My thoughts on Tues.

[Henry]

We have the luxury of deciding which head to cut off so to speak. They don't quite have the firepower we do. Do we try to stop Loyd or Allen? I think we can trust that Stewie or Morgan will handle Turner. I feel we try to stifle Allen and put the pressure on Loyd to try to carry them. Loyd will get her points but we cannot allow Allen to go off.

 

[EricLA]

It will be very interesting. ND's Allen had a great game in the elite 8 but a horrible game in the final 4. Add to that Turner fouled out too.

ND basically played 7 players, but I'm betting that would have been a bit different if Turner and Allen weren't in foul trouble. And I'm not sure Allen will put up 2 awful scoring games in a row but...

Allen, Loyd, Maybrey, Turner and Reimer vs.
Jefferson, Nurse, KML, Stewie and Tuck

ND's big weapon (advantage) is Loyd. I honestly think Tuck > Reimer, Stewie > Turner, KML > Maybrey, and Jefferson > Allen.

Off the bench ND basically brought in Cable and Westbeld. Honestly, even tho Chong barely played, I'd stack her and Stokes up against Cable and Westbeld and that's not even including Williams.

Loyd has wilted a bit in the NCAA's. She needs to score about 30+ if ND wants to win AND they need big production from Reimer, Turner and one of Cable or Allen. I just don't see the stars aligning in such a way that ND can topple UCONN.

I mean no disrespect to ND but I just don't see how they keep it to under a 20 point loss. Of course anything can happen. but I expect KML to bounce back and I expect Stewie, Jefferson, and Tuck to play really well. I don't think Nurse scores much, but she should play solid defense. Even if Geno only goes with 6 and brings in Stokes for some size, I think this UCONN team has gotten "more" better than this ND team from the last time they played.

Loved Geno's answer to the reporter who asked something like "are you worried that Turner did not play the last time you faced ND" and Geno said something like "Yeah, and Jefferson scored no points and fouled out. That won't happen again"...

 

[DobbsRover2]

Yeah, two big motivational situations with MoJeff getting some fuel from her earlier ND game and KML in her last game and definitely not ready to score just 4 points in the finale. On the flip side Tuck knows what she did to ND last time, and she will force them to try and stop her, maybe get Turner in foul trouble, and open things up for the other players.

 

[mhshuskies]

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.

That is a key point. If Loyd scores a lot it is because she has taken a lot of shots and that means less shots for others as long as we control the rebounding.

 

[Paesano]

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.

If you look at only the predictive rating, it predicts a 16 point win. Like I said earlier, UConn has to struggle AND ND has to bring their best game AND the refs have to help them.

If the refs call it fair and don't allow them to mug our players in the paint, UConn wins.

 

[Tonyc]

I would expect Turner and Reimer to get in foul trouble in the 1st half. When that happens its time to turn out the lights. I expect UConn to have a lead of 20+ before Geno calls off the dogs.

 

[Sonny44]

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.

You guys are too much!

 

[ABachelor6CR]

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.

While I like to do the same thing, I can't because I don't have a DVR or even a VCR, so I am forced to watch live. My wife walked out of the room during the SCAR -ND game because she wanted SCAR to win......I, mean while, was made to suffer....*sigh*

 

[Sonny44]

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

Don't forget M. "Flop" Mabrey though she went scoreless against us earlier this year.

 

[dtbtbtb]

I fully expect that any ND player in the vicinity of Stewie will be flopping hard

 

[SallyH]

Iirc, Reimer has struggled the last two NC games (knee and foul problems), and I definite think we have an advantage in the post on both sides of the ball. ND shoots the three well enough to give me agita, however, and any team who has gotten close to us have bombed away from 3.

 

[baggerbob]

Anyone who believes on a neutral site that Moriah plays 20+, scores 0 points, and Stewie goes 3-12 again, is in la la land.

 

[Hongster]

Jewell Loyd scored 31 and lost to UC by 18. Tonight for ND to win JL has to score 50 and that's impossible. As for Turner as a threat I doubted, saw her throw lot of bricks at the end of USC game a sign of rookie judder and inexperience.

Uconn by 20 with 5 minutes to go in the game.

 

[UConnNick]

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)

What a coward!

Have some intestinal fortitude and watch it live. Who wants to watch a game when you already know the outcome? It's only a game. Wait a minute, did I write that? LOL

You're right, it's life or death, especially any time Notre Lame is involved.

 

[HoopsFan21]

If we come out with the intensity of the South Carolina game, the 2nd half of Dayton, or the Texas game, ND has no chance. If we play like against Maryland, which turned into a bit of a yawner, it's going to be a tight game.

 

[ctdad]

Iirc, Reimer has struggled the last two NC games (knee and foul problems), and I definite think we have an advantage in the post on both sides of the ball. ND shoots the three well enough to give me agita, however, and any team who has gotten close to us have bombed away from 3.

Impossible, she's only a soph.

Her role on last year's team was first "big" off the bench. When Achonwa went down, she was forced into a starting role she was not ready for. She is not the same player she was a year ago or even at the start of this season. Doesn't mean foul trouble couldn't happen, but she is a much more confident player right now and starting to show the potemtial that made her the #4 player coming out of high school.

 

[UConnNick]

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.

Sheesh, a couple more cowards!

See my response to Meyers. We need you folks to show some real guts here.

 

[Hongster]

I'm very sure that Geno will again exploit the mix-match down lo, emphasize on the inside game Tuck and Stewie will have a field day.

 

[Bestiarius]

What ND has done against UConn over the past few years has psychologically damaged us UConn fans. It's irrational to think those past losses will carry forward to this year.

ND has struggled their way to a good record. Uconn has blasted all comers, so don't worry. Everyone looks great until they face the Huskies.

 

[Kevin G]

Am I the only one who does not want a close game tomorrow night? I want UCONN to crush ND by 20+ points!!

 

[Kevin G]

If you look at only the predictive rating, it predicts a 16 point win. Like I said earlier, UConn has to struggle AND ND has to bring their best game AND the refs have to help them.

If the refs call it fair and don't allow them to mug our players in the paint, UConn wins.

I, for one, am tired of seeing Stewie get manhandled on every offensive possession. Of course, the refs cant blow the whistle every time so teams get away with it. I just want a fair game. Let the players play the game

 

[winlots]

What ND has done against UConn over the past few years has psychologically damaged us UConn fans. It's irrational to think those past losses will carry forward to this year.

ND has struggled their way to a good record. Uconn has blasted all comers, so don't worry. Everyone looks great until they face the Huskies.

BEST: easy to like the way you think. Appreciate the reassuring post.

 

[winlots]

Am I the only one who does not want a close game tomorrow night? I want UCONN to crush ND by 20+ points!!

KG: "You'll never walk alone -- walk on, walk on.........."

 

[winlots]

I, for one, am tired of seeing Stewie get manhandled on every offensive possession. Of course, the refs cant blow the whistle every time so teams get away with it. I just want a fair game. Let the players play the game

KG: "Go tell it on the mountain....."

 

[Zorro]

I think that Loyd will get around 20, more or less, but take about 17 shots to do it. And we wom bu 20 or so. And I will be watching, wearing my lucky mojo UConn cap and shirt.