UConn - SJU post game | Page 3 | The Boneyard

UConn - SJU post game

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bone Dog said:
This was a good Big East win, but the narrow distribution of points doesn't bode well for their chances in late March. The freshmen seem still to be a bit shaken by the ND loss and are playing a little tentatively. Geno may have lost confidence in Q, for example.

Aaliyah and Paige showed they can take over a game as needed and get wins like this one.
Expand ...
I don't think he lost confidence in Q, nor in the other freshman. The freshman didn't hit the proverbial wall yet. Nor, I think, will they.
 
It was 2 against 5 the whole game. That freshman wall must be really really tall if they’re still climbing it.

This team should have had it figured out by now. This was not a great game by any stretch of the imagination. Sorry.

No idea what will happen come tournament time. Complete guess. They could lose in the first round against something something state or win NATTY 12.

This team is just ??????
 
Good, gritty win by UConn. Was shaking when St. John's had the ball, only down by 7. Despite St. John's having all the momentum and only being a few shots from taking the lead, Huskies, who must have been exhausted, buckled down and made a big run.
Most of my comments were already captured so a few quick notes:
-Pro: Edwards had perhaps her best game of her career. One of the great UConn performances - well worth a watch. Should be another springboard to All American status.
Paige had an equally special Q4 when UConn was under severe pressure, hitting from all parts of the court, scoring 11
While not a stat stuffer, Slade again played most of the game, gave great defense, effort and made few mistakes. Rarely got the ball on offense but when she did, made some key shots.
-Con: Seemed that whenever UConn made a run in the first quarter, Nika made a bad pass or fouled. Geno had to take her out again due to foul troubles. Coming so close to her poor ND performance, this was a big surprise. Sometimes played great defense; other times, similar to the ND game, wasn't quick enough to keep St. John's quicker guards from turning the corner on their drives.
 
I am happy with the way the team battled. It wasn't a pretty game where we are clicking on all cylinders. We got the win and our veterans stepped up. Well done. As for people being critical of the freshmen saying they have "hit the wall" or "they have regressed". Maybe all of that is true and maybe it's not. What I love about our freshmen in this game, they were out their forcing shots. That is a great indicator of players who understand the big picture of a program and that is why UConn, as a program, has sustained greatness for three decades and counting. Up next, Seton Hall.

Let's go, UConn!!
 
.-.
Longtime fan said:
It is pretty clear that we have a team of three great players.
Expand ...
Your post included numerous really good points, but I'm stumped by your reference to 'a team of three great players."
 
Based on today's film, any future coach should focus his/her game plan around stopping Aaliyah. Paige is Paige; she'll get her 25+. But if an opponent can limit #3 to low double figures, there's a reasonable chance it can hold UConn's offense down.

We need more contribution from the others. And he has to play Q, even if it's only to get her game-ready for when Nika picks up an early 3rd foul in some future game -- which seems inevitable.
 
Lots of posters here bemoaning a "bad second half" etc. But it was actually just a three-and-a-half minute lull in which SJU scored 16 points (including banked three's) to our 3 points. I don't like "lulls" but to me, that was the only bad spell of the game. Without that run, we win by 28 points. So I'm not as upset as others.
 
maybe some of you think St. Johns is a pushover but they arent. This was a good win. We played good defense and St. Johns made a lot of last second shots with a husky in their face.
Nika had a very good game. Why some of you are comparing this to the ND game is beyond me. Nika had only 4 points but had 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals and kept St. Johns top scorer a non-factor.
Aaliyah was amazing under the basket and Paige did what Paige does.
Our two starting freshmen played some pretty good defense and scored when needed.
 
.-.
Just two weeks ago the freshmen were the greatest and the team was fun to watch. Now, the team is falling apart. Some posters change with the slightest setbacks. If they'd stop overestimating the team just because they had a winning streak, they would not be so disappointed when the team struggles. Speaking of struggling, if UConn does not improve their overall play, I believe they are headed for an embarrassing, old fashion beat down against SC.
 
Certainly, a solid win for a manpower depleted team. Our starters are playing too many minutes to press or double team in games that are closely called. SJ was quick, came back several times with great finishes and drove the middle a lot with success. Late in this game, Edwards made several key steals for fast break opportunities. We chose to run the clock rather than close with drives. This win rested squarely on our seniors and the bench call to isolate in the fourth quarter. It worked.

