SC Postgame Thread | Page 3 | The Boneyard

SC Postgame Thread

Tank said:
SC team rebounds so well, esp on offensive boards, it’s such a huge advantage, to beat them you have to get strong on the rebounds or they will wear you down with second shots. They won 41-26 on the boards.

That old thought that they cannot hit a three is over, they can knock it down when needed.
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They hit 5 of 18 3 pointers. That's not very good. UCONN only took 8. That's not good either.
 
Aluminny69 said:
So, looking at the box score: SC had more shos than UConn 67-50. SC had more rebounds 41-26, and most important O Rebounds 18 - 6. Sorry, but I don't think UConn has the personnel to significantly change those numbers.

BTW, UConn's surge in the first half was with Boston and Cooke on the bench, so nothing to get too excited about.
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Just to be clear, UConn went on a 15-2 run in the first qtr with both Boston & Cooke in the game.
 
oldude said:
I have had a feeling for a few games, which may be entirely wrong, but I'll throw it out there. I am beginning to wonder if Aaliyah's summer with the Canadian national team didn't hurt her development coming into this season. She basically had to cut short her summer practice and conditioning program at UConn to join the national team, and then got precious little PT leading up to and during the Olympics. Aaliyah needs to play "catchup" now.
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I’ll just say the her upward trajectory has been interrupted.
 
Needed Aubrey today. But I’d rather have her heathy in March and April.

No ONO bashing today. She played great. She did not score but she played battled with the bigs.

C and AE need to figure it out. C did not play like an All American today.

Geno said the team needed to lose, so we’ll see how they respond.
 
.-.
Who were those guys?

What a meltdown. I don't think I recall such a panic.

Where was the leadership - we have a bunch of tired & true players who have played together before and they looked like a Div III group.

Where was the coaching, sorry didn't want to say that but I didn't see it when it was SORELY needed.

Yipes
 
Camiam88 said:
Agree. All of SCs guards went after it today, while CW/E/Azzi when in just kept throwing it back to Paige. Same for dorka/ONO/AE. They need to get aggressive in the paint instead of always dishing back out
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If you can rebound, each player can be more aggressive taking shots and not feel you blew the possession.
 
saywho said:
Azzi didn't get much opportunity today time-wise. When she was in though, she really just hangs out on the wing and isn't very aggressive in getting herself open. It's almost like plays were happening without her, and she just stood there. Not bashing her -- it may be by design. Just an observation.
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This! I don't think it's fair to just look at the box score and say she doesn't shoot. There may have been one or two times where she should've been more aggressive but she never really has the ball in her hands. She's more of a point guard who can run a pick and roll and pull up off the dribble, than a steph curry-move-without-the-ball type player. I also think playing with Nika can help her as well.

In any event, Paige has to be better than she was today. She was ok, but she wasn't great and she needs to be great to beat SC. I didn't think the bigs were that bad. I just think SC hit big shots and made key plays in big moments. Those Littleton threes were back breakers.

I can't say that this loss doesn't worry me. Cook and Henny are really good and of course Boston is arguably the best big in the nation. If they get contributions from Beal(who I really like), Rivers, or Littleton they are going to be hard to beat.

On the flip side, it's easy to say Uconn needs to be better offensively, but I don't know how. They run Princeton offense with bigs that can't shoot. Azzi needs to be more involved, but she's still figuring everything out. Unless she's handed the keys, I don't think they'll be able to generate enough offense to complete. SC is the only team I'm worried about.
 
tchodgd said:
Facing guard defenders as good as SC's it's going to be tough to get free for stand still jumpers. She is going to have to develop a pull up jump shot like the one Paige has. Once she does that, she'll be a two way scorer and that will make her dangerous.
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Azzi looked to me to be at a height disadvantage. And I have yet to see quickness from her. I'm sure she will improve, given her reputation.
 
