UConn-South Carolina game

[Charliebball]

We have no other option at this point in the season. While South Carolina should be able to exploit that match up with ease I am more concerned with our in ability to contain penetration against South Carolinas back court. I imagine we’ll have to put Nika on Hall leaving Johnson or PoaPoa to exploit the matchup with Shade.

Should be a feast for South Carolina on offense.

As with most South Carolina teams..........the only way to beat this SC team is by limiting their offensive rebounding and hope like hell that they're not hitting their threes.......stranger things have happened but it's going to be a struggle......

 

[Zinethar]

I never want either team to be down a player as I don't want excuses after the outcome and to see where each team is at that point in the season. Lineups always change during a season for most teams and certainly UConn has had more than their share of players missing action. This is the team we have and if they are on they can beat anyone. If not they can also lose some others. I just enjoy watching them do their best and then see where the chips fall.

 

[JellyBean]

Why we worried about South Carolina. Don't we play Seton Hall first?

 

[DaddyChoc]

I like our chances

 

[omshanti]

Enough with the gloom and doom! Any team can win on any given day. College players are playing, not robots so anything can happen. I’m still rooting and hoping for the Huskies to take the game. If they do, good for them. If not, I’ll still get up the morning and have some coffee. My life isn’t affected either way. I love the fight in the team despite the injuries. Geno is still a hall of fame coach (although reading some posts on this forum denies the fact that he can coach). South Carolina has more to lose than UConn so I think they come out tight. It is a big game yet still only February and Geno gets them ready come March. First order of business is Seton Hall on Wednesday.

 

[HuskyNan]

I like our chances

Welcome back

 

[BRS24]

Regardless of the outcome, I hope the team gets a few things out of this game, in prep for the NCAAT. More balanced scoring, faster ball movement, etc.

 

[boscolino]

You know SCar a lot better than me. Say Ashyln gets in foul trouble for SCar -- who replaces her and how do they stack up against AE? Assuming all other things equal.

Feagin.

 

[Cuango]

I agree with much of what you say, but not that SC has a huge talent advantage. Nobody on SC is as good as Paige or Edwards. Now “huge numbers” advantage - that I agree with. And SC’s numbers are mostly very athletic. Much more athletic than we are.

I was referring to the amount of talent. I agree that we have the best players on the floor in Paige and Aaliyah but they have a lot more talent overall.

 

[Twelve]

Win or lose, UConn learns a lot about themselves and SoCar. UConn then has ~5 weeks to make adjustments prior to the start of March Madness. UConn will play in the 2024 Final Four.

 

[towerman]

To win:
High 3 point percentage, 45 plus
No foul trouble, that means KK an Muhl
Poor SC shooting percentage
What are thechances of all three. No very high.

 

[Zanzman]

Maybe we should just send Geno down to Columbia with a white flag instead of playing the game

View attachment 96108

Seems like a lot of fans already have

 

[Twelve]

Newsflash! UConn women’s basketball is in a sad state! They’ve got five starting level players sitting on their bench and are essentially playing 7 against 12 every game with four of those seven, being freshmen. I don’t really see Cardoso’s absence having much of an effect. They (SC) are massive favorites and we will have to play exceptionally well and have some luck on our side to have any chance at all!

top 10 team for sure

 

[Twelve]

Maybe we should just send Geno down to Columbia with a white flag instead of playing the game

No need. Dawn invited Geno to watch their practices.

 

[AzzisBraids]

This should be a good game, I may sound crazy (like I do most of the time) but, Johnson, Pao Pao and Bree Hall have me more concerned than the posts. Pao Pao torched us at Oregon and Bree Hall is their closer. She doesn't seem to let this team lose when it gets close. Johnson faceguarded Muhl in the last match-up and took her playmaking away. Losing Cardoso evens the playing field but having our Freshman guard their guards will be tough. Looking forward to a good game though, win or lose, it's not the NCAA tournament.

 

[Huskee11]

I looked at the box score from last year and what is really strange to me is the fact that only three players who played meaningful minutes last year are playing this year.

Edwards, Muhl, and Raven Johnson.

Hall played four minutes last year.

South Carolina`s entire starting lineup is gone although Johnson played 36 minutes, Fletcher was ineffective and only played four minutes.

Watkins, Feagin and Kitts did not play.

It is a shame that Aubrey is out. She was amazing against them last year. Everyone talks about South Carolina as being so athletic, but nobody held a candle to her that afternoon.

If we can stay out of foul trouble we will make it a game.

 

[HuskyNan]

I looked at the box score from last year and what is really strange to me is the fact that only three players who played meaningful minutes last year are playing this year.

Edwards, Muhl, and Raven Johnson.

Hall played four minutes last year.

South Carolina`s entire starting lineup is gone although Johnson played 36 minutes, Fletcher was ineffective and only played four minutes.

Watkins, Feagin and Kitts did not play.

It is a shame that Aubrey is out. She was amazing against them last year. Everyone talks about South Carolina as being so athletic, but nobody held a candle to her that afternoon.

If we can stay out of foul trouble we will make it a game.

