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Message: [QUOTE="cferraro04, post: 3919963, member: 267"] Oh Boy...this is a big game....many believe that the Elite 8 game is the most difficult...and to have to face Baylor in the Elite 8 makes it all the more difficult. We already know that Baylor's defense is rated #12 in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball. Since UConn's defense is rated #2 I guess it is fair to say that this probably won't be a high scoring game. But belying these defensive juggernauts is their offensive prowess UConn has the nation's number 4 offense while Balor is the nation's number 5 offense. Baylor has [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Nalyssa Smith[/COLOR][/B] an extremely talented player. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]DiDi Richards[/COLOR][/B] is highly regarded as the nation's best defensive player. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Dijonai Carrington, DiDi Richardson and Moon Urchin[/COLOR][/B] are a Srs. and they don't want their season to end and they are playing with a sense of urgency. Baylor is an upperclassman laden team with 4 seniors, 1 red shirt junior, 4 juniors, 2 sophomores, 2 freshman. UConn on the other hand is a underclassman laden team with no seniors, 1 red shirt junior, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores, 7 freshmen. But, Freshman [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Paige Bueckers[/COLOR][/B] is emerging as the consensus player of the year and Freshmen [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Aaliyah Edwards[/COLOR][/B] is fast being recognized for her improvement and may very well be the best sixth man. And freshman [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Nika Muhl[/COLOR][/B] when healthy is definitely a pest on defense and disrupts opposing teams offensive sets. Our Jrs. are playing their best basketball of the season. If UConn plays as good as they did against Iowa then I am extremely optimistic that they will go to the final four. That would be a monumental achievement given that fact that they have no seniors and 7 freshmen. I would expect Baylor to start: [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Nalyssa Smith, DiDi Richards, Trinity Oliver, Queen Egbo and Moon Urchin with Dijonai Carrington[/COLOR][/B] coming off the bench to spell Trinity Oliver and getting major minutes. So, I will use Dijionai Carrington in the match-ups. I think in this game we will see [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Paige Bueckers, Christyn Williams, Evina Westbrook, Aaliyah Edwards and Olivia Nelson-Odota starting.[/COLOR][/B] If [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Nika[/COLOR][/B] is ready to go...we may see her get some minutes when Geno elects to go small to push the transition game. We will see [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Anna Mukurat and Aubrey Griffin[/COLOR][/B] off the bench. So, I look for Geno to shorten the roster to 7 or 8 players. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Paige Beuckers 6'0" vs Dijonai Carrington 5'11"[/COLOR][/B] - Dijonal Carrington is very athletic, has quick hands and plays with emotion...she will push Bueckers. On the other hand, Bueckers will force Carrington and Oliver to play defense as Paige is always moving, cutting and slashing. They will have their hands full trying to stop Paige on the pull-up jumpers. As usual I will expect the first half of the game Paige will try to get her team mates involved and let the game come to her... I believe this match-up will be: [B]ADVANTAGE UCONN [COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Aaliyah Edwards 6'3" vs Nalyssa Smith 6'2"[/COLOR][/B] - Oh boy, Aaliyah will have her hands full here...I don't see Christyn or Evina getting this assignment because of the size difference. Nalyssa is an athletic 6'2" All American. I would also expect Aubrey Griffin and Anna Mukurat being called upon to help Aaliyah in trying to contain Nalyssa. Because of the difficulty that Nalyssa poses I see this match-up to be: [B]ADVANTAGE BAYLOR [COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Olivia Nelson-Odota 6'5" vs Queen Egbo 6'3"[/COLOR][/B] - Queen flirts with a double / double every game. She and Olivia are statistically similiar Queen goes for 11.2 and 8.6 while Olivia goes for 12.7 and 7.9. There isn't a whole lot of difference in these players statistically...but, given the way Olivia has been playing lately...I think we will see a [B]SLIGHT EDGE UCONN[/B] but I wouldn't be surprise if these two players end up statistically cancelling each other out. [B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Evina Westbrook 6'0" vs DiDi Edwards 6'2"[/COLOR][/B] - I think Evina will be in for a tough evening as the slightly bigger DiDi will use her defensive prowess to prevent Evina from getting good looks. DiDi may try taking advantage of her size by posting Evina up...but, Evina's defense will be able to prevent DiDi from impacting the game in a major way. While Evina is capable of outplaying DiDi...I think it is fair to say that this match-up will more than likely be [B]EVEN [COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Christyn Williams 5'11" vs Moon Urchin 5'6"[/COLOR][/B] - Moon is playing inspirational basketball as a Sr. who doesn't want it to end...but, Christyn is playing like a stud. She was recruited as the best in her class and she is beginning to show it. I expect Christyn will be able to keep Moon in front of her and Christyn's quick first step will result in her outscoring Moon...[B]ADVANTAGE UCONN [COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Bench[/COLOR][/B] - [B]EVEN [COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Coaching[/COLOR][/B] - [B]EVEN [COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Score[/COLOR][/B] - [B]UConn - 78 Baylor 72[/B] [/QUOTE]

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