UConn-Texas Game Thread | Page 23 | The Boneyard

UConn-Texas Game Thread

Nuyoika said:
Our man to man is just bestter than our zone. Always has been. It has been better in recent years but we still are better at man defense. I'm encouraged.
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Not sure I agree. We have no one who appears to be able to stop their guards driving through the lane. Leading to a lot close shots and dish offs to the bigs for layups.
 
HoopsFan21 said:
Those teams also always had one of the best women's basketball players on earth on it whether that be DT, Maya, or Stewie. This team has no one like that, so it's going to be a lot tougher than in the past. The days of UConn simply steam rolling top teams are over I think.
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the usual suspects are down this year.............ND,SC and Stanford are not threats to UConn in my opinion, so it actually may be easier to get through the initial rounds of the NCAAs............Baylor, Louisville and Mississippi State are the teams standing between UConn and number twelve.........
 
huskeynut said:
A couple of points now that the blood pressure has returned to normal -

Geno says his goal is to get the bench to contribute more
Z's height was a critical factor tonight
Texas brought their A game and we didn't and we still won.
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Everybody brings their A game against UCONN. I stated in a thread that Texas would play out of their minds and they did. I just did not believe they could stay as hot as they were in the beginning of the game. Their three point shooting went cold in the second half.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
You're right in that nobody on the team is as good as Stewart but I'd argue there is as much if not more talent on the roster than any of those teams had. Geno didn't tell Kelly Graves this could be his best team for no reason.
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Right now I'd say this team is maybe the 9th or 10th best team he's ever had. Definitely not better than any of the big three teams, not better than any of the Bird-DT era teams, and a couple of the Maya-TC teams were better.
 
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NOI33 said:
Bingo. And this is why I stand by my comments on her WNBA trajectory. She's a freak athlete no doubt, but the WNBA is filled with 'em. Her work ethic will definitely help her, and she's smart. But, her total lack of a dependable jump shot and range (not to mention her shaky handle) will limit her within most offensive schemes given her height. But I still love her tho.
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Unfortunately, have to agree about one of my favorite UConn players, Gabby. Similar to Miss State, Texas taking Gabby out of game. Making her into an outside ball handler and passer. On defense, she is having trouble with the size and physical pushing of their huge bigs. Both issues she will face in pros and neither a strength.
 
Charliebball said:
the usual suspects are down this year...ND,SC and Stanford are not threats to UConn in my opinion, so it actually may be easier to get through the initial rounds of the NCAAs..Baylor, Louisville and Mississippi State are the teams standing between UConn and number twelve....
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UConn had the door wide open for them last year and lost to a 22-pt underdog. I no longer try to minimize threats down to a select few.
 
UConnCat said:
As we saw last week at Louisville good teams get really amped up in front of large raucous crowds and play their best game. UConn got down by 10 early and fought back. UConn got down by 8 in the 2nd half and once again fought back. UConn could have folded like another team did last Thursday night but they didn't. They stayed together and won a tough game against a physical athletic team in a very tough environment. That's good enough for me.
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Can I triple like this statement?
 
ASweet3781 said:
What does Z's D have to so with Walker, Collier, and Williams? We need scoring.
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What is unsaid is that while Z missed a couple of defensive plays, she has exhibited the most reliable offense on the team. No one can guard her, particularly when she takes her time and doesn't rush.
 
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Sluconn Husky said:
UConn has cruised to titles using six players. This team just has to make some improvements and get Collier to play like she did last year.
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1995- 7 players 2000- 8+ 2002- 7 2003- 7 2004- 7 2009- 8 2010- 8 2013- 8 2014- 7 2015- 7 2016- 6 (with Gabby, Napheesa as the 7th and 8th).

So really only in 2016 did we go that route of 6. And that was having 3 seniors who were smart and experienced and obviously talented enough where it didn't hurt us. It was also the year the field pretty much cleared out. Usually 6 is a recipe for a 2011 or 2017 type Final Four loss where foul trouble and lack of depth hurt.
 
