UConn-South Carolina postgame thread

[OldSchooler]

Why wasn't the inbounds handoff reviewable? And where were the eyes of the ref who handed the ball to the inbounder? I don't recall seeing many more obviously blown calls than that one.

Lou was getting mugged on every cut, whether she had the ball or not. But the perimeter D was outstanding, by both teams.

Even though it gave away 4 points, I kinda liked the T. Notice how the calls started going our way in the last two minutes? I don't think it would have made a difference in the outcome, but this way, Geno can say to his team: YOU guys won the game; I lost it for you. More damaging to our cause was the inexcusable inability to inbound the ball . . . TWICE!

We played a good portion of this game with one hand tied behind our back. Whenever we subbed, it was like playing 4-against-5; and we still gave them a scare.

Free throwing should be more reliable.

SC is not a good outside shooting team. Boston might be their most reliable outside shooter. But with all their misses, they totally dominated us on the O board. Their second+ chances clearly made the difference. Sorry to say, Dorka has very soft hands, and that could end up hurting her for national honors. But she wasn't the only culprit, and holding onto rebounds has been a problem for us over the last few games.

I think most UConn fans went away feeling good about this game. More than that -- we're damn proud of this team. I'm glad it didn't go into OT, because that would have been embarrassing, with Lou and Nika gone, and AE with "one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel."

Now let's put this grueling 6-game stretch behind us (we didn't do so bad, 5 wins and 1 close loss to the #1 team in the nation), and prepare for a tough return game at Marquette on Wednesday. Thank you, Geno, for showing no intention to use CD in this game. That's still the training staff's call. I want to see her on the court when she's 100%.

 

[hoopsfan22]

I liked Geno's comment at the end of his press conference. He said he saw Azzi and Paige outside and asked Paige if she was playing in March and she said "yup" and then he asked Azzi and she said "a lot sooner than that."

 

[Viet Vet]

Larry, Moe, and Curly.

How many years did you officiate? At what level?

 

[SLY63]

I just saw the box score and we scored 9 points in Q2, and that is with Lou's last second 3 pointer.

 

[Geew1992]

I just saw the box score and we scored 9 points in Q2, and that is with Lou's last second 3 pointer.

Lou’s 3 was the end of the 1st quarter

 

[Geew1992]

I liked Geno's comment at the end of his press conference. He said he saw Azzi and Paige outside and asked Paige if she was playing in March and she said "yup" and then he asked Azzi and she said "a lot sooner than that."

Wait… seriously?

 

[UConnCat]

Wait… seriously?

Geno also said Azzi was being truthful and Paige was not.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Wait… seriously?

Yeah it was at the end of the post-game press conference, and Geno said one of them is telling the truth and the other is lying their you know what off.

 

[BBallF]

Why wasn't the inbounds handoff reviewable? And where were the eyes of the ref who handed the ball to the inbounder? I don't recall seeing many more obviously blown calls than that one.

Lou was getting mugged on every cut, whether she had the ball or not. But the perimeter D was outstanding, by both teams.

Even though it gave away 4 points, I kinda liked the T. Notice how the calls started going our way in the last two minutes? I don't think it would have made a difference in the outcome, but this way, Geno can say to his team: YOU guys won the game; I lost it for you. More damaging to our cause was the inexcusable inability to inbound the ball . . . TWICE!

We played a good portion of this game with one hand tied behind our back. Whenever we subbed, it was like playing 4-against-5; and we still gave them a scare.

Free throwing should be more reliable.

SC is not a good outside shooting team. Boston might be their most reliable outside shooter. But with all their misses, they totally dominated us on the O board. Their second+ chances clearly made the difference. Sorry to say, Dorka has very soft hands, and that could end up hurting her for national honors. But she wasn't the only culprit, and holding onto rebounds has been a problem for us over the last few games.

I think most UConn fans went away feeling good about this game. More than that -- we're damn proud of this team. I'm glad it didn't go into OT, because that would have been embarrassing, with Lou and Nika gone, and AE with "one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel."

Now let's put this grueling 6-game stretch behind us (we didn't do so bad, 5 wins and 1 close loss to the #1 team in the nation), and prepare for a tough return game at Marquette on Wednesday. Thank you, Geno, for showing no intention to use CD in this game. That's still the training staff's call. I want to see her on the court when she's 100%.

