Stokes vs. Williams

[Sonny44]

What I'd personally like to see is a match-up between Kiah and Williams. Recall that they were both recruited here the same year. Elizabeth first I believe. EW was an instant success at while Kia not so much so, but now appearing to be coming on strong. I'd love to see Kiah boss her around a little or at least hold her own.

 

[jsloanjr]

They both have very similar games, but Kiah has taken her game to a new level. Kiah has found a new motivation, confidence or has found a new love of basketball this season. The UCONN frontline will be the difference this game, as well. Pressure defense, offense glass and the ability to withstand any Duke run............I like UCONN by 15+........UCONN feeds of its defense like no other WCBB team in the country and that will spell the difference IMO.......

 

[Frodo]

I am not necessarily a fan of Clay Kallam's writing on WBB, but I thought he made a rather incisive comment about Williams after the UConn - Duke game last year. He said 'Elizabeth Williams (who was exposed by Stefanie Dolson as an undersized post with a lot of work to do)'. Having seen Duke play twice this year, I've yet to see any evidence that's she's gone beyond that description. If UConn is up to full strength I think they beat Duke 9 out of 10 times. Let's just hope the Huskies are at full strength and the 17th isn't the 10th.

 

[psconn]

I think its VERY unlikely we will be at "full strength" on the 17th. Kiah should be OK, but I would be happily shocked if KML and MT are back to more than 70% of their former level. They may not be as effective as the people whose minutes they will get. Even limited minutes from them would be great to see, but reestablishing a good on court chemistry will be a work in progress as the come back to full strength. This won't take long, but we are so focused on this one game... way more important than beating Duke is getting these guys healthy and back in the mix for the long haul.

Before I get jumped on... no, I am not suggesting that we are a better team in any way, at any time without KML and MT. Just saying there is a transition ahead (a happy one).

 

[HuskyNan]

You guys have a short memory. Don't you remember Kiah outplaying EWill in her freshman year?

Stokes Steps Up In 61-45 Victory Over Duke, Courant

 

[Sonny44]

Yea, but wasn't considered a threat then.

 

[Shenandoah]

Kiah OWNED EW in that game...

 

[jsloanjr]

Kiah is a better player than EW when she plays with a passion......EW brings out the best in her...........Bottom-line, UCONN has too much firepower an defensive toughness not to win this game going away......Kiah, Stewie, Dolson and Tuck.........Who's got next?.............A little playground humor...........

 

[Icebear]

You guys have a short memory. Don't you remember Kiah outplaying EWill in her freshman year?

Stokes Steps Up In 61-45 Victory Over Duke, Courant

I was going to mention that but decided to wait and see if anyone else remembered it. Kiah schooled Elizabeth Williams who played more like Esther Williams.

 

[sarals24]

I rewatched the Duke game from last season recently, and it was noticeable how little E. Williams had improved from her freshman year (I know she was injured, but she played a lot). She doesn't have a consistent post move, she hit one nice jump-hook, and mainly relies on quickness and athleticism to rebound and make plays. Not a bad strategy, per say, but I was shocked how little Duke put her in a position to score. She also dribble too much, IMO, trying to take Dolson off the dribble from the high post more than once. It never worked, although she did draw a (dubious) foul once.

 

[bschwartz]

I think its VERY unlikely we will be at "full strength" on the 17th. Kiah should be OK, but I would be happily shocked if KML and MT are back to more than 70% of their former level. They may not be as effective as the people whose minutes they will get. Even limited minutes from them would be great to see, but reestablishing a good on court chemistry will be a work in progress as the come back to full strength. This won't take long, but we are so focused on this one game... way more important than beating Duke is getting these guys healthy and back in the mix for the long haul.

Before I get jumped on... no, I am not suggesting that we are a better team in any way, at any time without KML and MT. Just saying there is a transition ahead (a happy one).

Agree. The pressure is going to be all on Duke especially if KML and Tuck do not play. Frankly, I wouldn't play them if they were ready unless five Huskies fouled out, which after last night you know is possible. Duke is going to feel like they are the Jets playing the Patriots. It is their Superbowl. The proverbial monkey is on their back. So naturally, I want them to play like they usually do against the Huskies. Still, I would go with the team that got you there and work KML and Tuck in afterward to be 100 percent on January 13 (Baylor). I don't think Cal will pose any threat whatsoever.

 

[Sonny44]

Agree. The pressure is going to be all on Duke especially if KML and Tuck do not play. Frankly, I wouldn't play them if they were ready unless five Huskies fouled out, which after last night you know is possible. Duke is going to feel like they are the Jets playing the Patriots. It is their Superbowl. The proverbial monkey is on their back. So naturally, I want them to play like they usually do against the Huskies. Still, I would go with the team that got you there and work KML and Tuck in afterward to be 100 percent on January 13 (Baylor). I don't think Cal will pose any threat whatsoever.

I would go with the team that got us the NC as much as possible.

 

[msf22b]

I think it's entirely possible that even if KML and Morgan begin practicing next week, that Geno might open
with his usual post-injury lineup with KML first sub n.

