tOSU postgame Thread | Page 8 | The Boneyard

tOSU postgame Thread

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Bottom line is that this team overcame a tremendous amount of adversity this season to make it to the Sweet 16. This was a broken down team this post season. Azzi Fudd's knee was clearly not even close to being 100%. Every time anything hit Caroline's head (an opposing players contact, the basketball), she would wince in head pain she may never be the same player. Aubrey's back finally broke down, due to over use during the regular season. How could anyone expect Aubrey to log the amount of minutes season, coming off of Major Back Surgery, with it not resulting in her body breaking down. Lou's ankle and knee was hurting more than allot of people would suspect. Nika's ankle was not 100%. BUT, this team made its way to the NCAA Sweet 16. Pretty Amazing, I would say.
 
CONNCAN said:
Bottom line is that this team overcame a tremendous amount of adversity this season to make it to the Sweet 16. This was a broken down team this post season. Azzi Fudd's knee was clearly not even close to being 100%. Every time anything hit Caroline's head (an opposing players contact, the basketball), she would wince in head pain she may never be the same player. Aubrey's back finally broke down, due to over use during the regular season. How could anyone expect Aubrey to log the amount of minutes season, coming off of Major Back Surgery, with it not resulting in her body breaking down. Lou's ankle and knee was hurting more than allot of people would suspect. Nika's ankle was not 100%. BUT, this team made its way to the NCAA Sweet 16. Pretty Amazing, I would say.
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I love you.
 
uconnever said:
I disagree, Paige I believe just off of memory scored at least 20 against AZ and fought really hard against SC. She was one of the more aggressive if not the most aggressive against SC. They both are killers anyways. Injuries have hindered their growth. It’s coming next year if healthy.
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She took 13 shots in each game, not nearly enough in either where points were hard for Uconn to come by. For the record, she scored 18 against Arizona on 5-13 shooting with 4 assists and 3 TOs. Make all the excuses you want, not enough shots for the POY, she at least had to TRY to create more offense the way the game was going and it’s not like she made any of her teammates better. And again, I am not knocking her or commenting on her effort, she just did not have a good game in either of them.
 
SonnyB said:
Geno said several weeks ago that he couldn’t fix the turnover problem. We can love on Nika Muhl all day, but we can’t have a point guard making near double digit turnovers. We can’t close our eyes and pretend 28 turnovers is okay. I will always have a place in my heart for Dorka and Lou. If we didn’t have them, this team would have been lucky to win half of the games played this season. On to next year.
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I’ve been reluctant to criticize any UConn player during the year but Nika’s minutes next year will be greatly minimized and justifiably. She made many fine passes this year but the errors were too numerous and she frequently plays out of control. I much prefer a PG that makes good solid passes with few turnovers. In her defense she was thrust into her role as primary PG due to injury but unless she raises the level of her play next year she’ll be primarily a bench player. Next year 75% of backcourt minutes will go to Paige & Azzi. Nika will be hard pressed to get minutes from Arnold, Bettencourt & Shade.
 
uconnfan68 said:
Lots of girls come back 100% from ACLs. She’ll be older, stronger, and more determined than ever.
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And probably more don't make it back. I hope Paige has a record breaking year, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
 
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Cornell Lt said:
Basketball acumen says that if you have a player that continually turns the ball over then you have to take the ball out of her hands or put her on the bench.
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No, it doesn’t; you don’t change horses in midstream. I guess than Auriemma should have benched Fudd because she was playing and shooting lousy, not put Edwards back in, because she was fouling, along with forgetting about Ducharme and Griffin. Come to think about it. why didn’t he just concede and quit?
 
It's funny how one game changes perspective. I'm not sure that's even unfair as it's the standard set at UConn. I remember the start of the season the team even had a show called the standard, which talked about living up to expectations. Players r judged by their performance in these big moments unfortunately. I do hope for the team to just have good health next season. But I don't think Paige solves everything singlehandedly. Atleast not to the point where they for sure r title favorites. Like the scary part is Lou probably played as well as Paige would play. Dorka played about as well as one could expect Ice would play. But it really wasn't all that close. I thought their athleticism on the wing really hurt us. It almost looked like Caroline couldn't really contribute in this game. I'm a huge Ducharme fan btw, I'm just talking physically and athletically,their wings were just at a different level.
 
