Oregon Postgame Thread

[mbr33ct]

You're not going to win many games, especially against elite teams, when only two players shoot in double figures...compared to all five starters for the Ducks. Oregon was the better team, this is who UConn has been all season.

On a separate note, if I start a thread on "Why Walker does not get passes when wide open"...will people start to notice to be "true"?.

 

[meyers7]

Geno is doing the best with what he's got. They aren't a horrible team. Just not a good as past teams.

Agreed.

Look, a few years ago, we were doing this to other teams. We'd beat other highly ranked teams by 15-20 points. It wasn't because they were not any good, it was because we were really, really good. Shoes on the other foot this year. We still have a pretty good team. We still have a shot at a FF. (not guaranteed though)

Hey if the stars align perfectly we have a shot at beating anyone. They didn't align last night. It played out like it should have. Oregon has the better team.

 

[billybud]

"They're just too good, and their big kids are too good," Auriemma said. "We don't have anybody at that level. We just don't."

 

[BBallF]

I have a few observations and will try not to be repetitious. When you are so physically outmatched like last night, a few things have to happen in order to win. First, if the drives are taken away and the body contact fouls are not called, which they weren't, the outside shooting has to be better than usual, not far worse and the turnovers have to be minimal. Secondly, I am a big Meg fan but it may be that the pressure of the biggest games on her as the leading scorer makes her uncomfortable or less confident at this stage of her career especially against older, more experienced, and bigger players. She made huge strides from last year but playing big in big games is the hardest part of the development. I am sure we will see it in her, if not this year, than next year. Thirdly, CW has been off her game for a while and was probably ill or run down for a while also, not just recently. Fourth, I don't think there are simple fixes to this team right now. It is a smaller, younger, not as physical team, that is not deep, that we all hope gets really determined and focused by what happened last night and responds with a very strong outing against SC. However, that remains to be seen. It is now two college games against bigger, elite teams this year, both at home or semi-home that we lost convincingly, so you cannot assume they were aberrations. In a real sense, there haven't been any won-lost surprises this year thus far. We just have to be realistic, but also maintain a modicum of optimism. Their youth is actually a reason for it because these kinds of losses can promote growth and improvement. Plus, we have Geno and they don't!

 

[billybud]

''They came in here and did something that very few people have been able to do,'' Auriemma said. ''In that first quarter it was evident that physically we couldn't match up with them tonight, plain and simple.''

“Hebard and Sabally are too good for us," Auriemma said. “We don’t have anyone at that level right now; we don’t. And we certainly didn’t have anyone at that level tonight.”


....
“They had four first-quarter threes and they were all coming in transition,” said Crystal Dangerfield, who had a team-high 19 points for UConn. “We were so focused on getting to Sabrina (Ionescu) I don’t think we realized where Boley was. Stopping the ball too late played a factor into it.”

 

[#1florida]

This is what happens when 2 of your top 3 players have poor games. Maybe the flu was a real issue with CW but not sure what happened with Meg. And having Kyla start is just not reasonable anymore.

I agree with Kyla starting. Those 4 minutes she played, and filled the sheet with 0's. The first four minutes, they were put in a hole, and lost any confidence. The way Anna plays, why not start her, and if and when it is necessary, bring Kyla in. Anna, and Griffin makes things happen.

 

[southofnorth]

I agree with Kyla starting. Those 4 minutes she played, and filled the sheet with 0's. The first four minutes, they were put in a hole, and lost any confidence. The way Anna plays, why not start her, and if and when it is necessary, bring Kyla in. Anna, and Griffin makes things happen.

I think the main reason Kyla is starting is to take pressure off of Makurat. Makurat is definitely more poised now, but I think Geno made the switch because Makurat was putting too much pressure on herself early on. Maybe come NCAAT time Makurat will be the start given Irwin's minutes have been on the decline in big games.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Fair weather fans really make me sick. We seem to have acquired a large number of them over the years. The chat room is pathetic.

What’s considered a fair weather fan?

