The thing we’ve misplaced

[The CDR-Ret]

Oh yee of lil faith.
Of course, we're a FF team.
Of course, we have a better-than-good chance of winning it all.
And, of course, Paige will likely be the MVP.
I know:
Yes, our bigs need to improve. They will.
Yes, our D needs to get better. It will, even if Aubrey isn't able to be her former self.
Yes, our offense needs to run more efficiently. It will, especially if Azzi recovers her rhythem and Audrey adds some zip to our fastbreak with steals and rebounds.
Yes, we will because IN GENO AND CD WE TRUST!!!

The only adjustment that I would make to your predictions is that Sarah Strong might be the MOP of the FF

 

[uconnfan68]

Paige is a great player but Hidalgo and juju
We’re clearly the best players in the recent games

That’s an apples to oranges comparison. Was Paige more tightly guarded than the others? Was the quality of the defense against her better? If so, then what’s the comparison?

 

[Zarathustra]

The only adjustment that I would make to your predictions is that Sarah Strong might be the MOP of the FF

Could be!!

 

[Zarathustra]

That’s an apples to oranges comparison. Was Paige more tightly guarded than the others? Was the quality of the defense against her better? If so, then what’s the comparison?

Paige makes everyone on her team better. Paige is also the most
"overdefended" and one of the most "physically" defended players.
"IF" Geno got balanced scoring in those two losses ... My belief is
that two out of three returning "injury" players will turn the switch for
the UCONN offense and defense.... to be continue... let's watch and see!

 

[Skeets]

That’s an apples to oranges comparison. Was Paige more tightly guarded than the others? Was the quality of the defense against her better? If so, then what’s the comparison?

Excellent! All comparisons are somewhat tainted unless all the variables are held absolutely steady. That's part of the reason why I scratch my head sometimes reading the "Game Analysis" thread. It seems to rely too much on comparative statistics. Also explains why some alleged high school super stars turn out to be just good players in college. (UConn got a couple of them, but I won't name names.)

On the flip side, beating up on inferior competition doesn't mean you are inferior.

 

[Zonepress]

That’s an apples to oranges comparison. Was Paige more tightly guarded than the others? Was the quality of the defense against her better? If so, then what’s the comparison?

I’m not comparing just stating the obvious
Hidalgo controlled the game and was the most dominant player in the game

Juju dominated the game in the first half both
Offensively and defensively ( her defense on Paige when she guarded her was extraordinary)

When UConn took a one point lead late in the
Game she made an and one 3 pt play and
Took control of the game

 

[packwrap]

I’m not comparing just stating the obvious
Hidalgo controlled the game and was the most dominant player in the game

Juju dominated the game in the first half both
Offensively and defensively ( her defense on Paige when she guarded her was extraordinary)

When UConn took a one point lead late in the
Game she made an and one 3 pt play and
Took control of the game

Fortunately, there is room in WBB for many great players. Paige, Hannah, Olivia, JuJu and Clark offer team
USA a promising future backcourt.

It seemed to me that while UConn was coming back from 18 down, Paige looked pretty good.

 

[Zonepress]

Fortunately, there is room in WBB for many great players. Paige, Hannah, Olivia, JuJu and Clark offer team
USA a promising future backcourt.

It seemed to me that while UConn was coming back from 18 down, Paige looked pretty good.

Of course she did. She’s a great player.
Unfortunately, what I posted it was taken seems by some as a denigration of Paige
Was just trying to point out that there are some other great players and very good teams
And for what it’s worth in my humble opinion
Sarah, strong will be the best out of all of them by the time she graduates

 

[Steelerone]

Can't say I disagree with the comments but have to add a few points. The best players want two things: Best preparation to be pro ready and a personal brand image that can attract NIL money today and advertising contracts later. While there are a number of great coaches out there, Geno has been a factory in producing pro ready players. The number of fans helps with advertising and NIL money and UConn still is the leading name in women's college basketball. With all due respect to many of the other top 10 teams, most sports fans around the country know that if you play for UConn you butamong the best. Ask most about Iowa, Texas, LSU, etc. women's basketball and you get blank stares. The sport is changing but UConn has an advantage in this regard now and for several more years. I agree with you to a point HJ but not on the blank stares. If you watch any of the games involving these and other top teams you will see capacity crowds and they are as into the game as the Uconn fans. And even though this has cut into Geno's recruiting it has been great for the sport and women's baskeball in general.

