SC Game: How Much Difference Would Caroline and Azzi Really Make?

[RedStickHusky]

You can't cut and read into a lane packed with SC's bulk... You have to make perimeter shots to pull them out or get them to go smaller.

 

[Dognusty]

You can't cut and read into a lane packed with SC's bulk... You have to make perimeter shots to pull them out or get them to go smaller.

Thing is they are deliberate about what they are going to do. A credit to them because they play their game. They overplay on the perimeter and that makes you play their style of ball. You try to make them a jumpshooting team but they tend to get rebounds so it's damn near hard to stop.

 

[Bone Dog]

Thing is they are deliberate about what they are going to do. A credit to them because they play their game. They overplay on the perimeter and that makes you play their style of ball. You try to make them a jumpshooting team but they tend to get rebounds so it's damn near hard to stop.

It absolutely is hard to stop. But as today's game showed very clearly, we're damn hard to stop too. And we'll be even damn harder to stop with a couple more perimeter threats.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I did slog through the entire Postgame Thread for the South Carolina game. When you get past the referee complaints, there seems to be a consensus that if UConn only lost by 4 points with its current active roster, then it should certainly win when Caroline and Azzi are added to the mix. Geno elaborated on the thinking behind this position during his press conference, where he said that the only way for this roster to beat SC is to take and make enough 3's to offset the 2's that the Gamecocks are inevitably going to get on the offensive boards.

He implied pretty strongly that even with a 10-player roster, UConn this year doesn't have the horses to really contest SC's offensive boards -- he said that to do that, you would need about four 6-5 players who could be freely substituted so that none of them would have to worry about fouls. Unfortunately, I think he's right, and that will still be the case when Azzi and Caroline return. It would be different if Ice were returning or if Jana could play immediately. So I think it's unlikely that UConn will do better against SC's O-boards in April than they did in today's game.

But (so the theory goes) when Azzi and Caroline are on the floor, SC won't be able to drape Lou and those three shooters (with one or two timely contributions from Nika and Aubrey) can make enough 3's to offset SC's second-chance points. But I'm not sure that I buy into that theory. The reason is that SC's defensive plan today was to guard UConn's perimeter shooters so closely that 3's were not open, even if it meant that those perimeter players could drive past them, which UConn certainly did. (Did anyone notice that UConn actually got more points in the paint today than SC, by a margin of 42-38?) Dawn apparently figured that if she could turn UConn's 3-point shooters into 2-point penetrators, SC would win that trade-off, and that is exactly what happened.

For some reason that I haven't figured out, the screens and cuts that usually provide open looks for 3-point shots weren't working today, or weren't being used. I do think that Azzi and Caroline are better than any of today's players at seeing where they can move without the ball to get open, so that may be the difference that they will make. I certainly hope so ...

They lost by 4. UCONN only took 6 3s? The presence alone of multiple 3-point shooters or even 2-point shooters creates a completely different (more open) landscape...for drives, backdoors. It also impacts who the opposition can put on the floor. Azzi or Caroline could have made a difference, but who really knows if this would have been their first game back. If they missed a game or two I would say that coming back would not be such a mystery, but they missed a lot of games. As far as why they couldn't get open I saw and have seen several reasons. The defense is overplaying and the back doors aren't as open because the middle of the floor is congested...because the defense is sagging off. And Lou has been getting mugged for weeks and everyone knows it. IF Azzi had returned game ready, then I think she would have filled the midrange gap. A few times players drove and then got stuck in no man's land because they drove too deep. Azzi would have nailed the midrange. Having said that...hope she and Caroline return healthy, but I've been in a ride-or-die mode for those who are playing their hearts out...including Amari, Ines and Ayanna. This team is overachieving even in this loss. They held SC to 38% shooting. Scored 77 and shot 50+%. They only had 13 TOs. They just did a lot of things right today (except be taller) and I'm impressed...again.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Thing is they are deliberate about what they are going to do. A credit to them because they play their game. They overplay on the perimeter and that makes you play their style of ball. You try to make them a jumpshooting team but they tend to get rebounds so it's damn near hard to stop.

Dawn knows what she's doing for sure. It's not supposed to be easy. I'm hopeful we get another chance with one or two more arrows in the quiver.

 

[Dognusty]

It absolutely is hard to stop. But as today's game showed very clearly, we're damn hard to stop too. And we'll be even damn harder to stop with a couple more perimeter threats.

