ND UConn some thoughts

[Tonyc]

Even without Turner and perhaps maybe no Reimer ND is still tuff. Muffet knows how to coach however I don't see this being a classic ND UConn matchup with either or both out of the lineup. IMO you might not see either because having one without the other doesnt make that much of a difference, so why take a chance if both aren't healthy playing them and maybe losing both of them for the rest of the season? IMO UConn will win anyway.

UConn is to big and too quick to lose this game today or even to have a close game. ND has struggled this season. UConn has pretty much rolled with a lot of confidence. For those of you who are concerned if this game is close in the first half don't be. This is imo the Greatest WCBB ever and they steam roll opponents. I expect to see that happen today.

The press continues to mention ND has beaten UConn 7 of their last 12 losses. Let me lay this to rest. Those losses were during the Flop Foul Days. That doesn't happen anymore. A couple of those other losses were in the Griner Era at Baylor. The other 2 were St Johns and Stanford. So lets not be concerned today unless the Flop Calls are reinstated and I don't think they will.
I expect UConn to roll big in this game. We saw a very good and well coached KState Chatty and Nebraska teams get rolled over by UConn. We saw a DePaul team have a terrific nite and lose by 16. I don't expect anything different in todays game. As good as ND is the UConn team is so beyond what any team in WCBB is or has been its not even close. To call this UConn team great is incorrect, they are the Greatest and it aint even close. Today you will see that. Today many will be disappointed that the game is a blowout and not very competitive. The blame will go on injuries and that will contribute to some of the loss however remember a few years ago when Tuck and KML were out and UConn beat 5/6 ranked teams on the road. No body talked about UConns injuries. Kinda gives you an idea on how good the UConn program is. Geno has been able to maintain and make better each and every team he's had year after year.

For ND to win they need to hit shots like DePaul did, and pray a lot because even if UConn is in foul trouble they have a great bench. I will guess UConn by 20+ and it could be by a lot more. Remember UConn will be sky high for this game. ND is limping in here. As great as a coach as Muffet is she cant perform miracles and even that wont be enough to beat UConn, not this team. Final Score UConn 88 ND 62

 

[Zorro]

Tony, why don't you ever try to look on the bright side?

 

[HoopsFan21]

I don't think you give ND enough credit for the times they beat UConn. It was more than just because of "flops." I think they had some pretty good players during that time to go along with a coach who may be just as good at the X's and O's as Geno. ND was simply better than UConn on those days.

 

[Sonny44]

89 - 59 We will be merciless on the inside.

 

[asuwish]

Even without Turner and perhaps maybe no Reimer ND is still tuff. Muffet knows how to coach however I don't see this being a classic ND UConn matchup with either or both out of the lineup. IMO you might not see either because having one without the other doesnt make that much of a difference, so why take a chance if both aren't healthy playing them and maybe losing both of them for the rest of the season? IMO UConn will win anyway.

UConn is to big and too quick to lose this game today or even to have a close game. ND has struggled this season. UConn has pretty much rolled with a lot of confidence. For those of you who are concerned if this game is close in the first half don't be. This is imo the Greatest WCBB ever and they steam roll opponents. I expect to see that happen today.

The press continues to mention ND has beaten UConn 7 of their last 12 losses. Let me lay this to rest. Those losses were during the Flop Foul Days. That doesn't happen anymore. A couple of those other losses were in the Griner Era at Baylor. The other 2 were St Johns and Stanford. So lets not be concerned today unless the Flop Calls are reinstated and I don't think they will.
I expect UConn to roll big in this game. We saw a very good and well coached KState Chatty and Nebraska teams get rolled over by UConn. We saw a DePaul team have a terrific nite and lose by 16. I don't expect anything different in todays game. As good as ND is the UConn team is so beyond what any team in WCBB is or has been its not even close. To call this UConn team great is incorrect, they are the Greatest and it aint even close. Today you will see that. Today many will be disappointed that the game is a blowout and not very competitive. The blame will go on injuries and that will contribute to some of the loss however remember a few years ago when Tuck and KML were out and UConn beat 5/6 ranked teams on the road. No body talked about UConns injuries. Kinda gives you an idea on how good the UConn program is. Geno has been able to maintain and make better each and every team he's had year after year.

