UCONN - Villanova Post-Game thread

[HuskyNan]

Any decent team can win when they're having a good day. It takes a really good team to win when they're having a bad day. Especially when their top two scorers are having off days. Against a good defensive team with a couple of scorers.

The other thing is that Villanova came in knowing they've beaten UConn last year and thinking they could do it again. Most teams would just buckle midway through that first quarter. And Siegrist stuck to her game plan even after a really poor-shooting first half.

Kudos to Villanova for giving UConn a game and to UConn for gutting it out. This may benefit both teams in March.

 

[faithfulfan]

Great Gutsy Win!
Geno said post game we were tired!
UCONN had 4 games in 8 days short handed!
After the physical game 'at' Tenn., then the flight home,
not surprising UCONN was tired!
BTW Villanova's last game was 9 days ago!
Geno also said it looks like Caroline is almost ready, not much longer!

 

[PacoSwede]

We need someone to get healthy and provide some help. We can't continue to play starters all game. They'll be dead tired inMarch.

i think now

 

[faithfulfan]

The difference in the games was Villanova has an excellent coach in Dixon who gave a coaching clinic on how to take UConn out of their offense. And they have kids smart enough and willing to sell out physically to implement the game plan she gave them. The other two teams don't have both. They have one or the other.

If UCONN wasn't tired by playing 4 games in 9 days, their shots would have been falling , and the game wouldn't have been close!
Villanova had their chance tonight, won't be close next time!

 

[Zorro]

7 Assits and 5 Fast Break Points sums this game up.

If Azzi and/or Caroline aren't back by the Big East tournament, UConn will not win it. Can't see this team winning 3 games in 3 days with only 7 or 8 players.

Yes they will!

 

[Beemer]

Unfreaking real. I finally get DirecTV installed so I can watch the games on SNY. So what happens? Game is broadcast on CBSSN!!!! :facepalm:

 

[Zanzman]

Unfreaking real. I finally get DirecTV installed so I can watch the games on SNY. So what happens? Game is broadcast on CBSSN!!!! :facepalm:

I get cbssn on direct tv 221

 

[ctkaiser]

Have to admit Q1 surprised me a bit in that Aubrey and Aaliyah had 4 shots blocked between them. And offensively, it seemed a few times like Plan A, then Plan B, then Plan C wasn't working, but UCONN was so patient and found the right players to get the ball to. Was really impressed at how good Villanova was on both offense and defense. Thought UCONN was on a good roll. But turnovers continue to be a problem. Some of them are butter-finger post players. Some brain-fart decisions by Nika (great steal, then home run pass to no one down the court). And foul trouble. Nova simply outplayed us in Q2. Our offense was just messy, and part of that was great defense by Nova.

More of the same in the 2nd half. Edwards getting blocked, missed shots, great Villanova defense, and Nova took the lead. Not sure what halftime changes Geno drew up, but nothing was working. I thought the Georgetown game was one of the worst of the season, but this one was harder to watch for me. 8 points scored in Q2. 10 points in Q3. They outplayed UCONN for long stretches of the game. Sigriest was the best player on the floor, altho Griffin was terrific for UCONN.

It sort of seemed like Geno kept expecting the players to figure it out, but it never really came.

• Aaliyah - step backwards for her today. Got her shot blocked numerous times by a smaller younger player. And missed layups and jumpers when she did get a shot off. But those 2 clutch FT's late - ice water in her veins for sure. 1-2 the next time down. Oh well. Then got those last 2!!!
• Dorka - too many butterfinger plays. Then I look up and she's got 16 points. That 3 that she took to give UCONN the lead late - I was like "NOOOOO"... then "YESSSSSS"... And that heads up play late saving a half court violation!
• Nika - 1 assist thru 3 quarters. She did some scoring, but that bad pass in Q1 after getting the steal, then the pass to Dorka in Q4 to take the lead - Dorka was double teamed AND the pass was a bad one. Then followed it up with a beautiful pass to a streaking Aubrey for one of our few fast break baskets.
• Lou - couldn't get anything going. I realize the old adage "shooters gotta shoot", but 2-13? At some point you gotta realize that taking contested shots is costing your team possessions.
• Aubrey - Q2 really was the Aubrey show. That reverse layup under the basket with a defender in her face was special. I get that this is technically her 3rd season, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a player improve so much from one season to the next. Her confidence is what allows her to use her physical gifts AND basketball skills to not only be an elite defender, but to show her impressive offensive game. But that 4th foul was so dumb. AND her FT shooting. WOW. I thought those 2 missed FT's were gonna come back to haunt us but she did everything else exceptionally. POG for sure from UCONN's perspective.

That play in the last 30 seconds was just dumb. Couldn't get the ball in, then Edwards is tied up, then Nova drains a 3. Are you serious? SMH. It was like the team never worked on an inbounds play before. Up 5 with 30 seconds left and THAT'S what you do??? The last 30 seconds really was poorly played and mismanaged.

