Providence Postgame Thread | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Providence Postgame Thread

The 7 players on the court tonight play and practice with each other every day. None of them were forced to play a position they are not used to playing. “Consistency” is a lame excuse for poor play by some players tonight.

It’s the second game in a row where the best player wasn’t on our team. One dominate the player on a lesser team needs to be held in check.

I hope AE took the first step tonight in many steps that lead her back to a valuable part of Tourney success.
 
phil sampieri said:
Agree with your appraisal of our players but Muhl decent or fair, she had 1 point 1 assist 2 turnovers. I don’t know what Geno sees in her, other than she is tough.
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Geno sees a tough kid. He also looks around and says---who else? He uses all his other available guards and she is the least problem. Evinia who at times is good at times isn't. Nika is fast, tough, at times good at times isn't. His bench isn't as good. So where does he go if he doesn't use Evina or Nika? No where to go. You dance with the ladies you brought to the dance or you don' dance at all.
 
oldude said:
So the game time and arena was changed, UConn couldn’t practice yesterday due to the snowstorm, Dorka is out with an injury, the bus breaks down and the Huskies struggle to score for much of the game. Perhaps Geno should change his name to Abraham.
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Or Jonah.
 
donalddoowop said:
There is no way UConn should be snake bitten this season. My goodness, they have a snake Ducharmer! :rolleyes: :p:p
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That would normally be true but she is just a freshman. An awful load to lay on a frosh whose name isn't Paige. More often then not, rare for this team, Caroline is very good at scoring. Once or twice she wasn't as good. That is typical of Freshmen. Even pro's have bad days and Caroline hasn't had a bad day yet, just some not so good.
 
cferraro04 said:
I don't know where to start with this one. There were good things, there were not so good things and there were things that were just out of our control.

The Good:

1. The good starts with Christyn Williams, she was essential to our success this evening...a reliable scorer. Tonight she went 19 pts. / 7 rbs. / 4 assists. 2 for 3 from three.

2. Aliyah Edwards - Gave us a glimpse of what she was able to give us last year. She did it during a game when she was needed (Dorka out). She played 32 minutes tonight, brought some energy, still indecisive at times but at the end of the day 9 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. If we can get that out of her night after night I wouldn't be disappointed.

3. Evina Westbrook - solid game 13 points, 3 steals.

4. Ducharme - Didn't have a great game but even so managed to contribute 12 points and 4 rebounds.

5. Ododa - Same thing...not a great game but contributed to the win (10 points / 6 rebounds).

6. We won.

The Bad:

1. 16 turnovers...we have to take care of the basketball.

2. 16 fouls...gone are those past Husky teams that rarely fouled. Teams that played tough defense without fouling.

3. We allowed Janai Crooms to have a career night...27 points.

4. Nika Muhl's decision making.



The Ugly:

1. Olivia Nelson-Ododa putting the ball on the floor with three white jerseys surrounding her and her wondering why she lost the basketball.

2. Allowing Providence to beat us to just about every lose ball.

3. Only forcing 12 turnovers for Providence.

4. Allowing Providence to milk the clock and then allowing them to get 12 offensive rebounds to our 5 which only prolonged the misery. the net result was we allowed Providence to set the pace for the game...we were not capable of imposing our will on the game.

5. Allowing Providence to get 20 points off turnovers while we were only able to get 10 points of turnovers.


All in all I walk away from this game with mixed feelings...glad it is over and looking forward to the next game. Here's to hoping we get Dorka back. As we enter into February...hope abounds that we will soon see our floor general point guard back on the floor.
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The tougher kids wore the Prov uniform. Prov was well prepared for Uconn. Double team our weak point guards and tripled team the post. Evina a 5th year senior didn't play up to the trapping/ tough defense as the newest Frosh. CW was the brightest star Caroline shines as a freshman. I wasn't disappointed in Fudd, shes still new to this game.
 
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So they didn’t play great. Possibly the messed up travel plus no Dorka was a factor if not an excuse. I thought they seemed fatigued. However, seeing someone being taken out because they are having a tough game and, by the way, being put back in, is not being in the dog house. Caroline was not lacking in effort. That would put her in the dog house. What I found most troubling was Liv several times bringing the ball down to her waist and getting it slapped away several times. A bad habit I thought she was getting past.

