UConn vs South Carolina - Game Analysis

[MooseJaw]

Nice breakdown, cferraro04!! Wow!!

I have to take your word for it. I have a form of dyslexia uncommon when numbers and letters are combined like the breakdown above I see what we called in printing many years ago-pie which is actual type spilled. I know who cares? quick answer is I do.

 

[hoophuskee]

UConn has 6 undefeated season's in which 4 of them happened in the Old Big East, which was considered the top women's BB conference. How many other teams out there have more than one undefeated season? None, 18 teams have ended their regular season undefeated and 9 of them ended up winning it all. UConn with 6, Texas, Tennessee, and Baylor each had 1.

There is no way UCONN is getting 3 or 4 losses with most of their teams.

 

[Alydar]

Trying to look at the margin of victory for SC in SEC games is misleading. UCONN has played 2 SEC teams so far, both close games. Imagine playing a full slate of those types games, UCONN would be in many close games if playing in that league. The SEC is like the PAC12, every night could be a close game, lots of talent and size everywhere. UCONN has been sheltered from those nightly onslaughts from capable teams for a long time, where the opponent is familiar with you and they can actually you know, compete. Ark and UT find that out every time they hit the court vs a conference opponent, same for Oregon, Stanford etc... The SEC has what, 6 teams in the top 25?

I'd wait till your team has visited Knoxville before saying anything. Those 2 UConn games were at Knoxville and at Arkansas. SC won't play at Arkansas this season. I don't know why but in the P-5 playing on the road is a whole different animal than at home. Plus, UConn is a team of babies and they are just starting to meld. In most years tonight's game would be a big deal but all I want is UConn peaking in mid-March. Tonight is just a step on the path. A win or loss means little other than bragging.

 

[Alydar]

That is one way of winning but is it realistic? Boston may get something like 15 an 10. Liv gets say 12 and 8. I'm good with that. As long as Boston's 10 rebounds don't include 5 or 6 offensive rebounds.

I am mostly worried about the glass and Liv getting into foul trouble because we can't stop penetration. I think it starts there really. We need to be a good perimeter defensive team.

Boston can also get herself into foul trouble. If UConn can do a good job boxing Boston off the boards she may get an over-the-back call ... or 2.

 

[Tank]

Not with past teams. With current teams. It’s a new world.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Ceffaro, understand, point taken. I was generally referring to a PAC12 or Sec team that adds 3-4 OOC heavyweights annually to their schedule in addition to playing their conference gauntlet. There are 6-7 SEC teams in the top 25 for example, and even the ones not in top 25 can be prickly on any given night, teams like Bama, OM, LSU, Mizz etc etc. , I don’t see that in the BEast. Maneuvering through a season of PAC12 or SEC conf games plus adding 3-4 heavyweight OOC’s would challenge even UCONN to prevent 3-4 losses a season.

UConn had undefeated seasons playing in the then toughest conference in the country (original Big East), and playing the toughest OOC schedule in the country. When UConn has a good team, they aren't losing 4 games in a season, not in any conference.

 

[cferraro04]

Ceffaro, understand, point taken. I was generally referring to a PAC12 or Sec team that adds 3-4 OOC heavyweights annually to their schedule in addition to playing their conference gauntlet. There are 6-7 SEC teams in the top 25 for example, and even the ones not in top 25 can be prickly on any given night, teams like Bama, OM, LSU, Mizz etc etc. , I don’t see that in the BEast. Maneuvering through a season of PAC12 or SEC conf games plus adding 3-4 heavyweight OOC’s would challenge even UCONN to prevent 3-4 losses a season.

Tank: You are absolutely correct...now! I remember back when UConn was part of the old Big East, for years the women side of things appeared to be a weak sister when compared to other conferences. But, then as the years went by and UConn proved to be a perennial championship contender the conference started attracting more and more top 100 players. Towards the end before the break-up of the Old Big East I remember in 2012, eight teams from the Big East (Beast from the East) got into the NCAA tournament... DePaul, Georgetown, St. Johns, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Louisville, Rutgers and Connecticut.

No one could deny the power of the Old Big East... I think CT had a lot to do with the conference rise to prominence. It will take time but I anticipate the Big East Conference getting more and more competitive as recruits are attracted to the conference where they can get the most exposure playing against the best players.

