Observations & Thoughts on UConn Heading to the Big Dance

[oldude]

While I have been to many UConn games through the years, I attended my first conference tournament over this past weekend. As with any game, you can see a lot more in person than on tv. I have a few observations and thoughts to share:

Paige doesn’t need to shoot more – I think there has been an underlying sentiment by many that Paige needs to take 20-25+ shots per game like CC or JuJu. But Paige is not CC or JuJu. She reads the game as well as anyone I’ve ever seen and provides exactly what UConn needs exactly when they need it. Often that entails distributing the basketball and getting her teammates involved. But as everyone could see during the 2nd qtr against a surprisingly competitive Villanova team, once the Wildcats took a lead, Paige took over the game on offense, scoring 12 points in 6 minutes.

Paige had 21 points at the half and could have easily scored 40 if she wanted to. But in the second half she reverted to distributing the ball as UConn steadily pulled away, while finishing with just 23 points for the game. Afterwards, Geno was asked if he told Paige she needed to score? He chuckled and said he only makes suggestions to Paige and then she does whatever she wants to. But in this instance, Geno specifically stated he never said a thing to Paige. She just knew that she had to step up, and she did!

Sarah is one of the best rebounders I have ever seen – Sarah put up a remarkable 3 double-doubles in 3 days, and she had more tips, steals and blocks than anyone. But it was her rebounding that I was most impressed with. She does all the little things necessary to be a great rebounder.

It starts by reading where a shot will come off the rim, quickly moving to that spot and establishing strong position. Sarah doesn’t get tangled up trying to box out opponents but employs subtle leverage using her arms, shoulder and hips to create space. She is explosively quick off the floor, snatching contested rebounds with either hand or both and then securing the ball firmly. On defensive rebounds she quickly gets the ball to an outlet guard in transition. On offensive rebounds she immediately explodes back up with the ball for a layup.

UConn’s offensive movement and flow is breathtaking to watch - UConn’s motion offense has been a thing of beauty for years. But this year it’s at another level. In past years, on occasion, the Huskies struggled with offensive flow and the ball got “stuck.” That doesn’t happen with this team. There is a constant flow of screens, back door cuts, flashing out to the arc and 2-man games that is mind-boggling for opponents to defend. The Huskies really push transition basketball off missed or made shots, frequently getting layups or great looks before the defense has a chance to set up.

The best thing about UConn’s offense is that regardless of who is in the game, offensive movement and execution never appears to falter. Paige, Kaitlyn & KK are barking out instructions like traffic cops during rush hour, and everyone on the floor knows where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing.

UConn’s defense is connected and relentless – You’ve all heard that, “Defense wins championships” and “Defense travels.” For UConn to win #12, undoubtedly DEFENSE will play a critical part. The word the players and coaches frequently use to describe UConn’s defense is “Connected,” and it’s readily apparent that this team is connected on defense. The players call out screens, make split second decisions to fight over screens or switch, perform secondary switches seamlessly to get Bigs on Bigs, pressure all over the court and get their hands on more steals, blocks and tipped balls than you can count.

The Huskies played great defense throughout the tournament. But during the 1st qtr of the championship game against a very good Creighton team, UConn found another gear and played a relentless, stifling defense that must have made the Blue Jays feel like they were playing 5 against 10. UConn forced 7 turnovers and probably had another half dozen tipped balls, while racing to a 27-11 lead. Creighton eventually stopped the bleeding and was only outscored by 4 points the rest of the game. But the damage was done and the game was effectively over after the 1st qtr.

Geno has become a mad scientist when it comes to substitutions – Over the past few years, injuries have severely limited UConn’s ability to substitute. But even during past seasons when UConn had depth, Geno frequently went with his starting lineup for the entire 1st and 3rd qtrs. This year all that has changed. Geno has real depth, using a 9-player rotation (assuming Aubrey is back) that he mixes and matches like a mad scientist, depending on game situations.

While we do not want to confuse Geno and UConn with Kim Caldwell and the hockey line changes at TN, the number and frequency of different lineups that Geno rolled out during the tournament were dizzying. The starting 5 has been relatively stable ever since Jana was inserted as the starting center. But 4-5 minutes into the 1st qtr, Geno goes small bringing in Ash and/or KK for Jana and/or Kaitlyn. After that, anything goes. The one constant is usually Paige playing the most minutes while orchestrating whatever ensemble Geno puts on the court. At times, Geno had both Kaitlyn & KK on the court in a pg-heavy lineup. At other times he went BIG with both Jana and Ice on the court together. All these changes force opponents to constantly adapt to different lineups which is not a very easy thing to do.

Are Jana and Ice ready? – We all know that for UConn to win #12, the Huskies will inevitably have to beat teams with dominant post players: UCLA, TX, TCU, OK, etc. Jana and Ice have both improved during the season, and there are times when they do things on the court that make you believe they can battle inside with any Big in the nation. But there are also head-scratching plays that make you wonder if they are ready for the battles to come. I guess we will all know when we know.

One related element is whether Aubrey will be healthy and ready to go for UConn during the Big Dance. Aubrey’s experience and athleticism is a game changer for the Huskies that will add to their ability to compete with big frontlines.

The Big East gets a bad rap – Much has been made of the suggestion that, as a conference, the Big East does not have the overall talent and depth of the power conferences, and that is probably the case. But the Big East does have excellent coaches who run some of the most complex offensive and defensive schemes anywhere in the country. Big East rosters are full of tough, smart kids, who compete hard, even when they are facing the UConn Huskies.

UConn has more work to do preparing for the challenge of dealing with the multiple looks and actions of a Big East team than many of the opponents they will face in the Big Dance. For that reason, three straight games in three days against well-coached teams that play hard all the time is absolutely a benefit to the Huskies entering the Big Dance.


So those are my observations and thoughts as UConn prepares for the challenge of the NCAA Tournament. What do you guys think? As always, I welcome the input, wit and wisdom of my fellow Boneyarders.

 

[Bone Dog]

Sarah is one of the best rebounders I have ever seen – Sarah put up a remarkable 3 double-doubles in 3 days, and she had more tips, steals and blocks than anyone. But it was her rebounding that I was most impressed with. She does all the little things necessary to be a great rebounder.

Well observed. And we can probably guess where she learned all this from. Her mom was a great rebounder too.

