Ole Miss Postgame thread (merged)

[Bone Dog]

This game was Azzi’s coming out party. She looked like the mature, veteran accomplice of her buddy, Coach P. She scored 18 on 8 of 11 shooting with 4 rebounds in 27 minutes. This was an impressive return. The perimeter shooting hasn’t quite returned, but I think we’ll see that soon. And almost every one of her buckets was clutch. At one point early in the 4th, Paige was getting smothered, and then Azzi went on a little tear and suddenly Paige was a lot more open, and she took advantage.

Paige played 38 minutes and scored 29 on 11 of 17 shooting and 2-4 from 3. She had 4 rebounds and 4 assists and 3 steals, but also 5 TOs. She got mugged a few times with no whistles, but also Ole Miss played really intense, almost helter-skelter defense. So I don’t fault them or Paige for the TOs.

Sarah played 36 minutes and had 10 points on 5-12 shooting with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. She was also 0-5 from 3. To be honest, she looked a bit tired in the 3rd quarter, but got a second wind in the 4th.

Jana played 20 minutes and got 8 points on 3-3 shooting and had 9 boards. She still struggled from the FT line. But she was the muscular beast in the paint we’ve all wanted to see.

All told, we gave up 18 TOs and Ole Miss only gave up 11. But we out-rebounded them 37-30.

 

[BRS24]

Have at it.

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

Probably because it wasn't on TV? I listened to the audio and followed the play by play and box score on ESPN.
My takes:
Paige is really good... lol
Great to see Azzi have a break out game. Bodes well!
Sarah 3pt shooting continues to be problematic, but she was good in HS, so I expect it will eventually show up. I do love how good she is on layups, after several years of way too many missed bunnies.
Hopefully a break out game by Jana... seemed like she was really good on the boards and also hit her layups.
I have no idea what happened in the 3rd quarter... will have to wait until I can see a video.
Good win over a team that only lost to USC by 3
Damn, I wish these games were on TV!

 

[RoadMaster]

Swipe..

 

[Centerstream]

15 assists on 31 fg, not normal; 18 TOs too many; 14 PFs also too many...but a W
We got knocked down/almost out...but they s&cked it up and got the W.
Well done.

Caveat - I didn't see the game, watched via Live Stats.

 

[Maleficent9]

I thought this game was a success. Azzi was phenomenal, Jana was huge, Paige was Paige (-the TOs). We came out with a win, yet we got tested and can learn so much from this game as it was far from perfect.

 

[maple]

Great first half.

Ugly, ugly Q3. Thankfully, I do not have to go back and watch the tape on that.

Got it together in the 4th to come away with a double-digit win, though.

Jana, Ice, and Sarah with some really good work in the paint. They are bringing the physicality we need. Paige and Azzi were the stars of the game, however. Azzi got back into the swing of things with some really clutch buckets. Paige (by her own admission) was a TO machine in the 3rd, but she made up for it in the other quarters. Particularly in the 4th when it mattered most.

6-0!! Let's keep it rolling. Hard fought games like this yield important experience.

 

[Bone Dog]

The minutes played column may be the most important piece of information in this boxscore

 

[Stagnant]

I’m at a loss for how to evaluate this game. Was the third quarter a fluke? Or does it showcase that there are bigger issues? The turnovers and the bad quarter reminded me of the Ohio State game.

One of the things I really was hoping for was good performances from shade and KK. And we didn’t get those performances. KK in particular. Take a look at her season stats when you get a chance. Anyone alarmed? Is it too soon to be alarmed? Curious what you guys think.

I suspected a Fudd break out game was coming. I think she is probably electric in practices. And UConn sure needed it in the third quarter when the offense went awry.

I like how El Alfy played tonight. She has bounced back well from that Fairleigh Dickinson game with this tournament.

Unlucky that Todd Williams was 4-4 from three. She came into this game shooting 17% from there.

I am happy we are done with Flo hoops.

 

[Heytherego]

Paige of course looked great. Azzi is back! I thought Jana was also super important and gave some really great minutes.
I’ve not been impressed with Shade, at all. Once Azzi is fully back she really needs to slide into that starting spot. Against the two ranked teams so far, Shade has a combined 5 points, going 2-7 (.29%), 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 turnovers in 48 minutes. That’s not going to cut it.

 

[boontonbomber]

Paige,Azzi,Jana,Sara, KK

 

[MilfordHusky]

I didn't see a true post-game, so I started a thread on the Thanksgiving telecasts.

 

[AzzisBraids]

Paige was the reason UConn pulled this tourney champ off and deserves all the MVP and All-America of it all.

