%. More significantly she has only attempted 6 Three Point shots in the last 4 games.

 

[DobbsRover2]

I'm not worried. But will still do my due diligence and DVR the game and watch it after. Don't want to mess anything up.

Actually I usually check in on the score around half time and in the second half, if UCONN is far enough ahead I'll watch the last few minutes to see the celebration live. (but don't tell anyone)

Often the same. Have a heart and stomach to protect, and don't get me started about the mind.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I'm another one who will record a game like this. I hate listening to the announcers - especially if ND is hitting shots.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Capable yes, but recently trending down. Jewell shot 9 of 24 against SC and 5 of 18 vs Baylor and 7 of 21 vs Stanford and 3 of 15 against DePaul =only 30%. More significantly she has only attempted 6 Three Point shots in the last 4 games.

Good point, although contrary to some fans' beliefs, Loyd is not much of a 3 point shooter as she makes less than 1 per game and takes less than 3 attempts per game, at a 31.7% average, so like Stewie she knows that's not her strength and wisely goes more with the closer jumpers and lay ups. Just hope she can stay on course with the 30% shooting for one more game even if she gets 31 points on 27 shots again.

 

[VAMike23]

Ever since the "Surreal World" first half against Stanford in the 2010 NC, I have been wary of watching UCONN's championship games live ...

I'll probably do as some others here do, keeping an eye on the score via Internet in the first half and tuning in when the stomach, and nerves, are able

 

[cabbie191]

Actually I usually check in on the score around half time and in the second half, if UCONN is far enough ahead I'll watch the last few minutes to see the celebration live. (but don't tell anyone)

Your secret is safe with me! And everyone else's, too, even though they didn't make the request.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Ever since the "Surreal World" first half against Stanford in the 2010 NC, I have been wary of watching UCONN's championship games live ...

I'll probably do as some others here do, keeping an eye on the score via Internet in the first half and tuning in when the stomach, and nerves, are able

Well, plus there's also the albatross effect, where the Huskies start having issues as soon as I turn the set on after following the Gamecast, which is why they lost at Stanford I must confess. No use in disturbing the mojo.

 

[Wink96]

me too

Me also!

 

[AboutWeston]

I check the score, sometimes turn it on and then when we are in the lead early, turn it off. Check the Boneyard; never watch until "it seems safe" in the second half. Very careful not to mess up Mojo.

 

[Zorro]

Personally, I am looking foward to watching the Huskies shut Loyd down. Turner too.

 

[bleeckerhusky]

You have to watch or else you have no way to affect the outcome with your rooting.

 

[Jeff H]

Food for thought: The only team to beat us this year had to score 88 to do it in OT.

Right and ND has topped out at 81(averaged 76) in the tournament, while UConn has averaged 91.4. Scoring margin in the tournament is 37.4 for UConn and 15.4 for ND. I’ll take that 22 point difference as the difference in the final score.

 

[Tenspro2002]

We don't have the shut-down defense of years past, but Geno knows this and instead challenges other teams to run with us. Usually it works. We score in the 80's, and the natural deficiencies of the other team limit their scoring to 70 or fewer.

The only time it didn't work was against Stanford, who both exploited our poor individual, on-ball defense (with Chong in particular getting shredded) and shot 50% from deep. Notre Dame has the dribble-drive ability, with Loyd in particular, but I'm not sure they have the other pieces necessary to get to 80 points.

UConn 82-68 ND.