Seton Hall Postgame Thread

[oldude]

Some thoughts on the Seton Hall game:

• UConn arrived at their NJ hotel after midnight yesterday and had barely a day to prepare for the Seton Hall game that was moved up to today. I think it showed somewhat with an uneven start by the Huskies.
• Credit to Seton Hall and Valenzuela for coming out and taking it to the Huskies. I had to go back to look at the 1st game stats to remind myself how she played in that game. She had an uneventful 32 minutes, scoring only 8 pts.
• UConn’s response to Seton Hall’s hot start was Blanca, who immediately had an impact at both ends of the court. In just seven 1st qtr minutes Blanca scored 9 pts on 4/4 shooting with 2 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. She is THE SUPERSUB!!!
• Maybe we can put to bed the concern by some BY’ers of, “What’s wrong with Azzi’s shot?” She hit her first 3 shots from the arc, going 3/4 for the game.
• While UConn did not have a lot of time to prepare, I thought the Huskies did a nice job of moving the ball and getting open shots against Seton Hall’s zone. Of course, it helps a whole lot when you hit your open 3’s. 🤩
• Speaking of 3’s, setting up Allie in the corner and Ash on the wing is one sure way to bust a zone.
• I hate to see injuries of any kind to a Husky. While Serah’s injury did not appear to be very serious (fingers crossed), she did leave the game and not return.
• Sarah with a somewhat quiet 17-point game, if that’s even possible for the best player in WBB.
• This was Blanca’s best game as a Husky. She filled up the stat sheet a la Sarah Strong and played much more under control when attacking the basket. Blanca did commit 3 turnovers but she also dropped 4 dimes.
• You can never have enough good players. I really like the minutes I'm seeing from Ayanna. It's easy to forget that before all her injuries, she was the 4th rated player in the Class of 2022.
• The Huskies will hustle on back to Storrs ahead of the storm. To BY’ers everywhere, “Batten down the hatches and STAY SAFE.” Xavier is up next at Gampel on Wednesday.

 

[EricSD]

This was a really interesting game.

• Azzi scored a bunch right out the gate then went quiet
• Sarah was her usual stat stuffing self, even if her 3 point shot was off
• Blanca was tremendous
• Ash finally found her shot
• Love KK so much
• Kayleigh and Allie were really solid
• I thought Jana and Ayanna gave nice minutes - surprisingly more productive than Serah
• I hope Serah is OK

It was very nice to see the 3's falling again...

This team plays inspired for long stretches, then average at best for other stretches. The first 5-6 minutes of Q's 1 and 3 were meh. I know people will look at the final score and say "smackdown", but I'm not sure that we are "head and shoulders" above every other team out there as some say. We will see!

 

[Bone Dog]

Ragged at times, even for the refs, and a few Pirates played well. But Azzi, Sarah, Blanca, Allie knew how to fill it up even so.

As Azzi said in the postgame interview, it was their worst defensive effort -- so much of what SH did on offense was just gifts from UConn.

But for all the warts, I'm well pleased with this game. Played under bad circumstances -- short turnaround, blizzard, etc. -- we still won by 40 and not only did the stars step up when they had to, but the subs did too. What a great all-around game even with the flaws and mistakes.

 

[maple]

The first half, especially the first quarter, was not great. Perhaps it was due to UConn losing a day to travel/rest. I just hope they can shake off the ennui from the lack of competition in the BE.

It’s nice seeing Blanca being one of our top scorers. Very impressive.

 

[jaydee602]

The starters had 47 points
The bench had 45 points
This a BALANCED team!!

 

[JwittersPAC]

Only the boneyard could act like the game was even remotely competitive. 92-52.

 

[Stagnant]

I guess the big storyline here is Serah Williams. We will have to wait and see what UConn has to say about that.

A couple of thoughts:

-I thought we were very poor at the beginning of the game. And I thought several starters were just lethargic. But the bench really stepped up.

-I called Allie a situational sub. And that situation came up. They played a zone in the second quarter. And KK missed badly on an open attempt. And so Geno inserted Allie. She made a big difference out there.