For ND to win they need to hit shots like DePaul did, and pray a lot because even if UConn is in foul trouble they have a great bench. I will guess UConn by 20+ and it could be by a lot more. Remember UConn will be sky high for this game. ND is limping in here. As great as a coach as Muffet is she cant perform miracles and even that wont be enough to beat UConn, not this team. Final Score UConn 88 ND 62

I actually hope Reimer plays (less excuses). Her and Westbeld are not still not the best match up for Stewart and Tuck's quickness, and they make ND slower than a 4 guard line up. If she doesn't play and ND uses 4 guards it means Stewart will be chasing a guard all over the place (on the other end a complete mismatch) because I think I'd leave Tuck on Westbeld because Stewart's length and speed are better suited to chase a guard. Geno could also go small at times without Tuck because KLS is 6'3 and collier and Williams are great athletes who crash the boards better than what ND has and Westbeld really can't guard Stewart 1 on 1. If Reimer doesn't play it will be interesting to see if Uconn just goes inside all night to which ever big Westbeld isn't guarding or just go after her and get her in early foul trouble. I have to wonder if ND would play some zone and try and double team the big with the ball, or at least press full court as Depaul did to eat some clock, make the game sloppy, and minimalize the height problem the best they can. Yes, that is very dangerous but you have to protect her against foul trouble and she's not the quickest player to begin with. If Westbeld has early foul trouble it will be a long night for ND. I wonder what Muffett will try if Westbeld is in foul trouble, (plan B,C,D). ND has a 6'4 and 6'5 upper classmen (I know nothing about) that don't normally play much, so is this the day she sees if one or both can at least be serviceable for periods of time. Will she use 5 guards, will she run the shot clock down, will she have her team play a style that best fits this game but not the way she normally likes to play. If she keeps the game close or wins she will have earned her paycheck today. Then again, there maybe nothing she can do. Westbeld needs to get to the 2nd half without foul trouble and with ND within striking distance (10 - 14) in order to make this game worth watching half #2. Let the chess match begin.

 

[trb123]

The less than full strength ND team will need a miracle to win today. Perhaps more than one.

I am hoping that KLS gets more time chasing guards as posted above. This is important (to me) because she did not get the USA basketball playtime that Collier and others got. I feel better when she does not have to bang against the post players. I am concerned about the slightness of her body. I am under the impression that the game is more physical now than it was in 2001-2004 when Jessica Moore played. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Wear and tear makes it difficult to do well in academics (another big concern).

ND may have 4 guards who can handle the ball for 40 minutes. Can our ball handlers do that next year if our posts are injured?

 

[CocoHusky]

Even without Turner and perhaps maybe no Reimer ND is still tuff. Muffet knows how to coach however I don't see this being a classic ND UConn matchup with either or both out of the lineup. IMO you might not see either because having one without the other doesnt make that much of a difference, so why take a chance if both aren't healthy playing them and maybe losing both of them for the rest of the season? IMO UConn will win anyway.

UConn is to big and too quick to lose this game today or even to have a close game. ND has struggled this season. UConn has pretty much rolled with a lot of confidence. For those of you who are concerned if this game is close in the first half don't be. This is imo the Greatest WCBB ever and they steam roll opponents. I expect to see that happen today.

