There Ain't no doubt

[Tonyc]

Well folks there aint not doubt in my mind that UConn is a complete team with everything we need to win it all. We've heard that you need good guard play and UConns got it. We been told you need a go to player and we've got 3. We've been told defense wins championships and we've got that. We been told you got to rebound and we're pretty good at that. We are in position to win it all.

IMO at the close of the regular season there are two teams that were on a roll. UConn and SC. There are two teams that have played really well UCLA and USC. With the time off between the conference tournaments and 1st round of the NCAAs teams have had a chance to regroup, get healthy and be ready of next weekend. We will see if teams like ND LSU Texas have regained their edge. The time off could also make teams rusty.

Tonite we will see what the selection committee comes up with. Based on records and Quads which favors the Big Conferences UConn may be seeded 5 even with their strong finish which I credit to finally getting healthy. What UConn has, as does USC is a go to player who can take over games and make a difference. Paige imo has a better team surrounding her then does Juju. Paige is also the best facilitator in WCBB making her team mates better. SC has alot of really good athletic players who can score but lacks a go to player like a Paige or Juju. UCLA has Betts who dominates the middle however USC has shown us UCLA can be beat.

UConns defense is the best Ive seen. UConn plays defense with a total commitment, fueled with intensity. UConns defense creates self doubt in opponents heads. When you get into your opponents head you can overwhelm them. We've seen opponents hang in there but eventually they fall to UConns increased pressure. We saw what UConns defense did last year in the NCAAs against some really good teams. We saw it in the BE tournament. UConn keeps the pressure on and doesnt let up.

You cant win with defense alone. You need to be able to score. When you have a go to player who can score and get her shot almost at will thats a big plus. However there will always be a team that can find a way to slow her down. Thats where being a facilitator comes in and Paige is a coach on the floor. Thats also where our Big 3 headed monster comes in. Sarah and Azzi can help pick up the team and carry them. If you look at Sarah and look at Alesha Morrow there are a lot of similarities. Sarah is a better outside shooter and better defender. Both can score against bigger post players and are forces to deal with. Azzi is one of the best shooters and scorers in WCBB Because of our Big 3 Paige has options. No other team has those players except ND. With that said everybody else will have to contribute. I feel the biggest surprise moving forward will be Jana and Ice. Both have grown especially over the last few weeks of the season. Both have the ability to showcase their presence. I feel under the big lights the lite in their head will go on and they will reach a new level.

Today is selection Sunday. We will see where UConn is placed. I dont think it really matters to much which bracket we're in. I feel we have everything needed to win it all. UConn is healthy and has regained their magic. Teams will be once again looking over their shoulder to see where UConn is in the brackets. UConn has regained their respect. We all knew early in the season what could be...what could be is now. UConn is Back

 

[Topdawg]

Thanks for your optimism TonyC! The team has been getting better as the tournament nears and I hope will continue to improve as we get to the final games of the season.
Three areas that require maturity:
1. Leadership and perseverance. Team will need to handle the pressure of high level competition after the first weekend.
2. Consistency in the low post.
3. Playing attacking basketball. Our defense is very good. The offense needs to prioritize Volume over efficiency on days when the outside shots are not falling.

We have a great team. Let us hope for a triumphant end of season!

 

[Tonyc]

Thanks for your optimism TonyC! The team has been getting better as the tournament nears and I hope will continue to improve as we get to the final games of the season.
Three areas that require maturity:
1. Leadership and perseverance. Team will need to handle the pressure of high level competition after the first weekend.
2. Consistency in the low post.
3. Playing attacking basketball. Our defense is very good. The offense needs to prioritize Volume over efficiency on days when the outside shots are not falling.

We have a great team. Let us hope for a triumphant end of season!

Thanks Topdawg. My ole saying .... There are 2 types of teams in this world Those who think they can and those who think they cant and theyre both right.

 

[MooseJaw]

Tony I'm very excited to jump on your band wagon. Along with hard work, fearless play, exceptional leadership and unmatched coaching our Lady Huskies are my favorite to wear the championship crown. It won't be easy, there are many pretenders ready to take us down. It has been 5 years for Paige, 6 years for Aubrey a quest in search of a crown.
We play our game, set tempo force others to try and match our pace we can and will prevail. 12 is just a number until we claim what is ours.

 

[PacoSwede]

Tony ended his post with:

Teams will be once again looking over their shoulder to see where UConn is in the brackets. UConn has regained their respect. We all knew early in the season what could be...what could be is now. UConn is Back

not to be picky, but if feel i should offer this counter-opinion: teams have been looking over their shoulders for uconn for 30 years, so that's the norm, it's not a return to former status, and uconn's never lost anybody's respect ... at least that of anybody who knows wcbb or egomaniacs trying to quell their own fears.

 

[Zonepress]

lots of analysis etc
Imho to win a championship
Azzi AS and Kc will have to shoot well
Especially from 3
I think it’s that simple

 

[PacoSwede]

lots of analysis etc
Imho to win a championship
Azzi AS and Kc will have to shoot well
Especially from 3
I think it’s that simple

as they did in high school, at least

 

[Vowelguy]

Well folks there aint not doubt in my mind that UConn is a complete team with everything we need to win it all.