 

[Tonyc]

Very well written. UConn will need every body else to score. Firing on all cylinders. Our Big 3 will draw alot of attention every body else will need to be sharp.

 

[Conndog]

I think Aubrey should be in games before Ice- Aubrey is much a better defender and rebounder. Ice just doesn’t seem quick enough to keep up with her opponent, and she isn’t a big contributor scoring-wise. Aubrey doesn’t score a lot either, but she can score, love her on fast breaks, and she is so active!

 

[oldude]

Geno made a comment several years back that he learns something from every basketball game he watches: pro, college or HS. To my original point on Geno’s substitution patterns I referenced Kim
Caldwell’s “hockey line” changes at TN.

The loss to TN was a bad one that probably keeps UConn from earning a #1 seed. At the same time I have to wonder if UConn’s struggles with the LV’s frequent substitutions, didn’t result in Geno and his staff implementing their own version of the strategy to keep opponents off balance.

 

[huskeynut]

oldude - you nailed it.

This UConn team will be a very difficult out with the way they are playing. They are also a basketball smart team. They read the other teams offense and get in the passing lanes. The patience with ball movement on offense pays dividends because someone gets that open high percentage shot.

 

[topogigio]

While I have been to many UConn games through the years, I attended my first conference tournament over this past weekend. As with any game, you can see a lot more in person than on tv. I have a few observations and thoughts to share:

Paige doesn’t need to shoot more – I think there has been an underlying sentiment by many that Paige needs to take 20-25+ shots per game like CC or JuJu. But Paige is not CC or JuJu. She reads the game as well as anyone I’ve ever seen and provides exactly what UConn needs exactly when they need it. Often that entails distributing the basketball and getting her teammates involved. But as everyone could see during the 2nd qtr against a surprisingly competitive Villanova team, once the Wildcats took a lead, Paige took over the game on offense, scoring 12 points in 6 minutes.

Paige had 21 points at the half and could have easily scored 40 if she wanted to. But in the second half she reverted to distributing the ball as UConn steadily pulled away, while finishing with just 23 points for the game. Afterwards, Geno was asked if he told Paige she needed to score? He chuckled and said he only makes suggestions to Paige and then she does whatever she wants to. But in this instance, Geno specifically stated he never said a thing to Paige. She just knew that she had to step up, and she did!

Sarah is one of the best rebounders I have ever seen – Sarah put up a remarkable 3 double-doubles in 3 days, and she had more tips, steals and blocks than anyone. But it was her rebounding that I was most impressed with. She does all the little things necessary to be a great rebounder.

It starts by reading where a shot will come off the rim, quickly moving to that spot and establishing strong position. Sarah doesn’t get tangled up trying to box out opponents but employs subtle leverage using her arms, shoulder and hips to create space. She is explosively quick off the floor, snatching contested rebounds with either hand or both and then securing the ball firmly. On defensive rebounds she quickly gets the ball to an outlet guard in transition. On offensive rebounds she immediately explodes back up with the ball for a layup.

UConn’s offensive movement and flow is breathtaking to watch - UConn’s motion offense has been a thing of beauty for years. But this year it’s at another level. In past years, on occasion, the Huskies struggled with offensive flow and the ball got “stuck.” That doesn’t happen with this team. There is a constant flow of screens, back door cuts, flashing out to the arc and 2-man games that is mind-boggling for opponents to defend. The Huskies really push transition basketball off missed or made shots, frequently getting layups or great looks before the defense has a chance to set up.

The best thing about UConn’s offense is that regardless of who is in the game, offensive movement and execution never appears to falter. Paige, Kaitlyn & KK are barking out instructions like traffic cops during rush hour, and everyone on the floor knows where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing.

UConn’s defense is connected and relentless – You’ve all heard that, “Defense wins championships” and “Defense travels.” For UConn to win #12, undoubtedly DEFENSE will play a critical part. The word the players and coaches frequently use to describe UConn’s defense is “Connected,” and it’s readily apparent that this team is connected on defense. The players call out screens, make split second decisions to fight over screens or switch, perform secondary switches seamlessly to get Bigs on Bigs, pressure all over the court and get their hands on more steals, blocks and tipped balls than you can count.

The Huskies played great defense throughout the tournament. But during the 1st qtr of the championship game against a very good Creighton team, UConn found another gear and played a relentless, stifling defense that must have made the Blue Jays feel like they were playing 5 against 10. UConn forced 7 turnovers and probably had another half dozen tipped balls, while racing to a 27-11 lead. Creighton eventually stopped the bleeding and was only outscored by 4 points the rest of the game. But the damage was done and the game was effectively over after the 1st qtr.

Geno has become a mad scientist when it comes to substitutions – Over the past few years, injuries have severely limited UConn’s ability to substitute. But even during past seasons when UConn had depth, Geno frequently went with his starting lineup for the entire 1st and 3rd qtrs. This year all that has changed. Geno has real depth, using a 9-player rotation (assuming Aubrey is back) that he mixes and matches like a mad scientist, depending on game situations.

While we do not want to confuse Geno and UConn with Kim Caldwell and the hockey line changes at TN, the number and frequency of different lineups that Geno rolled out during the tournament were dizzying. The starting 5 has been relatively stable ever since Jana was inserted as the starting center. But 4-5 minutes into the 1st qtr, Geno goes small bringing in Ash and/or KK for Jana and/or Kaitlyn. After that, anything goes. The one constant is usually Paige playing the most minutes while orchestrating whatever ensemble Geno puts on the court. At times, Geno had both Kaitlyn & KK on the court in a pg-heavy lineup. At other times he went BIG with both Jana and Ice on the court together. All these changes force opponents to constantly adapt to different lineups which is not a very easy thing to do.

Are Jana and Ice ready? – We all know that for UConn to win #12, the Huskies will inevitably have to beat teams with dominant post players: UCLA, TX, TCU, OK, etc. Jana and Ice have both improved during the season, and there are times when they do things on the court that make you believe they can battle inside with any Big in the nation. But there are also head-scratching plays that make you wonder if they are ready for the battles to come. I guess we will all know when we know.

One related element is whether Aubrey will be healthy and ready to go for UConn during the Big Dance. Aubrey’s experience and athleticism is a game changer for the Huskies that will add to their ability to compete with big frontlines.

