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Strategy Against Baylor

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Lots of interesting observations.

Bottom line for me is that I think the coaches can come up with a winning strategy and UConn has the players to implement it in almost any game (perhaps not against the Olympic team).

So, I don't worry about the best approaches to winning, though these commentaries are good reading. Geno's not perfect, but he's proved he's the very best in figuring out how to win, and am sure he'll figure out for the Baylor game too. I'm sure he'll find a way to do it with the players he has.

Bottom line, then, is whether the players adhere to his plan, which they generally will if they keep their poise, and how efficiently they play -- i.e., shooting reasonably well, avoiding TOs, not missing assignments.

High efficiency and poise also determine the level of enjoyment fans take from a game: If the kids lack them, it's a "bad" game even when they win by 50 points (such as Fairleigh Dickinson). If there is great poise and efficiency, a loss is far easier to take (hey, the other team simply was better -- it happens -- as opposed to the Huskies "giving it away.")

Against Baylor, I'll be satisfied if the Huskies are efficient and have poise, even if they lose. With poise and efficiency, I like their chance of winning, though being on the road will be a big handicap.
 
Good Post Paco. You mention UConn has the players to implement the coaches strategy and keeping their poise and efficiency. Those sentences nailed it. I think UConn teams do that better then anyone else.
 
I'm interested in the "let's run them" strategy. In which match-ups does it appear that UCONN has an advantage in being able to run? BG is a better mover than SD and commonly plays all 40 minutes, Sims is an energizer bunny, Hayden and Madden are speedsters, Condrey is very fast, Pope is an incredible athlete and Williams is certainly no plow-horse. This team can run all day and I don't see Ferris and Doty as being able to outrun Hayden and Madden. And as great a player is KML is, she hasn't looked all that speedy around the court.
 
easttexastrash said:
I'm interested in the "let's run them" strategy. In which match-ups does it appear that UCONN has an advantage in being able to run? BG is a better mover than SD and commonly plays all 40 minutes, Sims is an energizer bunny, Hayden and Madden are speedsters, Condrey is very fast, Pope is an incredible athlete and Williams is certainly no plow-horse. This team can run all day and I don't see Ferris and Doty as being able to outrun Hayden and Madden. And as great a player is KML is, she hasn't looked all that speedy around the court.
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Actually, Stef is much better running the court than is BG. Do not judge by body type. BG is a loper who doesn't like to run the court. Stef has been getting out and down the court of the break this year. Mostly that takes mental toughness something Stef has in buckets over BG.
 
And let's not forget, you have to score to press. The UCONN shooting percentage is not going to be what they are accustomed to and unless you knock down your outside shots there will be no opportunity to press.

UCONN shot 33% in the game against Baylor last year. Does that improve this year? It will be hard to press if not.
 
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Icebear said:
Actually, Stef is much better running the court than is BG. Do not judge by body type. BG is a loper who doesn't like to run the court. Stef has been getting out and down the court of the break this year. Mostly that takes mental toughness something Stef has in buckets over BG.
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The only game I have seen BG tired in was the game against Charles in the Final Four. Charles gave her a lesson. BG played almost every minute of the game against Tennessee and was as strong at the end as she was at the beginning. Griner has a bit of a loper stride as a size 17 men's shoes are a little harder to pick up and put down, but she does not tire. I don't know when you have seen her tire...you must be watching some games that I haven't seen.

I am impressed with Step's work this year, but let's face it, she has not been on the court against BG. She is going to have to work a lot harder on defense than she has all year. Something tells me she won't be zipping down the court after pushing on BG all game long. BG doesn't work as hard on defense because she doesn't have to. She just keeps her distance and lets the shooter come to her. This games is going to a whole new level when it comes to post play. We're talking about one of the best post players in the world at this point.
 
I looked at UCONN's stats against Stanford and TAMU. I don't mean to be dismissive, but Dolson had 9 points against Stanford and 10 against TAMU. Against ND BG had 31 points and had 26 against Tenn. I think that Dolson will play well as she is a tough, hard-working player, but to think that she is going to outplay BG on "buckets of toughness" is nothing but wishful thinking.
 
easttexastrash said:
I looked at UCONN's stats against Stanford and TAMU. I don't mean to be dismissive, but Dolson had 9 points against Stanford and 10 against TAMU. Against ND BG had 31 points and had 26 against Tenn. I think that Dolson will play well as she is a tough, hard-working player, but to think that she is going to outplay BG on "buckets of toughness" is nothing but wishful thinking.
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Teams have been focusing on defending Stefanie which leaves lanes open for Tiffany Hayes or drops teams into a zone which dares UConn's perimeter shooters score from beyond the arc. The Huskies generally have had to prove someone other than Stef can score before defenses were forced to key on other players. That's one reason the offense was so choppy early in the year.
 
easttexastrash said:
I looked at UCONN's stats against Stanford and TAMU. I don't mean to be dismissive, but Dolson had 9 points against Stanford and 10 against TAMU. Against ND BG had 31 points and had 26 against Tenn. I think that Dolson will play well as she is a tough, hard-working player, but to think that she is going to outplay BG on "buckets of toughness" is nothing but wishful thinking.
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Who said Dolson will score as much as Griner?
Who said Dolson will outplay Griner?
Who said that Griner will tire?
 
doggydaddy said:
Who said Dolson will score as much as Griner?
Who said Dolson will outplay Griner?
Who said that Griner will tire?
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I never indicated that anyone said that Dolson will score more. I simply compared stats. However, this implication that Dolson is going to outwork Griner and get up and down court much faster on a consistent basis is a bit amusing to me.

