Syracuse Postgame Thread

[Jingo]

I think you're spot on with that analysis.
It just seemed so non-effective. (not even reaching the level of ineffective) UConn was never rushed on offense even with the 5-7 seconds of BS to get the ball up court. Notice too that UConn never tried to exploit the defense for scores. Just passivity on top of passivity. Of course, I understand what you mean regarding slowing the game down. Bull Crap!
Maybe now that the sweet 16 awaits, teams will start playing basketball against each other. High Point with their 35 foot heaves as a part of their offense. Cuse with that "half-court trap" and 2-3 zone. I am a proponent of the famous Herm Edwards philosophy, "you play to win the game".
Loyola-Chicago men now have made their second run in the tournament in recent years. Twice means it ain't no fluke. Like Gonzaga in the late 90's, early 00's. Casey Calvary, Matt Santangelo, Dan Dickau. They did it with fundamentally sound basketball. Pressure D, cutting, screening, working for open shots on offense. They win/won with toughness, commitment to what they're doing, respect for the game itself.
Not tricked up, goofy YMCA crap, like in the women's game. SWEET SIXTEEN! Like when Beth Harmon, walked through the court in Moscow and lined up her chess pieces, "let's play".

Yes, ideally, no one wants to see the game "slowed down", eh?
I luv your reference to Beth Harmon, when she - the newly minted world chess champion - sat down with some chess die-hards in a Moscow public park and said, "Let's play!" .. to me, those two words captured the essence of the wonderfully entertaining series, "The Queen's Gambit" .. and I agree, the metaphor can and should apply to women's hoops.

 

[jazz]

I replayed that sequence, and the funny thing is that even with moving (and she did) she still didn't contact the player as far as I could see - the Syracuse player looked around in surprise after the whistle, not knowing why it was blown.

yeah you are right Miami, but......she knows better than to poke out her hip which is what drew the foul. No contact but the ref was looking for it...had to get his quota of offensive fouls on uconn. All our bigs and wings have this propensity of sticking out their hips. I think it is the cutter's job to run the defender off the pick. just run shoulder to shoulder (or as close as possible) with the 'picker' and then no need for the 'pickers' to poke out their hips.

 

[jazz]

I think mixing it up and keep her guessing is a pretty good strategy, but then I like the possibility of using Aubrey as well. I think Iowa is more dependent on one player than almost any team we could face. They also get efficient inside scoring from their big body but not that tall C, often depending on a timely Clark pass. So shut down Clark, not just the scoring but the passing as well and you take out their outside and inside game.

That makes using a-lot of Aubrey on her potentially very valuable. If you hold down their top two, the rest of their team can't beat us. Liv may be a good enough defender/shot blocker to neutralize their inside scoring without much help. Basically Clark is a great player, but we have a variety of good tools to try to slow her down. CW has done well as a perimeter stopper recently. We switch often and with Nika, Evina and Paige, none of those would be a liability. Then we have a versatile defensive star on the bench in Aubrey.

I'm not sure what the best game-plan is for Clark. Whatever approach we start with, we can easily switch to another if it isn't working.

good switching and communication is key and not losing the plot even for a split second. i think clark is every bit as good as PB.

 

[jazz]

Superior dribbling skills? one of the funniest things I've read all year..its a play any junior high kid could do

you haven't watched any junior high games. dribbling coast to coast with somebody on you is not easy. you exaggerate like nobody i have ever heard.

For the record, I really dont care what you find funny!

 

[jazz]

there are only 4 other starters. who would you like it to be then?

CW's defense has improved in the latter half of the season. In the BET didnt she shut down the opponent's top scorer?

In any event it will be a team effort.

She was much better and I gave her credit for that in my previous posts. I don't think she has any chance to stop Clark. Nobody she has faced in the BE tournament is even close to Clark's level. We will need to switch a lot and CW will be on her at times for sure. But that is not a favorable matchup for us.

 

[jazz]

I understand where you're coming from but disagree. CW has the size and quickness to bother Clark. Nika is too small. AG can step in as well to spell CW but I think that's our best matchup.

i hear ya Calby and hope you are right.

But there is nothing I have seen that will make me think that CW can slow down Clark. IMHO, CW doesn't have good defensive instincts. Don't underestimate NM. She is the pest and gnat. I think our best bet is PB, AG off the bench and maybe some EW (still not a great matchup but she has size and length)

 

[Littlemin]

She was good no doubt. did you see the majority of this year, last year and the year prior? She can't handle clark. Nobody she has faced is remotely as good except, maybe Dungee and she scorched CW the entire game.

