UCLA Postgame Thread | Page 3 | The Boneyard

UCLA Postgame Thread

EricLA said:
Ducharme got the start over Edwards, and she showed she deserved it. She missed some layups and had some head puzzling misses, but she is very active and long and works hard on the floor. Liked her out there a lot and she LOOKED like she belonged.
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Absolutely! She's a freshman feeling her way and she's going to make some mistakes. I'm pleased Geno didn't pull her when she did. She can and did made some great passes that led to baskets today. I think she's going to be a big star for UConn, especially once she learns to set her feet, relax, and shoot in rhythm.
 
This game was 28-17 with 5:31 to go in the second quarter. Geno called timeout and the defensive intensity was entirely different for the Husky's from then on. UCLA scored 2 points the rest of the half. For this team to be successful they must commit on the defensive side of the ball. The offensive end is really inconsequential at this point. It's all about this team getting stops, defensive rebounding, and forcing turnovers. If they do that, they can withstand as much poor play offensively as they seem inclined towards.
 
One other thing to point out. This was a really physical game today. I can't remember when I've seen so many bodies on the floor in one game. Dorka probably had a triple-double if you add in her stats today for hitting the floor to her points and rebounds. :cool:
 
Gee, despite all the uproar, Geno can still coach!!!!!!!!

A solid team win. All 5 starters in double figures. Out rebounded the Bruins. 16 assist on 25 made buckets.

Much better team chemistry. Just what I expected. Team didn't quit and fought the entire game.

Is it perfect - no. But it will get better.
 
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EricLA said:
I thought the start of the game was a mess. Announcers noted that in the last 15 minutes of game time going back to the debacle at Ga Tech, Evina was the only player on UCONN to make a field goal. But UCONN battled back, had a nice run at the end of the 1st half, built momentum in Q3, and fought hard in Q4.

As much as my last post immediately after a game was mostly negative, this one is mostly positive. One other quick thing - normally I don't complain about officiating, but they were particularly bad (at times) in this game. The hacking of ONO, horrible missed hack job against Westbrook, and other missed calls were particularly noticeable. It almost felt like they wanted to keep UCLA in the game.

UCLA made a run late but our lead was too large. Osbourne had her own 8-0 run over the last minute. Good for her. UCLA scored 10 points in about 45 seconds. That was awful. Still, hard fought, and the team should feel really good about this game. 7-17 on FT's in Q4? That was not good. 16-28 overall on FT's? Come on guys.

Every single starter in double figures in scoring. Not our most fluid or flowing offense, but they found a way to get it done. I thought UCLA's defense was tremendous and Osbourne in particular was awesome, but I'mari Thomas (transfer from Cinci) and Penn were also both really good. It seems like Natalie Chou has been in college for 10 years (to me at least LOL)...

At any rate, Evina was really good. Yeah some brain lapses, but in the absence of Paige, she was much better this game than in the Ga Tech game. 15 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds - at times I'd see other players with the ball and feel like they were a turnover waiting to happen, but when Evina had the ball, she was very confident. Down the stretch she tried to give the game away with missed free throws. Good grief. Great game till the last minute. Come on Evina. You are better than that.

How about Dorka with a double double? This should silence some of the doubters who kept saying "all big 10????". One thing I love about her game is she gets the ball and immediately goes to the basket - keeping the ball high and not dribbling like so many other post players do. She does not get stripped by smaller players like other posts (a'hem Olivia) do...

Ducharme got the start over Edwards, and she showed she deserved it. She missed some layups and had some head puzzling misses, but she is very active and long and works hard on the floor. Liked her out there a lot and she LOOKED like she belonged.

Christyn was awful in the 1st half. Loved the reporting when Holly said that Geno went to Christyn and basically said "do you want to play in this game? Yes or no? He made her answer. Then he made her recite the things she was going to do to help her team". I thought that was great reporting and great coaching.

Olivia BATTLED. For all that some have complained that she was soft or not strong enough, whatever, she was absolutely mauled in the paint. Made some nice outside jumpers, battled on defense, and was solid.

The bench didn't do much. I was hoping for more out of Amari, but she just didn't get enough time. Still, she did get in, while Mir did not. Aaliyah - at least she battled hard, but she was barely better this game than she has been all year. To quote one of our horde members, "What did the Canadian National Team DO to Edwards this summer?????"

Bottom line, a win. I don't care as much about the streak of not losing back to back games as I do about the improvements witnessed across the board in this game.
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Great observations Eric. I agree 100%. 2 words describe this game…..Gut check. I was very pleased to see UConn pass. Especially with the slow start. Once UConn took the lead, they never relinquished it, though UCLA tried to wrest it away.
 
UConnCat said:
Ducharme's 3 to end the 1st half was huge. She missed some shots today that she's going to make in the future as she gets stronger and figures things out.
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The great thing about Caroline is she absolutely has no conscience if she misses a shot or two or three. She and Christyn were competing for "most airballs" today. But that shot at the half was a thing of beauty.
 
oldude said:
Some thoughts on the UCLA game:

