Takeaways from tonight's game

[doggydaddy]

I just really wonder about the strategy, and am really puzzled about how it was thought through. Obviously, WV has a couple of good frontline players. Bussie, as someone else said, may be the best defensive center UConn will see this year after Griner. So are we to assume that Geno decided that Stef and Kiah could not work their offensive will on WV's players and thus had to settle for something else?

I mean, she's Stef Dolson most of the time, but when UConn runs up against tough centers, she turns into Kaili McLaren? Backdoor plays are wonderful, but you can only get so many before a really good defensive team (and IMHO WV is a really good defensive team) will figure out a way to take them away. Now when they made those adjustments, they should have given UConn something else inside, but I don't remember any point in the game when UConn's inside game changed dramatically. In fact, I have a hard time remembering UConn's inside game at all.

I'm not saying that all this is a tragedy or anything. UConn won handily, even if it was an ugly game. It's just that if Stef really is the #2 center in the country -- or even if she has the potential to be the #2 center in the country (which seems to me to be more like it), shouldn't she be able to control at least a little of the action by working her will against the opponent? And if the answer to that question is yes, you have to ask whether the team has an obligation to get the ball to her more often than it did last night.

Thanks again to Mike B for a chance to watch the game up close, I can tell you that I saw Dolson battle for position down low many times. It appeared to me that the guards struggled with the entry pass.

I think it's time to stop using a Geno statement against Stef. She has never said she was the 2nd best center in the country and at the time Geno said it (the ONE time he said it) it was just Geno pontificating.

I know that Kelly doesn't like using the stat sheet, but Dolson did have a career high (and team high) 6 assists.

My only beef was that she lacked the confidence to take the 17 footer more often.

 

[Icebear]

Thanks again to Mike B for a chance to watch the game up close, I can tell you that I saw Dolson battle for position down low many times. It appeared to me that the guards struggled with the entry pass.
Bingo, many times when Stef was ready the pass was not forthcoming in time and rhythm.

I think it's time to stop using a Geno statement against Stef. She has never said she was the 2nd best center in the country and at the time Geno said it (the ONE time he said it) it was just Geno pontificating.
Bingo.

I know that Kelly doesn't like using the stat sheet, but Dolson did have a career high (and team high) 6 assists.
Indeed.

My only beef was that she lacked the confidence to take the 17 footer more often.
Plus when she does others need to be ready to charge the boards.

 

[JS]

Still can't figure why Stef didn't attempt more open jumpers.

A key question IMO. Kia didn't either.

You ain't gonna get backdoors with Bussie hanging around under the basket. And she ain't comin' out of there until the post, who's being given 10 feet or so, either shoots or at least shows a consistent inclination to shoot from the top of the key (or after one big step to the foul line).

And with that big step you're on the way to the boards, so why not?

 

[UConnCat]

Here's what Geno said last night about Dolson:

“The last two or three days in practice she was great,’’ Auriemma said. “So I don’t know what it is, other than people trying to be really physical with her, which I think affects her a little bit.

"And we miss her sometimes [with passes] when she’s in the lane when we should give it to her. Plus, they’re [opponents] able to double her, which is why some of our guys get wide open shots.

"But we’ve just got to do a better job I think of getting her involved. The kids she was playing against [vs. West Viginia] were big and strong and were running at her. But she could have had as many 15-foot jump shots as she wanted. She’s got to make some.’’

 

[ThisJustIn]

Let's just cut to the chase... WE'RE DOOOOOOOOOMED!

 

[HuskyNan]

Has it been noted that "Ya-Ya" Dunning, the star of Wv's their last game with 20 points, 15 rebounds was "held" to zero points on love for 3 with 7 rebounds.
With all our bellyaching about Stef, I wonder what they're thinking.

Kelly was on Dunning, I believe.

 

[Icebear]

Here's what Geno said last night about Dolson:

“The last two or three days in practice she was great,’’ Auriemma said. “So I don’t know what it is, other than people trying to be really physical with her, which I think affects her a little bit.

"And we miss her sometimes [with passes] when she’s in the lane when we should give it to her. Plus, they’re [opponents] able to double her, which is why some of our guys get wide open shots.

