Post Game — Post Mortem...

[Plebe]

OK. Then that means that straight up ND was just better than UConn. I don't know that I think that is really true..

Notre Dame was the better team tonight when it counted most. Close game, could have gone either way, but they were better. They were very nearly the better team when they played in December as well. UConn found a way to win that game, but not tonight. It happens.

 

[HoopsFan21]

We played absolutely every body. I mean hell we would play 3 top 25 teams in a week at the start of the season where one of them included flying cross country and then playing at a weird time on a day's rest. We went two months between true home games, and three months between back to back home games. Come on with this conference/schedule crap. GO. LOOK. AT. OUR. SCHEDULE. Jesus. The only way the schedule could have been tougher is if they played every single game on the road against WNBA teams. These P5 people can't get over themselves and the fact that their leagues suck as much as ours outside of the one or two top teams. Yeah it would be great if we were in the ACC or SEC or B1G, but that would just mean our conference championship trophy would look a little different than it does now.

 

[housekeys]

OK. Then that means that straight up ND was just better than UConn. I don't know that I think that is really true..

Yes, that was true tonight. ND was better. No, I also do not think conference has anything to do with the loss.

 

[RogueDave]

Nothing diminishes this season, it was Awesome! Again!

Insufficient Bench Was a much discussed weakness...today showed this again...Having some size and physical presence to counteract Shepard would have really helped...An additional skilled guard would have been huge as well...

4th foul on Lou doomed us...allowed ND to score unopposed, just drive against Lou...Teams this closely matched it really swung the outcome...

It Isnt Just The Resting Of The Starters...

It Is Not Being Able To Bring In Players That Have The Ability To Impact The Game With Different Skill Sets or Size or Physicality...

We have not had that luxury for the past couple seasons...

 

[Flyegirl]

I honestly thought Azura should have started the second half, I was really surprised that she didn't. It really seem to completely destroy the momentum we had in the 2nd quarter.

Bingo! My thoughts exactly.

 

[ScarlettB]

We played absolutely every body. I mean hell we would play 3 top 25 teams in a week at the start of the season where one of them included flying across country and then playing at a weird time on a day's rest. We went two months between true on campus home games, and three months between back to back home games. Come on with this conference/schedule crap. GO. LOOK. AT. OUR. SCHEDULE. Jesus. The only way the schedule could have been tougher is if they played every single game on the road against WNBA teams. These P5 people can't get over themselves and the fact that their leagues suck as much as ours outside of the one or two top teams. Yeah it would be great if we were in the ACC or SEC or B1G, but that would just mean our conference championship trophy would look a little different than it does now.

I know you can't do anything about your conference affiliation, but I really wish you were in a better conference. Even though Geno schedules the best OOC opponents he can, it still leaves you somewhat untested at the end of the season and you then only face substantial competition when you get to the later rounds of the NCAA tournament. UConn seems to have a lot of problem in games that go to OT. This game was no exception.

 

[GoUconn7961]

Seems UCONN loses their instinctive edge in overtimes.

LOL

 

[ASweet3781]

If last year didn't make us hungry enough to play with a killer instinct, what difference will this make?

Not only that, but if we couldn't beat ND without their injured players, what's gonna happen when they return them?

Sorry but maybe it's still the shock but I don't think people realize how devastating this loss is. ND will be better than us going forward. This may have been our last best hope in a while.

 

[VivaLsVgs]

There’s always hope.....remember when Louisville took down Baylor. No one saw that coming.

I admit I was dismayed when they showed ND’s lineup and they have no Seniors....yikes!

 

[Golden Husky]

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been!'"
--John Greenleaf Whittier

 

[boontonbomber]

pressure, pressure, pressure. ND had nothing to lose, UConn had everything to lose, and they played "not to lose" from the beginning. had that good second quarter, where they played their game, but that was it. painful to watch, but it's really,really hard not to press when you're undefeated, most expect you to win, and then they had to have had last year's game on their minds. that said, I wish our best player, and scorer, had taken more than 3 shots in the second half and overtime. how did that happen?

 

[HoopsFan21]

I know you can't do anything about your conference affiliation, but I really wish you were in a better conference. Even though Geno schedules the best OOC opponents he can, it still leaves you somewhat untested at the end of the season and you then only face substantial competition when you get to the later rounds of the NCAA tournament. UConn seems to have a lot of problem in games that go to OT. This game was no exception.

We literally just played Louisville and South Carolina six weeks ago at the end of our regular season. You know the two teams that won the ACC and SEC tournaments? Both were down 20-30 in the first half. Do you really think the best teams in America improved appreciably in that time? Everyone wants to keep making it about the conference. UConn is what 36-13 against ND now? And 15-0 against Louisville? And 528-0 against toughest league in America SEC champ South Carolina? Like I said the only thing that will make the conference whores happy is if we played WNBA teams instead of Tulsa and Memphis in conference.

