UCONN vs. SC post game thread (merged)

[Geew1992]

I forget too. This is probably one of those things that are lost in the sands of time. A thousand years from now, archaeologists may unearth some obscure artifact that could shed light on this mystery.

No she did not.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

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.

Yeah, but we all know a hot Paige is a thing of great beauty. And we would have walked out of there with the Huskies having put 100+ on the GameCocks.

 

[temery]

84K views · 1.6K reactions | No. 7 UConn shot 46.4% from three in their win over No. 4 South Carolina ☔️ #NCAAWBB x ABC / UConn Women's Basketball | March Madness Women's Basketball

No. 7 UConn shot 46.4% from three in their win over No. 4 South Carolina ☔️ #NCAAWBB x ABC / UConn Women's Basketball.

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[Oldschoolbb]

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.

One might quibble that 3/12 shooting from your point guard isn't exactly "perfect".

 

[FormerCTrez]

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

I think the South Carolina players, coaches, and fans experience dejection yesterday. And it’s an emotional feeling many of us UConn fans have felt before, and as recently as the Tennessee game. So while I’m ecstatic about this great win by the Huskies, I can emphasize with the Gamecocks Nation. But there’s still a lot of games to be played, so I’m hoping that they use this win to help propel them deep into the NCAAs.

 

[RedStickHusky]

One might quibble that 3/12 shooting from your point guard isn't exactly "perfect".

And quibble it would be (imo); point guards get stuck with a lot of late clock, forced shots... I'll take that game every time if her teammates are holding up their own respective ends.

 

[oldude]

And quibble it would be (imo); point guards get stuck with a lot of late clock, forced shots... I'll take that game every time if her teammates are holding up their own respective ends.

Paige also had some serious defensive responsibilities. When UConn went small, Paige was typically guarding 6’3” freshman sensation, Joyce Edwards, who was SC’s best player yesterday. Paige did a really good job of defending her in the paint, which is no easy task.

 

[Zanzman]

Paopao in presser, no respect: "It was very much selfinflicted." Stupid thing to say.

Isnt it natural to look at what you have done wrong rathee than go on and on about what tbw other team did right
I would think if thomgs were reversed UConn would give credit then talk about how they played and what needs to be done to correct problem

 

[BBallF]

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…

Me too. No need to spike the football. Of course, that wasn't just an upset, just like a hurricane isn't just a heavy drizzle.

 

[BBallF]

Paige also had some serious defensive responsibilities. When UConn went small, Paige was typically guarding 6’3” freshman sensation, Joyce Edwards, who was SC’s best player yesterday. Paige did a really good job of defending her in the paint, which is no easy task.

Paige had a quintessential "floor game" yesterday, only 3 boards away from a triple double while playing superlative defense all game long.

 

[Oldschoolbb]

Paige also had some serious defensive responsibilities. When UConn went small, Paige was typically guarding 6’3” freshman sensation, Joyce Edwards, who was SC’s best player yesterday. Paige did a really good job of defending her in the paint, which is no easy task.

I just don't know. Edwards was like the only effective offensive performer for South Carolina yesterday - and very efficient (7/10). She pretty much had her way.

South Carolina defended pretty poorly. They had 1 steal and 2 blocks total and gave up tons of wide open shots.

 

[boontonbomber]

I would say that UConn probably is not as good as they showed on Sunday, and SC certainly not as bad. Azzi Fudd, the only hs soph ever named the Gatorade player of the year, and probably the best shooter in the country, seems to be all the way back. And that, I think, will make it difficult for anyone to beat UConn from this point on. Oh yeah, and they may play the defensive end as well as any UConn team I've watched.

 

[Bone Dog]

No she did not.

I don't mean to single you out, @Geew1992 but you're like the 4th or 5th person to try to correct a joke. I know the BY is not very good at picking up on jokes, even when emotions are deployed. And I used two of them. Sigh.

 

[RoadMaster]

 

[ABCDFE]

I liked your entire post and agree with pretty much everything except the bold comment.

I have NEVER understood or believed the whole "just wanted it more". My mini rant to follow is not directed at you, but "experts" (announcers) who continue to peddle that as a legit explanation as to what happens on the floor.

Does any logical person REALLY believe that Geno and the coaches "wanted it more" than Dawn and her coaches? That the UCONN players "wanted it more" than SC's players? It seems to be a lazy explanation as what happens. UCONN simply played their A game, and SC did not. Part of SC's poor play was a direct relation to UCONN's incredible defense and spot on game plan.

I've been observing in several other threads that Geno has a tendency to recruit great all around basketball players who have "average" athleticism, and that those type of players seem like they won't win against superior athletes, who by and large, are now really good at scoring.

My point... going into this game, most seemed to acknowledge that SC had superior athleticism, size, and length, and that would probably be too much for UCONN to overcome.

However, UCONN's help defense was incredible, and their ability to clog the lane and prevent any easy layups for SC was on full display. The lateral movement or our "average" athletes was as good as I've ever seen, and it completely disrupted SC's offense.

Getting back to my original point, our great offense and great defensive plan was not a result of 'wanting it more'. IMHO it was a result of lots of really good practices leading up to this, great coaching, a great game plan, great execution of the game plan, and great leadership especially by Paige...

Agreed. That was a bit lazy on my end. Maybe I should’ve said they had a bit more dawg in them this game for the full entirety compared to the other high profile games. Intensity I think you could tell was different.

 

[ABCDFE]

I don't care about the rankings, and the seedings matter to some extent for UConn's chances at an NC. What I did see today is:

• Texas looked very beatable even as they defeated LSU in a very ragged game by both teams -- and it wasn't ragged because of great defense. It was sloppy play.
• Same for LSU
• USC also looked very beatable in a ragged game against a team they should have beat by 20. Good defense by USC, but the offense was incoherent for long stretches, and it wasn't because Washington forced it on them.
• And now we know that SC is beatable.

That leaves ND and UCLA as mountains to climb for UConn. These are tough opponents the girls have yet to show they can defeat.

Totally agree. However, Betts looks to have a foot injury so if that becomes a real issue I think UCLA is also gettable. ND just has the pieces that causes nightmare matchups for us.