UConn vs ND in the second game on Friday night

[Vowelguy]

So the two eastern time zone teams play second and the central time zone and west coast teams play first. Makes perfect sense.

Time zones irrelevant. It's about the matchups for TV. The bigger game is almost always gonna get the later timeslot -- it starts in primetime in the East and, if the game is good, you won't lose those folks to bedtime. In contrast, how many east coasters are gonna stay up late to watch Baylor-Oregon (a lot fewer than CT-ND I guarantee). And people out west who are flipping the dial at 6 or 7 are more likely to stop on a high-profile matchup.

Note that last weekend's men's tournament had Gonzaga-Texas Tech (in LA) ... on at 7 pm eastern, with Duke-Mich St (in DC) at 9pm.

Same idea.

 

[DeeHusky]

The “civility” of the the rivalry debacle and Arike’s shots will be the narrative of the pregame.

Few off topic things:

1) Arike reminds me of Jewell Loyd with the shot creativity. Loyd would be the all time leading scorer had she not left early.

2) Napheesa reminds me of Morgan Tuck with the consistency and calmness in the post.

————
This will be a good game. If Jackie Young can be kept in check, I like our chances!

 

[uconnell]

In last year's loss to ND by three points, UConn shot six free throws and made four. ND shot twenty three ( see , it even takes two words) free throws and made nineteen. That difference was the difference. And it is a statistically significant one to boot. I do not expect each game to have a balanced number of fouls, and some fouls get free throws while others do not. But last year's game was way out of proportion. I sincerely hope the stripes do not decide the game this year. We must find an answer to Young and Ogunbowale smashing their way through the lane , getting a bucket, and one. I wish I knew how often blocks are called as opposed to charges but my sense of it tells me around three to one. A game played well by both teams without serious foul trouble for either is my fond desire. I'll take our chances in a contest like that.

Arike lived at the line against Stanford. Nothing changes.

 

[Bama fan]

Arike lived at the line against Stanford. Nothing changes.

I watched that happen last night ,and so created today's post. Hoping it can stop.

 

[Bama fan]

I guess I don't understand. Most BY posters complain that there is too little interest/coverage of WCBB. Much of that is aimed at ESPN. Yet when a network tries to generate interest by promoting a rivalry (that may or may not exist) the very same people whine about it.

These are the two faces of people. Quite common.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Drinking game: take a shot every time they show the last second shots from last year’s final four

Sorry, I can't do that. I'd not see the game. They beat the Ms St final shot to death too. Uconn so rarely loses a game (we are never beaten) the pundits are in awe or amazed when that happens.

 

[Jeff H]

Time zones irrelevant. It's about the matchups for TV. The bigger game is almost always gonna get the later timeslot -- it starts in primetime in the East and, if the game is good, you won't lose those folks to bedtime. In contrast, how many east coasters are gonna stay up late to watch Baylor-Oregon (a lot fewer than CT-ND I guarantee). And people out west who are flipping the dial at 6 or 7 are more likely to stop on a high-profile matchup.

Note that last weekend's men's tournament had Gonzaga-Texas Tech (in LA) ... on at 7 pm eastern, with Duke-Mich St (in DC) at 9pm.

Same idea.

I fully realize it's all about the $$$. Just griping that that's the way it is. Which I suppose is kinda silly.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

please please please can ESPN keep the Muffet vs Geno storylines to the barest of minimums , if at all.

I wonder if they'll spend any time on the Geno vs. Arike confrontation from the game in December or steer clear?

 

[OneTrickPony]

Concur with all... but weird thing...he cant say "Ododa" but has no trouble with Ogunbowale...

In a few years, Ododa will be rolling off everyone's tongues...

 

[DaddyChoc]

Your trying to put some bad juju on ND. I don’t like it haha

just covering myself... but seriously ND should’ve beaten UConn at home, this game on a neutral court will be interesting. Louisville took care of business on their home court but couldn’t on a neutral court

 

[BroadwayVa]

In a few years, Ododa will be rolling off everyone's tongues...

Next year, maybe friday night!!

 

[msf22b]

I fancy our chances.
If ND comes out like they did against the Cardinal,
We could be up 25 at the half and even with heroics, the game would be over.
Despite their apparent size advantage, I am less fearful of their front line.
If our early win seemed almost like an accident, a complete game and UConn triumph
wouldn't surprise me in the least.

 

[Plebe]

 

[Plebe]

 

[Plebe]

 

[HopJim]

Deb is intelligent, but highly annoying to me.

I agree with one of your points.

 

[shinobimono]

So he wasn't upset about a ND player taking down Danger and potentially injuring her. He wasn't upset about any of it. Wow, I guess it's all part of the game. I think it does upset him, but he needs to show that opponents' actions don't get to him.

 

[CL82]

So he wasn't upset about a ND player taking down Danger and potentially injuring her. He wasn't upset about any of it. Wow, I guess it's all part of the game. I think it does upset him, but he needs to show that opponents' actions don't get to him.

Zero utility in showing it.

