SC Postgame Thread

[HopJim]

Yes, Dawn was complaining about moving screens. Good coaching move, particularly if it works,

Nika has been sticking her hip out since the beginning of the year, getting 2-3 moving screen calls each game. We can debate whether its warranted, but it wasn't unique to this game.

 

[oldude]

Nika has been sticking her hip out since the beginning of the year, getting 2-3 moving screen calls each game. We can debate whether its warranted, but it wasn't unique to this game.

Nika was called on multiple occasions last night, but as I recall there were also moving screens called on Liv, Aaliyah & Aubrey as well.

 

[Heytherego]

I don't think your future as a talent evaluator is promising. Where is this vitriol coming from?
Perhaps you are bitter because they didn't select you to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol.

LOL I think you are right! I am being a little bit of a Simon Cowell. I am just disappointed, she misses open shots, she can’t create against good teams. I don’t see much progress from freshman year to now offensively.
But hey that’s just my opinion, you can have yours as well; and you’re right my future as a talent evaluator isn’t promising, I will leave that to Geno + crew.

 

[freshler40]

FoxSports could have done a better job with several women analysts during the game and post game. They immediately switched to a men's game. Perhaps some of this was due to the game moving into over-time. There was very little color commentary during the game. The camera angles were way below that provided by SNY along with their wonderful pre/post game comments. At least the game was on National TV, 1 VS 2 rankings but often played for viewers as a large scale high school game. The beauty was in the second half, trading leads and featuring runs and a more up-beat pace. We also had full drama, panic stricken players that didn't want to touch the ball and hair pulling arm chair fans.

I want post game interviews from both Dawn and Geno.

 

[freshler40]

Nika was called on multiple occasions last night, but as I recall there were also moving screens called on Liv, Aaliyah & Aubrey as well.

There were a number of calls away from the ball in this game, some refs still think they are doing a high school game and for much of this game they were! The second half and overtime were supreme with each team having their moments and great TV drama for fans. We surely missed have our fans at Gamble and the energy they might have provided to a team that appeared travel weary during this strange time. I do wish refs would allow some play in match-ups like this. For much of the second half, the best players were limited by their high foul count so couldn't
play defense.
Geno's low scoring plan worked out. We are a young team that need to practice with real refs calling it tight as sometimes happens in women's games. The chopped up season has hurt player development and restricted the implantation of game plans. We will get better with a very high up-side. The team is a joy to watch but fans must keep the possible 911 call handy!

 

[Charliebball]

Great win. However this kind of play from our 3 upperclassmen isn’t going to cut it. I’m tired of the excuses they need to step up. I was happy to see CW didn’t start overtime, she is turning out to be a bust, has a solid game once a year.
Our future does indeed look bright, that is something to be ecstatic about

while CW has not reached her full potential so far, if 16 points 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game is considered a bust then I hope Geno finds a few more of those........

 

[HopJim]

Also has anyone even noticed Anna’s absence? You’d think we would be hurting missing a “starter”

Did you watch last night's game? Did you watch the Arkansas game? When we had an 8 point lead in 4th quarter, we had no shooters in besides Paige (and Williams who did not qualify as a "shooter" last night), and could not score. 1-2 extra 3 pointers last night would have been huge.

 

[bballnut90]

If your going to talk about UConn history like you are! 1) know all of it 2) know the players better. Kerry Bascom led UConn to their first FF with clutch shot after clutch shot against teams like NC State and Auburn to name a couple! As far as Dee, she made those players in 03-04 better to where they played with a confidence to do what they did. As an upper classmen she led them to the 2 NCs with double and triple teams beating on her every game. Her leadership gave those players confidence to do what they did! Paige isn't there yet because she is a freshman and with such a young team doesn't have those leadership abilities yet! Hopefully It will come and once that part of her game does appear. Everyone should look out because UConn will be winning everything again with ease and I can't wait.

Ill admit Kerri Bascom was before my time considering I was born during her college career lol. And I'm not saying Paige is better than DT was or trying to compare her this season to DT in those seasons....those are apples and oranges. All I'm saying is Paige straight up carried UCONN to a win in a way that had not been done before and put together the most clutch finish in UCONN history.

 

[Waquoit]

I have noticed Anna's absence often, and last night was certainly an example of how much another outside shooter and good ball handler can help. When Nika got in foul trouble Anna would have been a nice option.

Anna isn't the answer. She just can't keep up at this level. She played last year because others on the team were even slower.

 

[oldude]

Did you watch last night's game? Did you watch the Arkansas game? When we had an 8 point lead in 4th quarter, we had no shooters in besides Paige (and Williams who did not qualify as a "shooter" last night), and could not score. 1-2 extra 3 pointers last night would have been huge.

As far as 3 pointers go, Paige had missed all 5 of hers until that miraculous shot with 10 seconds left bounced about 8’ high before falling through the basket, so nobody on UConn was particularly good last night from the arc.

 

[Glenn]

Wow. We beat the top team in the country. and held them well below their season average. My guess is that we played pretty well, particularly on defense. but the amount of negativity on this board is shocking, (unless you have been reading the BY this year). Some perspective would be welcomed.