Be fair and positive….there were some shots from SC that they made that they will not get lucky next time…some UCONN unforced turnovers that sometimes happen….yes the UCONN bigs have to score to release pressure on the guards….Boston got away with several fullback fouls and perhaps in March she might not etc etc …never count out Coach Auriema and the Huskies ….what is clear South Carolina is strong very athletic can beat you in half court game or running up and down….to beat them you have to be good and bring your A game. We can.
South Carolina players are too brash too cocky but it is a long season full of pitfalls and intrigue. Be Humble.
Go Huskies and see you at Final Four….UCONN will be there.
 
Hayven said:
Needed Aubrey today. But I’d rather have her heathy in March and April.

No ONO bashing today. She played great. She did not score but she played battled with the bigs.

C and AE need to figure it out. C did not play like an All American today.

Geno said the team needed to lose, so we’ll see how they respond.
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Normally, it is a blessing for Paige to be so methodical but some times you just need to force pace. Not sure if any of our guards can just go full bore
 
.-.
hoopsfan22 said:
Dawn has certainly built a heck of a program. They are going to be scary good by the end of the season.
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SC is good but not scary good--UConn had them flustered and was up by 13, but a lack of consistency killed them--and except for Liv, not much from the seniors, both CW and EW disappeared before our very eyes. We have to remember this was only UConn's fourth game of the year--that's a tall order for such a young team to play the #1 team this soon... When Paige gets a bit more support, we'll be just fine. Actually, I see UConn improving more than SC by the end of the year.
 
Aluminny69 said:
Azzi looked to me to be at a height disadvantage. And I have yet to see quickness from her. I'm sure she will improve, given her reputation.
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Azzi took one wide open shot from 10 feet and clanked it. In the 4th qtr. she came off a screen right in front of UConn's bench wide open, had the ball in her hands behind the arc, hesitated and then passed the ball. Geno was apoplectic at her for passing up that shot.
 
Not an excuse because SC was the better team, but UCONN ran out of gas today. Both teams played 3 games in 3 days, but UCONN was tested in a tight game yesterday while SC coasted & rested their starters. Clearly, UCONN is not is mid- season conditioning yet.
 
eebmg said:
It is such a security blanket for SC when you can get offensive rebounds. If you only get one shot, the pressure to be flawless just grows. SC could miss and not be concerned.

I think we need to get Piath and DeBerry some minutes and forget the idea that fouls are bad. Play physical with all the size you have to rotate in. Make them feel you at least. And to give up more TO's than SC. Did not see that coming.
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We don’t have players who play a physical game.
 
I’m not necessarily doom and gloom about this - clearly, it showed some work we need to do on rebounding, aggressiveness in the post, and getting our guards to stay active in the second half. I’m mostly just…confused. What is causing the disconnect here? I feel like we haven’t seen them playing anywhere close to potential in any of their four games yet. Things almost always feel a bit forced and disjointed, and it seems like it’s not just one or two players, but almost everyone. Is something up with team morale, or bonding, or trust? Just reads as a group that doesn’t know how to work well with one another in an easy flow. Which is concerning given that most of our major players worked together all last season.
 
Hayven said:
Needed Aubrey today. But I’d rather have her heathy in March and April.

No ONO bashing today. She played great. She did not score but she played battled with the bigs.

C and AE need to figure it out. C did not play like an All American today.

Geno said the team needed to lose, so we’ll see how they respond.
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Disagree with most of your observations.
Find it disturbing that Geno inserts Azzi with time running down in the 4th and expects (?) her to bail team out.
Zero redemption for any of our bigs-maybe you were watching some other game?
Check the box score- that’s where the game was lost.
 
.-.
Tank said:
SC team rebounds so well, esp on offensive boards, it’s such a huge advantage, to beat them you have to get strong on the rebounds or they will wear you down with second shots. They won 41-26 on the boards.

That old thought that they cannot hit a three is over, they can knock it down when needed.
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True but UConn blocks out so poorly, so incredibly poor and undisciplined today.... AE for some reason has significantly regressed and Dorka thus far is not as advertised.... Some think AE has fatigue from playing so much international ball--perhaps the break will do her some good, she seems listless right now when last season she was frenetic...
 
