Oh. Poor Baylor without their PG

[bballnut90]

Exactly. Richards as a PG doesn't do much more than come down one side and make the first pass to the top of the circle. 90% of her value is on defense.

That's quite inaccurate. Baylor hit 4 straight buckets before Richards went out with injury. In the first 25 minutes with Richards at point, the team had 3 TOs and Nalyssa Smith took 11 shots. After she went down, Ursin hit a jumper but Baylor gave up 19 points and during that run had 5 missed shots and 5 turnovers. The last 15 minutes Smith only took 2 shots and never had the ball in crunch time. Carrington took some rushed shots and clearly felt the added burden to do it all herself without Richards on the court. If Richards is handling the ball, Carrington doesn't take as many bad shots and the offense likely goes through other players more frequently. Andrews made several poor passes that players didn't catch in rhythm so they couldn't take good shots. If Richards makes those passes, those players likely catch them in rhythm and take higher percentage shots or are able to get shots off. Richards averages 6+ assists with a 2.55 to 1 A/TO ratio. That's a lot more than just dribbling the ball up and making the first pass.

Injuries are part of the game, and as others have noted, UCONN seized the opportunity, but downplaying Richards impact on offense just comes off as defensive IMO rather than based in logic.

 

[ConnecticutBB]

any word from Baylor as to what Richards injury is...can she return next year?

 

[Zinethar]

I absolutely agree that losing Didi affected their team greatly and was likely the spark UConn needed to go on that run but adjustments should have been made to stop it. Kim waited to try to use the end of the quarter to get Didi back in instead of readjusting to work without her. Game over.

Also I would agree tht losing their active point guard during a game is worse than before the game but it should have been discussed as something to have an answer for. I loved the "but her replacement was just a freshman" whine. UConn could not use their starting point guard, a freshman, the whole game. To me her loss is the reason UConn had very few asssists and she keeps the offense moving and allows Paige to do other things.

 

[Blacketh’D]

Too much trying to compare a player who's been out the past couple games to a player in a tight game getting injured near the end of the third quarter. I'm surprised how much of this forum are really petty winners.

 

[Heytherego]

Too much trying to compare a player who's been out the past couple games to a player in a tight game getting injured near the end of the third quarter. I'm surprised how much of this forum are really petty winners.

I would have to agree. Nika is good player and sure would have helped but she is a role player at that. Plus Geno has had time to make adjustments. Baylor lost their national defensive player of the year, and really the glue to their team mid game. Even Paige said that changed the game. I feel for Didi, there was a shot of her with tears rolling down her face when she knew she couldn’t come back in.
However a win is a win and Baylor had plenty of opportunities to clinch the game, same with UConn. It came down to a last second Hail Mary by carington. She was out of control and looking for the foul, didn’t go her way. Oh well! You have to live with the calls as well as non calls.

 

[bballnut90]

I absolutely agree that losing Didi affected their team greatly and was likely the spark UConn needed to go on that run but adjustments should have been made to stop it. Kim waited to try to use the end of the quarter to get Didi back in instead of readjusting to work without her. Game over.

Also I would agree tht losing their active point guard during a game is worse than before the game but it should have been discussed as something to have an answer for. I loved the "but her replacement was just a freshman" whine. UConn could not use their starting point guard, a freshman, the whole game. To me her loss is the reason UConn had very few asssists and she keeps the offense moving and allows Paige to do other things.

Last game without Muhl UCONN racked up 30 assists.

It's not so much that Andrews is a freshman as much as it's that she wasn't expected to play at all during the game and then gets thrown into the fire. I guess part of that can be blamed on Kim for not playing and developing backup PGs more throughout the season, but the timing of it was incredibly unfortunate.

 

[VivaLsVgs]

Too much trying to compare a player who's been out the past couple games to a player in a tight game getting injured near the end of the third quarter. I'm surprised how much of this forum are really petty winners.