When Paige was being blitzed Azzi Fudd reminded everyone that even 3 games in coming off multiple knee injuries, she's still and will always be - that girl. #1 recruit, generational player and without her trademark 3-point shot she did everything else at a high level. She drew them away from her and then Bueckers closed it out. To all people saying Fudd shouldn't start, blah blah, have a deviled egg. El-Alfy and Strong did their part as well.

In a world of basketball upsets, Bueckers and Fudd ensured UConn wbb's name would not be a holiday headline.

 

[BBallF]

So I will start the ball rolling withe the following observations:

1) A mighty first half with a third quarter downturn and lull but Azzi came alive with an important 3 and several clutch baskets. You just knew that Ole Miss was going to start hitting their shots after a frozen first half.

2) That was a very strong, veteran team we beat with talented players who will be around come March.

3) Jana had some important rebounds to go with some key baskets. Just can't seem to get that first foul shot in. Second one seems always to be exact. You can see glimpses of a future dominating post player already. She was playing against seniors and 5th year players out there.

4) Defense in the first half was stifling and maybe that big halftime lead made us complacent. Ole Miss also came out with much greater energy than us.

5) I thought our bigs held their own against a very athletic front court and that is a good sign.

6) I had forgotten how great a defender Azzi is. When she was on Dean I don't think she scored. It's remarkable because as my daughter who had an ACL reminded me, that side to side movement is the hardest thing to get back.

7) Paige was magnificent, although clearly tired at times, but simply is the best.

Great, great victory in my book. When we could have folded we just held firm and beat a very good team.

 

[uconnbaseball]

Last time (and only time) I have ever seen Ole Miss play live was in the WNIT final against a strong Rice team. Ironically it went the same way; Ole Miss playing an incredible third quarter and getting bodied the rest of the game.

That Rice team also loved turning the ball over!!

 

[Centerstream]

Might have been me hallucinating but in the videos in post #3 above, Ole Miss looked to me like they had some pretty tall players.

 

[and one]

I just followed the game by looking at the box score every 5 minutes. What stands out:

The good -
Paige as always
Sarah steadily good
Azzi back!

Needs to improve - shooting volume by:
Ice: 1-4
Ash 1-2
KK 1-3
Chen 1-2

Those four need to step up and not leave the heavy lifting to Paige, Sarah and now Azzi.

 

[Next 12]

What a win for the huskies. That 3rd was scary and many teams fall apart when it happens to them. BUT not Uconn and with AZZI waking up and taking over Uconn won as they were supposed to I saw many playerd progession in that game and it will only get better. As I have said, this is Uconn's year and Paige's. GO FRESHMEN!!! GO SOPHOMORES!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!

 

[Tonyc]

This game was good for us because we lost our composure in the 3rd qtr and learned how to get it back. We got punched and punched back. Azzi's breakout game. Now we have Paige Azzi and Sarah. Im waiting on Ice and Jana to step up. For both this was a step up. The fouls and TO's hurt. Still we shot 58.5% Next we 4 of 6 games against top 20 ranked teams and 3 are top 10. We have Holy Cross then the tuffest part of our schedule with most is on the road. LVille @ Barclays, @ND, Georgetown @ XL, Iowa ST @ Mohegan, USC @XL. Tuff stretch. With Azzi back I like our chances. 3 headed monster and more heads coming

 

[Bjbod]

Fudd was the difference maker. Sarah should not have the green light at this time.

 

[Bone Dog]

I didn’t see a thread so I posted one. It was probably because there was no easy access to the video feed. I found it on a WNBA radio site.

 

[Stagnant]

I would move Azzi into the starting lineup against Holy Cross. Because I want her starting against Notre dame. And this would give her a few games to build up to playing really well as a starter.

I don’t see any point in delaying the inevitable.

 

[ConnManFan]

Easy to be super critical of this game. I don't want to ever contribute to hyperbole so I'll just say, this was the worst win in the entire history of the program. What happened to tough players with killer instinct. We haven't seen anyone like that since Stewwie left. Is it Geno's coaching style in his older years? Has he grown soft so the team has become soft? No reason at all that this wasnt a 35 plus point win.

Sarah is now 8 for 32 from 3. How many games until you are what your shooting percentage says you are? Just maybe being the second leading scorer and assister while leading the team in steals, blocks and rebounds is good enough?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

All told, we gave up 18 TOs and Ole Miss only gave up 11. But we out-rebounded them 37-30.

The Bulldogs collected nearly 50% of their misses. That is terrible rebounding by UConn.