South Carolina Postgame Thread

[BBallF]

What was that about?

There is more to the story to be sure.

 

[Basingstoke]

Congratulations to SC for a game in which they were clearly the better team, beating UCONN in FG %, 3pt %, and tremendous advantages in rebounds (especially o boards) and a "slight"... edge in ft's...
I have no idea what set Geno off at the end, and it's unfortunate that he skipped the handshake line - not a good look for a program that has set the standard for so long.
Tonight was (despite great effort) the nightmare that we all didn't know we were afraid of:

• Azzi and Sarah having the worst shooting performances of their lives.
• Makeer showing us what we came to expect Blanca to be.
• Giving up unrelenting offensive rebounds.
• Blowing countless layups and bunnies, and giving up too many fast break points and points on drives.

My heart aches for the entire team (especially K-9), but they had a great season which, unfortunately, ended with a subpar performance against a formidable opponent playing a great game.
It's funny that in my 3 things you'd like to happen in the game, I asked for some offense from Ash. Well, she came through, but virtually no one else did.
Congratulations to the UCONN team for a fantastic season, and good luck to an SC team which may very well take home tge title on Sunday night.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed. Congrats to SC. It was a great ride up to the abrupt end. The things some pointed out as weaknesses were on full display today.

Not the ending anyone wanted from the UConn perspective. This team was NOT head and shoulders better than everyone else. Time to lick our wounds, have a great summer off, say goodbye to our seniors, and look forward to next season...

Last thing I will say for next year - I hope fans remember this when they start thinking about saying things like how great we are or how much steamrolling we are doing. We have to just enjoy the ride and appreciate how incredibly hard it is to win a NC. I enjoyed the ride very much this year and will miss Azzi, Carol and Serah.

The loss had nothing to do with “being out coached” or “outclassed”. That’s just a garbage comment. UConn just picked the wrong time to go into a shooting slump. Things like that happen. Unfortunately for UConn it happened at the wrong time. Congrats to South Carolina on the win.

 

[Bomber36]

Disappointing end to the season. Congrats to SC. They played well. Guess I’ll pull for UCLA. I like their coach.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Who is going to raise the issue of toughness in the context of the Big East?

 

[HuskieDawg]

Not sure why she got little time tonight.

I think, and it’s obviously a total guess, Geno felt the game was too physical for her and/or her defense wouldn’t be what he needed.

 

[towerman]

The lack of competition in the BE works against us

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Her FBombs were on full display last year, it won't change.

That’s what folks commenting here are missing. Does it legitimize Geno’s bahevior, absolutely not. But you have to ask yourself why the likes of Mulkey and Staley get away with the language, the repetitive antics, spending more time on the court then a lot of their players and the refs look the other way.

 

[ccwarrior]

The refs let the players play, that doesn’t help us because of the overall lack of height/athleticism/individual ability to get shots (that were covered up all year by team play, fitness, press/depth, few competitive teams). The women played hard, but you are not going to win many national semifinal games by scoring 48 points. BTW, what was up with Azzi?

 

[DEFCONN1]

Lord, so deflating.

Yes it is.

 

[willie99]

Thank you Azzi and Williams and any other senior

Thank you Huskies, so proud of you. Sara won't play like that again

Love you Geno, never saw you so angry before. My gut tells me you saw stuff we're incapable of seeing

We're on to 26-27

GO HUSKIES

 

[WFFL]

Disappointing in geno taking the limelight for the seniors final game .

 

[maple]

The refs let the players play

They absolutely did not.

 

[bantamlaker]

Sarah looked tired in the 4th quarter. Maybe next year Geno will give her more playing time even in the blowouts to build up her stamina.

 

[AzzisBraids]

I want to shed some context for some of you who may have watched this on tv. UConn struggled shooting but there was so much grabbing, tugging, pulling and pinching that was not called that eventually received a card telling me to shut up before they remove me from the stadium. The third quarter was atrocious. Anytime UConn moved fast there was a jersey grab. At the end of the day, South Carolina made the shots to win and kudos to them. Calls aside, UConn didn't look good offensively this tournament and all the cracks showed in this game that we've seen all season.

UConn has had an amazing season and I am going to Sedona, I'll be detoxing and fasting. March Madness and Sadness are one in the same

 

[Stinger92860]

I think, and it’s obviously a total guess, Geno felt the game was too physical for her and/or her defense wouldn’t be what he needed.

We could have used a hot shooting night from her. We did not get that from Blanca and her D was not the best tonight.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

I'd like to thank our kids for their hard work all year to give us such an entertaining season.

Now we have wait seven months before the 26-27 Huskies take the floor.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Can’t win when you can’t make shots….😔

SC didn't exactly make a lot of shots either, but yes, UConn wins by making shots. The game was played the way SC wanted it played and UConn was clobbered on the glass and did not employ the pressing trap that dominated the season.

 

[Huskie837]

The Big East is a huge problem. 23 straight scrimmages. Last year was a super team and able to overcome it.

Next season's out of conference schedule is very challenging including a game with SC at Mohegan but yeah the BE didn't offer much this season and is likely to stay that way in the age of NIL....

 

[HuskyNan]

I wasn’t able to watch the game, but I looked at the stat sheet; UConn had 17 personal fouls vs. SC’s 8. It resulted SC’s 22 free-throws vs UConn’s 6. I don’t know what happened; so could someone kindly give some insight? I don’t mean to “cry a river”, I’m just curious. Thanks.

The usual. UConn is a jump shooting team and rarely draws fouls in the midcourt. So Carolina scored mostly in the paint and the Huskies didn’t move their feet quickly enough to avoid the fouls

 

[housekeys]

Team was NOT ready, played scared.

