UConn vs. Syracuse post game - on to the sweet 16!

[MilfordHusky]

Just an advance warning: Joe Vaszily was one of the referees the NCAA selected last year to officiate at the final four. Most of the referees selected for the final four are repeat offenders.

Incompetent organization and incompetent referee.

 

[Henry]

I don't fault Nika for not scoring or even looking to score in that game. Her focus was on playing PG, and, most importantly, guarding Fair, neither of which was an easy task. Until she picked up those 3 fouls in quick succession, she was doing very well with both things she was tasked with. Had she not fouled out, this likely would've been a double digit win.

 

[RoadMaster]

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Good point! There were several times when Alliyah got a tough defensive rebound, only to have it knocked out of her hands. Her shot was blocked too.
I hope the week long break will help her to regain her dominant style.

She needs to be more aware when a second and third person comes to guard her, and when she puts it on the floor during these times is when she’s most vulnerable. Know full well that every team is going to do this to her.

 

[HuskyNan]

I believe so too. And maybe this is what Coach Jack was referring to during her post game remarks, when she mentioned Fair‘s ability to get her shot. She throws herself at her defenders, so she gets to the free throw line.

What Fair does is take diagonal hop steps after a defender commits. The defender then ends up bumping into Fair. It’s a legit move but I though Fair might have gotten away with a walk on at least one of them

 

[HuskyNan]

UConn beat their #6 seed team by 8 points, while Oregon St beat their #6 seed by 10 and North Carolina St beat their #6 seed by 7 points. The other #3 seed beat #11 seed Middle Tennessee State by 27. So why is everyone screaming that the sky is falling considering what the other #3 seeds did over the past 4 days.

I’ve seen this crowd complain about 40 point wins

 

[Bills Fan]

When was the last time UConn had 5 key players out for the year Thats what makes reaching sweet 16 big deal

I'm not going to claim that the top 5 out with injuries--Azzi, CD, Aubrey, Yanna and Jana--would beat the current 5 starters, but it would be a heck of a game. The injured 5 team would be short of a PG but would probably out rebound the starting 5. My only point is that we have a tremendous amount of talent sitting on the bench in sweats. with 2 outstanding 1-3 position players signed we can be a very STRONG team in 2024-25.

 

[VaConnFan11]

UConn beat their #6 seed team by 8 points, while Oregon St beat their #6 seed by 10 and North Carolina St beat their #6 seed by 7 points. The other #3 seed beat #11 seed Middle Tennessee State by 27. So why is everyone screaming that the sky is falling considering what the other #3 seeds did over the past 4 days.

Because, by all statistical measures, UConn is considered the 2nd best team in the country. The only people who don't consider this is the pollsters and the seeding committee.

 

[MSGRET]

On paper UConn has the easiest path to the Elite Eight, they play seventh seeded Duke. The next easiest is both USC and Iowa who play fifth seeds Baylor and Colorado. On the other side Albany 1 and Portland 4 are playing 1-4 and 2-3 match-ups.

For all you Dukies (@triaddukefan) out there, I'm not saying it's going to be easy, they all have to play their game. I'm just stating that ON PAPER they have the easiest path.

 

[jaydee602]

What Fair does is take diagonal hop steps after a defender commits. The defender then ends up bumping into Fair. It’s a legit move but I though Fair might have gotten away with a walk on at least one of them

Yes! A couple of fouls on Nika were suspect because of Fair's shuffle move. But Nika's last two fouls were self inflicted.

 

[jaydee602]

Paige knew better, and fed the ball to an open KK.

Paige also fed Ashlyn at the end of the 3rd period for a wide open three pointer.
But Paige ended the 1st half with a basket on a long jump shot.
She had the uncanny knowledge of when to shoot & when to pass.

