UConn - ND post game (merged) | Page 8 | The Boneyard
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UConn - ND post game (merged)

oldude said:
It’s a semantic argument. Does getting into the NCAA tournament as an “at large” team make you a good team. ND will almost certainly do so. I would say that makes you a good team. I guess you have much higher standards.

But again, ND was a top-25 team all season until just yesterday, after losing to Louisville last week. Now if ND ends up losing 10+ games and fails to make it to the Big Dance, then I might agree with you. Otherwise, I would wait and see.

By the way, last year in the NCAA tournament UConn trounced everyone they played, including UCLA & SC in the FF by margins similar to what they beat ND by yesterday. Would you also suggest that those teams were not “good teams?”

We are back to a time when UConn is bad for WBB. There is UConn and everyone else. Some of the best teams in WBB are getting embarrassed by the Huskies. That doesn’t mean they are not good. It simply means they are not good enough to compete with UConn.
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That's the problem, we don't know that yet. The best teams in WBB haven't played UCONN yet (nor will they until E8 or FF). The best team we've played was Michigan, currently ranked 7th, (haven't played 2, 3, 4) and we barely beat them by 3. Granted, I think we've gotten better since then, but haven't played anyone as good (or better) yet to really know how good we are now.

Yes ND WAS ranked in top 25, but they're not now....because they are not that good. They were obviously over ranked. They may get better and make their way back into the Top 25, but they were not a top 25 team yesterday when we played them. (and it showed)

We look good, but we really haven't played any top teams ....other than Michigan....who we barely beat. And UCLA, S. Carolina, Texas are quite a bit better than Michigan. 5

TN seems to be a better team than ND. Hopefully, we can do the same thing against them. But they are still not UCLA, S. Carolina, Texas.

We should find out eventually (FF/E8), but we just don't know yet.
 
oldude said:
More than dribbling around, there are times when HH just stands there with the ball in her hand surveying the defense as the shot clock is winding down. She did that several times yesterday which prompted me to wonder, “What in the hell is she doing?”
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Could be just a reaction - and perhaps realization - to "Who can I pass it to who will be able to do something with the ball that I can't?" There really is no one that ND has that you can say is near HH's level at being able to score. That's why we have to give her much credit for what she's been able to accomplish this year.
 
HuskyNan said:
UConn played Oklahoma in the Elite 8 in March
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I understand that but the MOV against UCLA was more than against Oklahoma. And Paige’s 40 points was a bit of a factor against the Sooners too.
So, nevermind...I'll be quite now.
 
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First quarter was sloppy by Uconn but then they turned it on.ND is not a good team this year with all the players missing from last year but HH is a 1st team AA. I thought it was a class act by HH reaching out to KK to help her up after KK fell down
Watching games over the weekend UCLA could be the biggest test for Uconn if they meet more than Texas or S.C. with their height and addition of Kneepkens are a better team than last year..Uconn needs Williams to be more aggressive on the boards..I think that is the only slight weakness the team has ..the 5 spot..and although the team plays great with S.S. playing there that could be trouble with the other "3" teams if/when Uconn plays them..Is Jana and Williams enough to battle those teams ?
 
Cuango said:
She will get her shot back. Meanwhile, she is turning into a very good defender and when the three is not falling, she contributes in other ways. She will be fine.
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Exactly! I’m not worried about Azzi at all. She has the complete package.
La princesa asesina! Imagine if UCONN shot their season percentage from 3?
Cuango said:
She will get her shot back. Meanwhile, she is turning into a very good defender and when the three is not falling, she contributes in other ways. She will be fine.
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Exactly! I’m not worried about Azzi at all, either. She has the complete package.
La princesa asesina!

Imagine if UCONN shot near 40% from 3 last night, which is their season average to date? Whoa! I’m not mad at 6/24. They were good shots, but they just weren’t dropping.
 
meyers7 said:
That's the problem, we don't know that yet. The best teams in WBB haven't played UCONN yet (nor will they until E8 or FF). The best team we've played was Michigan, currently ranked 7th, (haven't played 2, 3, 4) and we barely beat them by 3. Granted, I think we've gotten better since then, but haven't played anyone as good (or better) yet to really know how good we are now.

Yes ND WAS ranked in top 25, but they're not now....because they are not that good. They were obviously over ranked. They may get better and make their way back into the Top 25, but they were not a top 25 team yesterday when we played them. (and it showed)

We look good, but we really haven't played any top teams ....other than Michigan....who we barely beat. And UCLA, S. Carolina, Texas are quite a bit better than Michigan. 5

TN seems to be a better team than ND. Hopefully, we can do the same thing against them. But they are still not UCLA, S. Carolina, Texas.

We should find out eventually (FF/E8), but we just don't know yet.
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So here’s my question for you. What exactly constitutes a “good team?” I mentioned UConn thumping UCLA & SC twice, including in Columbia, last season. Were those teams good teams?

