UConn stats...but only the ones they don't track...

[DavidinNaples]

On a night when three UConn players played the full 40 minutes, the Huskies crushed Notre Dame on the scoreboard, 72-61, and in the statistics that never make it to the box score. The turnover battle was even, 16-15, and offensive rebounds were too, 11-13. Three point shots were a disaster with N.D. making 3 & UConn only 1. But, where the Huskies won the game was in four stats you can't find in the box score.

1. Size of the heart & power of will - Muffett blamed everything and everyone for the defeat but missed mentioning the heart and will power of Gabby, Lou, Pheesa and Kia..!! Losing was NOT an option, despite 40 minutes for three of them and 29 for Collier. Dead tired but refusing to slow down or give up.

2. Free throws when you're tired - Yes, they track free throws, but not when you're dead dog tired and someone just karate chopped you in the throat. UConn went 19-20 from the charity stripe (95%), but more importantly, made 7 of 8 in the last 1:57 of the game. Absolutely clutch..!!

3. Shutdown defense - Last season, Mabrey the Bad, went off for 20 points in the 1st half in Storrs. Tonight, she was 0-7 until making her only basket with 11 seconds left in the game. The leading scorer for N.D., Ogunbowale, was held to 4-14 shooting, 0-3 from three range. Her 9 points were a season low. Shutdown defense..!!

4. Playing hard with fouls - Collier sat for 11 minutes in the 1st half with 2 fouls. Notre Dame closed a 7 pt lead to even. She came back in the 2nd half and played 20 minutes, but committed only 1 foul. In fact, UConn had only 6 fouls total in the 2nd half. The Irish had 12. Playing hard without fouling...lesson learned..!!

The Huskies won the 2nd half by a score of 38-27. But, it was heart, will power and playing hard and smart despite fatigue, that brought home the victory. Geno was happy and proud, for good reason..!!

Go Huskies..!!

 

[sarals24]

I thought that play where Gabby ripped the offensive rebound from Turner, who fell down in the process, and then turned and put it back up for two was pretty indicative of the way the game went. Just total heart and effort.

 

[bleeckerhusky]

View attachment 17485

On a night when three UConn players played the full 40 minutes, the Huskies crushed Notre Dame on the scoreboard, 72-61, and in the statistics that never make it to the box score. The turnover battle was even, 16-15, and offensive rebounds were too, 11-13. Three point shots were a disaster with N.D. making 3 & UConn only 1. But, where the Huskies won the game was in four stats you can't find in the box score.

1. Size of the heart & power of will - Muffett blamed everything and everyone for the defeat but missed mentioning the heart and will power of Gabby, Lou, Pheesa and Kia..!! Losing was NOT an option, despite 40 minutes for three of them and 29 for Collier. Dead tired but refusing to slow down or give up.

2. Free throws when you're tired - Yes, they track free throws, but not when you're dead dog tired and someone just karate chopped you in the throat. UConn went 19-20 from the charity stripe (95%), but more importantly, made 7 of 8 in the last 1:57 of the game. Absolutely clutch..!!

3. Shutdown defense - Last season, Mabrey the Bad, went off for 20 points in the 1st half in Storrs. Tonight, she was 0-7 until making her only basket with 11 seconds left in the game. The leading scorer for N.D., Ogunbowale, was held to 4-14 shooting, 0-3 from three range. Her 9 points were a season low. Shutdown defense..!!

4. Playing hard with fouls - Collier sat for 11 minutes in the 1st half with 2 fouls. Notre Dame closed a 7 pt lead to even. She came back in the 2nd half and played 20 minutes, but committed only 1 foul. In fact, UConn had only 6 fouls total in the 2nd half. The Irish had 12. Playing hard without fouling...lesson learned..!!

The Huskies won the 2nd half by a score of 38-27. But, it was heart, will power and playing hard and smart despite fatigue, that brought home the victory. Geno was happy and proud, for good reason..!!

Go Huskies..!!

Not only did Ogunbowale score only 9 points, she had only 1 in the second half. Who was the primary defender on her in the second half? Whoever it was did an outstanding job.

 

[bags27]

I thought that play where Gabby ripped the offensive rebound from Turner, who fell down in the process, and then turned and put it back up for two was pretty indicative of the way the game went. Just total heart and effort.

Yes, a huge number of moments when UConn showed it had come into a hostile environment in order to win:
like Lou hitting a 3 on their first possession
like going 19 of 20 from the foul line. Who does that in such an environment?
They played like they were the home team. Credit the coaching staff with phenomenal preparation--both technical and emotional.

 

[UcMiami]

Not only did Ogunbowale score only 9 points, she had only 1 in the second half. Who was the primary defender on her in the second half? Whoever it was did an outstanding job.

They were changing it up a lot - there was some time when Kia got switched onto her, Saniya had her some, and with Uconn switching on almost every screen i would say it was a collective team effort. At one point I think Holly reported that Geno stressed in a TO that the plan was to force her to go to her right and that they had just let her go left for two buckets in a row. - That is the kind of detailed scouting, and more importantly the kind of detail they put into their defensive practice - it is not enough that you keep tight on a player and don't let them get to the basket, but that you know how to play man defense to take away one hand or the other. In watching most other teams, they either don't do the scouting, don't teach the necessary techniques in practice, or don't have players that can execute.

I remember watching a MD v. TN NCAA game with Alyssa Thomas unstoppable in a fairly tight game and they kept allowing her to go to her strong hand every time down court and it even happened when they tried to double team her.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Here's the stat I'm interested in. Over 40 minutes, what was Gabby's average elevation? She spent a lot of time 2+ feet off the ground. I think it was record-setting.