Thoughts on the game. Tomorrow vs. St John's.

[Kibitzer]

1. You can bet the farm that the team is sick of seeing last year's game. Over and over and over, spiced with editorial comment from Geno. No way they want an encore.

2. Watch for Geno and the players to try to help Bria get some points.

3. Geno seems determined to work that high-low post game with Stef and Breanna, then try to work Kiah into that mix.

4. Morgan is not yet into the flow on offense. Geno may put her out there with three or more starters to help her get acclimated.

5. Geno will give Stef a quick and ignominious exit if she persists in dumb first half fouls.

6. Kaleena and Breanna will light up the scoreboard.

7. I like our chances.

 

[jdubct]

1. You can bet the farm that the team is sick of seeing last year's game. Over and over and over, spiced with editorial comment from Geno. No way they want an encore.

2. Watch for Geno and the players to try to help Bria get some points.

3. Geno seems determined to work that high-low post game with Stef and Breanna, then try to work Kiah into that mix.

4. Morgan is not yet into the flow on offense. Geno may put her out there with three or more starters to help her get acclimated.

5. Geno will give Stef a quick and ignominious exit if she persists in dumb first half fouls.

6. Kaleena and Breanna will light up the scoreboard.

7. I like our chances.

Lucky 7! Also would like to see Jefferson and Banks have break-out games.

 

[meyers7]

Here's my look at it.


Teams UCONN St. John’s
Scoring/Opp 82.5/46.5 59.8/54.8
FG%/3pt 49.4%/37.0% 39.1%/26.8%
Def FG% 30.2%/29.9% 36.1%/30.3%
Reb 42.4/+10.8 40.6/+3.2
Assists 21.4 11.5
T/O 14.1/+6.5 14.3/+1.5
Steals/Blks 11.3/5.5 8.1/6.2

Starters
Shenneika Smith - (6-1 G SR) 16.5 ppg / 7.6 rpg / 2.3 bpg / 26% 3 pt
Nadirah McKenith - (5-7 G SR) 13.1 ppg /5.8 rpb / 4.9 apg / 26% 3 pt
Brianna Brown – (5-8 G JR) 8.2 ppg /5.6 rpg / 27% 3 pt
Aliyyah Hanford – (5-9 G FR) 8.7 ppg / 3.8 apg
Mary Nwachukwu – (6-2 F JR) 2.4 ppg / 3.6 rpg

Bench
Amber Thompson - (6-2 F SO) 5.9 ppg / 6.3 rpg
Keylantra Langley – (5-9 G JR) 4.5 ppg / 2.1 rpg

Wins -Rutgers 48-44
Losses – Texas 60-70, Notre Dame 50-74, Louisville 54-57, Syracuse 57-60, Duke 42-60, Delaware 59-60, Quinnipiac 72-75 (YIKES!)

St. John’s is not as good team as in recent years. 10-9 overall, 4-3 in conference. They don’t have much height. But they seem to rebound “ok”, nothing great though. I think UCONN will be able to take advantage of this. The starters match up position wise with UCONN, 1 post and 4 guards. Looks like Faris will draw Smith, their best player. Shut her down and they don’t have much else.

Red Storm are not a good shooting team. Don’t shoot the 3 much and are not very good at it. Have made 52 KML has made 61. They must score inside and that won’t happen much with UCONN. They don’t turn the ball over a lot, but don’t force a lot either.

Defensively, their stats are not bad. Even without any real height, they have more blocks per game than UCONN. But the way UCONN has started to gel, I don’t think UCONN will have a lot of problems scoring. Particularly inside. Could see another big game by Dolson and possibly Stewart if she get’s rolling early.

UCONN should win this one easily. No reason to hold them back this game, and reasons to let them go (last years game), so I could see us scoring quite a bit, especially if the 3 pt shooter get hot in addition to the inside game.

Don’t expect St. John’s to get out of the 40’s, maybe even the 30’s. They’ve only given up 70’s 3 times.

I’ll go 81-42.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Thanks, Meyers..

This SJU team is not as good as last year's. Smith and McKenith are pretty good, though.

They average just under 60 ppg. Yikes! They will not make 50, maybe not 40.

As Kib said, I like our chances. Look for the Stef and Kaleena show again. And Stewie.

 

[UcMiami]

Thanks for the OP and the analysis - good work.
On Morgan - I liked the work she is doing in high/low lately and the fact she is not pulling the trigger so often from 3 - I know she can hit that, and I hope in future years she does more, but right now I think concentrating on inside work and rebounding is better for her development.
I know some folks complain about the high low offensive sets, but Stef is so deadly from the elbow and BS can be too, that it is a great option for this team. And it works well for man and zone defenses.
I liked Geno's comment in the post game about turnover numbers - with the number of shots Uconn typically gets the turnover numbers are not bad. If you are only getting 50+ shots then the numbers would be too high a percentage, but shooting 60+ or 70+ and having 14 turnovers is OK. Hadn't really thought of % turnover rate but it makes sense. Everyone uses assist/turnover, but it would be interesting to compare teams on turnover/shots and assists/shots. Obviously no use as an individual stat, but as team stats probably more telling than the a/to number.

 

[Buster]

My sisters and I are going to be at this game. We're hoping to have better seats than we could ever get at a home game!
Last year, at one Gampel game, a very nice man came up to us as we sat in the nosebleed bleachers and asked if we wanted to join his party in the second row right behind the scorers table! We gleefully accepted, and enjoyed our first ever close up of our team playing!
An unexpected blessing....we were close enough to hear Geno yelling!