"But we’ve just got to do a better job I think of getting her involved. The kids she was playing against [vs. West Viginia] were big and strong and were running at her. But she could have had as many 15-foot jump shots as she wanted. She’s got to make some.’’

Pretty much what I saw and thought during the game.

 

[pinotbear]

Let's just cut to the chase... WE'RE DOOOOOOOOOMED!

true...so true..

 

[UConnCat]

Let's just cut to the chase... WE'RE DOOOOOOOOOMED!

It was at the tip of my fingertips. You beat me to it. Yes we are.

 

[cferraro04]

I guess I saw a different game than many here watched. I am not so fatalistic in my feelings about UConn's play last night. I think there is work to do, I think Geno and his staff have plenty of game footage to make their points. The perimeter players played well. KML had an off shooting night, Geno will use Stephanies and Kiah's lack of recognition that Carey's strategy of sagging off the high post to jam the middle and their decision to not either take or make the foul line jumper as a teachable situation. What's seem to be lost here is that UConn basically shut down Dunning and Love...I'll bet Carey isn't that happy a camper this morning. I believe Kiah made some progress yesterday...she has more work to do no doubt... I think Stephanie mindset is quite in combat mode yet...she needed a jolt last year before she got it going and I think this game may be the one to get her going this year. She is a prideful, conscientious kid and I think we just need a little more patience. She knows that her fouling out of the ND game was huge in the final four last year...I would look to Stephanie to have statement game on Saturday. The rest of the team will be up for this game as well....

 

[magic]

I am still not a proponent of the 4guard lineup. I do not recall one team in my 46 years of watching basketball winning a championship this way. It puts great pressure on your one big to do too many things. When Kiah was alongside Steph, I thought the play was better, and WV had to play straight up. I want to see Kiah get a chance to play a few games along side Steph. Huskies will be a far better team come march. I love CD, but let's face it, she is playing on one leg. I want to see four games with starting lineup -Bria, Tiff, Kelly, Kiah and Steph. Yes there will be growing pains, but March is when the games really matter!

 

[Icebear]

I am still not a proponent of the 4guard lineup. I do not recall one team in my 46 years of watching basketball winning a championship this way. It puts great pressure on your one big to do too many things. When Kiah was alongside Steph, I thought the play was better, and WV had to play straight up. I want to see Kiah get a chance to play a few games along side Steph. Huskies will be a far better team come march. I love CD, but let's face it, she is playing on one leg. I want to see four games with starting lineup -Bria, Tiff, Kelly, Kiah and Steph. Yes there will be growing pains, but March is when the games really matter!

What do you mean 4 guards, last night we upped the ante to five guards for awhile.

 

[UConnCat]

I am still not a proponent of the 4guard lineup. I do not recall one team in my 46 years of watching basketball winning a championship this way. It puts great pressure on your one big to do too many things. When Kiah was alongside Steph, I thought the play was better, and WV had to play straight up. I want to see Kiah get a chance to play a few games along side Steph. Huskies will be a far better team come march. I love CD, but let's face it, she is playing on one leg. I want to see four games with starting lineup -Bria, Tiff, Kelly, Kiah and Steph. Yes there will be growing pains, but March is when the games really matter!

Well then, memo to UConn and Notre Dame: You may currently be #2 and #3 in the country, but you have no chance of winning the national championship this year unless you abandon your 4-guard lineup. It doesn't matter if this lineup puts your 5 best players on the floor, creates mis-matches for opponents, or has resulted in only 1 loss so far on the road to the #1 team in the country who has a 6'8" phenom.

In all seriousness, if you listen to Geno's press conference last night -- something I recommend if posters are interested in hearing his thoughts and learning something -- you'll hear him say that the team needs to be able to mix things up and play with two post players. He knows it and I'm sure Muffett knows it as well. But both teams started off the season wanting to put their 5 best players on the court. It hasn't worked out too badly so far. Because Achonwa is currently better than Stokes or Buck, ND is currently ahead of Uconn is being able to go with 2 post players. We'll see how Buck and Stokes develop, but they aren't there yet. Heck, the coaches are working on getting Dolson to play up to her capabilities.

