UCONN-Butler post-game thread

[Longtime fan]

Count me among those that are concerned with Geno’s health.

The kids’ reaction when CD caught the errant pass was yet another example of what they think of the Hall of Fame coach. Loved how CD looked down immediately to see if she was out of bounds.

Things came so easily early that they looked a little bored defensively in the second quarter.

Teams giving cheap shots to UConn are a growing annoyance. Let me get this straight, a kid blatantly pushes Aaliyah in the neck and it is incidental. Got it.

Speaking of Aaliyah, 3 breakaway steals for layups? Just adding to that All-American resume.

Size and athletic wise, Butler could be the least talented roster UConn has faced so far.

I thought CD did a nice job of rotating the 8 in the second half. They never got out of what they want to do even when the score is lopsided.

The team needed a stress-free game like this. On to Xavier.

Good points, all. And, BTW, Xavier is worse than Butler. So CD will have the chance to rotate the entire bench in, again. We are all starting to worry about Geno. Long Covid? Hopefully, just one of the many " flus" now floating around.

 

[SLY63]

This might not be true, but there are several points to consider:

• Aaliyah (that is, UConn's Aaliyah with the double "A" in her first name) is playing more minutes than South Carolina's Aliyah this year (albeit against tougher opposition), which may account for her higher stats. I would like to see them compared on a "per minute" basis. A task for @JRRRJ ??
• They play different positions (Boston is a "5" and AE is a "4"), so conceivably they could both be first-team AA's.
• Most critically, the head-to-head matchup on February 5 will probably be decisive. If the Gamecocks totally dominate the paint as they did in last year's NC game, then Boston will justifiably get the nod. AE and Liv each got two (!?) rebounds in that game, while Boston got 16. South Carolina had 22 second-chance points vs. UConn's 5. However, I really don't expect that to happen again this year.

To me, the game to watch will be Depaul to see of AE fairs vs. Morrow

 

[Ron and Vida]

A shout out to coach Austin Parkinson. He kept his team working hard against a difficult opponent. I expect Butler teams to get stronger in the coming years as all of the Big East grows in stature.

I’lol leave it to the experts but there are many well coached teams in addition to Parkinson in the Big East I’ve seen posts about bringing UConn into the BE would help in recruiting.If the recruits will come the coaches are already there

 

[Ron and Vida]

Since you referenced the breakaways from Aaliyah (Dorka had 1-2 as well), one of my highlights was pausing play several times in the third quarter and watching the expression of Butler's 5'7" guards as they tried to figure out how to stop both bigs as they took the ball full court. Sheer terror! In all of these breakaways the Butler guard just got out of their way.

So would I !

 

[Ron and Vida]

She’s a college kid. Have fun (like this crew)

Nice
Made me feel old
Maybe youth is not wasted on the young after all

 

[Charliebball]

This might not be true, but there are several points to consider:

• Aaliyah (that is, UConn's Aaliyah with the double "A" in her first name) is playing more minutes than South Carolina's Aliyah this year (albeit against tougher opposition), which may account for her higher stats. I would like to see them compared on a "per minute" basis. A task for @JRRRJ ??
• They play different positions (Boston is a "5" and AE is a "4"), so conceivably they could both be first-team AA's.
• Most critically, the head-to-head matchup on February 5 will probably be decisive. If the Gamecocks totally dominate the paint as they did in last year's NC game, then Boston will justifiably get the nod. AE and Liv each got two (!?) rebounds in that game, while Boston got 16. South Carolina had 22 second-chance points vs. UConn's 5. However, I really don't expect that to happen again this year.

As you said, AE's toughest test will be against that huge frontcourt of South Carolina..........she's not going to have an easy time of it but must bring a convincing showing to quiet those decision-makers that think she's accumulated those strong stats against mostly average competition........

 

[TeamFirst!]

