Thoughts about the ND game

[NewCorn]

Maybe he should stop making commercials and work on his coaching.

Yeah, he lost a game 44 games ago. He clearly has problems.

 

[NewCorn]

I seriously doubt Geno was saving anything. TLaw is a scholarship player just like Stewie is. Ekmark also. UConn had to play starters until the final buzzer because if they didn't they would have lost the game.

Lou is not a starter.

 

[UcMiami]

I know. I was just responding to--

This uncertainty and fear of getting pulled has to be affecting Lou's head and could very well account for her shooting struggles

I know ... I quoted you because I agreed with what you said and was adding to your comment, not contradicting it - sorry I didn't make that clear.

 

[Gus Mahler]

As long as you know that I know that you know that I know . . .

 

[VAMike23]

With Kiah at center last year, Stewie was able cheat off the forwards and help on the perimeter. This year, she's got to stay in the paint while a couple of freshmen help on the perimeter. Give them a little time.

This is the #1 reason that I'm looking forward to Butler's presence. It won't necessarily be seamless from game 1 (for NB) but by March she should be sufficiently solid in the middle that Stewie can roam and help on the perimeter when she is in a position to do so, and when we need her to. This is not to say she will play tons of minutes every game or that Gabby's role will be drastically reduced. It's just that in certain games and against certain match ups, it will be great to have her. Despite the 4-guard lineup from ND, I think that Butler could have even helped in this game simply by freeing up Stewie a little bit.

Even when Stewie isn't actually closing out to block or alter 3-or attempts, she's helping our perimeter D since her mere presence in the vicinity is enough to keep quite a few shots from going up at all.

 

[DaddyChoc]

In the games she's attended since graduating, McBride always looks incredibly nervous and tense if the camera spots her during a close game. It's just her personality.

Turner's just a little bit more laid back. But she's competitive when she's on the court.

someone mentioned how McBride would be "crying" if they were losing (not as a spectator but as a ND player) and how Turner is just sitting (as a players ON the team but as a spectator due to injury) there smiling and laughing.

we're not talking about a graduated McBride

(do people read the whole thread, or just up in defensively)

 

[Orangutan]

someone mentioned how McBride would be "crying" if they were losing (not as a spectator but as a ND player) and how Turner is just sitting (as a players ON the team but as a spectator due to injury) there smiling and laughing.

we're not talking about a graduated McBride

(do people read the whole thread, or just up in defensively)

Oh I understood what the poster was saying. Was just supplementing with my own (fairly irrelevant) observations that McBride is a very emotional person overall. That's all.

 

[Tonyc]

For UConn to be up 20+pts in the 4th qtr then Geno called off the dogs and had the team go into a stall game and run down the clock and fans say this is not the great team it is is mind boggleing to me. ND shot approx. 65% and UConn was up 21 before they slowed the game down. UConn brought in underclassman to have them gain experience in a big game and fans are saying hey lets stop calling this team the greatest. My question is what other team could've beaten ND and DePaul by double digits the way they shot? If Geno hadn't called off the dogs do you think with a 20+ pt lead UConn could've won by more? I do. I think there is a great chance they could've. But they didn't and we will never know.

As far as Reimer and Turner not playing. If they had ND would've had 2 less outside shooters and perhaps their shooter percentage wouldn't have been as great because UConns bigs wouldn't have had to go outside and guard them leaving the middle open many times for pull ups and drives to the rim. The same thing happened against DePaul. No post players so more outside shooters.

What the DePaul and ND games showed me is that this team can with stand anything. For UConn to play a teams that was shooting that well and still win by double digits well imo is a great team.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

For UConn to be up 20+pts in the 4th qtr then Geno called off the dogs and had the team go into a stall game and run down the clock and fans say this is not the great team it is is mind boggleing to me. ND shot approx. 65% and UConn was up 21 before they slowed the game down. UConn brought in underclassman to have them gain experience in a big game and fans are saying hey lets stop calling this team the greatest.

That's not what happened. Not sure why people think UConn slowed the game down. I just watched the 4th quarter again. UConn was taking shots at a normal pace. When ND cut the 20-pt lead down in the 4th UConn's lineup consisted of 4 starters (no Williams) and Collier. After that Collier was replaced by KLS. The other starters remained in for the rest of the game. Calling off the dogs would've been putting both freshmen, Chong, and Ekmark in together.

 

[JoePgh]

That's not what happened. Not sure why people think UConn slowed the game down. I just watched the 4th quarter again. UConn was taking shots at a normal pace. When ND cut the 20-pt lead down in the 4th UConn's lineup consisted of 4 starters (no Williams) and Collier. After that Collier was replaced by KLS. The other starters remained in for the rest of the game. Calling off the dogs would've been putting both freshmen, Chong, and Ekmark in together.