I agree 100%. Nika’s legend keeps growing the more days she has been out with many Boneyarder’s. How anyone can compare her “potential” contributions to a game she didn’t play in and DiDi Richards is beyond me. DiDi is a senior with NCAA championship experience who went down in the middle of a hotly contested game with everything on the line. It’s apples and oranges. And I thought I was a Uconn homer!

 

[asuwish]

Did any of the announcers mention that we were without our starting PG who is one of our best perimeter defenders?
Their starter missed less than a half.
The game was so poorly called that I turned off the sound for a while.

Uconn has 4 players capable of playing point guard. Paige and 2 juniors can handle the ball. Baylors backup is a freshman, who although highly rated and showed a few flashes was not ready for the moment. Not Uconn's fault they lack depth but it is a huge loss for them. Didi went through a lot and seems like a good person. If we are honest if Didi doesn't go down we don't win. Baylor has maybe the top post recruit coming next year. They have a 6'5" top post in this freshman class. They have 1 not highly ranked guard coming in next year and of course lose Moon Didi and Carrington. With all there amazing size if Kim doesn't pull a grad transfer or 2 out her hat to have experience in the back court they will struggle to be as good. Kim has found at least 1 the past few years. The question is who?

 

[Big Mick]

.
Aaagh! let's look at the numbers:

Richards:
. 2 Field goals
. 2 Rebounds
. 2 Assists
. 2 Turn overs
. 2 Personal fouls
. AND, 4 points

UCONN's 3 guards:
. 60 of 69 UCONN points

Nuff said...


AND - LeBron, just shut up.
.

 

[eebmg]

Question. What is our scheduling commitments to play Baylor over the next couple of years?

 

[Heytherego]

.
Aaagh! let's look at the numbers:

Richards:
. 2 Field goals
. 2 Rebounds
. 2 Assists
. 2 Turn overs
. 2 Personal fouls
. AND, 4 points

UCONN's 3 guards:
. 60 of 69 UCONN points

Nuff said...


AND - LeBron, just shut up.
.

I am a die hard UConn fan. But put some respect on Didi’s name. What she does doesn’t always show up in the stats. She is an extension of Mulkey out there and her defensive skills are incredible.

 

[bballnut90]

Uconn has 4 players capable of playing point guard. Paige and 2 juniors can handle the ball. Baylors backup is a freshman, who although highly rated and showed a few flashes was not ready for the moment. Not Uconn's fault they lack depth but it is a huge loss for them. Didi went through a lot and seems like a good person. If we are honest if Didi doesn't go down we don't win. Baylor has maybe the top post recruit coming next year. They have a 6'5" top post in this freshman class. They have 1 not highly ranked guard coming in next year and of course lose Moon Didi and Carrington. With all there amazing size if Kim doesn't pull a grad transfer or 2 out her hat to have experience in the back court they will struggle to be as good. Kim has found at least 1 the past few years. The question is who?

I've read on here Moon is returning but they likely lose Didi and Carrington to the draft.

They have former Big 12 FOY Chrislyn Carr transferring in, and Kamaria McDaniel who was 1st Team All-Big Ten last year from Penn State who will be eligible. Jaden Owens played in a handful of games this year but was a former top 20 recruit and UCLA transfer that will likely take on a larger role next year. Plus Andrews was a former top 10 recruit who will likely see bigger minutes next year. Plus both Olivers.

My guess is we see both Moon and Nalyssa Smith play in more ball dominant roles with Richards/Carrington gone. Kim is a great coach and always has Baylor competing at a high level. They'll be dangerous once again.

 

[hoophuskee]

Too much trying to compare a player who's been out the past couple games to a player in a tight game getting injured near the end of the third quarter. I'm surprised how much of this forum are really petty winners.

I don't agree on your take. .

We're just responding to the petty losers that feel a 40 minute game is about 1 call and not any other minute or call matters. The whining from Baylor and others about the 1 call is pretty pathetic. It's what you'd expect 4th graders to do.

 

[Linart]

I can see where a team could give up a few points after losing a key player. But 19 points? That says to me it's more than Didi being sidelined. And it was more than UConn getting fired up. Mentally they just lost it. Maybe they needed Anna to give them a talking to.