It's all about effort with AE. She is working so hard and is in great shape. If she can mantain that she will continue to emerge on the national scene. Everyone fattens their numbers against teams like Butler ( at least Uconn level teams do ) but I've been extremely impressed with those 3 steals AE made yesterday and converted on the break. Her first touch was astute and her effort just was beyond her competition. She was just at another level the whole game and has been for a while now. For AE effort = excellence. She's smart and physical. She has the goods. Her outside shooting is also improved.

 

[tchalla1]

I had one major disappointment tonight. When Ines stole the ball and hit Ayanna in stride on a breakaway, I was hoping to see Ayanna throw it down, rather than make a routine layup…..

Yes, I had this same thought, Old Dude, but then I realized that until Ayanna gains her confidence, she won't try a dunk... She has a strong case of freshman jitters so right now, layups are not routine.

 

[jazz]

This might not be true, but there are several points to consider:

• Aaliyah (that is, UConn's Aaliyah with the double "A" in her first name) is playing more minutes than South Carolina's Aliyah this year (albeit against tougher opposition), which may account for her higher stats. I would like to see them compared on a "per minute" basis. A task for @JRRRJ ??
• They play different positions (Boston is a "5" and AE is a "4"), so conceivably they could both be first-team AA's.
• Most critically, the head-to-head matchup on February 5 will probably be decisive. If the Gamecocks totally dominate the paint as they did in last year's NC game, then Boston will justifiably get the nod. AE and Liv each got two (!?) rebounds in that game, while Boston got 16. South Carolina had 22 second-chance points vs. UConn's 5. However, I really don't expect that to happen again this year.

I would think that Boston is playing the 4 with Cardosa in the game.

 

[MSGRET]

What happens with CD catching that errant pass if she has a foot/feet on the sideline? Does UConn still get the turnover, or does Butler retain possession?

I believe it is a two shot technical and ball out to Butler, if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[MSGRET]

She’s a college kid. Have fun (like this crew)

I went there for a Purdue game in the early 70's and the whole stadium was actually shaking, scared the stuff out of me.

 

[MSGRET]

To me, the game to watch will be Depaul to see of AE fairs vs. Morrow

DePaul lost at home against Marquette tonight, 72-63. UConn beat Marquette by 13 with a depleted squad.

 

[Carnac]

I believe it is a two shot technical and ball out to Butler, if my memory serves me correctly.

That was my thought too. I can’t see rewarding a team with a turnover in that scenario when the coach is technically on the court.

 

[Skeets]

I believe it is a two shot technical and ball out to Butler, if my memory serves me correctly.

I don't believe a ref would call a technical unless the coach interfered with the game. Would you call a technical if a player, spotting a coach slightly inbounds, purposely tossed the ball at him/her? I might, but the technical wouldn't be on the coach, I would call it on the player.

 

[MSGRET]

I don't believe a ref would call a technical unless the coach interfered with the game. Would you call a technical if a player, spotting a coach slightly inbounds, purposely tossed the ball at him/her? I might, but the technical wouldn't be on the coach, I would call it on the player.

Depending how far on the court the coach was, if they was just over the line, no. But if they were completely on the court then most likely.

 

[#12in21]

No rules expert here but I can't imagine any call being made against a coach 'making the catch' as CD did even if her foot was on the court - unless of course there was a player in near proximity that she in any way interfered with or impeded, which was not the case. Good to see CD still has good hands - no hesitation just made the catch and looked for a Zebra to relay it to, even though her guys would have loved to see her take the shot! Now that wold have gotten her a T.

 

[jazz]

AE was great. She really has that mid-short range going. If she and Dorka can hit some outside shots, that will bring bigs out of the paint to guard them. I'd like to see this against SC.

AG was great. I just hope she can hit some midrange shots going forward. They leave her open and she has to make them pay for it. Looked good on all three of her 3-point shots. She can really wreck the opponents offensive.