The press continues to mention ND has beaten UConn 7 of their last 12 losses. Let me lay this to rest. Those losses were during the Flop Foul Days. That doesn't happen anymore. A couple of those other losses were in the Griner Era at Baylor. The other 2 were St Johns and Stanford. So lets not be concerned today unless the Flop Calls are reinstated and I don't think they will.
I expect UConn to roll big in this game. We saw a very good and well coached KState Chatty and Nebraska teams get rolled over by UConn. We saw a DePaul team have a terrific nite and lose by 16. I don't expect anything different in todays game. As good as ND is the UConn team is so beyond what any team in WCBB is or has been its not even close. To call this UConn team great is incorrect, they are the Greatest and it aint even close. Today you will see that. Today many will be disappointed that the game is a blowout and not very competitive. The blame will go on injuries and that will contribute to some of the loss however remember a few years ago when Tuck and KML were out and UConn beat 5/6 ranked teams on the road. No body talked about UConns injuries. Kinda gives you an idea on how good the UConn program is. Geno has been able to maintain and make better each and every team he's had year after year.

For ND to win they need to hit shots like DePaul did, and pray a lot because even if UConn is in foul trouble they have a great bench. I will guess UConn by 20+ and it could be by a lot more. Remember UConn will be sky high for this game. ND is limping in here. As great as a coach as Muffet is she cant perform miracles and even that wont be enough to beat UConn, not this team. Final Score UConn 88 ND 62

Sorry Tony but I just don't see any correlation or carryover from DePaul to this game. ND does not have the foot speed to execute the trapping defense like DePaul. If ND is going to try and trap with Cable & Maybrey (Younger & Elder) and Allen I really like our chances. All three of them couldn't trap MoJeff if Moriah was in a phone booth. Could ND shoot lights out like DePaul did for a half? Sure they could but ND has not had an answer for Stewie for 4 years now, No answer for Morgan since last year, and even on the rare occasions where a UCONN players plays poorly (Moriah last year @ND and Hartley in NC the year before) the margin has been close to 20 points. Westbled cannot defend the post against Gabby. Stewie and Morgan might have career highs against her.

 

[CocoHusky]

Please correct me if I am wrong. Wear and tear makes it difficult to do well in academics (another big concern). ND may have 4 guards who can handle the ball for 40 minutes. Can our ball handlers do that next year if our posts are injured?

What????? I not sure what you are asking so it makes it difficult to correct or answer.

 

[trb123]

What????? I not sure what you are asking so it makes it difficult to correct or answer.

1. Is post play more physical now than in 2001-2004?

2. Will our guards be able to handle the ball for 40 mins next yr if posts are injured?

 

[UcMiami]

1. No - there is an expansion of talented teams so maybe you see more good low post match-ups than in the early 2000s and more frequently, but it has always been physical. They also tweak the rules regarding what are fouls in low post defense every few years, but that just changes technique and not overall physicality.
2. Yes - Uconn, like ND has great coaching and smart adaptable players. Will they win an NC if they loose two of their best players to injury? Not likely, and we have tried that experiment a few times without ultimate success (Shea/Sveta, Greene/Thomas.) Whatever the pundits say WCBB is very competitive and giving any team a large handicap will not end well. But lets not go down that road in a sport rife with injuries already, please!

 

[ctfjr]

89 - 59 We will be merciless on the inside.

I actually think you are right on with this score prediction. At least with the spread

 

[CocoHusky]

1. Is post play more physical now than in 2001-2004?
2. Will our guards be able to handle the ball for 40 mins next yr if posts are injured?

Q: Is post play more physical now than in 2001-2004?
A: Good question. Yes. IMO post play is significantly more physical now because post players are stronger, more numerous and better skilled. The more skilled player leaves a sense of desperation on the part of the defense. For example it is now common though that to have a chance against Breanna Stewart you have be physical with her. Stanford manage to pull it off last year and Rutgers should have been changed with at least 3 counts of assault during the NCAA game against UCONN. Griner was mugged perhaps out of a championship in 2013. The rule about "how" you guard in the post was changed this year and refined a few years ago because the play was getting too physical in the post.

Q: Will our guards be able to handle the ball for 40 mins next yr if posts are injured?
A: I don't envision a scenario this year or next where UCONN would go to a 4 guard line up even if ND does or UCONN post players are injured. UCONN will put enough ball handlers on the court to play the entire game- No different than what UCONN does every game.