I think the truth is halfway in between you and Tonyc. No, Geno didn't think the game was in the bag, and he didn't turn to the end of his bench. But he did do what any rational coach would do with a sizeable lead late in a game; he tried to milk the shot clock. Moriah was bringing the ball up more slowly, and some shots were being passed up, in those last 4-5 minutes. (Lou being flagged for traveling in the coffin corner on one possession, as she was trying to pass to keep the clock moving, definitely didn't help.)

Likewise, Notre Dame did what any rational team would do when they are down by a big margin with a few minutes to go -- they threw up 3's with a prayer, after only using a few seconds of the shot clock. Unfortunately, at least three of those prayers went in the basket. I was at the game, and when Madison Cable threw up a 4th one with about two minutes left and the margin at 11 or so, I was sure it would go in and that the game would go down to the wire (and in games between UConn and ND, "down to the wire" is not a good thing if you are a UConn fan). Fortunately, she front-rimmed it and sanity was restored.

You may ask: Why didn't UConn defenders guard the 3-point line aggressively even if it meant giving up some layups, given that 2-point scores probably couldn't hurt them at that point? I think that is probably a case of these Dean's List students not paying attention to Professor Auriemma. (That was one of Geno's postgame comments, addressing a question about why an adjustment on Marina Mabrey was not made during the first half).

 

[wallman]

You won AGAIN!

You scored at a high rate, could have been even higher.

You showed some quality basketball.

Sure were there some slips here and there like an open player under the basket for a rare 2 but Notre Dame hitting some of those 3s did not help them in the long run. I doubt they will win another game like that, oh I forgot they lost.

 

[CocoHusky]

This is the #1 reason that I'm looking forward to Butler's presence. It won't necessarily be seamless from game 1 (for NB) but by March she should be sufficiently solid in the middle that Stewie can roam and help on the perimeter when she is in a position to do so, and when we need her to. This is not to say she will play tons of minutes every game or that Gabby's role will be drastically reduced. It's just that in certain games and against certain match ups, it will be great to have her. Despite the 4-guard lineup from ND, I think that Butler could have even helped in this game simply by freeing up Stewie a little bit.

Even when Stewie isn't actually closing out to block or alter 3-or attempts, she's helping our perimeter D since her mere presence in the vicinity is enough to keep quite a few shots from going up at all.

I agree but I think Butler's presence will have the biggest impact on Morgan both this year and next. Morgan has been sliding between 3, 4, 5. Her Freshmen year before Stokes emerged she was Dolson's backup. I hate Morgan playing center.

 

[DECOLI]

Mabrey looked really good (until she got a face full of Mo)"]

Moriah is an exceptional shut-down defender, but the story line here should be Marina, not Moriah. A real story, a news story, is about the unexpected, not the expected. It's expected that Moriah, as a senior, play great defense. What's unexpected is 21 points by a freshman who nailed multiple contested shots to get her team back into the game. A fair comparison might be Moriah's freshman year stat line against Notre Dame. Marina clearly outperforms her:

Moriah (as freshman vs. Notre Dame 4/7/13):
0 Points, 0 Assists, 0 Rebounds, 2 Turnovers.

Marina (as freshman vs. Uconn 12/5/15):
23 Points, 1 Assist, 3 Rebounds, 5 Turnovers.

Marina was impressive and highly efficient. She's the real story.

 

[HGN]

My only thought about the ND game is whether we will see them again in the NCAA Tournament.......When someone shoots a higher percentage of 3's , than 2's , that is having a great game. I just don't see that happening again against the Huskies if they face-off again this season. It took a lot of skill and a lot of LUCK to do what ND did. But this game is built on having some skill and Luck. And , give them credit , they had a lot of both.

 

[HuskyNan]

Moriah is an exceptional shut-down defender, but the story line here should be Marina, not Moriah. A real story, a news story, is about the unexpected, not the expected. It's expected that Moriah, as a senior, play great defense. What's unexpected is 21 points by a freshman who nailed multiple contested shots to get her team back into the game. A fair comparison might be Moriah's freshman year stat line against Notre Dame. Marina clearly outperforms her:

Moriah (as freshman vs. Notre Dame 4/7/13):
0 Points, 0 Assists, 0 Rebounds, 2 Turnovers.

Marina (as freshman vs. Uconn 12/5/15):
23 Points, 1 Assist, 3 Rebounds, 5 Turnovers.

Marina was impressive and highly efficient. She's the real story.

I think Moriah would rather win a national championship than a fictitious freshman shooting competition. Besides, Mo shut Marina down this game, competition wasn't even close.