Good analysis. The T was important also because it stopped the defender from holding Lou. She didn't dare do it again after the focus was on her. It was a deliberate pre-game strategy by this former coach of the National team to violate the rules and hold her at every opportunity. It's not basketball. The referees of course just went along with it. How that one ref missed the handoff right in front of him is beyond all comprehension.

I don't think Dorka will be in the national conversation. She did not play well today at all. Geno has often said that to win he needs all 5 starters to play solid games. I also think that the SC players push (Boston is the biggest offender) under the rim like it is going out of style. She starts out with a forearm to the shoulder area and uses it with her power. Of course, she never fouls or charges, she is the perfect player and gets every call. Sickening.

 

[Papa33]

3 times Cooke beat her off the bounce and went in for an uncontested layup

Ah, that's right-- she didn't meet your standard of perfection.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Dorka and Aubrey needed to recognize that they were the ones who had to take the fouls. Lou, Nika and Aaliyah needed to stand back and let them.

This related to subbing how?

 

[wingsfan055]

The trend in the women's game will continue to be more bigger, faster, physical players. I agree with others that it's not as beautiful and fun to watch. But, it's up to Geno to recruit these types of players. It still feels like the players at UConn including the upcoming classes are still finesse players. We need some bangers as well.

 

[Boreifs]

Random thoughts...

• Great effort by the team
• Lack of outside shooting hurt today (Azzi addresses that)
• Wish Geno got the T earlier where it could impact the game more and when SC had the ball (not us)
• We need to have a better answer to the Boston-Cardoso combo
• AE in foul trouble might have been the difference
• Boston really gets preferential treatment with her shoulder on offense
• Incredible how much Lou is being grabbed and held
• If we play them again, we won't have more depth up front and need be better with front court fouls
• Can't be disappointed with this one
• I don't see us dropping in the polls (hopefully) and if we win out, should be a 1 seed
• Can't believe the refs missed the inbounds handoff !!!
• We lost to the undefeated #1 team with an All-American (well, really 2) on the bench

Great post! I remain totally befuddled at how both Boston and Clark get away with offensive fouls almost anytime they go to the basket. It’s like the NBA star treatment. The holding on defense has to be addressed by the NCAA in the off season; point of emphasis time. The hand off is one of the most flagrant no calls I’ve ever seen in a basketball game at any level, men or women. Nevertheless, the game bodes well for the post season. (Is Paige secretly trying to get back for March?! What a shock that would be)

 

[Boreifs]

I just saw the box score and we scored 9 points in Q2, and that is with Lou's last second 3 pointer.

Were you equally shocked with the 25 in the first quarter? That’s basketball.

 

[HuskyNan]

If people are going to use this thread just to complain about the refs, I’m locking it.

 

[hookshot]

Watching SC play it reminded me of hockey. A lot of hockey teams hit the puck into the offensive zone, then their forwards chase the puck into the zone. Kind of like SC's outside shots and then their forward crash the boards for the rebound. Even the way SC guarded our players seemed like hockey with the amount of contact.

Another thing was how their offensive plays reminded me of the way Shaq played. He was always displacing the defensive player with his body. If the defensive player tried the same thing, it would be a foul. That doesn't sit right with me, but it is part of the professional game and now it's found its way to college. Just like I think a dunk should only count for 1 point. It may be "macho", but if you're tall enough to reach the basket it is an easy shot. The reason I watch women's basketball is for the beauty of the play and this game was hard to watch. I thought UConn did a great job considering that this isn't how they prefer to play but it was still exciting watching UConn play.

agree that bumping away the defender is routine in the pro game and even in the college men's game (e.g. Sanogo). So long as you don't extend your arm too much, you can body slam with no call. I think these refs watch too much men's college and NBA games, and are desensitized

 

[hoopsfan22]

The trend in the women's game will continue to be more bigger, faster, physical players. I agree with others that it's not as beautiful and fun to watch. But, it's up to Geno to recruit these types of players. It still feels like the players at UConn including the upcoming classes are still finesse players. We need some bangers as well.

I hate that you're probably right on this.

 

[Lynx23]

I don't actually think we can. Zero p[oints for our bench is pretty much the norm. Unless we are playing the dregs of the big east.

Except when Azzi and Caroline come back (assuming they do), we will have a bench that can score.

 

[HopJim]

DeBerry and Ines but only to commit fouls at the end. I truly understand the poster's concern. No one would have fouled out.