Cornell Lt said:
Basketball acumen says that if you have a player that continually turns the ball over then you have to take the ball out of her hands or put her on the bench.
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And replace them with... WHO ?
 
Hoped for better, but was pretty sure before the season started what would happen. But, things actually got worse as the season went on. They did pretty good considering.
 
Well Tennessee elimination day was lot less fun this year.
 
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My last post for tonight, best of luck to all you fans of the Uconn men’s team, St. John’s mens fan so no real rooting interest, just hope it’s a good game.
 
I‘m proud of our team foraging through a season of trials and tribulations. It was the not the way I would’ve wanted their season to end but that is just how the dice rolls. As always, I will be dreading through this offseason because I’m already eagerly waiting to see what is in store for 2023-2024. I pray to the basketball gods that we won’t have to endure major injuries and that we will be full fledged as we can.
 
...

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

...

--Rudyard Kipling
 
TCC Kid said:
What this team needs to do POST SEASON IS to relax and start next year anew with 6 players that got little or no minutes this year. I'm not Geno's greatest fan (that's TonyC) but I believe in Geno. I've seen him pull too many victories out of losses--and so have YOU. I believe in this team. They are every bit as great as the Swin, Sue, Asia, Tamika, DT, Watters, etc--and this team plays tougher teams-
DT et al didn't get called for phantom fouls or flop flop (except against ND).
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Did you proofread this before you hit send? You want to start with 6 players who got little or no minutes? So who are you going to sit? You don’t like Geno you believe in him. Confusing post here.
 
GIF by ABC Network
 
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In my book.
Geno coach of the year.
UCONN team of the year.
So many adverse situations this year.

Under the circumstances, This team over achieved. The what could have been, with a full roster will always weigh heavy on most of our minds. Especially seeing the way Lou played this season.

During the UCONN practice press conference, Coach Geno said something interesting surrounding, how much They have to do media related before the game is actuallly played. From that comment, I got the impression that he didn't feel, he had enough time with his team to properly prepare them.

When we lose it always stings. Yet somehow this one doesn't sting quite as bad. Turnovers have been a huge problem all season which I think most of us knew would continue to be a problem against a team that press as much as they OSU. I believe it was something that was incorrectible due to having a short bench this season. How do you teach lessons when you have to play the players that continue to run in unorchestrated offense. Bad habits are created


OSU out UCONNed us today. Not sure what happened to the days where we could give multiple looks within a game the way OSU did today.

I worry about our future due to so many of our players having to recover from injuries this off season. CD, AZZI inparticular. Hard to improve if our players are always on the mend.

Only major streak left is the final Sixteen streak.

Hope the upcoming teams/players understand what they're a part of and start to restore that feeling of dominance.

Go UCONN
 
Tonyc said:
Two things killed us. Aaliyah in immediate foul trouble and not being on the floor and not being able to break the press. We lost composure and played afraid. Sometime it happens. Its nobodys fault. We needed somebody to step up like in the Baylor game. Nobody stepped up. Lou and Dorka were good. With all we've been through this season its amazin.

It really bothers me reading some of the posts in some of the thread knocking players and coaches. I know your frustrated but don take it out on our girls and coaches. Theyre frustrated just like you and it only makes it hurt more. Think about it. If your frustrated just like the rest of us go take it out on something but not our team.
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You wrote nobody’s fault. Unless I am not understanding your point I do believe it was mostly the top 7’s fault. You can’t give these players a free pass. Otherwise what’s the point of all of this?
 
NC28604 said:
As I contemplate the game I thought that Ohio State looked like we used to when we pressed every opponents possession after a made basket. My only question is, with 10 players healthy, why didn't we press the whole game too?
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You have to make baskets, or at least FTs, in order to press effectively. The press takes effect when the other team inbounds the ball at the far end after we score. We didn't do enough scoring tonight because a) we turned the ball over too many times, b) gave up scoring opportunities with our 25 TOs, and c) gave them rebounds instead of inbound plays by missing too many FTs.
 
