You are correct. I meant to say that Azzi and Lou, Nika, Aubrey and maybe some Caroline on Caitlin. Different defenders will help keep Caitlin from getting into a groove.
Do they? I’m not sure O’Grady is mobile enough to outplay Aaliyah. Her experience as a bit player may not matter. Stuelke is a freshman, and like Warnock she is no bigger than Caroline or Lou are.
She does get away with straight arming her defender in the games I have witnessed. A smart defender can use that to her advantage if the officiating cooperates.
No…1.) Geno says the best players figure out how play with fouls, 2.) Betting #10 isn’t even the primary shadow for Clark.
Well, that post didn't age well, did it?
Couple what you posted with, as per Geno, Nika felt she played a bad game today! She did what she did today covering one of the best offensive players in the country, stayed out there 40 minutes while sick and I have no doubt never let her team quit on themselves. She is just a really special player, enjoy her for these last two seasons of her Uconn career because it will be a long time before you see another one like her. All heart, tough as nails and lives to represent Uconn wcbb the right way! Absolutely love this kid, as I am sure her coaches and teammates do as well.So, Nika WAS the primary defender on Caitlin:
1. She only committed 2 fouls (point to Nika!)
2. Clark shot 9-24 (.375) vs. Ave of .472 before this game(pt to Nika!)
3. Clark was 2-11 on 3pt (.182) vs. Ave of .340 before fame (pt to Nika!)
4. Caitlin had 6 assists vs. her 7 average before this game (draw)
5. CC had 3 turnovers vs. 2.5 per game prior (draw).
Nika was also sick (as in under the weather) and was SICK in the game on how well she played!
while there was some switching on/off of Caitlin, Nika was the always picking her up at half court. Hopefully this game has swayed many of the concerning comments on this thread-what say you @Charliebball ?
OOHLALA!!! Was I right or was I right. They put up a fantastic challenge, especially their 3 point shooting, which kept them in the game until Uconn being Uconn finished the game Uconn style. Congratulations!!! GO HUSKIES!!!
Boy, were you right. You have some crystal ball. Great post.
So, Nika WAS the primary defender on Caitlin:
1. She only committed 2 fouls (point to Nika!)
2. Clark shot 9-24 (.375) vs. Ave of .472 before this game(pt to Nika!)
3. Clark was 2-11 on 3pt (.182) vs. Ave of .340 before fame (pt to Nika!)
4. Caitlin had 6 assists vs. her 7 average before this game (draw)
5. CC had 3 turnovers vs. 2.5 per game prior (draw).
Nika was also sick (as in under the weather) and was SICK in the game on how well she played!
while there was some switching on/off of Caitlin, Nika was the always picking her up at half court. Hopefully this game has swayed many of the concerning comments on this thread-what say you @Charliebball ?
Well said by DefenseBB and #12in21. I wholeheartedly agree Nika did a really good job keeping Caitlin from going off for a really big game. One stat you didn't note, and I know this will draw plenty of dislikes: Caitlin did score 25 points and Nika had 2. My point is that scoring is a big part of basketball and Nika doesn't have to worry about that, pretty much at all. She's excellent at the facets of the game within her skill set.
Give Nika, UConn's defense, and Clark credit. Geno had Clark doubled out past the key. Clark still got points, but was under control. Nika did well but would never want to have to guard Caitlin one on one. Too quick particularly for her size.
They all get a lot of credit, but I think it’s been pretty widely stated (by coaches and players) that Nika sets the tone. When she can’t be as intense as she wants to be, I do think that permeates to the rest of the team.
Clark was not doubled except a couple of times off the high pick. Muhl’s primary work was done when Clark gave up the ball. NO great player can be stopped one on one. Muhl contained her and that’s all that can be reasonably expected when playing someone as good as Clark.
I'm thrilled that she stayed out of serious foul trouble...........she clearly limited her physical contact and didn't get caught making those tiki tak fouls that have afflicted her in the past.........to do that while being under the weather is an amazing accomplishment..........BTW I said she had a 50%/50% chance of fouling out..........I also said I was concerned that Edwards might run into foul trouble against Czinano and she did but she was magnificent at both ends of the court......I think I also predicted it would be a seven point win.............so all in all, I'm content with the outcome and most of my predictions..........frankly as long as UConn wins and nobody gets hurt I'm a happy camper........So, Nika WAS the primary defender on Caitlin:
1. She only committed 2 fouls (point to Nika!)
2. Clark shot 9-24 (.375) vs. Ave of .472 before this game(pt to Nika!)
3. Clark was 2-11 on 3pt (.182) vs. Ave of .340 before fame (pt to Nika!)
4. Caitlin had 6 assists vs. her 7 average before this game (draw)
5. CC had 3 turnovers vs. 2.5 per game prior (draw).
Nika was also sick (as in under the weather) and was SICK in the game on how well she played!
while there was some switching on/off of Caitlin, Nika was the always picking her up at half court. Hopefully this game has swayed many of the concerning comments on this thread-what say you @Charliebball ?
Muhl has a role on the team, as does Clark, defined by the coaches. I don’t dislike your comment at all, after all it is just an opinion, but I guess you have missed the several times in press conferences Auriemma has said that there is more pressure on Muhl to perform this year than any other Uconn player.
Thanks for your thoughts, Littlemin... I remember well hearing Geno's comments to that effect, and Nika has risen to the occasion. I give her full credit for all her numerous contributions. I qualify that only for yesterday when so many gave her credit for what they saw as her one on one D to shut down Clark.
I played NAIA college ball at 5’9””; I had a friend I played with in HS who played guard at Wake Forest at 6’4””. I had no obvious physical skills over him, maybe a quarter step of quickness that was more than compensated for by his height advantage. BUT, Neil couldn’t begin to cover me one on one because I knew where I was going and what shot I wanted; one in one defense is by and large 100% reactive when the offensive player has the ball.
All well said, Littlemin...
Wow, small world, yes it was; averaged about 11 or so at WF; an off the charts great HS player who is best remembered at Roselle Park HS in NJ (home of Rick Barry) for scoring 40 in a state championship losing effort in Atlantic City against Burlington. Me, I remember him best for making two foul shots after the buzzer vs. our arch-rivals Roselle. He was fouled at the buzzer and fans from both schools rushed the court thinking the game over. Finally the police formed a human wall around the foul line area and Neil dropped in both with fans pretty much literally screaming in his ears. I was a sophomore, Neil a senior but basketball in Roselle Park had a great playground feeder system out of Sherman School, an elementary school playground that at one time attracted HS and college players from the wider Union County area. In addition to Barry, frequently John Morrison, who lived in Roselle Park but went to Seton Hall Prep, played at Canisius and got a cup of coffee with Denver in the ABA, was there. Great memories, great games…………
Volume shooting is my retort- 24 shots to get those points. Caitlin hurt her team by not distributing to the hot hand more-Kate Martin for example. Clark is a unique example unlike anyone else in WCBB so a point guard to point guard comparison for any point guard is skewed against that opponent. The other aspect is Clark did not always guard Nika, so Nika worked on both ends of the floor.