 

[EricLA]

Thanks for the OP and the analysis - good work.
On Morgan - I liked the work she is doing in high/low lately and the fact she is not pulling the trigger so often from 3 - I know she can hit that, and I hope in future years she does more, but right now I think concentrating on inside work and rebounding is better for her development.
I know some folks complain about the high low offensive sets, but Stef is so deadly from the elbow and BS can be too, that it is a great option for this team. And it works well for man and zone defenses.

I liked Geno's comment in the post game about turnover numbers - with the number of shots Uconn typically gets the turnover numbers are not bad. If you are only getting 50+ shots then the numbers would be too high a percentage, but shooting 60+ or 70+ and having 14 turnovers is OK. Hadn't really thought of % turnover rate but it makes sense. Everyone uses assist/turnover, but it would be interesting to compare teams on turnover/shots and assists/shots. Obviously no use as an individual stat, but as team stats probably more telling than the a/to number.

Nice post. I just wanted to comment on the Stef in the post thing - I was one of the fans "complaining" about her lack of time in the post earlier. She IS a terrific passer and great at setting screens and what not, AND when Bree is in the game, it's a very effective combo.

However, when Bree is not in the game, unless they are doing the hi-lo thing with KML, the complaints were that Stef was spending a lot of time roaming the perimeter and that's where we were getting frustrated with the way the offense was flowing (at least "me" - not sure if i speak for others). I think it's fantastic that this team not only has so many individual weapons, but that the individuals are so flexible and creative in how they try to get the best open shot as a team.

I agree about the turnovers - i saw that interview (or post game comments) where he talked about it and it made more sense after his explanation instead of just looking at the raw numbers.

 

[phil sampieri]

Nice post. I just wanted to comment on the Stef in the post thing - I was one of the fans "complaining" about her lack of time in the post earlier. She IS a terrific passer and great at setting screens and what not, AND when Bree is in the game, it's a very effective combo.

However, when Bree is not in the game, unless they are doing the hi-lo thing with KML, the complaints were that Stef was spending a lot of time roaming the perimeter and that's where we were getting frustrated with the way the offense was flowing (at least "me" - not sure if i speak for others). I think it's fantastic that this team not only has so many individual weapons, but that the individuals are so flexible and creative in how they try to get the best open shot as a team.

I agree about the turnovers - i saw that interview (or post game comments) where he talked about it and it made more sense after his explanation instead of just looking at the raw numbers.

What we saw in the last Stewie could hqave a field day.

 

[phil sampieri]

What we saw in the last Stewie could hqave a field day.

Please disregard the stupid post above..Meant to type that if Stef keeps making the top of the key jumper like this last game that would draw Griner outside and open up the low post for Stewie and the cutters

 

[pap49cba]

Seems like Smith has been there for about 8 years.

 

[Icebear]

Please disregard the stupid post above..Meant to type that if Stef keeps making the top of the key jumper like this last game that would draw Griner outside and open up the low post for Stewie and the cutters

Yup, that's what I've been suggesting to the chagrin of some. She hits the 15-18 ' regularly now and is at 40% on the 3. She is now officially a perceived threat at the top of the key.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Seems like Smith has been there for about 8 years.

Maybe since before John reached sainthood.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The bottom line on TOs is don't make them against the good teams. If we have only 10 TOs against, ND or Baylor, I like our chances. At 20, it's problematic.

But to limit them against good teams requires improving against the weaker teams (aka Spam) along the way.

 

[magical2]

props to meyers This is a game that we should again win with the FINAL SCORE
not being as representative of the disparity between us and them
With their injury and our health that makes the gap more like the GRAND CANYON
Will we see another game where we have 25-30 minutes of good play and the remaining
minutes no offense YES even in the last game we had 15 minutes of great play and shooting and
then we did not score for the last 4 1/2 minutes of the 1st half and the ist 5 minutes of the 2ns half
I think SAT WE HAVE FUN KML,SD,STEWIE will be around 20 or more
The FR who GENO refers to as space cadets continue to come along
THIS ISNT THE PREDICTION THREAD IS IT
IRA

 

[Blakeon18]

BTW: Carl Adamec has an article in today's JI focusing on Ashley Perez...frosh guard at St. John's...from Manchester High. The link to the article only takes you to a few sentences...you have to be a subscriber to see the whole thing so I don't include it here. Ashley is struggling down there....they seem optimistic that she will be a factor at some point....[probably not this year?]. I did see her play briefly at one point during her high school days....she is a small feisty point....can shoot and pass it. Carl says that her confidence has taken a hit this year.

Wonder if she might get some PT late in the game if UConn is way ahead....she has lots of family coming.

 

[MilfordHusky]

DoggyDaddy's news items include Carl's article on Ashley.

I hope she gets in and plays well after the score is 70-30.

 

[RadyLady]

In the papers there is some chatter of a Stewart/Tuck combo. I am looking forward to seeing this worked on today. UConn will destroy this team unless they are absorbed into the Borg collective.

 

[magical2]

I guess it is the thread for predictions at least at 3 hours prior to game time
OK last game we destroyed a better team than we are playing today
What does that tell us Dont worry about predictions What is the worst
that happens to you NOTHING They dont send out the crazy police
to pick you up WELL I DONT THINK SO
We are better offensively We are better defensively
AGAIN WE PLAY 25 MINUTES OF BASKETBALL the
rest of the game is/has been like it is golf low scoring

IF WE GET 40 MINUTES OF GOOD BASKETBALL We might avg
95-100 points per game instead of leading the nation at 82/83 per game
FINAL SCORE 87-42 WE WIN HEALTHY TEAM CONTINUES TO PROGRESS
IRA

 

[Samanthabrown3]

open up the low post for Stewie and the cutters

"Stewie and the Cutters" would be a great name for a rock band.

 

[MilfordHusky]

"Stewie and the Cutters" would be a great name for a rock band.

I hope they rock the arena today.

 

[meyers7]

Well that didn't work out at all like I thought.