SMU Game Thread

[reno tony]

Any word on why Phee and Butler aren't getting more time on the floor?

They are only allowing UCONN to play five at a time. It sucks

 

[HoopsFan21]

Interesting that Mo and Stewie were thinking about dunking it tonight, but Stewie said *that* play was not the plan.

 

[uconnfan68]

They are only allowing UCONN to play five at a time. It sucks

Have to be careful here... don't put ideas in people's heads about the number of players we have on the court.

 

[sarals24]

I was at the game...nice crowd. Lots of UConn fans! Stewie's "dunk" was hilarious, Geno put his head down but was smirking, and Stewie laughed all the way down the court.

My dad's first game since the 2002 Final Four, he was super impressed with Katie Lou. (And everyone, he just thinks she has a very bright future. Couldn't believe she was a freshman).

 

[Aluminny69]

The team's playing well, but it sounds like Katie Lou is having some problems. She needs to start right from the beginning moving without the ball and driving to the basket. She plays better when she's not just shooting threes.

Kinda ironic. Saniya's first year, she seemed to come into the game and make her first three. She may have set a record. KLS has not made her first three yet. Two opposites.

 

[HoopsFan21]

How is KLS having problems? What did she have today another 15 points? Same as Stewie? I think KLS is playing great. Gabby too.

 

[sarals24]

KLS played really well. Her shot wasn't falling early but she made a lot of stuff happen.

 

[Zorro]

Have to be careful here... don't put ideas in people's heads about the number of players we have on the court.

Stupid damn rules!! (I'll bet the SMU kids would testify that there were more than five Huskies on the floor at any given time!)

 

[Aluminny69]

How is KLS having problems? What did she have today another 15 points? Same as Stewie? I think KLS is playing great. Gabby too.

She was 1 for 7 outside the arc. That doesn't seem like a problem to you?

Nurse was also zero for four.

OTOH, Jefferson, Chong and Eckmark combined to go 7 for 10.

 

[HoopsFan21]

She was 1 for 7 outside the arc. That doesn't seem like a problem to you?

Nurse was also zero for four.

OTOH, Jefferson, Chong and Eckmark combined to go 7 for 10.

I'm willing to give KLS some slack, and as long as she racks up 12-15 points every game, is making great passes to teammates, running the floor well, improving on defense, and just generally showing signs of getting better, I'm happy with that. Remember what Mo was like in her first 15 games? She turned out OK, and I'll bet KLS will too.

 

[Kaizen]

She was 1 for 7 outside the arc. That doesn't seem like a problem to you?
Nurse was also zero for four.
OTOH, Jefferson, Chong and Eckmark combined to go 7 for 10.

No, that does not seem like a problem to me.
All I know is KLS scored 13 pts, and 5-12 overall.
If she can score 13 pts a game I will be very happy and no complain at all.

 

[huskyd]

She was 1 for 7 outside the arc. That doesn't seem like a problem to you?

Nurse was also zero for four.

OTOH, Jefferson, Chong and Eckmark combined to go 7 for 10.

Kaleena averaged about 15 ppg. her senior year and about 17 in her best year. My only complaint with Lou would be if she is taking shots when someone else is open for a better one. That isn't happening. Her assists are excellent. Geno expects her to shoot if she's open. I remember Bria missing 11 3's in a row over one stretch--that didn't stop her from shooting.

 

[UcMiami]

I'm willing to give KLS some slack, and as long as she racks up 12-15 points every game, is making great passes to teammates, running the floor well, improving on defense, and just generally showing signs of getting better, I'm happy with that. Remember what Mo was like in her first 15 games? She turned out OK, and I'll bet KLS will too.

Unfortunately regarding her three point shooting, Moriah tends to remind us what her first 15 games were like EACH year. For some reason she only really gets comfortable shooting threes in January and then WATCH OUT! This year she has just crossed over the 40% mark (.403) having raised her percentage about 75 points since conference play began. If she follows the normal course of her previous two seasons, she should start challenging 50% sometime in Feb.