There has been a lot of "we will use our speed to outrun Baylor" talk and the comment that Dolson will thus beat BG up and down the court. I borrow from Replicant's post, which was apparently overlooked: "But we'll still need to make her work hard to get her points because she does fatigue."

I am fully expecting a very tough game. I am very impressed with what I have seen from UCONN at this point. KML is a spectacular shooter, Dolson is playing solid ball, Hartley seems to have full control of the point position, Hayes is a great slasher to the basket and Doty and Ferris are making great contributions. I think that UCONN has all of the tools to win this game and a NC.
 
easttexastrash said:
I never indicated that anyone said that Dolson will score more. I simply compared stats. However, this implication that Dolson is going to outwork Griner and get up and down court much faster on a consistent basis is a bit amusing to me.

There has been a lot of "we will use our speed to outrun Baylor" talk and the comment that Dolson will thus beat BG up and down the court. I borrow from Replicant's post, which was apparently overlooked: "But we'll still need to make her work hard to get her points because she does fatigue."

I am fully expecting a very tough game. I am very impressed with what I have seen from UCONN at this point. KML is a spectacular shooter, Dolson is playing solid ball, Hartley seems to have full control of the point position, Hayes is a great slasher to the basket and Doty and Ferris are making great contributions. I think that UCONN has all of the tools to win this game and a NC.
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So, you are replying to one poster but using words from another?

I think Baylor gets lots of repect here.
 
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I think that one of the keys was the start of Tuesday's game and will be key again. Kelly virtually unguarded within the three-point line and Gary's D daring her to shoot. Good idea! She hasn't hit the side of a barn all season, just double up on the threats. A deuce and a trey later and the Aggies had a real problem on their hands from which they never recovered.
If the fifth scoring threat on this team goes off 2 for 2 then its a long night for any team.
 
doggydaddy said:
So, you are replying to one poster but using words from another?

I think Baylor gets lots of repect here.
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I made comment on that poster's assertion and also made comments on the overall thread. I assume that is allowed.
 
easttexastrash said:
I made comment on that poster's assertion and also made comments on the overall thread. I assume that is allowed.
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I am just curious what has been seen on the court that indicates that Baylor is somehow going to be run off the court with another team's speed, no matter who the team is. I would say that these teams are both blessed with good team speed and that it will probably be a wash when it comes to determining who wins the game. The real question is execution and I do think that UCONN has the advantage in that area.
 
doggydaddy said:
Who said Dolson will score as much as Griner?
Who said Dolson will outplay Griner?
Who said that Griner will tire?
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I said that Griner will tire. The others were not mention. Griner has always played lazy and given in to rely on her unique attributes more than effort.
 
easttexastrash said:
I am just curious what has been seen on the court that indicates that Baylor is somehow going to be run off the court with another team's speed, no matter who the team is. I would say that these teams are both blessed with good team speed and that it will probably be a wash when it comes to determining who wins the game. The real question is execution and I do think that UCONN has the advantage in that area.
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No team yet has been able to handle the speed and pressure of the UConn defense. It get Baylor trouble last year. This year's team is even deeper and faster. Last year we had a hard time being able to press or pressure full court this year we are able to do it regularly. I doubt that Odyssey Sims has had to play against guards capable of staying in front of her and forcing her out of her comfort zone. UConn has two or three,, maybe even four defenders capable of doing just that.
 
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Icebear said:
I said that Griner will tire. The others were not mention. Griner has always played lazy and given in to rely on her unique attributes more than effort.
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Griner knows that he has to play 40 minutes a game. There is no way she can go 100% all game long and have anything to give at the end of the game. I assert that she is very strategic at conserving her energy and uses it wisely. If she were to sprint up and down the floor as hard as she could for the first 30 minutes of the game there would be nothing in the tank in the last 10 minutes. She dominates at the end of games because she still has energy to do so. Watch the tape against Tennessee. Tennessee had nothing left to throw at her and she went to the basket over and over.