 

[Figurehead]

Well, for one thing, Hebard played in Alaska where they don't get much exposure except to the freezing north wind. Sabally went to high school in Germany. I will say that after I saw Sabally play in the Jordan game I had her pegged for the player with the highest upside if not being the best player on the floor. She only scored a few points but her just being on the court had an impact. She had handles, made good passes, ran the floor like a deer and blocked a shot in the paint against a post and a three point attempt on the perimeter. I do remember sharing my perspective on both the Boneyard and Rebkell. I thought then she would be a star.

They say Satous sister Nyra is a cross between Satou and Ruthie. She is bigger than Satou.

 

[CocoHusky]

I thought Uconn ran an offense based on fluidity, not rigidity. There is no “right spot” per se in such an offense but rather player movement to open spots and hopefully, quick ball movement to those open players to get the defense moving reactively until a good shot shows. The idea of not passing to an open teammate because they are not in the “right spot” makes no sense to me.

Not exactly. There are right (assigned) spots to start all the UCONN sets. There are definitely "right spots" which ensures the correct spacing on the floor and makes the defense have to guard the entire floor. There are also right spots that have to be synchronized with the movement of the players. The offense is not designed for "any" player just move to "any" open spot. It is designed to react to how you are being defended. That spot on the floor was open for a reason. If it still does make sense think about Aubrey's air ball last night. Aubrey was open middle of the lane, got the ball 8 feet from the basket and shot an air ball. That was not where Aubrey was suppose to be. Aubrey needed to be on the move to or closer to the basket as she was earlier in the game when she got a pass from ONO on the baseline side. Anna was not in the right spot on those plays because she is not used to set high ball screens in that part of the floor.

 

[Ron and Vida]

Congratulations to Graves.
He accomplished in 2020 what Summitt thought she was going to do in 1995 but failed.

 

[tomcat]

We have now seen what a really good basketball team, circa 2020, looks like. Regardless of the bad games that certain UConn players had--- and much could be said -- this UConn team will not beat this Oregon team 8 out of 10 times. I was hugely impressed with the fact that it's not Sabrina and Friends. It's a balanced and we'll coached team of really terrific players.

Let's put it this way: they did to UConn what UConn teams routinely used to do to other good teams night in and night out. As someone else said, wait til next year.

 

[BostonBay]

Going through the stats, the one positive is the shooting stats of CD & Anna: 12/20, and 7/13 of 3's. Both have been our best players the past several weeks. CD has played hard - its unfortunate she's not a good "fit" for this team. She really cant drive and dish because of our lack of any kind of size/presence inside to dish to. So, she's become a spot shooter where she has excelled. If she does try to drive, she literally ends up on her back, trying to make a low-percentage acrobatic shot over the trees. She has a lot of guts as her body as taken a lot of hits.

The team still has a puncher's shot at another FF. Team has to hit a LOT of outside shots. With the pressure off (expectations are very low with this team now), maybe they can make a tourney run.

 

[Dillon77]

A few observations from the Dome:

- Hebard and, in particular, Sabally are a tough duo to handle inside, particularly when Ms. ONO is not in the game. They're tall, talented, experienced and have the benefit of playing with Ionescu.

ND had a very tough battle against Oregon two years ago in the Elite 8 and only came back at the end due to some monster efforts by Jess Shepard and Kat Westbeld. Difference now is Hebard's and Sabally's experience has caught up to their talent. Tough match.

- Ionescu has also matured. Two years ago, ND started matching Jackie Young on her in the second half and Sabrina went for a few too many hero plays. Here she now uses the whole palette depending on what's available.

- Minyon Moore, in particular, and Taylor Chavez have quick hands on defense and anticipate the passing lanes well. Of course, they have Hebard and Sabally for back-up and support behind them.

- That's a tough situation for Megan Walker, particularly when Nelson-Ododa goes out. She's got to play defense and rebound against a lot of height, which takes effort, energy and concentration.

- Like many, I thought Crystal Dangerfield and Anna Makurat played fine games. To repeat what I wrote in the USA-UConn thread, Anna has steadily -- markedly -- improved and has a presence about her. Sure,. there are some first-year assimilation issues (positioning on set plays, rotations, etc.) but the "+'s" sure seem to outweigh the minuses. Really fine player to have going forward, both short- and long-term.

 

[Big Mick]

Geno said:
''They came in here and did something that very few people have been able to do,'' Auriemma said. ''In that first quarter it was evident that physically we couldn't match up with them tonight, plain and simple.''

