UConn and its bracket - the first two rounds at Gampel | Page 4 | The Boneyard

UConn and its bracket - the first two rounds at Gampel

Fastbreak said:
Geno Re:Vanderbilt

The Commodores were a 1-seed in the first bracket reveal back in February but suffered a bad loss at Georgia, then got blown out by Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament. Since two top-four seeds from the same conference can’t occupy the same region, Vanderbilt had to be placed with either UConn or UCLA. The Commodores ultimately slipped behind LSU, which sent them to the Huskies’ quadrant.

That’s the official explanation, at least. Auriemma isn’t quite so convinced.

“I haven't looked at it close enough, but the way it was explained to me, that would be like they are the number eight team in the country. I find that hard to believe. I find that hard to believe,” he said. “Hopefully they were put there because that's where they deserve to be, not because of some ulterior motive… That would be disrespectful to Vanderbilt and to Shea.”




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It sounds like Geno is having a senior moment. He knows the seeding rules.
 
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Using Massey's rating system, the top 6 opponents for the #1 seeds in their quarters have an average rating of:


UConn: 15.5

Texas: 16.8

UCLA: 17.7

South Carolina: 20.2
 
Gus Mahler said:
Thanks to you and @packwrap. I never knew where TCU was located, but it should've clicked.
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It's funny, when you know where it is, their athletic success makes sense. SMU is right next to them in their sister city, Dallas. Good old Dallas/Fort Worth. Not big enough to be a Triangle, just a Line Segment. 😁
 
Mike72fl said:
Two things that I have noticed in this bracket:

1. There are more high scorers (Audi Crooks - 25.5 points, Hannah Hidalgo - 25.2, Jaloni Cambridge - 22.8, Mikayla Blakes - 27) compared to other 3 brackets. If I am not mistaken, they are top 5 scorers. Uconn will have a handful with these players if they meet. Fortunately, Uconn already played against 2 of them in the regular season.

2. Uconn potentially meet Maryland, which has 2 former Huskies, Lir McLean and Saylor Poffenbarger. It would be interesting.
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If you don't stay a season are you a former Husky? I know we were hurting some, but I always felt activating Saylor was a mistake. She could have been so fine.
 
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oldude said:
We got to see that last season as Crooks put up a very respectable 22 points against the Huskies at the Mohegan Sun. Unfortunately for Iowa State, the Huskies shredded the Cyclones zone defense, winning the game by 33. I expect more of the same this year, particularly since Iowa State has really struggled at the end of the season. Of course before that matchup happens, Iowa State has to get by Syracuse.
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You just proved my point. Yes, she scored 22, UCONN wins by 33. 5 will beat 1......EVERY SINGLE TIME.
 
Horsebrnhil said:
You just proved my point. Yes, she scored 22, UCONN wins by 33. 5 will beat 1......EVERY SINGLE TIME.
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I think of it more as 5 on 4. If Iowa state plays man defense, Audi will not be able to keep up with UConn’s transition offense. Either she lingers on the defensive end or she focuses on offense. And if they play zone, that undoubtedly means drop coverage in the paint which will allow Azzi and Sarah to do what Paige did to Oklahoma last year.

Game within the game: Jada Williams and KK know each other from AAU play, where they were rivals. It could be interesting.
 
Bone Dog said:
I think of it more as 5 on 4. If Iowa state plays man defense, Audi will not be able to keep up with UConn’s transition offense. Either she lingers on the defensive end or she focuses on offense. And if they play zone, that undoubtedly means drop coverage in the paint which will allow Azzi and Sarah to do what Paige did to Oklahoma last year.

Game within the game: Jada Williams and KK know each other from AAU play, where they were rivals. It could be interesting.
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I think you'll see UCONNS bigs tag team her in the paint. Sarah is way too quick for her, Williams, as well. Even El Alfy can match her size, but is quicker. Blanca Quinonez is long, quick, and shoots from outside. Will she get her points? Yes, probably, but her 20+ will be canceled out by UCONN's multiple scorers
 
HuskyNan said:
Is there any way to convince folks that the Huskies don’t have to win big or win pretty, they just need to win, even if it’s by only one point?
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We're talking about fans who complain & criticize the team when UCONN wins conference games by 30 points. They dissect every turnover & missed layup despite the Huskies demolishing their opponent.
 
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Horsebrnhil said:
I think you'll see UCONNS bigs tag team her in the paint. Sarah is way too quick for her, Williams, as well. Even El Alfy can match her size, but is quicker. Blanca Quinonez is long, quick, and shoots from outside. Will she get her points? Yes, probably, but her 20+ will be canceled out by UCONN's multiple scorers
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Audi is generously listed as 6-3, she just plays bigger.
 
I have seen Iowa State quite often. They can be good...very good. I believe some guard injuries hurt them mid-year.
I think one is back...another not. The starting guards can shoot from the perimeter and with Audi getting mucho
attention down low ISU can be dangerous. I hope they beat Syracuse....and think they will especially with the Syracuse
point out for the season. There are teams ranked in the 5-10 seed range that ISU could beat. UConn is not one of them
but I will be looking forward to seeing Geno's strategy on defense. Mix and match against Audi...with occasional guard
double teams and KK messing up their guard passes to the inside.

BTW: Geno and the ISU coach are good friends...have combined to lead the USA in international competition.
BTW2: ISU coach consistently pulls Audi for a bit of extra rest leading up to TV timeouts or after them. Good moves...imo.
 
HuskyNan said:
Is there any way to convince folks that the Huskies don’t have to win big or win pretty, they just need to win, even if it’s by only one point?
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No, there is no way to do that.

Some people just realize we are now in the the "win and advance" phase of the season, .....some, never get that.
 
Blakeon18 said:
I have seen Iowa State quite often. They can be good...very good. I believe some guard injuries hurt them mid-year.
I think one is back...another not.
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Both Addy Brown and Arianna Jackson missed some games, both are back. Is there someone else you were thinking of?
 
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Phil: no other name...I do get inside-type info on ISU...may have misunderstood something
though there is some concern about one of those kids being back but not up to her usual play.
 
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