Observations & Thoughts on UConn Heading to the Big Dance

[Scud49]

I'd like to believe what you say, clutch it to my chest like a rosary. But there are reasons to worry. And, by the way, that was Paige's sophomore season.

You're absolutely right, Paige does have a fierce look in her eye.

Paige is going to turn into Diana 2.0 for us this time around.

 

[BBallF]

Paige is going to turn into Diana 2.0 for us this time around.

That would be epic.

 

[BBallF]

As I've written before, this team relies on the three point shot more than any other UConn Championship team. So basically, it's live by the three die by the three. (I know I sound like a broken record. Younger folks won't even knows what that means.)

Feel free to disagree.

I do. The difference is one of degree. You have 3 top tier mid range pull up jump shooters in Paige, Azzi and Ash, with Paige being able to create her own shot the best. So I don't think this team is a one trick pony.

 

[Conndog]

UConn has a good chance to win it, but they need everything to go their way and that usually does not happen. I will say something we don't talk about anymore and that would be the fact that there might not be any more teams that go undefeated, ever again, and that is a good thing for women's college basketball.

Don’t agree with saying “but they need everything to go their way”. At most, they just need to shoot well. But even if their shooting is off in a given game, they still would likely win against almost anyone. UConn makes other teams have bad games. They are as good as any team in the country on defense, they have good subs and great coaching, they do everything well and are hungry for a championship.

 

[BBallF]

TV in this case is ESPN. They have the rights to the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

Now we just have to figure out which committee members ESPN will try to influence.

Seriously, It's just a great year for team and individual matchups! Already the elite 8 games will be epic. Paige, JuJu, Fulwiley, Booker, Hidalgo, Betts, Morrow, Prince, all their sidekicks, plus great potential rematches make for no bad matchups.

Highly, highly likely UConn v USC would happen earliest in the semis.

Sorry, my cynical sense proved to be accurate. How is USC the 4th rated #1 seed if they beat the #1 overall seed both home and away and Texas got destroyed by SC in the SEC finals? We destroyed SC at home to further confuse the issue. Just a coincidence I guess that there will almost certainly be a USC-UCONN match up. Rebecca Lobo just said that it was the highest rated game all year. Really stupid of the Committee to do this at the Regional final level but you can make a case that they wanted to make sure they got this game. It would seem that Texas is now #3 not #4 which makes no sense at all. For once I actually agree with Charlie Creme.

 

[packwrap]

I try to be level headed, but you now have me converted to conspiracy theory.

UConn v USC, Iowa in bracket again??? Reagan Beers hanging around.

ESPN as you point out more likely now to get UConn v USC in Elite 8, than hoping for it as a semi or final.

 

[oldude]

I try to be level headed, but you now have me converted to conspiracy theory.

UConn v USC, Iowa in bracket again??? Reagan Beers hanging around.

ESPN as you point out more likely now to get UConn v USC in Elite 8, than hoping for it as a semi or final.

Chill grasshopper. UConn got a wonderful draw. The team that should be flipping out right now is USC.

 

[Urshurak]

Agree that USC is probably not very happy they have UConn. Lot of basketball before the E8 though.

First up, Arkansas State. I know zero about them other than they lost to Xavier….

 

[BBallF]

Chill grasshopper. UConn got a wonderful draw. The team that should be flipping out right now is USC.

I don't disagree at all. Assuming they seed the teams absolutely however, since UCONN was the highest rated #2 seed, that would mean that Texas was considered to be the third, not fourth highest. Since the USC-UCONN game was the highest rated game of the year, one wonders at the selection. However, let's treat it as a gift horse.

 

[AnonChoice]

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.

Paige and Juju now playing in the same regional, so if they meet at all, they'll be meeting before the Final Four.

 

[BBallF]

Paige and Juju now playing in the same regional, so if they meet at all, they'll be meeting before the Final Four.

As I said, if you are a cynic they are taking no chances on not having a repeat of that game.

 

[packwrap]

Chill grasshopper. UConn got a wonderful draw. The team that should be flipping out right now is USC.

Don't worry, I love our draw.

