ND Game Thread

[msf22b]

They haven't had much practice this week
Some less than admirable habits not exercised
This was the Stanford game...except that they won
I really hated, profoundly, the mugging of Moriah
That may have been why the final handshake was perfunctory.
She gave a bit back, but more important elevated her game.
I think having a healthy Butler helps a lot.

 

[chrissaran]

Maybe next time if Katie Lou just stands next to her person they'll call a foul. Moriah should have been put on Mabrey sooner. She absolutely locked her down. When Geno first made the switch, you could see Mabrey give Moriah a shove. She got frustrated, which is what players sometimes do. How about Jewel Loyd in the championship game. Katie Lou is starting to find her shot. Again she hits a 3 at the end to help hold off ND. She'll be needed against three-point shooting teams. That's the only way to beat UConn, score with them. Most teams can't. There's no question Natalie will help. Breanna and Morgan carry less of the load. They don't have to worry about being too small.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Maybe next time if Katie Lou just stands next to her person they'll call a foul. Moriah should have been put on Mabrey sooner. She absolutely locked her down. When Geno first made the switch, you could see Mabrey give Moriah a shove. She got frustrated, which is what players sometimes do. How about Jewel Loyd in the championship game. Katie Lou is starting to find her shot. Again she hits a 3 at the end to help hold off ND. She'll be needed against three-point shooting teams. That's the only way to beat UConn, score with them. Most teams can't. There's no question Natalie will help. Breanna and Morgan carry less of the load. They don't have to worry about being too small.

KLS does seem to be finding confidence in her shot. I think she pulls the trigger a little too quickly still thinking like a high school shooter, and often you can see her just standing around behind the 3-point line. Would prefer her to keep moving like Stewie until a higher percentage shot opens up with the ball in her hand. We're going to need her to play inside outside like Stewie. She cannot simply expect to be Kaleena part 2. Six games in and the future's looking bright for her as long as she remembers she can do more than shoot 3s.

 

[topogigio]

ND ran some real good plays, constant motion by 5 players, and they were real good off the dribble.
Huskies let off the gas after they were up by 22 or so, tried to milk the clock with 7 plus minutes.
The small, quick lineups appear to be a good strategy to counter the Huskies.
Nurse is getting me nervous every time she drives to the basket.
I want to see Butler!

 

[HoopsFan21]

ND ran some real good plays, constant motion by 5 players, and they were real good off the dribble.
Huskies let off the gas after they were up by 22 or so, tried to milk the clock with 7 plus minutes.
The small, quick lineups appear to be a good strategy to counter the Huskies.
Nurse is getting me nervous every time she drives to the basket.
I want to see Butler!

I think Kia is trying to do too much. Needs to go back to that care free mentality of just playing that she seemed to have last year where she wasn't expected to start and was essentially playing with house money. I think she is just pressing.

 

[iri10]

UConn's last two opponents have gone 26 for 49 from 3, combined. Some of that is "puncher's luck," some of that is a UConn 3 point defense that has been...deficient. I hope to see that improved in a few months.

(edited to fix stat)

 

[CocoHusky]

Where is the idea that Tuck's leaving coming from other than pure speculation from Dave O'Brien?

Not from Dave. Doris said she had a conversation with Geno about it. When Geno talked to Morgan Doris stated that Geno said " We would welcome her back". The "implication" being Morgan is gone.
I got a pit in my stomach when I heard that.

 

[magic]

Kiah has just not played well recently. She is not guarding the 3pt. Line, and players are getting by her. Offensively looks a little out of sync. Just looks a step slow to me.

 

[HoopsFan21]

UConn's last two opponents have gone 26 for 49 from 3, combined. Some of that is "puncher's luck," some of that is a UConn 3 point defense that has been...deficient. I hope to see that improved in a few months.

(edited to fix stat)

It's amazing luck. Some of the shots the last two games were from way downtown. One of Mabrey2's first ones practically came from the scorer's table. I think there is something to be said for sagging off the 3-point defense. I know statistically Geno will take his chances, but torching the nets like that shifts momentum very quickly and then who knows what can happen. Geno should know that better than anyone after last year. How many big games did a KML 3 break the opponent's back last year? The South Carolina game when they went up 36-20, Texas when they went up 33-17, ND in the last four minutes of the title game when they sealed their fate going up 59-50, etc. When they were up 22 I was hoping they'd put 'em down 30 and really give them that last knock out punch. Perhaps Geno was right about this being a different team after this week's games. In the first few games UConn delivered the knockout blow and seemed intent on just crushing the spirit of their opponent. Now they're getting beat on 50-50 balls by lesser but more hungry talent. Perhaps the team has been reading their own press clippings?