 

[Monte]

This was just a regular season game. Geno/ UConn were not going to play this game like a national championship game. This is just one non-conference game in a long season. You want to use this game to experiment a little. Try different lineups, defenses, and offensive sets. Rest assured, if this were a tournament game UConn's approach would have been much different.

It wasn't a "different" approach last year in the Albany tournament game against Dayton. They were swishing 3-pointers against Uconn in the first half. Once again, Geno waited until half-time to make adjustments. I agree with previous posters on this point: IF changes have to be made, call timeout, and make the changes.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Moriah is an exceptional shut-down defender, but the story line here should be Marina, not Moriah. A real story, a news story, is about the unexpected, not the expected. It's expected that Moriah, as a senior, play great defense. What's unexpected is 21 points by a freshman who nailed multiple contested shots to get her team back into the game. A fair comparison might be Moriah's freshman year stat line against Notre Dame. Marina clearly outperforms her:

Moriah (as freshman vs. Notre Dame 4/7/13):
0 Points, 0 Assists, 0 Rebounds, 2 Turnovers.

Marina (as freshman vs. Uconn 12/5/15):
23 Points, 1 Assist, 3 Rebounds, 5 Turnovers.

Marina was impressive and highly efficient. She's the real story.

Hey DECOLI - Marina had a great shooting night. Her competiveness was impressive. I would have her on my team in a second. When you're hot, you're hot! Definitely a major part of the whole story. A nicked-up ND competing big time against UConn in the first half was also part of the story. IMHO Muffitt is one of the best coaches in WBB. I would rate her #2 or 3--I like Mulkey/Baylor just as much.
ND has the second best team defense. The second best motion offense. As a team they respond to their coach at a top level. ND recruits the type of player that UConn loves; smart, tough, competitive, team players, unselfish.
Marina had a night to remember and was a big part of the best rivalry in WBB. I think most people would consider that a fair rendition of the story.
Please remember, there are always two sides to the story. UConn handling the pressure, overcoming 65% 3 pt. shooting, breaking open the game in the 3rd quarter, MO shutting down the Frosh, and UConn winning the game handily by the end were also very important parts of the REAL story. Of course, Marina did play a leading role in this fantastic, thrill filled drama!!

 

[Monte]

I wondered about this as well. My answer: Geno knew after the opening burst that his starters could beat ND. So he brought in the bench players to let them get experience in a high pressure game against a big time opponent. Did you watch Geno on sidelines. No hands through the hair, no looking at the assistants and asking them "what the hell are you teaching them?" He seemed like he felt the game was in control so he let people work through challenges and got valuable tape.

Now maybe I'm just looking through a pair of national flag blue glasses, but that's the way I see it.

In the first half, Geno had that "stunned" look on his face, as if to say: "What should I do?"
The last time I saw that face was way back in the days when Tennessee used to beat the Huskies............Realistically, WHO did expect 21 points from a freshman in the 1st half?

 

[Monte]

Hoops fan- I used to look forward to most of your posts and insights. I think you've lost a step or two. KLS looks like she gets our system more after 5 games than Stewie did after 5 games her freshmen year. I think a lot of our posters are losing it.
KLS was instrumental in closing out DePaul away, the last 8 minutes of the game in a pressure cooker.

I agree. Stewie did not really "wake up" in her Freshman year until the NCAA tourney rolled around. Then, she went wild!

 

[msf22b]

I agree but I think Butler's presence will have the biggest impact on Morgan both this year and next.

This is the #1 reason that I'm looking forward to Butler's presence. ... This is not to say she will play tons of minutes every game

One has to remember that it would have been inconceivable for Steff not to have started even if the opposition was 5 pygmies (interesting article in the Guardian regarding whether the use of that word is perforative, racist or politically incorrect...they're not sure, but some of their readers protested).

If Butler is a true center with strong offensive moves and a inclination for D, then she will play...lots.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I was at the ND vs UCONN game but I just watched the game taped and certain things were apparent:
In no particular order:
1. Why was Stewie outside as a point guard most of the game? With Turner & Reimer out she/6'4" would have been better used inside then pass out of a double team. The last 3 years the way to beat ND was attack their bigs. not perimeter game.
2. No rotation on ND drives to the basket.
3. Tuck has missed 16 inside shots at the hoop in 6 games.
4. ND's open 3's, how do you leave shooters open? It always amazed me when DT would be wide open for 3's.
5. Ref's as usual had no clue. Just horrible calls for both teams.
6. Our girls have a habit of bounce passes into the middle when it's crowded.
7. Our guards charging into the lane out of control.
8. Tuck shooting 58% from FT line.

IMHO it could be we started with games far apart now 4 games in 8 days!
UCONN just didn't look as sharp as they usually do! And I don't think ND had a lot to do with that!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

8. Tuck shooting 58% from FT line.

Think Tuck's 44% FG% is far more telling and head-scratching than her foul shooting which is 65% after yesterday.