 

[Husky pride]

I think Notre Dame will win this revenge game, just as I thought they'd win during the regular season. UConn shocked me the 1st time

A bit of friendly advice: Be prepared to be wrong twice in a row!

 

[Carnac]

Drinking game: take a shot every time they show the last second shots from last year’s final four

I guess the producers at ESPN think either folks need a reminder of how their last second buzzer beater defeated UConn, or they don't like UConn.

There was a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth in the UConn locker room after the game. There was a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth in living rooms all across the country in the homes of UConn fans.

Anyone that is a WCBB fan either saw that play live, or on SportsCenter over the next 2 days. Whenever they show it, I look away. Just one more made free throw or basket in regulation, and UConn wins.

If UConn can't win the NC this weekend, I hope somebody other than ND wins it. I'd like to see Oregon win it if we don't. Baylor, ND and UConn have ALL won one recently. It would put the national spotlight on the Oregon Ducks women's BB program, and put a feather in the hat of head coach Kelly Graves.

 

[Carnac]

Why do we always have to get the late game? That's not good for us.

Better ratings = more advertising revenue for ESPN. If UConn plays the first game, there are folks that would not necessarily stay around for the night cap. Most fans want to see the UConn/ND game. Many want to see if lightning can strike twice.

 

[Carnac]

Predictions mean nothing!!! Let the game speak for itself. All the teams headed to Tampa are all
Capable of winning the title or they wouldn’t be there. I think there is no clear favorite .. all the teams cause each other problems ... it’s anyone’s title to claim.

I agree. Baylor pretty much had a "cake walk" en route to the final four the last two weeks. Their closest MOV in the first 4 tournament games was 25 (South Carolina). ND's closest game was an 87-80 win over Texas A&M. Oregon's was their last one, a 4 pt. victory over Miss St. UConn's was their 7 pt. win over Louisville.

Baylor (35-1) is the only remaining team in the tournament that really hasn't been tested yet in tournament play. Good luck to the Ducks. Baylor will be their BIGGEST (no pun intended) and most formidable opponent of the season.

 

[SLY63]

I would give anything to see ONO get another swat off the backboard on MM.

 

[dwalks93]

I actually think the game will come down to which team maintains its composure.

Last year in the FF UConn looked hesitant and uncomfortable. Between unfavorable whistles, which made the game choppy, and inability to get into an offensive flow UConn just looked out of sorts. There is a lot of pressure being the favorite and UConn seemed afraid of losing.

Fast forward to our earlier match up this year and its a total role reversal. Muffet seemed like she was more interested in fighting with Geno than in coaching. Arike completely lost her focus on the game and instead wanted to scream at the UConn coaching staff. ND players seemed more interested in physically bullying UConn players than in winning. Suddenly the favorite became the hunted and ND wilted.

At the end of the day I will take UConn because we have Geno. Geno seems to have a special ability to get under Muffet's skin and that emotion will spill over into her team. IMO Geno seems to be able to turn it off and on while Muffet can't let it go.....a team feeds off its coach and if a coach is displaying negative emotions it will transfer over.

 

[Jlong231]

AMM, have you ever considered calling in sick this year?!! Just saying
Between you and HuskyNan picking up lucky pennies, I really don't know who is worst.. Stop it please

Lol I probably should, I was hoping that they would be the first game, hopefully are luck is better this year

 

[tomcat]

Massey has Notre Dame as a 3 point favorite on the opening line.

That sounds about right to me.

 

[buddy]

ESPN Picking ND to win and then win it all scares me. Their putting the jinx on ND.

Not at all. The game will be probably be fixed in ND's favor by ESPN. They need the ACC to win as they will be hyping the ACCN during the game as much as possible. The officials will favor ND as usual as they are likely paid off by ESPN. The NCAA hates UConn and Geno. You should not worry if I were you. It will be a miracle if UConn wins as the odds are stacked against them. Ogunbawale could murder someone in the game and it will be the victims fault. Remember last years discrepancy in fouls. I suspect it will be worse this year.

 

[HuskyNan]

Not at all. The game will be fixed in ND's favor by ESPN. They need the ACC to win as they will be hyping the ACCN during the game as much as possible. The officials will favor ND as usual as they are likely paid off by ESPN. The NCAA hates UConn and Geno. You should not worry if I were you. It will be a miracle if UConn wins as the odds are stacked against them. Ogunbawale could murder someone in the game and it will be the victims fault. Remember last years discrepancy in fouls. I suspect it will be worse this year.

Are you kidding me with this stuff? That sounds a little paranoid

 

[buddy]

Are you kidding me with this stuff? That sounds a little paranoid

I hope I'm wrong. Let's see what happens. I actually held back to avoid banishment. Nothing I said can be proven wrong or proven correct. Just a possibility or a probability.

 

[Gus Mahler]

If UConn can't win the NC this weekend, I hope somebody other than ND wins it. I'd like to see Oregon win it if we don't.

I completely agree with you regarding ND not winning it. My problem is I don't like either of the other teams. I guess I should say Oregon is the lesser of the evils. But if it comes down to Baylor versus ND, I'm rooting for Baylor. That is antithetical to me, but it is what it is.