Patterson was constantly open at the key - this is DeBerry's happy spot for 3-pointers or 15 footers. Understand that we needed Patterson's muscle underneath, but at 6'2" she was overpowered much of the time. Would have liked to have seen what DeBerry could have contributed, particularly on offense.

 

[Greenfan]

Felt like a true heavyweight battle.
Like we were watching the 2 best teams in the country.
Anytime they play at that level, either team might win. Looks like even chances.
But I like our players better.

 

[HuskyNan]

Aubrey says “Freeze!”, lol. I loved this play

 

[Viet Vet]

If people are going to use this thread just to complain about the refs, I’m locking it.

A voice of reason.

 

[Heytherego]

Aubrey says “Freeze!”, lol. I loved this play

This and Lou’s hesi layup were crazy

 

[Papa33]

Because we played a packed in zone for much of the game the blocking out of offensive players didn't work well. This is the bane of a zone.

Yes, finding and blocking out an opponent in a zone defense is more challenging, but can be stressed and coached to better execution than is usually practiced, even by very good teams. Not many teams/players box out well . . . sad fact.

The game was called terrible both ways. Just a bad ref job all the way

Surely you jest!

 

[OldSchooler]

Good analysis. The T was important also because it stopped the defender from holding Lou. She didn't dare do it again after the focus was on her. It was a deliberate pre-game strategy by this former coach of the National team to violate the rules and hold her at every opportunity. It's not basketball. The referees of course just went along with it. How that one ref missed the handoff right in front of him is beyond all comprehension.

I don't think Dorka will be in the national conversation. She did not play well today at all. Geno has often said that to win he needs all 5 starters to play solid games. I also think that the SC players push (Boston is the biggest offender) under the rim like it is going out of style. She starts out with a forearm to the shoulder area and uses it with her power. Of course, she never fouls or charges, she is the perfect player and gets every call. Sickening.

Boston is treated by the refs as a national treasure, to be protected at all costs.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Anyone ever keep the game books? I'm curious how many fouls will be contributed to Cardoso. 5 or 6? I thought that technical fouls counted as a personal foul.

 

[toadfoot]

I know Staley has a lot of admirers, but I loath the style of play she and Mulkey and others are bringing to women's basketball, threatening to turn it into a sport I won't want to watch anymore. Connecticut has been a powerhouse for decades playing fundamentally sound defense without fouling constantly. Some years ago the NCAA made a point of emphasis calling fouls for restricting player movement. That is completely gone now. South Carolina fouls on virtually every defensive possession. That's not even counting how many they commit offensively, pushing, throwing elbows, and displacing defenders (the same foul Edwards got called for a few games ago, with some Oscar-level acting by the defender, Boston did multiple times today). Today's game frequently resembled a rugby scrum rather than an artistic basketball contest.

Totally beside my main point: the NCAA needs to change the rules to eliminate reviews on out of bounds touches. If they can't decide on who clearly touched a ball last, just call a jump ball and use the possession arrow.

Could not agree more. I stopped watching the NBA decades ago because it’s no longer basketball but indoor rugby. If the NCAA doesn’t address the issue of freedom of movement and start calling fouls when defenders grab offensive players, especially when they don’t possess the ball, I’ll stop watching the collegiate women. What was played today is not basketball.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Anyone ever keep the game books? I'm curious how many fouls will be contributed to Cardoso. 5 or 6? I thought that technical fouls counted as a personal foul.

I believe Cardoso had 6 fouls.

 

[OldSchooler]

If people are going to use this thread just to complain about the refs, I’m locking it.

C'mon, Nan. That missed handoff was indefensible, and should be a legitimate discussion point.

 

[Tufkas]

I'll join those on here surprised / disappointed UConn didn't go offense/defense in the closing minutes, especially with key players at 4 fouls. As each foul was 2 shots, sub the defender after the first shot.

For me, just like the National Championship game, this too was lost on the defensive boards. Juhasz leads with just 6, the shooting guard second with 5. Juhasz' hands, or lack thereof, were frustrating. Without singling out an indiviual player, coach alluded to it in the postgame press conference.

I thought Deberry acquitted herself well in her limited minutes in the championship game, especially stablizing the South Carolina offensive rebounds that took over that game. Would have liked to see her get some time on the floor here as well, especially as they were getting 2nd and 3rd attempts with every shot, including and-1's.

As for the technical - can't blame him at all. Surprised it took him that long. If it were me, I'd have been t'd up before halftime.