 

[Charliebball]

Compare rosters though. Kim has 13 players at her disposal. All but four are upperclassmen. Why can't one of the others step up? It's not like they lack in experience. UConn has a roster of 12. 7 are freshman with only 3 upperclassmen. 1 is a walk-on and 2 are injured. Baylor was in a way better position to deal with an injury.

you are right................it is a team game................if Baylor had no replacement for DiDi that's on the coach.........

 

[hoopsfan22]

I agree 100%. Nika’s legend keeps growing the more days she has been out with many Boneyarder’s. How anyone can compare her “potential” contributions to a game she didn’t play in and DiDi Richards is beyond me. DiDi is a senior with NCAA championship experience who went down in the middle of a hotly contested game with everything on the line. It’s apples and oranges. And I thought I was a Uconn homer!

In fairness with respect to legends, Richards in 30 minutes last night had 4 pts, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and a steal. For the season she averages 6.3 pts and 3.3 rebounds per game with an A/TO ratio of 2.5. Muhl is averaging 5.0 pts and 2.4 rebounds per game with an A/TO ratio of 1.4 while shooting 35% from 3. Nika also has more steals despite playing in 8 less games and 350 minutes than Richards.

 

[bluedevil]

Maybe when Didi is healthy we can play those 10 minutes over. Would that make everyone happy?

 

[Big Mick]

I am a die hard UConn fan. But put some respect on Didi’s name. What she does doesn’t always show up in the stats. She is an extension of Mulkey out there and her defensive skills are incredible.

With all due respect, UCONN's 3 guards scorched her for 60 points.

Baylor was effective against our bigs, getting Ododa and Edwards into foul trouble; otherwise, UCONN scores in the 80's as per usual. (Ododa 12 and Edwards 15)

When you lose, show a little class for christ sakes; it leaves a bad taste when a coach comes whining with a bunch of IFs....
Here's a few:
1) IF that foul had been called on Didi when she levelled Paige on the shot - 4 point swing there (+2 UCONN, -2 Baylor)
2) IF that tripping foul on Ododa had been called - take 2 points off Baylor score.

Every day games are influenced by fouls, injuries, good plays and etc.

.

 

[Gurleyman]

DiDi is just not a good offensive player. At all. She was 1-9 against Michigan and the one make was when she batted a rebound up in the air to keep it alive and it fell in. She actually made a 17 foot jumper yesterday which was a minor miracle. She gets some assists, some of which require good vision and execution (lob plays to Smith they run, for example) - but against a good defense, not so much because that gets shut off when you don’t have to defend her. She threw a couple really poor lob passes yesterday that didn’t result in turnovers because Baylor saved them and got the loose balls.

But they were up 9 when she got hurt, so her defense would have been more valuable at that point to try to stymie our comeback hopes.

 

[Zinethar]

Last game without Muhl UCONN racked up 30 assists.

It's not so much that Andrews is a freshman as much as it's that she wasn't expected to play at all during the game and then gets thrown into the fire. I guess part of that can be blamed on Kim for not playing and developing backup PGs more throughout the season, but the timing of it was incredibly unfortunate.

That is true but it was against Utah which was a running game where Utah used zero defense. Baylor is a good defensive team which made transition plays much harder. Mühl is an excellent passer, play maker, and defender which would have added a lot for UConn in this game and taken away a lot of responsibilities fom Paige.

 

[bballnut90]

That is true but it was against Utah which was a running game where Utah used zero defense. Baylor is a good defensive team which made transition plays much harder. Mühl is an excellent passer, play maker, and defender which would have added a lot for UConn in this game and taken away a lot of responsibilities fom Paige.

Muhl is a solid defender but I wouldn't label her an excellent passer and playmaker. Seems a little bold for someone averaging 5 points and 2.8 assists. On the season UCONN averages more assists per game without Muhl in the starting lineup than with her in it. Worth noting, Muhl didn't start in any of the 5 games vs. stronger opponents either (Iowa, Tennessee, Baylor, South Carolina and Arkansas).


