UConn (at times) looks like one of the best defensive teams in Auriemma's 41 years

[BRS24]

Gift article here.

For a while, the visiting Pirates were flirting with the possibility of finishing with more turnovers than points. UConn forced a turnover per minute for three quarters of the game — the three quarters played with the accelerator to the floorboard. Seton Hall had 20 turnovers at halftime, 30 heading in the fourth quarter, 32 at game’s end.

They just get all over people in the open court, the half court, 1-on-1, with the press. There's a good mix of attitude and athleticism on display that has made some of Auriemma's greatest teams great.​

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Example 1: KK Arnold, ... starts each game with a frenetic energy on the perimeter and in transition, only to cede that responsibility to Kayleigh Heckel, who is equally disruptive.​

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Example 2: Blanca Quinonez becomes one of the best athletes on the court as soon as she puts a foot on it. The versatile freshman forward has been invaluable off the bench, typically replacing starter Serah Williams. UConn, with that substation, sacrifices little, if anything, with that move.​

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“I think what’s difficult for the other team is you spend five minutes and KK’s wearing you out, and then you’re gassed a little bit and Heckel comes in and just keeps adding to it ... “Then you take out one of our other wings and put in Blanca, who’s longer and really athletic, and the problems change for the other team. If they had a problem early on, they have a different kind of problem when those two come in. I think we’re in a good place with our rotation and I think we can get even better at it.”​

 

[EricLA]

Good stuff. I think part of the reason is the depth. We have the horses to full court press most of the game if desired. I think in tight games, that will ease a bit as the rotation shrinks, but maybe as the season progresses, he will have a comfort level with the full 9 (lots of time for Blanca, Kayleigh, Jana and Allie off the bench). if he goes that deep in a big game, i think we can press for most of the 40 minutes...

 

[FanSince17]

I have subscribed to the Hartford Courant and the other stuff. Good articles. A ot of it comes from Geno's press conferences but the beat writers are really good.
I like how Mike Anthony ended the article with KK's quote from yesterday's postgame presser. Deference to a leader!

 

[FanSince17]

Good stuff. I think part of the reason is the depth. We have the horses to full court press most of the game if desired. I think in tight games, that will ease a bit as the rotation shrinks, but maybe as the season progresses, he will have a comfort level with the full 9 (lots of time for Blanca, Kayleigh, Jana and Allie off the bench). if he goes that deep in a big game, i think we can press for most of the 40 minutes...

I hear you. You're saying that Geno would be inclined to cut back on his rotation and not play as much full-court as the post season looms. I hope you're wrong. I can't remember the last time the press hurt us. Boston College exhibition. IMO keep playing this pace. UConn has basically 2 months to get it all better, including rotations.

 

[oldude]

I have been thinking a lot about UConn’s defense this season. After watching the game at PeoplesBank yesterday, I am convinced that while the Huskies are extremely well connected defensively and there are a lot of individually great defenders on this team, it all starts with KK.

KK defends the opposing team’s pg who, by definition, is usually their best ball handler. On defense KK has outstanding footwork, exceptionally quick hands and a level of of agressiveness where she’s on her opponent like a second skin. Just as importantly, KK has significantly cut down on her fouls this year.

So like the game yesterday, KK had 5 steals and probably forced an equal number of turnovers from ill advised passes. But the best thing KK does with her relentless defensive pressure on the opposing pg is that she doesn’t let the other team run their offense. The result is a bunch of bad shots along with several 30-second calls.

One stat I have become enamored with is the difference in the total number of shots taken by each team. Red Auerbach believed that if his team (the Celtics) took more shots than their opponent they would usually win. That stat is reflective of several factors: pace of the game, rebounds and turnovers. In yesterday’s game Seton Hall took just 50 shots to UConn’s 67. It’s nearly impossible to win a basketball game when your opponent takes 34% more shots than your team.

