UConn - Iowa Postgame Thread

[oldude]

A couple thoughts on tonight’s game:

• For many UConn WBB fans it’s “National Championship or bust.” But this season, after all the adversity this team has faced, I can’t feel anything but great joy and satisfaction over how much this team has accomplished against all odds. While the loss really hurts right now, the team should take tremendous pride in how hard they worked and fought, and how far they came despite facing challenges that would have broken just about any other team.
• To our two incredibly tough and beloved graduating seniors, Nika and Aaliyah, thank you for everything you did for UConn WBB. You will be missed. Each of you have achieved a measure of immortality. Nika’s UConn career assist mark will last for a very long time, if not forever. Aaliyah will have her banner up in the rafters at Gampel along with so many legendary UConn greats: Rebecca, Sue, DT, Maya, Breanna, Paige……….
• As for the game, it was billed as a battle between Paige and Clark, the two best players in WBB. Of course, it was really a battle between UConn and Iowa, but the hype surrounding these two superstars surely put several million fans in front of their TV’s.
• UConn once again came out playing relentless defense, with Nika blanketing Clark all over the court, limiting high-scoring Iowa to a season low 26 points in the first half, taking a 6-point lead into halftime.
• But in the 2nd half, Clark found just enough space to knock down a few shots, Iowa took much better care of the ball as the teams traded baskets through the 3rd qtr. In the 4th qtr, Iowa took the lead. UConn clawed their way back. This was an incredible battle between two fiercely competitive teams. UConn fought heroically to the very end, but the Huskies came up just short.
• As for next season, there are a lot of question marks, mostly related to the health status of several key players. But so long as UConn has Paige doing Paige things, along with KK, Ashlynn, Ice, Q and whoever else shows up, does anyone really doubt that the Huskies will be back, chasing yet another championship?

 

[Bone Dog]

A tough loss: Iowa played well, especially Stuelke, Martin and Affolter. Caitlin was solid too, as was Paige, but it was really the role players’ victory. Nika almost engineered a comeback in the closing minute, and KK was dynamite. Aaliyah had 17 and was strong in the closing minutes. But a dubious moving screen call effectively ended the game. Not Aaliyah's fault. We got out rebounded, but that was largely because we went so cold in the second half. Still everyone scored and all the girls had great moments.

A great season for a great team!

 

[uconnfan68]

Refs sucked.

 

[JCisthegoat]

That referee was looking for something

 

[BrianUC]

That last call. Ruined the game.

 

[msf22b]

We had our chances
Both team neutralized each other's stars
Great season
On to next year

 

[JSB60]

Great effort, Iowa played well. A great game that could have gone either way ruined by the refs at the end.

 

[mhshuskies]

That last call. Ruined the game.

Yup

 

[Vowelguy]

Was ok with a loss. Too bad for an awful call to play a pivotal role.

 

[Viet Vet]

Refs sucked.

The moving screen call on Edwards was correct. We lost, fair and square.

 

[cferraro04]

I will keep it short. This was a winnable game!

 

[Nolefan]

Great season considering all the adversity .. I’m just happy I don’t have watch SCa play .. Go Iowa ..

 

[pghhuskydoc]

Great season. Couldn’t be prouder of this group of gritty women.
Great things coming for us next year.
Thank you, Nika and Aaliyah!

 

[Blueballer]

Great season and we actually overacheived at the end. Congrats to Iowa - they made the shots down the stretch. Please find a way to beat SC

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Extremely proud of this team and coaching staff. But that call was ridiculous.

 

[ABCDFE]

the refs took it out of the hands of the players and so many phantom calls. Man just disgusted with the officiating.

Paige needed to be more of a dog and aggressive. I thought she deferred too much and didn’t drive enough against a smaller player.

Proud of this team, was right there to get to the finals. Damn shame

 

[SLY63]

I could have lived with a missed shot, but for refs to call that with under 10 seconds left in a Final 4 game is absolutely criminal. I really hope Geno calls the ref out in the presser.

 

[Drame]

TRASH Game.. 6 horrible calls all against UCONN.

 

[Hurleyman216]

You can’t make that crap call in a Final 4 with 4 seconds left. NCAA is a joke. Hope Geno rips them in the presser

 

[Amashutcha]

We always say players need to be aware of time and score, well so do the refs! Absolutely ruined the finish.

 

[Mets8692]

I don't know how you make that ticky tack call on Edwards at the end. It would be questionable in a regular season game nevermind the final four. Sad to see it end to a whistle.

 

[mainerhuski]

Refs sucked.

That no foul-foul called against Edwards at the end of the game determined the outcome. That ref should never be permitted to officiate a tournament game again. Nika’s first foul & one of KK’s were as well.

 

[stormsurge]

seemed like rebecca lobo was doing everything she could to not say something she wanted to say

 

[Maleficent9]

obviously sucks that the season is over. but im SO proud of this team for what they've done and the resilience theyve showed. thank you nika and aaliyah for everything, huskies forever

 

[GG]

Proud of this team. From my perspective, they overachieved. Still think this game was winnable, but we made some mistakes in the first half that did not allow us to build the lead. But South Carolina’s definitely looking like the team to beat this year.