tOSU Postgame Thread | Page 3 | The Boneyard

tOSU Postgame Thread

victor64 said:
-OSU’s full court pressure gave UConn all kinds of problems in defeating the Huskies in the tourney two years ago today. I bet the team watched a ton of tape of that game because it was not much of a factor today.

-With Blanca’s inevitable bump in minutes, someone else’s would decrease. Today, at least,
it was Jana. I don’t think it is concern about Jana, Blanca is just that good.

-If I was an opposing coach, how would game plan to slow Strong down? I would box and chase her, double her when she gets and take my chances with others when she passes out of the double. Playing her straight up is becoming a waste of time.

-Being patient with Serah is of course pay off. Each game her comfort level increases.

-KK can get to basket at will but missed layups off those penetrations is becoming a concern.

-Allie got significant minutes even though it was not her best shooting day. She continues to reinforce the idea that she is more than just a 3 point shooter.

-Two thoughts why Geno stayed with the Sarah and Azzi a little longer than normal. OSU kept pressing and I think Geno had a little revenge or payback on his mind for the NCAA loss. Just a guess.

-Peacock’s production of college football is terrible. Sadly, that has carried over to basketball. The announcers were OK but somebody has to be reminded that replays should appear when baskets and action are going on.

-Watching Sarah dominate is great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
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I agree about KK, to me during the tourney, last year, she was the one who looked like she had gotten better more than anyone else and it carried into this year, but tonight I hadn’t seen that KK since the first half of last season. It was strange. I LOOOOOOVE Allie’s game. She is a lot like Strong in how relaxed she plays. I think she’s going to explode this year. Heckel is another player I love but her decision making needs to improve. Gets me frustrated at times.
 
Bone Dog said:
We made lots of mistakes -- silly fouls, even sillier passes -- and still rolled like a millstone over tOSU. They were little more than gnats on the visor. Like a Luxury car rolling over a paper clip. If this group can come together as tightly as last season's did, come March it will look like the greatest show on Earth!

Sarah was like an adult playing against kids. Azzi was ice cold in the first, but ended with 19.

Ash looked like she was out of sorts at first, but ended with 10 pts, 4 assists and 2 steals -- and 2-3 from beyond the arc.

And Blanca, OMG! 18 pts (7-11) 4 rebounds 2 steals and, of course 5 TOs. But even with the mistakes, she's still totally worth the price of admission. And the TOs were all on bad passes.

And yes, Allie looked composed and focused in her 17 minutes, and was often the press breaker. Go, Allie!!!

Geno is still so far from realizing the full potential of this group!
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Like all your comments but want to add sitting on the bench when taken out with just a few minutes left in the 4th, Azzi had a look of disgust on her face. Without reading too much into such a brief picture, I think she could have been feelingf that she could have done better even though she scored 19 points after a slow start. If so, I hope she learns to give herself some grace because she is a tremendous player and she shows up every game ready to provide her unique skills and to give the team a boost when needed whether scoring or defending. Plus I am sure Geno will be quite happy with a 19 point performance even though Azzi has the capability to double it.
 
victor64 said:
-OSU’s full court pressure gave UConn all kinds of problems in defeating the Huskies in the tourney two years ago today. I bet the team watched a ton of tape of that game because it was not much of a factor today.

-With Blanca’s inevitable bump in minutes, someone else’s would decrease. Today, at least,
it was Jana. I don’t think it is concern about Jana, Blanca is just that good.

-If I was an opposing coach, how would game plan to slow Strong down? I would box and chase her, double her when she gets and take my chances with others when she passes out of the double. Playing her straight up is becoming a waste of time.

-Being patient with Serah is of course pay off. Each game her comfort level increases.

-KK can get to basket at will but missed layups off those penetrations is becoming a concern.

-Allie got significant minutes even though it was not her best shooting day. She continues to reinforce the idea that she is more than just a 3 point shooter.

-Two thoughts why Geno stayed with the Sarah and Azzi a little longer than normal. OSU kept pressing and I think Geno had a little revenge or payback on his mind for the NCAA loss. Just a guess.

