UConn vs. Notre Dame (Match Up Analysis)

[Bone Dog]

We're headed to flop-city. I expect the refs to be particularly gullible in this one.

 

[BobbyJ]

Well guess what UCONN Fans, our favorite ESPN prognosticator, Charlie Creme is predicting a Notre Dame victory over our UCONN Huskies. (knowing his historical track record, over the years, I am fine with his prediction, as the odds of a UCONN win, now are in our favor, given "Choo Choo Charlie's" pick.

Creme: I should know better than to pick against UConn. No team has impressed me more than the Huskies so far this season. But I am taking Notre Dame to win Sunday. UConn's schedule is just so tough. Eventually, the Huskies are going to have an off night against one of these elite teams, right? As good as they have been against the Texas Longhorns, NC State and Iowa, this game against the Irish will be their first true road game. Finding that extra gear might just be a bit more difficult away from home. And regardless of which team wins, who isn't giddy at the idea of seeing Olivia Miles and Azzi Fudd, the two best young guards in the country, on the same court?

The definition of elite is 'prestigious' or 'best of the best'. Charlie needs to get his eyes checked if he thinks ND and these 3 teams are elite. He's throwing 'elite' around like some people throw 'generational' around now. The Stewart UConn teams were elite. These teams aren't even in the rear view mirror.

 

[Ozimoto]

I will reserve judgement on how concerned I am about the game until ND plays Maryland. They haven't played anyone yet to gage what they have. We know the Irish have good players but until they have been challenged we don't know how effective they are as a team. Maryland may be a test for them so we'll see how they do.

I like this Husky team. They seem to able to take on challenges and not wilt when things aren't going smoothly. I haven't seen any panic or frustration in them yet. They could have easily had a meltdown when they got down to Iowa but they didn't panic and came back to win. I don't think they will wilt against the Irish in South Bend.

 

[Bone Dog]

We know the Irish have good players but until they have been challenged we don't know how effective they are as a team. Maryland may be a test for them so we'll see how they do.

This is exactly right! Good players are not yet a team. Ohio St. torched Louisville last night and a similar question was settled: Louisville has good players, but is not yet a team. I think we'll find out a lot about ND by how they handle MD. If they win by >20, then they may be a team already. MD certainly isn't a team yet. If it's a close game, or if MD wins (lol), then we'll know they're not a team yet either.

 

[Littlemin]

I’m not sure how anyone could fail to give Miles an edge, a substantial one, over Nika. I love Nika but let’s face it, Miles is averaging 16 pts, 7.5 boards, 6.7 assists, 2.8 steals, 3 turnovers with 2.2 fouls. Nika- 4 pts, 3.2 boards, 10.8 assists, 2.8 steals, 3 turnovers, with 2 fouls. Miles shooting percentages are 48, 31, and 80 while Nika shoots 40, 33, and 83.

Except basketball is not five one on one contests, but my team vs. your team. That‘s why, with all due respect to people who either generate or choose to take these types of analyses seriously, don’t; they are generally meaningless.
Players are given roles on a team to achieve the one and only goal, which is to win. How a player contributes to their team scoring one point more than the opposition is the only “what matters”, period, end of story.
Part of Miles job is to score and there is no doubt she is a good player. Scoring is not part of Muhl‘s role but she is also a good player. Statistics are meaningless without context, in this case, what role does each particular player have for THEIR team.

 

[Florida Fan]

The definition of elite is 'prestigious' or 'best of the best'. Charlie needs to get his eyes checked if he thinks ND and these 3 teams are elite. He's throwing 'elite' around like some people throw 'generational' around now. The Stewart UConn teams were elite. These teams aren't even in the rear view mirror.

If we don't run out of gas (yet to happen), and we shoot lights out, and play in your face defense, and don't get in foul trouble, we win. But make no doubts, ND is the best team we will face. They may have peaked, or not and we are not there yet. I like the thought that we can get better (see Caroline, Awbrey, Yanna) and it would help if the Irish could lose their cools or get selfish with the ball.