Bottom line is maybe the lack of bench is catching up with them. Didn't seem that way in the Seton Hall or Tennessee games. Not sure the reason this game went the way it did, but kudos to Villanova for outplaying UCONN for long stretches and imposing their will. I think they are much better than the 21st team in the nation. We really won the game at the FT line. What a gutty performance by Nova. And as much as I was pointing out things we did wrong, we kept our composure and gutted out a tremendous win against a really good team. REALLY proud of these guys.

Aaliyah has to learn to head or ball fake unless she enjoys getting her shot blocked. That's basic basketball. Gut check win. Nice of Villanova to not give Seigrest the ball for five possessions in a row down the stretch.

 

[vtcwbuff]

You don't have to buy it. It is free. Sorry you missed it, but get it for the next time.

Every time I tried to load the CBS Sports app they refered me to my provider. My provider offers CBSSports as part of a $69 monthly package. I am subscribed to CBS Sports through Roku and we have watched games on that streaming service in the past. This time Roku referred me to CBSSports and they referred me to my cable provider.

 

[Littlemin]

Aaliyah has to learn to head or ball fake unless she enjoys getting her shot blocked. That's basic basketball. Gut check win. Nice of Villanova to not give Seigrest the ball for five possessions in a row down the stretch.

Oh, I think they wanted to, Edwards did a terrific job overplaying her and denying her the ball. Or maybe it was Griffin, or maybe both.

 

[ctkaiser]

Thought you were a true fan

Doesn't sound like one.

 

[ctkaiser]

I saw Villanova destroy Creighton on Fox1. This game was no surprise.

This was their first loss since Iowa St at Mohegan. They have vastly improved since then.

 

[ctkaiser]

Siegrist did not score during the final 8 minutes of the game.

Don't think she took more than 3 or 4 shots. Part of that was Aaliyah and Uconn defense and part was Nova not working hard enough to get her the ball.

 

[mhshuskies]

Villanova is a well coached team.

 

[Boreifs]

This was their first loss since Iowa St at Mohegan. They have vastly improved since then.

They have a fabulous coach; the Covid fifth year and transfer portal is likely to be very kind to them for the next two years.

 

[ctkaiser]

Great Gutsy Win!
Geno said post game we were tired!
UCONN had 4 games in 8 days short handed!
After the physical game 'at' Tenn., then the flight home,
not surprising UCONN was tired!
BTW Villanova's last game was 9 days ago!
Geno also said it looks like Caroline is almost ready, not much longer!

Other than the W the comment on Caroline is the best news of the day. Some game notes the Nova fan behind me left with 30 seconds left with his team down 5. Kudos to the Uconn fans as the usual folks who leave early no matter the score seemed very limited in numbers.

 

[jabstep]

Aubrey knew she had to help score today so she pulled put the pull up jumper. She is the most athletic player on our team and took another step in her confidence in her abilities. It will be hard to take her out of the starting lineup at this point. As others have said it was a battle and we won. We are showing our fight and our mettle which is good for us. I hope we can have Caroline back for SC for some bench help. Go Huskies!!!

 

[SLY63]

An interesting stat -- Nova had 13 more shot attempts than we did. It is tough to win against a good opponent if they have >10 more shots than you do. If you think about it, the differences in shot attempts are (mostly) made up of the difference in TOs, Steals, and Offensive Rebounds. Today we had 6more TOs, Nova had 3 more Steals and Nova had 3 more Offensive Rebounds. That accounts for their 13 extra shots. These three stats are all one that we have not been fairing well on as of late.

It is important we work on these and if we don't improve, South Carolina (in particular) could really hurt us in these areas.

 

[Centerstream]

Thank you.

 

[hoy-ah!]

I'll take it. Who's next?

I've got next, and I've got 5

 

[Bone Dog]

The Huskies were looking gassed from the tip-off. Villanova’s physical play didn’t help.

Poor Lou got beat up. No calls

I’m with you on this one. They looked tired, emotionally and physically. The Tennessee game took a lot of heart to win and the tank may have been a bit low today.

 

[UConnCat]

Don't think she took more than 3 or 4 shots. Part of that was Aaliyah and Uconn defense and part was Nova not working hard enough to get her the ball.

As CD mentioned post-game, they changed up the defense. Instead of doubling Siegrist they had Aaliyah face-guard her. She wasn't really open. Good move by the coaches.

Olsen scored all of Villanova's points (7) in the final 8 minutes of the game.

 

[BobbyJ]

Sorry, no. I agree Nova played good D, had a good game plan but Senechal and Edwards missed shots they have made a good percentage on all year. It happens and both were due to have off days.
As I said in another post, Uconn made the same mistakes today they have all year, they were just accentuated by the poor shooting.

Go back and check the post I was replying to. I bolded and was answering the poster's question of why this game went differently than the Tenn. and Seton Hall games.

 

[Longtime fan]

The Huskies were looking gassed from the tip-off. Villanova’s physical play didn’t help.

Poor Lou got beat up. No calls

But their defense was exceptional today. Whenever Lou “sniffed “ the ball, there were two players all over her.

 

[Littlemin]

Go back and check the post I was replying to. I bolded and was answering the poster's question of why this game went differently than the Tenn. and Seton Hall games.

I obviously did not catch that and took your reply completely out of context, my bad and my apologies.