Pin this loss on Geno.

[Olde Coach]

In the first OT, with UConn up 6 points or more -- and ND committed to foul immediately on the inbound plays -- we were inbounding the ball to Tuck and other not so reliable free throw shooters. Why not inbound the ball to KML? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. She is a 90% free throw shooter.

With 29 Turn-overs, UConn can't complain too loudly about the reffing; but Stef did get screwed by the refs on her 4th and 5th fouls. And the longer the game went on, the more determined the zebra shirts seemed to become in their efforts to help ND.

Kudos to Morgan Tuck.

And a pox on McBride!

 

[Fiftyish]

In the first OT, with UConn up 6 points or more -- and ND committed to foul immediately on the inbound plays -- we were inbounding the ball to Tuck and other not so reliable free throw shooters. Why not inbound the ball to KML? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. She is a 90% free throw shooter.

With 29 Turn-overs, UConn can't complain too loudly about the reffing; but Stef did get screwed by the refs on her 4th and 5th fouls. And the longer the game went on, the more determined the zebra shirts seemed to become in their efforts to help ND.

Kudos to Morgan Tuck.

And a pox on McBride!

Are you sure KML was able to get open? Seems like that would be the best play and I assume ND coverer her tightly. I don't have a recording so I don't know for sure why she didn't get the ball. Anybody able to comment?

 

[HuskyNan]

Geno had 30 turnovers and forgot how to rebound in OT? Who knew?

 

[Soxx]

Lloyd was playing tremendous D on KML.

 

[UConnChapette]

Are you sure KML was able to get open? Seems like that would be the best play and I assume ND coverer her tightly. I don't have a recording so I don't know for sure why she didn't get the ball. Anybody able to comment?

I am pretty sure they were guarding her very tightly. I don't have the energy to go back and watch it. Maybe in a few days. But Geno is smart. If KML could have gotten open, that clearly would have been his first option. If she can't you still have to inbound the ball to whoever is open. And then trust in those players to make the free throws.

 

[UConnCat]

Are you sure KML was able to get open? Seems like that would be the best play and I assume ND coverer her tightly. I don't have a recording so I don't know for sure why she didn't get the ball. Anybody able to comment?

I'm pretty sure Geno told the player inbounding to get the ball to KML. They had her blanketed and the player in-bounding lost patience, probably fearful of a 5 second call.

Kelly Faris had one of those 1 and 1s and she missed. Stewart missed the front end of 2 and Tuck made the back end of 1. Contrast that with ND's players, including freshman, who made the shots. They just needed to make the shots.

 

[Scotter]

Actually I thought Geno did a pretty good job from the opening tip. He corrected a number of mistakes from the first game, including getting the correct defensive matchups.

 

[Stray Cat]

The biggest Geno FAIL was NOT fouling ND on the last possession of the 2nd overtime (??) up three, allowing ND the opportunity to shoot a tying 3-point shot that went in with a "luck of the Irish" bounce. I look forward to hearing his comments regarding this.

 

[UConnCat]

Actually I thought Geno did a pretty good job from the opening tip. He corrected a number of mistakes from the first game, including getting the correct defensive matchups.

Defensively I thought UConn played pretty well, except for KML on that McBride 3.

This loss was on the offense. ND's defense forced UConn's offense out so much and UConn just doesn't have the guards to make them pay for that. There were a few nice back doors but this team just doesn't have the personnel to make ND pay for what it was doing on defense.

 

[Blueballer]

Yes it was a real drag when Geno missed all those Free throws. I think they should fire him.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I don't get the calls to foul up 3. Do you realize McBride shot with something like 7 or 8 seconds on the clock? If it were 2 or 3 seconds, sure. But it's way too early for that. A stolen inbounds pass, missed free throws on our end, too many things that give them a chance to win or tie in a much easier manner than hitting a contested 3 from a bad shooter.

 

[Olde Coach]

Are you sure KML was able to get open? Seems like that would be the best play and I assume ND coverer her tightly. I don't have a recording so I don't know for sure why she didn't get the ball. Anybody able to comment?