 

[msf22b]

Ya Ya is 6-3 and Kelly stopped her cold (source: Nan). I'm sure Geno is thinking that she do the same with Achonwa (similar size and ability) or at least he hopes so.That begs the question of the 4-guard situ though.

 

[UConnCat]

Ya Ya is 6-3 and Kelly stopped her cold (source: Nan). I'm sure Geno is thinking that she do the same with Achonwa (similar size and ability) or at least he hopes so.That begs the question of the 4-guard situ though.

Notre Dame plays a 4-guard lineup. Achonwa comes off the bench. What I don't know (can't remember) is how much (if at all) ND has played both Peters and Achonwa. Maybe an ND fan can answer that question for us.

In the past, Kelly has guarded Diggins. Will that be the case on Sat or will Geno put Kelly on Novosel? I expect ND will put Mallory on KML which will be a tough match-up. Lots of interesting match-ups in this game.

 

[bruinbball]

Maybe both teams abandon the post and run 5 guard sets the entire game . I do think it has the makings of an instant classic and even though ND has beat some slouches recently, I think they are playing at a higher level than UConn at this moment. However, the one equalizer is good defense and if we play to our potential there, we will have a chance to win.

 

[UConnCat]

Maybe both teams abandon the post and run 5 guard sets the entire game . I do think it has the makings of an instant classic and even though ND has beat some slouches recently, I think they are playing at a higher level than UConn at this moment. However, the one equalizer is good defense and if we play to our potential there, we will have a chance to win.

I agree. A big key will be keeping ND off the FT line. Novosel and Diggins live at the line with >25% of their points coming from FTs. In the FF last year UConn struggled keeping Novosel and Diggins out of the lane. The result was they either scored or were fouled. That can't happen again. UConn needs to force them in to jump-shooters. They are both good shooters, but I'm sure Geno would rather that than FTs or lay-ups. As a team, ND has made more FTs than UConn has attempted...by a lot.

ND doesn't shoot a lot of 3-pointers but they have a knack for making big ones at key points in the game. It's like Geno often says, "it's not how many, but when."

 

[alexrgct]

Though he also says he likes a third of his team's FGs to be from beyond the arc. Geno always keeps 'em guessing.

This is a really intriguing matchup. ND is the more seasoned team, but their results haven't been more impressive than UConn's to this point. Both teams are small. I think this should be a fun, scrappy game, a la Baylor (in terms of scrappiness and fun, not in terms of how the game is played).

 

[rington]

I'm feeling the same way. I'm a big fan but she just doesn't seem to want the inside game at all against stronger teams.

I agree, but why don't the coaches insist that she play inside, or take her out? She looks(to me) to be struggling physically. I remember last year, as the season progressed, that she improved her conditioning and her play picked up. I read that she continued to work on her conditioning and moves this summer. I don't know, but I just don't see the expected improvement.

 

[rington]

Still wondering why Heather didn't play. CD didn't comment on it (wasn't asked) in her postgame radio interview. It wasn't mentioned in the quotes from Geno's postgame comments. Still wonder if it's injury, illness, or chateau bowwow. It certainly would have made sense to play her against that defense.

Did anyone notice CD's postgame comment that the crowd should stop hollering "Shoot, shoot" at Stef and Kiah when they have the ball in the high post and are wide open? She said that there is a reason they don't shoot in that case, which is that they lack confidence. If you are confident, you will shoot (when open) as soon as you catch the ball. If you hold it for a 5 seconds, a shot is not well-advised even if you are open, because you obviously don't have the necessary confidence.

UConn did experiment for a few minutes with a "two big" lineup, and also with a 5-guard lineup, in tonight's game. I remain inclined toward the view that they will need to use two bigs against the better teams and often in the postseason, so I would rather see more of it now.

Geno said Heather did not play in order to rest her wrist, and to save her for ND.
....I can't believe that CD did not want the crowd to yell "shoot."
Stef is one of the top foul shooters; they don't want her to shoot when she is 15 feet from the basket with no one on her ?????