PG had the most assist/points and tied for the most rebounds....lots of this wrong with that. I thought Westbrook played well, CW at least made FTs, but otherwise no very good.
 
oldude said:
I have had a feeling for a few games, which may be entirely wrong, but I'll throw it out there. I am beginning to wonder if Aaliyah's summer with the Canadian national team didn't hurt her development coming into this season. She basically had to cut short her summer practice and conditioning program at UConn to join the national team, and then got precious little PT leading up to and during the Olympics. Aaliyah needs to play "catchup" now.
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Agree about Aaliyah!
Geno has to stop all is glorification of the UConn program (stuff can go without saying now) and start coaching these players up. Excluding Paige in this comment, their players were sharp, they knew what to do, our veteran players did not. I thought Liv played well.
Get us out of this passing game offense. I've said 50 times that Liv doesn't need to get the ball out top. She can post up other places. Players are not developing as they should be. CW should be ready for this. EW should be ready. AE is just flopping around out there. You telling me that the only significant minutes Mir deserves is against SC. Should have Azzi figured out by now. Can't play man with her and she MUST have some impact on this game. WTF. You coach who you got. If it means you make the whole square, so they'll fit in it, do it!
Here's one: Jordan Horston and Aubrey came in the same year. This blog has compared the two 100X. Yesterday, Horston looked like a cross between Cheryl Miller and Sheryl Swoopes. (sorry could be sacriledge) What's Aubrey doing? Not talking about being injured. Players aren't getting developed! Come on, coach em' up. Time to go back in time. 1995. Put away all the trophies and banners and walls. You gotta win with this group! Period. 3 #1 HS players. 3 accomplished seniors. PB maybe the best ever. Let's go!!
 
A lot of good comments here. Thanks.

I’ve been micro-analyzing the game, and I do think UConn is physically talented enough to beat South Carolina. But they are not mentally tough enough against a relentlessly strong team lead by Boston and Cooke. They got worn down as the game went on and then collapsed. I don’t know if there is an easy solution to this.

As for Azzi, as good as she is and as great as she will be some day, she seemed like a freshman again. It’s only her fourth game, this time against a much better team than yesterday. May she improve quickly.
 
Maybe the game has passed me by, but the weave out front takes energy away from the players. If the transition opportunity is not there, run a play for somebody. It doesn't have to be Paige either. I saw about one play called a quarter. Run the same successful play until they stop it. Create your own opportunities.
 
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caseyb7 said:
Who were those guys?

What a meltdown. I don't think I recall such a panic.

Where was the leadership - we have a bunch of tired & true players who have played together before and they looked like a Div III group.

Where was the coaching, sorry didn't want to say that but I didn't see it when it was SORELY needed.

Yipes
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It’s an early season tournament. I’d be surprised if there was really a game plan. I would have just told the kids to go play and see what we got. This game will have zero bearing on the regular season or March.
 
tchalla1 said:
SC is good but not scary good--UConn had them flustered and was up by 13, but a lack of consistency killed them--and except for Liv, not much from the seniors, both CW and EW disappeared before our very eyes. We have to remember this was only UConn's fourth game of the year--that's a tall order for such a young team to play the #1 team this soon... When Paige gets a bit more support, we'll be just fine. Actually, I see UConn improving more than SC by the end of the year.
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I tend to agree. Not backed by fact but my imperfect memory, but it seems like Evina always comes out guns blazing but defers as the game goes on. Almost the opposite of Paige. We need both of them to be aggressive offensively the full 40 minutes.
 
caseyb7 said:
Who were those guys?

What a meltdown. I don't think I recall such a panic.

Where was the leadership - we have a bunch of tired & true players who have played together before and they looked like a Div III group.

Where was the coaching, sorry didn't want to say that but I didn't see it when it was SORELY needed.

Yipes
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The coaching staff was right where they needed to be.
 
Its the little things that you do or don't do that wins games. Not grabbing rebounds, lazy passes, not boxing out, ...we were not good today.
However, when you have only one player that can beat their "man" off the dribble, and only one player that can make a pass when help comes, and its the same player , your offense looks terrible.
Why the heck do we dump the ball to our post players up top, only to have them either turn it over, hold it forever....its just a bad offensive scheme.
 
.-.
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