The Big East gets a bad rap – Much has been made of the suggestion that, as a conference, the Big East does not have the overall talent and depth of the power conferences, and that is probably the case. But the Big East does have excellent coaches who run some of the most complex offensive and defensive schemes anywhere in the country. Big East rosters are full of tough, smart kids, who compete hard, even when they are facing the UConn Huskies.

UConn has more work to do preparing for the challenge of dealing with the multiple looks and actions of a Big East team than many of the opponents they will face in the Big Dance. For that reason, three straight games in three days against well-coached teams that play hard all the time is absolutely a benefit to the Huskies entering the Big Dance.


So those are my observations and thoughts as UConn prepares for the challenge of the NCAA Tournament. What do you guys think? As always, I welcome the input, wit and wisdom of my fellow Boneyarders.

Excellent Analysis, A+++

 

[DefenseBB]

Geno made a comment several years back that he learns something from every basketball game he watches: pro, college or HS. To my original point on Geno’s substitution patterns I referenced Kim
Caldwell’s “hockey line” changes at TN.

The loss to TN was a bad one that probably keeps UConn from earning a #1 seed. At the same time I have to wonder if UConn’s struggles with the LV’s frequent substitutions, didn’t result in Geno and his staff implementing their own version of the strategy to keep opponents off balance.

Wait, what? The loss to TN DID NOT RESULT in Geno, changing ANY OF HIS STRATEGY regarding pressing or mass substitutions.
Saying such is simply absurd on so many levels. No coach would divert from their schemes in the 5th month of a 6 month Season. The team was #1 in FG percentage at the time, is still #1, was #1 in assist to turnovers ratio at the time and finished #1.They finished #1 in scoring margin with their offense as #10, with scoring Defense at #4. I don’t think he gave one nano second of a thought about the mass substitutions TN did in regards to changing his scheme.

What has changed is Paige has the ball in her hands more to create her own shot or to utilize screens and play with or through Sarah. Chen is playing more off ball to better utilize her mid-range game, her backboard shot skills and wide open 3 pt shots whenPaige drives.

Geno has consciously told Paige to do more and she has. The TN game proved we needed the ball in her hands more AND THAT IS WHAT HE LEARNED. Not a new substitution pattern. But feel free to show me the drastic change in number of substitutions since or the evening out of minutes among more players as your evidence.

 

[uconnfan68]

We just shot poorly vs UT, and lost a lot of long rebounds. It’s not like they ran us into the ground.

 

[BBallF]

My first observation is what I have been saying for years to echo your first comments oldude- if you want to appreciate what makes UCONN women's basketball unique, go watch them play in person. When you do, focus on one player for a few minutes, like a Paige, Sarah, Azzi or even an Ash. Pay special attention to them on defense. You will see so many things about the player that you either didn't notice before or just took for granted. You also get to see the whole floor. For example, several of Paige's steals take place before the errant pass is even thrown. Just watch her eyes.

As for Sarah, I always remember what Bill Russel used to say about rebounds, that he got most of his before the shot was even taken meaning his positioning, instinct for where the miss would go, and boxing out. Since he averaged over 22 boards a game for his NBA career, I would give some credence to his statement. Sarah fits that mold in my view.

Both the team offense and defense are pleasures to watch. Of the two, I favor the defense. Our switches are textbook. They are usually anticipatory, meaning that we switch before the pick by the offense can work.

I think the biggest takeaway from the UT game was the new commitment by the team themselves. The defense got ratcheted up at least two notches and if we are going to win this year it will be the defense. You can win with an off night shooting, which will come, when you hold the other team at bay. You can also win with our blow away transition game and 3 point shooting but we can be tight or cold one night. One of my basketball camp coaches, a guy by the name of Bobby Knight, then at Army, used to say that defense is desire. It's true. You don't need any special eye-hand coordination, body control, or perfect pull up to play it, you just have to really want to.

As for the team itself, I don't want the season to end. I selfishly don't want to see Paige go. I will be at the second round game at Gampel with my 3 year old granddaughter who is now hooked, when Paige says goodbye to us all. It's been a privilege to watch her. I also will sorely miss Aubrey whose career was truncated at the worst time. She has been such a dynamic force for us and a one player wrecking crew on defense. I think she will have a great tournament.

A great finish for us would be storybook given what we have gone through. Whatever happens, let's just enjoy every remaining moment with a team that is just so damn easy to love.

 

[oldude]

My first observation is what I have been saying for years to echo your first comments oldude- if you want to appreciate what makes UCONN women's basketball unique, go watch them play in person. When you do, focus on one player for a few minutes, like a Paige, Sarah, Azzi or even an Ash. Pay special attention to them on defense. You will see so many things about the player that you either didn't notice before or just took for granted. You also get to see the whole floor. For example, several of Paige's steals take place before the errant pass is even thrown. Just watch her eyes.

As for Sarah, I always remember what Bill Russel used to say about rebounds, that he got most of his before the shot was even taken meaning his positioning, instinct for where the miss would go, and boxing out. Since he averaged over 22 boards a game for his NBA career, I would give some credence to his statement. Sarah fits that mold in my view.

Both the team offense and defense are pleasures to watch. Of the two, I favor the defense. Our switches are textbook. They are usually anticipatory, meaning that we switch before the pick by the offense can work.

I think the biggest takeaway from the UT game was the new commitment by the team themselves. The defense got ratcheted up at least two notches and if we are going to win this year it will be the defense. You can win with an off night shooting, which will come, when you hold the other team at bay. You can also win with our blow away transition game and 3 point shooting but we can be tight or cold one night. One of my basketball camp coaches, a guy by the name of Bobby Knight, then at Army, used to say that defense is desire. It's true. You don't need any special eye-hand coordination, body control, or perfect pull up to play it, you just have to really want to.

As for the team itself, I don't want the season to end. I selfishly don't want to see Paige go. I will be at the second round game at Gampel with my 3 year old granddaughter who is now hooked, when Paige says goodbye to us all. It's been a privilege to watch her. I also will sorely miss Aubrey whose career was truncated at the worst time. She has been such a dynamic force for us and a one player wrecking crew on defense. I think she will have a great tournament.

A great finish for us would be storybook given what we have gone through. Whatever happens, let's just enjoy every remaining moment with a team that is just so damn easy to love.

Jim Flanery is a really good coach. In his postgame presser he commented on 2 of the difficult challenges of playing UConn. He indicated that the Huskies switched on defense better than any team Creighton faced and he remarked that the multiple lineups that Geno used were very hard to defend.

