Nika Guarding Caitlin - Thoughts? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Nika Guarding Caitlin - Thoughts?

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TCC Kid said:
No, but 20 is do-able and I think Fudd, Lou, Caroline, Edwards, Nika can make that up over the rest of the Iowa team. Remember when Caitlin is scoring 20 other Iowans aren't.
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yes but don't underestimate Clark's ability to dish the ball when she needs to...........she is much more of a multifaceted player than some give her credit for..........
 
Bald Huskie said:
What we don't need is losing the momentum that Nika brings to our offence. Caitlin moves so much that I am afraid the fouls will come, especially when the refs seem to favor the stars. Aubrey would be the best choice, taller, more athletic. I think offensively we are the better team, so I would not sacrifice our point guard to guard a player that may score anyway, no matter who guards her. Let Aubrey and the others worry about Caitlin and concentrate on our scoring. If we do what we do on offence, we will win no matter how many points she scores.
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Aubrey or nika..same result. clark might get her points, but hopefully she has to work much harder for them and her percentage goes down. the disadvantage for nika is that she not only is much smaller than clark, she has to save some energy to run the offense. we need her on the court for at least 35 minutes and to find our shooters. so yeah, AG is the better option to guard clark but nika will be on her at times as well.

last game nika was great again, even made it to the rim not once, but three times, converting all three. also had a drive and dish in the lane which was sweet - interior passing! hopefully she can keep it up...i think she will.
 
When Clark is on, she's unstoppable; no human can guard her. I think Geno will concede her a certain amount of points and look to controlling everyone else including Czinano who gets a whole lot of easy buckets.

If Mo was around, Geno'd try to face-guard and make it difficult for Clark to even see the ball, but I don't think we have that sort of player on the squad.

So its there gunner against our two...and Ms. Fudd is due...
 
The first college football games I remember were Iowa's Rose Bowl wins in the late '50s... for whatever reason, as a young boy, I became a Hawkeye fan. Along the way, I started rooting for Iowa's men's basketball team and in recent decades for the Hawks' women's teams. All that said, my primary allegiance since the '60s has been UConn basketball - men and women - (except during Tim Duncan's years at Wake), especially for the women since the mid-90s, so I'll be rooting hard for the Huskies tomorrow.

I've enjoyed everyone's take on tomorrow's game and look forward to the game, much as did the Sweet Sixteen matchup of '20-21.

As for the point of this thread, I also believe Aubrey's quickness and length could cause Caitlin issues, as could Nika's aggressive, more physical approach. However, a word of caution, Caitlin is a volume free throw shooter and has about a career 87 per cent success rate there. Whether Caitlin or the defense gets the calls will be crucial, as it is every game for the Hawkeyes.

For those who say give Caitlin her 25 or 30, be wary that it's well within her ability (at least against non-Huskies teams) to go off for 40 to 45... she did that during several of Iowa's biggest games last year vs. Michigan, Indiana and Ohio State to help the Hawks to both Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles.

Czinano hasn't been as sharp this season as last year, so it's possible the Huskies might be able to limit her. In doing so, they'd cut off a good percentage of Caitlin's assists. Marshall, Warnock and Martin all can make a three-pointer, but none will make a high percentage or hurt the Huskies too badly, at least unless they're all having a career game.

I expect UConn to win by 15-25, depending on that Iowa scoring from players other than Clark/Czinano.

For those of you who have tended to downgrade Clark's accomplishments as simply piling up numbers, I'll remind you she attends her local state university knowing she'd unlikely have a shot at a national title. When you watch her play, please just understand, no matter her performance tomorrow, Caitlin is a special player who'll hopefully one day be starting in the backcourt with Paige and/or Azzi for the US national team.

It's always a treat to watch sports greatness. How much fun would it be to see both Azzi and Caitlin scoring in the 30s, and the Huskies winning by 20? I'd guess Azzi's smart enough to know she's a whole lot better off playing against Iowa's suspect D than Caitlin is vs. the Huskies' D.
 
How about put Nika on her until she gives up the ball, then switch Aubrey onto her.
 
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CTBballfan243 said:
I let Clark score here points, because she will anyway, and focus our D on shutting the rest of the Iowa down.
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My guess is that Caitlin gets ??? fewer points because on this WEST COAST neutral court
she MAY NOT get to the free throw line as often as she usually does??!!
 
jazz said:
. the disadvantage for nika is that she not only is much smaller than clark
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5-10 vs 6-0, I thought it was more myself.