ND was blocking KML out near the top of the key. They were sometimes holding her in a near bear hug. But, this said, it did not appear that KML was a chosen target for the inbounds pass. She was not trying very hard to get free and move to the ball (and the inbound passer). She was positioning herself out near the top of the key. If the refs were paying attention, they should have called ND for holding and KML would have been going to the line.

 

[Woof 101]

In the first OT, with UConn up 6 points or more -- and ND committed to foul immediately on the inbound plays -- we were inbounding the ball to Tuck and other not so reliable free throw shooters. Why not inbound the ball to KML? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. She is a 90% free throw shooter.

With 29 Turn-overs, UConn can't complain too loudly about the reffing; but Stef did get screwed by the refs on her 4th and 5th fouls. And the longer the game went on, the more determined the zebra shirts seemed to become in their efforts to help ND.

Kudos to Morgan Tuck.

And a pox on McBride!

Confused? First you blame Geno then say not to complain about the reffing and proceed to do so. I think the officials were very inconsistent.

You say to inbound the ball to KML...Do you not think ND thought the same thing?
The last foul on Stef was a flop of NBA proportions by Diggins..You state as the game went on the zebras helped ND. I found it to be the other way as it went into overtime they realized this film is going to be reviewed.

They actually called it at both ends but our lady's could not make a free throw. The officiating was as inconsistent as could be possible.

We get them next meeting............

 

[Stray Cat]

The biggest Geno FAIL was NOT fouling ND on the last possession of the 2nd overtime (??) up three, allowing ND the opportunity to shoot a tying 3-point shot that went in with a "luck of the Irish" bounce. I look forward to hearing his comments regarding this.

UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma

On not fouling Notre Dame before Kayla McBride's three-pointer to force double overtime...

"I didn't do it, and maybe I should have. I don't know. But I never thought the kid would just walk up there to the three-point line and we would stand there and watch her shoot it either. It's been that kind of year. I've seen a lot of things I've never seen before."

 

[msf22b]

If Geno is to be assigned some blame for this loss, then looking at yesterday's shortcomings is perhaps not the most useful approach.

-Stewart, MoJeff, and Kiah, even Morgan were inadequately developed; Stewart's loss of confidence in her native ability is shocking. Even if it is a UConn tradition that Freshmen are "supposed to be seen, not heard," It was obvious from the middle of the season that for an extended run, these players would have to be a cog.

-After Bank's injury, it was apparent, that the Caroline, Bria duo was in trouble, yet nothing was really done about it until the next to the last game...too late.

- The toll of ridiculous minutes took their toll on Stef, perhaps KML, perhaps even Kelly last night. Stef didn't have a great game, true, but she's been carrying the team (one of 2), she'll be back; but it sure would have been good to have working rotations to give her some rest using the scrimmage games to so experiment.

- I could give the adults a pass on one player not coming around, not a bunch.

- And when one looks back of this season, whatever's happened to Stewie has to be the biggest failure in a string of inadequate player development. When Geno suggested a week or so ago, that Stewie would have to figure it out by herself, the grownups were admitting failure and walking away from their responsibilities.

 

[Icebear]

Stewart's loss of confidence is essentially on offense. Defensively she is being effective. That tells me when she is reacting she is fine. The problem is understanding the offense and how to act when and where without thinking.

 

[hoopfan515]

I think Geno's mistake was not giving Tuck and Jefferson more minutes. Moriah should have played the entire 2nd or 3rd overtime. And Tuck should have had a few more minutes before the end of regulation.
And why not put Doty on the three throw line???

At least we know now who won't be at the free throw line at the end of a close game when it matters. Any doubt Dolson and Hartley will be on the floor. Even if Hartley is having a bad offensive night, she is usually solid from the free throw line. Dolson's automatic.

But I thought Stewart played outstanding defense for most of the game. The offense will come.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

In the first OT, with UConn up 6 points or more -- and ND committed to foul immediately on the inbound plays -- we were inbounding the ball to Tuck and other not so reliable free throw shooters. Why not inbound the ball to KML? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. She is a 90% free throw shooter.