2. No rotation on ND drives to the basket.

This was definitely an issue. Also of note, with the exception of the face-guarding done by Jefferson UConn constantly switched on defense with mostly poor results.

 

[Monte]

Lou is not a starter.

YET

 

[Icebear]

Moriah is an exceptional shut-down defender, but the story line here should be Marina, not Moriah. A real story, a news story, is about the unexpected, not the expected. It's expected that Moriah, as a senior, play great defense. What's unexpected is 21 points by a freshman who nailed multiple contested shots to get her team back into the game. A fair comparison might be Moriah's freshman year stat line against Notre Dame. Marina clearly outperforms her:

Moriah (as freshman vs. Notre Dame 4/7/13):
0 Points, 0 Assists, 0 Rebounds, 2 Turnovers.

Marina (as freshman vs. Uconn 12/5/15):
23 Points, 1 Assist, 3 Rebounds, 5 Turnovers.

Marina was impressive and highly efficient. She's the real story.

Marina is not near being the story. She was a player left unaccounted for as a freshman and non starter. She came in and was incredibly hot. Once accounted for with half time adjustments she became a complete non factor. End of story.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Marina is not near being the story. She was a player left unaccounted for as a freshman and non starter. She came in and was incredibly hot. Once accounted for with half time adjustments she became a complete non factor. End of story.

If you have to adjust to a player by putting one of the best defenders in college on a her it would seem to say quite a bit about that player.

 

[Icebear]

If you have to adjust to a player by putting one of the best defenders in college on a her it would seem to say quite a bit about that player.

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.

 

[UcMiami]

And the issue coming into the game was 'how do we stop Cable' who had just gone off against OSU in their first 4 guard rotation game for 25 on 8-14/5-9/4-4. She scored 9 in the first half so as with everyone else, she wasn't exactly shut down, but the damage she did was 'manageable'.

That also explains the question about defensive help being slow or non-existent. Nelson, Huffman, and Westbeld were the only three players ND put on the floor that were not 3 point threats, and they were seldom if ever on the court at the same time (they combined to play 48 minutes so only overlapped for about 8 minutes.) And when they played they spent most of their time outside setting screens for the other four players. Whoever was guarding them had to play them fairly close to be in position to switch on those screens. The rest of the ND players range in 3 pt percentage from .564 (Cable) to .364 (Mabrey1) - not players you want to stray very far from defensively. And getting over to provide help at the basket starting from the 3 point arc is not likely to be effective very often, even if you have a clear path and a head start.

 

[Carnac]

You think UConn fans are bad now, wait until next year when Stewie and Moriah are gone. The world will come to an end when we (UConn) lose a few games and someone else wins the national championship. This place will be entertaining for sure!!!!!

As scary as that scenario seems, I'm afraid you may have something there. Geno is a "master magician", and has done the seeming impossible at times.
He may have to pull several rabbits out of his hat next year. It will be very interesting to see the team he puts on the floor for the first 10 games. NO Stewie, No Moriah, and maybe no Morgan.

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.

The question is weather the players waiting in the wings will be ready for the big stage (prime time) when the curtain rises for them? The yard will be buzzing with prognosticators, prophets, posters sharing their hopes, fears, dreams and the like. Much more so than this past summer. The current team was not nearly as much of a question mark or mystery as next year's team will be.

IN GENO WE TRUST. Some how, some way, I know he'll put a team on the floor that will be competitive and determined. A team that will play up to the standard that is UConn basketball, and hopefully be defending a national championship. The fate of the team will be in the hands of Butler, Collier, Nurse, Boykin, Chong, Williams and maybe Dangerfield.

UConn fans know this fairy tale merry-go-round we're currently riding (winning consecutive championships) will stop at some point. It has to. All good things must come to an end. However, that time has not come yet. We'll deal with it does. But in the mean time, we've got our cowboy hats and chaps on. We're all enjoying the ride, and plan to stay on until it stops. Giddy up horsey.

 

[UcMiami]

IN GENO WE TRUST. Some how, some way, I know he'll put a team on the floor that will be competitive and determined. A team that will play up to the standard that is UConn basketball, and hopefully be defending a national championship. The fate of the team will be in the hands of Butler, Collier, Nurse, Boykin, Chong, Williams and maybe Dangerfield.

Just for the heck of it I would throw Samuelson into that mix - she may develop a bit this year and be ready for some court time next year!

 

[Carnac]

Just for the heck of it I would throw Samuelson into that mix - she may develop a bit this year and be ready for some court time next year!

Oops, thanks UC, I forgot to include KLS. Katie Lou will be one of the main cogs of next year's team!!. Her exclusion was not on purpose.