UCONN vs. SC post game thread (merged)

[Suebird10fan]

Rankings are a proxy for seedings as they reflect games played, won and lost against various levels of competition. UConn’s statement win, on the road at SC was the biggest stunner in WBB this season. On its own, it doesn’t get UConn a #1 seed. But it sure does get the Huskies back in the conversation.

All I’m saying is that there are still games to be played, won and lost. If others want to count the Huskies out for a #1 seed, that’s their business. But I will continue to insist that it’s premature to do so.

History is on Oldude’s side. Predictions on the 1 seeds in mid February tend not to wear well. It wouldn’t be a shock if more than one of the projected top four lost twice and/or one lost 3 times.

 

[Ozimoto]

Dawn made the same diagnosis of her team's loss in her in-game interview and in her post-game press conference. She said (almost verbatim) that South Carolina's big problem was its transition defense against UConn's 3-point transition offense -- that if you allow UConn to get an open 3-point shot before you have time to set up your defense, the shot will be in the air and through the net before you do get organized. I think that is exactly what happened.

I think that also explains, in part, why the rebounding was so lopsided. South Carolina, like most teams, is accustomed to rebounding out of a man-to-man half court defense, where they can box out the opposing rebounders. But if the opponent's shot goes up during transition, the boxing out isn't organized, and quick guards like Ashlynn and KK (not to mention Paige) can sneak in to grab the rebound before the one-on-one boxing out gets organized.

I wonder if there are any SEC opponents who emphasize transition offense, and particularly transition 3-point offense, in the way that UConn did today. What UConn did today was more like the Celtics' offensive strategy, which other teams in the NBA also use to a degree. If you have good 3-point shooters, then let it fly whenever you can. You will win if you hit more that 33% of your 3-point attempts (equivalent to 50% 2-point shooting), because it's unlikely that the opponent will really be able to hit 50% of its 2-point shots. And when you hit 46%, as UConn did today on a high volume of 3-point attempts, it's almost impossible for the opponent to score enough to keep pace.

The SEC does not play basketball that way.

With the possible exception of Tennessee.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Need a little more? This is pretty good:

 

[RockyMTblue2]

She was talking about their effort and mental toughness but, sure, criticize the young woman whose team just got demolished and was undoubtedly emotional. At least she had the fortitude to speak with the press.

"We just got punked today. It was very much embarrassing," Paopao is quoted saying in an X post from WACH Fox reporter Claire Foley. "We know that that's not who we are. It was very much self-inflicted, as well. We've just got to do a better job giving effort and being mentally and physically tough."

Part of being mature in sports is knowing how to deal with adversity. Giving credit to the enemy is part of that. So is not compounding the loss by disrespecting someone who just blew you out in your home gym. That's locker room material.

She's hurtin she gets a pass is not something I expect to find here.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I’ll give Paopao a pass, as I will for Dawn and a number of SC linked bloggers who all appear to come down on the side that, “SC wasn’t ready and played terribly,” while not really giving credit to UConn for a great effort. I will give them a pass because I think they are all in shock. It was pointed out that all 4 ESPN Gameday hosts picked SC to win. Nothing in UConn’s resume this season indicated that the Huskies could go into Columbia before a sellout crowd and upset the defending national champions.

I actually kind of like the fact that nobody from SC is giving UConn or Geno the credit they deserve. I hope that continues all the way to a 12th national championship…

I already barked at Nan, so consider yourself barked at @oldude. Part of being great is being great in losing.

 

[Huskyfan63]

Sometimes I literally watch with my TV muted because I can get so much anxiety just watching a game

I watch it muted because the announcers, no matter who they are, are just too dramatic with every single basket.

 

[oldude]

I already barked at Nan, so consider yourself barked at @oldude. Part of being great is being great in losing.

Well, I can’t always claim to be above reproach when it comes to winning and losing. I must confess that I did enjoy watching Dawn & SC’s bewilderment as UConn steadily built their lead, as well as their struggles to explain the loss afterwards.

I’m so ashamed…….

 

[Bigboote]

Also, let's give credit to Dawn Staley for scheduling a game with highly ranked UCONN in the middle of SC's gruelling SEC schedule. She is devoted to promoting the Women's game at the risk of lowering her team's ranking. Kudos to Kim Caldwell, too.
The other SEC teams refuse to play non- conference games once their conference schedule begins.

