UConn is ready to Explode

[Tonyc]

We've been seeing increased improvement on both sides of the ball. Now we are seeing more players looking for their shot which takes alot of pressure off Sarah and Azzi. I expect over the next few games to see everybody elses scoring to increase, making it much tuffer to guard UConn. There still needs to be some tweaking like not rushing shots and taking a second to get set. However, Im expecting some big games (breakout games) from everybody else.

There doesnt seem to be any hesitation by anybody to take a shot. Thats a big improvement. Now the missed bunnies. Its just rushing shots for fear of being fouled or having their shot blocked. Focus on making the shot in rhythm. Focus on executing the shot the way it should be executed and focus on making the basket and everything else will fall into place.

Next up ND. Ive read alot of concerns about HH. Well Im not concerned. We have a defense that executes to a tee and HH will have her hands full. This game will be nationally televised, and everybody will get a good look at UConns and KKs defense. It absorbs offenses. Its tuff to operate you offense when your bottled up or when you pick up your dribble. Geno has this defense down to a science. I expect a huge win and nothing left on the table.

Im hoping Jana is back too. Im also expecting Blanca to have a huge game, a breakout game. UConn has reached another level on offense. We've seen it over the past few games. We've got alot of BadAss's lol. With everybody else piquing on offense it could be an explosion offensively. It was against Nova. UConn will have ND (nothing doing) in their grasps and wont let go.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Hildago can score 60 and UConn will still win. Let Hildago do here thing and just prevent anyone else from scoring and UConn will will by a lot.

 

[FanSince17]

Hildago can score 60 and UConn will still win. Let Hildago do here thing and just prevent anyone else from scoring and UConn will will by a lot.

I don't want to be overconfident, but look at the box from yesterday's Louisville- ND game. She got her numbers and Louisville ripped them at ND.

 

[GetReal2day]

Hildago can score 60 and UConn will still win. Let Hildago do here thing and just prevent anyone else from scoring and UConn will will by a lot.

Nope - I am sure a def player like KK would never let a PG go off. I am sure the game plan is to pester the crap out of HH, double and let the other ND players see if they can breath enough to get their shots off. Nobody on the UConn side wants to see HH and her showboating again, not on our court.

 

[Charliebball]

I don't care if UConn has a nuclear explosion or just a M80 explosion.......I just want to see payback against Notre Dame.... ☺️

 

[Monte]

I have watched 4 or 5 Notre Dame games this year. I would say that about 50% of the time, Vanessa De Jesus will be the point guard, and bring the ball up to the front court. Hidalgo takes over at other times. So, they are using 2 point guards on the court, as UCONN does at times. Hidalgo does seem quicker of the two.

 

[FanSince17]

I have watched 4 or 5 Notre Dame games this year. I would say that about 50% of the time, Vanessa De Jesus will be the point guard, and bring the ball up to the front court. Hidalgo takes over at other times. So, they are using 2 point guards on the court, as UCONN does at times. Hidalgo does seem quicker of the two.

I vote KK on DeJesus, game over, and Azzi on HH + team connectiveness.

 

[Bone Dog]

Hildago can score 60 and UConn will still win. Let Hildago do here thing and just prevent anyone else from scoring and UConn will will by a lot.

I'm less concerned about Hannah's offense than about her defense. Our defense will do what it does. But our offense is largely in transition and the chaos of transition is where she can work some mischief. I'm not worried about KK or Azzi or Ash being surprised by this. But Sarah and Blanca are often in the open court with the ball, and that's a vulnerability. They need to be extra aware. Kayleigh and Allie too.

 

[TheGOAT23]

To keep Hildalgo’s defensive prowess at bay, they may have to use Coach Walz’s tactic from last night’s game. Anyone that HH is not guarding will be tasked with dribbling up the court. Keep her away from the ball. 😂 Per the game stats, she only had one steal last night. Brilliant, Jeff. Banghart played for and was an assistant at Dartmouth and coached at Princeton, but…nm!

 

[browns]

KK and Paige were torched the last 2 years by HH..they had no answer for her..KK is a great defensive player but not against HH I imagine Geno will put KK on her and she'll get her points but shut everyone else down and Uconn wins by 30

 

[Cuango]

We've been seeing increased improvement on both sides of the ball. Now we are seeing more players looking for their shot which takes alot of pressure off Sarah and Azzi. I expect over the next few games to see everybody elses scoring to increase, making it much tuffer to guard UConn. There still needs to be some tweaking like not rushing shots and taking a second to get set. However, Im expecting some big games (breakout games) from everybody else.