  • Like UConn, UCLA is dealing with injuries to key players while trying to figure things out. Both teams had really good and really bad stretches. In the end UConn was able to grind out what felt like a really important win for the Huskies today.
  • Evina pretty much kept UConn in the game single-handedly in the first half, leading the Huskies in points, rebounds and assists.
  • UConn’s 11-2 “mini-run” at the end of the second quarter was huge heading into halftime.
  • Dorka was tremendous today with 16 & 16. She provided some really big minutes in the second half, particularly with Liv in foul trouble.
  • UConn had a distinct size advantage in today’s game. But the team struggled to get the ball into the paint in the first half, and when they did, inexplicably, the Huskies continued to miss way too many layups.
  • If there was ever one player who shouldn’t “overthink” things, it’s Christyn. You could just sense the pressure she feels, particularly with Paige out. When Christyn finally hit a layup, after missing her first attempt, it was like the weight of the world had been removed from her shoulders.
  • There are good technical fouls and there are bad technical fouls. Geno's T defending Evina after she got hammered was a good T. UConn responded to a terrible "no call" in a big way.
  • UConn won this game on the defensive end, holding UCLA to 33% shooting, and also with some great work on the boards in the second half. I guess the Huskies proved that that they can close a tough game without Paige on the court, sort of.....:confused:
  • One thing mentioned before the game is that UConn has had only one practice without Paige. The Huskies now have a week off to get through finals and reset themselves for another big matchup vs Louisville in 8 days. Foul shooting and layup practice next week. :rolleyes:
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All true but I would mention a few obvious deficiencies. One, how do you not box out the shooter on a free throw? How do you give baseline on a drive as a defender? How do you not box out as a team? How do you throw the ball away like we have done the last 2 games? These are all about fundamentals.

Why is AE taking outside shots? Her job should be to play defense, rebound and get layups off of put backs or passes. She really appears to have regressed and is playing like a freshman.

As for free throws, there was a fatigue factor, ( 2 of Evina's hit the front of the rim), that rim was tight, and we just have to get better at them. As for CW, we have been having the same conversation for years. She just gets into a psychological funk at times and is undependable. There is no easy fix since this is a career tendency, not an aberration. Hopefully, the NCAAs will spark her this year as it did last.
 
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I’m just happy for the players that they can celebrate a win. They are just not a very good team right now but if this is what we will see from Dorka going forward and Nika, Azzi and and Aubrey finally get back to the lineup, they can still make a run for it.
 
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I thought this was an exciting game, edge of my seat. But I was watching as a homer. I was concerned that clunky play on either side would reinforce the prejudice against women's bball at college level or even at pro level since this was being broadcast on regular network TV. (I've mostly followed women's bball opinion on the forums, where the posters are wholly invested in the game; following on Twitter was a depressing eye-opener regarding male toxicity) I'm a UConn fan, and watching various players stepping up at key moments was exhilarating, and watching miscues had me down in the dumps. Homerism but exciting, absorbing. Perhaps from a dispassionate point of view this may not have been a good look for the women's game, considering the missed layups, missed 2 foot jumpshots, missed clutch freethrows, & three pointer airballs, which those hostile to the game would be quick to point out. On the other hand, the casual viewer looking for sports entertainment might have been a bit more tolerant, especially regarding the second half (or the last couple of minutes; like most of us, we often will only watch the end of a contested game, stumbled on while channel flipping). I doubt the casual viewer would have continued watching past the first half. So I hope maybe we see a few more such regular season games on ABC to raise awareness.

Really happy to see Dorka coming out (though her hands don't seem too strong), Christyn's redemptive moments, Evina's efforts to carry the team in the absence of Paige, Olivia's defensive work. UConn's ability to unclog the paint is handicapped by poor 3 pt shooting -- the opposing teams are daring them to shoot. Caroline still hasn't convinced me, but when the hell did she score 14 pts? I need to watch her more carefully. Good free throw shooter, though. Need to consider that in the late innings when the team's only consistent free throw shooter is Evina ... but wait!
 
The post-game interview with geno was interesting. he said Dorka came to see him in his office and told him she was wandering on offense and didnt know where to be. Geno said go where you want to be & we'll find you & get you the ball. An example of simplifying the offense and playing to the players' strengths. Dorka was a beast inside today, even while getting hacked all day.
 
oldude said:
One other thing to point out. This was a really physical game today. I can't remember when I've seen so many bodies on the floor in one game. Dorka probably had a triple-double if you add in her stats today for hitting the floor to her points and rebounds. :cool:
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In the replay I saw of the 1st half, on most of the short shots ONO missed, there was an arm coming down on her shoulder or hand. While I take poor officiating somewhat for granted (when does Dee retire?), I quoted Nan's vocabulary about (bad word) refs more than a few times.
 
BostonBay said:
The post-game interview with geno was interesting. he said Dorka came to see him in his office and told him she was wandering on offense and didnt know where to be. Geno said go where you want to be & we'll find you & get you the ball. An example of simplifying the offense and playing to the players' strengths. Dorka was a beast inside today, even while getting hacked all day.
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But, but Geno doesn't know how to change his coaching style. I read it here on the BY, especially since Thursday night. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I never analyze a game but I will say this:

1. Geno getting T’d up was great. Sent his team a message that he has their back
2. Phew
3. Leave them alone and just let them practice and figure it out.

enjoy the win, if you are able to. now I will go enjoy watching the men play.
 
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BostonBay said:
The post-game interview with geno was interesting. he said Dorka came to see him in his office and told him she was wandering on offense and didnt know where to be. Geno said go where you want to be & we'll find you & get you the ball. An example of simplifying the offense and playing to the players' strengths. Dorka was a beast inside today, even while getting hacked all day.
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Geno's reputation of being an unapproachable tyrant is exaggerated. A confused & discouraged Dorka had no problem going to Geno's office to seek his wisdom. This was after he insulted his team & forecast gloom & doom. He gave her sound advice that paid dividends today.
 
Centerstream said:
One thing that bothers me about Dorka is that she appears to lose the ball from her hands when nobody has touched it. But her overall game today was outstanding. And she looked like she was enjoying the game.
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I thought the entire team seemed happy, especially second half, it was as if they realized they were figuring it out. They never gave up. Key for UConn is, I think, to not try too hard, but play the fundamentals and let the game come to you. Easier said than done, I'm sure.
 
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