-Peacock’s production of college football is terrible. Sadly, that has carried over to basketball. The announcers were OK but somebody has to be reminded that replays should appear when baskets and action are going on.

-Watching Sarah dominate is great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Expand ...
There are 3 immediate problems with playing a box and 1 on Sarah and then doubling her. 1) She is the best front court passer in the country. Is there another 4 that could have made that lead bounce pass to Serah? Also, all of our guards know how to cut and our bigs in Jana and Serah are getting better at finishing every game. 2) Azzi- If she is the beneficiary of a double, she can ring up 30 and not break a sweat. 3) Sarah is so quick she can score before a double gets to her and gets a lot of her points in transition where the box is irrelevant. I'm sure we will see several trick defenses along the way though. Let's see what Michigan does.
 
pghhuskydoc said:
Interesting in the post game interview that Sarah said the team noted the need to play shut down defense and started flipping the switch prior to the coaches.
If the team is exhibiting that level of maturity already, look out!!
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UConn is so proficient I can’t put the correct description on this game. I have a lingering thought OSU is very talented, but was overmatched in coaching and execution. This statement is likely accurate to some degree. But from another perspective UConn is so talented even a superb OSU coaching effort likely would have resulted in a blowout.

All sorts of variances come to mind. The best two woman game in the nation - not even close - is between Fudd and Strong. There will be games where the big people (like Blanca who is quick) will just be open for easy shots and considerable points.

Too early to start this. But I have watched UCLA and while good at least a standard deviation below UConn. Ditto for SCar.
 
Had the pleasure of attending the game with @MilfordHusky. Two quick thoughts: 1) When the game is still in question and competitive, the team looks much more confident and composed with Sarah Strong on the court versus the times she's on the bench. 2) Teams experiencing Blanca for the first time are not prepared for her speed and athleticism. I think that the Big East teams should be very afraid.
 
BBallF said:
There are 3 immediate problems with playing a box and 1 on Sarah and then doubling her. 1) She is the best front court passer in the country. Is there another 4 that could have made that lead bounce pass to Serah? Also, all of our guards know how to cut and our bigs in Jana and Serah are getting better at finishing every game. 2) Azzi- If she is the beneficiary of a double, she can ring up 30 and not break a sweat. 3) Sarah is so quick she can score before a double gets to her and gets a lot of her points in transition where the box is irrelevant. I'm sure we will see several trick defenses along the way though. Let's see what Michigan does.
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Yes, opponents, please play a box and one on Sarah and leave Azzi, Serah, and Blanca with only one defender

1763329999105.gif
 
BBallF said:
There are 3 immediate problems with playing a box and 1 on Sarah and then doubling her. 1) She is the best front court passer in the country. Is there another 4 that could have made that lead bounce pass to Serah? Also, all of our guards know how to cut and our bigs in Jana and Serah are getting better at finishing every game. 2) Azzi- If she is the beneficiary of a double, she can ring up 30 and not break a sweat. 3) Sarah is so quick she can score before a double gets to her and gets a lot of her points in transition where the box is irrelevant. I'm sure we will see several trick defenses along the way though. Let's see what Michigan does.
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I agree with all that. She hasn’t seen gimmick defenses yet to shut her down . I know she is a great passer with great vision but at this point, if I was an opposing coach, I would take my chances with anyone else including Azzi. I know shocking. Sarah, though, has proven that no matter where she stands, she is threat to score.
 
When your two best players and scorers who combined for 48 points also accounted for 14 assists between them you know something is very, very right. And then there is also Blanca who like today, can change the direction of a game within minutes.
 