 

[Ron and Vida]

While I have been to many UConn games through the years, I attended my first conference tournament over this past weekend. As with any game, you can see a lot more in person than on tv. I have a few observations and thoughts to share:

Paige doesn’t need to shoot more – I think there has been an underlying sentiment by many that Paige needs to take 20-25+ shots per game like CC or JuJu. But Paige is not CC or JuJu. She reads the game as well as anyone I’ve ever seen and provides exactly what UConn needs exactly when they need it. Often that entails distributing the basketball and getting her teammates involved. But as everyone could see during the 2nd qtr against a surprisingly competitive Villanova team, once the Wildcats took a lead, Paige took over the game on offense, scoring 12 points in 6 minutes.

Paige had 21 points at the half and could have easily scored 40 if she wanted to. But in the second half she reverted to distributing the ball as UConn steadily pulled away, while finishing with just 23 points for the game. Afterwards, Geno was asked if he told Paige she needed to score? He chuckled and said he only makes suggestions to Paige and then she does whatever she wants to. But in this instance, Geno specifically stated he never said a thing to Paige. She just knew that she had to step up, and she did!

Sarah is one of the best rebounders I have ever seen – Sarah put up a remarkable 3 double-doubles in 3 days, and she had more tips, steals and blocks than anyone. But it was her rebounding that I was most impressed with. She does all the little things necessary to be a great rebounder.

It starts by reading where a shot will come off the rim, quickly moving to that spot and establishing strong position. Sarah doesn’t get tangled up trying to box out opponents but employs subtle leverage using her arms, shoulder and hips to create space. She is explosively quick off the floor, snatching contested rebounds with either hand or both and then securing the ball firmly. On defensive rebounds she quickly gets the ball to an outlet guard in transition. On offensive rebounds she immediately explodes back up with the ball for a layup.

UConn’s offensive movement and flow is breathtaking to watch - UConn’s motion offense has been a thing of beauty for years. But this year it’s at another level. In past years, on occasion, the Huskies struggled with offensive flow and the ball got “stuck.” That doesn’t happen with this team. There is a constant flow of screens, back door cuts, flashing out to the arc and 2-man games that is mind-boggling for opponents to defend. The Huskies really push transition basketball off missed or made shots, frequently getting layups or great looks before the defense has a chance to set up.

The best thing about UConn’s offense is that regardless of who is in the game, offensive movement and execution never appears to falter. Paige, Kaitlyn & KK are barking out instructions like traffic cops during rush hour, and everyone on the floor knows where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing.

UConn’s defense is connected and relentless – You’ve all heard that, “Defense wins championships” and “Defense travels.” For UConn to win #12, undoubtedly DEFENSE will play a critical part. The word the players and coaches frequently use to describe UConn’s defense is “Connected,” and it’s readily apparent that this team is connected on defense. The players call out screens, make split second decisions to fight over screens or switch, perform secondary switches seamlessly to get Bigs on Bigs, pressure all over the court and get their hands on more steals, blocks and tipped balls than you can count.

The Huskies played great defense throughout the tournament. But during the 1st qtr of the championship game against a very good Creighton team, UConn found another gear and played a relentless, stifling defense that must have made the Blue Jays feel like they were playing 5 against 10. UConn forced 7 turnovers and probably had another half dozen tipped balls, while racing to a 27-11 lead. Creighton eventually stopped the bleeding and was only outscored by 4 points the rest of the game. But the damage was done and the game was effectively over after the 1st qtr.

Geno has become a mad scientist when it comes to substitutions – Over the past few years, injuries have severely limited UConn’s ability to substitute. But even during past seasons when UConn had depth, Geno frequently went with his starting lineup for the entire 1st and 3rd qtrs. This year all that has changed. Geno has real depth, using a 9-player rotation (assuming Aubrey is back) that he mixes and matches like a mad scientist, depending on game situations.

While we do not want to confuse Geno and UConn with Kim Caldwell and the hockey line changes at TN, the number and frequency of different lineups that Geno rolled out during the tournament were dizzying. The starting 5 has been relatively stable ever since Jana was inserted as the starting center. But 4-5 minutes into the 1st qtr, Geno goes small bringing in Ash and/or KK for Jana and/or Kaitlyn. After that, anything goes. The one constant is usually Paige playing the most minutes while orchestrating whatever ensemble Geno puts on the court. At times, Geno had both Kaitlyn & KK on the court in a pg-heavy lineup. At other times he went BIG with both Jana and Ice on the court together. All these changes force opponents to constantly adapt to different lineups which is not a very easy thing to do.

Are Jana and Ice ready? – We all know that for UConn to win #12, the Huskies will inevitably have to beat teams with dominant post players: UCLA, TX, TCU, OK, etc. Jana and Ice have both improved during the season, and there are times when they do things on the court that make you believe they can battle inside with any Big in the nation. But there are also head-scratching plays that make you wonder if they are ready for the battles to come. I guess we will all know when we know.

One related element is whether Aubrey will be healthy and ready to go for UConn during the Big Dance. Aubrey’s experience and athleticism is a game changer for the Huskies that will add to their ability to compete with big frontlines.

The Big East gets a bad rap – Much has been made of the suggestion that, as a conference, the Big East does not have the overall talent and depth of the power conferences, and that is probably the case. But the Big East does have excellent coaches who run some of the most complex offensive and defensive schemes anywhere in the country. Big East rosters are full of tough, smart kids, who compete hard, even when they are facing the UConn Huskies.

UConn has more work to do preparing for the challenge of dealing with the multiple looks and actions of a Big East team than many of the opponents they will face in the Big Dance. For that reason, three straight games in three days against well-coached teams that play hard all the time is absolutely a benefit to the Huskies entering the Big Dance.


So those are my observations and thoughts as UConn prepares for the challenge of the NCAA Tournament. What do you guys think? As always, I welcome the input, wit and wisdom of my fellow Boneyarders.

You outdid yourself Terrific analysis. I especially liked The Big East gets a bad rap Have seen some great coaching and smart team play like UConn that we are privileged to watch
(I may regret this but someone must have said that “ out dude yourself “ in the past?)

 

[Bigboote]

UConn’s defense is connected and relentless –

Are Jana and Ice ready?