 

[Bone Dog]

ND is down 33-32 to MD at halftime. Miles has 2 pts. They're playing pretty good D on MD, but just aren't getting a lot of shots themselves. I think this means it's a mixed report -- both ND and MD are beginning to gel as teams.

 

[cabbie191]

I’m not sure how anyone could fail to give Miles an edge, a substantial one, over Nika. I love Nika but let’s face it, Miles is averaging 16 pts, 7.5 boards, 6.7 assists, 2.8 steals, 3 turnovers with 2.2 fouls. Nika- 4 pts, 3.2 boards, 10.8 assists, 2.8 steals, 3 turnovers, with 2 fouls. Miles shooting percentages are 48, 31, and 80 while Nika shoots 40, 33, and 83. Hopefully, Nika can defend her well enough to even those numbers out some but she’s going to have to watch her fouls (which she has admittedly been doing a great job at) Again, I have faith Nika will leave it all on the court, and find a way to put the clamps on Miles, but she’s certainly not the favorite statistically in that matchup.

IMO, comparing stats between the two players should be made with the understanding that Miles achievements have been made against substantially weaker opponents compared to Muhl’s. Let’s see how Miles does tonight against Maryland - I believe this is their first game vs a ranked team.

 

[TeamFirst!]

I think Miles is one of the top 2-3 point guards in the country and I love Cintron's game. Mabry is going to have to get hot in this one though for them to win. Uconn should be better but it is an away game. AE probably has another great game.

 

[Valleyfan]

Geno only uses 7 to 8 guys regularly. I’d take our 8 over just about any 8 in the US. Such a fun team to cheer on. Love everyone on this team.

 

[darrell]

Maryland with a win over Notre Dame.

 

[Bone Dog]

Maryland with a win over Notre Dame.

That game was very revealing. If ND plays Ebo and Watson in the front court, they are very strong but painfully slow. If they sit Ebo, then Watson and Westbeld are quicker, but not very strong. Citron is the core of their offense these days, not Watson and not Miles. I think we can run them down. Sellers contained Miles, and she's quick and lanky but very slight.

 

[cgshuskie]

Huskies are tougher than the Irish. Nika will eat against Miles. Contain her. Azzi will go off. Aaliyah and Aubrey will max out. Uconn by 20

 

[Dezoworld]

Uconn needs to continue to run up and down the floor because ND is slow to get back on D. Ebo is not in shape Mabry can't D anyone and Olivia jogs and reach on fast breaks I'm going with a uconn win about 13+

 

[Urshurak]

The ND team we will get Sunday isnt this one. We always get the best version of every team. Look at Iowa. They got whipped by NC State yesterday. CK scored every pointl (exaggeration......but only a little.) Martin could have ben blindfolded and still gone 6 for 6 from 3 against us. Last night, missed her first 5. Finished with 5 points. I expect ND to be at the top of their potential.

 

[Littlemin]

The ND team we will get Sunday isnt this one. We always get the best version of every team. Look at Iowa. They got whipped by NC State yesterday. CK scored every pointl (exaggeration......but only a little.) Martin could have ben blindfolded and still gone 6 for 6 from 3 against us. Last night, missed her first 5. Finished with 5 points. I expect ND to be at the top of their potential.

Your last sentence says it all, no one knows how a team is going to play on a given day but you have to approach every game expecting your opponent will play as well as they possibly can.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Character. One of the reasons for UCONN's recruiting successes over the years is that Geno and CD recruit character. When was the last time a UCONN player was ejected? I don't recall one in the last 25+ years although I suppose there might have been.

And it is clear ND does not have Character on its recruiting check list.

 

[Centerstream]

Kind of OT but...
Sunday's game at the Golden Domers is scheduled for a 3PM "start". Last night I saw an ad for a MBB game on ABC at 1PM. Seeing that I haven't watched a MBB game since the mid 90s, what are the odds that the MBB game will be over by 3PM?

