Tennessee Post Game Thread (merged)

[oldude]

Some thoughts on the TN game:

• TN is the most athletic team on UConn’s schedule this year. They are long, quick, pressure for 40 minutes and employ hockey line substututions.
• UConn started the game off like they would blow TN out of the gym. But some head-scratching turnovers and defensive breakdowns by the Huskies left the game tied at the half.
• The 2nd half started much the same as the first. But this time the Huskies kept their foot on the gas.
• Azzi came to play today. She not only lit it up scoring, but was probably UConn’s best defender.
• Sarah with another NPOY game….Ho, hum.
• Serah Williams played her best game at UConn today. Against a big and active TN frontline, Serah battled relentlessly, doing a lot of the dirty work in the paint.
• How about Kayleigh’s end-to-end drive. Reminded some of us old timers of Jen’s drive vs TN back in ’95. Then Kayleigh did it a 2nd Time. 🤩
• Really nice effort from Ash and Allie. Allie’s 3-pt shot at the end of the 3rd qtr blew the roof off PeoplesBank Arena.
• UConn’s win over TN today pretty much assures the Huskies of the #1 overall seed in the Big Dance. That’s not to say that no BE team will beat the Huskies this season…….Actually, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Take it to the Bank!!! 😎

 

[victor64]

I hope this series continues. You just can’t simulate Tennessee’s physicality. It took the Huskies a while to adjust.

I am happy for Serah Williams. She more than held her own.

Having a hard time getting used to how the game is now officiated. Reaching, bumping, slaps now all seem to be ok. Tennessee definitely uses it to their advantage.

I don't think anybody should be surprised that Azzi came up big today.

KK now knows what it is like to be guarded by someone who provides the same pressure that she does.

Allie looked a little overwhelmed in the first half but proved that she can handle the physicality.

 

[Bone Dog]

Oh My Goodness!

We took their best punch in the second quarter, and it was a pretty good one. And then we hit them back A LOT HARDER in the second half. They went from a halftime tie to a 30 point beatdown.

Sarah and Azzi were their usual awesome. But Kayleigh was wonderful, as were KK and Ash. There were miscues by all three in the second quarter. But in the 3rd and 4th, they were golden. And Allie 3Ball made an appearance. And as a team, we shot 50% from 3.

And for all their ‘hockey line’ substitutions, Tennessee clearly ran out of gas and pride in the second half.

 

[uconnfan68]

Very impressive second half.

 

[Huskie837]

K9 back to back layups! Back breakers and her signature Husky moments to date!

 

[jcoton56]

Like a heavy weight fight. No give by either team. Wore em down. Go Huskies!

 

[iri10]

A team like Tennessee is not going to physically tire. Not with the way they run their roster. But mental fatigue is a thing that can happen, and I'd say it happened in that 2nd half today.

 

[Dogdude]

Yup. Everyone who played did really good things all over the court. Great job, UConn!! I can't come up with an individual player of the game, but seeing Azzi get back to normal was wonderful.

 

[uconnbaseball]

We handed them their worst loss in program history. The previous margin was 27.

 

[REB1094]

First quarter: yay!
Second quarter: boo!
Second half: LOL

Tennessee played an amazing second quarter to tie it up at halftime. But then UConn absolutely ate them alive and destroyed their souls

To start the second half, Sarah kept us composed with her typical calm play and production. Then K9 came in with unlimited energy to build the lead. Serah played solid defense and had a few layups. Eventually Azzi started launching threes and Allie got involved. Next thing you know UConn is up 30

GREAT WIN!

 

[CL82]

 

[msf22b]

The message was very simple.
“Just play your game."

 

[PJCLaw]

I hope this series continues. You just can’t simulate Tennessee’s physicality. It took the Huskies a while to adjust.

I am happy for Serah Williams. She more than held her own.

They already announced another two-year contract to play beginning next season, and it will be in Connecticut again.

 

[ctfjr]

All is well in the basketball world

Great win! Great team effort!

All around great game

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[Nolefan]

K9 imo was the spark plug on UConn’s run that basically put the game away .. Tennessee is really big and athletic and to be honest hit some prayers during their run .. UConn settled down and put them away .. K-9 don’t press her she breaks it with such ease .. not sure about KK today but she didn’t have her best game .. Azzi and Strong was lights out today .. Serah had a stellar game also .. Shade she’s just all over the place and hit key shots in the big run .. Allie is gonna be a good one …

 

[HuskieDawg]

Great game! They had to battle in the first half and then took off in the second.

As I have said before Azzi has the best pure shot in women’s basketball. Azzi has some of the best shooting mechanics in all of basketball regardless of gender or league,

Everyone did their part and came together post half time. Give the coaches credit for delivering the right message in the locker room and the players executing.

Blanca was missed big time, score be damned, her size and speed match up prefectly against what TN does.

Have a great remainder of your Sunday, Boneyarders.

On to the next!

 

[Geew1992]

Idk what geno said at half time but good lord!!

 

[huskyd]

Just great. This started well and ended better. Everyone sparked at one point or another, but Azzi and Sarah rose to the occasion as they must for us to get another NC.
Geno kept things stirred up, making the right subs to quell the tide and then to release it. He is an acknowledged wizard.
Imagine what Blanca might have added to the mix. Had she been in the game, TN might not have jumped out as they did, so excellent is Blanca's d.
OK. We've had our roughing up: now we know what we can do when we must. Onward.

 

[Happydad745]

It started out great, got crazy, and then UConn showed everyone why they are number 1....
Our favorite duo put up some big points, and everyone else helped out. In the second half, our defense impressed me more than the offense, which was really good. I think Kayleigh feels like she is really part of the team now. Shoutout to Allie for the quarter ending 3 pointer.

 

[maple]

I wanted this to be a tough game for UConn. And in the first half it certainly was. Calls didn’t go our way, TN played aggressive and forced TOs, etc. I said in the chat I felt like this game would go the way the men’s game went last night — a tale of two halves — and that’s exactly what happened. I just felt like UConn was going to come out determined to step up and put the game away.

One sequence I particularly loved in Q3 was when Heckel was called for an especially awful foul and then she had back to back drives to the basket for layups. Huge plays that completely changed the mindset of TN, I felt like.

The Lady Vols looked incredibly demoralized in the last leg of the game. Some bizarre TOs like they’d just checked out. Still, credit to them for playing tough SEC basketball all game.

Our three leading scorers were Azzi, Sarah, and Serah. Allie and Shade were tied for fourth — both had some big buckets from the perimeter to really put the game away.

It was not a perfect game but that’s what happens when your opponent is doing all they can to beat you. The important thing is that the Huskies took the punches and then punched back twice as hard. (Metaphorically, of course.)

 

[DEFCONN1]

54 to 24 second half run. That’s UCONN Basketball !

 

[JeannoCT]

Advantage - Fudd!

 

[Hoops66]

UConn is in a slump. Their average game winning margin is 35 and today it was only 30. We still love you. Muchly!