Sheesh, of course, the way she played then is much more relevant than the way she is playing now. Clark more than likely will get hers, evidently nobody has “handled” her but I will be very surprised if Williams does not start out on her. Didn’t you notice Auriemma challenging Williams to up her defensive game by putting her on Correa in the 2nd St. John’s game and giving her the tough assignments since then? Assignments which she has handled very nicely, thank you, in the context of the switching defense Uconn employs.

 

[jazz]

Sheesh, of course, the way she played then is much more relevant than the way she is playing now. Clark more than likely will get hers, evidently nobody has “handled” her but I will be very surprised if Williams does not start out on her. Didn’t you notice Auriemma challenging Williams to up her defensive game by putting her on Correa in the 2nd St. John’s game and giving her the tough assignments since then? Assignments which she has handled very nicely, thank you, in the context of the switching defense Uconn employs.

I hope your are right.

Correa can't hold Clark's jock strap.

 

[Littlemin]

i hear ya Calby and hope you are right.

But there is nothing I have seen that will make me think that CW can slow down Clark. IMHO, CW doesn't have good defensive instincts. Don't underestimate NM. She is the pest and gnat. I think our best bet is PB, AG off the bench and maybe some EW (still not a great matchup but she has size and length)

More sheesh, you really think Auriemma is going to risk Bueckers getting early fouls by putting her on Clark? You don’t have to be a HOF coach to know what a bad idea that is.

 

[Vowelguy]

But that is not a favorable matchup for us.

Well of course. Clark is one of the best in the country.

 

[jazz]

Well of course. Clark is one of the best in the country.

which makes it a tough matchup. i think GA has to go with PB on her.

 

[jazz]

More sheesh, you really think Auriemma is going to risk Bueckers getting early fouls by putting her on Clark? You don’t have to be a HOF coach to know what a bad idea that is.

nope but I think she can handle her and not get into foul trouble. tall order but that is what i think. we will see. cant protect her, she just has to get it done and then score 25 on offense too.....

 

[Jingo]

who guards clark? Better not be CW.

Against Iowa, we should start Paige, Nika, Aaliyah, Liv and Aubrey with the latter guarding Clark. Aubrey has the athleticism to disturb Caitlin's rhythm.
Iowa is small, so we'll destroy Iowa in the paint with our big lineup, eh? Therefore, no need for much perimeter shooting via Ania, CW or Evina.
We should 'front' Cinzano. They can't lob to Cinzano over Liv.
Fortunately, UConn is a bad matchup for Iowa in so many ways
However, I have seen Caitlin Clark play .. she is the real deal .. her first half against Kentucky was one for the ages .. in comparison, she buried Rhyne Howard, no contest .. too bad she doesn't have more of a supporting cast; if she did the Huskies coulda been in trouble and we coulda had an exciting game.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Just to back that up, this is just before the ball hits the backboard. You can see the shot clock is at 20.View attachment 66250

The intrepid sleuths of the Boneyard are on the job.

 

[jazz]

Against Iowa, we should start Paige, Nika, Aaliyah, Liv and Aubrey with the latter guarding Clark. Aubrey has the athleticism to disturb Caitlin's rhythm.
Iowa is small, so we'll destroy Iowa in the paint with our big lineup, eh? Therefore, no need for much perimeter shooting via Ania, CW or Evina.
We should 'front' Cinzano. They can't lob to Cinzano over Liv.
Fortunately, UConn is a bad matchup for Iowa in so many ways
However, I have seen Caitlin Clark play .. she is the real deal .. her first half against Kentucky was one for the ages .. in comparison, she buried Rhyne Howard, no contest .. too bad she doesn't have more of a supporting cast; if she did the Huskies coulda been in trouble and we coulda had an exciting game.

sit CW?? are you crazy man??!?!

 

[RedStickHusky]

With all this coaching, it's a shame the Boneyard can't recruit.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Yes, ideally, no one wants to see the game "slowed down", eh?
I luv your reference to Beth Harmon, when she - the newly minted world chess champion - sat down with some chess die-hards in a Moscow public park and said, "Let's play!" .. to me, those two words captured the essence of the wonderfully entertaining series, "The Queen's Gambit" .. and I agree, the metaphor can and should apply to women's hoops.

Wasn't that last episode awesome! I watched it 5X.

 

[Pie43]

sit CW?? are you crazy man??!?!

Hold on, I have read in many treads on the Bone Yard that Anna M is a lock down deffender. I have read that she is very fast and is a shoot blocker plus a steals machine. Her 3 point shot was money its in a lot of Bone Yard treads. Why not put Anna on Clark??

