UConn vs Arizona

[Dokey]

I am more concerned with how Geno uses his bench. I wasn’t happy with how he used players in Baylor game. I realize that he was combating their bigs, which is why AG was used so much, but as exciting a player as she is, the offense suffers. I suspect if we had had Nika supplying that defensive energy, it would have been Anna, not AG, who would have racked up minutes. So given Nika’s absence, I give Geno a pass.

 

[Wilderness]

I am more concerned with how Geno uses his bench. I wasn’t happy with how he used players in Baylor game. I realize that he was combating their bigs, which is why AG was used so much, but as exciting a player as she is, the offense suffers. I suspect if we had had Nika supplying that defensive energy, it would have been Anna, not AG, who would have racked up minutes. So given Nika’s absence, I give Geno a pass.

Geno just called to thank you for understanding. Said your line was busy - asked me to pass along the message. 😉

 

[Superhuskies]

That Little Mac of U of A is a killer....defense, offense....she has "got it."....

 

[UConnCat]

 

[Stymie]

Concept lost on most.

Not lost on me.
These players LOVE to play hoops.
They go at it hard—they’re rewarded with one more game.
They’ll come loaded for bear.

 

[UConnCat]

I wonder who McDonald will guard, she could likely get in the head of Williams taking her out of the game.

 

[j66kicker]

Saw that too. I don't know why with UCONN as an east coast gets the later game and Stanford, a west coast team, gets the earlier time slot. 9:30 PM EST is really not prime time viewing for the east coast. The same for 6:00 PM EST for the west coast.

S. Carolina is in EDT and Arizona is in MST = PDT

 

[UConnCat]

 

[UConnCat]

 

[eebmg]

 

[UConnCat]

 

[UConnCat]

 

[eebmg]

Aari clip

 

[Zanzman]

I am more concerned with how Geno uses his bench. I wasn’t happy with how he used players in Baylor game. I realize that he was combating their bigs, which is why AG was used so much, but as exciting a player as she is, the offense suffers. I suspect if we had had Nika supplying that defensive energy, it would have been Anna, not AG, who would have racked up minutes. So given Nika’s absence, I give Geno a pass.

I’m sure he’s thankful

 

[Dove]

Because none of these players were a part of 11-0......they live in the moment ..

So, they don't have pride in UConn? They don't connect to any past players like Rebcca Lobo? DT? Maya Moore? Breanna Stewart? Sue Bird?

 

[FridaFriend]

I hope that we don't make the mistake that Maryland did by underestimating Texas. I don't think the coaching staff will allow that to happen, but there is a temptation to look past the most unlikely Final Four team.

Someone should just whisper 'Chelsea Dungee', each time the players seem unfocused

 

[Happydad745]

FYI ESPN just posted that we have the late game on Friday, 9:30pm

6:30 PDT....what is it in Texas?

 

[bluedevil]

I hope that we don't make the mistake that Maryland did by underestimating Texas. I don't think the coaching staff will allow that to happen, but there is a temptation to look past the most unlikely Final Four team.

Someone should just whisper 'Chelsea Dungee', each time the players seem unfocused

I don't think we have underestimated anyone including High Point. If we lose it will be because Arizona played better than us..Period.

 

[bluedevil]

6:30 PDT....what is it in Texas?

8:30 whe the Uconn game starts..

 

[cbraarj]

A very cool nugget on the Final 4 I saw on Twitter but can no longer find:

As a player, Adia Barnes lost to UConn & Geno in the NCAA tournament.
As a player, Dawn Staley lost to Stanford & Tara in the NCAA Tournament.

As a player Dawn beat Geno in the FF before losing to Tennessee but still the MOP of the FF.

 

[Jingo]

I am more concerned with how Geno uses his bench. I wasn’t happy with how he used players in Baylor game. I realize that he was combating their bigs, which is why AG was used so much, but as exciting a player as she is, the offense suffers. I suspect if we had had Nika supplying that defensive energy, it would have been Anna, not AG, who would have racked up minutes. So given Nika’s absence, I give Geno a pass.

Aubrey was game-changer vs Baylor by stopping Carrington mid-game. Indeed, Aubrey should have been all over Carrington at the end of the game - "crunch time" - when everyone knew she was their "go to" guy. Geno almost cost us the game with that decision AND the CW foul shots, eh?