It’s part of a plan for Geno, and I suspect for Dawn, too.

Geno coaches for March. Part of that is getting the team to peak toward the end of the season. Another part is to toughen them up. The tournaments are grueling, so he likes to schedule a couple additional tough games when the schedule is already full.

 

[Bigboote]

Another recap by a mildly aware sports “journalist”…

No. 7 UConn vs. No. 4 South Carolina takeaways: Huskies have prime-time players like Azzi Fudd ... Gamecocks not so much

The game between powerhouses was competitive for about seven minutes as UConn had the benefit of leaning on the elite talents of Fudd, Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong.

sports.yahoo.com

Cassandra Negley votes in the AP poll. Let’s see how she votes today.

 

[Centerstream]

Cassandra Negley votes in the AP poll. Let’s see how she votes today.

Yes, she was the voter that picked Notre Dame #1 for quite a few weeks in a row.

 

[Linart]

Nah, I’ve watched the replay 3 times now, too. I don’t watch the live action in big games cause I just get too freaked out.

Glad I'm not the only one.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Well, I can’t always claim to be above reproach when it comes to winning and losing. I must confess that I did enjoy watching Dawn & SC’s bewilderment as UConn steadily built their lead, as well as their struggles to explain the loss afterwards.

I’m so ashamed…….

I enjoyed watching their bewilderment every time they went on a little 5-0 or 7-0 run to try to get back in it only to have it stopped and reversed with another Azzi three.

 

[HuskyNan]

Sorry Oldude... I cannot accept an excuse from ANY Team that is supposed to defeat another by many, many points, "that it was self-inflicted" or that "we weren't ready for them" or anything else. And, when UCONN gets whupped, Geno doesn't use those excuses, he admits that the opponent was just the better team today. I coached a lot of youth baseball (up to 18yrs old)...and when my Teams were playing flat, with no hustle or energy in their step, I didn't just let it go on...and take what comes. As the Coach, I had a responsibility to get them back on track... sometimes I could. IF SC wasn't ready for a historically tough Women's Basketball Program with a Hall of Fame Coach and the most National Championships of any NCAAW program, then Dawn and her Assistant Coaches need to give their paychecks for game day and the days leading up to it back to the University... It is their JOBS to get the Team ready.

As I said in another thread ("Just Thinkin")... SC was overconfident from the get-go. Heck, they were probably overconfident during their preps in the days before the game... yep, UCONN lost to Tennessee...how could they possibly beat SC???? The Team with 10 High School All Americans that Kim Mulkey complained about. SC came out overconfident on game day...and so did Dawn. No one in that building wearing SC colors (I saw a small contingent of UCONN shirts behind our Team's bench) believed UCONN would come within 20 points of the Gamecocks. Then, the game started, and not only did UCONN NOT get out of their way and let them score, UCONN punched them in the mouth (figuratively of course), and didn't let up on the gas for the entire 40 minutes... UCONN came READY and HUNGRY!

Paige, answering why she was out of rhythm vs Tennesse, “I took myself out of rhythm”

Please point out all of the praise for Tenn by either Geno or the players

 

[HuskyNan]

Part of being mature in sports is knowing how to deal with adversity. Giving credit to the enemy is part of that. So is not compounding the loss by disrespecting someone who just blew you out in your home gym. That's locker room material.

She's hurtin she gets a pass is not something I expect to find here.

There are adult fans posting on the Boneyard that are barely coherent after a loss and yet a 21 year old player is supposed to be mature and put aside her feelings minutes after losing a game to praise the opponent. Hmmm, maybe I should make that a rule for postgame threads.

 

[Longtime fan]

Contrary to popular opinion on the BY, it turns out we are athletic enough to give a spanking to the team usually deemed the most athletic in D1

I would never have suggested that UCONN would beat SC this year in Columbia. Now, anything is possible. Imagine, if ASH had been as hot in the second half as she was in the first? Imagine what will happen when Aubrey gets a bit sharper. under the basket? Imagine if Paige and AZZI are hot at the same time? And Jana showed some real basketball talent. OMG. What a game.

 

[Ozimoto]

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this game. I went in hoping they would be competitive but I thought that playing the gamecocks at home was going to be a hill too steep to climb. Instead, the team put together a game that we all hoped they had in them, but hadn't seen yet. What really got my attention was the rebounding numbers. Totally unexpected there. Let's hope this is the team we see for the rest of the season. I'm sure this game caught a lot of people by surprise.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I watch it muted because the announcers, no matter who they are, are just too dramatic with every single basket.