 

[wyo angel]

Not only that, but if we couldn't beat ND without their injured players, what's gonna happen when they return them?

Sorry but maybe it's still the shock but I don't think people realize how devastating this loss is. ND will be better than us going forward. This may have been our last best hope in a while.

Devastating? DEVASTATING???

Absolutely not!

UConn, Geno and our players have helped women’s college basketball go from merely being a game to being a REAL and RESPECTED sport.

A sport worthy of watching.
A sport worthy of air time.
A sport more people
write about
attend in person
watch on tv
and speak about
than was done 5 years ago.


So no, this loss is not devastating. At least not IMHO. There’s a much bigger picture here.

 

[Charliebball]

I guess UConn WBB is now the lovable loser so the media can get off of Geno's case.............somehow I don't think so............they simply don't get the fact that the only thing that matters to UConn is the NC...........going undefeated in the regular season doesn't mean a damn thing without that.........

 

[ASweet3781]

Devastating? DEVASTATING???

Absolutely not!

UConn, Geno and our players have helped women’s college basketball go from merely being a game to being a REAL and RESPECTED sport.

A sport worthy of watching.
A sport worthy of air time.
A sport more people
write about
attend in person
watch on tv
and speak about
than was done 5 years ago.


So no, this loss is not devastating. At least not IMHO. There’s a much bigger picture here.

Eh that was fine last year. Not this year. Not to Notre Dame. Sorry this was a huge missed opportunity that will haunt for some time.

 

[trb123]

To win another NC, Geno should have had the sense to hand this team over to Dillon after 1Q or earlier.

 

[Bleed Blue-XY]

Anytime we go to overtime nowadays a sense of dread creeps in.

 

[Charliebball]

looking at the final stats..........UConn shot a better percentage of two and three pointers yet lost the game.......don't see that happen very often

 

[HoopsFan21]

Anytime we go to overtime nowadays a sense of dread creeps in.

If the lead is under 15 with 2:00 to go in the 3rd a sense of dread should creep in.

 

[AussieHusky]

Nothing diminishes this season, it was Awesome! Again!

Insufficient Bench Was a much discussed weakness...today showed this again...Having some size and physical presence to counteract Shepard would have really helped...An additional skilled guard would have been huge as well...

4th foul on Lou doomed us...allowed ND to score unopposed, just drive against Lou...Teams this closely matched it really swung the outcome...

It Isnt Just The Resting Of The Starters...

It Is Not Being Able To Bring In Players That Have The Ability To Impact The Game With Different Skill Sets or Size or Physicality...

We have not had that luxury for the past couple seasons...

Nothing diminishes this season, it was Awesome! Again!

Insufficient Bench Was a much discussed weakness...today showed this again...Having some size and physical presence to counteract Shepard would have really helped...An additional skilled guard would have been huge as well...

4th foul on Lou doomed us...allowed ND to score unopposed, just drive against Lou...Teams this closely matched it really swung the outcome...

It Isnt Just The Resting Of The Starters...

It Is Not Being Able To Bring In Players That Have The Ability To Impact The Game With Different Skill Sets or Size or Physicality...

We have not had that luxury for the past couple seasons...

Agreed with you....but would add a question...
Whose fault is it that a bench was not developed during the season? I mean, our recruits, compare to the other schools are not "chop liver". Meg was the best HS player for a reason... can't tell me that all of a sudden she forgot how to play basketball when she got to UCONN. Batouly, inof her injuries early in the season came on really well imo later in the season. She's a big body that could have maybe change the pace a little? The downside to cultivating and sticking with a few is that the other scouts them and their tendencies well. And a smart coach such as MM can devise an effective countermeasure. Now when the skill differential is large (i.e., early rounds of the NCAA), your small, well drilled group is likely to win out. But the the playing fields are leveled (similar skilled players), it is usually a wash. So bringing in someone that the other team may not have scouted (especially if they are limited such as ND was tonight), you may just get that little edge... a big rebound or put back, or a foul on the other team. Megan never saw the floor...can't tell me that the UCONN scheme is so difficult that she would not have made at least one meaningful play. After all, it is only basketball. Sometimes, it does not take a scheme or mastery of the way "we" play, but just a simple one-on-one basketball. Arike's was just a simple one-on-one play, nothing more.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Agreed with you....but would add a question...
Whose fault is it that a bench was not developed during the season? I mean, our recruits, compare to the other schools are not "chop liver". Meg was the best HS player for a reason... can't tell me that all of a sudden she forgot how to play basketball when she got to UCONN. Batouly, inof her injuries early in the season came on really well imo later in the season. She's a big body that could have maybe change the pace a little? The downside to cultivating and sticking with a few is that the other scouts them and their tendencies well. And a smart coach such as MM can devise an effective countermeasure. Now when the skill differential is large (i.e., early rounds of the NCAA), your small, well drilled group is likely to win out. But the the playing fields are leveled (similar skilled players), it is usually a wash. So bringing in someone that the other team may not have scouted (especially if they are limited such as ND was tonight), you may just get that little edge... a big rebound or put back, or a foul on the other team. Megan never saw the floor...can't tell me that the UCONN scheme is so difficult that she would not have made at least one meaningful play. After all, it is only basketball. Sometimes, it does not take a scheme or mastery of the way "we" play, but just a simple one-on-one basketball. Arike's was just a simple one-on-one play, nothing more.

