St Johns Postgame Thread

[Boreifs]

SJU averages 74 ppg. Tonight, they got halfway there.

I thought that Paige played the role of Willis Reed, and Azzi was Walt Frazier.

In terms of Liya playing as she did last year, a friend called her Thor of Yore!

Paige is a lot healthier than Willis was.

 

[Ozimoto]

I didn't see the game but based on the score and the box score it looks like it was a good night. Won't read the thread just yet as I want to watch the replay with no preconceived thoughts.

 

[BballFan]

Love the hockey team switch!

 

[JordyG]

 

[JordyG]

 

[eebmg]

I liked the way Geno put all four in at the same time. How do you prepare for that?

Azzi joked that she never saw 4 replacements enter the game at the same time.

 

[TeamFirst!]

I have been one of Nika's biggest critics but I've never criticized her effort or team spirit. Those aspects are unmatched. She is performing admirably recently, with 5 steals again tonight folks and she's up to .338 in 3 point shooting now. She's picking her shots and contributing everything she can to team success. As is Evina and every player on this team. They clearly look great!

Paige still looks like she's skipping around out there some but she's looking better than anyone could expect and didn't hurt us defensively while being very efficient offensively.

Azzi had zero turnovers again tonight and has the lowest rate of turnovers on the team or very close to it. She does the small things very well also. She's just a solid overall basketball player. And a GREAT shooter.

Dare I say it but I think Uconn might have the best shooting team in women's college basketball right now.

 

[pvdoggy]

Hahaha... I love Azzi's answer whether that was what she meant by the team being NASTY.

 

[Viet Vet]

Bid East women: Joke to AAC's JV joke.

 

[hoophuskee]

No Saint Johns postgame press conference?

 

[MilfordHusky]

No Saint Johns postgame press conference?

Posts #64 and 65 above.

 

[hoophuskee]

Posts #64 and 65 above.

The the CT postgame. Wanted to hear the St Johns coach.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Azzi joked that she never saw 4 replacements enter the game at the same

What opponents see when they look over at UConn's bench...

 

[jabstep]

Some observations of the game
1. Azzi can shoot
2. Azzi can play defense
3. Nika is a pest on D
4. Even our bigs are now great on the great on the witch with great rotation from others down low.
5. Liv and Dorka are great rim protectors with their hands up
6. We are hard to score on
7. Evina is an unselfish player
8. All players even the bigs are playing the passing lanes and getting steals. We can overplay because of our rim protectors and rotation
9. Paige is a joy to have on this team
10 Caroline is pretty good for a freshman. I think she knows the system
11 Aaliyah is back

 

[BBallF]

Play of the game.

One of the best, if not the best, play of the year.

 

[UC77]

How to watch senior day pregame pn TV?

 

[HuskyNan]

Hahaha... I love Azzi's answer whether that was what she meant by the team being NASTY.

 

[Blakeon18]

On the Senior Day ceremonies: I am assuming that CBSSports will cover it only in passing...perhaps a minute or so during halftime. Do we know of any other outlet [say SNY] that may show the whole ceremony at some other time down the road?

 

[HopJim]

If you like fundamental, traditional basketball, make a copy of this game and treasure it. So many pick and roles, back cuts, etc. Thought I even saw one or two "picket fence" plays out of Hoosiers movie.

 

[RoadMaster]

UConn Huskies on Instagram: "Paige Buckets at the BUZZER! #bleedblue #paigebueckers"

49K likes, 140 comments - uconnhuskies on February 25, 2022: "Paige Buckets at the BUZZER! #bleedblue #paigebueckers".

www.instagram.com

 

[UConnCat]

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Paige came in off the bench and helped. But this was the transformed team that has fought and scrapped and struggled for two and a half months without her. They blew out St Johns.

Great to see this team develop.

 

[GoUconn7961]

CD should walk Dorka out.

 

[Linart]

Azzi joked that she never saw 4 replacements enter the game at the same time.

Geno's done that before but only when he was really ticked off at the starting 5.

 

[Linart]

awesome picture

 

[MilfordHusky]

One of the best, if not the best, play of the year.

And neither Paige nor Azzi was involved. The "role players" were really good, once again.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

Geno's done that before but only when he was really ticked off at the starting 5.

So, previously, Geno has substituted en masse because the group on the floor wasn't performing to expectations but yesterday's subbing wasn't performance related which he hasn't done before? So basically he has and hasn't done it before. This team is starting to give me chills.

 

[Vowelguy]

Geno's done that before but only when he was really ticked off at the starting 5.

In the early 2000s when the team was loaded he would bring in several players at once.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Azzi is a real student of the game. So, when she says "We're going to get better" I bet she has some very specific things in mind.

 

[Longtime fan]

Some thoughts on the St Johns game:

• It wasn’t quite like Willis Reed in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, or Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, but when Paige removed her warmups to check into the game with 3:41 left in the 1st period, for UConn WBB fans everywhere, it was a supremely uplifting and emotional catharsis that’s been building for 11 weeks. You would have thought Paige’s buzzer beater to end the 1st qtr had just won the national championship.
• Paige played only 12 minutes and her stats were pretty ordinary for Paige. But for all of us, on the edge of our seats with our fingers crossed, the most important thing was that Paige moved really well on the court and ended the game HEALTHY!!!
• With all the ups and downs this season, one thing that’s been missing from UConn games is when the Huskies come out of the gate firing on all cylinders, overwhelming opponents before the first tv timeout. Today was different. St Johns was hit by a tidal wave from which they never recovered.
• While Paige’s return was the Big Story, her BFF stole the show. Azzi was on fire tonight. Just close your eyes and imagine what Azzi can do with Paige on the floor creating even more space for her to shoot.
• UConn just has a different mindset on defense the past few games. There is a smothering, physical effort that doesn’t allow opposing teams any room to run their offense. UConn got hands on shots, passes and dribbles all night long. The Huskies are playing Championship Defense right now.
• If anyone thinks you need to score to play well, just consider Evina’s game tonight. It was one of her best ever and she never took a single shot.
• Tonight’s game was a wonderful celebration of UConn WBB…Everybody played…Everybody contributed…Everybody had fun.

All true. And Evina passed up shots as though she had made up her mind to go an entire game only playing defense and making assists. One diversion; it shocks me how excellent Azzi and Caroline can be this early, whereas DeBerry looks like he is about a full century behind in her development as a player. Is the answer going to be the argument about: "how long it takes BIGs to develop?" I think it possible that she isn't much of a player. Mean, take lazy shots from the arc, put your arms up and drift around the court? Anyone ever see her hustle? Don't get me wrong; I want her to blossom and be great. But I have my doubts when I see what two other highly ranked players can do.