 

[WiseWillie]

Steelerone has it exactly right. UConn's position in the Big East is the biggest factor working against it. Geno will still get his share of recruits, but as we are seeing with the pursiot of bigs, he won't win all of them, or even what, a few years ago, was his share of them.

... and to follow up on the comment about the lack of competition in the Big East:

Not saying it does but if we assume the BE competition may reduce recruiting that very likely is one of the reasons why Geno has UConn playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules of most Div I teams.

 

[cancontent]

... and to follow up on the comment about the lack of competition in the Big East:

Not saying it does but if we assume the BE competition may reduce recruiting that very likely is one of the reasons why Geno has UConn playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules of most Div I teams.

I don't understand the Big East conference being an argument for being a challenge when it comes to recruiting. Would UConn not have had the same issues if they remained in the AAC?

 

[huskyd]

Winning is fun... Sure. But winning is not the point. Wanting to win is the point. Not giving up is the point. Never letting up is
the point.

Never being satisfied with what you've done is the point.
-Pat Summitt

This is not meant as criticism. I think Vic Schaefer once described the UConn defense as ‘ piranhas on a roast’. Feel free to correct me if I am remembering incorrectly. Anyway my tiny point is that we used to come out and grab the game by the throat and shake it til all resistance was gone. I think this team can do that. Go UConn!

As the philosopher of folks who drive around in circles, Mario Andretti said, "If you feel in control, you're not going fast enough."

 

[tomcat]

I don't understand the Big East conference being an argument for being a challenge when it comes to recruiting. Would UConn not have had the same issues if they remained in the AAC?

Of course they would have. But the solution was not to stay in the AAC, either. It would be to get into one of the other conferences (I've always favored the ACC myself), but there are a lot of reasons why that wasn't going to happen, UConn's lack of football success being the prime example.

 

[cancontent]

Of course they would have. But the solution was not to stay in the AAC, either. It would be to get into one of the other conferences (I've always favored the ACC myself), but there are a lot of reasons why that wasn't going to happen, UConn's lack of football success being the prime example.

Fair, but the talking point that the Big East is a detractor doesn't make sense to me. To me it's parity in the NCAA that's made recruiting a bigger challenge. Regardless of NIL, the options to play for a competitive program increased compared to when UConn dominated the landscape in the 2000s and 2010s.

 

[Steelerone]

I don't understand the Big East conference being an argument for being a challenge when it comes to recruiting. Would UConn not have had the same issues if they remained in the AAC?

That was one of the main reasons the left the AAC.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I think I've been saying this all over the BY - We haven't had a team w/a killer instinct since Stewie left. She may have been quiet on the outside, but she punched first and kept on punching. The teams prior to Stewie were like that too. The teams since then have gotten leads and the squandered them away by not play four full quarters of a game. This team, for me, is the most frustrating. Ball movement and unselfishness are great, but they're passing up, and hesitation on SO many open shots. That shouldn't happen.

 

[Rowdy831]

Steelerone has it exactly right. UConn's position in the Big East is the biggest factor working against it. Geno will still get his share of recruits, but as we are seeing with the pursiot of bigs, he won't win all of them, or even what, a few years ago, was his share of them.

They aren't know as a great school to develop the bigs and that is hurting them right now. Over the years they have had a few good bigs but lately they haven't had that breakout player at that position. If you look at the line up this year it is clear that Geno prefers guards over bigger players and they know how to win with that type of team.

Playing your best 5 wins you the most games but it will sometimes create match up problems against certain teams. I like that Jana is getting more floor time because I feel they will need her to be a presence when they make the March run.

 

[Zarathustra]

They aren't know as a great school to develop the bigs and that is hurting them right now. Over the years they have had a few good bigs but lately they haven't had that breakout player at that position. If you look at the line up this year it is clear that Geno prefers guards over bigger players and they know how to win with that type of team.

Playing your best 5 wins you the most games but it will sometimes create match up problems against certain teams. I like that Jana is getting more floor time because I feel they will need her to be a presence when they make the March run.

But.... ONO and Dorka are both playing in the WNBA. Doesn't that
rule against the comment from Rowdy831 that "they (the Huskies) aren't know (sic)
as a great school to develop the bigs". Maybe I am overreacting to
the characterization that Huskies " haven't had a breakout player at
that position". As I recall Dorka's "colle's" wrist fracture was a major
factor in UCONN's unsuccessful NCAA tournament that year.