UCF Postgame Thread

[tchalla1]

Have never seen a UConn team play that scared. Scared to dribble, shoot, pass. Don’t even get me started on making layups. Hope they figure it out by tomorrow.

I totally agree. Best descriptor of UConn's game: scared, tentative and indecisive. Did you see how many times Azzi had a shot but passed it up, and our guards kept picking up their dribble in the back court? And our frontcourt gave a nonappearance performance once again. Thankfully Azzi finally quit passing up shots and put some in...

 

[Papa33]

Uconn "bigs" were 2-12 (17%). Those empty offensive possessions really hurt, especially when we failed to take advantage of UCF's intense defensive pressure on the ball well away from the basket. They should have paid a price for that strategy, but our failure to take advantage by making numerous "bunnies" permitted them to continue it, made it hard to get open looks for 3's and also to penetrate by passes and dribbling for mid-range jumpers. I'd love to see our bigs use pump fakes and genuine jumpers under/near the hoop.

 

[mattlow710]

I thought we could win the title this year, yes it’s survive and advance so I’m happy with a one point win if that’s the case. This team makes poor decisions passing the ball and misses way too many layups and free throws to beat the likes of say Stanford. I love this team and want it badly for them, but I don’t think they are good enough in too many areas. They also lack the basketball IQ of most UConn teams. This will end badly like last year. I feel sorryfor the seniors because I can see how badly they want it. The main reason I know is they way they played tonight after the way last year ended and their lack of focus tonight. ONO fouled out, Evina was a no show and CW while not playing all that bad in the end, made a lot of poor decisions and was too laid back for the situation. They just don’t have what it takes and if they’re waiting on PB, she obviously isn’t right yet. Ughh this realization makes me sick to my stomach because I honestly thought we were gonna get pay back on everyone because we’ve been down this year and the commentators have been kicking us while we’ve been down, but I’m a realist, I’m gonna just enjoy the ride, but I know in my heart we won’t win it this year.

I am thinking different way with you, if we can passed this kind of though games, then we will get through others

 

[jchusky]

Have never seen a UConn team play that scared. Scared to dribble, shoot, pass. Don’t even get me started on making layups. Hope they figure it out by tomorrow.

there was a play where Paige was all alone in a breakaway and she missed an easy layup because she was scared that she might get contact on her, not good.

 

[uconnever]

I’m talking about bad passes, picking up dribbles, and short arming 1’ shots. Maybe scared isn’t the word you’d use, but it’s the one I would. Deer in the headlights looks. I fully understand UCF played good defense, and kudos to them, but I don’t remember a Geno team that unprepared for it. The wrong people kept ending up with the ball when the shot clock was short. Just unforced errors. If we made layups we win by 20.

I agree with you, just not mentally sharp AT ALL and it is definitely gonna cost us later in the tourney. We will be lucky to make the final 4 because NC State looks ready. Luckily it will be in Bridgeport because they will be hard to beat.

 

[Steve Frohock]

Some thoughts on the UCF game:

• WOW!!! I'm completely exhausted and I didn't play a minute.
• I was really worried about UCF ahead of tonight's game. Unlike past UCF teams, this year’s version is longer, more athletic, and more experienced than any Black Knight team UConn ever faced back in the AAC days.
• UConn clearly felt the pressure from the start of the game, getting sped up, turning the ball over, and missing an extraordinary number of layups.
• This game was always going to be won on defense, and from the second quarter on UConn dug down deep and really stepped up their defensive effort, holding UCF to 47 points. The Huskies blocked 9 shots, forced numerous charging calls and turned the Black Knights over 20 times.
• While UCF is a very good team, they still employ their infamous “HACK A HUSKY” defense. UConn benefitted to the tune of 8 more made FT’s.
• Some really big shots in the 4th qtr from Azzi, Christyn & Paige helped the Huskies hold on to this one by their fingernails, with Christyn & Azzi icing it with 4 clutch FT's.
• For those who keep track of these things, with the win tonight, UConn has qualified for the Sweet 16 for the 28th straight time….Ho hum…..
• NOTE TO BONEYARD: I’ll be at the games in Bridgeport next weekend, so thanks in advance for someone else initiating the postgame thread. If UConn makes it to the FF, I’ll be back on the job in 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, missing lay-ups has become a UConn trait. Again, tonite they excelled. Between the missed lay-ups and the shuffle your feet traveling calls, it is hard to watch sometimes. I knew tonite would be a dog fight but never imagined it would be this bad.
Congratulations on toughing it out. I doubt you'll see another defense this ornery.

