No Concerns

[oldude]

At some point toward the end of last season Geno admitted in a presser that “I think we’ll be a really good tournament team.” That was a sort of confidence I hadn’t seen him express in a few years. And the result really speaks volumes about whatever he saw that made him so confident.

In the most recent presser, after acknowledging the recent swoon and suggesting that all the top programs go through this every season, he said “I think the team is in a really good position heading into the BE tournament.” This is not quite as confident sounding as what he said last season, but it’s pretty close. He seems to be saying that the team is as healthy as it’s been all season. That’s a very good sign.

I’m probably not as confident overall as Geno is. I’d be a lot more confident if Blanca was playing at the level she showed in the first few weeks, like against tOSU or Utah. She was startlingly good in those games, even with the mistakes she made. I don’t see how any team matches up with her at her best if either Sarah or Azzi (or both!) are on the floor. Not SC, not UCLA, not Texas, not Vandy, not LSU. So I’ll be looking to see her progress over the next few games.

Also important is how the terror triplets play: KK Ash and Kayleigh. Last year it was Kaitlyn along with the havoc twins who provided the key support to our Big Three — and in hindsight I think pretty much all of us recognized the genius of signing Kaitlyn out of the portal. Geno “knew what he knew.” This season, I have a feeling he also knew something really important about adding Kayleigh. And I won’t even go on about Allie “Say no more” Threeball, though I could speak until the rest of you are weary on this topic.

Is UCLA more talented than last season? Maybe, maybe not. But they are definitely a talented veteran squad facing their last chance at an NC. That counts for something. I don’t think SC is more talented — injuries have taken a toll and Dawn has to play a pretty thin lineup. But the core of Joyce Raven Taniya and Tessa is very solid. Texas looks weaker than last season, when they underperformed. So does LSU. And I don’t think Vandy can really match up with the top 3 (or maybe 4) teams in a tournament setting, even with Mikayla’s and Aubrey’s heroics. But I will be thrilled to see whatever they can accomplish.

The one possible difference that could matter between this year’s team and last year’s team is the absence of Paige, who served as a coach on the floor as well as a type of regulator, capable of summoning up whatever UConn needed in any given situation.

Other than that, this year’s UConn team is deeper and certainly as talented as last year’s. But it still remains to be seen how the Huskies will react when they are inevitably challenged during the Tournament.

 

[BBallF]

The one possible difference that could matter between this year’s team and last year’s team is the absence of Paige, who served as a coach on the floor as well as a type of regulator, capable of summoning up whatever UConn needed in any given situation.

Other than that, this year’s UConn team is deeper and certainly as talented as last year’s. But it still remains to be seen how the Huskies will react when they are inevitably challenged during the Tournament.

I think historically the 2 most challenging games are the Regional finals and the Semis. Last year it was the Regional Finals against USC and in years past we were knocked out in the Semis. I would point out that in both of the most recent Semis losses, we had no bench and were a tired team. A good bench is often overlooked as a way of saving a player's season long legs as well as game legs and as creating defensive challenges for an opponent. It's not easy to adjust when you are on defense and guard KK one way and then have Kayleigh who has a greater offensive repertoire and moves the ball up court at a faster rate at times and more diagonally than KK. If it's Allie you have to guard the 3 closely and the drives. Then for Blanca, it's off the charts. If it's the new Jana, it's another bag completely. Very anxious to see what she does tonight. While Blanca truly has been the X factor as you predicted, Jana is now the final missing piece to the puzzle.

 

[BobbyJ]

The one possible difference that could matter between this year’s team and last year’s team is the absence of Paige, who served as a coach on the floor as well as a type of regulator, capable of summoning up whatever UConn needed in any given situation.

Other than that, this year’s UConn team is deeper and certainly as talented as last year’s. But it still remains to be seen how the Huskies will react when they are inevitably challenged during the Tournament.

Good to see someone else acknowledge this. Bueckers’ presence demanded a lot of the defensive focus and allowed Fudd and Strong to play free and loose. And her confidence ran through the rest of the team. It will be interesting to see if the other two can generate the juice and make the plays to carry them this year.

