UConn - ND post game (merged) | Page 4 | The Boneyard

UConn - ND post game (merged)

oldude said:
Some thoughts on the Notre Dame game:
  • Back in the days of the OBE UConn & ND played 2, 3 and even 4 games a season as both teams were perennial contenders for a national championship. Nowadays fans only get to see the matchup once a year. But it’s still a very BIG DEAL for WBB fans.
  • Payback? The only current Husky that has played against and beaten ND was Caroline 4 years ago. Azzi was rehabbing an injury, and last season Kayleigh and her USC teammates got thumped by the Irish.
  • ND is not quite the powerhouse they have been. But HH makes them a very dangerous opponent. UConn threw a lot at her: multiple defenders, hard hedges on screens and double-teams to get the ball out of her hands. I’m guessing that KK was the toughest defender Hidalgo has faced all season…and Kayleigh & Azzi were pretty damned good too.
  • I love it when the opposing team calls an early timeout, less than 3 minutes into the game and 3.5 minutes into the 2nd half because of UConn runs right out of the gate.
  • UConn’s defense was, as usual, excellent. But on offense the Huskies struggled to execute in the 1st half as they clanked a bunch of shots.
  • Ash, in addition to her whirling dervish act hunting down rebounds and closing out on shooters hit some really BIG shots to get the Huskies going on offense.
  • After an uncomfortably close 1st half, UConn stepped on the gas in the 2nd half, putting the game out of reach.
  • Much has been made of ND’s lack of depth. Only 6 players played in prime time. But the Huskies, with all their depth, basically used 7 players.
  • Yesterday, an announcing crew suggested that the game today would match up 2 NPOY candidates, Hidalgo & Strong. Hidalgo had a long, tough day today. Sarah was her usual, brilliant, stat-stuffing superstar: 18 pts (8/12), 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks. WHAT A BASKETBALL PLAYER!!!
  • Back to the Big East. Georgetown is up next. GO HUSKIES!!!
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If ever there was any doubt as to who the best defensive PG in the country is, I think that was settled tonight. It's not just about steals. It's about shutting down the best scoring PG in the country. Did HH even score off of KK?

I also think the story of the night was the strength of our non-superstar backcourt/wing players in Ash, KK, K9, and Blanca( her time is coming). We all ate dinner at halftime and the theme of the conversation was how poor we looked on offense. But then, when you hold a team with a POY candidate who is averaging 25 ppg to 10 points and the team to 23, it's only a matter of time. And it was. I thought K9 and Blanca, despite 5 TOs from Blanca, who seemed nervous at first in this big game, were both instrumental combining for 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ash and KK combined for 22 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists and both were as good as you could ever want on defense. They both played inspired basketball. What a job on HH.
 
I'm didn't find the first half performance as bad as some of you. Granted there were more turnovers than absolutely necessary and shots weren't going down but the defense was outstanding and the missed shot were for the most part good shots. Sure, there was a second quarter lull. But a no time did ND look like they could escape our D. Our seven were much better than their six as evidenced by the MOV. If our threes had been going down the starters would have been on the bench the whole 4th quarter.
 
ABCDFE said:
I thought ND played hard. HH is such a player and was on the court almost the entire game and made to work so hard and yet didnt see her once seem tired or out of breath or asked to be subbed. She’s a physical specimen for sure. ND just doesn’t have enough talent, but credit to Niele for her team playing hard. I thought the second best player on ND was C Prosper, she’s got a good handle and a nice jump shot. Not that this game would’ve been close but the loss of KK Bransford cannot be understated.

Now on the our amazing team, who played without Jana today and I’m almost certain she would’ve seem some good minutes and been effective against a smaller lineup.

Strong played great and always gives us that stabilizing force when she’s on the court.

Azzi couldn’t make any shots today but this is where you see her ability to effect the game so much with her defense and her ability to finish near the rim.

KK is playing out of this world right now, I thought this was one of her best games as a husky. All over the place causing havoc and made so miserable for HH.

Shade looked for her shot today and I’m one that thinks on a day like today when Azzi and BQ couldn’t make a shot Shade become that all important third shooter and she delivered.

K9 - this may have been her best game at UConn given the level of competition and man she looks really comfortable out there now. Hoping those outside shots continue to fall because with her and Shade making shots really makes this team bullet proof

Serah played aggressive today. She makes a lot of players harder than it should down low but she’s a presence for us down there that we need. Not always the most coordinated but hoping that her aggressiveness continues to build her confidence

BQ - today was a mixed bag for Blanca. Today you could see how special she could be and yet she’s still got so much to grow her game. If she can watch some videos of Paige and just utilize a variety of speeds and develop a pull up skys the limit

Nice to see Allie and Ayanna get some time on the floor. Ayanna smiling as she headed to the foul line and then promptly swishing that free throw made my day.