PS
I did not understand the correlation you were trying to make between "injury and academics"

 

[Bigpetunia]

As is usually the case, I tend to focus on the defensive side of things (Madison Cable, meet Gabby Williams). I think ND struggles to get out of the fifties in this one, maybe makes low sixties, numbers with which it's hard to win. I expect them to play pretty well and definitely hard, as they always do, but, oddly, the outcome is almost independent of how well ND plays, in the sense that if UConn plays anywhere near its A game, especially on D, this one won't be close. Morgan is going to get some great matchup ops today...hope she takes big advantage!

 

[trb123]

Q: Is post play more physical now than in 2001-2004?

Q: Will our guards be able to handle the ball for 40 mins next yr if posts are injured?
A: I don't envision a scenario this year or next where UCONN would go to a 4 guard line up even if ND does or UCONN post players are injured. UCONN will put enough ball handlers on the court to play the entire game- No different than what UCONN does every game.

PS
I did not understand the correlation you were trying to make between "injury and academics"

It is harder to study when you are worn out after a game.
10-15 mins is perhaps OK. 40 mins as Stewart is doing now, will wear out many players.

My question about guards is "next year". When Stewart and Jefferson are not there.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Sorry Tony but I just don't see any correlation or carryover from DePaul to this game. ND does not have the foot speed to execute the trapping defense like DePaul. If ND is going to try and trap with Cable & Maybrey (Younger & Elder) and Allen I really like our chances. All three of them couldn't trap MoJeff if Moriah was in a phone booth. Could ND shoot lights out like DePaul did for a half? Sure they could but ND has not had an answer for Stewie for 4 years now, No answer for Morgan since last year, and even on the rare occasions where a UCONN players plays poorly (Moriah last year @ND and Hartley in NC the year before) the margin has been close to 20 points. Westbled cannot defend the post against Gabby. Stewie and Morgan might have career highs against her.

Unless they caught her while she was changing into her Superwoman* outfit.

* Yes, I know there is no such character.

 

[connboy77]

The less than full strength ND team will need a miracle to win today. Perhaps more than one.

I am hoping that KLS gets more time chasing guards as posted above. This is important (to me) because she did not get the USA basketball playtime that Collier and others got. I feel better when she does not have to bang against the post players. I am concerned about the slightness of her body. I am under the impression that the game is more physical now than it was in 2001-2004 when Jessica Moore played. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Wear and tear makes it difficult to do well in academics (another big concern).

ND may have 4 guards who can handle the ball for 40 minutes. Can our ball handlers do that next year if our posts are injured?

Yes, you do know that we have Dangerfield coming next year who is as fast as mo and can handle the ball. Also UCONN will still have Gabby, Kia, and chong who can also handle the ball very well.

The less than full strength ND team will need a miracle to win today. Perhaps more than one.

I am hoping that KLS gets more time chasing guards as posted above. This is important (to me) because she did not get the USA basketball playtime that Collier and others got. I feel better when she does not have to bang against the post players. I am concerned about the slightness of her body. I am under the impression that the game is more physical now than it was in 2001-2004 when Jessica Moore played. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Wear and tear makes it difficult to do well in academics (another big concern).

ND may have 4 guards who can handle the ball for 40 minutes. Can our ball handlers do that next year if our posts are injured?

Yes, you do know that we have Dangerfield coming next year and she is as fast as Mo is and just as good a ball handler. Also UCONN has Kia, Gabby, and Chong coming back. I'm sure Geno would take his chances with this group.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Yes, you do know that we have Dangerfield coming next year who is as fast as mo and can handle the ball. Also UCONN will still have Gabby, Kia, and chong who can also handle the ball very well.


Yes, you do know that we have Dangerfield coming next year and she is as fast as Mo is and just as good a ball handler. Also UCONN has Kia, Gabby, and Chong coming back. I'm sure Geno would take his chances with this group.

Plus The Unbreakable Molly Bent.