Only surprised that the elite 8 was already JuJu/Kiki v Paige/Sarah. With Iowa lurking, very similar to last year, but all good.

 

[Steelerone]

While we are saying that "We have Paige and you don't" other teams are saying "We have Juju, or Lauren, or Hildalgo and you don't". It's got to be more than Paige.

 

[DemonDeac22]

I’m confident that once UConn is facing USC 2 week’s from now they will be playing at their highest level of the season. In Geno and CD I trust, and with their bench depth plus all of the varied lineups they can use they will not be repeating anything close to what happened in December 2024. Have faith, fellow Huskies!!!

 

[Centerstream]

I’m confident that once UConn is facing USC 2 week’s from now they will be playing at their highest level of the season. In Geno and CD I trust, and with their bench depth plus all of the varied lineups they can use they will not be repeating anything close to what happened in December 2023. Have faith, fellow Huskies!!!

Do you mean 2024?

 

[DemonDeac22]

Do you mean 2024?

Yes lol - December 2024. Great catch!

 

[Urshurak]

Some good teams between UConn and USC.

One step at a time folks.

 

[ABCDFE]

We saw what Paige did in her freshman season in the NCAAs against 3 really tuff teams in the NCAAs . Her play against Indiana and NC State was monumental. I saw that look in her eye in the BE tourney. She has a better supporting staff to work with this season. I believe UConn will roll over most teams moving forward. We are to good at every position on both sides of the ball. Sarah can dominate the middle against most bigs and Jana and Ice are pretty darn good. Our defense will hold teams in check. We have enough scorers and shooters that I dont think we all go cold at the same time. We saw how well Nova shot the ball under our pressure in the BE tourney. Eventually our pressure D overwhelmed them . To loose UConn would have to have an off shooting nite by everybody and our opponent would have to be able to score over 70 pts and I dont see that happening. My thoughts are reduction to the ridiculous. The chances of UConns offense going ice cold and our defense going ice cold and our opponents being that good without a go to player are slim. Most opponenets dont have great defenses that can stop Paige Azzi and Sarah. Most teams dont have the ball handlers that can handle pressure defense. We are a fine oiled machine running on high octane with alot of energy. We are going to be very difficult to stop .

That fourth scorer will loom large. Teams will focus on Paige and Sarah. And will try to guard Azzi. With Azzi if the shots not falling early we need another offensive option. The reason we did so well at South Carolina is because Shade made very important 3s before Azzi started to go off. To get past the top teams and win I believe we will need Shade and another player to play better than their season averages.

 

[Dugway]

That fourth scorer will loom large. Teams will focus on Paige and Sarah. And will try to guard Azzi. With Azzi if the shots not falling early we need another offensive option. The reason we did so well at South Carolina is because Shade made very important 3s before Azzi started to go off. To get past the top teams and win I believe we will need Shade and another player to play better than their season averages.

I often mention this exact thing, and would love to see Shade be that player. If not her, then possibly Chen, or Griffin, maybe El Alfy, or Arnold, or Brady.

This team does have a lot of options to generate offense.

 

[Steelerone]

I would love that for Jana, not just for the chance at an NC right now. It would also be wonderful for her to have the satisfaction of stepping up when it really counts, to bring that experience into next season.

Good point, BD. Jana will have three years left to evolve and, hopefully, at some point next year things will begin to click and she can realize her full potential.

 

[Tonyc]

I often mention this exact thing, and would love to see Shade be that player. If not her, then possibly Chen, or Griffin, maybe El Alfy, or Arnold, or Brady.

This team does have a lot of options to generate offense.

UConn has plenty of scorers. Some are inconsistent. Most opponents we face dont have the defense to stop Paige Sarah and Azzi. If everybody else or anybody starts hitting their shots just say Good Nite. Our defense will carry us just like it did last year. Its even better this season. It takes a toll on our opponents especially those teams without a deep bench. As our defense wears down our opponents their defense will not be there. I am very confident that UConn will win it all this season. The 2 best offenses are UConn and ND and that will be the final game of the season. UConn is healthy and if they remain healthy they win it all.