Top 3 Things You Want To See Against USC Monday Night. Game is at 9 pm on ESPN. | The Boneyard

Top 3 Things You Want To See Against USC Monday Night. Game is at 9 pm on ESPN.

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After the absolute Paige masterpiece against Oklahoma, here are the top 3 things I want to see against USC.

1) A rested team and a fast start.

2) Azzi and Sarah in high gear.

3) Good smart post play without turnovers.

We all know what we have to do. You have any?
 
1. Contain Kiki in the low post and mid-range
2. Pressure the guards and force them to make mistakes
3. Be aggressive on offense and take many shots. Enough will fall and give us a decisive victory.
Go team!!
 
1. Respect Avery Howell. She is their primary threat from behind the arc. She is good. And will be really good in a year or two. But we should be able to hold her to single figures.
2. Iriafen. She had a bad game against Kansas State. There is no reason she should have a good game against us. Strong can do a good job against her.
3. I would like to see Azzi get going. The boot bothers me. And the play so far in the tournament bothers me.
 
Disruptive defense
A fast start
Better movement off the ball to give Paige options to either shoot or pass as I suspect USC will try to take Paige out of her game as much as possible.
 
  1. Win
  2. Win
  3. Win
Honestly, some people were like "but we need Sarah and Azzi to go off as well - not just Ash and Paige". Well, against Oklahoma, Paige took 27 shots. I didn't look it up, but I have to guess that's the most shots she's taken in any game this season. Part of it was no one else besides Ash was hitting.

Sarah and Azzi were both slumping. So not only did Paige take over, but the team continuously set screens to get her open - Jana was the best at it IMHO. She constantly set screens at the top of the key, Paige curled around it, and shot a wide open jumper. This worked over and over. Jana's offense was non-existent, but her screens were great.

It shows that the team can win a lot of different ways. Sure we had 4 players in double figures, but Azzi, Sarah, and Ash only had between 10-12 each. That's one reason we only had 19 assists on 32 made baskets.

Bottom line, win however we can. Against Oklahoma, the rest of the team had plenty of chances to contribute scoring-wise, but Azzi and Sarah were ice cold. That's really why we were down 4 at the half. We had good shots, they just didn't fall. Nerves? Being tired from the trip west? No idea. I do hope the rest of the team steps up, especially Sarah and Azzi, but you only need to win by 1 to advance. Of course, it will be easier on my nerves if it's by more than that!
 
Rebound like they did against OU
Shoot in the mid 30's for 3 pointers..they only shot 26% the first time they played USC
Paige continue to carry the team but hopefully Azzi shoots better and Sara continues her 2dbl play
 
EricLA said:
  1. Win
  2. Win
  3. Win
Honestly, some people were like "but we need Sarah and Azzi to go off as well - not just Ash and Paige". Well, against Oklahoma, Paige took 27 shots. I didn't look it up, but I have to guess that's the most shots she's taken in any game this season. Part of it was no one else besides Ash was hitting.

Sarah and Azzi were both slumping. So not only did Paige take over, but the team continuously set screens to get her open - Jana was the best at it IMHO. She constantly set screens at the top of the key, Paige curled around it, and shot a wide open jumper. This worked over and over. Jana's offense was non-existent, but her screens were great.

It shows that the team can win a lot of different ways. Sure we had 4 players in double figures, but Azzi, Sarah, and Ash only had between 10-12 each. That's one reason we only had 19 assists on 32 made baskets.

Bottom line, win however we can. Against Oklahoma, the rest of the team had plenty of chances to contribute scoring-wise, but Azzi and Sarah were ice cold. That's really why we were down 4 at the half. We had good shots, they just didn't fall. Nerves? Being tired from the trip west? No idea. I do hope the rest of the team steps up, especially Sarah and Azzi, but you only need to win by 1 to advance. Of course, it will be easier on my nerves if it's by more than that!
Expand ...
You actually have nerves left after that first half? I didn’t breathe until Paige made that phenomenal play on the floor with the pass to KC for the score.
 
1. No lingering effects of the hard fall on Ash.
2. A win.
3. A relatively stress free game.

In reality, I probably won’t see any of these things. I can’t stand to watch the games when the stakes are that high. I’ll check the score every once in a while, and if things look like they are going really great in the second half, I might turn on the game. I’ll turn it off again the second there is a bad play. Such is the life of the ridiculously superstitious.
 
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As Geno says, the Elite Eight game is the hardest to win, so expect a big challenge from an inspired USC team.

I want to see:

1. Start off with strong team defense from the jump and don’t let up.
2. Expect double and triple teams on Paige - they will try to force Paige out of that midrange pull-up and force our other players to score.
3. Rebounding on both ends - own the boards.
 
