UConn - Creighton post game thread - Big East Champions!

[EricLA]

First, Congrats to the team for winning yet another BET championship! UConn beat them by 11 earlier at Creighton, then by 19 at home. 20 points tonight. We got up to a 16 point lead after Q1, and were up 22 before giving some of it back with sloppy PG play in Q2. KK and Cait combined for 9 TO's in the first half alone.

But the defense was fierce as has been the case all tournament long. And with the 3 point shooting on point, we were able to end the first half up 16. It IS hard to play a team 3X in the season as you really get to know each other well.

2nd half was frustrating IMHO to watch. The half court offense was just not good or crisp. The amount of missed layups was shocking to me at times.

• Paige does a bit of everything, doesn't she, and all of it is spectacular. There is no one I'd rather see with the ball in her hands in crunch time. She was everywhere with 100% intensity every second she was on the floor. Easily my POG.
• Sarah also does a bit of everything, and all of it is spectacular as well! 4 steals alone in the first half, and one of the announcers said she might be the most complete freshman ever!
• Azzi was elite in the shooting in the first half. Not so much in the 2nd half.
• KK - tremendous defensive effort. Not a fan of her shooting a 3 early in the shot clock, but she's an elite athlete and defender.

Aside from those 3, the lack of offense from Ash especially was surprising. Ice with another off game. 11 assists on 24 made baskets. 17 TO's... Certainly not a thing of beauty.

Huge shout out to Creighton. The lady announcer said several times that putting Creighton on the 8 seed in the NCAA's is just wrong. There are teams in other conferences with double digit losses who are higher seeds. She said the eye test does not put them there. I agree, but I'm not the committee. Creighton is a very tough team. I'd hate to see them go down to a 1 seed in the 2nd game of the tourney...

But... Big East Champions! Really strong defensive performance all game. I think, aside from the stellar play from Paige and Sarah, this tournament will be remembered as an elite defensive performance by UConn. If they keep that up, I like our chances in the NCAA's!!

 

[victor64]

I think some of the sloppy play on both sides can be attributed to 3 games in three days. It is not so much physically but mentally it takes its toll.

Both teams were out of gas in the fourth quarter. I kept praying for no injuries.

UConn gives most teams fits defensively but they have Creighton’s number. The Huskies just crank up the ball pressure against a well coached team.

UConn has mastered the tap out on live balls. I don’t recall a team doing it as much as UConn does.

The screen set by Brady on Morgensen was not a foul in my opinion.

The upcoming break is needed. Hopefully, the committee comes to their senses and gives UConn the number 1 seed they deserve.

Paige will get the MOP but a case could be made that she should share it with Sarah.

As much as I love watching the team play, three days in a row of John Fanta is plenty.

 

[maple]

Creighton was always going to play us tough til the end. Wasn’t always pretty from UConn, but this is March. Survive and advance. We got the W, let’s carry this into the Big Dance.

BE regular season champs — DONE
BE tourney champs — DONE
NCAA tournament champ — TBD

LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Bone Dog]

Paige definitely has her tournament face on again. 24 pts, 60% from 3, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals.
Sarah gets another double-double: 13 pts, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 6 steals.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[Stagnant]

I feel like Geno will be pretty unhappy with this one. It wasn’t great outside of the first quarter. The defense was really good though. So, there is that.

Very interested to hear the Geno presser.

 

[Kaizen]

Paige 24 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 2 blks and 2 stls... what else can you ask?

 

[EasyEd]

On the winning defensive battle, I thought Shade did a really good job. While watching the second half, I didn't see one Creighton player score on her. She has a nose for the ball and does a good job going after rebounds and I especially liked the tie up she got in the 4th quarter. I hope she finds her offense in the NCAA, because that will make it really hard to beat us.
If Jana can reduce the number of questionable foul calls, she might also be a BIG difference in the NCAA tournament. I love the progress she has made this season.

 

[and one]

UConn defense - four really good quarters.

UConn offense - productive first quarter and three lackluster quarters.