Stewart is smoking from 3 shooting 115 points higher than her career average at .449, Chong at .429 is shooting well and Ekmark at .421 has finally started hitting - is she maybe finally getting comfortable in her role. She seems to be playing very well the last few games.

 

[sarals24]

After one of KLS's misses in the fits half Stewie ran and grabbed her jersey and said "KEEP SHOOTING" and patted her on the back.

Man, I love Stewie. And Mo. She's so adorable. She had a big grin on her face whenever she would go to the bench near her family.

 

[HoopsFan21]

After one of KLS's misses in the fits half Stewie ran and grabbed her jersey and said "KEEP SHOOTING" and patted her on the back.

Man, I love Stewie. And Mo. She's so adorable. She had a big grin on her face whenever she would go to the bench near her family.

Gonna really miss those two after this season ends. I don't think it's gonna hit us until October when first night comes and there is no Stewie or Mo. It's gonna be like losing Stef and Bria. Perhaps worse. Stewie really has become the face of the program - as a senior there she is helping a freshman (KLS) figure things out - and yet remains her goofy self when missing a dunk and laughing it off all the way up the court and on the bench minutes later. I hear she also gives up her bed to recruiting targets. Stewie has taken KLS under her wing as evidenced after the UCF game when during the post-game interview with KLS Stewie ran by and should bumped Lou.

 

[Kibitzer]

The easy, smooth and graceful way that Lou moves about the court, combined with her ability to score, reminds me of Svet.

I know I know -- different attitude (toward you-know-who), different appearance, etc. But otherwise almost a clone on the court.

 

[chrissaran]

How about just shooting threes at the start and not playing defense the way Geno wants her to. Also, only one assist. and three turnovers. It's not the 1 for 7 from 3. It's the fact that Katie Lou doesn't play nearly as well when she just stands and shoots from 3. She started to play better when she began to move without the ball and just didn't settle for 3. Katie Lou will be a star; however, it will take time. Less time when she remembers to play a complete game.

 

[HuskyNan]

How about just shooting threes at the start and not playing defense the way Geno wants her to. Also, only one assist. and three turnovers. It's not the 1 for 7 from 3. It's the fact that Katie Lou doesn't play nearly as well when she just stands and shoots from 3. She started to play better when she began to move without the ball and just didn't settle for 3. Katie Lou will be a star; however, it will take time. Less time when she remembers to play a complete game.

If Lou was 5-12 overall and 1-7 from three, tha means she was 4-5 from two point range. Sounds like she's already figured out there are other ways to score than shooting from the perimeter.

 

[bags27]

What you say, HuskyNan. Also on the 3s: she's open, that's been her shot in high school, and I suspect Geno wants her to keep shooting them (actually, he's said that).

 

[bags27]

She was 1 for 7 outside the arc. That doesn't seem like a problem to you?

Nurse was also zero for four.

OTOH, Jefferson, Chong and Eckmark combined to go 7 for 10.

So, that's 8 for 21, which is about average. It's a team game.

 

[HoopsFan21]

The team was 19th in the country in terms of 3-point makes before today's game. It's not like we're not sinking them. We just don't have that one player that any time we need one we can just get one (KML).

 

[uconnfan68]

Stupid damn rules!! (I'll bet the SMU kids would testify that there were more than five Huskies on the floor at any given time!)

I'm afraid the NCAA will make us go with 4 or less.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I thought overall they played well! Little problems for some but nothing that can't be worked out! It always amazes me how hard they play offense & defense for 40 minutes!
Watching some of the better teams play, they are good, but they have one or two players not score, or not play good defense, but UCONN brings so much talent and hustle that they stand out over these other teams! Like Baylor, TX, ND, SoCar, MD, there's something lacking in their BB DNA! If we can stay healthy after Tuck comes back, WOW!