Not too soon to start discussion TENNESSEE? So much to discuss... My questions are=

[HuskyNan]

Blanca has hit the freshman wall this month. Freshmen tend to struggle, to various extents, and you can see it in Blanca’s last couple of games. It doesn’t seem all that bad, mostly a loss of concentration, so hopefully she’ll come out of it soon

FWIW, Sarah breezed through the wall like it wasn’t there for her. She is truly special


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Well, so much for the freshman wall!

 

[Zarathustra]

Blanca has hit the freshman wall this month. Freshmen tend to struggle, to various extents, and you can see it in Blanca’s last couple of games. It doesn’t seem all that bad, mostly a loss of concentration, so hopefully she’ll come out of it soon

FWIW, Sarah breezed through the wall like it wasn’t there for her. She is truly special


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No "freshman wall" for BLANCA in the Seton Hall game! 16 points on 7/9 shooting,
5 rebounds, one offensive, 4 assists, one block (and a VERY nice one I must
say!!), 3 steals, in 28 minutes of playing time. I'll skip the charges! and
total fouls stats. Blanca was (just about) the consensus BADASS. Well DONE!!!

 

[Zarathustra]

Mia Pauldo is the real deal. Her sister Mya barely plays. But I think KK, K9 and Azzi will have no problem defending Mia. Kim has changed her system, finally realizing it doesn't work. She doesn't sub as much, and the 5 person subs don't happen that often. She keeps her better players on the court.

This could be a very nice comparison of contending NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF
THE YEAR candidates. Different positions, different style, but truly a
"Game within a game". A lot to anticipate in this game and individual
matchups!
FYI: a comparison of the FRESHMAN Mia Paulo and Blanca
Mia: 17 g 12 starts 23 min/g FG% 40.4, 3'% 33.3% 12.1 ppg, Reb 45
2.6 rb/g assists 43 T.O. ratio 2.15

Blanca 19 g 0 starts 19.6 min/g FG% 57.4, 3'% 40.4% 10.7ppg, REB 64
3.3 re/g assists 41 T.O. 38 T.O. Ratio 1.07 Also: 9 blocks and 35 steals

 

[RoadWarrior]

Well, so much for the freshman wall!

You beat me to the punch. She played very well today.

 

[LuvBball]

Jada Civil has really come into her own lately. I' looking forward to a great game.

 

[PJCLaw]

Blanca has hit the freshman wall this month. Freshmen tend to struggle, to various extents, and you can see it in Blanca’s last couple of games. It doesn’t seem all that bad, mostly a loss of concentration, so hopefully she’ll come out of it soon

FWIW, Sarah breezed through the wall like it wasn’t there for her. She is truly special


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I think BQ's game today may have quieted some of the "hitting the freshman wall" talk! She is truly a gem. Once she controls the speed with which she plays, she will be like a sixth starter...which I already consider her.

 

[fomalhaut]

Blanca is going to commit fouls and turnovers. She gives so much more, though, that it's worth it.

 

[WBBZen]

Mia Pauldo is the real deal. Her sister Mya barely plays. But I think KK, K9 and Azzi will have no problem defending Mia. Kim has changed her system, finally realizing it doesn't work. She doesn't sub as much, and the 5 person subs don't happen that often. She keeps her better players on the court.

Interesting. I haven’t seen them since the Louisville game. I do think that KK will be able to handle Mia though and she’s been a huge force for them lately

 

[Rowdy831]

I would enjoy hearing from the BONEYARD on all things "Lady Volunteers" but to start:
1. Have you "Major" concerns about Tennessee's press? I watched the game
highlights of Louisville beating Tennessee and it appeared to me that (IN THE SECOND
HALF) Louisville had no trouble breaking down the Lady Vol's pressure defense. I
think that this issue is "real" but I believe that it will not be a big ++ in Tennessee's a favor.
2. Does anyone have insights into Tennessee's capacity to play any form of
effective ZONE defense? This is probably my major concern. Tennessee has
athleticism and length and with those variables it could make Tennessee's ability to use
some form of ZONE (3 -2 ?) rather effectively and strike at one of UCONN's Achilles' Heels (more than one you say?). This could be a real concern for Geno and our otherwise high-flying offense.
3. Other ideas/ concerns???
Seton Hall and Xavier come first... but... really, February 1st is NOT that far away!!

UConn will beat Tennessee by as many as they chose. I really don't see any team that will challenge UConn until deep in the tournament if even then.