I am shocked.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Well folks there aint not doubt in my mind that UConn is a complete team with everything we need to win it all. We've heard that you need good guard play and UConns got it. We been told you need a go to player and we've got 3. We've been told defense wins championships and we've got that. We been told you got to rebound and we're pretty good at that. We are in position to win it all.

IMO at the close of the regular season there are two teams that were on a roll. UConn and SC. There are two teams that have played really well UCLA and USC. With the time off between the conference tournaments and 1st round of the NCAAs teams have had a chance to regroup, get healthy and be ready of next weekend. We will see if teams like ND LSU Texas have regained their edge. The time off could also make teams rusty.

Tonite we will see what the selection committee comes up with. Based on records and Quads which favors the Big Conferences UConn may be seeded 5 even with their strong finish which I credit to finally getting healthy. What UConn has, as does USC is a go to player who can take over games and make a difference. Paige imo has a better team surrounding her then does Juju. Paige is also the best facilitator in WCBB making her team mates better. SC has alot of really good athletic players who can score but lacks a go to player like a Paige or Juju. UCLA has Betts who dominates the middle however USC has shown us UCLA can be beat.

UConns defense is the best Ive seen. UConn plays defense with a total commitment, fueled with intensity. UConns defense creates self doubt in opponents heads. When you get into your opponents head you can overwhelm them. We've seen opponents hang in there but eventually they fall to UConns increased pressure. We saw what UConns defense did last year in the NCAAs against some really good teams. We saw it in the BE tournament. UConn keeps the pressure on and doesnt let up.

You cant win with defense alone. You need to be able to score. When you have a go to player who can score and get her shot almost at will thats a big plus. However there will always be a team that can find a way to slow her down. Thats where being a facilitator comes in and Paige is a coach on the floor. Thats also where our Big 3 headed monster comes in. Sarah and Azzi can help pick up the team and carry them. If you look at Sarah and look at Alesha Morrow there are a lot of similarities. Sarah is a better outside shooter and better defender. Both can score against bigger post players and are forces to deal with. Azzi is one of the best shooters and scorers in WCBB Because of our Big 3 Paige has options. No other team has those players except ND. With that said everybody else will have to contribute. I feel the biggest surprise moving forward will be Jana and Ice. Both have grown especially over the last few weeks of the season. Both have the ability to showcase their presence. I feel under the big lights the lite in their head will go on and they will reach a new level.

Today is selection Sunday. We will see where UConn is placed. I dont think it really matters to much which bracket we're in. I feel we have everything needed to win it all. UConn is healthy and has regained their magic. Teams will be once again looking over their shoulder to see where UConn is in the brackets. UConn has regained their respect. We all knew early in the season what could be...what could be is now. UConn is Back

It looks like a countdown for the Spokane #4 for UConn: 40+ pt. win vs. Arkansas State; 30+ pt win vs. South Dakota State; 20+ pt win vs. Iowa; 10+ pt win vs. U$C, and Final Four bound! Yes, I expect multiple "upsets" this year in the #4 bracket, and Notre Dame to come out of Birmingham #3 as the #3 seed (on opposite side of the FF bracket), and we may see them in the Final for NC #12!

Win each play in front of you (whether defense (where it starts) or offense (where shooters shoot)!

Go Huskies!!!

 

[Next 12]

GREAT post Tonyc, as usual. This is Uconn's year and I don't care who disagrees. The team has everything, Scoring, Defense and continuity. No more, who is healthy enough to play. No more, don't foul as there is no bench, and no more self doubt. This is a team of destiny and they have all the tools they need to win it all. Sure there are a lot of good teams out there but, we are Uconn and that means something to the other teams. They will be thinking of Uconn and So Carolina throughout the whole tournament and they won;t be able to help it. The KICKER is we also have GENO and Chris and they don't! GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!

 

[Rowdy831]

I love UConn in most matchup but the one I think I will look forward to the most is UCLA. I will add though that UCLA is not a lock to make it the FF but if they do it will be the first team to throw a very tall post against a small team when Jana is on the bench. I expect the big three to play very good in the tournament but feel like they will need someone else to step up and offer some consistent play. I don't think KC will matter mostly because she blends into the other guards so it will likely be someone who can get some rebounds and defend inside. Aubrey healthy would be great but I just don't have the expectation that she is going to be 100%

 

[OldSchooler]

It takes more than just defense. UConn can -- and does -- have one of the scariest and most efficient defenses in WCBB, but that's only half the story. Good defense must transition to scoring. Sure, we can have cold-shooting stretches, but eventually we break out of it. But sloppy TOs and blown chippies, following a high-energy defensive sequence, are opportunities that you don't get back. Have to transition that smothering defense into disciplined offense. When an exhausting defensive effort does not yield results at the other end, that only encourages the opponent that it can hang in and win, and all that hard work goes for naught.