BobbyJ said:
Because as the opponent begins to advance the ball over halfcourt, you need to have athletes with the speed and lateral quickness to retreat very quickly into your base defense ahead of the ball. UConn only had 2-3 of those type kids in their current 7 man rotation. Edwards, Muhl, and maybe Fudd.
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The other thing is you have to make baskets to set up your press something they struggled with. You can’t press when you keep giving the ball away.
 
I’m not going to comment on this very difficult and disappointing game; I’m just going to say thank you to this team for a very special season. It was impossible to watch the ups and downs of this year without getting emotionally invested in this group of young women. Through all the injuries and adversity, they stayed together and their genuine affection for one another was obvious in their interactions. That is the thing that stands out most about this team, and it was why so many of us grew to care for players that most of us have never actually met. Everyone who comes to the BY cares about women’s basketball, and many of us care about the players. This year was also about caring for the people that these players are. Because of this, I’m extra sad tonight knowing just how badly these young women must feel. I send extra thanks to Lou and Dorka, and I hope to see both of them in the W in a couple of months. As for the rest of this very special group, I look forward to seeing them next season, and I hope they get to show what they’re capable of when healthy and when they’ve been able to play together regularly.
Be sad and disappointed tonight, take a few days off, then get back to it and use this feeling as motivation for next year. Go Huskies.
 
oldude said:
Some thoughts on the tOSU game:
  • This was a difficult game to watch. After UConn raced to a 10-2 lead forcing the Buckeyes to call timeout, the roof collapsed on the Huskies.
  • tOSU is a guard-oriented team that starts 5 players, who are all approximately 6’ tall, which is good if you’re pressing, creating turnovers and scoring in transition. That’s exactly what happened today against UConn who has struggled with the turnover bugaboo all season.
  • While turnovers were a big part of the problem, so too was the fact that UConn felt the pressure, was rushed on offense and took some really bad shots. With that said, UConn missed a bunch of wide-open looks and even struggled on the foul line.
  • Unfortunately, many UConn fans will get pretty ugly in their criticism of Geno and some of his players for this loss. I CHOOSE NOT TO. The Huskies overcame adversity and persevered all season long. The team feels far worse about today’s game than any of us could possibly feel.
  • tOSU clearly flopped whenever Aaliyah was in the same zip code. If the refs call it, it’s a successful strategy to take an AA player off the court.
  • As I watched Azzi struggle for much of the game, all I could think of was DT’s play her freshman year during the national semifinal. Just like DT, Azzi will be back with a chance at redemption.
  • Yes, If Paige was healthy, she changes the entire complexion of this game, singlehandedly. She makes all the right decisions against the press and settles down Azzi and her teammates.
  • Nobody wants to lose the last game of the season, and yet, just about every team in the country does. The loss today is disappointing for sure. But it should not obscure the overall success and perseverance of this UConn team.
  • Sincere thanks and best wishes in the future to Dorka & Lou, our two wonderful graduate transfers, who both played their hearts out today.
  • Finally, channeling my inner Brooklyn Dodger fan, “Wait til next year!” As of right now UConn’s 2023-24 roster looks incredibly strong: Paige, Azzi, Nika, Aaliyah, Aubrey, Caroline, Ayanna, Ines, Amari, Ice, Jana, KK, Ashlynn & Qadence. How many days until next season starts?
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It wasn't anyone's best effort today.
 
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This game was lost in the first 6 minutes of the game. UCONN had several open looks early that would have blown the game wide open and they just couldn't buy a bucket. I was surprised at how easily they handled the press at times and really shocked that they refused to attack OSU when they had the chances. When they did go to the basket they threw up some really weak attempts hoping to draw a foul.

I didn't watch it live so I was expecting the press to be the problem but really they handled it pretty good most of the time. But the half court offense was as bad as I have seen UCONN in 20 years. They were all over the place, no spacing, missing open shots, flailing up shots at the bucket instead of going strong. It was a total meltdown from what I saw.