Agreed

 

[Dognusty]

It absolutely is hard to stop. But as today's game showed very clearly, we're damn hard to stop too. And we'll be even damn harder to stop with a couple more perimeter threats.

Reminds me of UConn teams in the past. Not saying the same style, but the attitude of this is how we play and we ain't changing up

 

[npignatjr]

We can agree that Azzi is a much better offensive weapon. But colud she nullify Cooke like Aubrey? I just think to beat SC isn't about gaurd play but more about playing close to even in the front court. SC doesn't really seem to car me about guard play. It's post post post, and more post. And damn if they not good at it. You can shoot 50% and they shoot 30% but they shoot 3 times damn near every possession.

Yes Azzi or Caroline can guard Cooke.

 

[Dognusty]

It absolutely is hard to stop. But as today's game showed very clearly, we're damn hard to stop too. And we'll be even damn harder to stop with a couple more perimeter threats.

Reminds me of UConn teams in the past. Not saying the same style, but the attitude of this is how we play and we ain't changing

 

[Dognusty]

Yes Azzi or Caroline can guard Cooke.

I don't know if they are as effective. Aubrey is long and athletic. She posed a big problem to Cooke. Imshe couldn't shoot over her and couldn't drive past her. I don't see Fludd or Carol having that foot speed and burst. Aubrey was fantastic today on defense.

 

[Bone Dog]

We can agree that Azzi is a much better offensive weapon. But colud she nullify Cooke like Aubrey? I just think to beat SC isn't about gaurd play but more about playing close to even in the front court. SC doesn't really seem to car me about guard play. It's post post post, and more post. And damn if they not good at it. You can shoot 50% and they shoot 30% but they shoot 3 times damn near every possession.

I agree with @npignatjr. Azzi and Caroline can guard her and any of the SC backcourt. Cooke has been having a good run offensively of late. But most of those games were against lesser teams. She faced a tougher opponent today, and her scoring nose-dived. Though to be fair, she was also asked to play tougher D than is usually required of her. There are trade-offs, and Dawn traded Zia's scoring for her defense.

 

[Dognusty]

I agree with @npignatjr. Azzi and Caroline can guard her and any of the SC backcourt. Cooke has been having a good run offensively of late. But most of those games were against lesser teams. She faced a tougher opponent today, and her scoring nose-dived. Though to be fair, she was also asked to play tougher D than is usually required of her. There are trade-offs, and Dawn traded Zia's scoring for her defense.

I think Aubrey had a lot to do with that today. She gave Cooke the business and locked her down

 

[Bone Dog]

I think Aubrey had a lot to do with that today. She gave Cooke the business and locked her down

I agree. Though it's never about just one defender if you play a switching defense as we typically do. All three of our guards played superb defense. I've never been prouder of them.

 

[Monte]

A lot of interesting points were made in this discussion. I think the main point made is that SC won because of the difference in the BIG bodies on the court. Talented, big bodies have always been a huge factor in the basketball world.

 

[Dognusty]

I agree. Though it's never about just one defender if you play a switching defense as we typically do. All three of our guards played superb defense. I've never been prouder of them.

I just think Aubrey made today a nightmare for Cooke. I don't know how many people will do that. Cooke is streaky but today it was flat out good d that took her out.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I agree with @npignatjr. Azzi and Caroline can guard her and any of the SC backcourt. Cooke has been having a good run offensively of late. But most of those games were against lesser teams. She faced a tougher opponent today, and her scoring nose-dived. Though to be fair, she was also asked to play tougher D than is usually required of her. There are trade-offs, and Dawn traded Zia's scoring for her defense.

Against ranked teams, Cooke hasn't shot over 30% this season.

 

[Dognusty]

Against ranked teams, Cooke hasn't shot over 30% this season.

That's the thing she doesn't have to play well for them to win. If she does it's a plus. She van volume shoot because they tend to rebound. If sh is hot then it's a plus. If she isn't it really doesn't matter.

 

[Dognusty]

I feel the way to win is to take away the second chance points. No amount of offense firepower is gonna change what they do. Make them one and done and then those missed jump shots have a penalty. Now it doesn't really matter if they miss or hit.

 

[Happydad745]

I love being positive about our team this year....but Azzi Fudd is not even an All American yet, and won't be this year because of the lack of playing time she will get/an example is Paige last year. She is not a really seasoned player, a really good one, true, but is she a game changer like Paige? Can she make an opening for her to get a shot against a good defense, enough that is to change the outcome of the game, like today?