ASweet3781 said:
The Collier/Williams combo is way too undersized against certain teams (tonight, Miss State). When they are this ineffective it is imperative we develop the Z/Walker combo. That combo was on the floor during the ND comeback. The coaches are a little too loyal to Collier/Gabby.
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Agree. Z and KLS work great together as well.
 
HoopsFan21 said:
Right now I'd say this team is maybe the 9th or 10th best team he's ever had. Definitely not better than any of the big three teams, not better than any of the Bird-DT era teams, and a couple of the Maya-TC teams were better.
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That opinion is influenced by their troubles against ND and Texas. But on paper this team is loaded. Now to get the sum of the parts playing to its optimal level.
 
HoopsFan21 said:
Right now I'd say this team is maybe the 9th or 10th best team he's ever had. Definitely not better than any of the big three teams, not better than any of the Bird-DT era teams, and a couple of the Maya-TC teams were better.
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You are so right. The last two Stewart teams would have throughly beat the team that was on the court tonight. If anyone thinks this years team is better than those they have no idea what there talking about.
 
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easttexastrash said:
Stevens had some great moves around the basket. Two transfers (White and Stevens) had a big impact in this game.
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Yes, and she was not the one letting Texas' guards drive to the basket. The other players on the team were responsible for that. Some have complained about her defense. She will learn defense.
 
HoopsFan21 said:
Right now I'd say this team is maybe the 9th or 10th best team he's ever had. Definitely not better than any of the big three teams, not better than any of the Bird-DT era teams, and a couple of the Maya-TC teams were better.
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I'm not able to rank the current team because we still don't know if Gabby and Napheesa will get back to performing at the level they did last year.........if they do, all I know is that with the addition of AS it is quite a formidable group........
 
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bballnut90 said:
KLS and Dangerfield have been stellar. Nurse is working her butt off too but hasn’t gotten involved offensively besides transition. Bad half for Collier and Williams...several turnovers and bad plays.

Texas is getting wide open looks when the players are getting in the lane and the ball movement is there. A couple of missed layups and bad shot selection during a stretch in the 2nd may come back to bite them. Atkins makes a huge difference when she’s on the court since she’s so athletic and can score and get others involved. She needs to be on the court for Texas to stay in this.
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Interesting how Gabby has struggled against the Texas front line. Wonder why Geno letting her stay at the key. Not a strength.
 
HopJim said:
What is unsaid is that while Z missed a couple of defensive plays, she has exhibited the most reliable offense on the team. No one can guard her, particularly when she takes her time and doesn't rush.
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Gee I thought that was Lou.
 
ASweet3781 said:
1995- 7 players 2000- 8+ 2002- 7 2003- 7 2004- 7 2009- 8 2010- 8 2013- 8 2014- 7 2015- 7 2016- 6 (with Gabby, Napheesa as the 7th and 8th).

So really only in 2016 did we go that route of 6. And that was having 3 seniors who were smart and experienced and obviously talented enough where it didn't hurt us. Usually 6 is a recipe for a 2011 or 2017 type Final Four loss where foul trouble and lack of depth hurt.
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I'm referring to the players UConn utilizes against top competition and late in the NCAA tourney. One year it was just Stewart, Jefferson, Dolson, Hartley, KML, and Stokes. Another it was mostly Stewart, Tuck, Jefferson, Nurse, and KML. It's happened before.
 
Blueballer said:
How did Texas ever lose to TCU?
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Texas bigs powerful but tend to get winded. Thank goodness they are not in game shape. As game went on, they missed several close shots.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
UConn had the door wide open for them last year and lost to a 22-pt underdog. I no longer try to minimize threats down to a select few.
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you have a point there, I guess I was trying to say that many of the traditional adversaries have been weakened by graduation or injuries so the total number of obvious challengers is down.............the scary thing about Miss St is that I thought they would be down this year after graduating a few important players but they actually are far more dominant so far this season.........
 
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