The Big East gets a bad rap

I've remarked sometimes that such-and-such is a great team defender. UConn usually has one or two really good individual defenders -- Griffin, Muhl, Nurse, Jefferson -- but Geno won't play someone who's not a good team defender. The defense works because everyone is on the same page. Strong has gaudy defensive numbers, but the tie-ups, tipped passes, 30-second calls, don't show up in a player's box score, and that's team defense and the coaching staff certainly pay attention to it.

I'm confident Ice is ready. I'm hopeful that Jana is. And as I said in another thread, I hope they're spending this week playing together, because I think there will be a couple of games in the dance where they'll be on the floor together for extended periods.

Geno mentioned the Big East getting a bad rap in an interview in the past few weeks. He said something similar to olddude. He said that the teams play very differently from one another. UConn will see the same look twice in a season. He said that they need to do extensive preparation for every game and that puts them in a good position preparing for the post season. I don't think this is something he said to placate the Big East management, I think he really means it.

 

[Surly1]

While I have been to many UConn games through the years, I attended my first conference tournament over this past weekend. As with any game, you can see a lot more in person than on tv. I have a few observations and thoughts to share:

Paige doesn’t need to shoot more – I think there has been an underlying sentiment by many that Paige needs to take 20-25+ shots per game like CC or JuJu. But Paige is not CC or JuJu. She reads the game as well as anyone I’ve ever seen and provides exactly what UConn needs exactly when they need it. Often that entails distributing the basketball and getting her teammates involved. But as everyone could see during the 2nd qtr against a surprisingly competitive Villanova team, once the Wildcats took a lead, Paige took over the game on offense, scoring 12 points in 6 minutes.

Paige had 21 points at the half and could have easily scored 40 if she wanted to. But in the second half she reverted to distributing the ball as UConn steadily pulled away, while finishing with just 23 points for the game. Afterwards, Geno was asked if he told Paige she needed to score? He chuckled and said he only makes suggestions to Paige and then she does whatever she wants to. But in this instance, Geno specifically stated he never said a thing to Paige. She just knew that she had to step up, and she did!

Sarah is one of the best rebounders I have ever seen – Sarah put up a remarkable 3 double-doubles in 3 days, and she had more tips, steals and blocks than anyone. But it was her rebounding that I was most impressed with. She does all the little things necessary to be a great rebounder.

It starts by reading where a shot will come off the rim, quickly moving to that spot and establishing strong position. Sarah doesn’t get tangled up trying to box out opponents but employs subtle leverage using her arms, shoulder and hips to create space. She is explosively quick off the floor, snatching contested rebounds with either hand or both and then securing the ball firmly. On defensive rebounds she quickly gets the ball to an outlet guard in transition. On offensive rebounds she immediately explodes back up with the ball for a layup.

UConn’s offensive movement and flow is breathtaking to watch - UConn’s motion offense has been a thing of beauty for years. But this year it’s at another level. In past years, on occasion, the Huskies struggled with offensive flow and the ball got “stuck.” That doesn’t happen with this team. There is a constant flow of screens, back door cuts, flashing out to the arc and 2-man games that is mind-boggling for opponents to defend. The Huskies really push transition basketball off missed or made shots, frequently getting layups or great looks before the defense has a chance to set up.

The best thing about UConn’s offense is that regardless of who is in the game, offensive movement and execution never appears to falter. Paige, Kaitlyn & KK are barking out instructions like traffic cops during rush hour, and everyone on the floor knows where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing.

UConn’s defense is connected and relentless – You’ve all heard that, “Defense wins championships” and “Defense travels.” For UConn to win #12, undoubtedly DEFENSE will play a critical part. The word the players and coaches frequently use to describe UConn’s defense is “Connected,” and it’s readily apparent that this team is connected on defense. The players call out screens, make split second decisions to fight over screens or switch, perform secondary switches seamlessly to get Bigs on Bigs, pressure all over the court and get their hands on more steals, blocks and tipped balls than you can count.

The Huskies played great defense throughout the tournament. But during the 1st qtr of the championship game against a very good Creighton team, UConn found another gear and played a relentless, stifling defense that must have made the Blue Jays feel like they were playing 5 against 10. UConn forced 7 turnovers and probably had another half dozen tipped balls, while racing to a 27-11 lead. Creighton eventually stopped the bleeding and was only outscored by 4 points the rest of the game. But the damage was done and the game was effectively over after the 1st qtr.

Geno has become a mad scientist when it comes to substitutions – Over the past few years, injuries have severely limited UConn’s ability to substitute. But even during past seasons when UConn had depth, Geno frequently went with his starting lineup for the entire 1st and 3rd qtrs. This year all that has changed. Geno has real depth, using a 9-player rotation (assuming Aubrey is back) that he mixes and matches like a mad scientist, depending on game situations.

While we do not want to confuse Geno and UConn with Kim Caldwell and the hockey line changes at TN, the number and frequency of different lineups that Geno rolled out during the tournament were dizzying. The starting 5 has been relatively stable ever since Jana was inserted as the starting center. But 4-5 minutes into the 1st qtr, Geno goes small bringing in Ash and/or KK for Jana and/or Kaitlyn. After that, anything goes. The one constant is usually Paige playing the most minutes while orchestrating whatever ensemble Geno puts on the court. At times, Geno had both Kaitlyn & KK on the court in a pg-heavy lineup. At other times he went BIG with both Jana and Ice on the court together. All these changes force opponents to constantly adapt to different lineups which is not a very easy thing to do.

Are Jana and Ice ready? – We all know that for UConn to win #12, the Huskies will inevitably have to beat teams with dominant post players: UCLA, TX, TCU, OK, etc. Jana and Ice have both improved during the season, and there are times when they do things on the court that make you believe they can battle inside with any Big in the nation. But there are also head-scratching plays that make you wonder if they are ready for the battles to come. I guess we will all know when we know.

One related element is whether Aubrey will be healthy and ready to go for UConn during the Big Dance. Aubrey’s experience and athleticism is a game changer for the Huskies that will add to their ability to compete with big frontlines.

The Big East gets a bad rap – Much has been made of the suggestion that, as a conference, the Big East does not have the overall talent and depth of the power conferences, and that is probably the case. But the Big East does have excellent coaches who run some of the most complex offensive and defensive schemes anywhere in the country. Big East rosters are full of tough, smart kids, who compete hard, even when they are facing the UConn Huskies.