Not really about the game, but before the game in the lobby I looked through the merchandise shop that was set up. Surprisingly, the only game jersey on sale with the players name on the back was Paige Bueckers. LOL. Not any current player, just Paige, and they weren't even marked down. I talked a little with Katie Fudd and she was not happy at all that Azzis jersey was nowhere to be seen. She also said that even in the shop inside the arena there was not one Azzi jersey. Katie said that her agent was working on it. Hmmm. There was though some very colorful sweatshirts with the "Peoples Princess"," Ice, Ice Brady", and a Sarah Strong version. BTW, there were two racks of the Paige jersey.
 
victor64 said:
I agree with all that. She hasn’t seen gimmick defenses yet to shut her down . I know she is a great passer with great vision but at this point, if I was an opposing coach, I would take my chances with anyone else including Azzi. I know shocking. Sarah, though, has proven that no matter where she stands, she is threat to score.
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IMO to play a trick defense on Sarah, Or Sarah and Azzi, you have to be able to keep the ball out of the players' hands or at least far away from the hoop. How can you keep the ball away from Sarah? She's too big. Impossible for one person! She'd get the ball, then attack that flimsy box or diamond. Layup drill!
Not sure the D to stop Sarah has been invented yet. Maybe one of these coaches will figure a strategy. They'll have to run people at her. We had super quick double teams on Betts. Sarah's too agile. She'd get 15 assists.
 
HuskyNan said:
Yes, opponents, please play a box and one on Sarah and leave Azzi, Serah, and Blanca with only one defender

View attachment 113322
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It would be difficult to set up a box around Sarah when she steals the ball and goes to the basket ahead of the defenders.
And her 7 assists would double with her ability to find the open teammate!
 
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Bald Husky said:
Not really about the game, but before the game in the lobby I looked through the merchandise shop that was set up. Surprisingly, the only game jersey on sale with the players name on the back was Paige Bueckers. LOL. Not any current player, just Paige, and they weren't even marked down. I talked a little with Katie Fudd and she was not happy at all that Azzis jersey was nowhere to be seen. She also said that even in the shop inside the arena there was not one Azzi jersey. Katie said that her agent was working on it. Hmmm. There was though some very colorful sweatshirts with the "Peoples Princess"," Ice, Ice Brady", and a Sarah Strong version. BTW, there were two racks of the Paige jersey.
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Probably because when players are active at UConn there are no names on the back of game jerseys. The only name that matters is the one on the front.
 
BobbyJ said:
Probably because when players are active at UConn there are no names on the back of game jerseys. The only name that matters is the one on the front.
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You haven't been to the big store in the Student Union on campus? They have jerseys for all the players. I'm going next weekend and I'm going to pickup a #2. Fat, old dude wearing a point guard #.
 
FanSince17 said:
You haven't been to the big store in the Student Union on campus? They have jerseys for all the players. I'm going next weekend and I'm going to pickup a #2. Fat, old dude wearing a point guard #.
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Read my post again, there won't be a name on the back.
 
WiseWillie said:
Like all your comments but want to add sitting on the bench when taken out with just a few minutes left in the 4th, Azzi had a look of disgust on her face. Without reading too much into such a brief picture, I think she could have been feelingf that she could have done better even though she scored 19 points after a slow start. If so, I hope she learns to give herself some grace because she is a tremendous player and she shows up every game ready to provide her unique skills and to give the team a boost when needed whether scoring or defending. Plus I am sure Geno will be quite happy with a 19 point performance even though Azzi has the capability to double it.
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It came out after the game that she has a bad cold and was probably feeling crummy. That might have had something to do with it.
 
Centerstream said:
I am wondering if something happened with Serah because she only played 14 minutes and, I believe, hardly none in the 2nd half. She was certainly quite effective in the minutes she played.
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I think I heard in the post game presser that at times, OSU was playing 5 guards. That can be the reason we played small lineups for more of the time and the bigs got their times cut short.
 
Very grateful to be at today's game and to have the chance to see the championship banner unveiled. As we all saw, Sarah put on a show, and it was great to see Blanca having a bit of a coming-out party as well as Ash getting some of her swagger back.

I also want to tip my cap to Jaloni Cambridge. She really played her heart out on every possession and was a ton of fun to watch. I've seen her on TV a fair amount, but I was struck by how slight she is in person; somehow that made her athleticism and fearlessness even more mind-boggling to me (a bit like Mo Jefferson). I know the game didn't go the way tOSU wanted, but there was no hanging her head: she just played hard throughout—the kind of kid I love to root for.
 
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