 

[Monte]

Sloppy...but up 12 ...now ten
Finishes 91-81
Lots of film for Geno to get their attention but good win regardless

I agree. good win, but the team has a lot of things to work on. Game was more closely contested than I thought it would be.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Not from Dave. Doris said she had a conversation with Geno about it. When Geno talked to Morgan Doris stated that Geno said " We would welcome her back". The "implication" being Morgan is gone.
I got a pit in my stomach when I heard that.

Same here. I guess we'll have to wait for Senior Day to know for sure. I hope she comes back. Not only is she a great basketball talent, but without her we will have zero leadership on the court next year if she doesn't return.

 

[j66kicker]

Same here. I guess we'll have to wait for Senior Day to know for sure. I hope she comes back. Not only is she a great basketball talent, but without her we will have zero leadership on the court next year if she doesn't return.

I think Kia could lead just fine as PG

 

[iri10]

Same here. I guess we'll have to wait for Senior Day to know for sure. I hope she comes back. Not only is she a great basketball talent, but without her we will have zero leadership on the court next year if she doesn't return.

I'm quite torn on it. My head (which thinks about UConn's next season) wants her to come back, for obvious reasons. My heart (which thinks of her future) wants her to go. Morgan has had both catastrophic (ACL) and chronic knee issues over her young career. There's no guarantees with regard to how they'll hold up in the future. Since the shelf life of any basketball player is limited, it might be time to start earning those $$$, IMO.

 

[calpedaler]

Same here. I guess we'll have to wait for Senior Day to know for sure. I hope she comes back. Not only is she a great basketball talent, but without her we will have zero leadership on the court next year if she doesn't return.

Kia Nurse will be a great leader.

 

[Monte]

It's amazing luck. Some of the shots the last two games were from way downtown. One of Mabrey2's first ones practically came from the scorer's table. I think there is something to be said for sagging off the 3-point defense. I know statistically Geno will take his chances, but torching the nets like that shifts momentum very quickly and then who knows what can happen. Geno should know that better than anyone after last year. How many big games did a KML 3 break the opponent's back last year? The South Carolina game when they went up 36-20, Texas when they went up 33-17, ND in the last four minutes of the title game when they sealed their fate going up 59-50, etc. When they were up 22 I was hoping they'd put 'em down 30 and really give them that last knock out punch. Perhaps Geno was right about this being a different team after this week's games. In the first few games UConn delivered the knockout blow and seemed intent on just crushing the spirit of their opponent. Now they're getting beat on 50-50 balls by lesser but more hungry talent. Perhaps the team has been reading their own press clippings?

I thought the DePaul game would create a wakeup call; not so. this team still has work to do.
In the first half, the look on Geno's face reminded me of his look when Tennessee used to be beating them, and he really had no answer. Today's game really proved how VALUABLE Stewart is!

 

[Monte]

Kia Nurse will be a great leader.

Disappointed in Nurse so far this year. Last summer she must have been playing over her head, as she looked like the best player in the world.

 

[CocoHusky]

I hope somewhere Molly Bent & Crystal Dangerfield were watching this game and immediately went to the gym to practice perimeter defense.
Perimeter defense is going to be greatly need for the rest of this year and even more so next year.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I think Kia could lead just fine as PG

No, I mean leadership which does not mean just being great at a particular position. Someone that can lead a huddle when the going gets tough. Someone that can be trusted to run practice if none of the coaches are around. Senior leadership. We won't have that next year. I guess we didn't really have it last year either and things turned out OK, so perhaps with the amount of talent we have it's just a nice to have and not a necessity.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Not from Dave. Doris said she had a conversation with Geno about it. When Geno talked to Morgan Doris stated that Geno said " We would welcome her back". The "implication" being Morgan is gone.
I got a pit in my stomach when I heard that.

I don't get the same vibe off that Geno quote you do. Sounds like Tuck hasn't made a decision which is logical since she has months to decide. Maybe more 50/50 ish than we would like though.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I think Kia could lead just fine as PG

Don't see her as a PG at all. She has trouble handing the ball in any kind of traffic or with close guarding. Unless Geno wants to take his lumps until he feels Dangerfield is ready, assuming she isn't immediately.

 

[Huskies Rule]

Lots of credit to Notre Dame- they played really tough without their two bigs. But I can't stand Burke/O'Brien. I could live with their relentless mentioning of the loss of Reimer and Turner, that's a legitimate point. But when they bemoaned Jewel Loyd's absence and showed the dumb graphic of the injured ND players (legit) and included Loyd's name at the top of that list, well that's asinine. She's gone! Since last year, you knuckleheads. Might as well mention that ND is at a disadvantage having to play without McBride and Achonwa, too.

If they had to make the bogus whine about what a terrible loss Loyd was for ND, how about some honesty and a mention that UConn, too, suffered a huge loss- the greatest 3-point shooter ever in WCBB- Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.

