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

[freshler40]

1. Reduce our turnovers to under Ten (10).
2. Out rebound by five (5) in both defense and offense.
3. four of our players having 14 or more points.

 

[Husky fanatic]

1. Ash brings it up a notch. After that fall does she think she’s Batman?
2. Jana with another 9 boards and doesn’t throw them away
3.Big 3 play really “BIG”

 

[Zarathustra]

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.

I would suggest for a # 3 === a "W"!!!!

 

[HuskyinWRNY]

Fast start
A rout
USC in tears by halftime

 

[jdote33]

1. Balance. I get Paige is a senior and needs to hold herself to a high standard but the defense will be vastly different. Maybe Marshall will fall asleep at times but I doubt there will be drop coverage and so much space off screens. Paige will score 25+ Everytime if you play her that way. She's just so gifted at using screens and squaring up.

2. Defensive Rebounding and Defensive 3 point coverage: I think these are the main ways USC stays in the game or generates enough offense to compete. Even with a slow start we scored 80 plus last game and I feel like we've been around there fairly consistently since January. So to hold USC below that will mean limiting second chance points as well as 3 point looks. Avery Howell is one of my favorite freshman. 6 ft, great size and a great shooter. She actually played pretty well in the early season matchup.

3. Azzi and Jana stepping up- it's hard to pin point what the matchups or assignments will be, but theoretically Jana at 6'5 should be able to bother Kiki a bit. Additionally, depending on who they put on Paige (I think they should go with Kennedy Smith) Azzi should have a pretty good matchup.

 

[EricLA]

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!

Mainly because Azzi is so inconsistent. 4-13 overall and 1-5 from 3? for every game she scores 20+, she has an off night shooting wise like she did against Oklahoma. Azzi can be a tremendous shooter with great form, and by the way, she was wide open for her shots, but she misses way too many.

Also I don't think Azzi has the alpha dog mentality that Paige does. She's a great player, but not an alpha dog IMHO...

 

[Cuango]

Paige with 20+ & 16 assists.
Azzi with 20+.
Sarah with double double + 5, 4, & 3.

 

[Bone Dog]

1. I hope that Ash is good to go. That was a huge hit she took to the floor.

That's a terrifying thought for a few reasons. Mainly, I want Ash to be healthy now and longterm.

But also, she is a key piece to this team. Geno can't afford not to have her available.

 

[Majic Hands]

1 staff come up with a great strategy
2 our team enthusiastically executing the plan
3 primary players/starters resting in the 4th quarter.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Azzi and/or Strong knocking down shots out of the gate. They are gonna put 2 1/2 defenders on Paige, so everyone else should be a lot more open.