You will see this tendency in a big game that has lost its drama. They are trying to keep the TV audience. I agree with you. It can be too much.

 

[huskeynut]

I loved El Duncan's comment as the trio opened the halftime commentary. We didn't redo our faces.That's egg you see on them.

 

[Bone Dog]

Another recap by a mildly aware sports “journalist”…

No. 7 UConn vs. No. 4 South Carolina takeaways: Huskies have prime-time players like Azzi Fudd ... Gamecocks not so much

The game between powerhouses was competitive for about seven minutes as UConn had the benefit of leaning on the elite talents of Fudd, Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong.

sports.yahoo.com

However she may have voted, I think she's right about SC: They don't have as many "primetime" players as UConn. I'm not sure how many (if any) teams do. That's not to say there aren't teams that are put together and coached really well. But the Big Three + Ash is pretty hard to find an equivalent for. The closest I can think of is ND with Hidalgo Miles Citron + Westbeld. And the fact is that Niele Ivey is a tremendous coach and has put together an awesome roster. This is why I am not at all shocked that they are now ranked #1. Finally, the polls reflect the underlying truth, even if it took a few months for it to become obvious. I'd say SC is also well coached and put together, though it looks like the margin of error for them is smaller than people thought before this game.

What does the margin for error look like for UConn? It seemed to be shrinking with the injuries to Ice and Morgan. But paradoxically it may actually have gotten larger instead. With Azzi coming into her own once again, and with Aubrey and Jana gaining confidence, it may be expanding faster than these injuries can shrink it.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Well, I can’t always claim to be above reproach when it comes to winning and losing. I must confess that I did enjoy watching Dawn & SC’s bewilderment as UConn steadily built their lead, as well as their struggles to explain the loss afterwards.

I’m so ashamed…….

All sorts of guilty pleasures in this game. Most of mine, and yes I should feel so guilty, are the many shots of Dawn during the game. She pretty much went through the stages of mourning. There was one uncharacteristic shot of her that I enjoyed and respected her for and it came relatively early in the game. I believe it came when Ash dropped her 2d or 3rd 3 and Dawn smiled and maybe chuckled a bit. It was a "So this is how it is going to be" moment" and my respect for Dawn went up a notch.

 

[oldude]

All sorts of guilty pleasures in this game. Most of mine, and yes I should feel so guilty, are the many shots of Dawn during the game. She pretty much went through the stages of mourning. There was one uncharacteristic shot of her that I enjoyed and respected her for and it came relatively early in the game. I believe it came when Ash dropped her 2d or 3rd 3 and Dawn smiled and dmaybe chuckled a bit. It was a "So this is how it is going to be" moment" and my respect for Dawn went up a notch.

If I were technologically savvy, I could put together a collage of photos from the SC bench depicting:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance

 

[Sifaka]

If I were technologically savvy, I could put together a collage of photos from the SC bench depicting:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance

Yeahbut…. My favorite(s) showed despair on the face of a coach I greatly respect, Dawn Staley.

 

[RedStickHusky]

12 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 turnovers -- with azzi and ash knocking down shots, that's a perfect line from your point guard. Those of you who want Paige to be Caitlyn Clark... It's not who she is and not who we are.

 

[Tonyc]

Our potential has become our reality. We knew what we had and it was frustrating with all the injuries and waiting for everybody to get healthy and up to speed. Its happened. We can score alot of points in a short period of time and we can score inside outside and dribble drive. We dont make many TOs and we dont foul. The scary thing is we are getting better, we are getting healthier and we are beginning to gell. UConn is back folks. I dont see any falters moving forward as long as we are healthy. We have way too much fire power and we have 3 superstars/All Americans. We can beat anybody.

 

[Bone Dog]

We have way too much fire power and we have 3 superstars/All Americans. We can beat anybody.

I share the sentiment. But as several people have already pointed out, we needed Ash to prime the pump in the 1st quarter against SC to get the offense rolling. It always impresses me to see how important she is to this team, almost as important as the Big 3. Maybe she can't "hold up the sky" every game. But, like Hercules, she can put the team on her shoulders long enough for Atlas, i.e. Paige Sarah Azzi, to get themselves ready for the task.