Yup, over-reliance on stringing together precise passes means that nobody is willing and able to take the game over themselves when it's needed. You saw it in the tentative play late in the 4th quarter and overtime.

 

[housekeys]

Analyze the offensive issues all you want. UConn lost this game on the defensive side of the game.

 

[NHFan]

Congratulations to Kia and Gabby on a great four years! I'm sorry they weren't able to complete this mission but their futures are bright! The last two years is a reminder of how important recruiting can be. Dangerfield is the only recruit that has made a consistent contribution from the last two recruiting classes and that has left them with a very short bench. Whether this is due to lackluster recruiting or coaching remains to be seen. The lack of a superstar(Maya, Stewie, etc.) leaves little room for error against the stronger teams. Geno will need to coach up the incoming class in a more expedited manner to avoid another similar outcome. Another offseason after a difficult FF loss should allow Geno and the staff time to reflect and possibly adjust as necessary. As has been said to whom much is given, much will be required. I'm sure Geno isn't one to rest on his laurels and I look forward to next season!

 

[Huskygamble19]

This should make UConn more hungry next season.

Isn't that what we said last season?

 

[Huskygamble19]

Congratulations to Kia and Gabby on a great four years! I'm sorry they weren't able to complete this mission but their futures are bright! The last two years is a reminder of how important recruiting can be. Dangerfield is the only recruit that has made a consistent contribution from the last two recruiting classes and that has left them with a very short bench. Whether this is due to lackluster recruiting or coaching remains to be seen. The lack of a superstar(Maya, Stewie, etc.) leaves little room for error against the stronger teams. Geno will need to coach up the incoming class in a more expedited manner to avoid another similar outcome. Anoththe staff time to reflect and possibly adjust as necessaryer offseason after a difficult FF loss should allow Geno and will be required. I'm sure Geno isn't one to rest . As has been said to whom much is given, much on his laurels and I look forward to next season!

where he will beat the heck out of every team in the AAC until he gets back to this point in the season and is smacked around by the Coach of the Year..Muffet McGraw.

 

[huskeynut]

My post in another thread:

This fanbase really needs to handle losses better. The blame game sickens me especially when it's targeted at young women who play their hearts out. Geno can handle the criticism, but what I've seen tonight is really disgraceful comments directed at young women who give their all. Basketball is a game and nothing more. Get over it. On to next season. Wow.

And this is why many posters have either cut back or stopped posting. The negativity is over the top. I will continue to support our marvelous young ladies each season. But I do not have to read the trash that now seems to dominate this board.

Gabby and Kia, we will miss you. Your personalities off the court and your talent and determination on the court will be missed and remembered. All the best in the WNBA.

To I look forward to next year. Two exciting recruits coming in to join the team. We'll be back - I have no doubt.

 

[connie]

Congrats to a great, great ND team, coaching staff and performance. They won, we lost. Plain and simple. We can second guess plays, substitutions, strategy, calls, etc. But this is WCBB at the highest level between two premiere teams with elite players. Credit everyone on ND. Arike was amazing. Westbeld, smooth. Maybry, gutsy, determined. Shepard, a workhorse. Young. WOW! And MM. Remarkable and inspiring.

Of course this is a disappointment. But it takes nothing--absolutely nothing--from my love for our team and its players. This sort of thing can happen. And it did. Don't let it wreck your day.

Now back to your regularly scheduled autopsy.

 

[connie]

While a tough loss, I hope this doesn't turn into a crazy over-reaction....we got a poster on the men's board calling Gabby the most over-rated UConn player ever.....

Isn't the internet wonderful? You're always going to find a tiny minority who give Mozart a "1 Star" on Amazon. Just ignore.

 

[connie]

we have lacked that great player that we have become so accustomed to having on our team

We have more than one of "that great player". Sometimes, the shot doesn't drop, the pass is fumbled, you don't get the call. Every game is 40 minutes. Can't judge the outcome by what happens in the final seconds with everything on the line.

 

[SJF]

After her 3rd foul Lou should have come out of the game and replaced by Walker for a few minutes! When Lou picked up her 4th foul she was basically rendered useless on D! They attacked her and all she could do was stand there with hands up! Still a great game! Proud to be a UCONN fan! Just hope next season the opportunities are there to develop depth for the big tourney!