Most programs would love to be struggling the way ours is. This group has had to make frequent rotation adjustments, not the least of which is playing without the best organizing point guard in the college game. It also affects both sides of the ball. If Paige comes back and is fully in sync we get a lot better on O. She is also pretty good at disrupting passing lanes. I think what stops this team even if fully healthy from winning out is no real defensive and rebounding strength in the middle. Blocking an occasional shot isn’t good enough against the top teams, certainly not most of those at the top this year.
 
Imo, the only chance we have of a puncher's chance of a FF/Title is (besides, of course, Paige coming back) for AE returning to form. She probably played one of her best games of the season tonight. She played 32 minutes and was active all game long. Her physical presence is a must for the Tourney. So, I was overall happy with today's game. Everyone else "are what they are". ONO's not getting better, EW is not getting better. Azzi hopefully has some upside with her shooting with more playing time. But, to expect this team to beat good teams with this lineup is false hope.

We really havent had a good half court offense all season, and the main reason is we've had no PG leadership since Paige went down. Sorry, Nika is not a good starting PG that can manage an offense. Her shooting is also a liability. She's a good 6th player providing a spark on both ends. EW is not a natural PG - you can see it on her face.

As a result, this team is going to look very spotty at best on offense since it has to depend on 3-point/perimeter shooting, especially when the opposition mixes up their defenses. You also have TONS of turnovers. Geno wants to play this very finesse offense with tons of player movements, cuts, picks, etc. But, he doesnt have the players (talent & experience) to pull it off.

The best case scenario is to get Paige back and hope there is enough time to gel. And, for AE to keep getting better in the post. And, pray there are all healthy in March.

p.s. Dorka has a good "motor" and you could notice her absence today. She usually finds the ball. Tonight - lots of standing around.
 
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I think AE should drive to the basket more. She gets the ball and immediately looks around to pass it to someone. When ONO gets the ball underneath, she should just jump and shoot. She's 6'5"!! EW should bring the ball downcourt faster. I like Nika's speed with the ball and she is very feisty on defense. That should be enough for her to do, if everyone else is stepping up. I think CW is playing the best all-around game on the team right now. CD tends to rush some long shots. But she does at least have the instinct to drive toward the basket, and has good hands. I think seems to dribble well and has a great outside shot, but our tall rebounders have to start crashing those boards, the way Aubrey used to, so that it's not just one shot and out. They should better anticipate where the missed shots will bounce, and then be there! I know this all sounds critical, and actually I'm so happy that they are winning games. I wasn't sure that would happen with everybody out all year. They are really trying. Good luck to all!
 
My thoughts are that every team that plays us now and see’s UConn’s injuries adds fuel to make them believe they have a chance to finally beat UConn and they play their A game .. where as in the past they went into the game knowing they were gonna get blown out .. it makes a difference knowing you have a chance for those that ever played sports .. this team has had zero continuity this season .. look at Golden state best record in the west and get Klay back you would think wow they are even better and they go into a slump ? Why? They practice together right ? Nothing beats real game time for a cohesion of a team that’s just my 2 cents ..
 
Littlemin said:
So the only difference is losing the player of the year but we gained the number 1 recruit in the country who hasn’t played in 2 months and an All Big 10 center that didn’t play tonight and they should be better?
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They should be but they are not because they are missing Paige. And yes they should be playing better and as I said that Paige is really that good.
 
Let's face it. This team is point guard challenged. Way to many turnovers seemingly every game. We do stupid things with the ball regularly. We should simplify things and work to create opportunities for the shooters more quickly. Many times we are 20 seconds in before we even think about shooting. We need to create a good shot almost every time within 18 seconds. There is no such thing as a pick and roll on this team it seems. It doesn't happen nearly enough since Paige has been gone.
 
Looked at other women basketball scores tonight. #1 SCarolina (20-1) beat unranked Florida (15-6) by 62-50. #2 Stanford (16-3) at home beat #8 Arizona (15-3) by 75-69. #3 NCState (19-1) beat unranked NCarolina (16-4) by 66-58. #7 Louisville (18-2) at home beat #21 Duke (13-6) by 77-65. Of course, #10 UConn (13-4) beat unranked Providence (9-11) by 69-61. #12 LSU (18-4) at home beat unranked Kentucky (9-9) by 78-69. #14 Georgia Tech (17-4) beat unranked Clemson (7-14) by 69-62. #15 Georgia (16-4) beat 24 Old Miss (17-4) by 62-52. #15 Maryland (15-4) beat unranked Penn State (9-11) by 82-71. #19 Oregon (13-5)at home blew out unranked USC (9-9) by 80-48, and #20 Notre Dame (16-4) at home beat unranked Boston College (14-7) by 74-61.