 

[cferraro04]

I have to take your word for it. I have a form of dyslexia uncommon when numbers and letters are combined like the breakdown above I see what we called in printing many years ago-pie which is actual type spilled. I know who cares? quick answer is I do.

Huh???

 

[BBallF]

At the end of the day, there is a basketball game that has to be played. We can conjecture, analyze, project and calculate all we want but all these issues will get resolved very soon on the floor. I am not nervous about this game, as I usually am even when we are playing a team that we really are not going to lose too. I am more curious and interested in tonight because I want to see the character and reactions of our freshmen in this game on the one hand and the resolve and efforts of the upper classmen on the other. It is after all one game in a season and this season like every season is a team journey. I am confident that we will play well. We will have a very good understanding of exactly where we stand after tonight.

 

[MooseJaw]

At the end of the day, there is a basketball game that has to be played. We can conjecture, analyze, project and calculate all we want but all these issues will get resolved very soon on the floor. I am not nervous about this game, as I usually am even when we are playing a team that we really are not going to lose too. I am more curious and interested in tonight because I want to see the character and reactions of our freshmen in this game on the one hand and the resolve and efforts of the upper classmen on the other. It is after all one game in a season and this season like every season is a team journey. I am confident that we will play well. We will have a very good understanding of exactly where we stand after tonight.

Huh???

South Carolina:

Zia Cooke - 30.4 min; 5'9"; Soph; G; 16.2 pts; 4.3 RBs; 2.2 assists; 1.6 3pt
Destanni Henderson - 32.1 min; 5'7"; Jun; G; 11.7 pts; 5.4 RBs; 5.9 Assists; 1.0 3pt
Aliyah Boston - 28.8 min; 6'5"; Soph; F; 13.7 pts; 11.3 RBs; 1.6 Assists; .4 3pts; 2.9 Blocks
Victoria Saxton - 22.3 min; 6'2"; Jun; F; 10.3 pts; 6.3 RBs; .4 Assists; 0 3pts; 1.8 Blocks
Brea Beal - 24.6 min; 6'1"; Soph; G; 8.8 pts; 4.8 RBs; 1.3 Assists; .4 3pts; .5 Blocks

Bench:

Lele Grisset - 18.1 min; 6'2"; Sen; G; 7.2 pts; 4.8 RBs; 1.0 Assists; .6 Blocks
Laetinia Amihere - 18.8 min; 6'4"; Soph; F; 6.9 pts; 5.4 RBs; 1.1 Assists; .2Blocks

UConn:

Paige Bueckers - 35.7 min; 5'11"; Fr; G; 20.4 pts; 5.1 RBs; 5.7 Assists; 2.6 3pts.
Nika Muhl - 21.8 min; 5'10"; Fr; G; 4.1 pts; 1.8 RBs; 3.0 Assists; 1.1 3pts.
Christyn Williams - 33.8 min; 5'11"; Jun; G; 16.8 pts; 4.5 RBs; 3.2 Assists; 1.5 3pts.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa - 24.6 min; 6'5"; Jun; F; 13.5 pts; 7.1 RBs; 2.3 Assists; .2 3pts; 1.8 Blocks.
Evina Westbrook - 31.1 min; 6'0"; RJun; G; 11.3 pts; 5.1 RBs; 5.0 Assists; 1.9 3pts; .7 Blocks

Bench:

Aubrey Griffin - 18.5 min; 6'1"; Soph; F; 8.5 pts; 5.0 RBs; 1.2 Assists; ,2 3pts; .8 Blocks.
Aaliyah Edwards - 18.2 min; 6'3"; Fr; F; 9.5 pts; 4.4 RBs; .5 3pts; .9 Blocks.
Mir McLean - 8.2 min; 5'11"; Fr; F; 3.6 pts; 2.9 RBs; .6 Assists; .4 Blocks

Matchups:

Paige Bueckers vs Zia Cooke - Paige is a stud...she is a stat stuffer...ADVANTAGE UCONN

Nika Muhl vs Destanni Henderson - Destanni is South Carolina's motor...she is a state stuffer for them...while Nika is playing well and her current stats don't really portray how well she is doing. Additionally, she is a pain on defense...but, I don't think she will be able to get the better of Destanni...ADVANTAGE SOUTH CAROLINA

Olivia Nelson-Ododa vs Aliyah Boston - Hey let's face it Aliyah Boston is a force of nature. Can Olivia hang with her...on a good night I say yes..however, Aliyah is a strong body and I think Olivia gets into foul trouble...and undersized Aaliyah Edwards will have to step in to help out when and if Olivia gets into foul trouble. Between the two of them I think they will be able to keep the scoring close...however, Aliyah Boston will probably dominate other aspects of the game, Rebounding, blocking shots and making life difficult for UConn in the paint. ADVANTAGE SOUTH CAROLINA

Evina Westbrook vs Victoria Saxton - Evina is giving up some size here but I think Evina is more skilled as a player. Evina is a scrapper and has a quick hop I think she not only hangs in their with Victoria on rebounds but I think she out scores her during the game. If Victoria proves to be too much to handle Aubrey Griffin will provide great minutes and offset Victoria's ability to rebound. SLIGHT ADVANTAGE UCONN

Christyn Williams vs Bria Beal - Christyn's speed and quick step to the basket will be somewhat muted by the bigs in the middle. Christyn will need to be able to knock down some threes tonight. She should be able to out play Bria. Hopefully, UConn can get out in transition and be able to get South Carolina back on its heels. ADVANTAGE UCONN

Bench: ADVANTAGE UCONN

Coaching: Even

Intangibles: At UConn - ADVANTAGE UCONN

Score: UConn - 77 South Carolina - 71

To answer your Huh in my later reply, go to your chart above filled line after line with alpha numerics. My brain scrambles them, what I see is a jumble not line after line of stats. I may as well be looking at hieroglyphics. You may understand what I have written, to really understand what I see you only have scramble you table in any undecipherable manner to you and that is what I see on your or any other table like yours. Not your fault, it's just something I have to live with.

 

[Vowelguy]

Don't you think UCONN's perimeter play is much better than S.C's? It;s possible Paige is NPOY or near it. At best SC has a 3rd team A/a on the perimeter. There is also a good chance Evina is better than their perimeter players. As is CWill. If UCONN is better on the perimeter why must UCONN's center be even with arguably the best center in wcbb?

Lol at the notion that the #1 team has a crappy back court.

 

[hoophuskee]

Lol at the notion that the #1 team has a crappy back court.

who said crappy? Are you suggesting that any team that doesn't have as good a backcourt as UCONN is crappy? Because I didn't say crappy at all.

 

[Bald Husky]

It is too bad that UConn didn't lose those three games due to COVID

1. Mississippi State (early season tournament)
2. Louisville
3. Baylor

Miss. State and Baylor I believe would have been overwhelming wins, but Louisville would not. That game was to be the third of the year, and with a veteran team against a young team with little playing experience it would have been a long shot just to stay in it. Now, its a different story. They, along with SC and Stanford, are the teams to beat for the NC. ( and us )

 

[cferraro04]

Miss. State and Baylor I believe would have been overwhelming wins, but Louisville would not. That game was to be the third of the year, and with a veteran team against a young team with little playing experience it would have been a long shot just to stay in it. Now, its a different story. They, along with SC and Stanford, are the teams to beat for the NC. ( and us )

I just think those three games would have helped with getting our team into championship form

 

[Vowelguy]

who said crappy? Are you suggesting that any team that doesn't have as good a backcourt as UCONN is crappy? Because I didn't say crappy at all.

The leading scorer on the # 1 team is worse than all our guards. Yeah makes sense.

 

[Carnac]

Please God - No! This is last resort type of thing. Going into this game it shouldn't be treated like last resort.
UCONN is favored by 4.5. So you want UCONN to go to one of it's least successful options rather than play of it's strengths?

The SC defense shouldn't be construed in similar fashion as the Pittsburgh Steelers STeel Curtain.


Even??????????????? Don't you think UCONN's perimeter play is much better than S.C's? It;s possible Paige is NPOY or near it. At best SC has a 3rd team A/a on the perimeter. There is also a good chance Evina is better than their perimeter players. As is CWill. If UCONN is better on the perimeter why must UCONN's center be even with arguably the best center in wcbb?

I said that ONO needs to play Boston even, basically cancel her out.

 

[HuskyNan]

NO GAME THREADS