 

[rington]

Eric - I get what you're saying and the stats you list support the point you're making. But I know what I saw tonight and this WVU team is gonna be a tough out for anyone, on any given night. That's what a quality defensive team with good athleticism will get you. Their SOS will go up considerably now that they're entering BEast conference play and I will not be surprised when they garner a seed in the big dance in March.

You may be right, but it was hard to judge them considering the way Uconn played!

 

[Georgestarr7]

I was at the game last night and just got back to my computer so I'm coming in a little late here. My impressions jive with most of what is written here. My first impression was that the whole place was on reserve power last night... the crowd from the beginning seemed tired, the pep band was good but not their usual high energy, stuff just didn't seem to work smoothly for the team. I had a feeling during the game that Geno was looking more to N.D. and using this game almost as a practice warm-up. The offense seemed awkward at times because they were working on things that Geno felt they needed to work on. There seemed to be different combos out there, 4 or 5 guards, etc, that each seemed to a directive as to who/how the play would run. Hence Tiff and Bria would pass up shots. In the beginning of the second half it definitely seemed the team was instructed to work on running the play through the post. The pass would go into either Stef or Kiah in the high post, they would turn an look at the basket, the crowd would chant "shoot", but they would pass up what usually seemed like an open shot and instead turn and look to find a cutter or develop a play off the perimeter. After a time-out (there seemed to be so many last night) well into the second half, the posts began to take that shot. I don't quite agree that they didn't take shots because of a lack of confidence. What I'm saying is that my impression was that the offense last night was not as fluid as usual at least partially because it was more directed from the coaching staff with a goal of getting ready for N.D..

 

[magical2]

they like playing the centers in the high post. i think it's not bad at times, but they need to look inside when she and Kiah flash to the basket. i'm not sure what is up with Stef. she had 9 vs. STanford, 10 vs. aTm and 6 vs. Baylor. i don't think she's good enough to score against top teams at this point. part of it is she's not taking any shots. either the guards aren't finding her, she's not demanding the ball enough, she's spending too much time in the high post, or some combo of that. don't get me wrong i love Stef and want her to be terrific, but she's not there yet.

i also will say against some tough post players, i've seen them beating the crap out of her. the amount of physical play that goes on when players are trying to defend her is ridiculous at times. i read a post somewhere where a moron said Stef is a dirty player. on the contrary. she's way too nice. and the refs should be calling the overly physical stuff that is pulled against her.

Certainly at this point in time Stef is not the 2nd best center in college! The issues that you bring up are not off base at all. Aspects are the guards,her "demanding the ball as you stated",she needs to get more aggressive/physical,the low post is that her or coaching decision. How do you get more athletic? She has made great strides from when she arrived,but needs to step it up. The loss of Maya and the lack of a "true power forward" may be issues! It is a joke re her being dirty,too aggressive, she needs to increase this.
She is outgoing and speaks up to the press re the team and speaks to teammates! Her nature is gentle!

 

[magical2]

Where was Heather?
Hurt or doghouse?

I was thinking that Heather's injury<from the BA game> may have been a factor. With the ND game on Sat,could this have been to let her have a few more days for what is a huge game?

 

[boontonbomber]

it was good to see kaleena take 7 foul shots, and make 6. in the first 12 games she had taken only 17 foul shots.

 

[uconnfan68]

what are you talking about? your post not only makes no sense, but has nothing to do with what i posted.

"i'm not sure what is up with Stef. she had 9 vs. STanford, 10 vs. aTm and 6 vs. Baylor. i don't think she's good enough to score against top teams at this point. part of it is she's not taking any shots. either the guards aren't finding her, she's not demanding the ball enough, she's spending too much time in the high post, or some combo of that. don't get me wrong i love Stef and want her to be terrific, but she's not there yet."

This.

Even Geno said that she should have shot a lot more. I saw one of the worst offensive games from a UConn team in many a year. When Stef has the ball alone in the high post, I hope she just keeps shooting. She's too good not to.

 

[magic]

What do you mean 4 guards, last night we upped the ante to five guards for awhile.

Yeah , your right! I like that even less! You must have five 3pt. shooting threats to play that way! I still haven't heard of one person on this board come up with a team that has won a championship playing 4 guards and one big!