I really would have liked to see Patterson out there when AE got in foul trouble. UCONN isn't a real strong team but without AE they were getting pushed around under the basket today. Patterson is tough in that situation but really I guess Geno just didn't think she was ready.
 
All in all, I'm satisfied with this season. With all the injuries we suffered, we went 31-6, won the conference and its tournament, beat some pretty decent teams, and maybe overachieved to finish up in an 8-way tie for 9th best team in the nation. I don't think the coaching staff realistically believed, after we got hit with so many injuries, that this was a championship caliber team; certainly not one that could beat the South Carolina juggernaut in this tournament.

In a way, I'm glad today's loss wasn't a close one. With all the TOs and missed FTs, a close loss would have stung even more.

Good luck to Lou and Dorka, and thanks to all the BYers for the banter. I'm looking forward to all the free time I'll now have for the next 6 months.
 
A few observations, now that I've cooled down some and had a chance to reflect., Forgive me if I repeat what I am sure others have said:
1. Someone else's game plan was better than Geno's. UConn got schooled, and I cannot say I have watched many games where that has happened.
2. If there is an award for guts, give it to Lou. Not for the first game, she got dinged, got on the stationary bike, and came back into the game. You could tell she was hurt, but the team needed her, and she responded.
3. Azzi and Nika need to learn how to be adaptable. Cane in point: How many bounce passes up the mdidle does it take before you recognize that -- duh! -- OSU has one place on each side of the player you are passing to, just waiting to grab the ball. More than anything else, that play drove me nuts. They did it again and again and again. Same result.
4. If UConn is playing a good team, all the opponent has to do is get Edwards in foul trouble, and then UConn scrambles.
5. The refs were standard for a women's game, which means inconsistent as hell. There were several questionable fouls called on UConn players. That does not mean the refs cost UConn the game. They might have cost 2 oir 3 baskets, and that's being generous, given they way UConn shot. They were not the difference.
6. Is there any doubt who was the better team tonight? Not in my mind. OSU was prepared, executed their plan, and UConn fell right into it. It was only during the 4th quarter that they established some sort of equilibrium, and then only in spurts. Congrats, OSU!
 
oldude said:
Some thoughts on the tOSU game:
  • This was a difficult game to watch. After UConn raced to a 10-2 lead forcing the Buckeyes to call timeout, the roof collapsed on the Huskies.
  • tOSU is a guard-oriented team that starts 5 players, who are all approximately 6’ tall, which is good if you’re pressing, creating turnovers and scoring in transition. That’s exactly what happened today against UConn who has struggled with the turnover bugaboo all season.
  • While turnovers were a big part of the problem, so too was the fact that UConn felt the pressure, was rushed on offense and took some really bad shots. With that said, UConn missed a bunch of wide-open looks and even struggled on the foul line.
  • Unfortunately, many UConn fans will get pretty ugly in their criticism of Geno and some of his players for this loss. I CHOOSE NOT TO. The Huskies overcame adversity and persevered all season long. The team feels far worse about today’s game than any of us could possibly feel.
  • tOSU clearly flopped whenever Aaliyah was in the same zip code. If the refs call it, it’s a successful strategy to take an AA player off the court.
  • As I watched Azzi struggle for much of the game, all I could think of was DT’s play her freshman year during the national semifinal. Just like DT, Azzi will be back with a chance at redemption.
  • Yes, If Paige was healthy, she changes the entire complexion of this game, singlehandedly. She makes all the right decisions against the press and settles down Azzi and her teammates.
  • Nobody wants to lose the last game of the season, and yet, just about every team in the country does. The loss today is disappointing for sure. But it should not obscure the overall success and perseverance of this UConn team.
  • Sincere thanks and best wishes in the future to Dorka & Lou, our two wonderful graduate transfers, who both played their hearts out today.
  • Finally, channeling my inner Brooklyn Dodger fan, “Wait til next year!” As of right now UConn’s 2023-24 roster looks incredibly strong: Paige, Azzi, Nika, Aaliyah, Aubrey, Caroline, Ayanna, Ines, Amari, Ice, Jana, KK, Ashlynn & Qadence. How many days until next season starts?
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