“Hebard and Sabally are too good for us," Auriemma said. “We don’t have anyone at that level right now; we don’t. And we certainly didn’t have anyone at that level tonight.”


Very poor job by Geno and here's some points to consider:

- Starts Kyla and she plays 4 minutes. UCONN is playing 4 on 5, AGAIN.

- After She fills the stat sheet with ZEROS and Oregon jumps into a quick lead, Geno takes her out.

- She will come back in for about the last 30 seconds of the game.

Really, how is that good coaching?

- Anyway, the tone is set and Oregon knows that the game is theirs.

- Telling your team and the world that the other team has at least 3 players that they can't match is VERY poor form and guaranteed not going to inspire anyone.

- Asking your freshman to defend the post against two experienced bigs and giving away 4 inches, after only seeing five or six minutes of action in most games so far, is madness. And yet, the freshman busted a gut and gave everything. She deserved better.

- Standing there, arms folded and just watching is NOT helpful. This is where the team needs you - sooo, go coach and offer them something, PLEASE?

Look, this team is a final four team and it's a shame to see these goings on.

 

[domerduck]

Congratulations to Graves.
He accomplished in 2020 what Summitt thought she was going to do in 1995 but failed.

Wait a second. Geno had Kelly's number big time the first time they played in Connectucut three years ago. Pat won her 4th time they played and beat him in Storrs the 8th time, only 4 years after that 1st loss, and the rivalry was tied 4-4.

I love Kelly, but it will take a lot more for me to support that claim you tried to make saying he did something Pat didn't do.

 

[bantamlaker]

UConn did have one person on the bench that could have made a big difference in a game like this. Unfortunately, I don’t think Jamelle Elliot has any eligibility left.

 

[BostonBay]

Yeah, I simply dont understand starting Kyla against good teams. Team was down 10-2 in a heartbeat and set the tone. If its a time mgt. issue, Anna still ended up playing 36 minutes! Might as well start her & give her rest at "better" times like the end of the half. If its a matter of "rewarding" Kyla for good practices, well then put her in the game at the end of the half or when the game is out of hand.

 

[oldude]

Geno said:
''They came in here and did something that very few people have been able to do,'' Auriemma said. ''In that first quarter it was evident that physically we couldn't match up with them tonight, plain and simple.''

“Hebard and Sabally are too good for us," Auriemma said. “We don’t have anyone at that level right now; we don’t. And we certainly didn’t have anyone at that level tonight.”


Very poor job by Geno and here's some points to consider:

- Starts Kyla and she plays 4 minutes. UCONN is playing 4 on 5, AGAIN.

- After She fills the stat sheet with ZEROS and Oregon jumps into a quick lead, Geno takes her out.

- She will come back in for about the last 30 seconds of the game.

Really, how is that good coaching?

- Anyway, the tone is set and Oregon knows that the game is theirs.

- Telling your team and the world that the other team has at least 3 players that they can't match is VERY poor form and guaranteed not going to inspire anyone.

- Asking your freshman to defend the post against two experienced bigs and giving away 4 inches, after only seeing five or six minutes of action in most games so far, is madness. And yet, the freshman busted a gut and gave everything. She deserved better.

- Standing there, arms folded and just watching is NOT helpful. This is where the team needs you - sooo, go coach and offer them something, PLEASE?

Look, this team is a final four team and it's a shame to see these goings on.

So much for my OP suggesting that UConn lost to a better, more experienced team, and urging BY’ers not to play the “blame game.” Apparently, some feel the need to call out the greatest WBB coach of all time, because I guess they know better.

I’ll keep it simple. You don’t know what you’re talking about and you couldn’t be more wrong about this team’s potential. In order to make it back to yet another FF, UConn needs everyone to play their absolute best, and they need some breaks along the way. Geno has limited options and he tried everything he could last night to turn the tide against a superior opponent.

I don’t know what this personal vendetta you seem to have against Geno is all about. But it’s time to give it a rest.

 

[jonson]

I will give graves alot of credit for recruiting and player development but I will not stop wondering how good Hebard would be without Sabrina and their almost telepathic rapport.

Now Sabally is another story. Wow. Closest thing I have seen to Stewie's game. And I love the story brought out bout how she watched film session of a few games where she was not contributing and how disgusted she was at her performance.