I don't doubt she would've been a nice option for UCONN to have, but comparing what she brings to UCONN vs what Richards brings to Baylor isn't comparable other than they're starting PGs, although Muhl has only started in half of UCONN's games so even that isn't an apt comparison.

 

[Zinethar]

Muhl is a solid defender but I wouldn't label her an excellent passer and playmaker. Seems a little bold for someone averaging 5 points and 2.8 assists. On the season UCONN averages more assists per game without Muhl in the starting lineup than with her in it. Worth noting, Muhl didn't start in any of the 5 games vs. stronger opponents either (Iowa, Tennessee, Baylor, South Carolina and Arkansas).


I don't doubt she would've been a nice option for UCONN to have, but comparing what she brings to UCONN vs what Richards brings to Baylor isn't comparable other than they're starting PGs, although Muhl has only started in half of UCONN's games so even that isn't an apt comparison.

Really?? We shall have to agree to disagree then. Since day 1 she has been known for her toughness and passing ability. She didn't start until after the Arkansas game so her stats would of course seem lower and she was hurt in the early season and missed games and has missed the last 2 games due to injury (Utah and Baylor). It would appear you have not watched the entire season with those observations.

 

[bballnut90]

Really?? We shall have to agree to disagree then. Since day 1 she has been known for her toughness and passing ability. She didn't start until after the Arkansas game so her stats would of course seem lower and she was hurt in the early season and missed games and has missed the last 2 games due to injury (Utah and Baylor). It would appear you have not watched the entire season with those observations.

They played Iowa, not Utah. And she's missed 3 games (the Syracuse game as well)

And my comments were in regards to team stats, not individual stats. The team had more assists per game without her as a starter than with her as a starter. The team averages more PPG without her in the lineup than in the lineup. I haven't watched every game, but from my observations she's a solid player. Like I said, it would've been helpful to have her in the lineup, but comparing her impact to UCONN vs. Didi's to Baylor just doesn't compare.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Really?? We shall have to agree to disagree then. Since day 1 she has been known for her toughness and passing ability. She didn't start until after the Arkansas game so her stats would of course seem lower and she was hurt in the early season and missed games and has missed the last 2 games due to injury (Utah and Baylor). It would appear you have not watched the entire season with those observations.

Her stats aren't that different from Richards's. Richards averages one more point and less than one more rebound per game. I suspect if not for significantly less playing time due to injuries, Muhl would close that gap and perhaps exceed Richards's averages. Other than the season's cumulative statistics for each player I don't know what else people are looking at to compare the players. I guess if someone says that Richards is the vastly superior PG we're just supposed to take their word for it because they know better than what the numbers show.

 

[freekimchee]

 

[Gurleyman]

Muhl is a solid defender but I wouldn't label her an excellent passer and playmaker. Seems a little bold for someone averaging 5 points and 2.8 assists. On the season UCONN averages more assists per game without Muhl in the starting lineup than with her in it. Worth noting, Muhl didn't start in any of the 5 games vs. stronger opponents either (Iowa, Tennessee, Baylor, South Carolina and Arkansas).


I don't doubt she would've been a nice option for UCONN to have, but comparing what she brings to UCONN vs what Richards brings to Baylor isn't comparable other than they're starting PGs, although Muhl has only started in half of UCONN's games so even that isn't an apt comparison.

She started against SC. She was also out there at the end of regulation with Edwards, while Williams and Nelson-Ododa were on the bench for ineffectiveness. Our lineup to close regulation and start OT was Edwards-Griffin-Westbrook-Bueckers-Muhl. Then Williams and ONO came back in with 1:40 left down 3 - but replacing Edwards and Griffin.

That change was made after the Arkansas loss largely for defensive purposes (actually CW missed a game at St. John’s with an ankle sprain and Muhl came in - had 11+6 with four steals and hasn’t been out since). She started at Marquette - a quality opponent on a level with Iowa - right after that and had 8 points, 9 assists and 5 steals. She also played well against them in the championship game rematch (11 on 4-6 shooting)

Her value to us isn’t on the same level as DiDis is to Baylor, but she helps a lot with defensive pressure on the ball and on offense she lets Paige play off the ball and come off screens. And she can make a 3.