 

[CONNCAN]

Maybe, possibly, Olivia Miles is not the ND Player that we need to focus on and to shut down during Sunday's game, after all? Neither is apparently Dara Mabrey, who is showing that she has apparently lost her 3 Point touch in recent games. It very well may be the Sonia Citron is actually the player that we need to put our efforts out against. I am not saying to put Nika Muhl on her (Nika needs to stay on Olivia Miles), but I would suggest having Aubrey Griffin be the one to stay in front of and in the face of Sonia Citron, all game long.

 

[Scrutineer]

Caitlin was the leading scorer in the game and scored her season average. How can that being considered as being shut down?

You look at statistics other than simply her point total.

One way would be to look at Clark's shooting % for this game and the season versus those of the rest of her team this game:
FG's:
Clark this season--------47.5%
Clark this game----------37.5%
Rest of Iowa this game--44.2%

3's:
Clark this season---------32.4%
Clark this game----------18.2%
Rest of Iowa this game--44.0%

So, against UConn, did Clark simply have an off night?
Or was she Muhled.........?

 

[hoophuskee]

I believe Geno has stated many times that the only game that really counts is the last one. I know every loss bothers him tremendously and he voices his frustrations vocally, but it's still the last game that counts the most when you win it I rest my case. GO HUSKIES!!!

I doubt he means this. He has stated many times how goals are also winning reg season, winning Big East Touney, winning the Region (getting to FF). There are many of these wins afterwards he speaks of how proud he is of the team. All those wins and FF's etc and how he says many tiems how proud he is of his team contradicts "only the last game counts."

 

[cgshuskie]

Great word 'Muhled'. I think Olivia Miles will get 'Muhled' on Sunday. I hope Nika brings out her pull up mid ranged game. She's been working. I don't think there are many who can or could stop her mid range pull up and drives to the rim, (if she wanted to take them). It's all up to Nika. And I love Nika. I think she is going to make a name for herself, an unforgetable name - in Uconn annals.

 

[Scrutineer]

Kind of OT but...
Sunday's game at the Golden Domers is scheduled for a 3PM "start". Last night I saw an ad for a MBB game on ABC at 1PM. Seeing that I haven't watched a MBB game since the mid 90s, what are the odds that the MBB game will be over by 3PM?

First, you need to broaden your horizons. Get out more. Watch other sports. Get ready for the third iteration of the only school to win both the men's and women's championships in the same season.
As to your question, since the men's game is not at the same arena it shouldn't be a problem and, if the men's game in question runs long due to lots of fouls or other stoppages in play, they would probably delay the start of the UConn game if it's expected to be only a few minutes. If it's OT or some other issue that prolongs the MBB game that would likely mean we won't see the start of the WBB game.

 

[npignatjr]

The definition of elite is 'prestigious' or 'best of the best'. Charlie needs to get his eyes checked if he thinks ND and these 3 teams are elite. He's throwing 'elite' around like some people throw 'generational' around now. The Stewart UConn teams were elite. These teams aren't even in the rear view mirror.

Overused. Like superstar or great

 

[Scrutineer]

I’m not sure how anyone could fail to give Miles an edge, a substantial one, over Nika. I love Nika but let’s face it, Miles is averaging 16 pts, 7.5 boards, 6.7 assists, 2.8 steals, 3 turnovers with 2.2 fouls. Nika- 4 pts, 3.2 boards, 10.8 assists, 2.8 steals, 3 turnovers, with 2 fouls. Miles shooting percentages are 48, 31, and 80 while Nika shoots 40, 33, and 83. Hopefully, Nika can defend her well enough to even those numbers out some but she’s going to have to watch her fouls (which she has admittedly been doing a great job at) Again, I have faith Nika will leave it all on the court, and find a way to put the clamps on Miles, but she’s certainly not the favorite statistically in that matchup.

Nika has 50% more assists, same numbers of steals and turnovers, less fouls, similar shooting percentages but also fewer points.........likely owing to how few shots she takes relative to Miles, and fewer rebounds.
Different styles of play and different cast of characters on the two teams will do that to a point guard.