I don't think there is any wondering about it. Hebard's stats would certainly be lower, as would Ionescu's number of assists. That said, I really appreciate what Geno had to say about Hebard in his postgame comments ("helluva player"), which in many ways echo what Cheryl Reeve said after the USA exhibition ("She'll be a terrific pro" or something along those lines). In Graves speak, she is the team's "hammer" and Sabally its "unicorn." The latter is an extraordinary person across the board--smart, informed, socially committed, and, as stated, disarmingly honest about her limitations. (There is an interview along the same lines in which she talks about her so far failed attempt to develop a mid-range game.) For what it's worth, her sister, if she ever gets past her injuries, is said (by some, anyway) to be even better (she was the MVP of the last two European tournaments in which she participated). In any case, as an Oregon homer, I'm simply trying to give Graves a plug, since he sometimes (imo) doesn't get the credit he deserves.

 

[southofnorth]

They say Satous sister Nyra is a cross between Satou and Ruthie. She is bigger than Satou.

Imagine this Oregon team had she not re-torn her ACL during the preseason

 

[Centerstream]

Geno said:
''They came in here and did something that very few people have been able to do,'' Auriemma said. ''In that first quarter it was evident that physically we couldn't match up with them tonight, plain and simple.''

“Hebard and Sabally are too good for us," Auriemma said. “We don’t have anyone at that level right now; we don’t. And we certainly didn’t have anyone at that level tonight.”


Very poor job by Geno and here's some points to consider:

- Starts Kyla and she plays 4 minutes. UCONN is playing 4 on 5, AGAIN.

- After She fills the stat sheet with ZEROS and Oregon jumps into a quick lead, Geno takes her out.

- She will come back in for about the last 30 seconds of the game.

Really, how is that good coaching?

- Anyway, the tone is set and Oregon knows that the game is theirs.

- Telling your team and the world that the other team has at least 3 players that they can't match is VERY poor form and guaranteed not going to inspire anyone.

- Asking your freshman to defend the post against two experienced bigs and giving away 4 inches, after only seeing five or six minutes of action in most games so far, is madness. And yet, the freshman busted a gut and gave everything. She deserved better.

- Standing there, arms folded and just watching is NOT helpful. This is where the team needs you - sooo, go coach and offer them something, PLEASE?

Look, this team is a final four team and it's a shame to see these goings on.

 

[billybud]

I watched again...My..but what a pick up Minyon Moore (#23) for the Ducks was as a grad transfer..

She was so quick at guard, great vision...tough defender.

 

[Centerstream]

So much for my OP suggesting that UConn lost to a better, more experienced team, and urging BY’ers not to play the “blame game.” Apparently, some feel the need to call out the greatest WBB coach of all time, because I guess they know better.

I’ll keep it simple. You don’t know what you’re talking about and you couldn’t be more wrong about this team’s potential. In order to make it back to yet another FF, UConn needs everyone to play their absolute best, and they need some breaks along the way. Geno has limited options and he tried everything he could last night to turn the tide against a superior opponent.

I don’t know what this personal vendetta you seem to have against Geno is all about. But it’s time to give it a rest.

I repeat...you are SPOT ON and your comment about "calling out Geno" is what I do dislike about the BY, even though everyone is entitled to their opinion. And the same few have no problem expressing their opinion after every game.
I have lost track of the number of posters and threads by them that I choose to not read. But they seem to be posting more and more.
So anyways, keep on posting the truth @oldude .

 

[ME Husky Fan]

The team has little to zero inside presence - on both ends. Our offense is literally pass the ball around the perimeter, wait for an open shot, and hope the 3 or long 2 goes in. We dont have enough post players, physical players to do anything more. On defense, Oregon could drive and do anything they wanted inside.

Basically, the team, as constructed, cant compete against the good teams - who do have size & physical presence. At one point, we were shooting 50% from 3 & still getting blown out! Blame recruiting, blame bad luck with injuries, but thats the bottom line.

I wonder if Geno conceded the offensive boards on purpose? Trying to get out in front of Ionescu for as best as possible to stop her from what she does best? It certainly was frustrating to see so many once and dones. I think the o-boards we had came mostly in the 2nd half?