 

[Charliebball]

It's a smothering defense whose shutdown power is especially magnified against average teams.......I'm holding my judgment on where to rank it until we see what transpires in the big tournament.....

 

[oldude]

It's a smothering defense whose shutdown power is especially magnified against average teams.......I'm holding my judgment on where to rank it until we see what transpires in the big tournament.....

Cb,
Last season that defense pretty much shutdown 3 straight #1 seeds, along with high scoring OK during the Huskies run to the national championship, and I will argue that this year’s defense is even better.

 

[and one]

I don't know that I can compare the D from this team to others of the past. In the 30 years of following the team I don't off hand remember any of the teams that were just bad defensively. Most were more than adequate and a good handful outstanding. Even for the best defensive teams there are always some issues, not consistently getting out on the 3 ball shooters for instance. Sometimes we run across a post player that is hard to shut down although we generally compensate by shutting down the other scorers.

That said, there have been numerous games this year where the overall sustained defensive effort really stands out. KK leads the way but we can go nine deep of players that know what they are doing and put in the considerable effort, concentration and energy possession after possession. The SH game left me in awe of how well they played.

 

[Charliebball]

Cb,
Last season that defense pretty much shutdown 3 straight #1 seeds, along with high scoring OK during the Huskies run to the national championship, and I will argue that this year’s defense is even better.

Absolutely.......that's why I'm not making judgements about this season's team defense until they do the very same thing...... only better....... 😉

 

[fomalhaut]

The defense this year (except for three-point defense, which is lousy) is very good, but hardly comparable to the great defenses of the past. Connecticut has led Division I seven times in scoring defense and 10 times in FG percentage defense, setting records for both in the undefeated 2009-2010 season. We should just enjoy this season without trying to compare it to the unbelievably storied history of the past 30 years.

 

[FanSince17]

I have been thinking a lot about UConn’s defense this season. After watching the game at PeoplesBank yesterday, I am convinced that while the Huskies are extremely well connected defensively and there are a lot of individually great defenders on this team, it all starts with KK.

KK defends the opposing team’s pg who, by definition, is usually their best ball handler. On defense KK has outstanding footwork, exceptionally quick hands and a level of of agressiveness where she’s on her opponent like a second skin. Just as importantly, KK has significantly cut down on her fouls this year.

So like the game yesterday, KK had 5 steals and probably forced an equal number of turnovers from ill advised passes. But the best thing KK does with her relentless defensive pressure on the opposing pg is that she doesn’t let the other team run their offense. The result is a bunch of bad shots along with several 30-second calls.

One stat I have become enamored with is the difference in the total number of shots taken by each team. Red Auerbach believed that if his team (the Celtics) took more shots than their opponent they would usually win. That stat is reflective of several factors: pace of the game, rebounds and turnovers. In yesterday’s game Seton Hall took just 50 shots to UConn’s 67. It’s nearly impossible to win a basketball game when your opponent takes 34% more shots than your team.

If you don't mind I'll add one more feature of KK's pressure on top: Offense is starting from close to the half court line. So, the wing or high post has to come further out to get the entry pass. If they don't our defense will get in those passing lanes. Also, by them coming further out, it creates trapping opportunities for UConn's D. Same for the O trying to get it to the low block. The low block has to come further out to receive the pass, taking them out of their range to operate. A domino effect. And it generally starts on top. UConn's wings are perfect at the next level. Solid, quick, hard-nosed, fundamentally sound. Ash, Azzi, and Blanca.
Sorry, I have to add, the last domino to fall would be fronting the post and forcing the high pass when appropriate, being sure that weakside will slide over to help, like a Sarah block.

 

[Huskee11]

Sarah's ability to anticipate, steal the ball, and jump passing lanes reminds me of another great Husky, Nadav Henefeld from the 1989-1990 men's dream team. Practice and coaching help, but much of it is simply ability and instinct.

That men's team could really press and gave opponents fits trying to get the ball past the half court line, not unlike the 2025-2026 women's team.

