UCLA Postgame Thread

[ScottCT]

Honestly I'm not even worried about South Carolina bring them on. The way this team is playing right now I'm supremely confident in them.

 

[Swish It 88]

UConn beat Syracuse by 31 in the 2016 national championship game.

@AnonChoice That's not a Final Four game.

 

[Bigpetunia]

One of the laughable things I have read on this board over the years, especially after occasional tournament losses over those years since Stewie and Co, departed, is that the women's game seems to have passed Geno by! UConn shot the ball pretty well tonight, and scored well, but the game was won on the end of the court where coaching and game-planning matter most...on defense! The Betts kid is a great player, and she played very creditably, but Geno's plan to make things as difficult as possible for her, knowing she'd get her points, and stifling everyone else (did anyone else get more than six?) was a masterclass in coaching. Late in the game, the only unanswered question was whether UCLA would surpass the fifty point mark! I've noticed that it's REALLY hard to win games unless your team can put the fifty point benchmark in the rear view mirror relatively early on. The Master's touch is alive and well!

 

[ucmiami2]

1st 30 point win ever in the Final Four....and wow! It was so exciting to see our team come together on defense and offense: UCLA did not know what hit them.

Uconn won a title game by 33 points against Louisville and another title against Syracuse by 31 so Uconn holds at least the top 3 largest MOVs in the finals. The 34 points is a record, and the only time a #1 seed has been crushed by 30+ points in a tournament. ( Just checked the record book, and Uconn holds the top four spot on MOV for the final four having beaten Oregon by 29 points in a semifinal.

 

[ucmiami2]

Some thoughts on the UCLA game:

• Some of the dimes UConn dropped tonight were unconscious. Kaitlyn had a couple of beauties and Paige’s incredible “slap pass” to Kaitlyn on the fast break was something I had only seen done before by Larry Bird.

It was a great pass, and there was another a few minutes later that was almost as good. But I remember a few similar ones by Diana, including one over her head behind her back.

And there was a game I think during the 4-pete, but maybe in the years just after, where there were two beautiful passes made on long forward passes where the receiver was headed out of bounds but tapped it back to a teammate for the assist. It was sort of a 'yeah, I can top that' moment.

 

[veryolddog]

Very, very nice!. Reminds me of games of the past.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

UCLA is a great team that had a great season. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting dressed down by a babyfaced sniper with a smile on her face. Azzi was just downright filthy off the dribble and catch.

 

[Roundball fan]

I liked the officiating, they let the girls decide the game.

 

[Geew1992]

I for one am not terribly impressed by Cori Close’s coaching abilities.

That team was not prepared

 

[freshler40]

You had to figure that part of the strategy on Betts was to make it hard to pass the ball into the post. I think most thought that it would be difficult because of the perimeter defense...low and behold, it was Jana making it difficult. She led UConn in steals with four and contested on additional passes.

Masterful coaching had Jana playing on the side of Betts allowing her to step in front on soft passes into Betts which were tapped away and recovered by the quick hands of UConn's guards. Clinic.

 

[freshler40]

That team was not prepared

UCLA had the extra day, perhaps they oversleep?

 

[Sifaka]

UCLA's run to the Final Four ends in record rout by UConn: 'We got our butts beat'

UCLA struggled to contain UConn center Sarah Strong and fell behind early in an 85-51 loss in the Final Four of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

www.latimes.com

UCLA’s run to the Final Four ends in record rout by UConn: ‘We got our butts beat’​

 

[yhun89]

This game was reminiscent of UCONN MBB vs Purdue last year. Betts/Edey will get their 30, but the guards will be contested and unable to produce.

Coaching Masterclass by Geno. This is a tough team but I’ll be honest, Creighton in the Big East gave us a harder challenge.

Winning by 30+ when Paige has an off scoring night? Sounds like the SC game to me…

 

[freshler40]

I watched a couple highlights reels and one thing that leaps out of the screen is how difficult the inside-out game Sarah makes possible is to defend. She forced Betts and Dugalic to cover her on the perimeter, which had them in uncomfortable positions. Barker tried to guard her with no better success.

Sarah’s presence doesn’t just enable the interplay with Paige, though that’s really awesome. Her presence on the court also impacts Azzi’s play, as well as the three littles and Jana and Ice too. A big who runs the court like a guard is a joy to watch.

During the recruiting, her dad said Sarah didn’t want to be stuck down in the post all the time. Well I think Geno took that to heart. Sarah plays all over the court on offense and defense.

Several of our puzzle pieces can fit into many court schemes and they do. This Swiss Army knife type player can play many positions. Sarah and Paige are the protype of today's most sought after talents.

 

[Sifaka]

NCAA tourney records for margin. Semi-finals and finals.

 

[HuskyNan]

The win was pre-ordained

 

[HuskyNan]

You are correct, I was quoting what was posted on ESPN after the game on TV.

It was first loss by a #1 seed by 30 points

 

[browns]

Regarding that part of the OP's analysis: I mentioned it in chat, but might as well mention it here:

I have now seen this type of "slap pass" three times, once by Walton, more than once by Jason Kidd, and now once by Paige. VERY select company!

The ones I saw Jason Kidd do were all during his high-school career, and all seen live and in person. I was lucky enough to see Kidd play some 70 high-school games.

If Paige starts doing this kind of thing with any sort of regularity, just go ahead and make her WBNA MVP every year she plays, then put her right in the Hall the moment she's eligible.

Might want to pump the brakes a little and see if Paige can do what C.C. did last year setting numerous records and making 1st team All WNBA as a rookie

 

[jaydee602]

Here we go again!
Vegas just posted the opening line for UCONN/ South Carolina:
The Huskies are favored by 5 1/2!

And overnight, the line has jumped to UCONN (-6 1/2).
Do you think it is an reaction to the Huskies' dominating win over UCLA?
Or do the bettors really like the UCONN matchup over South Carolina?

 

[jaydee602]

It was first loss by a #1 seed by 30 points

And the 1st semifinal 30 point loss.

 

[Geesworld]

Great team win. UCONN is right back where they belong. My take away from this game is simple. DEFENSE!!!!

The most amazing thing about UCONN right now is their defense. Big lineup or small, It doesn't matter, They have been 94 feet of in your face defense. Azzi, Paige and KK have been lights out defense. No team in the country helps and recover like UCONN does. They switch playerS effortlessly. They follow up their great defensive effort by actually rebounding and limiting 2nd and 3rd chances.

 

[Barkin Out]

Here are the refs available for Sunday:

• Fatou Cissoko-Stephens.
• Gina Cross.
• Maj Forsberg.
• Felicia Grinter.
• Billy Smith.

Three will officate the game. Two will be alternate replacements.

Why do I recognize the name Gina Cross….

Hopefully this crew lets the kids decide the game if it comes downtime I the final seconds. Do you think Edward’s will text Jana a reminder to keep set during a screen?

 

[HuskyNan]

She has dropped down on the ratings.
Dee has had a wonderful career, but she has cut back on her officiating schedule.

Dee Kantner was one of the refs for the Oklahoma game

 

[Geew1992]

 

[Husky fanatic]

If I remember correctly UConn lost Dorka to a broken wrist in the Final Four and they missed her in the Championship game.

Dorka was out in the Bridgeport regional against NC State.