 

[Florida Fan]

No. Nobody ever has. Ever. Given the names that have played here, this is insane that she has done that as a freshman.

Paige gets 30 times 3 because the others were throwing up bricks and air-balls. Uconn teams of old had more balanced scoring, although Maya had to carry the freight against Stanford in the finals.

 

[jonson]

Ill admit Kerri Bascom was before my time considering I was born during her college career lol. And I'm not saying Paige is better than DT was or trying to compare her this season to DT in those seasons....those are apples and oranges. All I'm saying is Paige straight up carried UCONN to a win in a way that had not been done before and put together the most clutch finish in UCONN history.

To me, the game was reminiscent of the DT battles against Tennessee: one team (less than the sum of its parts) that seemed to assume that its physical gifts (considerable) were enough to overwhelm any opponent, and another, led by the best player on the floor (and in the nation), that knew how to play the game as it should be played.

A couple of other observations:

1) Although I understand all the excitement about Azzi, Nika and Paige seem to me about as good a guard combo as one could wish, with the former's fire and intensity crucial imo to UCONN's success last night (and going forward). It's easy for me to see why the Oregon staff was so disappointed Nika chose UCONN.

2) The heart and mental toughness of this UCONN team reside in its freshmen (and a sophomore), not its upperclassmen. Maybe that will change, but both Christyn and Olivia have not proven that they can step up in big games and Evina's play was, to me, a step back to her time at Tennessee.

And, yes, Paige deserves to be POY.

 

[oldude]

Paige gets 30 times 3 because the others were throwing up bricks and air-balls. Uconn teams of old had more balanced scoring, although Maya had to carry the freight against Stanford in the finals.

Even in the Stanford game, Maya’s shooting was awful in the 1st half. In the 2nd half Maya came alive, and also got a little help from Tina down the stretch.

 

[CajunHusky]

There were lots of plays where Paige tried but couldn't "create" so she didn't shoot and reset. CW has played too much 3x3. Her game is drive and shoot, she does not reset. CW is a less than average jump shot shooter.

Paige is a playmaker with a sweet shot .... Her shots are so "soft". They even swish different.

 

[LCConnFan]

So you want the next game to wait? That happens 100 per cent of the time when games run late in nationally televised games. It would also have happened if the next was a women’s game. If the UConn game was the late game and you missed the first five minutes because of post game commentary, would you be OK with that?

I think you have a short memory, because ESPN did that to us in the past!

 

[LCConnFan]

Let's watch out what we all ask for. If you watch the last sequence in regulation, on 2 of the 3 layups SC missed, looked like clear fouls on the wrist by Aubrey. Thank you refs for looking the other way.

So Aubreys "Illegal screen", because she violated a shoulder width rule (that they were able to instantly measure with their eyes was a 'good call'?

 

[Kaizen]

Wow. We beat the top team in the country. and held them well below their season average. My guess is that we played pretty well, particularly on defense. but the amount of negativity on this board is shocking, (unless you have been reading the BY this year). Some perspective would be welcomed.

As far as 3 pointers go, Paige had missed all 5 of hers until that miraculous shot with 10 seconds left bounced about 8’ high before falling through the basket, so nobody on UConn was particularly good last night from the arc.

I am so glad I have this person ,NopJim, posting negative for last night's game in ignore.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Having seen the game again this morning, I have two concerns - questions really, and I know there is no answer to one. First, Christyn W seemed lost about ball movement out there at times, particularly late in the game. Second, I suspect that Evina's wearing down on those legs and it has/is effecting her shot making.

 

[Sched234]

while CW has not reached her full potential so far, if 16 points 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game is considered a bust then I hope Geno finds a few more of those........

No one is arguing that Williams is a bad player, but she’s wildly inconsistent and I think that’s where people point out limited development.

 

[BobbyJ]

I think Edwards wore Boston down and she had trouble jumping at the end of the game.

She never jumps. She has a 5 inch hop. That's why, at 6-5, she doesn't take the opening tip of the game. But unlike Ono, she knows how to use her body and extend her arms underneath to get shots off.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Thank you Paige, you are my hero, 31 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts ..

Last four points of regulation, and ALL nine points of OT. O fer on threes until it really counted. The bounce off the back of the iron also cost South Carolina about 3 seconds of time. Looks like it cleared the 30 second clock before "re-entering the atmosphere" - reminds me of the old Larry Bird vs. Michael Jordan "games of Horse" commercials...

 

[Essexdave]

Please forgive me if this has been discussed but there are 16 pages of comments. Does anyone know the last time women won an overtime game?

 

[The CDR-Ret]

UCONN WINS, UCONN WINS, UCONN WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have PAIGE and you don't.

And we also have Nika and Ailiyah and you don't.

Nothing more needs to be said.

Your second line was exatly what I said after Paige hit the three in OT. "We have Paige, and you DON'T!!!"

 

[jazz]

One point of emphasis for Geno to work on: Moving picks ( or blocks). How many of those were called? Geesh.

There were at least 2 completely BS calls on this. I am beginning to think the refs think they are intelligent or elite bc they can spot an illegal screen. Complete BS.....