 

[Cuango]

I really want Ice to do well, and I think she has skills and can contribute, but I think she would do better being less deliberate and just making quick decisions to shoot. Especially with sitting out a year rehabbing, she should know the offense a little. She can shoot the ball, so when she gets it, just let it fly. She will have to work on rebounding- after all, she is 6'3. But her touch around the basket just isn't there, and this surprises me. Maybe it was just an off night as lately she has had some good games. She did show quicker feet on defense tonight which is good, and there was one rebound where she really leaped for the ball and grabbed it, which is encouraging.

I think she was just overwhelmed by the pressure f the moment. The intensity of the tournament was just too much. Hopefully she will settle in and be able to contribute by next week!

 

[jaydee602]

As Geno says, if the shots aren't falling, find other ways to help the team. Ice may have not been there offensively, but she impacted the game defensively.

You will notice on the replay that on KK's three point clincher, Ice Brady had fought for position & was ready to secure an offensive rebound. She knew her role & why Geno kept her in the game.

 

[VA Huskie]

If you all didn’t well up just a bit watching KK hit that 3 and the pure joy and emotion she had you’re not human…

Keep it going Huskies!

I was there and I didn’t well up. Nope, I threw both arms up and screamed with joy!!! After the game though, while discussing the game with my wife, I did get choked up at what we’d watched. Loudest crowd I’ve ever been part of.

 

[jaydee602]

I’ve seen this crowd complain about 40 point wins

Stay out of the Chat Room, Nan!
It is a den of gloom & doom.

 

[jaydee602]

Vegas just posted the early line for UCONN/ Duke.
The Huskies are favored by 8 1/2 points. The over/ under toal points is 126.5.

 

[VA Huskie]

Im a member of the Aaliyah“the ultimate warrior” Edwards fan club, so understand, this is not meant a criticism. Aaliyah was not herself tonight. She was involved in a couple of brutal collisions in the beginning of the game and I wonder if she played the whole game with some sort of injury, other than her nose. I’m just hoping she’s okay.

I mentioned to my wife that I didn’t think AE was quite herself in either game. Seemed to miss bunnies that she usually makes. I’m wondering if there’s some readjusting to the mask?

 

[VA Huskie]

I may get sworn at, but it looked to me that a lot of time Ice didn't seem comfortable with the ball in her hands. But she was working her behind off!

Agree…

 

[VA Huskie]

I really want Ice to do well, and I think she has skills and can contribute, but I think she would do better being less deliberate and just making quick decisions to shoot. Especially with sitting out a year rehabbing, she should know the offense a little. She can shoot the ball, so when she gets it, just let it fly. She will have to work on rebounding- after all, she is 6'3. But her touch around the basket just isn't there, and this surprises me. Maybe it was just an off night as lately she has had some good games. She did show quicker feet on defense tonight which is good, and there was one rebound where she really leaped for the ball and grabbed it, which is encouraging.

Remember how inconsistent Edwards was around the basket early in her career? I think when the game slows down for Ice, things will get better.

 

[jaydee602]

I may get sworn at, but it looked to me that a lot of time Ice didn't seem comfortable with the ball in her hands. But she was working her behind off!

Instead of getting frustrated & demoralized, Ice was more determined to make up for her turnovers. We have to admire her perserverance.

 

[VA Huskie]

Geno is correct when he complains about Paige not getting calls compared to the other stars.
Tonight, Iowa has 24 foul shots; West Virginia has FIVE!
Yesterday, LSU shot 37 free throws: Miss Valley shot NINE!
Meanwhile, UCONN only had eight foul shots tonight. Paige only had four FTs.

Clark (like Fair) is also a master at creating contact and fouls. When Paige drives she seems to try and minimize contact in favor of making the shot. That’s part of the difference in the number of fouls we draw vs Iowa.

 

[omshanti]

I mentioned to my wife that I didn’t think AE was quite herself in either game. Seemed to miss bunnies that she usually makes. I’m wondering if there’s some readjusting to the mask?