As for this season, you imply that TX, UCLA, SC & maybe MI are good teams. What about Louisville & Iowa who are both hanging around the top 10?
 
The narrative that Notre Dame has no reliable scoring options other than Hannah Hidalgo is simply false, albeit one that quite a few Irish fans continue to rationalize given the plight of their team this season.

This is not a knock on Hannah Hidalgo. She is an elite scorer. This is more of indictment of the Irish faithful who suggest the problem is with the lack of quality support players around Hidalgo, rather than a problem of a flawed offensive strategy.

The actual data says that the other Irish players have produced results that suggest they can/should be used differently. To wit:
  • Cass Prosper - career high 16.4 ppg; career high 52.3 FG% (6.6 above previous best); career high 41.4 3P% (nine above previous best)
  • Iyana Moore - career high 41.0 3P% (6.6 above previous best)
  • Malaya Cowles - career high 9.5 ppg; 54.0 FG% (fourth straight year above 54%)
  • Vanessa De Jesus - career high 9.4 ppg; career high 41.6 3P% (5.5 above previous year)
  • Gisela Sanchez - career highs in FG% (52.9%) and 3P% (43.8%) around a career high 7.7 ppg.

In other words, the FG and 3P% percentages shown in bold would be coveted at any program, and indicate the other Irish rotational players should be shooting more in ways that take advantage of their strengths.

From a team make-up perspective, the Irish have a lot of similarities to Vanderbilt. I invite folks to compare both programs rotational players and how the programs incorporate those players' strengths. Each team structures their offense around an elite, quick, AA guard incorporating position players of similar size. Both programs rotational players have comparable shooting percentages. And yet the programs are experiencing vastly different results and moving in different directions.
 
DEpup said:
After all Caroline's issues, I don't think Jana should be out there until she's fully right. We have some time before the tournaments so let her brain fully heal. She must be making progress since she is now able to be on the bench.
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on the bench ... and providing chest bumps!
 
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oldude said:
It’s a semantic argument. Does getting into the NCAA tournament as an “at large” team make you a good team. ND will almost certainly do so. I would say that makes you a good team. I guess you have much higher standards.

But again, ND was a top-25 team all season until just yesterday, after losing to Louisville last week. Now if ND ends up losing 10+ games and fails to make it to the Big Dance, then I might agree with you. Otherwise, I would wait and see.

By the way, last year in the NCAA tournament UConn trounced everyone they played, including UCLA & SC in the FF by margins similar to what they beat ND by yesterday. Would you also suggest that those teams were not “good teams?”

We are back to a time when UConn is bad for WBB. There is UConn and everyone else. Some of the best teams in WBB are getting embarrassed by the Huskies. That doesn’t mean they are not good. It simply means they are not good enough to compete with UConn.
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Sorry but there is more than one really good team, not just UCONN. Take a look at what UCLA is doing with the two additional scorers they have added. In as recent game or two all 5 starters scored in dbl figures and some of there starters from last year are not even starting. The biggest thing we have over them is that Close is their HC and that is worth 10-15 points for us when compared to our HC.. Also SC, LSU and TX make this a 5 horse race.
 
Bills Fan said:
Sorry but there is more than one really good team, not just UCONN. Take a look at what UCLA is doing with the two additional scorers they have added. In as recent game or two all 5 starters scored in dbl figures and some of there starters from last year are not even starting. The biggest thing we have over them is that Close is their HC and that is worth 10-15 points for us when compared to our HC.. Also SC, LSU and TX make this a 5 horse race.
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I’m not suggesting that there are not other good teams. I’m merely making an academic argument trying to uncover what exactly constitutes a good team. As I have indicated, I believe ND is a good team. But like most other teams, the Irish are just not competitive vs UConn.
 
Centerstream said:
And Ohio State who is 12th in this week's poll???? We beat them by 32. They just beat TCU...
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I think you're on to something. There are several of our foes that are looking better than they did early in the season... I'm thinking Iowa, Lville, and Ohio State.
 
oldude said:
So here’s my question for you. What exactly constitutes a “good team?” I mentioned UConn thumping UCLA & SC twice, including in Columbia, last season. Were those teams good teams?

As for this season, you imply that TX, UCLA, SC & maybe MI are good teams. What about Louisville & Iowa who are both hanging around the top 10?
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Well last years teams really don't matter since we're talking about this year. But sure they were good. Everything just clicked at the right time for UCONN last year. Bueckers was Bueckers, Fudd finally got healthy and got rid of the rust, and Strong became Strong. All at the right time. Tough to beat that. But that is what happened. This year, nothing like that has happened yet. We've haven't clicked against a really good team because we haven't played (other than Michigan - which we didn't really click against) a really good team.