Don’t think there will be another close game until deep in the tournament. In some ways I want UConn to blow out Tennessee but also hoping they give us a good fight as we aren’t going to be pushed at all in conference play.
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Good analysis of the game
 
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I was at the game and the crowd was really into it. Full house, electric. Must be great to be a student at the game a day before the semester starts!

UConn was not quite themselves in the first half with mediocre outside shooting and some carelessness with the ball, but they were still up nine. The consensus was that UConn would hit their stride and that the Irish would wilt sooner or later, and "later" turned out to be the third quarter.

And that third quarter was something else again. With the game still arguably on the line, in the third quarter Hidalgo had 0 points (only one shot attempt), one rebound, and one assist (at the very end of the quarter). It was one of UConn's best stretches of the season.

KK was the leader on defense, but our other guards - K9, Azzi and Shade - were also capable of keeping Hidalgo in front of them. If that was the test, they passed with flying colors. The help from the others on the screens was also first rate.

It is telling that Azzi can have a very solid game even though she was ofer from three. She did everything else very well. And Shade was really good tonight - her intensity and grit is a constant that cannot be overstated, and (except for the free throws) I thought she found a nice rhythm on the offensive end that is a good sign for things to come.
 
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BBallF said:
Geno would be right. You saw both HH and KK play defense tonight. Who had the tougher assignment? Who played their man better? KK was, simply put, formidable tonight. What a game she had.
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I thought it was great when Hannah and KK were battling over the ball. They ended up on the floor on the sideline across from the UConn bench. Hannah helped KK up, they spoke and both were smiling.
I have no idea what the refs called.
 
ABCDFE said:
Don’t think there will be another close game until deep in the tournament. In some ways I want UConn to blow out Tennessee but also hoping they give us a good fight as we aren’t going to be pushed at all in conference play.
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I trust that the coaching staff is taking the @ Nova game more seriously than the BY. I’d be more concerned about that game than TN
 
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hoophuskee said:
Maybe - I'm not arguing but Geno has said in the past referring to players, "Do what you're good at." And they were able to get open 3's anytime they wanted with less risk of a turnover as an exemple. And they were the #1 ranked 3pt shooting team. And another thing many of us get frustrated at is telling a player to shoot when they're open. If they don't do it- it's sort of frustrating watching. Even at the end of the half Ashlynn could have taken a mid-range jumper, instead she drives right into the teeth of the defense with nowhere to go.
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Agree. We were up 9 at the half shooting 2-13 from the arc. If we shot even 40% from the 3, that gives us 3 more made shots for 9 more points and an 18 point halftime lead and who's complaining then. It had the feel of an advanced NCAA game and there will be times where the long ball isn't working. It's not like the shots were terrible misses either, except maybe 2 of them. Azzi had at least 2 rim out and several others were close. It seemed that that was the game plan also, let KK, Ash, K9, and Blanca, shoot the 3s but the problem was that they started to drop in the second half and with our defense, you ain't making those points up. So bye-bye.
 
Dugway said:
Excellent! That is what I have to say about the outcome; excellent!

Looking forward to a similar beat down of the Ugly Orange team!
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I saw the Ugly Orange play at Barclay's. They are very, very big and physical but lost to Louisville when the Cards full court pressed them. They ain't seen nothing like our half court defense. I truly hope Jana is back for that game. Their style of play is right up her alley.
 
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Jumpy Radar said:
I don't know about anyone else, but I felt like UCONN wanted to blow ND out so bad that they just got outside of themselves and played an awful first half. Instead of running their offence, there was a lot of one pass and then launch a 3, which helped ND stay close. It was really frustrating to see especially because from the start of the game ND had no answer when we attacked the paint. You don't have to try to blowout an opponent, the blowout will come if you just keep playing your game. But then came the second half and the team look more like themselves.

All in all, I am happy with the win. But I would have love to see a complete game from start to finish. Good win! Go Huskies!
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UConn*
 
Bald Husky said:
Worried about Azzi. The best shooter in the country is not right now.
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It was disappointing today but I'm not worried. I believe three of Azzi's four missed 3pt shots were within an inch of being on target and popped out after rattling around the rim. Also, she shot 7-9 (78%) on her 2pt shots after entering the game shooting 50% on 2s for the season.
 
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darkstar1 said:
Well, we have seen what Geno’s preferred 7 man rotation will be in the NCAA’s, in any non-blowout games, although I imagine we’ll see plenty of Allie and Jana as circumstances dictate.
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Allie and Jana are more situational. Need a shooter? Here’s Allie. Need a big to bang with someone like Lauren Betts? Here is Jana.

With our up tempo pressing style that we prefer to play at; the first 7 are a little more suited for that style of play imo.
 
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