Indeed. They played not to lose. Also the team was unsettled. The starting lineup was never representative of how UConn wanted to play.

Geno, understandably was frustrated, as we saw in the interviews with Holly. At this point it is not about who is right or wrong. Right or wrong, we lost.

Having said that, fans should be very proud of UConn and focus on their achievements. The pressure is huge. Things happen. But the team itself is talented and worthy of the championship. Even for a favorite, it can unravel quickly if some calls and bounces don't go your way.

Thanks team. True Husky fans will continue to support the team after the disappointment is gone.

 

[Scoe]

Sarah looked tired in the 4th quarter. Maybe next year Geno will give her more playing time even in the blowouts to build up her stamina.

No that’s not it stop making excuses

 

[pvdoggy]

There is more to the story to be sure.

whatever it is, I have to believe what Dawn Staley said that Geno complained that she did not shake his hand pre-game is pure BS.

 

[Longtime fan]

Some thoughts on the South Carolina game:


Some thoughts on the SC game:

• A couple weeks ago, a YouTube video asked the rhetorical question, “UConn, unbeatable or untested?” highlighting the fact that the Huskies had not played SC, TX or UCLA this season. Unfortunately, that question was answered today as UConn was tested by a formidable SC team.
• No team or player expects to lose the last game of the season, and yet, for most, that’s exactly what happens. In his postgame remarks, Geno will undoubtedly remind everyone that, “Winning a championship is hard.” But nobody much will listen, as the expectations by UConn fans are both incredibly high and, at times, unreasonable.
• For the players, coaches and fans, the loss to SC today is very disappointing. That’s normal. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will look to blame someone for the loss: Geno, the players, the refs, whoever. DON’T!!! The game is basketball. Sometimes good teams get beaten by better teams, and in this instance, SC was the better team.
• To those players who will be moving on from UConn: Azzi, Caroline, Serah and perhaps Ice & Ayanna as well, we thank you for all you’ve given to UConn WBB and wish you great success wherever your path in life leads you.
• To the entire team, the coaches and the support staff, Thank you for a great season. UConn WBB fans are truly fortunate.
• We can take some comfort in the knowledge that next season the Huskies will once again be loaded, and they are still coached by the best coach in basketball. #13 will have to wait a year. Only 8 months until next season…….

All good points, Dude. I disagree,a bit, about your use of the term " loaded" for next season. For that to be true, someone has to step up to Sarah's level. We have had Paige and Azzi up to now, but they are both gone. Everyone assumes Blanca will be much better, but she didn't show that potential today, and there are no guarantees. We''ll have four terrific guards, but no superstars. The Big O may be the game changer, and we all hope so. The Croatian recruit is a mystery. We'll be really good but, as we saw today, other major programs are not sitting idle. I do hate losing to South Carolina.

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

Very simple.. We had a bad shooting night at the wrong time. The pressure definetly got to us.. Thats part of the sport.. part of life. Geno needs to apologize to dawn, I agree with some on you.

I also notice that right after Heckle missed that layup, geno must of screamed something at her that then made her maybe cry. I dont know, just my observation, but I thought that was a pretty bad look too. Maybe its just me.

 

[ec33]

Moving forward, I don’t think KK Arnold needs to be the starting PG next season. She offered nothing today. I also do not think Ziebell is going to be ready to contribute next season, they have got to find a way to find some help for Strong. I think Geno needs to hit the portal hard for some shot creation and athleticism.

We have plenty of time for this, but Geno is not benching a senior PG. He very well might do what he did tonight and use a quick change (as he did with Serah all season for Blanca).

Allie made a decent leap from year to year and I expect another one as she enter her junior year. And remember, she will be a bench contributor competing for guard minutes with Ash and Morgan and perhaps Big Fish and Jovana as well.

 

[oldude]

Are you suggesting Geno should retire? That ending was ugly, but if even average Azzi shows up tonight we're not even having this discussion.

I'm not suggesting any such thing. What I'm suggesting is that Geno needs some serious self-reflection and an attitude adjustment if he plans to continue to coach basketball.

 

[husky98]

Really disappointed in Sarah, Azzi, and Blanca. They needed to figure out a way to score but couldn’t get it done.

Our recurring issues of the past decade are rebounding, post play, and lack of ability to draw free throws. It’s the way Geno wants to play. I love Geno, but this has been the same issues for 10 years. He’s a legend, has made all of us better, so I’m happy for him to keep proselytizing his way.

He has to apologize to Dawn, I don’t care what his issue was. You need to congratulate her and move on. Basketball deserves better.

 

[Tngamecock]

Outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed. Congrats to SC. It was a great ride up to the abrupt end. The things some pointed out as weaknesses were on full display today.

Not the ending anyone wanted from the UConn perspective. This team was NOT head and shoulders better than everyone else. Time to lick our wounds, have a great summer off, say goodbye to our seniors, and look forward to next season...

Last thing I will say for next year - I hope fans remember this when they start thinking about saying things like how great we are or how much steamrolling we are doing. We have to just enjoy the ride and appreciate how incredibly hard it is to win a NC. I enjoyed the ride very much this year and will miss Azzi, Carol and Serah.

Uconn is the standard. Dawn says it all the time. Hold your heads up. And I’m glad Fudd is moving on cause she scares me every time she touches tahe ball. I have nightmares from how many threes she hit last year.

 

[ec33]

I do wonder if calling off the press contributed to the lack of aggression all day. Yes, it wouldn't have worked, but it might have helped with the intensity.