-K9 had foul trouble. And I saw Geno talking to her about it at the end of the third quarter. I like that Geno sent her back out there and dared her to not foul out. And she pulled it off.

-I thought shade was having a really poor game by her standards. I’m glad she was able to get things going in the third. In fact, that’s when UConn broke open the game. It was kind of bizarre. We went on a run with Azzi on the bench.

 

[maple]

Also I didn’t mention in my first post, but praying nothing is seriously wrong with Serah and she can recover nicely.

 

[DavidinNaples]

Triple A (AAA) to the rescue from three point range. Azzi, Ashlynn and Allie all with three 3s..!!

 

[victor64]

25 assists. Forced 27 TOs.

Amazing how much better zone offense looks when you can knock down threes.

I realize it is always bad but the officiating seemed especially dismal today. The travel on Ziebell was brutal.

When Blanca gets going early, she makes a great team even better.

Sometimes a player like Valenzuela just gets hot.

I hope Serah Williams is ok.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[HuskyNan]

Layups 21-24, 87.5%
45 bench points

I like what I’m seeing from Ayanna. If Serah needs rest/rehab, I’d like to see Yanna get more minutes

 

[Stagnant]

I want to find Azzi and Sarah in games. I like passing the ball around and playing great team basketball. In general though; 8 shots is not enough for Azzi. And she started this game on fire. I prefer to keep her more involved in the offense.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Didn't see the game. Family obligations. So, just looking at the stats I'd like to see our 3s average break into the 40s. For me its getting hard to see what we can do when it is on the line, because it never is and the subbing is hard to follow. What is clear in this picture is Depth is very really and should worry everyone else. I would think we will be shortening up the rotation soon because that is what Geno has done historically, but I would not be surprised if we stay the same right up to tournament time.

 

[HuskyNan]

The good news is:

• It’s a short(ish) ride home
• There are 4 days until the next game
• The next game is at Gampel

 

[DEFCONN1]

I know we usually complain about the announcers, but I thought Juliane Viani and Adam Giordano were pretty decent. especially after listening to the nonsense being spewed during the past several games

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Only the boneyard could act like the game was even remotely competitive. 92-52.

Being spoiled as a sports fan is a truly wonderful thing.

 

[HuskyNan]

Didn't see the game. Family obligations. So, just looking at the stats I'd like to see our 3s average break into the 40s. For me it’s getting hard to see what we can do when it is on the line, because it never is and the subbing is hard to follow. What is clear in this picture is Depth is very really and should worry everyone else. I would think we will be shortening up the rotation soon because that is what Geno has done historically, but I would not be surprised if we stay the same right up to tournament time.

Azzi’s 3 point shot returned. Ash’s was off in the first half but resurfaced in the second. Allie looks more confident every game

I am unworried about the perimeter game

 

[reelfan]

Geno has a really good handle on this team/ players. Know who to sub & when.

 

[Stagnant]

I know we usually complain about the announcers, but I thought Juliane Viani and Adam Giordano were pretty decent. especially after listening to the nonsense being spewed during the past several games

Peacock had technical difficulties to start the third quarter. So, I got a taste of non-commentary basketball. And it was kind of enjoyable tbh 😂

 

[JwittersPAC]

Being spoiled as a sports fan is a truly wonderful thing.

To a point. This team is just so dominant this year.

 

[Next 12]

A workman effort and another win. KUDOS to the bench, they scored 45 points and the starters scored 47 points. 11 players out of 13 scored, positive contributions from every one. Ashlynn had 3 threes, Allie had 3 three and Azzi had 3. Holding our average of 90+ points per game. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!! Bring on Xavier!!!!!

 

[DEFCONN1]

Seems our bench is starting to live up to their potential and really asserting themselves This has to be a good thing

 

[DEpup]

So this won't be a headline but I really liked what Patterson gave today. She hit her shot and made free throws easily. I also thought her body language was positive and her positioning on both sides of the ball was really good. Yeah it was only 6 minutes but I thought it was the most in control 6 minutes we've seen from her.