 

[Cagey_Tee]

Why did Bueckers have to start? The team was clicking, had great chemistry, and was getting off to tremendous starts. She was certainly and rightfully going to get her minutes but how could her starting add anything to the tremendous starts the team was already having? So Auriemma changed the lineup and they started rather sluggishly against Mercer but it didn’t show or matter. But tonight they were down 6 after one; so has changing the starting lineup been a positive? I say no, others may disagree, but I don’t see how. But not playing Muhl or Ducharme in the 2nd half at all is very surprising to me, especially in light of the way the team was playing.

I think Paige is still showing lots of "rust" and also a lack of the "takeover confidence" that was characteristic of her play last year. Her passing was not crisp - more lob passes than zip line passes - and she never demanded the ball in critical situations. Christian Williams played great and will likely assume that team leader role for however long this team lasts.

 

[Nyskier]

As one of the posters mentioned above, I was having deja vu remembering the Arizona game last year

 

[RowdyFan]

My (over)reaction actually sent my wife to bed. I made Geno look calm.

I had to put my husband in a time out.

 

[The deacon]

He was looking for offense, and did not think they would provide it. I think Nika was hoping, but Ducharme had a poor game

Caroline had a poor game? She played four minutes and missed two layups. If Geno had benched everyone who missed two layups, UConn would've had a pretty sparse array of players on the court by the second half. I hope if she has a good week of practice, Geno gives Caroline another chance in the next game. There will be games (including tonight) when it would be handy to have her point production.

 

[darrell]

Westbrook did not score, but her cool play help keep the team going.

I’m not a fan of the 4-guard lineup simply because it puts UConn at a huge disadvantage. The player that Evina was guarding in the stretch could’ve ended this game by herself.

 

[tchalla1]

I’m talking about bad passes, picking up dribbles, and short arming 1’ shots. Maybe scared isn’t the word you’d use, but it’s the one I would. Deer in the headlights looks. I fully understand UCF played good defense, and kudos to them, but I don’t remember a Geno team that unprepared for it. The wrong people kept ending up with the ball when the shot clock was short. Just unforced errors. If we made layups we win by 20.

Scared works for me.... If we have to be nice here, then tentative....

 

[Steve Frohock]

Good game very physical and tough but we win even with the refs' help of UCF.
Azzi is player of the game,

View attachment 74717

Agree about the refs. I don't usually complain about refereeing but tonite really took the cake.

 

[VA Huskie]

Can’t second guess Geno, but I agree. Nika was sorely needed. As wasDucharme. Just seems Geno wants to stick by his seniors.

I was at the game and wondered if Nika was ill or injured.

 

[Plebe]

Well, you certainly nailed that one to a T. Brava.

 

[UConnCat]

This was the foul on Christyn. It was ridiculous. The UCF player did a split to screen Christyn. So much for feet shoulder-length apart.

 

[tchalla1]

How did she have a poor game? She was 0-2 in a few mins. When she is in she makes things happen. Those are Geno's past words. She can rebound and play defense. Also seen her come up big and gets open. I actually think she could have been impactful if she played.

You don't call that a poor game? How about then Caroline made no contribution to the team, albeit Geno put a quick hook on her... Comparatively speaking though, you're right--if missing bunnies was the standard for being pulled, we wouldn't have been able to field a team....

 

[psconn]

Not hidden

DATE 03/21/22T
ATTENDANCE 10167
SITE Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Mansfield, CT
REFEREES Benny Luna, Katie Lukanich, Gina Cross

Benny Luna? The Japanese restaurant guy? That explains it.

Oh, never mind. Different Benny.

