Top 3 Things You Want To See Monday Against Notre Dame- Game is at 5:00 pm at Gampel and is on Fox | The Boneyard
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Top 3 Things You Want To See Monday Against Notre Dame- Game is at 5:00 pm at Gampel and is on Fox

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BBallF

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Ok so here it is. With Tennessee and Notre Dame being our 2 toughest regular season games left, I rank this one as the more difficult task because of HH. This will be a good test for our defense and a good opportunity to avoid lapses in the offense. So here are my top 3 things:

1) KK and K9 to stay out of foul trouble.

2) Ash to shoot the pull up and the 3 and also to drive. 8 points and 4 boards is the modest ask.

3) Turnovers to be kept at 10 or below.

Execution and defensive intensity will be the keys. What are your 3?
 
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1. A convincing win
2. fewer than 10 turnovers committed, more than 20 turnovers forced
3. I need to find some Irish sausage to make bangers and mash
 
While I predict UConn will win by 20+, I still have the following concerns (as does Geno from recent comments). Most are nits but could affect a playoff game at year's end:
-Serah needs to be more agressive on offense. If she gets ball within 5 feet of basket, she needs to shoot, not just stand there, get a 3 second turnover or bring ball down for steal. Not a major issue for in league games but the top 8 teams will punish her for this lack of confidence.
-K9, whose energy is wonderful to watch, has a more error free game. For instance, she has been throwing ball away 2-3x each of the past few games and cannot seem to stay with ultra quick guards like Villanova's Bascoe. Yes, there are few players as fast as Bascoe but in the playoffs, most of the teams UConn will face has one or two. Better foul shooting would be a bonus as well.
-While I love to watch Blanca play-such a unique player-every game she seems to get 1-2 offensive fouls by trying to drive through players. Perhaps Sarah can help her learn a few new moves. Yes, this is a nit but still frustrating to watch.
 
ND is not overly huge. They do have 6'4" player (Sanchez) and 2 at 6'3" (Cowles and Prosper), but Williams is 6'5", and Sarah and Blanca are both at least 6'2". If you look at the scoring averages, it's pretty much Hidalgo or bust, so having said that:
  • Figure out how to limit her without committing a bunch of fouls
  • Wear them down with our defensive intensity as well as our depth
  • Sarah and Azzi to look like AA's and both lead the way to a win with 20+ each
 
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Jana plays...effectively
A variety of defenders on Hidalgo...sometimes KK....sometimes Azzi....sometimes Ash...leading to
some points for Hidalgo but with a downright poor shooting percentage.
Blanca continuing to improve her play by further limiting her excessive wildness and turnovers.

One thing I do NOT want to see: KK sitting on the bench with 2 fouls at the first
TV timeout.
 
HopJim said:
While I predict UConn will win by 20+, I still have the following concerns (as does Geno from recent comments). Most are nits but could affect a playoff game at year's end:
-Serah needs to be more agressive on offense. If she gets ball within 5 feet of basket, she needs to shoot, not just stand there, get a 3 second turnover or bring ball down for steal. Not a major issue for in league games but the top 8 teams will punish her for this lack of confidence.
-K9, whose energy is wonderful to watch, has a more error free game. For instance, she has been throwing ball away 2-3x each of the past few games and cannot seem to stay with ultra quick guards like Villanova's Bascoe. Yes, there are few players as fast as Bascoe but in the playoffs, most of the teams UConn will face has one or two. Better foul shooting would be a bonus as well.
-While I love to watch Blanca play-such a unique player-every game she seems to get 1-2 offensive fouls by trying to drive through players. Perhaps Sarah can help her learn a few new moves. Yes, this is a nit but still frustrating to watch.
Expand ...
I think a big part of the problem with Serah is that she does not know at times how to go straight up and always has to dribble first. It makes no sense against a BE team. She is 6'4". All she has to do is shoot a baby jumper. She also needs to use her left hand more.

As for Kayleigh, she tries to force at times and a lot of those forces are to Serah, not Sarah, and she doesn't have the receiving skills that Sarah has. I thought she stayed with Bascoe fine. Her problem is the bump foul. She just has to contain, not steal every ball.

Blanca is better with the charges than in November/December but still starts her drive sometimes through traffic and that is the problem. BTW, I didn't think that was a charge last night The defender was clearly moving sideways into her to make contact on the replay. She puts herself in that situation by her move however and refs love that call.
 
BBallF said:
I think a big part of the problem with Serah is that she does not know at times how to go straight up and always has to dribble first. It makes no sense against a BE team. She is 6'4". All she has to do is shoot a baby jumper. She also needs to use her left hand more.

As for Kayleigh, she tries to force at times and a lot of those forces are to Serah, not Sarah, and she doesn't have the receiving skills that Sarah has. I thought she stayed with Bascoe fine. Her problem is the bump foul. She just has to contain, not steal every ball.

Blanca is better with the charges than in November/December but still starts her drive sometimes through traffic and that is the problem. BTW, I didn't think that was a charge last night The defender was clearly moving sideways into her to make contact on the replay. She puts herself in that situation by her move however and refs love that call.
Expand ...
UConn’s best low post players (Tuck, Pheesa, Sarah) did/do their work in the blocks before the ball comes in. Once they receive the ball they simply execute their move to score. With Serah it’s almost as if it’s a multiple step process. Catch the ball, dribble into position. Shoot the ball.

Looking back at her highlights at WI, a lot more of her scoring appears to have been short face up jumpers from 5-8 ft. I think she’s making a pretty big leap to play with her back to the basket. Hopefully, it all comes together for her in March.
 
1. Not complaining,but come on Ash start scoring
2. Jana continues her upward trajectory
3.HH under 20
 
1. Caroline in double figures
2. UCONN (at times) presses full court with 5 SMALL players
3. If up by 30, in period 4, pull all the starters
 
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I want to see:
#1 the girls finish at the basket especially after a great drive. We have too many girls expecting a foul to bail them out. GOT to know how to finish a layup!!

#2. our girls not let anyone from the other team have an easy drive to the basket. There are a couple of Huskies (I will not name them) who get out of position trying to help another player and it leaves the lane wide open.

#3. us give our "drivers" more room in the paint. Spread the offense out just a taste more.

Thats really nick-picking but when you are as good as we are you have to do a deep dive to find things to complain about.
 
oldude said:
UConn’s best low post players (Tuck, Pheesa, Sarah) did/do their work in the blocks before the ball comes in. Once they receive the ball they simply execute their move to score. With Serah it’s almost as if it’s a multiple step process. Catch the ball, dribble into position. Shoot the ball.

Looking back at her highlights at WI, a lot more of her scoring appears to have been short face up jumpers from 5-8 ft. I think she’s making a pretty big leap to play with her back to the basket. Hopefully, it all comes together for her in March.
Expand ...
your spot on oldude. I wish Serah would learn from Sarah about how to use your body to protect the shot. No way a 6’4” player should get stripped or blocked as much as Williams does.
 
STAY HEALTHY!
1. Dominate the game tip to buzzer on offense and defense!
2. Sarah, Azzi, KK, Ashlynn, Kaleigh, Blanca at the top of their game!
3. Keep Hidalgo on her lowest performance yet!
 
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1. Let HH shoot her 8 for 34; just contain the other Irish players
2. Ash in double figures
3. Blanca getting 15+ points
 
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