 

[Tonyc]

A couple of things Azzi got herself set before shooting and shot better from trey. Sarah was doubled every time she got the ball down low. Alot of great plays and improvement by everybody. The team is maturing. We are looking for our shot. Blanca continues to be magic on both sides of the ball. Blanca does the unexpected when its unexpected. Allie and Yana showed alot today.

Our defense is a menace. Creates havoc, frustration, panic and turnovers. This is a very special team. We have balance and no hesitation. We are reacting and not thinking too much. We're playing with confidence and thats huge. UConn has alot of answers which makes them tuff to beat. Everybody who played showed improvement. Everybody showed something and thats a good thing. BTW we shot lights out too.

 

[jaydee602]

Once again, an opponent starts the game on fire while UCONN struggles to find its groove. It is a close game for 6 or 7 minutes.
But the problem for these teams is that they are unable to withstand UCONN's suffocating defense & team depth for a sustained time. The result is usually a landslide victory for the Huskies.

 

[Centerstream]

Officiating gripes.
Quite a few times the Seton Hall ball handler would use their off forearm to push KK away. No call. But if the shoe was on the other foot, guaranteed call.
I can't believe the way Sarah is hacked no matter where on the court she is. One time she had caught the ball, two defenders attack her and "knocked the ball" away from her, Kayleigh dives to get the ball at the same time as a Seton Hall player...call on Kayleigh.
I do like to gripe about the refs but when the quarter fouls were, at one point, 7 to 1 against UConn early in the fourth quarter...something is amiss (and not UConn). IMO.
Very interesting game. At the end of the 1st quarter, I never thought that we would end up winning by 40.

 

[Jodan]

Once again, an opponent starts the game on fire while UCONN struggles to find its groove. It is a close game for 6 or 7 minutes.
But the problem for these teams is that they are unable to withstand UCONN's suffocating defense & team depth for a sustained time. The result is usually a landslide victory for the Huskies.

Agreed, and let’s not forget our (the coaching staff’s) ability to adjust to whatever is thrown at us.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Radio post-game (note Allie was on and echoed Azzi's tv post-game about being grumpy about their early defense. "Everything they got, we gave them"

CD in sweats!

Not my most comfy outfit. At least we won. Only clean thing left Kids opposing assistants gave me guff. "Wait? Are you going to repeat an outfit?" "No. I don't do repeats. Do do clean." lol

At beginning, credit SH.

We started slow, and they made some shots early. Made it difficult. I watched our warm ups and we didn't make any shots. Geno doesn't watch, so if we shoot well, I usually say, "It was great." If we shoot poorly, I say,"It was okay. It was good." Luckily he didn't ask today. Regardless of the situation - not easy - tough trip. Regardless, we'e got to play. Eventually we settled down/in.

SH heckling?

CD - Didn't hear it. (something about "The review? Only one person.)

Good test, on the road.

Historically not played well v. SH. Always ssume it's going to be a battle. They play hard. Play a lot of zone. Took us a little bit. Good environment. Threat of snow impacted it (attendance). Fun to come here. Better to be able to get home. <G> Proud of our guys.

Azzi was on fire at start.

Yesterday, Ash didn't miss a shot (a 3) in practice. Expected HER. But, with Azzi, just a matter of time. Not a mechanical thing. We have to do a better job of finding who's on a roll.

Blanca. Great job off bench.

In the same 3 minutes can do 5 things that change course of the game for us and 2 things that benefit opposition. Nothing fazes her. Consistent on level she plays. Have to help her value the possession. Sometimes just better to take the easy shot. She makes us a more diff team to defend.

Funny discussion about if she has a snow blower.
No, but yes to shovel. lol
Asking if I have a snowblower is like asking me if I use my oven.
She's a 3 ingredient recipe fan. Used it twice. (A Christmas New Years miracle.) Yogurt peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. She's on food instagram, annoyed they lie about how long it actually takes to make something. Took longer to cook - and someone claimed it was because the oven not used to being ON. lol