 

[fireford]

While this year's team has more depth than last year, there is no denying that the "win it for Paige mantra" was a huge x factor in last year's tournament run. When she dropped 40 against Oklahoma last year it was clear that she was on a mission and it became infectious. The rest of the team wanted to win it for her just as much.
I tend to think that they might have played worse the first half of that Oklahoma game than they did in the recent Villanova game. If Paige doesn't get on a heater who knows what happens that game.

 

[Bigboote]

While this year's team has more depth than last year, there is no denying that the "win it for Paige mantra" was a huge x factor in last year's tournament run.

Well, this year they have "win it for Caroline and Azzi" and possibly Ayanna and Ice, all of whom have had just brutal careers at UConn. Of course Caroline is unlikely to be playing in the final three games in crunch time as Paige did, but if I were a Husky, there is nobody I'd be playing harder for. It's not quite "Win it for the Gipper," but it's in the same spirit.

 

[fireford]

I'm sure every team with a realistic chance for the national championship has a player (usually a senior in particular) that they'd want to win it for so we're not unique in that regard. Plus the players you mention already have championship rings.
In the case of Paige it was different. A national championship is something that many felt was needed in order to validate her place among the all-time UConn greats.

 

[browns]

Good to see someone else acknowledge this. Bueckers’ presence demanded a lot of the defensive focus and allowed Fudd and Strong to play free and loose. And her confidence ran through the rest of the team. It will be interesting to see if the other two can generate the juice and make the plays to carry them this year.

Dawn tried everything to slow down Azzi and Sara and there was no answer for the 2 of them..Azzi was MOP of the final four but it could just have easily gone to SS.The 2 of them were by far the best players on the court that weekend
Paige was 12/31 in the 2 games and 0/5 from the 3 pt line while SS was 19/28 and 6/9 from the 3 and completely shutting down Edwards and Azzi shot 16/29 and 4/11 from 3..Paige had a fair 2 games while the other 2 were outstanding and certainly generated enough juice to bring home #12

 

[ERWUC65]

The one possible difference that could matter between this year’s team and last year’s team is the absence of Paige, who served as a coach on the floor as well as a type of regulator, capable of summoning up whatever UConn needed in any given situation.

Other than that, this year’s UConn team is deeper and certainly as talented as last year’s. But it still remains to be seen how the Huskies will react when they are inevitably challenged during the Tournament.

I think we got a glimpse of the future when Azzi took over at PG in the 2nd half of the TN game.

 

[BobbyJ]

Dawn tried everything to slow down Azzi and Sara and there was no answer for the 2 of them..Azzi was MOP of the final four but it could just have easily gone to SS.The 2 of them were by far the best players on the court that weekend
Paige was 12/31 in the 2 games and 0/5 from the 3 pt line while SS was 19/28 and 6/9 from the 3 and completely shutting down Edwards and Azzi shot 16/29 and 4/11 from 3..Paige had a fair 2 games while the other 2 were outstanding and certainly generated enough juice to bring home #12

Yes, that's what happens when good coaches focus their defense to try to take a player out of the offense and the other two scorers benefit. That's the point. This time around it'll probably be Strong who gets the extra attention and we'll see if Fudd and someone else can make the plays.

 

[YKCornelius]

Dawn tried everything to slow down Azzi and Sara and there was no answer for the 2 of them..Azzi was MOP of the final four but it could just have easily gone to SS.The 2 of them were by far the best players on the court that weekend
Paige was 12/31 in the 2 games and 0/5 from the 3 pt line while SS was 19/28 and 6/9 from the 3 and completely shutting down Edwards and Azzi shot 16/29 and 4/11 from 3..Paige had a fair 2 games while the other 2 were outstanding and certainly generated enough juice to bring home #12

Browns, I have a different opinion of Dawn's game plan going into last year's championship game. I think once the brackets were announced, all of the Gamecocks approached the FF thinking that they were going to reverse the outcome of the earlier loss by playing South Carolina basketball with more intensity.

I base that not just on her and her players' postgame comments after that regular season blowout loss to UConn, but also on her team's comments leading into the SEC and NCAA tournaments about being motivated to avenge the UConn loss by coming out right from the start of the game with proper focus and intensity.