 

[chrissaran]

I agree. Uconn needs to come out of the gates guns blazing. Ari will score her points. We just need to hound them defensively. Arizona does not have the personnel to stop Paige, CW, Evina, and Liv. My hope is to have a 30 point lead heading into the 4th quarter and rest Paige and Evina as much as possible. However, we cannot look ahead and think of the championship game just yet. Remember with Mississippi State. I expect Arizona to come out of the gates like a bat out of hell. We cannot sleep on this Arizona team. They are in the final 4 for a reason.

and Aaliyah.

 

[chrissaran]

Saw that too. I don't know why with UCONN as an east coast gets the later game and Stanford, a west coast team, gets the earlier time slot. 9:30 PM EST is really not prime time viewing for the east coast. The same for 6:00 PM EST for the west coast.

All the games are in San Antonio.

 

[browns]

I wonder who McDonald will guard, she could likely get in the head of Williams taking her out of the game.

She said she is looking forward to guarding Paigr

 

[browns]

Aubrey was game-changer vs Baylor by stopping Carrington mid-game. Indeed, Aubrey should have been all over Carrington at the end of the game - "crunch time" - when everyone knew she was their "go to" guy. Geno almost cost us the game with that decision AND the CW foul shots, eh?

So if we had to score we were going to have Aubrey out there in offence.
Not

 

[Jingo]

So if we had to score we were going to have Aubrey out there in offence.
Not

We have enough scorers; we needed to STOP THEM from scoring, eh?

 

[diggerfoot]

Aubrey was game-changer vs Baylor by stopping Carrington mid-game. Indeed, Aubrey should have been all over Carrington at the end of the game - "crunch time" - when everyone knew she was their "go to" guy. Geno almost cost us the game with that decision AND the CW foul shots, eh?

I’m surprised by this response, since you seemed to grow more balanced in your commentary over the course of the season. Carrington’s shooting % was not great for the game. Meanwhile, Smith is widely acknowledged as Baylor’s most dangerous player. Most coaches would decide to prioritize coverage of Smith over Carrington. But if that is happening to your best player a well coached team is trained to adapt to that. Baylor did that when Carrington took charge. It also might be that with Richards out Baylor was not as offensively capable of getting the ball to Smith and a guard now needed to take over, but you still need to prioritize Smith’s coverage. Otherwise, Smith might have trued to take over the game late instead and that could have been worse for us.

As for Williams taking the foul shots, she was not supposed to. To blame the coaching for something that was not their intent is disingenuous. I suppose you could say that the team should have been coached better so that in their on court decision making Williams does not end up taking the foul shots, but that is really desperately reaching to find fault, which I suspect is what you ate trying to do.

 

[Jingo]

As for Williams taking the foul shots, she was not supposed to. To blame the coaching for something that was not their intent is disingenuous. I suppose you could say that the team should have been coached better so that in their on court decision making Williams does not end up taking the foul shots, but that is really desperately reaching to find fault, which I suspect is what you ate trying to do.

As the accompanying photo shows, it's pretty obvious that CW was the 'intended' foul shooter as she is seen racing towards Liv - the inbounder - in an effort to get open, which she did. Paige meanwhile is off the court, down in the corner, eh?
So Geno's plan was not a good one. Did you watch the game?

 

[oldude]

As the accompanying photo shows, it's pretty obvious that CW was the 'intended' foul shooter as she is seen racing towards Liv - the inbounder - in an effort to get open, which she did. Paige meanwhile is off the court, down in the corner, eh?
So Geno's plan was not a good one. Did you watch the game?

According to Geno, Paige was supposed to wait for a screen and then cut off it to get the ball, which gets the ball in the hands of your best foul shooter. Evidently, Paige didn’t do what she was supposed to do.

Geno went on to complement Christyn, who evidently saw the inbounds play break down and took it upon herself to get open. In that situation the worst possible outcome for UConn would have been a 5 second call.

 

[diggerfoot]

As the accompanying photo shows, it's pretty obvious that CW was the 'intended' foul shooter as she is seen racing towards Liv - the inbounder - in an effort to get open, which she did. Paige meanwhile is off the court, down in the corner, eh?
So Geno's plan was not a good one. Did you watch the game?

I double down on @oldude’s response. Not only did I watch the game; I listened to the commentary after the game as well. Apparently you missed that.