 

[CocoHusky]

I don't get the same vibe off that Geno quote you do. Sounds like Tuck hasn't made a decision which is logical since she has months to decide. Maybe more 50/50 ish than we would like though.

I can see that, but it still didn't do anything for my stomach. You know better than most how ill equipped we are to adsorb the loss of 3 best players. We should/could have approached recruiting differently.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Lots of credit to Notre Dame- they played really tough without their two bigs. But I can't stand Burke/O'Brien. I could live with their relentless mentioning of the loss of Reimer and Turner, that's a legitimate point. But when they bemoaned Jewel Loyd's absence and showed the dumb graphic of the injured ND players (legit) and included Loyd's name at the top of that list, well that's asinine. She left. Loyd's been gone since last year, you knuckleheads. She isn't on anybody's injury list.

If they had to make the bogus whine about what a terrible loss Loyd was for ND, how about some honesty and a mention that UConn, too, suffered a huge loss- the greatest 3-point shooter in WCBB in Kaleena.

I have a feeling next year they won't be making such a big deal out of Morgan Tuck deciding to leave early (which I'm 80% sure she will).

 

[HoopsFan21]

Lots of credit to Notre Dame- they played really tough without their two bigs. But I can't stand Burke/O'Brien. I could live with their relentless mentioning of the loss of Reimer and Turner, that's a legitimate point. But when they bemoaned Jewel Loyd's absence and showed the dumb graphic of the injured ND players (legit) and included Loyd's name at the top of that list, well that's asinine. She left. Loyd's been gone since last year, you knuckleheads. She isn't on anybody's injury list.

If they had to make the bogus whine about what a terrible loss Loyd was for ND, how about some honesty and a mention that UConn, too, suffered a huge loss- the greatest 3-point shooter in WCBB in Kaleena.

UConn lost the best 3 point shooter in the history of the game. And the runner up for the rookie of the year award in the WNBA. But I guess only ND lost talent from last year.

 

[CocoHusky]

I have a feeling next year they won't be making such a big deal out of Morgan Tuck deciding to leave early (which I'm 80% sure she will).

Only 80%?

 

[Tenspro2002]

Only 80%?

80% sure Tuck will leave.

100% sure that, if she does, ESPN won't lament her absence the way they do Loyd's.

 

[Fightin Choke]

UConn lost the best 3 point shooter in the history of the game. And the runner up for the rookie of the year award in the WNBA. But I guess only ND lost talent from last year.

Jewell is not on the Notre Dame team this year, and that's disappointing to Irish fans. But Muffet has known that she wouldn't be a member of the team for 7 months now, so Muffet has planned for her absence. The injuries of course, are more difficult to manage. But the difference between ND losing Kiah and Kaleena and ND losing Loyd is that Loyd had more eligibility left obviously, so the two situations are not the same.

 

[CocoHusky]

Lots of credit to Notre Dame- they played really tough without their two bigs. But I can't stand Burke/O'Brien. I could live with their relentless mentioning of the loss of Reimer and Turner, that's a legitimate point. But when they bemoaned Jewel Loyd's absence and showed the dumb graphic of the injured ND players (legit) and included Loyd's name at the top of that list, well that's asinine. She's gone! Since last year, you knuckleheads. Might as well mention that ND is at a disadvantage having to play without McBride and Achonwa, too.

If they had to make the bogus whine about what a terrible loss Loyd was for ND, how about some honesty and a mention that UConn, too, suffered a huge loss- the greatest 3-point shooter ever in WCBB- Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.

Both red herrings IMO. For Burke and O'Brien there is the mute button. Perfectly legit to mention that Jewell is not available and not mention KML because KML exhausted her eligibility and Jewell did not. Jewell could have been playing in this game.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Jewell is not on the Notre Dame team this year, and that's disappointing to Irish fans. But Muffet has known that she wouldn't be a member of the team for 7 months now, so Muffet has planned for her absence. The injuries of course, are more difficult to manage. But the difference between ND losing Kiah and Kaleena and ND losing Loyd is that Loyd had more eligibility left obviously, so the two situations are not the same.

I know. Muffet is a lot closer to Geno in coaching ability than people think. I really like the way your team plays no matter the circumstances. The media may make go overboard on talking about the injuries, but Muffet and the team never make excuses. I see ND winning at least one title in the next 3-4 years.

 

[msf22b]

Jewell is not on the Notre Dame team this year, and that's disappointing to Irish fans. But Muffet has known that she wouldn't be a member of the team for 7 months now, so Muffet has planned for her absence. The injuries of course, are more difficult to manage. But the difference between ND losing Kiah and Kaleena and ND losing Loyd is that Loyd had more eligibility left obviously, so the two situations are not the same.

Mabry Jr. shot better than Jewell ever did...and did her 2nd half disappearing act as well