So, like UConn, a number of other teams in top 20 only won by similar margins of victory against unranked teams (some of these unranked teams are probably better than Providence, but still).
 
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TeamFirst! said:
Let's face it. This team is point guard challenged. Way to many turnovers seemingly every game. We do stupid things with the ball regularly. We should simplify things and work to create opportunities for the shooters more quickly. Many times we are 20 seconds in before we even think about shooting. We need to create a good shot almost every time within 18 seconds. There is no such thing as a pick and roll on this team it seems. It doesn't happen nearly enough since Paige has been gone.
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Well, that's coaching's job, but not having consistent line-up makes it a challenge. Still, other teams have had injuries and have had to change their line-ups too.
 
Bad game tonight.

Another setback with an injury. Though possibly good to have this clunker before Creighton.

Don't understand all the dumb fouls being committed by UCONN in which their arms keep coming down on offensive players.

Liv just continues to amaze me how she just doesn't seem to learn in regards to one step forward, then one step back with just general basketball knowledge with those type of silly fouls and silly turnovers in the post with her dribbling.

It's okay. On to the next. Need Dorka to be okay.

The team desperately needs continuity.
 
Centerstream said:
It looked to me that even Caroline was in Geno's doghouse tonight :(.
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Turnovers and forcing. I know Geno gave her the green light but it’s a time where you have to know when to past and when to shoot. UConn needs a guard who can pass, penetrate and kick it out and the only one who can do that is hurt right now.
 
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Littlemin said:
So the only difference is losing the player of the year but we gained the number 1 recruit in the country who hasn’t played in 2 months and an All Big 10 center that didn’t play tonight and they should be better?
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Against Providence?
HELL, YEAH!!!
 
jabstep said:
They should be but they are not because they are missing Paige. And yes they should be playing better and as I said that Paige is really that good.
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You miss my point completely.
 
Stymie said:
Against Providence?
HELL, YEAH!!!
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Why exactly, because of the name on the front of the uniforms? God forbid a team you have no respect for actually put up a fight in a game where Uconn doesn’t play well.
But really God forbid that the Uconn team dare not play well, talk about absurdly spoiled fans; they are human beings, not robots programmed to play to yours and others liking.
A season is a journey, with ups and downs; a very challenging one under the circumstances Uconn has had to endure this year. How about focusing on the play of Williams, coming off Covid, and especially Westbrook and Edwards who had been playing very unevenly, all 3 rose to the occasion in a game where the other four Uconn players they put on the court did not play especially well, obviously to varying degrees?
But no, we didn’t win by 40, so let‘s disrespect the opponent, and disparage the fact Providence gave us a game; one by the way I am sure very few thought really thought Uconn was going to lose.
 
Littlemin said:
Why exactly, because of the name on the front of the uniforms? God forbid a team you have no respect for actually put up a fight in a game where Uconn doesn’t play well.
But really God forbid that the Uconn team dare not play well, talk about absurdly spoiled fans; they are human beings, not robots programmed to play to yours and others liking.
A season is a journey, with ups and downs; a very challenging one under the circumstances Uconn has had to endure this year. How about focusing on the play of Williams, coming off Covid, and especially Westbrook and Edwards who had been playing very unevenly, all 3 rose to the occasion in a game where the other four Uconn players they put on the court did not play especially well, obviously to varying degrees?
But no, we didn’t win by 40, so let‘s disrespect the opponent, and disparage the fact Providence gave us a game; one by the way I am sure very few thought really thought Uconn was going to lose.
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Very simple:
Effort-check
Execution—nope
Concentration-nope
You wanna look at the line score and see mission accomplished?
I’ll have to agree with Coach- “This team doesn’t listen.”
Sorry to say I think he’s losing them.
Not looking anything like a top 4 seed tonight.
 
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