NM was great as well. Took the ball to the hole and converted. Missed out on at least 5 assists due to missed shots. Nice block and created 3 turnovers with offensive charge calls - creating 3 additional possessions, not to mention fouls on the opponent. Throw in 4 rebounds with 13 points and 6 assists, only 2 TO and 1 foul - that is a great all around game.

Yanna - she has a nice pump fake and used it effectively. Sometimes she doesn't even need to use it since she is already open to hit the midrange or just go straight up. I get the feeling she isn't confident in her shot outside of 5 feet. She seems to want to get as close to the basket as possible and use her athleticism to jump over people and score. It worked today - but not against better teams. I said before Christmas that I was expecting a breakout game...not had it yet.. but she needs to hit that midrange. Teams are giving it to her. Got to hit the FTs!

Pretty good command of the game from Ines. Not sure about her handle against quick guards though.

Very good game from dorka- assists, rebounds, points, defense. Hope she keeps building on this game by game because she is sneaky good.

Hope GA gets better soon - starting to worry about the guy.....

 

[JRRRJ]

Nice to see an overwelming victory. I thought that Butler would put up more of a game. UConn defense must have been outstanding or Butlers offense was very poor. I like watching all the players get into the game.

I would like to see more of a challenge to pressure the UConn players to be more on their toes. Maybe someone can list how many turnovers that the team committed and compare that to previous games.

On the whole, at my age, it is nice to to see an victory by a wide margin.

Not just the TOs, here's all the basic team stats for every game so far this year.

If you're interested, it's easy to get this kind of info from the per-40 spreadsheet.

 

[JRRRJ]

This might not be true, but there are several points to consider:

• Aaliyah (that is, UConn's Aaliyah with the double "A" in her first name) is playing more minutes than South Carolina's Aliyah this year (albeit against tougher opposition), which may account for her higher stats. I would like to see them compared on a "per minute" basis. A task for @JRRRJ ??
• They play different positions (Boston is a "5" and AE is a "4"), so conceivably they could both be first-team AA's.
• Most critically, the head-to-head matchup on February 5 will probably be decisive. If the Gamecocks totally dominate the paint as they did in last year's NC game, then Boston will justifiably get the nod. AE and Liv each got two (!?) rebounds in that game, while Boston got 16. South Carolina had 22 second-chance points vs. UConn's 5. However, I really don't expect that to happen again this year.

Here you go:
Boston: 2nd row raw data, 3rd row per-40 rates. 23.5 min/game avg (note: no 3FG attempts)
Aaliyah: 4th row per-40 rates. 33.4 min/game (note FG% 63.5, FT% 74.5

FG%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	F	ASST/TO	Blk	Stl	Pts
56.3	74.1	45	80	125	23	19/19	23	7	160
7.05 made	5.23 made	5.47	9.73	15.15	2.80	2.31/2.31	2.80	0.85	19.40
8.65 made	3.51 made	3.34	8.39	11.73	2.91	3.34/3.60	1.28	1.20	20.90

 

[EricSD]

As you said, AE's toughest test will be against that huge frontcourt of South Carolina..........she's not going to have an easy time of it but must bring a convincing showing to quiet those decision-makers that think she's accumulated those strong stats against mostly average competition........

"Mostly average competition"? UCONN has had the hardest schedule in the country to date. SC to date has had the 26th toughest schedule. UCONN, and Aaliyah, has faced a gauntlet of top 10 teams, substantially under-manned in each and every game. Even the non-top 10 teams (like FSU, Seton Hall, Creighton, Marquette, Duke, and Princeton) was a gauntlet of talented, and probably NCAA, squads.

The ONLY cupcakes on our schedule thus far have been Butler, and Northeastern. I'd argue that PC is a middle of the pack team. Heck, they just beat Creighton.

Just my $.02 but I think it's an unfair comment denigrating AE's YTD numbers, and saying, in so many words, that we will only know whether she's "worthy" if she has an AA-type performance against SC.