 

[OldSchooler]

Blanca has hit the freshman wall this month. Freshmen tend to struggle, to various extents, and you can see it in Blanca’s last couple of games. It doesn’t seem all that bad, mostly a loss of concentration, so hopefully she’ll come out of it soon

FWIW, Sarah breezed through the wall like it wasn’t there for her. She is truly special


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None of these should apply to Blanca. Yes, she's a freshman, but certainly not your typical recent H.S. graduate.

 

[Zarathustra]

Blanca is going to commit fouls and turnovers. She gives so much more, though, that it's worth it.

See Blanca's assists and turnovers and ratio in thread number 33, above
where there is a "Freshman of the Year" stat comparison with Mia Paulo.
Maybe not being a starter will not be such a burden to overcome for
Blanca???

 

[JoePgh]

I do think it's correct to say that Tennessee has the most athletic team that UConn has faced this year. Louisville had several good athletes, and Ohio State and USC each had one very athletic player, but just about everyone on the Tennessee roster is a star athlete.

I also watched Tennessee against Louisville at Barclay Center. It was close for the first half, and then it appeared to me that TN essentially gave up in the second half. Louisville had enough athleticism that TN couldn't dominate them either with speed or with rebounding, and when TN didn't have that clear advantage, they seemed to get bewildered.

I have also watched last year's UConn - Tennessee game at least twice since watching it in real time, and the teams seemed very evenly matched, as if the contest could go either way. It was certainly a much more contested game than either of UConn's games against South Carolina. I am still not sure why UConn wasn't able to pull away in that game as it did in the NCAA tournament games against good teams.

I think if UConn gets a lead in the first quarter and maintains it into the 3rd quarter, it is quite likely that TN will become frustrated and make numerous mental mistakes, as happened at Barclay Center. If that happens, it should lead to a 25-point blowout in UConn's favor. But if the game stays within single digits into the third quarter, then it could stay that way for the entire game, and the result could be a tossup.

I have more faith in UConn's ability to deal with adversity than Tennessee's. That's why I think UConn will win this year's game, probably by a comfortable double-digit margin.

 

[bballnut90]

I don't see Tennessee keeping this close to be honest. A lot of what worked well for them a year ago isn't working as well this year (scoring, rebounding, forcing crazy numbers of TOs, 3pt shooting). They have a lot of talent but are young and undisciplined, and their offense just isn't as potent as it was a year ago. Plus it's a road game. UCONN this year is playing at a much higher level than the 2024-25 team was the first half of the year. Defense is notably better in 2025-26 too. I think it's a cushy 20-25 point win even if Tennessee can keep it close for the first half.

 

[donalddoowop]

Pauldo is nowhere near the player Hidalgo is and look how UConn slowed her down. Have the player she guards post her up.

 

[Bone Dog]

All will be known in seven days.

 

[HuskylnSC]

This is a team that shoots 41.7% from the floor, 30.4% from 3 and 66.2% from the stripe. So, what's the weather supposed to be?

 

[HuskylnSC]

Blanca has hit the freshman wall this month

kind of a low wall. 28 minutes, 16 points on 7/8 shooting 5 rebounds and 4 assists

 

[CONNCAN]

Pauldo is nowhere near the player Hidalgo is and look how UConn slowed her down. Have the player she guards post her up.

I think that, as a Freshman, Tennessee's Mia Pauldo is extremely similar in playing style as Hanna Hildalgo was during her Freshman Year at Notre Dame.

 

[sno-cat]

 

[Tonyc]

UConn won another game yesterday and the starters didnt play the entire game again. What do you think UConn will to a team like Tenn when the starters play the entire game? Dont even think about Tenn beating UConn. It aint happenin.

 

[donalddoowop]

I think that, as a Freshman, Tennessee's Mia Pauldo is extremely similar in playing style as Hanna Hildalgo was during her Freshman Year at Notre Dame.

Not as dangerous defensively or offensively. She is not as consistent. I believe UConn will have a game plan for her.

 

[Phil]

Jada Civil has really come into her own lately. I' looking forward to a great game.

I agree to some extent but maybe my view is colored by expectations. Early in the season I visited the LV chat room and someone probably proclaimed that civil is the best freshman. They didn't mean on the Tennessee team, they didn't mean in the SEC, they meant in the country. She did have 3 points in her first three games, two of which were in double digits, which isn't bad, but she didn't have another double-digit scoring game until Arkansas. I paid attention through roughly the next five games when she scored 13 points, not in a game and all five combined. I wrote off the likelihood that she's the best freshman in the country.