Yep. It was a 4 point win with Boston, Cardoso, Saxton, and Johnson. A bad call occurred at the end of the game or the Huskies might have pulled it out. That’s playing only 6 players and Lou was basically playing on one leg by then

 

[Darwin]

There are two story lines for this game, first is how will SC play without their leading scorer, rebounder and rim protector? Nobody knows yet. Second, how will the two true freshman starters for UConn play in that environment and guarding Raven, Pao Pao and Fulwiley in a sold out arena? Because there does not seem to be many good options right now behind them at those positions.

It will be must watch TV for sure, I expect Edwards and Paige to come up big, but others will need to step up big also for the Huskies to stay in this game late unless SC cannot adapt without their starting center. Just my opinion, but Shade and Arnold need to not play like freshman in this one for it to be a good game. I could see Paige going off for an epic game on the big stage once again.

 

[Darwin]

Yep. It was a 4 point win with Boston, Cardoso, Saxton, and Johnson. A bad call occurred at the end of the game or the Huskies might have pulled it out. That’s playing only 6 players and Lou was basically playing on one leg by then

I think the SC bench outscored UCONN 37-0 in that game Nan, and tbh the Huskies need some bench help this year if they can get it out of their players imo. Should be an epic matchup as always. Edwards could go off again, especially in the absence of Cardoso, but it seems like the kind of game that Paige will lead in. Huskies need Arnold and Shade to play well though. Somebody has to guard Fulwiley when she comes in…,,,

 

[HuskyNan]

I think the SC bench outscored UCONN 37-0 in that game Nan, and tbh the Huskies need some bench help this year if they can get it out of their players imo. Should be an epic matchup as always. Edwards could go off again, especially in the absence of Cardoso, but it seems like the kind of game that Paige will lead in. Huskies need Arnold and Shade to play well though. Somebody has to guard Fulwiley when she comes in…,,,

Cardoso, Amihere, and Johnson came off the bench and two starters played only 14 total minutes. Aliyah Boston was the only starter in double figures

 

[Darwin]

Cardoso, Amihere, and Johnson came off the bench and two starters played only 14 total minutes. Aliyah Boston was the only starter in double figures

View attachment 96114

That’s what I thought, 37-0 difference in bench scoring.

 

[HuskyNan]

That’s what I thought, 37-0 difference in bench scoring.

Maybe Geno should start Q and Ice and bring Paige and Aaliyah off the bench

 

[Darwin]

Maybe Geno should start Q and Ice and bring Paige and Aaliyah off the bench

How would that work out for Uconn or any other team for that matter if they went to that strategy? The point which is lost here is obvious, but as I said above, I expect an epic game as always. I think you did a fine job making your point except it does not add any production it just shifts it. The value of a productive bench is if a starter is not cutting it, you have someone ready to step in. It doesn’t add any value to sit starters in place of less productive players unless your goal is to show bench points, but you knew that already.

Looking forward to a great game, I fully expect it to be tight. Paige wouldn’t have it any other way, she is that type of player. Peace.

 

[Jbigfan]

How would that work out for Uconn or any other team for that matter if they went to that strategy? The point which is lost here is obvious, but as I said above, I expect an epic game as always. I think you did a fine job making your point except it does not add any production it just shifts it. The value of a productive bench is if a starter is not cutting it, you have someone ready to step in. It doesn’t add any value to sit starters in place of less productive players unless your goal is to show bench points, but you knew that already.

Looking forward to a great game, I fully expect it to be tight. Paige wouldn’t have it any other way, she is that type of player. Peace.

Pretty sure that was tong in cheek

 

[Jbigfan]

Pretty sure that was tong in cheek

Tongue

 

[fomalhaut]

This is a really pessimistic crowd. Connecticut needs to shoot the lights out, and they have a chance to win if they do that. Massey has it averaging 74-65 for South Carolina, with a 26% chance of an upset.

 

[Cuango]

fomalhaut has it right. There aren’t many scenarios that end with a victory for the good guys, but one of them is if we shoot the lights out! Even then, we have to play exceptional defense, avoid foul trouble and keep the rebound margin from becoming ridiculous! Hope springs eternal though and I’m sure our girls will give it their all. Most of all, win or lose, I just pray we come out of the game healthy! Go Huskies!

 

[TC22]

IDK the keys to the game for UConn, but the keys to the game for SC are going to be 1) staying out of foul trouble for the big girls and 2) hitting some 3s to open up the lane for our speedy guards. Fulwiley will be a mismatch and is playing really well On both ends of the court. I think Dawn will do like she always does and pick her poison. Either try to clamp down on Edwards or Paige. I expect it to be a great game - there will be 18,000+ there so the crowd will be crazy. Hope we all get out of there healthy.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Quick, athletic guards give us problems and SC has quick, athletic guards. Gonna need to play the perfect game to keep it close. Here's hoping it's a close one!

Don’t we have quick athletic guards too?

 

[Skeets]

Have any of our opponents cried over the fact that UConn was not at full strength? I think not. Therefore, why should we bemoan the fact that Cardosa won't be available. None of the teams that beat UConn consider the win somehow tainted because of our injured players. Is SCar sad about our roster? If they win will they consider the win tainted? I think we need to get over Cardosa.