UConn scores the most in the 3rd period...why?

[DavidinNaples]

Through 8 games, UConn has scored 708 points while giving up 440. That's a 33 point per game difference. Scoring for the Huskies has been fairly uniform from 1st quarter thru 4th at 189, 156, 192 and 171 points.

Interestingly, the biggest differential occurs in the 3rd period, where UConn has almost doubled opponents 192-100. The next closest is 1st period with a 66 point difference. So what explains this 3rd period domination? Possible answers include:

1. Halftime adjustments by Geno and staff.
2. Superior conditioning.
3. Stewie and MoJeff.
4. All of the above.

Thoughts?
Go Huskies..!!

 

[Geno-ista]

Yes!!! If they can do that in the 3 rd period- why not the other three? Woe is me- is that the sky falling? Again?
I think it's all of the above, and when our opponents play at 1000 percent the first half, and then during halftime they consider the score and reality sets in, and maybe a little "rigamortis" spelling? It must be difficult to get and keep your mind right, especially when deep down you know you are probably outmatched. Just a thought-

 

[Tenspro2002]

#1. Halftime adjustments.

I would expect conditioning issues to show up in the 4th quarter, not the 3rd. Although, you also have to account for the fact that in the 4th quarter we're typically taking our foot off the gas. Perhaps in a hypothetical close game, our superior conditioning would wear them down in the waning minutes.

Stewie and MoJeff are still there in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters. Not sure what you meant by that.

 

[billnaples]

View attachment 11417

Through 8 games, UConn has scored 708 points while giving up 440. That's a 33 point per game difference. Scoring for the Huskies has been fairly uniform from 1st quarter thru 4th at 189, 156, 192 and 171 points.

Interestingly, the biggest differential occurs in the 3rd period, where UConn has almost doubled opponents 192-100. The next closest is 1st period with a 66 point difference. So what explains this 3rd period domination? Possible answers include:

1. Halftime adjustments by Geno and staff.
2. Superior conditioning.
3. Stewie and MoJeff.
4. All of the above.

Thoughts?
Go Huskies..!!

If I were a betting man....well I am but for this you need to have paid more attention in stats and other forms of math I have long since found no need to remember. So my thoughts without back up data is that 1st and 3rd is well rested and starting lineup strong group. I am sure there is a mathematical factor that can support me like how many bench minutes get played quarter by quarter and then do the calculations . Who knows, for those old enough The Shadow Knows.

 

[UcMiami]

Halftime adjustments.
Uconn has also always prided itself on coming out after halftime ready to play - a lot of teams seem to take a few minutes to get back into the game.
I am actually a little surprised that the second quarter isn't better than the first, but perhaps it is because in blow-outs, the second quarter becomes more like the fourth with more substitutions and less intense pressure defense. In competitive games the second quarter might be better than the first? That would be stamina and adjustment related.

 

[Intpseeker]

I've always thought, whether quarters or halves, that the opponent gives us their best shot, in some cases playing amazing ball, in the first 20 minutes, and as they trot off the court, they are still down. Now they sit there in the locker room and realize they have to do even more to hope to win.

At that point, the psychological implications, and their physical conditioning conspire to take enough of the edge off their play that they come out and 'lose' the first five minutes of the 3rd quarter, which every coach believes is the key to winning.

UConn has weathered the opponents best shot, is physically better conditioned, and comes out flying. Turn out the lights, the party's over.

 

[HGN]

View attachment 11417

Through 8 games, UConn has scored 708 points while giving up 440. That's a 33 point per game difference. Scoring for the Huskies has been fairly uniform from 1st quarter thru 4th at 189, 156, 192 and 171 points.

Interestingly, the biggest differential occurs in the 3rd period, where UConn has almost doubled opponents 192-100. The next closest is 1st period with a 66 point difference. So what explains this 3rd period domination? Possible answers include:

1. Halftime adjustments by Geno and staff.
2. Superior conditioning.
3. Stewie and MoJeff.
4. All of the above.

Thoughts?
Go Huskies..!!

HALF-TIME adjustments...............Hands-down. We are talking about the best coaching staff in WCBB. UConn is Blessed with superior talent and Superior coaching. I will also say that there isn't much that Geno hasn't seen in his 30+ years in coaching National Championships and Olympics. So he's good at making half-time adjustments .........And he has coached his teams to execute his plans/adjustments after halftime. If they don't he always has someone on the bench who is ready to come in and do the job.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Halftime adjustments - Geno gets someone to check the Boneyard game thread for advice on how to coach, implements it and voila! he becomes brilliant.

 

[Huskyhoops]

Because this is Geno's mood at half time?

 

[Monte]

View attachment 11417

Through 8 games, UConn has scored 708 points while giving up 440. That's a 33 point per game difference. Scoring for the Huskies has been fairly uniform from 1st quarter thru 4th at 189, 156, 192 and 171 points.

Interestingly, the biggest differential occurs in the 3rd period, where UConn has almost doubled opponents 192-100. The next closest is 1st period with a 66 point difference. So what explains this 3rd period domination? Possible answers include:

1. Halftime adjustments by Geno and staff.
2. Superior conditioning.
3. Stewie and MoJeff.
4. All of the above.

Thoughts?
Go Huskies..!!

....Easy to explain: Who wants Geno in their face at half-time in the locker room?

 

[huskyd]

If I were a betting man....well I am but for this you need to have paid more attention in stats and other forms of math I have long since found no need to remember. So my thoughts without back up data is that 1st and 3rd is well rested and starting lineup strong group. I am sure there is a mathematical factor that can support me like how many bench minutes get played quarter by quarter and then do the calculations . Who knows, for those old enough The Shadow Knows.

Do you mean Lamont Cranston?

 

[billnaples]

Do you mean Lamont Cranston?

Now one of two things should be true. Either you are quick with a Google search OR you're a member of the older than dirt traveling trivia club. I'll give you early credit for the later.

 

[HuskiesDogs]

Cuz in the first half they tease the opponents to make games close and exciting before they get serious in the 2nd half and thats when blow outs occur

 

[JoePgh]

I agree completely with the "halftime adjustments" crowd, but I would amplify it a bit.

Not just this year but ever since UConn has returned to the top of the charts (i.e., circa 2009), a common pattern is for good teams to play a close game for at least the first quarter and often for the entire first half. Duke often did that. Last year in Florida, Wisconsin Green Bay did that. Even Texas in the Sweet 16 last year did that for the first 12-15 minutes before eventually losing by 50. Dayton was up by 1 point at the half before enduring a second half that was more typical of UConn.

Opposing coaches are often good enough to come up with a game plan that will surprise UConn a bit and will work for a period of time. By contrast, I don't have the sense that Geno tries to fool or ambush opponents with big surprises at the start of the game, although he did seem to do that to Ohio State in this year's opener. (Those of us who attended the open practice before that game could have offered an accurate prophecy if Kevin McGuff had made it worth our while.) This often causes the game to be relatively close for the first quarter and sometimes for part of the second quarter. In some cases, it lasts until halftime. But by then, the opponent's strategy has been completely diagnosed, and the countermoves have been pulled off the shelf to stop it. Opponents don't seem to be able to predict or practice for the adjustments, so they usually lose big in the second half -- more specifically the 3rd quarter before the game descends into garbage time.

If the game remains close into the fourth quarter, that is a game that UConn could easily lose -- for example, last year's Stanford game, the numerous close Notre Dame games a few years ago, and the St. John's loss at Gampel.

An interesting question would be what UConn's record is in games that are within 5 points after 30 minutes. I will bet that it might be under .500.