 

[Viet Vet]

You mean CD and Jamelle had to adjust....

I disagree with your summation of Nika's injury. Think back. Nika went down during the High Point game Geno had to adjust right then and there.

Kim should have been ready for something like Didi's injury. She wasn't and neither was her team.

Probably a wee bit easier losing a starter to High Point than to UConn.

 

[donalddoowop]

This is not a just comparison IMO. It was known before the game Nika was not playing and Geno could strategize accordingly. DiDi went down at a critical point; she’s one of their experienced players and they had to make in game adjustments. There’s no question the momentum of the game shifted when she went out.

There is no question the game changed when Edwards went out also.

 

[hoophuskee]

I agree 100%. Nika’s legend keeps growing the more days she has been out with many Boneyarder’s. How anyone can compare her “potential” contributions to a game she didn’t play in and DiDi Richards is beyond me. DiDi is a senior with NCAA championship experience who went down in the middle of a hotly contested game with everything on the line. It’s apples and oranges. And I thought I was a Uconn homer!

I'm a New York Knicks fan from back in the early 70's. The Knicks traded the more talented Walt Bellamy (a big-time scoring center) for Dave DeBusschere (a small power forward). Bellamy was more talented but Dave D allowed the Knicks to move Willis Reed (MVP of 69-70 NBA) to center. The Knicks wound up being the best team in the NBA. A player allows others to be more successful even though they aren't as talented. But Dave D and Bellamy played different positions. Both are in the HOF. It's not about which is better but how they fit. You seem like you want to compare Did vs Nika one-on-one. IMO that's totally wrong how to look at it. Baylor had Didi. UCONN didn't get one minute out of Nika. It's not that Nika is better or near Didi—she isn’t- but isn't there a reason why UCONN starts Nika? Because she makes the team better, right? You are just going to ignore that?

Geno even starts her over Edwards who is clearly more talented, right? The point is—as stated - Nika makes UConn a better team. It has nothing to do with being better than Didi. She isn't. But just like Dave D allowed the Knicks to play Reed at center and as a result they were able to play a different, quicker style than having Reed and Bellamy play together, Nika allows UCONN to play a certain style and for example allows a player like Evina to have a rest, right? You can understand that Evina wouldn't have played 40 minutes if Nika was also playing, right?

And look what happened to Edwards in this game? She was playing terrific early, then she got two quick fouls. When she picked up her 2nd foul UCONN was up 16-7. She was never the same again, was she? And doesn’t that affect Liv’s style of play very early in the game too?

It's not that Nika is better than Didi- not at all - but Baylor had Didi for most of the game. Nika is a benefit to UCONN and UCONN got zip zero nothing out of Nika. But more importantly others are affected an entire game because of Nika’s complete absence while with Baylor they had Didi most of the game. That's relevant.

 

[Littlemin]

They played Iowa, not Utah. And she's missed 3 games (the Syracuse game as well)

And my comments were in regards to team stats, not individual stats. The team had more assists per game without her as a starter than with her as a starter. The team averages more PPG without her in the lineup than in the lineup. I haven't watched every game, but from my observations she's a solid player. Like I said, it would've been helpful to have her in the lineup, but comparing her impact to UCONN vs. Didi's to Baylor just doesn't compare.

IMO, the eye test shows clearly the effect Muhl has had on this team, her loss has been felt although I would agree wholeheartedly not remotely to the extent the loss of Richards to Baylor based on the in-game injury. Baylor was just unprepared to lose her and Mulkey didn’t have a clue, her strength as a coach is not thinking on her feet. With the psychological effect of the loss of Richards coupled with the run Uconn went on immediately after, a CYO coach would have called a time out to settle things down and re-calibrate.
As for the Richards injury effect on the game, regardless of her defensive awards, Bueckers was still getting hers prior to the injury. So with sports being as unpredictable as life itself, Makurat getting in the teams face and lighting a fire in them might have had more of an effect on the run Uconn went on than Richards getting injured, who knows?