Take the BE Conference Championship win and get some rest.

 

[msf22b]

As much as I love watching the team play, three days in a row of John Fanta is plenty.

The blabbing and scripted anecdotes while play is going on and events are transpiring drives me absolutely batty.

 

[Centerstream]

I might have missed it, but did John Fanta again mention that Geno has given Azzi until tomorrow to decide on her future?

 

[msf22b]

Sarah was ań absolute monster in all phases of the game

 

[Stagnant]

I might have missed it, but did John Fanta again mention that Geno has given Azzi until tomorrow to decide on her future?

It was said previously that he needed an answer after the big east tournament.

 

[Bone Dog]

Paige now has 2,266 career points, just 80 behind Tina (2,346) and 135 behind Phee (2,401). Potentially 6 more games to land herself on the #3 spot all time.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for Paige, even though she probably doesn't care about stuff like this.

edited to corect: Paige haș 2,290 points and is only 111 points behind Phee. Thanks, @Surly1 .

 

[my2cents]

Sarah Strong could be the best defensive player I have ever seen in college, and she is only a freshman. Quick feet and hands with Maya Moore level of anticipation.
Paige should be taking over the point, too many turnovers from Chen and KK.
Three games in three days, they look like they got tired.
On to the Big Dance, Go UConn.

 

[The deacon]

Congrats to the Huskies! We're all down on the Big East from time to time, but the Huskies can only beat the teams lined up against them, and they do! Well done, Geno, CD, Paige and Co.

All-tournament team: Paige, Sarah, Lauren Jensen and Kelsey Ransom should be definite... Ransom was phenomenal. If it's five players, could be Azzi on reputation, but she did little in any of the games except averaging 12 points... maybe somebody from 'Nova? Webber?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Just once in getting hardware I'd like to see Paige shed a tear. Nope, she is ever all business. I do hope the streak is broken when she hoists that Nat'l Championship Trophy. She's going to be the hardest one for me to see leave and I want her more than anyone to wear the ring.

 

[Ozimoto]

A 20 point win for a conference tournament championship. I'll take it.

 

[Surly1]

Bone Dog, she's up to 2290 after tonight's game. Paige also is making a serious run at being a 50/40/90 player. For the season, she's 89 for 99 from the free-throw line. After going 3 for 5 from 3-pt land, she's back above 40%.

Like you mentioned, if UConn plays another 6, she has a very good chance at surpassing Phee. If she can close it out with a NC, she'll have a season for the ages.

 

[jaydee602]

I feel like Geno will be pretty unhappy with this one. It wasn’t great outside of the first quarter. The defense was really good though. So, there is that.

Very interested to hear the Geno presser.

I disagree! Three games in 3 days takes a toll on both teams & UCONN exerted all their energy building a lead tonight. Their sloppy play in the 2nd half can be attributed to running out of gas.
Geno will be lenient with his criticism.

 

[Husky fanatic]

Well Ash plays really good defense but her offense is AWOL. Way too many turnovers. Thought Jana should have played more in the second half When the offense was stagnant.

 

[Centerstream]

We dominated from start to finish, conference regular season and the tournament. Paige put this team on her back and the team responded by having her back and giving UConn the two titles!!!!!

Now my nitpicking...another game where you had no idea about what the refs were gonna call next. I think it being the third intense game on the third straight day become a factor in the last three quarters but we didn't let Creighton take advantage. And finally, have we had another game this season where our two primary PGs had 5 TOs...each????

 

[Centerstream]

It was said previously that he needed an answer after the big east tournament.

I know that but I doubt that it will be made public...it's solely for planning for next season.
And I only posted it because he made it a point to talk about in the previous two games.

 

[GoUconn7961]

Paige now has 2,266 career points, just 80 behind Tina (2,346) and 145 behind Phee (2,401). Potentially 6 more games to land herself on the #3 spot all time.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for Paige, even though she probably doesn't care about stuff like this.

Wonder if anyone will ever catch Maya.