UConn has more work to do preparing for the challenge of dealing with the multiple looks and actions of a Big East team than many of the opponents they will face in the Big Dance. For that reason, three straight games in three days against well-coached teams that play hard all the time is absolutely a benefit to the Huskies entering the Big Dance.


So those are my observations and thoughts as UConn prepares for the challenge of the NCAA Tournament. What do you guys think? As always, I welcome the input, wit and wisdom of my fellow Boneyarders.

Excellent summation and analysis as always. I'd like to address a few points specifically.

We're coming close to the end of an era. Watching Paige and UConn play over the course of 5 years has been an absolute joy and pleasure. While her style of play on the court is spectacular, what is truly memorable about Paige is the time & love off the court that is devoted to her fans, specifically to a young generation of "I wanna-be Paige" when they grow up.

Anticipating Paige moving onto the WNBA is similar to sending off your first child to college. Yes, it's inevitable, a facet of life, and you are genuinely happy for them, but there is a part inside, perhaps selfishly, wishes they would stay a little while longer. Enough for now, there are potentially 6 more games to enjoy her in a UConn uniform.

As you noted, in the Villanova game, Paige was scoring at will. In the second half, she took her foot off the pedal offensively, sensing she didn't need to score, allowing Sarah to take over that responsibility. Personally, I'm not concerned with UConn's seeding. With the number of quality teams and potential overall winners, the Elite Eight games will resemble Final Four match ups. In her previous Elite 8 games, Paige has scored 28, 27, and 28, leading her team to victory.

In past Final Fours, there was an "out" as to why UConn didn't pick up #12. In her freshman season, Paige and the team were immature, not prepared for the step up, thinking that Baylor was the toughest game they would face. The next year in the championship game against SC, UConn needed to be at 100% healthy to have a realistic shot at beating SC. As we know, Paige was playing at 70% healthy at best. Last season, UConn reaching the Final Four was likely the ceiling after the plethora of injuries. Paige was running on fumes, and they almost made it.

This season, Paige has paced herself. She's played less minutes, shot the ball less, but more importantly, she has more weapons at her disposal. In her last 7 games, Paige has become notably aggressive offensively, particularly in the first half. Reaching the Final Four and delivering in the finals is all that matters. She's demonstrated she can lead the team to a Final Four. This is the year she delivers a NC.

Sarah Strong has been more impressive than I imagined she would be. While she talent, her technical abilities and overall fundamentals set her above nearly everyone. There is not a glaring weakness to her game, or an area that calls out for immediate improvement. She is a sublime talent.

UConn has been blessed with iconic players, from Diana, Maya and Breanna. Like Paige, each could have score many more points if that was their primary focus. The beauty of the UConn offense is that it's not designed for one player, but for whoever has the best opportunity in each possession. Crisp passing, back cuts, screen and move are signatures of a UConn offense.

In a previous post, Nan discussed how pundits dismissed the competitiveness of the Big East. I believe it's a blessing in disguise. During the regular season, UConn had the luxury of playing bench players and resting the starters. This will pay dividends when the tourney begins. It's a long season, and mileage accumulated has a way of showing when the tension rises, deeper into the tournament. Unlike some other teams that were show stoppers early in the season, UConn took some licks early on, but like they historically do, they got progressively better.

This is the best team that Paige has played on. As the year has shown, any of the top 6 teams can beat one another. I would like to see UConn have another shot at ND and/or USC. I think the outcomes would be much different, particularly with a healthy and available Aubrey.

Wouldn't it make for great television to see a SC/UConn rematch for all the marbles? Paige stamped her mark on the national stage in the regular season win over SC in the pandemic. What a fairytale ending it would be if she could close the final chapter with another win over them.

 

[BBallF]

Jim Flanery is a really good coach. In his postgame presser he commented on 2 of the difficult challenges of playing UConn. He indicated that the Huskies switched on defense better than any team Creighton faced and he remarked that the multiple lineups that Geno used were very hard to defend.

As to the multiple lineups just look at what happens when KK and Ash go in for Jana and KC. You have instantly changed the speed of the game and now you also have to first deal with a strong pull up and 3 point shooter in Ash. Secondly, KK is faster than anyone on the court usually, sometimes faster than herself, and the defensive pressure on the opposing point by her slows the other team down. You often see a shot clock violation after she enters.

So you up tempo our offense and down tempo their offense by our defense at the same time. That is just one example. A healthy Aubrey means even more options, as does Ice, with or without Jana.

Paige's switches are textbook tremendous and Azzi's's are so anticipatory that the casual and uninformed fan ( like from another fan base besides UCONN of course) might not even realize there was a switch!

 

[BBallF]

Excellent summation and analysis as always. I'd like to address a few points specifically.

We're coming close to the end of an era. Watching Paige and UConn play over the course of 5 years has been an absolute joy and pleasure. While her style of play on the court is spectacular, what is truly memorable about Paige is the time & love off the court that is devoted to her fans, specifically to a young generation of "I wanna-be Paige" when they grow up.

Anticipating Paige moving onto the WNBA is similar to sending off your first child to college. Yes, it's inevitable, a facet of life, and you are genuinely happy for them, but there is a part inside, perhaps selfishly, wishes they would stay a little while longer. Enough for now, there are potentially 6 more games to enjoy her in a UConn uniform.

As you noted, in the Villanova game, Paige was scoring at will. In the second half, she took her foot off the pedal offensively, sensing she didn't need to score, allowing Sarah to take over that responsibility. Personally, I'm not concerned with UConn's seeding. With the number of quality teams and potential overall winners, the Elite Eight games will resemble Final Four match ups. In her previous Elite 8 games, Paige has scored 28, 27, and 28, leading her team to victory.

In past Final Fours, there was an "out" as to why UConn didn't pick up #12. In her freshman season, Paige and the team were immature, not prepared for the step up, thinking that Baylor was the toughest game they would face. The next year in the championship game against SC, UConn needed to be at 100% healthy to have a realistic shot at beating SC. As we know, Paige was playing at 70% healthy at best. Last season, UConn reaching the Final Four was likely the ceiling after the plethora of injuries. Paige was running on fumes, and they almost made it.