 

[BRS24]

Sarah's ability to anticipate, steal the ball, and jump passing lanes reminds me of another great Husky, Nadav Henefeld from the 1989-1990 men's dream team. Practice and coaching help, but much of it is simply ability and instinct.

That men's team could really press and gave opponents fits trying to get the ball past the half court line, not unlike the 2025-2026 women's team.

Somewhere there was a SM post or article about Sarah's chess playing ability, so that might explain some of her demeanor, anticipation and actions.

 

[DEpup]

I haven't seen defense like this since 2016 when MoJeff and Nurse were in the back court with Gabby coming off the bench. Combine that with Stewie and Tuck in the front court and they were pretty stifling too.

 

[oldude]

I haven't seen defense like this since 2016 when MoJeff and Nurse were in the back court with Gabby coming off the bench. Combine that with Stewie and Tuck in the front court and they were pretty stifling too.

During that season, UConn achieved a unique statistical double, lead in the nation in total defense and total offense, and not surprisingly in point differential.

 

[GoUconn7961]

The only time I yell at the screen, aside from missed layups, is Sarah's sometimes lazy passes and Serah not passing the ball back out when she's too far under the basket. I never yell at the defense. That is what I'm usually clapping over. I've rarely seen better.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Love this thread. As a UConn fan, I tend to get more excited by great defense than great offense. Partly because I know the great D will be there more consistently.

I loved Blanca’s steal with one second left in the first half against SH. Her hands are so f*ing quick it doesn’t seem possible. Can’t believe we get to see her and a Sarah for 2.5 more years!

 

[Suebird10fan]

I have been thinking a lot about UConn’s defense this season. After watching the game at PeoplesBank yesterday, I am convinced that while the Huskies are extremely well connected defensively and there are a lot of individually great defenders on this team, it all starts with KK.

KK defends the opposing team’s pg who, by definition, is usually their best ball handler. On defense KK has outstanding footwork, exceptionally quick hands and a level of of agressiveness where she’s on her opponent like a second skin. Just as importantly, KK has significantly cut down on her fouls this year.

So like the game yesterday, KK had 5 steals and probably forced an equal number of turnovers from ill advised passes. But the best thing KK does with her relentless defensive pressure on the opposing pg is that she doesn’t let the other team run their offense. The result is a bunch of bad shots along with several 30-second calls.

One stat I have become enamored with is the difference in the total number of shots taken by each team. Red Auerbach believed that if his team (the Celtics) took more shots than their opponent they would usually win. That stat is reflective of several factors: pace of the game, rebounds and turnovers. In yesterday’s game Seton Hall took just 50 shots to UConn’s 67. It’s nearly impossible to win a basketball game when your opponent takes 34% more shots than your team.

So funny. Just this year I have started focusing on that every time I look at a box score. Fewer TOs and a higher offensive rebounding percentage are so important.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Good stuff. I think part of the reason is the depth. We have the horses to full court press most of the game if desired. I think in tight games, that will ease a bit as the rotation shrinks, but maybe as the season progresses, he will have a comfort level with the full 9 (lots of time for Blanca, Kayleigh, Jana and Allie off the bench). if he goes that deep in a big game, i think we can press for most of the 40 minutes...

I do wonder though, with no empirical data for it, that offense will suffer with too much pressing. Legs and everything else just lose enough for offensive capabilities to be off as well.

 

[EricLA]

I do wonder though, with no empirical data for it, that offense will suffer with too much pressing. Legs and everything else just lose enough for offensive capabilities to be off as well.

Maybe, but we do have almost 2 months before March and the NCAA's so plenty of time to experiment.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Experiment through January, Feb. 1 on case harden.

 

[Next 12]

It is Uconn's defense that will bring NO.13 to Uconn. We are scoring 30 points over competition and we can win 60 to 50 as well. DEFENSE IS UCONN'S MANTRA. I do not want to watch a 98--94 win. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!