 

[Littlemin]

Oh, right, all those scorers lit it up with 26 points in the 2nd half after scoring, oh, 26 in the 1st half. And what happened to employing the intense defense that generates easy breakout baskets and fuels runs which he has emphasized about a million times through the years? Funny, Uconn‘s biggest quarter win was the 2nd with Ducharme and Muhl getting their only minutes; 2 of the other 3 quarters Uconn was outscored, actually losing those 3 quarters in total. Like I said, IMO he coached a lousy game.

 

[CL82]

Wow, did you see Coach Abes presser? She came off as very bitter and she refused to say either UConn or Geno’s name.

 

[psconn]

This was the foul on Christyn. It was ridiculous. The UCF player did a split to screen Christyn. So much for feet shoulder-length apart.

Worst of the worst.

 

[UConnCat]

I can be a nervous type of fan, but I must admit that I had a similar queasy-to-sick feeling in my stomach before this game as I did before the Arizona game.

Several of us who watched UCF in the AAC tournament agreed that, as one poster put it, "whichever high seed draws UCF as a 2nd round opponent is going to be on upset alert," as their experience and veteran toughness really showed. Then the brackets came out, and that opponent was UConn. Win or lose, it promised to be an ugly affair.

I have watched UCF play many times against other opponents, and while they're always tough and physical, everything is just so "extra" from them when they face UConn. I have never seen them play any other team in just the same way. It's really a bit bizarre.

I had to chuckle when reading some of the score predictions, including some that had UConn scoring as many as 77 or 80 points. I thought they would reach 60 while holding UCF in the 40s.

It's personal for UCF when playing UConn. Not sure why but there is always extra ooomph in their fouls. The only thing missing tonight was the chatter though that seemed to be directed mostly at Lou when she played.

 

[RowdyFan]

They were too busy whipping Kim's crew in Baton Rouge.

And that's a beautiful thing. My hubs is OSU alumni, and it hasn't been an easy weekend, men or women for him.

 

[housekeys]

I can understand why Geno may have gone with Evina over Nika.

One possible explanation might be, Geno wanted a slower attack. UConn missed a lot of layups, because they were rushed. Perhaps Geno wanted to calm down the play of our offense. IDK.

 

[JordyG]

I remember him saying that. He said an expletive between the “that” and the “ain’t” that you graciously left out.

Yeah. I think I left out the word spit. Well, I've made my feelings known about handshake lines so...

 

[pvdoggy]

yea if you gonna say Ucf was a sore loser in this game so was Uconn vs Arz and you could see it in their face too, they didn't want to shake hands with Arz because they felt they were "above them" and losing to them was beneath them. Again I personally am tirede of the handshake discussion, we saw what happened in Michigan-Wisconsin men's game. If you don't want to do it that's fine, but just make it clear so we don't get any of this sore loser stuff.

I never said they were sore losers. I just tried to correct the statement the other poster made about "Nobody shook hands in the tourney". I could care less if they shook hands or not.

 

[UConnCat]

Oh, right, all those scorers lit it up with 26 points in the 2nd half after scoring, oh, 26 in the 1st half. And what happened to employing the intense defense that generates easy breakout baskets and fuels runs which he has emphasized about a million times through the years? Funny, Uconn‘s biggest quarter win was the 2nd with Ducharme and Muhl getting their only minutes; 2 of the other 3 quarters Uconn was outscored, actually losing those 3 quarters in total. Like I said, IMO he coached a lousy game.

I think you're wrong.

 

[Forego]

Pam Ward & Stephanie White are very knowledgeable announcers. But they insist on talking nonstop instead of focusing on the action, missing baskets & important plays. The game becomes a backdrop for their endless conversation.

If you haven’t read it yet, I would recommend you and all boneyarders read connie’s post in the thread WCBB Round Table Interrupted by UConn - Murcer game.

 

[Littlemin]

I think you're wrong.

Fair enough, why?

 

[Childhood]

I never said they were sore losers. I just tried to correct the statement the other poster made about "Nobody shook hands in the tourney". I could care less if they shook hands or not.

Iowa did shook hands after the game yesterday as I remember.