This season, Paige has paced herself. She's played less minutes, shot the ball less, but more importantly, she has more weapons at her disposal. In her last 7 games, Paige has become notably aggressive offensively, particularly in the first half. Reaching the Final Four and delivering in the finals is all that matters. She's demonstrated she can lead the team to a Final Four. This is the year she delivers a NC.

Sarah Strong has been more impressive than I imagined she would be. While she talent, her technical abilities and overall fundamentals set her above nearly everyone. There is not a glaring weakness to her game, or an area that calls out for immediate improvement. She is a sublime talent.

UConn has been blessed with iconic players, from Diana, Maya and Breanna. Like Paige, each could have score many more points if that was their primary focus. The beauty of the UConn offense is that it's not designed for one player, but for whoever has the best opportunity in each possession. Crisp passing, back cuts, screen and move are signatures of a UConn offense.

In a previous post, Nan discussed how pundits dismissed the competitiveness of the Big East. I believe it's a blessing in disguise. During the regular season, UConn had the luxury of playing bench players and resting the starters. This will pay dividends when the tourney begins. It's a long season, and mileage accumulated has a way of showing when the tension rises, deeper into the tournament. Unlike some other teams that were show stoppers early in the season, UConn took some licks early on, but like they historically do, they got progressively better.

This is the best team that Paige has played on. As the year has shown, any of the top 6 teams can beat one another. I would like to see UConn have another shot at ND and/or USC. I think the outcomes would be much different, particularly with a healthy and available Aubrey.

Wouldn't it make for great television to see a SC/UConn rematch for all the marbles? Paige stamped her mark on the national stage in the regular season win over SC in the pandemic. What a fairytale ending it would be if she could close the final chapter with another win over them.

I think TV wants a JuJu v. Paige finals. That's as close to Bird/Magic as you are going to get in the women's game. You will see if there is any "consideration" of that happening on Sunday.

 

[Bone Dog]

This is the best team that Paige has played on. As the year has shown, any of the top 6 teams can beat one another. I would like to see UConn have another shot at ND and/or USC. I think the outcomes would be much different, particularly with a healthy and available Aubrey.

Wouldn't it make for great television to see a SC/UConn rematch for all the marbles? Paige stamped her mark on the national stage in the regular season win over SC in the pandemic. What a fairytale ending it would be if she could close the final chapter with another win over them.

I've been wondering about this rematch and a couple of thoughts occur to me. I rewatched the first game last night and here's what I noticed.

• SC played close in the first 6 minutes and then UConn pulled away. SC did not become competitive again until the middle of the 3rd quarter. I could say that SC came out flat, and this is sort of true. But it's more than that. If it was just a case of being flat, a rematch would be daunting, as many here have suggested.
• They were unable to make a comeback, even though they were more competitive in the second half UConn didn't continue to pull away after the 5 minute mark in the 3rd, but they didn't need to. Nothing SC could do at that point -- and Joyce and Milaysia certainly gave it their all -- was going to get them back in the game. What this tells me is, flat or not, they are not a good come-from-behind team. They are used to leading from beginning to end. The LSU game was the only time they were challenged and the game was close until the 3rd quarter when they pulled away.

I'm not worried about a rematch, though I don't crave one. It will be closer because both teams will be in tournament mode. But I think Paige & Co can engineer a victory.

 

[Rowdy831]

While I have been to many UConn games through the years, I attended my first conference tournament over this past weekend. As with any game, you can see a lot more in person than on tv. I have a few observations and thoughts to share:

Paige doesn’t need to shoot more – I think there has been an underlying sentiment by many that Paige needs to take 20-25+ shots per game like CC or JuJu. But Paige is not CC or JuJu. She reads the game as well as anyone I’ve ever seen and provides exactly what UConn needs exactly when they need it. Often that entails distributing the basketball and getting her teammates involved. But as everyone could see during the 2nd qtr against a surprisingly competitive Villanova team, once the Wildcats took a lead, Paige took over the game on offense, scoring 12 points in 6 minutes.

Paige had 21 points at the half and could have easily scored 40 if she wanted to. But in the second half she reverted to distributing the ball as UConn steadily pulled away, while finishing with just 23 points for the game. Afterwards, Geno was asked if he told Paige she needed to score? He chuckled and said he only makes suggestions to Paige and then she does whatever she wants to. But in this instance, Geno specifically stated he never said a thing to Paige. She just knew that she had to step up, and she did!

Sarah is one of the best rebounders I have ever seen – Sarah put up a remarkable 3 double-doubles in 3 days, and she had more tips, steals and blocks than anyone. But it was her rebounding that I was most impressed with. She does all the little things necessary to be a great rebounder.

It starts by reading where a shot will come off the rim, quickly moving to that spot and establishing strong position. Sarah doesn’t get tangled up trying to box out opponents but employs subtle leverage using her arms, shoulder and hips to create space. She is explosively quick off the floor, snatching contested rebounds with either hand or both and then securing the ball firmly. On defensive rebounds she quickly gets the ball to an outlet guard in transition. On offensive rebounds she immediately explodes back up with the ball for a layup.

UConn’s offensive movement and flow is breathtaking to watch - UConn’s motion offense has been a thing of beauty for years. But this year it’s at another level. In past years, on occasion, the Huskies struggled with offensive flow and the ball got “stuck.” That doesn’t happen with this team. There is a constant flow of screens, back door cuts, flashing out to the arc and 2-man games that is mind-boggling for opponents to defend. The Huskies really push transition basketball off missed or made shots, frequently getting layups or great looks before the defense has a chance to set up.

The best thing about UConn’s offense is that regardless of who is in the game, offensive movement and execution never appears to falter. Paige, Kaitlyn & KK are barking out instructions like traffic cops during rush hour, and everyone on the floor knows where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing.

UConn’s defense is connected and relentless – You’ve all heard that, “Defense wins championships” and “Defense travels.” For UConn to win #12, undoubtedly DEFENSE will play a critical part. The word the players and coaches frequently use to describe UConn’s defense is “Connected,” and it’s readily apparent that this team is connected on defense. The players call out screens, make split second decisions to fight over screens or switch, perform secondary switches seamlessly to get Bigs on Bigs, pressure all over the court and get their hands on more steals, blocks and tipped balls than you can count.