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1. I hope that Ash is good to go. That was a huge hit she took to the floor.
2. Azzi to have the type of game she is capable of having on offense
3. More KK on defense and KC to actually get involved in the offense

I am more afraid of USC without Juju. They play a much better team game without her and the other players know they don't have her to rely on. In the end though I think UConn is just a much better defensive team and they will win.
 
Azzi, Sarah and Paige have a fast start - from the opening tip
Jena or Ice be seriously productive on the O side
 
Control Iriafen and Kennedy and get off to a solid start offensively......UConn may need Aubrey in this game if she is able to play.......
 
1. Paige gets 27 points...or more.
2. Azzi and Sarah improve on their PPG averages.
3. Continued Chaos and Confusion: KK, Ash, Kaitlyn,
and hopefully .... Aubrey....
Oh... and a "W"!!!
 
A NC is in sight and what I hope for against USC goes for subsequent games should we win tomorrow:

Smart hard-nosed defense from the paint to the 3 point stripe, from opening tap to the last minute a win isn't guaranteed. UConn has been a really good defensive team so I don't doubt that they will keep that up. Jana and Ice need to take everything they've learned to date and control points in the paint. I don't care if they score or not, just play good D.

Sarah, Azzi and Ash making some baskets early and looking to get and make open shots the whole game. Double digit points for all three. They need to take the pressure off Paige and scoring does that. Paige will get her points and if need be she'll shoot on every possession. Paige doesn't want to have to put up huge numbers to get a win. Give her help and assists and all will be good. Oh, Ms. Chen can shoot, and should do so when open.

There is no need for a number three. Play good D per #1 and get some decent scoring aside from Paige per #2 and that will be more than enough.
 
Ozimoto said:
Disruptive defense
A fast start
Better movement off the ball to give Paige options to either shoot or pass as I suspect USC will try to take Paige out of her game as much as possible.
Expand ...
From here on out I want Paige to be the best player on the court, at the beginning of the game. Don't defer to you teammates make them bring their level up to you.
The great ones play their game from the start, and make their teammates play better..
Sue, DT, Maya, Stewie, Paige has the talent , and now she needs the mentality.
This is her team and last rodeo, she needs to win this title.
 
1. USC is bigger than us and rebounding worries me Jana , Ice , Sarah need to out rebound USC.
2. If Heckel isn't in we can pressure their ball handlers.
3. Set good screens for Paige, Azzi and Ash and let them fire away.
 
EricLA said:
  1. Win
  2. Win
  3. Win
Honestly, some people were like "but we need Sarah and Azzi to go off as well - not just Ash and Paige". Well, against Oklahoma, Paige took 27 shots. I didn't look it up, but I have to guess that's the most shots she's taken in any game this season. Part of it was no one else besides Ash was hitting.

Sarah and Azzi were both slumping. So not only did Paige take over, but the team continuously set screens to get her open - Jana was the best at it IMHO. She constantly set screens at the top of the key, Paige curled around it, and shot a wide open jumper. This worked over and over. Jana's offense was non-existent, but her screens were great.

It shows that the team can win a lot of different ways. Sure we had 4 players in double figures, but Azzi, Sarah, and Ash only had between 10-12 each. That's one reason we only had 19 assists on 32 made baskets.

Bottom line, win however we can. Against Oklahoma, the rest of the team had plenty of chances to contribute scoring-wise, but Azzi and Sarah were ice cold. That's really why we were down 4 at the half. We had good shots, they just didn't fall. Nerves? Being tired from the trip west? No idea. I do hope the rest of the team steps up, especially Sarah and Azzi, but you only need to win by 1 to advance. Of course, it will be easier on my nerves if it's by more than that!
Expand ...
Why don’t they set screens for Azzi to get her going? Can they only screen for one person at a time? Paige takes advantage of those excellent screens in part due to the Azzi threat in the corner, pulling a defender away with her and giving Paige more room to operate. But that can lead to quiet patches for Azzi when she seems to disappear on offense. If Azzi is getting screens up top, does that mean Paige gets marooned in the corner? They say don’t fix what isn’t broken, and Paige just scored 40 points, but she is so good at getting her shot off anywhere, whereas Azzi isn’t as creative a scorer. It might be worth it to screen for Azzi and let her score at will- her pull-up jumper is usually deadly (except lately her first couple are a little strong and clang off the back of the rim), and then Paige can sniper away from anywhere on the court. Azzi is going to explode again like in the SC game- it’s coming!
 
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1. UConn's defense must hold off USC's offense right from the beginning, showing USC they have no hope to pull out a win!
2. Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK, Ashlynn, Kaitlyn, Jana and Ice have to put pressure on Kiki Iriafin and the freshmen making them play furious defense for the full 40 minutes! No rest for the weary!
3. Have a big lead to get all the substitutes some playing time!
 

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