That and I’m sure the nose is still very sore , especially after getting it banged at times. In the press conference I noticed that her nose looked slightly swollen and not aligned (not sure how to describe it). It’s been two weeks since she broke it and I bet 5he mask hampers her breathing.

 

[VA Huskie]

That and I’m sure the nose is still very sore , especially after getting it banged at times. In the press conference I noticed that her nose looked slightly swollen and not aligned (not sure how to describe it). It’s been two weeks since she broke it and I bet 5he mask hampers her breathing.

She said in the postgame interview that she felt like she broke her nose 5 more times in the game. That explains a lot!

 

[MSGRET]

Clark (like Fair) is also a master at creating contact and fouls. When Paige drives she seems to try and minimize contact in favor of making the shot. That’s part of the difference in the number of fouls we draw vs Iowa.

Disagree, the refs just seem to allow more contact with many of the UConn players then their opponent. Paige does get fouled almost every time she is guarded, she just doesn't fall down or act like she did. Clark and Fair fall almost every time someone is within an inch of them, or jumps into the player guarding them to try and get a foul called. Clark is in for an awakening when she goes to the W, they won't call them like they do now.

 

[HuskyNan]

That and I’m sure the nose is still very sore , especially after getting it banged at times. In the press conference I noticed that her nose looked slightly swollen and not aligned (not sure how to describe it). It’s been two weeks since she broke it and I bet 5he mask hampers her breathing.

Her face seems swollen to me, has for the last 2 games

 

[tchalla1]

View attachment 98232

You don't win many games when you only have four players who scored.... Ice has to make greater contribution...

 

[browns]

All due respect to the marvelous Nikka, but she fouled out during the most critical moments of the game, and Fair did score 20 ( without Nikka on her, that maybe would be 30...and game over ). That insurance bucket by KK showed that Paige ( best player in country ) had confidence in her. And KK now has the memory. of that big shot. As Geno says, " teams don't advance at this level unless players make big shots at big moments. " Syracuse recruited a whole different team to rebuild their culture. And that was a dog fight of the highest caliber. I don't think Duke is that much of a challenge. We'll see. But we can't have 0 points from ICE Bradyfor 17 minutes work. She missed bunny after bunny and then, it became obvious, she had no condfidence to shoot from anywhere. I get it that it is difficult for her to go from, " this is all on me " ( last two games of BE tournament ), to " I am back-up" again. But she has to b better than that. If not, we have no future.

When Nika fouled out Fair had 16 points..6 of those were 2 3's that she made when Nika wasn't guarding her so she scored 10 points against Nika

 

[Huskee11]

In the Jackson State game I thought that KK passed up some open three pointers in favor of drives to the hoop that did not accomplish anything.

I suspect without knowing that the coaches saw the same thing and encouraged her to take the three point shot when it is open.

She was ready to take that shot, feet set, and she shot it without hesitation. I`m thinking the mistakes against Jackson State may have helped her mindset.

I was at the game and had a perfect line behind KK to the hoop. When it was in the air, I was thinking no way, wide right. But it caught just enough of the rim and she got the friendly role. Thank goodness. The momentum until that point was decidedly not in our favor.

The last six minutes or so of that game felt like an eternity. With all the time they spent on the potential Paige intentional foul, I felt sure they were going to tag her with something.

 

[Bigboote]

A little???

It bugs me when big scorers like Fair (yes, she's a great player) are given more leeway to push off defenders than lesser offensive talents. A few seconds before Muhl fouled Fair on the three-point attempt, Fair committed a blatant offensive foul, as least as bad as Muhl's 5th.

Also within a minute of Nika getting called for pushing off, one of the Syracuse players did the same thing -- left arm extended into a UConn player's chest. And it was a foul on UConn.

 

[Bigboote]

Geno is correct when he complains about Paige not getting calls compared to the other stars.
Tonight, Iowa has 24 foul shots; West Virginia has FIVE!

WVU outscored Iowa by 12 from the floor but still lost by 10.