Our early success in the conference was the result of balanced scoring with five (5) players nearly always in double figures. Opposing coaches have adjusted but we haven't as well yet. Hoping to see a different defensive set-up like an occasional zone especially when Ice or Q are on the floor and we rest our starters a few minutes. Down Griffin has changed our defensive nature. Q and Ice are needed more than ever. There is still time for the players/coaches to grow our great talent.
 
HopJim said:
Good, gritty win by UConn. Was shaking when St. John's had the ball, only down by 7. Despite St. John's having all the momentum and only being a few shots from taking the lead, Huskies, who must have been exhausted, buckled down and made a big run.
Most of my comments were already captured so a few quick notes:
-Pro: Edwards had perhaps her best game of her career. One of the great UConn performances - well worth a watch. Should be another springboard to All American status.
Paige had an equally special Q4 when UConn was under severe pressure, hitting from all parts of the court, scoring 11
While not a stat stuffer, Slade again played most of the game, gave great defense, effort and made few mistakes. Rarely got the ball on offense but when she did, made some key shots.
-Con: Seemed that whenever UConn made a run in the first quarter, Nika made a bad pass or fouled. Geno had to take her out again due to foul troubles. Coming so close to her poor ND performance, this was a big surprise. Sometimes played great defense; other times, similar to the ND game, wasn't quick enough to keep St. John's quicker guards from turning the corner on their drives.
Expand ...
It’s bothersome to me that Nika still passes up open shots, even some when she’s close to the basket, she’ll make quick short pass to a teammate that completely surprises the teammate and the result is a TO.
 
HuskyNan said:
It seems to me that Ashlynn is calling for the ball but not getting it. Perhaps Geno wants Paige to be the first option?
Expand ...
Nan, have been watching Ashlynn the past few games and I have the same question. Often open, she is regularly ignored. She often is guarded by the worst defender on the other team, making this more frustrating. Her shots typically come as the 4th or 5th option. Difficult to argue that she deserves the ball more than Edwards or Paige, but hoping that Geno has some plays for her when teams double up on our Big Two. Kudos to Ashlynn for always giving 125% effort all around the court whether she gets ball or not.
 
.-.
osceola48 said:
Lots of posters here bemoaning a "bad second half" etc. But it was actually just a three-and-a-half minute lull in which SJU scored 16 points (including banked three's) to our 3 points. I don't like "lulls" but to me, that was the only bad spell of the game. Without that run, we win by 28 points. So I'm not as upset as others.
Expand ...
I went through the play by play for that 3 minute 5 second stretch. When it started, Paige, Nika, KK, Q, and Aaliyah were on the court with a 20 point lead. KK went out, and Ice in 37 seconds into that period. During that stretch:

Q played 2 minutes 33 seconds and shot 0-2 and had 1 block and 1 foul
Ice played 2 minutes 23 seconds and had 1 turnover

Both seemed overwhelmed and confused by St John’s slapping at the ball and aggressive defense when it ramped up late in Q3. Without KK to speed up the game or Ash to draw a defender, the team truly was depending on only three at that point and Nika was busy defending Unique Drake, which had to be exhausting.

I am NOT blaming the young players, by the way. They’re freshmen that were thrown into a physical game played at an unfamiliar pace. I thought Ice, especially, had some nice moments earlier in the game. However, they’re both still learning and facing situations they didn’t experience in high school. We need to be patient
 
Last edited:
HuskyNan said:
I went through the play by play for that 3 minute 5 second stretch. When it started, Paige, Nika, KK, Q, and Aaliyah were on the court with a 20 point lead. KK went out, and Ice in 37 seconds into that period. During that stretch:

Q played 2 minutes 33 seconds of that period and shot 0-2 and had 1 block and 1 foul
Ice played 3 minutes 8 seconds and had 1 turnover

Both seemed overwhelmed and confused by St John’s slapping at the ball and aggressive defense when it ramped up late in Q3. Without KK to speed up the game or Ash to draw a defender, the team truly was depending on only three at that point and Nika was busy defending Unique Drake, which had to be exhausting.