She has been playing better lately which is your point and is supported by the numbers. They played six games in 2026 and she is hitting 51.7% of her field-goal attempts which is decent.

 

[Bone Dog]

I think that, as a Freshman, Tennessee's Mia Pauldo is extremely similar in playing style as Hanna Hildalgo was during her Freshman Year at Notre Dame.

It think it's interesting how many little speedy guards have come into D1 recently. Hannah, of course, but Jaloni (and Kennedy), Londynn Jones, Mia (and Mya) Pauldo, Aubrey Galvan, Jasmine Bascoe, ChitChat Wright, Holloway and Quarles-Daniels. I'd say Hannah is in a league of her own compared to this group. The next closest is probably Jaloni. After those two, there's not a ton to choose from, though I might put Jasmine and ChitChat next in line, and maybe Aubrey.

PS, I didn't include KK because she's too tall for this group. Blakes is a closer call, as is Jada Williams.

 

[meyers7]

Not sure the "Freshman Wall" will affect Quinones the same as other. Seeing as how she is not coming from HS but rather from a professional league. ???

 

[YKCornelius]

Not sure the "Freshman Wall" will affect Quinones the same as other. Seeing as how she is not coming from HS but rather from a professional league. ???

Blanca played in far less games as an Italian pro than most US high schoolers play. The freshman wall in college is largely attributed to the increased number of games played at a much higher clip. BQ had exposure to the much high clip playing Serie A, but not the sheer number of games.

 

[Bone Dog]

The freshman wall in college is largely attributed to the increased number of games played at a much higher clip.

I would link it also, and perhaps mainly, to being a teenager experiencing a new mode of life — as a student at a higher level, as someone living away from home, as a student-athlete playing at a higher level, as someone experiencing a more intense social life than was possible at home.

Not all of these apply to Blanca, who’s been living and playing basketball away from home for several years already. This is one reason she may come through the wall more quickly than most.

 

[HopJim]

It think it's interesting how many little speedy guards have come into D1 recently. Hannah, of course, but Jaloni (and Kennedy), Londynn Jones, Mia (and Mya) Pauldo, Aubrey Galvan, Jasmine Bascoe, ChitChat Wright, Holloway and Quarles-Daniels. I'd say Hannah is in a league of her own compared to this group. The next closest is probably Jaloni. After those two, there's not a ton to choose from, though I might put Jasmine and ChitChat next in line, and maybe Aubrey.

PS, I didn't include KK because she's too tall for this group. Blakes is a closer call, as is Jada Williams.

I also think that its interesting that until KK, UConn was typically burned by quick guards of all sizes driving to the basket. I remember a Notre Dame game a few years ago where this seemed to be ND's entire game plan. Now, with KK, Azzi, etc. rare to see this strategy used against UConn.

 

[meyers7]

Blanca played in far less games as an Italian pro than most US high schoolers play. The freshman wall in college is largely attributed to the increased number of games played at a much higher clip. BQ had exposure to the much high clip playing Serie A, but not the sheer number of games.

Not sure I agree with that. Remember her team played in the Serie A and the EuroCup. So that's like 26+ right there. Plus, I not sure if they had any domestic cup games (actually looking that up they did, not sure how many though 3-4?). Some HS's might play more than that, but not all. And the league season went from Sept to April/May. Most HS's run just in the Winter sports calendar. 3-4 months. So the practice schedule/length would be more in-line with College than HS.

UCONN is still probably more intense than what she had, but probably a lot closer to what she was used to than a normal HS player.

 

[Urshurak]

UConn won another game yesterday and the starters didnt play the entire game again. What do you think UConn will to a team like Tenn when the starters play the entire game? Dont even think about Tenn beating UConn. It aint happenin.

Probably 95% of the boneyard said the same thing last year. It's highy unlikely UConn loses this game, but crazier things have happened and will happen.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Maybe I am missing something. IMHO, (eye test and #'s), Blanca is playing better than the first half of the season. Geno is playing her more minutes-- her defense is off the charts, she is the BEST driver to the hoop on UConn, her shot is pretty consistent, she is a top athlete (maybe the best on the team.) BQ is adjusting to the fouls and turnovers. BOTH are more aggressive mistakes-- which I believe Geno does not mind as much. She reminds me of Jackie Joyner Kersey the great Olympic Pentathlete. Her instincts are pro like (I guess those YEARS in Italy show up once in a while.) Sorry--- ain't no wall here!