I will have to admit - I watched Q1 shaking my head. Is this the performance of a team that had 10 days off and had Geno on them as well as their own distaste in how the last game vs. SC went? I fully expected us to come out like a house on fire, and instead, it was barely smoldering embers. Maybe they were rusty? Not sure what - if the game was early, I'd say that they were still half asleep...
Having said that, Q2 was more what I expected the start of the game to look like. 23-6 smack down. After poor shooting in Q1, at half time our FG% was 50%. Dropped SHU down to 24%. Defense was much better as well.
So I thought "ok here we go. The universe is realigned and we are back on track". Good grief. I was wrong. We outscored SHU by 17 in Q2. We won Q4 by 8. They basically played is even for 26 minutes. Not sure what Geno will think, but SHU lost to Fordham and USC and needed OT to beat Toledo. They "walloped" Lehigh by 10. And did all this with one of their best players who was out for the game tonight. 16 assists on 34 made baskets? That is nothing close to UCONN basketball.
Ultimately we won the game, but it was not fun at all to watch. Without being overlay dramatic, 2 good things came out of the game. Paige is phenomenal, and we won. Other than that a largely forgettable game. NOT what I was expecting after all the bluster and team comments after the SC loss. Finished Q4 strong after Paige got a bloody nose, but just a yuck overall vibe. These guys need to have a fire lit under them, or a bulb to go off, because right now, they look nothing like a team ready to make a NC run.
As usual, Paige was Paige. I may mention this all year, but anyone who left her out of the NPOY discussion in favor of "others" seriously had a screw loose. Did they think she was great by accident last season? That her play all year long was an aberration or luck? I say "Pfft". Need her to score? Check. Need her to play defense? Check. Need her to rebound? Check. Need her to run the offense effectively? Check. Need her to dish out assists? Check. And she's only a sophomore. Good lawd - we are lucky to have her, and be able to watch her for 2+ more years. 23 points, 9 boards, 7 assists, 5 steals, 1 bloody nose.
Liv was Liv. Does some good things, does some head scratching things. I didn't think she was as all around impressive as she was against SC, but I do like what she brings to the floor. I don't see much improvement over last season, but sadly, we have no other options.
Aaliyah - she continues to mystify me. I keep waiting for the Liya who played so well at the end of last season. 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 TO's in H1.
Christyn struggled in Q1. Missed some open 3's. Then went back to doing what she does well - slashing, etc.
Evina was quiet. Not sure if something is wrong, but as much as she's a "leader", getting little offense is going to be a problem against better teams.
Caroline - 1st off the bench, and just overwhelmed yet again. Airball, poor defense, 2 fouls in about 5 minutes of play - not a good night for her.
Dorka - some rebounds seem to find their way to her and sometimes she gets after it. Loved seeing her nail the 3. Some have been down on her for taking those shots, but she CAN make them.
Nika - As my friend
@MilfordHusky said, "Croatian larceny". Love her aggression, but 2 points on 1-5 shooting and 4 fouls? More fouls than points. Those are negative stats (notwithstanding the normal +/-).
Mir - 0-2 on FT's. If not for that, I would not have noticed she even played.
More proof that you can’t believe the some of the hype sold here in the yard.