What about giving Caroline some time on Caitlin. 6-2 vs 6-0, and make sure you have someone to help behind Caroline. Tell Caroline, no silly fouls, use your length on the shot, you will get help if (when) she goes by you. Aubrey and AE play safety, but you cant give up layups when Caitlin dishes.
 
Geno's MO for a player of Clark's talent is to slow them down, harass them, take away the passing lanes, make them work hard for every shot they take.

Geno has also used multiple players in game to slow down a Clark. Nika, Aubrey definitely. Maybe Azzi, Caroline and maybe Lou.

Nika is a much improved defender and more savy than last season. Nika is quicker and faster than Clark.

I would expect Aubrey to be taking turns with Aaliyan on guarding Czanno. Aubrey's athleticism is something Iowa probably hasn't seen so far. And Ayanna will have her turn down low too.

Geno and company have it covered.
 
Stinger92860 said:
5-10 vs 6-0, I thought it was more myself.

What about giving Caroline some time on Caitlin. 6-2 vs 6-0, and make sure you have someone to help behind Caroline. Tell Caroline, no silly fouls, use your length on the shot, you will get help if (when) she goes by you. Aubrey and AE play safety, but you cant give up layups when Caitlin dishes.
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I dont think CD could hang with clark. I think AG is our best option. nika as well.
 
Caitlin is going to get her points..she's a superstar..if you try and double her she's a great passer..just try and stop the other players..I'm more concerned with AE getting in foul trouble guarding Czinano,what happens then.Uconn has no one else strong enough to guard her.
This is a veteran team with one of the best if not the best player in the country.Hopefully Uconn plays "D" like they have been and Azzi gets aggresive in the first half instead of waiting till the 2nd half
Stinger92860 said:
5-10 vs 6-0, I thought it was more myself.

What about giving Caroline some time on Caitlin. 6-2 vs 6-0, and make sure you have someone to help behind Caroline. Tell Caroline, no silly fouls, use your length on the shot, you will get help if (when) she goes by you. Aubrey and AE play safety, but you cant give up layups when Caitlin dishes.
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Caitlin is way too quick for the old Caroline never mind the way she is now
 
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huskeynut said:
Geno's MO for a player of Clark's talent is to slow them down, harass them, take away the passing lanes, make them work hard for every shot they take.

Geno has also used multiple players in game to slow down a Clark. Nika, Aubrey definitely. Maybe Azzi, Caroline and maybe Lou.

Nika is a much improved defender and more savy than last season. Nika is quicker and faster than Clark.

I would expect Aubrey to be taking turns with Aaliyan on guarding Czanno. Aubrey's athleticism is something Iowa probably hasn't seen so far. And Ayanna will have her turn down low too.

Geno and company have it covered.
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I agree with everything here, huskeynut, except that Nika is quicker and faster than Caitlin. It isn't about a foot race, but I suspect on the court Caitlin has every bit as much, if not more quickness than Nika, and she'll know which direction she's headed before Nika does.

The advantage Nika and UConn have is that the Huskies have multiple good defenders, and cover well for each other, while Iowa doesn't...
 
Charliebball said:
50%/50% chance she fouls out.........
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Not a chance because I believe Griffin, Fudd, Senechal and Muhl will all have their turn and Uconn will also play some zone. I also would not rule out some junk defenses just to change the looks.
 
BB Dawg said:
I rather see Aubrey Griffin take on the that task. If she cannot do the job then bring in Nika. Nika is too valuable in running the team.
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makes sense but Griffin may be needed to guard Warnock too
 
Caitlin is certainly gifted and is fun to watch. But as with others above, I'm way more concerned about Czinano. I think they will go right after Edwards and entice fouls. Then what do you do? Move Aubrey onto her and give up 40 lbs? And Monika will eat Yanna (and Amari) alive and with no anesthetic.

With Dorka healthy, I'd be very confident about this game. As it is, I'm nervous.
 
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Gus Mahler said:
Caitlin is certainly gifted and is fun to watch. But as with others above, I'm way more concerned about Czinano. I think they will go right after Edwards and entice fouls. Then what do you do? Move Aubrey onto her and give up 40 lbs? And Monika will eat Yanna (and Amari) alive and with no anesthetic.