The Huskies played great defense throughout the tournament. But during the 1st qtr of the championship game against a very good Creighton team, UConn found another gear and played a relentless, stifling defense that must have made the Blue Jays feel like they were playing 5 against 10. UConn forced 7 turnovers and probably had another half dozen tipped balls, while racing to a 27-11 lead. Creighton eventually stopped the bleeding and was only outscored by 4 points the rest of the game. But the damage was done and the game was effectively over after the 1st qtr.

Geno has become a mad scientist when it comes to substitutions – Over the past few years, injuries have severely limited UConn’s ability to substitute. But even during past seasons when UConn had depth, Geno frequently went with his starting lineup for the entire 1st and 3rd qtrs. This year all that has changed. Geno has real depth, using a 9-player rotation (assuming Aubrey is back) that he mixes and matches like a mad scientist, depending on game situations.

While we do not want to confuse Geno and UConn with Kim Caldwell and the hockey line changes at TN, the number and frequency of different lineups that Geno rolled out during the tournament were dizzying. The starting 5 has been relatively stable ever since Jana was inserted as the starting center. But 4-5 minutes into the 1st qtr, Geno goes small bringing in Ash and/or KK for Jana and/or Kaitlyn. After that, anything goes. The one constant is usually Paige playing the most minutes while orchestrating whatever ensemble Geno puts on the court. At times, Geno had both Kaitlyn & KK on the court in a pg-heavy lineup. At other times he went BIG with both Jana and Ice on the court together. All these changes force opponents to constantly adapt to different lineups which is not a very easy thing to do.

Are Jana and Ice ready? – We all know that for UConn to win #12, the Huskies will inevitably have to beat teams with dominant post players: UCLA, TX, TCU, OK, etc. Jana and Ice have both improved during the season, and there are times when they do things on the court that make you believe they can battle inside with any Big in the nation. But there are also head-scratching plays that make you wonder if they are ready for the battles to come. I guess we will all know when we know.

One related element is whether Aubrey will be healthy and ready to go for UConn during the Big Dance. Aubrey’s experience and athleticism is a game changer for the Huskies that will add to their ability to compete with big frontlines.

The Big East gets a bad rap – Much has been made of the suggestion that, as a conference, the Big East does not have the overall talent and depth of the power conferences, and that is probably the case. But the Big East does have excellent coaches who run some of the most complex offensive and defensive schemes anywhere in the country. Big East rosters are full of tough, smart kids, who compete hard, even when they are facing the UConn Huskies.

UConn has more work to do preparing for the challenge of dealing with the multiple looks and actions of a Big East team than many of the opponents they will face in the Big Dance. For that reason, three straight games in three days against well-coached teams that play hard all the time is absolutely a benefit to the Huskies entering the Big Dance.


So those are my observations and thoughts as UConn prepares for the challenge of the NCAA Tournament. What do you guys think? As always, I welcome the input, wit and wisdom of my fellow Boneyarders.

I agree with a lot of what you said but I think the Big East gets exactly what they deserve as a basketball conference. They clearly have good, smart and talented players but they are not even close in basketball talent to the major conferences. With NIL getting bigger I don't know how they will ever climb back up that hill.

UConn has the best roster and that is true every year as long as they are healthy. If they play their best ball and so does every other team I would take UConn every time and pick them to cover. I guess we will see.

 

[MSGRET]

Wait, what? The loss to TN DID NOT RESULT in Geno, changing ANY OF HIS STRATEGY regarding pressing or mass substitutions.
Saying such is simply absurd on so many levels. No coach would divert from their schemes in the 5th month of a 6 month Season. The team was #1 in FG percentage at the time, is still #1, was #1 in assist to turnovers ratio at the time and finished #1.They finished #1 in scoring margin with their offense as #10, with scoring Defense at #4. I don’t think he gave one nano second of a thought about the mass substitutions TN did in regards to changing his scheme.

What has changed is Paige has the ball in her hands more to create her own shot or to utilize screens and play with or through Sarah. Chen is playing more off ball to better utilize her mid-range game, her backboard shot skills and wide open 3 pt shots whenPaige drives.

Geno has consciously told Paige to do more and she has. The TN game proved we needed the ball in her hands more AND THAT IS WHAT HE LEARNED. Not a new substitution pattern. But feel free to show me the drastic change in number of substitutions since or the evening out of minutes among more players as your evidence.

Actually Geno stated that he streamlined the playbook, so to say, to make it less confusing after the loss to Tennessee. I believe that he stated it after the win against South Carolina to one of the ESPN reporters.

 

[Huskee11]

Lots of great posts here, terrific analysis.

I am a season ticket holder at both venues. I have had the opportunity - privilege is more accurate - to see every home game this season plus the Hall of Fame game and the Big East final.

It absolutely feels like this should be the year. This team has come a long, long way since the beginning of the season.

Most notably, the defense is totally locked in over the latter part of the season. There is a tenacity about it and when team leaders like Paige and Azzi play as hard as they do on the defensive end, it sets a standard. Chen is better defensively than we could have imagined. And Sarah is simply an incredible defender, ballhawk, rebounder, and shot blocker. Then throw in Shade and KK, demons off the bench. And of course, Aubrey - really hoping she can go at the level she was playing at the end of the regular season. She is the wild card, the difference maker.

The team defense is simply remarkable. They are all on the same page. Great communication and focus. This is the last rodeo for Paige and the urgency is there.

The thing that struck me about the South Carolina game is that we did not shoot it all that well in the first half, and we were still up big. I think Azzi was 2-10 at that point.

I was at the Final Fours in 2018 and 2019, and experienced first hand the heartbreak of losing those semifinal matchups against some team from the midwest. I saw the 2020 season come to an end after a convincing AAC Tournament championship win. 2021-2024 seems like a blur, all running together, like one thing after another. Too many injuries, too many minutes over the course of the year, not enough players, too many bad breaks.

We have depth, are reasonably healthy, and have not had to log insane minutes. There also does not appear to be a prohibitive favorite this year.

However, we do need the ball to go through the hoop. Making hoops also sets up the defensive pressure. We are reliant on outside shooting. as long as we don't go frigid cold from the floor, I like our chances. A lot.

 

[Reypl21]

Y'all have a really good chance to win it all. Your trio of Azzi, Paige, and Sarah is elite. You have other great role players too. Plus you have Geno, which can't be understated. I think your bigs are at a good place, and getting Griffin back helps a lot.

The match ups are everything. But y'all should feel good. I think you could take any of the teams that you lost too in a rematch.