With 29 Turn-overs, UConn can't complain too loudly about the reffing; but Stef did get screwed by the refs on her 4th and 5th fouls. And the longer the game went on, the more determined the zebra shirts seemed to become in their efforts to help ND.

Kudos to Morgan Tuck.

And a pox on McBride!

No. Do not blame this on Geno. What a stupid thing to say. If we blame this loss on him do you give sole credit to the 831 wins he has, the seven national titles, the 4 undefeated seasons..... the countless Big East titles.... But we lose one game in Triple overtime... and all three overtimes were without two of our starters... and you are right... Lets throw Geno in front of the bus and blame him.

I expected better from you

 

[01Neaggrad02]

I think Geno's mistake was not giving Tuck and Jefferson more minutes. Moriah should have played the entire 2nd or 3rd overtime. And Tuck should have had a few more minutes before the end of regulation.
And why not put Doty on the three throw line???

At least we know now who won't be at the free throw line at the end of a close game when it matters. Any doubt Dolson and Hartley will be on the floor. Even if Hartley is having a bad offensive night, she is usually solid from the free throw line. Dolson's automatic.

But I thought Stewart played outstanding defense for most of the game. The offense will come.

Jeffersons speed might have helped a great deal. Especially when Caroline was being tied up. Moriah could have raced right both.

 

[Goodgood]

Free throws. Free throws under pressure. Can't win close games in the final minutes because you know the other team is going to foul you. You can't make them, you lose when you should have won. Again, only KML and Stef can make them. Stef was out, so it was easy hounding just KML.

 

[Aluminny69]

I thought it was a mistake that Geno didn't play Jefferson until 10:30 of the second half. If he intended to use her, she should have been in the rotation for the whole game. It is very difficult for anyone, but especially a freshman, to sit for three quarters of a very competitive game, and then come in cold, and be effective. Moriah was forced into an uncharacteristic turnover the first time she touched the ball, and then taken out of the game.

 

[Wally East]

Geno had 30 turnovers and forgot how to rebound in OT? Who knew?

ND having two less points at the end of regulation would've made a big difference, yes?

 

[UConnCat]

I thought it was a mistake that Geno didn't play Jefferson until 10:30 of the second half. If he intended to use her, she should have been in the rotation for the whole game. It is very difficult for anyone, but especially a freshman, to sit for three quarters of a very competitive game, and then come in cold, and be effective. Moriah was forced into an uncharacteristic turnover the first time she touched the ball, and then taken out of the game.

But she really wasn't forced in to that turnover. She dribbled right in to it. She was looking to do a simple hand-off but handed the ball off to Diggins. There are turnovers and then there are turnovers. That one said that she couldn't wait to get the ball out of her hands.

There were plenty of turnovers to go around last night, and Dolson led the way. But I don't think we're being realistic about Jefferson and her readiness to play in a game like last night's.

 

[chiller99]

New poster on the womans section,it was an ultra competitive game obviously but seemed like a lot of confusion from the bench players.Didnt seem like players replacing the fouled outs were very sure of their roles on the court and usually the assistants coach up next up from the bench in anticipation.The sets looked pretty bad run by backups mainly with the spacing on the court and the handoffs off a screen that led to traps.I watched from work and missed bits of game but if there were any timeouts left to burn maybe using one to re establish positioning would have been a positive.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

New poster on the womans section,it was an ultra competitive game obviously but seemed like a lot of confusion from the bench players.Didnt seem like players replacing the fouled outs were very sure of their roles on the court and usually the assistants coach up next up from the bench in anticipation.The sets looked pretty bad run by backups mainly with the spacing on the court and the handoffs off a screen that led to traps.I watched from work and missed bits of game but if there were any timeouts left to burn maybe using one to re establish positioning would have been a positive.

Oh I agree.. looks like Morgan Tuck had no idea what to do out there when she subbed in for Dolson. And Caroline.. even though she made some stupid mistakes... it looked like she had no idea what was happening when she went into the game.