Yeah, Louisville and Iowa are pretty good teams. The point is ND is not a very good team this year. It's an off year for them. Maybe they'll get better, but right now, they aren't a good team (one that can trouble UCONN).

That's a decent definition, one that can trouble UCONN, not one that loses to Ole Miss, GT, Duke. A team that is highly ranked, not a team that is not ranked at all. Teams with 0 to a couple losses. and that loss(s) is(are) to other good teams. Not a team with 6 losses. A team that is top of their conference table. Not a team that sits mid table (in the ACC which isn't all that strong this year either).

It would seem your idea of a good team is very, very different than mine.

Like they say....the table doesn't lie.
 
YKCornelius said:
The narrative that Notre Dame has no reliable scoring options other than Hannah Hidalgo is simply false, albeit one that quite a few Irish fans continue to rationalize given the plight of their team this season.

This is not a knock on Hannah Hidalgo. She is an elite scorer. This is more of indictment of the Irish faithful who suggest the problem is with the lack of quality support players around Hidalgo, rather than a problem of a flawed offensive strategy.

The actual data says that the other Irish players have produced results that suggest they can/should be used differently. To wit:
  • Cass Prosper - career high 16.4 ppg; career high 52.3 FG% (6.6 above previous best); career high 41.4 3P% (nine above previous best)
  • Iyana Moore - career high 41.0 3P% (6.6 above previous best)
  • Malaya Cowles - career high 9.5 ppg; 54.0 FG% (fourth straight year above 54%)
  • Vanessa De Jesus - career high 9.4 ppg; career high 41.6 3P% (5.5 above previous year)
  • Gisela Sanchez - career highs in FG% (52.9%) and 3P% (43.8%) around a career high 7.7 ppg.

In other words, the FG and 3P% percentages shown in bold would be coveted at any program, and indicate the other Irish rotational players should be shooting more in ways that take advantage of their strengths.

From a team make-up perspective, the Irish have a lot of similarities to Vanderbilt. I invite folks to compare both programs rotational players and how the programs incorporate those players' strengths. Each team structures their offense around an elite, quick, AA guard incorporating position players of similar size. Both programs rotational players have comparable shooting percentages. And yet the programs are experiencing vastly different results and moving in different directions.
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I sort of agree. Notre Dame is always going to be tough for us because they are our rivalry, know each other, and play a similar game. Realistically, a healthy Bransford would make them a top 15 program with their history. I'd rather say that second half of basketball could make even the top teams look challenged. That was a machine like 20 minutes.
 
GetReal2day said:
each of her threes just missed. She would be more effective with a drive then pull up jumper. She tries to go all the way to the rim most every time. Even with her growing pains, I feel the team is much better on OF and DF with her in and Serah out.
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i was more concerned by the 4 TOs than the threes. she'll improve, she's a freshman with lottery pick upside.
 
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BBallF said:
Strongly disagree about Kayleigh. She just put it together in this game. What more do you want from her? 9 points, 3 assists, a steal, a rebound and no turnovers in 19 minutes and a good leadership game for the offense and a solid defensive effort against HH. We are so powerful as a team because of players like Kayleigh, Blanca, Jana and Allie.
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K9 is a "dog"! In addition to what BBallF noted above: Kaleigh was
2/3 from beyond the arc, 1/1 from the foul line, and just "wonderful"
to behold ALL OVER THE HARDWOOD! NICE!
 
No love for Vanderbilt? They will be in the mix for a Final Four spot with this year’s team.
Bills Fan said:
Sorry but there is more than one really good team, not just UCONN. Take a look at what UCLA is doing with the two additional scorers they have added. In as recent game or two all 5 starters scored in dbl figures and some of there starters from last year are not even starting. The biggest thing we have over them is that Close is their HC and that is worth 10-15 points for us when compared to our HC.. Also SC, LSU and TX make this a 5 horse race.
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UConn vs notre dame promoted as two of the best players in the country. Maybe so, but neither one of them was Hidalgo. Granted the defense geared toward stopping her, but did not out play Sarah, Azzi or KK.
 
All these discussions about not playing a top 4 team. First of all not one team plays defense and has the depth to play defense that UConn has. No team has an Azzi and Sarah either who are go to players. IMO UCLA is big and slow. Texas does not have a good 3 pt game. Both weaknesses. SC is not operating insink right now. LSU, well they still have a ways to go. We will see what happens over the next few weeks and see if anything changes.

UConn is so far ahead of everybody else its silly. I continue to say the only way this UConn team gets beat is alot of key players in foul trouble or key injuries. UConns defense eats up everybody theyve played and they will do that no matter who they face. The top 4 teams dont have the quickness, cohesiveness, chemistry to hang with UConn. IMO this is Genos greatest defensive team ever and because of their defense they wont lose.
 
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