I am NOT blaming the young players, by the way. They’re freshmen that were thrown into a physical game played at an unfamiliar pace. I thought Ice, especially, had some nice moments earlier in the game. However, they’re both still learning and facing situations they didn’t experience in high school. We need to be patient
Expand ...
Paige is normally a good ball protector, but even she had it slapped away several times. Missing Aubs off the bench.
 
Certain conditions impact what a player or team can do during a game. If you have a short bench, youth, nagging injuries, etc., then you just have to lower expectations. Most fans like to point out who the team can't afford to lose. WELL...none of them is the answer. Texas, UCLA and Kansas St are a few examples of what happens when you lose just 1 or 2 key players. They are still dangerous teams to play.

And this is a good pressing team, BUT not with limited bodies. You have to tame your aggressiveness because fouling out or having to sit long periods worsens the landscape. If you noticed Nika defended Drake using a completely different strategy than she did Hidalgo. She faceguarded her and just didn't allow her to get the ball. She still picked up 4 fouls. And while they are capable of taking large leads....expecting them to maintain it under these conditions just isn't realistic. Personally, I think they are playing better than I expected.
 
4 starters having to play 35+ minutes and the 5th would have, if not for foul trouble, is not a good sign.
 
.-.
CONN78SEJ said:
It’s bothersome to me that Nika still passes up open shots, even some when she’s close to the basket, she’ll make quick short pass to a teammate that completely surprises the teammate and the result is a TO.
Expand ...
How many T/O's did she have, "3" how many did Paige have "5". Nika had some questionable calls from the refs she also had a handful with guarding Drake. Her first job is to facilitate the offense and shut down the opposing team's PG. She had 9 assists, so that's at least an additional 18 points for the team. During the first half Drake only scored 3 points, all from what looked to be a good block by Nika that was called a foul. She had an assist to turnover ratio of 3-1 in this game. Nika is not the shooting guard or one of the main point scorers on this team, that is the other four players, Paige, AE, Ash, and KK. She is the facilitator as the teams PG, energizer, and defensive guru.
 
MSGRET said:
How many T/O's did she have, "3" how many did Paige have "5". Nika had some questionable calls from the refs she also had a handful with guarding Drake. Her first job is to facilitate the offense and shut down the opposing team's PG. She had 9 assists, so that's at least an additional 18 points for the team. During the first half Drake only scored 3 points, all from what looked to be a good block by Nika that was called a foul. She had an assist to turnover ratio of 3-1 in this game. Nika is not the shooting guard or one of the main point scorers on this team, that is the other four players, Paige, AE, Ash, and KK. She is the facilitator as the teams PG, energizer, and defensive guru.
Expand ...
I agree with everything but as I posted earlier, it looked to me like early on she had 3 clearly open shots, I think from behind the arc, that she refused to take. In previous games, she didn't hesitate to take similar shots.
 
Centerstream said:
Especially when it appears that the first two off the bench didn't seem to be performing up to expectations for the game.
Expand ...

It's tough, and unrealistic, to rely on four freshmen to be in your top seven players and have them all perform at a high level. Having two of them do so is both unexpected and very welcome (and needed).
 
Urshurak said:
It was 2 against 5 the whole game. That freshman wall must be really really tall if they’re still climbing it.

This team should have had it figured out by now. This was not a great game by any stretch of the imagination. Sorry.

No idea what will happen come tournament time. Complete guess. They could lose in the first round against something something state or win NATTY 12.

This team is just ??????
Expand ...
This is a team with 5 potential real contributors gone and is divided between a lot of experience and newcomers who have all contributed to some of the wins. You think they are going to steamroll every team every game? There is still quite incredibly no league team that comes close to beating them. Real world.
 
Centerstream said:
I agree with everything but as I posted earlier, it looked to me like early on she had 3 clearly open shots, I think from behind the arc, that she refused to take. In previous games, she didn't hesitate to take similar shots.
Expand ...
Just because you think that she had them doesn't mean that she did or had different instructions from Geno. Hasn't Geno emphasized all season that he wants Paige to get involved early in the game and that AE take advantage in the paint when she has it. So if Geno is harping on that don't you think that maybe Geno has instructed to Nika that those two get involved in the game first and that she is to facilitate that at the beginning of the game? Most of those shots that she took was after the first quarter and most of the second had been played.
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,154
Messages
4,554,990
Members
10,438
Latest member
UConnheart


Top Bottom