With Dorka healthy, I'd be very confident about this game. As it is, I'm nervous.
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But what might happen if Aaliyah goes right after Czinano by getting some great feeds from Nika, Azzi and Aubrey? This plan could work too.

But I certainly don't want to watch a nationally televised game where the refs become the major players...
 
LCConnFan said:
I think Nika deserves the benefit of the doubt, after seeing how much more she's matured. Not even 4 PF's yet this year! She's good to go IMO! ;)
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I think Lou, Nika, Aubrey, and even Caroline for short periods can guard Clark in the open court or in a man to man. In a zone it will be all teamwork.
 
The key isn’t to shut Clark down, but to make her contribution irrelevant. I think her relevance to the game will depend in part on the score. If we build a big lead in the 3rd quarter, I suspect Iowa will try too hard to get Clark shot opportunities in the 4th quarter and their team concept will falter. I’d think using Aubrey judiciously to guard her in the 2nd and 3rd quarters will help us build that lead.

That 3rd quarter should belong to us. If it does, the game is effectively over.
 
Less concerned about Clark, she's going to figure out a way to get hers. Limiting her assists and Czinano is what will help UConn win
 
Gus Mahler said:
Caitlin is certainly gifted and is fun to watch. But as with others above, I'm way more concerned about Czinano. I think they will go right after Edwards and entice fouls. Then what do you do? Move Aubrey onto her and give up 40 lbs? And Monika will eat Yanna (and Amari) alive and with no anesthetic.

With Dorka healthy, I'd be very confident about this game. As it is, I'm nervous.
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I think you are making Monica Czinano into Aliyah Boston here. Although she is tall and heavy, she is not a particularly physical player, and does not focus on drawing fouls on her defender. She is much more likely to stay in place and try to make a shot over her opponent. About half of her points against Oregon State appeared to come from foul line jumpers. I have never seen her use a hook shot.

Aaliyah Edwards is quicker than Czinano and can jump higher. If she just stands her ground and keeps her arms vertical, she can keep Czinano under control. She should be able to block a few of those face-up jump shot attempts.

And then on offense, I think Aaliyah can get plenty of fouls on her, or else get a clear path to the hoop, just by using her quickness. And if Aaliyah can make a couple of her own face-up jump shots as she did against Duke, Czinano will have to leave the paint open for Aubrey and Azzi to penetrate.
 
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Gino will mix it up, but I think the key will be defending everybody other than Clark. Yanna needs to keep herself out of foul trouble today, too. This is another game in which we'll feel the absence of Dorka. As for Clark, no problem with her getting 30 if the team totals <60.
 
DriveLH said:
I think a combination of Nika and Aubrey will be effective.
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Agree - thankful we have two great defensive players. Will moving Aubrey away from basket have any effect on rebounding? There are other great shooters coming up and this game could be an indicator of future strategy.
 
I think Nika is up the challenge of guarding Caitlin, if she is given that tasks. But I think, like others have stated as well, Aubrey will probably be given the majority of the defensive assignment on Caitlin and then after that it becomes a defense by committee with Caitlin. All UConn has to do is what Duke did to Azzi, make it tough. Face guard, Box & 1, whatever. Just make it tough on Caitlin to score, get open, handle the ball...just make her uncomfortable out there. No easy looks or touches.
 
RedStickHusky said:
Gino will mix it up, but I think the key will be defending everybody other than Clark. Yanna needs to keep herself out of foul trouble today, too. This is another game in which we'll feel the absence of Dorka. As for Clark, no problem with her getting 30 if the team totals <60.
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Yeah Coach G will mix things up a little bit out there. I just feel bad for Ayanna. She breathes and she getting a foul called on her. Sure, there were some legit calls on her but there are some BS calls that she gets that other players get away with. Has to be frustrating for her because as a fan from home, it is definitely frustrating that she gets called for ticky tack fouls.
 
Nika vs Clark is the undercard the real question is who's going to check Azzi and Lou that's the only way I see Iowa winning by shutting our shooters and their defense is not championship material ...now here's hoping I don't regret my post and have to eat my words because a win by Iowa will convince all the UConn haters that this team's preseason rank of 6th or lower is justified..
let's go Uconn !!!!!!
 
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