 

[Bone Dog]

I love being positive about our team this year....but Azzi Fudd is not even an All American yet, and won't be this year because of the lack of playing time she will get/an example is Paige last year. She is not a really seasoned player, a really good one, true, but is she a game changer like Paige? Can she make an opening for her to get a shot against a good defense, enough that is to change the outcome of the game, like today?

Yes, she absolutely can, and we've seen her do it in tough games this year. I direct your attention to the Texas game, the NC St game, the Iowa game.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Impossible to know, but sure would've been nice to find out.

 

[90BSEE]

For some reason that I haven't figured out, the screens and cuts that usually provide open looks for 3-point shots weren't working today

That is EXACTLY the problem! Last year we had Azzi, Caroline and Paige and still couldn't get off a clean shot. The reason you seek is FOULING! It is hard to get open when being grabbed and pushed into other players. It is hard to drive when being grabbed and pushed. It is hard to rebound when being grabbed and pushed.

The refs called a decent number of fouls against SC today. That is why the game was close. They were able to get SOME shots off. But the refs could have called even more and should have called more. A foul is a foul.

The one thing I have seen this year is a willingness and ability to take and hit a mid-range shot. Those are critical to beating SC because we won't be able to score inside and they will hack us on the perimeter and keep our shooters from getting open. Caroline and Azzi would give us depth so players can play less and move more when they are on the floor. That would help them get open more. BUT, when we lost Paige, we lost our most important piece because she can create and score in the mid-range better than anyone. Dorka, Alliyah and Aubrey need to keep shooting those mid-range shots that have improved on so much. That is the SC antidote and we have improved that a lot since last year.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

What I'm saying add Azzi to the lineup and you move your most athletic wing in Aubrey to the bench. Now you are at a much more deficit at rebounding. Also Aubrey did an excellent job of defending Cooke. Does that trade off help. I don't know. I feel like to beat sc you gotta neutralize the disperancy in rebounding and second chance points.

Why are you taking out Aubrey? Why don’t you take out Nika? Obviously not for the whole game but the game plan was more suited to Azzi running the point since the offensive game plan was to go one on one.

 

[npignatjr]

I don't know if they are as effective. Aubrey is long and athletic. She posed a big problem to Cooke. Imshe couldn't shoot over her and couldn't drive past her. I don't see Fludd or Carol having that foot speed and burst. Aubrey was fantastic today on defense.

Caroline is taller Azzi almost as tall, both better in team defense ax UCONN switches on screens and played a lot of zone. Aubrey is athletic.

 

[reelfan]

With our entire team on the floor we must be the favorites. SC is a grab and bang team that cannot defend against creative play makers that consistently shoot 3s. The difference this year is Lou and a healthy Aubrey.

 

[JBK]

Just look at the box score for your answers: Nika with only four assists ( 2 for most of the game), Juhasz and Edwards combined for only 11 rebounds, Lou only 1 for 2 from 3 point arc. SC basically shut down most of what UConn does really, really well. Give them some credit.

and we still scored 77 and Dorka did not really participate- not bad at all. They also exploded in 1 Q with 25.
Before the intentional foul outs at the end, I think UConn looked like the team with energy and SC looked tired.
Players playing 40 minutes is not the problem - it is the foul trouble that brings. A lot of our fouls occurred when we did not get the defensive rebound.

 

[Dognusty]

Why are you taking out Aubrey? Why don’t you take out Nika? Obviously not for the whole game but the game plan was more suited to Azzi running the point since the offensive game plan was to go one on one.

Best ball handler would not take her out.

 

[Centerstream]

I am guessing that it would have been a net +25 points. Just my guess.

 

[Urshurak]

... only if she could get open for 3's. That is the question that I'm raising -- could she get open against today's SC defense?

How many players can SC play at one time? I think it's just 5?

So, who's gonna guard Azzi AND Lou? Significantly harder since someone will have to come out of the paint to help, opening up AE and/or Dorka.

So to answer your question, yes. Would have made a BIG difference.

 

[meyers7]

... only if she could get open for 3's. That is the question that I'm raising -- could she get open against today's SC defense?

Shutting down one shooter is a little easier than shutting down three...

What Baton Rouge said.

S. Carolina wouldn't have been able to clog up the paint as well either, making drives to the basket easier too. Drives and kick outs work better when you have more than one option to kick it out to.