There doesnt seem to be any hesitation by anybody to take a shot. Thats a big improvement. Now the missed bunnies. Its just rushing shots for fear of being fouled or having their shot blocked. Focus on making the shot in rhythm. Focus on executing the shot the way it should be executed and focus on making the basket and everything else will fall into place.

Next up ND. Ive read alot of concerns about HH. Well Im not concerned. We have a defense that executes to a tee and HH will have her hands full. This game will be nationally televised, and everybody will get a good look at UConns and KKs defense. It absorbs offenses. Its tuff to operate you offense when your bottled up or when you pick up your dribble. Geno has this defense down to a science. I expect a huge win and nothing left on the table.

Im hoping Jana is back too. Im also expecting Blanca to have a huge game, a breakout game. UConn has reached another level on offense. We've seen it over the past few games. We've got alot of BadAss's lol. With everybody else piquing on offense it could be an explosion offensively. It was against Nova. UConn will have ND (nothing doing) in their grasps and wont let go.

I have little doubt on the win but I wouldn’t care to bet any money on shutting Hidalgo down. It’s possible, of course but she’s torched us every time we’ve played. I do think we are as well equipped as anyone in the country to contain her but .……she’s a heck of a player and she seems to make a special effort against us.

 

[HopJim]

Hildago can score 60 and UConn will still win. Let Hildago do here thing and just prevent anyone else from scoring and UConn will will by a lot.

We have rarely had so much defensive guard talent. While KK is best in country, Azzi has the moves, quickness, long arms and basketball IQ to guard her as well.

 

[Skittles405]

ND only plays 6 due to injuries as well. With the way we can run and gun I don’t expect them to be able to keep up for the full 40. HH doesn’t have the luxury to expend energy she has been able to do in the couple of games against us. May come into play this year not having subs to give her a little rest each quarter.

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

Knowing and following zuconn for so long, they will.not shy away from HH or alter their way of playing because of HH. KK and Azzi are normally assigned the opponent's beat player and I think that philosophy wont change with ND. Part of going to the next level is to be able to guard players like HH. Thats why HH will be an absolute nightmare on the defensive side once she enters the W. She can already score, but her defense is just off the charts.

At the end, our girls will.once again prevail. ND is nowhere near the same team it was the past 2-3 years. I believe Azzi is an amazing and unddrrated defender. Add in. Kk and even throw in Strong, Hannah will have a long day scoring. Uconn is not trying to win a game by 40, they are trying to beat and shut down a team's beat player and only offensive option if you ask me.

 

[Bone Dog]

I have little doubt on the win but I wouldn’t care to bet any money on shutting Hidalgo down. It’s possible, of course but she’s torched us every time we’ve played. I do think we are as well equipped as anyone in the country to contain her but .……she’s a heck of a player and she seems to make a special effort against us.

Hannah is a tremendous talent. However, I would be more judicious about the "torching" thing. It wasn't all Hannah's doing.

Two seasons ago, she did indeed torch us -- 34 pts 10 rebounds 6 assists. She also shot 3-5 from 3 and 11-19 from 2. That was an all around great game for her.

Last season, yet another defeat, but KK and Kaitlyn handled her rather better and by the scout. Yes, she got hot from 3, shooting 6-11 from 3 (which is awesome), but only 2-6 from 2. In effect, the firm of KK & K kept her from having her way in the paint. This was a good game, but after watching the replays a few times, it looked to me like Liatu King was the decisive contributor with 16 points (fewer than Hannah) but 12 rebounds, 6 of them offensive. She kept runs going and punctured our responses. Liatu was a great addition to the roster by Niele and I don't think she got nearly enough credit for signing her. And Olivia Miles chipped in another 16 pts (4-5 from 2, 2-4 from 3). I'm not saying Hannah didn't have a good game. But her usual domination inside the arc had been largely taken away, and given that the supporting cast is not nearly as strong this season, I suspect even this will be difficult to achieve. And it didn't hurt that UConn was ice cold from 3 (3-16).

My conclusion: last season, a very good team beat us, not just one player, on a very cold night. I'm actually surprised that ND didn't go much further in the tournament than they actually did.

 

[DemonDeac22]

UConn just needs to keep rotating players in and out while keeping up intense defensive pressure. They will wear out ND’s starters who all average about 38 min a game. Relentlessness plus more skill wins every time.