 

[Zanzman]

Hold on, I have read in many treads on the Bone Yard that Anna M is a lock down deffender. I have read that she is very fast and is a shoot blocker plus a steals machine. Her 3 point shot was money its in a lot of Bone Yard treads. Why not put Anna on Clark??

Never heard most of that

 

[Waquoit]

They actually did reset it right after she shot, or just as she shot. But CW looked up and saw the shot clock at 2 and let it fly. The human reaction time from the clock operator (or hesitation in making the decision) basically forced her into that shot. She didn’t have time to argue or see if the clock would go to 20.

I didn't see that until I looked again. Heady play and smooth.

 

[Mlb0814]

AE had 15 and 5 before anyone said her name. She doesn't quite get the spotlight she deserves.

She will soon enough. Better to have teams focus on others and she’ll take them apart in the paint.

 

[huskeynut]

Against Iowa, we should start Paige, Nika, Aaliyah, Liv and Aubrey with the latter guarding Clark. Aubrey has the athleticism to disturb Caitlin's rhythm.
Iowa is small, so we'll destroy Iowa in the paint with our big lineup, eh? Therefore, no need for much perimeter shooting via Ania, CW or Evina.
We should 'front' Cinzano. They can't lob to Cinzano over Liv.
Fortunately, UConn is a bad matchup for Iowa in so many ways
However, I have seen Caitlin Clark play .. she is the real deal .. her first half against Kentucky was one for the ages .. in comparison, she buried Rhyne Howard, no contest .. too bad she doesn't have more of a supporting cast; if she did the Huskies coulda been in trouble and we coulda had an exciting game.

Not going to happen!!!

Assuming Nika is a go, the starters are Nika, Paige, Christyn, E and Liv. If Nika can't go, it's Paige, Christyn, E, Liv and Aaliyah.

 

[Heytherego]

i hear ya Calby and hope you are right.

But there is nothing I have seen that will make me think that CW can slow down Clark. IMHO, CW doesn't have good defensive instincts. Don't underestimate NM. She is the pest and gnat. I think our best bet is PB, AG off the bench and maybe some EW (still not a great matchup but she has size and length)

There is no way PB will be guarding Clark. She’s playing 40 min a game as is, I don’t see Geno giving her that matchup it would exert too much energy that’s needed for offense. And Geno hasn’t had PB be the lock down defender yet why would she now?

 

[npignatjr]

Renee Montgomery mentioned that she encountered several teams around town and had time to harass the Oregon team.

Always good to see and hear Renee.

That was Holly

 

[npignatjr]

The shot clock should have reset, but it did not, so when Christyn looked up there was only 2 seconds on the shot clock.

Why? Nobody ever got possession from Syracuse.

 

[Biff]

Why? Nobody ever got possession from Syracuse.

If you read further in the thread you will see that the shot clock was reset but the reset was a little slow and after the shot had been executed.

 

[npignatjr]

Looks like a shootout coming up, I have faith tht Uconns defense will drastically cut into their efficiency, and cut their defense to ribbons.

Everybody has cut up their defense, they are what 315 of 316 D1 teams.

 

[Jingo]

Wasn't that last episode awesome! I watched it 5X.

Yes, that last episode was, as the kids say, the BOMB! Wonderful!

 

[Cornell Lt]

I think you're spot on with that analysis.
It just seemed so non-effective. (not even reaching the level of ineffective) UConn was never rushed on offense even with the 5-7 seconds of BS to get the ball up court. Notice too that UConn never tried to exploit the defense for scores. Just passivity on top of passivity. Of course, I understand what you mean regarding slowing the game down. Bull Crap!
Maybe now that the sweet 16 awaits, teams will start playing basketball against each other. High Point with their 35 foot heaves as a part of their offense. Cuse with that "half-court trap" and 2-3 zone. I am a proponent of the famous Herm Edwards philosophy, "you play to win the game".
Loyola-Chicago men now have made their second run in the tournament in recent years. Twice means it ain't no fluke. Like Gonzaga in the late 90's, early 00's. Casey Calvary, Matt Santangelo, Dan Dickau. They did it with fundamentally sound basketball. Pressure D, cutting, screening, working for open shots on offense. They win/won with toughness, commitment to what they're doing, respect for the game itself.
Not tricked up, goofy YMCA crap, like in the women's game. SWEET SIXTEEN! Like when Beth Harmon, walked through the court in Moscow and lined up her chess pieces, "let's play".

If every team played the same style, with the same offensive and defensive schemes the game would be very boring.

Exactly how many championships have the teams you mentioned won ?

 

[npignatjr]

If you read further in the thread you will see that the shot clock was reset but the reset was a little slow and after the shot had been executed.

Researched, the reset came momentarily after the shot went in flashed to 20 then 30.