UConn - Creighton post game thread - Big East Champions!

[HuskyNan]

The key here is "top officials."
There's handful of those.
Let's say they get $2000 a game. They're traveling to and reffing 100 games.
And they they have to put up with abuse from fans and coaches, many who don't know the rules.
You want more refs, more "quality refs," you have to invest. They can't get paid a pittance in anticipation of (maybe) a nice payday after 10 years of working hs, div 3, 2 and lower levels of d1.

$200,000 is not a bad income. And that’s for 6 months of work

 

[BobbyJ]

$200,000 is not a bad income

And to make ends meet they can mow lawns in the summer.

 

[JoePgh]

Since scoring 14 points and going 3-for-5 from distance in her home state against Butler on February 22, Ashlynn's 3-point performance has been as follows:

Creighton on Feb 25: 0-1
Marquette on March 2: 0-0
St. Johns on March 8: 0-3
Villanova on March 9: 0-2
Creighton on March 10: 0-2

Total of last 5 games: 0-for-8 from the 3-point line

I am usually not the worrywart in chief on the Boneyard, but I find these numbers somewhat concerning. Ashlynn's play in every other dimension has been very solid, especially on defense.

Perhaps the fact that she has taken only 8 3-point shots in 5 games is as concerning as the fact that she hasn't made any of them. Is it a symptom that she has lost confidence in her 3-point shot? Or is it an indication of end-of-season fatigue? If it's the latter, the week-and-a-half break in actual game play may help to rejuvenate her shot.

 

[Bone Dog]

Or is it an indication of end-of-season fatigue?

... perhaps it's because she's ratcheted up her defensive intensity so much. That may be worth more to Geno right now.

 

[Bigboote]

Hot and cold streaks are a standard subject in probability and statistics. Bad timing, but not necessarily a sign of a problem. It’s also 8 shots over 5 games. Someone like Georgia Amoore misses 8 to begin a game and hits a couple in the 4th quarter and is a hero.

 

[ERWUC65]

As has been stated many times in the past, including moments last year, Ash disappears offensively in big games. First and foremost, it is not a physical or talent problem. She is fine there. She is also invaluable on defense and plays with incredible stamina and intensity. I am sure in practice she gets open, drives to the basket, makes her short jumpers and plenty of 3's. Her game is not fluid and natural like Azzi, so she needs a little more time to think, get set, and shoot. Under pressure this gets more difficult and she looses her confidence and concentration. No one works harder than Ash and wishing she would or could play like the big three is just not in her makeup. If she could then Geno would work plays just for her. After almost 2 full years of lots of court time he knows what he has in her and how to use her in the best way to help the team. Its a given that the tournament opposition will key on the big three more than ever and consequently leave her with the opportunity to have a big game just when it is needed most - fingers crossed.

 

[HuskyNan]

As has been stated many times in the past, including moments last year, Ash disappears offensively in big games. First and foremost, it is not a physical or talent problem. She is fine there. She is also invaluable on defense and plays with incredible stamina and intensity. I am sure in practice she gets open, drives to the basket, makes her short jumpers and plenty of 3's. Her game is not fluid and natural like Azzi, so she needs a little more time to think, get set, and shoot. Under pressure this gets more difficult and she looses her confidence and concentration. No one works harder than Ash and wishing she would or could play like the big three is just not in her makeup. If she could then Geno would work plays just for her. After almost 2 full years of lots of court time he knows what he has in her and how to use her in the best way to help the team. It’s a given that the tournament opposition will key on the big three more than ever and consequently leave her with the opportunity to have a big game just when it is needed most - fingers crossed.

Ash made 3 threes vs South Carolina, had 9 points vs USC, and had 27 vs Iowa State

 

[ERWUC65]

Ash made 3 threes vs South Carolina, had 9 points vs USC, and had 27 vs Iowa State

While we all would champion her return to that Ash, we are still concerned about her other performances against ranked teams: UNC - 3 points, Ole Miss - 2 points, ND - 0 points, TN - 4 points and Creighton - 0 points.

 

[Dugway]

Ash made 3 threes vs South Carolina, had 9 points vs USC, and had 27 vs Iowa State

Obviously the 27-pts against Iowa State is the most impressive game of the season for Ashlynn. She came right out of the tip-off and just blew out the Cyclones. After that, I think that the offense she provided in the South Carolina game is what the team needs most out of her.

Against the red roosters, those three separate 3-pt shots she made all came in the first quarter when the game was still back and forth and could go either way. And recall, at that time, during that first quarter, Azzi could not hit the ocean if she was throwing the ball off a ship. We really needed Ashlynn's offensive production right then and there, and she delivered! Later into that game, it was Fudd who was out of this world hitting 3's and Ashlynn went on to play defense not scoring again. To me, once we are up by twenty, those 3-pts shots are icing on the cake but just not as important as when we are winning by one and/or trailing by one. It is kind of like hitting a home run in the 8th inning when you are already leading 6 to 2.

Timeliness is key! Both of our shooting guards are streaky. It would sure be great if they could ying and yang such that one of them is always dropping the dime.

 

[Zonepress]

Ash made 3 threes vs South Carolina, had 9 points vs USC, and had 27 vs Iowa State

The three threes she made against South Carolina wereactually pivotal in the game
They came at a time when the score was very close, and imho she was the key to the game
Go back and watch Dawn Staley’s reaction when she had her third three

 

[PacoSwede]

ash was great in her usual grunt work ways against Scar too. she was the primary reason for the blowout, actually. jana made a big difference too. wouldn't have happened with the so-called big 3 alone.

of course, geno was genius in the game plan.

 

[Ozimoto]

If Ashlyn is able to hit a couple of pull up jumpers off of screens or curls at the top of the key, I think the threes will follow.

 

[fomalhaut]

Sarah Strong now only needs 11 rebounds to break Tina Charles' freshman record of 296.