Again, some very interesting comments here. Two thoughts here
:
1. As others have suggested, Geno is not going to change his line up according to the strengths or weaknesses of a given opponent. To date, Butler has not proven to be very offensive on offense. Yes, she has her place in the rotation, and she can be a huge presence in their defense's paint, but there's no way she starts in place of Williams. Gabby MUST be in the starting line up, and must stay on the floor, which she has been doing lately. Williams was having difficulty staying out of foul trouble at the beginning of the season, but that problem has been addressed. She hasn't had to sit with foul trouble the last 6-7 games, and has logged over 35 minutes a game since.If UConn is being overwhelmed in the paint,
then defensive adjustments will be made.
2. Maryland has not exactly played a very challenging schedule so far this season. I think it would be fair to say that UConn has faced more adversity, and much more challenging opponents (Florida State/Baylor/Notre Dame) than Maryland has to date. Maryland is the next ranked opponent up, but I don't think they are the best team we've played so far.
Maryland has played 2 ranked teams.
#23 Arizona State who they blew out at home by 41, and
#7 Louisville they beat by 6 on the road. That's it. The rest of their schedule would not raise an eyebrow compared to UConn's schedule. They played some teams that are nowhere close to being their equal talent or size wise. Middle to high "mid-majors" at best.
Here's the rub - UConn has already played in several BIG games against BIG teams on BIG stages, and won them all. Yes, UConn is concerned about Maryland as they should be. They're the next game on the schedule, and as such, the most important game on their schedule. Geno and staff have 7 days to prepare for them. Maryland had better be ready for UConn. UConn brings the better resume' and track record into this game.
UConn is the "giant killer" here. UConn has already played against all of the top 7 teams in the country. Maryland is not going to bring anything to the court that UConn has not already seen. The same cannot be said about Maryland. UConn will bring a defense that Maryland has not seen thus far. They have not faced a team that will pressure you, fast break you, and turn you over as quickly and as often as UConn can.
UConn will jump on you early, and stay there. They are relentless, they don't let up. Nebraska witnessed that last night. They were down by 12 before the seats were warm, and hopelessly down by 26 at the half, wondering if anyone got the number of that truck that just ran over them.
Maryland's 12-0 record is a bit dubious and won't mean anything when they take the court in 8 days against the Huskies.
It's what you are bringing to the table right now, tonight that matters. Are you prepared to fight claw, and battle for 40 minutes? Can you fight your way back when you're down by double digits? Can you stop a UConn 8-12 point run that's going downhill? Can your BIGS run the floor and stay out of foul trouble, and stay on the court in the first half? Can you stop UConn's fast breaks?
Yes, Maryland has a good team, but so does
Florida State, Baylor, DePaul, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Geno and staff will devise a plan, and have the team ready to play Dec 29. He will make the necessary adjustments at half time, as he always does. We saw an excellent example of that Monday night, when they shut down Kelsey Mitchell in the second half, holding her to 4 points.
All I'm saying is the success that Maryland has had to this point has NOT been against the type of defense they'll see next week. UConn will play the same way they do every night. They'll bring their A game, and Maryland will have to try and match it. UConn has the knack or ability to take all of the steam/will out of an opponent. Maryland is the one that will have to adjust their game.
We've seen it time and time again. UConn will have a 20-25 point lead in the 3rd quarter, and you can see the look of despair and hopelessness on the faces of their bench.
Muffet McGraw does not have a poker face. The last few games against them, you could see the desperation and bewilderment on her face. I'm going to take the "
Doubting Thomas" approach here (I want to see it with my own two eyes).
You've got a 12-0 record thus far. I'm also going to adopt the state of
Missouri as my home state for this game. If you think you're good enough to take my lunch money and hand me my first defeat,
you've got to show me. I can guarantee one thing about this game. One of them will suffer their first loss that night. I went all the way out on a limb for that one.
Number don't tell the whole story, but they are suggestive.
The Collegiate Basketball News Women's RPI College Basketball Ratings - Through games of Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Rank Team W - L SS Rk RPI
1. Connecticut 11 - 0 .7628 2 .7854
20. Maryland 12 - 0 .4881 194 .6297
RK = Rank
SS = Strength of Schedule
RPI = Rating Percentage Index
). But what we're seeing especially is the development of extremely quick hands at ball level. The coaches have been superb, not only in the usual strategies underneath of contesting the pass, weak side help, boxing out, etc, but also in making smallness and quickness a virtue by being pesky around waist level. A lot of these disruptions don't even show up in the box score, because it's not only about turnovers, but also about forcing the opponents to reset or getting them off balance to make a worse shot. Just a lot of good compensatory mechanisms that may deprive opponent bigs of a couple of points and rebounds/game--and that's all the margin UConn needs.
