Thoughts about the ND game

[Sluconn Husky]

We have had numerous players in the past left unaccounted for by teams who then really hurt a team. It is usually underclass players who are a relative unknown. You make in game adjustments. Those on the fly may or may not work. Those you make at the half often do as they allow a system of adjustments, such as, if we dedicate Moriah to Marina how do we cover the other normal assignments. Story is that it worked well.

You say left unaccounted for like Geno and the team forgot she was an opposing player. They didn't forget about her; she just beat whoever was around her until they specifically put Jefferson on her. Why not just give her credit for making shots, beating people off the dribble, and finishing plays? We'd be thrilled if one of our freshmen played like that, especially against a great team.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Would somebody please tell Dave O'Brien that Bonnie Samuelson has graduated (from Stanford)? Thanks.

 

[HuskyNan]

I think people are sort of glossing over how stupendous Gabby will be. She shows flashes here and there of the superstar that's waiting to be developed. The kid is scary good at times now, geez, think of her as a junior.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Just for the heck of it let's compare ND with UConn next year.
Tuck & Butler vs Reimer and Turner-- WE will assume Tuck comes back. I see this as a wash. Turner maybe a little better and Reimer a little worse.
Next you have Lou, Gabby, or Collier for the next two spots - ND has Mabrey, Arike/, Wesbeld, ?. I like UConn here, but let's call that a wash too.
Then the point would be Nurse, Chong, or Danger - - ND has Allen. Close again.
Coaching - Geno/CD & crew vs MM and staff----I'll take UConn
Here is the point I am making after hearing how UConn is in big trouble next year. Everyone seems to agree that ND will be a top 3 team next year. Well based on the match-ups above it will be a CAGE MATCH. UConn will be right there with ND and everyone else. That's what is going to be so much fun--next year.
Let's stay in the here and now and enjoy each game of this season. IMHO UConn will win it again, but there will be battles along the way. Lucky for UConn fans that Geno is getting them ready for the battle in a way only he can understand (since he has done it successfully 10 times in the last 20 years.)

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Just for the heck of it let's compare ND with UConn next year.

The Irish also get Patberg back from injury and bring in two top-12 freshmen.

 

[chrissaran]

Chicken Little, the sky is falling, the sky is falling. All the doomsayers are out. I can't believe the negativity. As someone pointed out, look at the last twenty years. No one should be panicking and criticizing the players or the coaches. All will be well come tournament time. Natalie is getting close to playing and so is De'Janae. Thinks are looking up and will only get better.

 

[DaddyChoc]

The Irish also get Patberg back from injury and bring in two top-12 freshmen.

and the game is at ND?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

and the game is at ND?

It is.

 

[DaddyChoc]

It is.

not an easy place to play at...

 

[Orangutan]

Just for the heck of it let's compare ND with UConn next year.

Here is the point I am making after hearing how UConn is in big trouble next year. Everyone seems to agree that ND will be a top 3 team next year. Well based on the match-ups above it will be a CAGE MATCH. UConn will be right there with ND and everyone else. That's what is going to be so much fun--next year.

UConn 2016-2017 projected
F - Morgan Tuck ? (RS Sr.)
F - Natalie Butler (RS Jr.)
G - Katie Lou Samuelson (So.)
G - Napheesa Collier (So.)
G - Kia Nurse (Jr.)

Key bench players: G. Williams, S. Chong, D. Boykin, C. Dangerfield

ND 2016-2017 projected
F - Brianna Turner (Jr.)
F - Taya Reimer (Sr.)
G - Marina Mabrey (So.)
G - Arike Ogunbowale (So.)
G - Lindsay Allen (Sr.)

Key bench players: K. Westbeld, A. Patberg, J. Young, E. Boley

You can quibble with the projections a little. I just wanted to get it down on the page for my own eyes. The best laid plans often go up in smoke but if it comes to pass, this would be a heck of a matchup! I would make UConn the favorite if Tuck stays. If Tuck leaves, I would make ND a slight favorite. Either way, a great game. Hope both teams can stay healthy

I totally agree with you. UConn is not in trouble at all next year. It just won't be like this year where they seem unbeatable so we're just talking about whether they can win every game by double digits. UConn the last couple years (minus the Stanford game) have looked almost like some sort of semi-pro team, like they are too good for college basketball. Next year, they will maybe just look like an elite college basketball team.[/QUOTE]

 

[Kmoney]

Dating back to 2011-12, ND has won 150 games and lost 11. 6 of those loses have been to UConn. 3 have been to Baylor (Griner years) and they lost close games to Miami and West Virginia. If not for UConn, we would be talking about the ND dynasty right now.

Dating back to 2011-12, UConn has won 152 games and lost 10. 6 of those loses have been to ND. 2 have been to Baylor (Griner years) and they lost close games to St. John's and Stanford. If not for ND, we would be talking about.....oh wait.....never mind.

 

[meyers7]

I can only imagine the angst and apprehension that will consume UConn Nation over the summer until those first dozen or so games are played, and we get a sense of what we've got, and what we can look forward to the rest of the season. Will 2016--2017 be another championship year, or a rebuilding one? You know the rest of WCBB would love to see UConn have a down year or two (or three). Remember, as we lose our seniors, so are other teams.

Eh not so much.

UCONN loses to AA's - Stewart and Jefferson (huge, huge losses)
ND loses - Mabrey1 and Cable, brings back Allen, Turner, Mabrey2, Ogunbowale, Reimer, Westbeld, Patberg along with 2 high recruits (Boley #5 and Young #6)
Duke loses - eh Riggs and Henson, brings back Stevens, Greenwell, Salvadores, and gets Brown after her r/s.
Maryland loses - Howard and Pavlech, but brings back Walker-Kimbrough, Jones, Gillespe and gets xfer Small after her r/s, plus a decent recruiting class including Slocum #7 (5 top 30)
Ohio State loses - Alston and Craft, but brings back KMitchell, Cooper, Doss, and gets Mavunga and Calhoun after their r/s.
Texas loses - Davenport and Boyette, but brings back Lang, Atkins, McCarty, Higgs, Hosey and picks up Holmes.
Baylor loses - Johnson and Higgins, but brings back Jones, Davis, Prince, Brown, Mompremier and picks up Cox #2, Chou #13 and Landrum #33.
Tennessee loses - Graves and Moore, but brings back DeShields, Russell, Cooper, Reynolds, Nared, if they ever get a coach and learn to play together.....
S. Carolina loses a lot - TMitchell, Dozier, Sessions, Imovbioh, but adds Gray and Davis to Coates, Wilson, White and Cuevas. Still be pretty good.

So most teams aren't losing a lot and will probably (on paper) be better next year. While UCONN is gonna drop back to the pack. Or closer to the pack.