We'll see.

 

[rvwsleep]

I rewatched the Duke game from last season recently, and it was noticeable how little E. Williams had improved from her freshman year (I know she was injured, but she played a lot). She doesn't have a consistent post move, she hit one nice jump-hook, and mainly relies on quickness and athleticism to rebound and make plays. Not a bad strategy, per say, but I was shocked how little Duke put her in a position to score. She also dribble too much, IMO, trying to take Dolson off the dribble from the high post more than once. It never worked, although she did draw a (dubious) foul once.

Per What ? Say What ? - Per Se

 

[hjoerring]

I think its VERY unlikely we will be at "full strength" on the 17th. Kiah should be OK, but I would be happily shocked if KML and MT are back to more than 70% of their former level. They may not be as effective as the people whose minutes they will get. Even limited minutes from them would be great to see, but reestablishing a good on court chemistry will be a work in progress as the come back to full strength. This won't take long, but we are so focused on this one game... way more important than beating Duke is getting these guys healthy and back in the mix for the long haul.

Before I get jumped on... no, I am not suggesting that we are a better team in any way, at any time without KML and MT. Just saying there is a transition ahead (a happy one).

I certainly agree w/ your multiple points. Unless KML and MT are 100% (which I doubt), I would like to see them sitting or with limited minutes- to get them in real game condition. Go with the players who have been playing extremely well. I think we could win, losing would not mean very much and would give the team (w/ KML & MT) something to prove in the finals. Of course this is just blasphemy to the 39-0 folks. Remember ND last year!

 

[Sonny44]

Nah. There's no such thing as an ok loss. If they're healthy, let them play.

 

[Frodo]

Agree. The pressure is going to be all on Duke especially if KML and Tuck do not play. Frankly, I wouldn't play them if they were ready unless five Huskies fouled out, which after last night you know is possible. Duke is going to feel like they are the Jets playing the Patriots. It is their Superbowl. The proverbial monkey is on their back. So naturally, I want them to play like they usually do against the Huskies. Still, I would go with the team that got you there and work KML and Tuck in afterward to be 100 percent on January 13 (Baylor). I don't think Cal will pose any threat whatsoever.

if the press reports that we've been hearing are right and all three begin practicing by Monday or Tuesday this week they should be ready to go. After a full week of practice with the team and assuming that no issues surface with their respective injuries, I'd be very surprised if Geno sat them down.

As for Cal, they are all done for this year. They will be well outside the top 20 by the end of the year...they're already down to #34 in Sagarin's ratings, which is a much more accurate reflection of their team than either their #7 RPI or their #21 poll ranking. They were way overrated last year...keep in mind that they made it to the FF last by beating, in order, #76 Fresno State, #54 South Florida, #33 LSU, and #19 Georgia, and the latter two weren't as good as their RPI...and they barely got by the last three, beating both USF and Georgia in OT. I'd bet that if you were willing to do the research (I'm not) you'd find that Cal had one of the easiest draws to the FF in recent NCAA history. Compare that to UConn's road to the FF, #131 Idaho, #29 Vanderbilt, #13 Maryland, and #8 Kentucky. After losing their best scorer in Clarendon, and then their best post player in Brandon, they will probably be no better than 5th or 6th in the very weak (again!!) Pac 12 conference.

 

[TroyHouse66]

Please note
E. Willams in Duke vs Okla today
4 pts
4 reb
1 stl
1 blk
2 to
Fouled out 5 PF

 

[Icebear]

Please note
E. Willams in Duke vs Okla today
4 pts
4 reb
1 stl
1 blk
2 to
Fouled out 5 PF

Dominating performance.

 

[jsloanjr]

Be nice to EW...she did look more fluid on the court today, but she does make dumb fouls that will cause Duke dearly in big games.............WE will find out about EW and DUKE by 12-22.....
They play UCONN, Albany and then at KY............My hope is that both teams come in fully loaded and no injuries........

 

[Pearlstreetbb]

Posters on other boards made these observations about Duke today against Oklahoma: Gray was limping and not at full strength at all. Williams continues to play way below preseason expectations and Liston although she consistently hits the three is a defensive liability and lacks quickness. One wonders with Liston if she will be able to shake defenders of elite teams like UCONN and ND to get the open shots she is used to.

 

[UConnCat]

Posters on other boards made these observations about Duke today against Oklahoma: Gray was limping and not at full strength at all. Williams continues to play way below preseason expectations and Liston although she consistently hits the three is a defensive liability and lacks quickness. One wonders with Liston if she will be able to shake defenders of elite teams like UCONN and ND to get the open shots she is used to.

Liston has struggled with that very issue in the past. Teams with quick defenders have been successful at forcing her to put the ball on the floor. She's improved that area of her game but she's not going to drive by better defenders. Jones impressed me with her ability to makes shots off the dribble. She's very good. I understand today wasn't the first that Gray showed a limp, but she didn't move as well today as she did in the Marquette game for example. She also struggled handling the ball in the 2nd half which I didn't notice in the Marquette game. I don't know what to say about Williams. She played out of control.