UConn - Villanova post game thread

[EricLA]

What a game! No idea what was going on defensively in the first half - credit to 'Nova for coming TO PLAY, but Geno must have had "some words" at halftime cuz... the 2nd half was a totally different story. Side note - How did Villanova lose 14 games now this year? They seem like they should have been much better.

• Sarah and Paige - just wow. What more can you say? Incredible
• I wish Azzi would shoot more, but I suspect that she draws so much defensive attention that it makes life much easier for others. Solid game for her!
• I really liked what I saw from Jana today!! More please!!
• Cait seems like she has really quiet games, but she's just so solid out there and mostly makes really good decisions.

Pretty quiet game from KK and Ash - can't fault their effort, but not a lot of production in the stats columns. Have to keep it real - not a good game at all for Ice. Bad play exacerbated by bad decisions.

Great seeing the subs in and scoring from Allie and Carol!!

Congrats to the team and on to the finals!!

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I wish they would not scare me like that! 10 point game at the half. Loved Carolines late 3. Lots of good things in that game. A freshman did pretty well eh.

 

[Kaizen]

Sarah will be POY for the next 3 years...

 

[victor64]

UConn allowed Villanova to dribble penetrate for some easy looks in the first half. As usual, that was remedied at halftime.

UConn did not turn over the Wildcats with their full court pressure. The first time since they have consistently used it that it was not all that effective.

Paige was spectacular in the first half but to her credit did not force things when Villanova changed their defensive strategy. Interesting that she did not sit out until the fourth quarter.

Sarah played well again, notching her 8th double double including a career high in rebounds. I am amazed how much she gets done on the defensive end.

I thought Jana played well. She did well passing out of the high post. She is calling for the ball on the post. She wants to be fed the ball up rather than bounce passes at her feet. A welcome sight.


KK’s jumper has seemingly left her again. She did not look confident on either of the two she took.

Villanova pushed for a while but credit that to Denise Dillon. She does a great job.

Another great win. On to the finals.

 

[Geew1992]

My mom was thinking we weren’t going tomorrow

 

[maple]

The game felt “close” at half with only a 10pt lead. But then UConn came out swinging in the second half and laid the hammer down! It was great to see the adjustments from one half to the next.

Caroline with a 3 to cap it. Sweet indeed.

Paige and Sara just make it look so effortless. And Azzi was on fire today too. Honestly a good showing from everyone — at times Ice looked a little rusty, but she also made some key plays.

Hard to complain too much when UConn just takes over the game and completely imposes their will.

 

[Blakeon18]

I thought Sarah was going to go for a 20/20. It was only Geno who stopped her at 20-16.

 

[Stinger92860]

I am watching the post game interviews. Is Paige rubbing/favoring her right knee? I know she banged knees, I hope I am being paranoid.

 

[jaydee602]

We've seen several teams stay close with UCONN for a half. But it is so difficult to maintain consistent offense against the tenacious Huskies' defense for 40 minutes!

 

[HuskieDawg]

One of the big things in the second half versus second half was UConn limiting 2nd chance points. At halftime Villanova had 9 offensive rebounds, they ended with 11 for the game.

Thought Jana did a really nice job sealing off her defender allowing herself to get some better looks inside.

Paige/Sarah I honestly feel is getting harder to stop as the season goes on. It’s like they share the same mind on the court.

Two last comments -

1) Seems when Chen and KK are in together Chen still brings the ball up and KK sits out past the 3 point line. To me this should be the other way around. KK is not a strong shooter so getting her an open 3 doesn’t help much, Chen is a much better shooter, would rather her take an open 3.

2) Villanova face guarded Paige in the second half with some success, if other teams do that we just need a way to keep Paige involved and make sure she can still get the ball into her hands.

 

[Hoops66]

I can't remember seeing any game, at any level, where a team was held to zero baskets in a quarter. I watched as good a level of defense as this team has played in a long, long time. 17 points in the second half and Villanova is a pretty good team.
Defense will win #12!

 

[Kaizen]

It is nice to see Caroline came back to play at the end...

 

[and one]

First quarter Villanova played good quality, clean basketball. Their play in the second quarter wasn't quite as good but still only 10 down at half. And then in the second half they were tired and it all went away. Paige and Sarah hammered them into submission.

This is a helluva good team. Really good Seven more wins this year is quite possible.

 

[CTrefugee]

Sarah will be among the greatest of the great UCONN players.
That said, she is using the Tina Charles technique to pad her rebounds.
Miss...rebound....miss......rebound........score.

 

[Kaizen]

Paige/Sarah I honestly feel is getting harder to stop as the season goes on. It’s like they share the same mind on the court.

Actually, Paige, Sarah and Azzi those 3 are unstoppable...

 

[huskeynut]

An old Big East battle from ages past - in the first half only. Credit Nova coming out with no fear and taking it to UConn. As I said to my wife at the half, Nova expended a lot of energy to stay with UConn. And they were still down by 10 at the half. Could they stay with it? Nope.

But the game is 40 minutes and UConn came out in the second halff and played the final 20. Nova was gassed and it showed. UConn's defense put the clamps on Nova.

Paige is unstoppable when she plays like she did in the first half. Again, using the mid range jumper to score. The second half she did score must but guided the team to pull away. Paige does what the team needs.

Sarah - OMG!!!! She is something else. And so come and consistent.

A big kudos to Jana. She is getting there. She's posting up demanding the ball. Her teammates are feeding her and she is making them count. With Ice as a sub for Jana or playing the 4 to Jana's 5, we have a front line, with Sarah, that should do well.

Azzi was consistant and her defense was very good.

Caroline with her first 3 of the season!!!!!!!

The team is playing well.

Bring it on.

 

[topogigio]

Ditto to comments above, I do see improvements in Jana, but that girl has to do a better job catching and holding on to the ball, along with finishing at the rim! You could see Geno screaming to her to "hold on to the ball"!

 

[msf22b]

OT:
1. There were a couple of replay-closeups of players (of both teams)
stopping for shots---decelerating quickly...and if you watch closely...
There are many little extra hops...that might easily...actually should be called walking.

2. Often...again all teams ...almost never whistled...a player picks up a contested ball and dribbles...an opponent forces the dribble to stop by one means or another...and then the initial player just starts to dribble again...
By the rules-double dribble...but never called

 

[msf22b]

I can't remember seeing any game, at any level, where a team was held to zero baskets in a quarter. I watched as good a level of defense as this team has played in a long, long time. 17 points in the second half and Villanova is a pretty good team.
Defense will win #12!

As Geno said: They were missing makable shots

 

[MilfordHusky]

I thought Sarah was going to go for a 20/20. It was only Geno who stopped her at 20-16.

30/30.

 

[Bone Dog]

Paige and Sarah were awesome. Can’t say that enough. Jana looked pretty good. Azzi played great defense and pretty good offense. @EricLA is right that since we layes erratically.

On Villanova, Bascoe and Burke were impressive for much of the game. Hot as heck in the first half, less so in the second half. I noticed Bascoe can get frustrated by good defense and play out of control. Her 4th foul on an absurd crash-over the back against Sarah was an example. A dangerous play. It was just high spirits from a freshman and I expect Bascoe will grow out of it. But she clearly hasn’t yet. Villanova will be tough next year with those two and a bit more experience.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The top of the paint has “Big East” painted in white on blue in stylized letters. Late tonight, I am sneaking back into the gym with a spray can to write “Paige Bueckers Lives Here.”

 

[TUCBTUD]

Geno Auriemma, Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong