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- Apr 24, 2022
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I needed a moment to collect my thoughts about this game, and especially the reffing. Here goes.
- I'm glad it's behind us
- The reffing was good enough in the first half in the sense that they let us play, but one consequence was Syracuse got away with a lot of rough play under the glass. Aaliyah especially paid the price for this. On the other hand, Nika got away with lots of little holds and grabs on Fair as part of her ball denial defense.
- It's clear after watching these two games -- and a few of their regular season games -- that Coach Jack's gameplan is to manufacture as many fouls as they can. There were some good ones and also some really cheesy ones, like a pretended intentional foul Wooley tried to hang on Paige. The refs didn't buy it, but they also didn't pin a technical on Wooley for the flop.
- In the second half, the refs starting calling a lot of fouls... on UConn. And they called hardly any on Syracuse. I suspect this was a result of Coach Jack's complaining. And it's easy to see why, since she needs Fair to be free to run wild in the second half. But also she needs to soften up the defense by getting as many opposing players in foul trouble as possible. I was disappointed the refs fell so thoroughly for this. Wooley and Wood ought to have fouled out in the 4th.
- Syracuse shot the lights out from 3 -- 39.4% as a team -- and 25% shooters shot >40%. This has been UConn's luck this season. Our opponents are on fire from 3, hitting bank shots and the like. Thank goodness Ash and KK shot really well from 3 as well. Ash 55% KK 100%.
- I thought Ice and KK looked extra nervous, as if the first round win had kinda freaked them out. They hadn't seen how tough tournament play can get. Well, now they've seen it twice and I hope that washes the nervousness out of them.