This is also a player who gets beat up on defense like no other player in the history of the women's game. There is no way to know the toll that the amount of physical play that she encounters on the offensive end of the court takes on her throughout the game. I would say it is hard to get pushed around on offense and then have the energy to sprint on every play.
 
easttexastrash said:
Griner knows that (s)he has to play 40 minutes a game. There is no way she can go 100% all game long and have anything to give at the end of the game.
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100% all game long is exactly what she will have to do against UConn. It is the only choice because that is exactly what the UConn kids and staff expect of themselves. It isn't just playing 40 minutes it is leaving everything you have on the court every possession.
 
Icebear said:
100% all game long is exactly what she will have to do against UConn. It is the only choice because that is exactly what the UConn kids and staff expect of themselves. It isn't just playing 40 minutes it is leaving everything you have on the court every possession.
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It should be fun to watch. It will be at Baylor and 1 vs 2. I have a feeling that everyone will get to see her best effort. But I don't think that any of the team can afford to start the way they did at Tennessee.
 
Icebear said:
I expect so, too.
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And please don't get me wrong. I am incredibly impressed with the work-ethic of UCONN. I love Geno!!! He expects so much out of his players and I respect that greatly. I will admit that I have wondered how much better BG would be today had she played for him. I wish she could have spent more time with him over the summer.
 
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Icebear said:
Actually, Stef is much better running the court than is BG. Do not judge by body type. BG is a loper who doesn't like to run the court. Stef has been getting out and down the court of the break this year. Mostly that takes mental toughness something Stef has in buckets over BG.
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just because it looks like your'e trying harder to pound to the other side like stef does, she is slow, don't be delusional, she looks slow, thick and heavy. BG "lopes" because she is so long legged, she beats guards at the other end of the floor many times for some fast break points in our highlights reels. we will see how stomping around is slower than BGs loping gate... she is simply more athletic and stronger this year than a heavy girl.
 
easttexastrash said:
The only game I have seen BG tired in was the game against Charles in the Final Four. Charles gave her a lesson. BG played almost every minute of the game against Tennessee and was as strong at the end as she was at the beginning. Griner has a bit of a loper stride as a size 17 men's shoes are a little harder to pick up and put down, but she does not tire. I don't know when you have seen her tire...you must be watching some games that I haven't seen.

I am impressed with Step's work this year, but let's face it, she has not been on the court against BG. She is going to have to work a lot harder on defense than she has all year. Something tells me she won't be zipping down the court after pushing on BG all game long. BG doesn't work as hard on defense because she doesn't have to. She just keeps her distance and lets the shooter come to her. This games is going to a whole new level when it comes to post play. We're talking about one of the best post players in the world at this point.
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BG does not tire in any games since playing against Tina in 2010 final four., Which games have you seen her tire?... lol
 
easttexastrash said:
I looked at UCONN's stats against Stanford and TAMU. I don't mean to be dismissive, but Dolson had 9 points against Stanford and 10 against TAMU. Against ND BG had 31 points and had 26 against Tenn. I think that Dolson will play well as she is a tough, hard-working player, but to think that she is going to outplay BG on "buckets of toughness" is nothing but wishful thinking.
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seems to me that there is allot of wishful thinking, after playing a depleted TAMU team that lost at Purdue...Purdue... not Tennessee or Notre Dame....
 
we will see what Notre Dame does at Purdue this saturday, and have something to compare this TAMU team to, some what.
 
easttexastrash said:
I never indicated that anyone said that Dolson will score more. I simply compared stats. However, this implication that Dolson is going to outwork Griner and get up and down court much faster on a consistent basis is a bit amusing to me.

There has been a lot of "we will use our speed to outrun Baylor" talk and the comment that Dolson will thus beat BG up and down the court. I borrow from Replicant's post, which was apparently overlooked: "But we'll still need to make her work hard to get her points because she does fatigue."

I am fully expecting a very tough game. I am very impressed with what I have seen from UCONN at this point. KML is a spectacular shooter, Dolson is playing solid ball, Hartley seems to have full control of the point position, Hayes is a great slasher to the basket and Doty and Ferris are making great contributions. I think that UCONN has all of the tools to win this game and a NC.
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me too.. its funny to hear that Dolson is so fast and athletic, if, and i mean a big if, Dolson plays moor than 5 minutes in a row, and runs the court the whole game...which i doubt she will play all 40, or 25 minutes this game, i'd be really impressed. Most games on tv, the commentators mention how "if" she keeps working on her conditioning she would be better, and ala Courtney Paris, its just not going to happen anytime soon, unless she gets bariatric surgery.
 
msf22b said:
I think that one of the keys was the start of Tuesday's game and will be key again. Kelly virtually unguarded within the three-point line and Gary's D daring her to shoot. Good idea! She hasn't hit the side of a barn all season, just double up on the threats. A deuce and a trey later and the Aggies had a real problem on their hands from which they never recovered.
If the fifth scoring threat on this team goes off 2 for 2 then its a long night for any team.
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Farris did such a good job this game, i was surprised, good for her. Maybe she can score more overall this year, i like her. Tough as nails!!
 
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