So.... from my perch in the NC game. I saw Dawn employ basically the same strategy that she did in the first game (i.e., trying to shutdown/limit Paige) while counting on her team's increased focus and intensity to carry the day and to show the world who USC really is. I don't think Dawn tried anything in the NC to slow down Azzi and/or Sarah. Rather, Dawn's plan differed from the first game in that she wanted to minimize the damage inflicted in the first game from beyond the arc. That is what Dawn said in the postgame presser according to the NCAA transcripts.

I agree with BobbyJ's assessment that the statistical results of Paige, Azzi and Sarah were largely due to Dawn primarily focusing on a single star player. My personal opinion of Paige's two games in Tampa is she played well, not fair. I agree with you that play of Azzi and Sarah was outstanding.

My two cents. Go Huskies!

 

[ABCDFE]

Good to see someone else acknowledge this. Bueckers’ presence demanded a lot of the defensive focus and allowed Fudd and Strong to play free and loose. And her confidence ran through the rest of the team. It will be interesting to see if the other two can generate the juice and make the plays to carry them this year.

I think the value of Paige beyond her outwordly talent was her leadership in tough games and helping keep everyone calm, and know that when needed she could get a bucket. As BobbyJ pointed out defenses had to put their best defender on Paige. I also want to point out (another poster has mentioned this) that in tight end of game situations Paige, KChen were very good free throw shooters (along with Azzi). KK and K9 are solid but not nearly as automatic. This year although we have depth, I am interested in seeing how we do in tight game situations or god forbid if we're trying to make a come back how this team handles the pressure. Only time will tell, but sounds like Geno has high confidence in this team, which is a good sign.

 

[meyers7]

In the most recent presser, after acknowledging the recent swoon and suggesting that all the top programs go through this every season, he said “I think the team is in a really good position heading into the BE tournament.” This is not quite as confident sounding as what he said last season, but it’s pretty close. He seems to be saying that the team is as healthy as it’s been all season. That’s a very good sign.

I'm hoping that they can get themselves focused and hit that "tournament switch". I'm hoping this swoon is a bit of boredom on their part. And the excitement of the the Tournaments will wake them up some.

In the past, a lot of times they have played much better in the tournaments. I'm hoping that trend continues. He seems pleased with where they were at this time. Just needs to show up in the games.

 

[browns]

Browns, I have a different opinion of Dawn's game plan going into last year's championship game. I think once the brackets were announced, all of the Gamecocks approached the FF thinking that they were going to reverse the outcome of the earlier loss by playing South Carolina basketball with more intensity.

I base that not just on her and her players' postgame comments after that regular season blowout loss to UConn, but also on her team's comments leading into the SEC and NCAA tournaments about being motivated to avenge the UConn loss by coming out right from the start of the game with proper focus and intensity.

So.... from my perch in the NC game. I saw Dawn employ basically the same strategy that she did in the first game (i.e., trying to shutdown/limit Paige) while counting on her team's increased focus and intensity to carry the day and to show the world who USC really is. I don't think Dawn tried anything in the NC to slow down Azzi and/or Sarah. Rather, Dawn's plan differed from the first game in that she wanted to minimize the damage inflicted in the first game from beyond the arc. That is what Dawn said in the postgame presser according to the NCAA transcripts.

I agree with BobbyJ's assessment that the statistical results of Paige, Azzi and Sarah were largely due to Dawn primarily focusing on a single star player. My personal opinion of Paige's two games in Tampa is she played well, not fair. I agree with you that play of Azzi and Sarah was outstanding.

My two cents. Go Huskies!

Another key of the game just like the first time they played was Sara completely dominated Edwards the best player for SC..I can see that happening again but UConn has to face the 6'5" Okot now and if they play UCLA Betts and Texas 6'6" Olda cher an 6'4' Cunningham..all season long posters hav complained about UConn posts.., I agree..that is the one weakness Uconn has..for whatever reason Williams just hasn't worked out and Jana has regressed from last year..will it finally catch up with the team in the Big Dance if they hav an off night shooting an get nothing from the Bigs? that is my only concern..Uconn can go small and hav SS play the 5 and Bianca the 4 and this is their best team but then SS has to do more than she usually does but I guess if your the NPOY you should be up to it ..they hav had a great year and it would really be a bummer if they don't bring home # 13