UConn women

[jdb50]

The Selection Committee specifically mentioned UConn’s being in the AAC as the reason for the 2 seed. Mid-majors don’t get 1 seeds in the women’s game

This would be defendable Nan if we only played the conference schedule. We play everyone and often on the road. If this was the case Gonzaga should not have been a men's 1 seed. The selection committee is full of it but maybe this year it helps us. Hungry Huskies!

 

[TRest]

They're seriously flawed. She's the only one who can really handle the ball, but she also can't shoot or pass. If a team could adequately press for a whole game, this team might get stomped

Her shooting has been pretty good this year.

 

[LIUCHusky]

The call your referencing was brutal. LVille player grazed the ball while in the process of shoving Dangerfield to the ground. Jumpball. It was also a big time “momentum” call.

Another momentum killer was the out of bounds call against Collier on the defensive rebound. Don't know what the referee was looking at as she was clearly in bounds by 3 inches.

 

[the Q]

They're seriously flawed. She's the only one who can really handle the ball, but she also can't shoot or pass. If a team could adequately press for a whole game, this team might get stomped

Her shooting has been pretty good this year.

One of the biggest reasons they are where they are is because she didn’t take any kind of next step.

Her shooting even regressed.

 

[tzznandrew]

Another momentum killer was the out of bounds call against Collier on the defensive rebound. Don't know what the referee was looking at as she was clearly in bounds by 3 inches.

out-of-bounds call ^&%$

She wasn't even close to OOB.

They've lost their mojo before in late games, but those two calls were particularly brutal and gave Louisville 4 of the 9 points they made up in their comeback. Just brutal calls.

 

[4in16]

Also the “jump ball”, I know she should’ve dribbled but still got grabbed from behind and the Lville player hardly touched the ball. The refs were beyond bad for that whole 1 minute stretch.

 

[4in16]

If I’m Louisville I’m thinking “how are we playing 2 hours from the worse seed in the regional final?” They can consult Michigan St for counseling

I caught the second half at the gym. Kind of game where UConn couldn’t put them away but Louisville also couldn’t get over the hump. Tough game but the good guys were tougher.

How about #1 Miss St playing a “neutral court” game against #2 Oregon in Portland, OREGON.

 

[Dove]

In the midst of a massive choke. Hope they pull it out but this is tough to watch.

Premature elation?

UConn was faring really well until the best player in the game left with 4th foul. Then UConn had the rough stretch.

All vs. a #1 seed.

 

[zepfan]

It appears to me that their biggest flaw is mobility and a lack of size compared to previous teams. You have to have a guard who can beat people off the dribble or good post up play in women's basketball because the majority of players are not going to have exceptional quickness and this leads to a tough time getting open looks. Samuelson is an amazing shooter but lacks mobility which limits her effectiveness without a very quick point guard who can get her shots. Today, Samuelson just hit some really deep shots with hands in her face... she was awesome and put the team on her back. Without her exceptional performance ... they lose. The play at half court when Dangerfield got herself in tie-up wasn't Geno's fault... Dangerfield has to dribble away as she sees the double team coming.

 

[mauconnfan]

That game was officiated better than any game in the entire men’s tournament...but that call was abysmal

I’ll debate that, women’s refs are dreadful quite often and make the AAC men’s refs look okay. They guess a lot, rarely get the charge/block call correct. Agree the men’s refs have been decreasing in consistency in a big way though too.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

It appears to me that their biggest flaw is mobility and a lack of size compared to previous teams. You have to have a guard who can beat people off the dribble or good post up play in women's basketball because the majority of players are not going to have exceptional quickness and this leads to a tough time getting open looks. Samuelson is an amazing shooter but lacks mobility which limits her effectiveness without a very quick point guard who can get her shots. Today, Samuelson just hit some really deep shots with hands in her face... she was awesome and put the team on her back. Without her exceptional performance ... they lose. The play at half court when Dangerfield got herself in tie-up wasn't Geno's fault... Dangerfield has to dribble away as she sees the double team coming.

The biggest difference between this team and their dominant teams is a post presence. They rely soooo much on the 3. Maybe next year Nelson-Ododa will be ready but right now their front court is very small compared to teams like Baylor or Louisville. Seems like it used to be UConn always had a 6’5” go-to post player that teams were trying to defend with someone 6’2” but those tables have turned.

 

[Tenspro2002]

They almost choked it away at the end, but give them credit for coming through in those moments early in the 4th quarter when the game was decided (and, ditto, Friday night against UCLA). This is a group of players that has has shrunk from big moments the last 2 years, but they turned a corner here.

Not sure they have enough to overcome ND in the Final Four, but extending the FF streak to 12 is an impressive feat in itself.

 

[UConn990411]

They almost choked it away at the end, but give them credit for coming through in those moments early in the 4th quarter when the game was decided (and, ditto, Friday night against UCLA). This is a group of players that has has shrunk from big moments the last 2 years, but they turned a corner here.

Not sure they have enough to overcome ND in the Final Four, but extending the FF streak to 12 is an impressive feat in itself.

Didn’t they beat this Notre Dame team by 18 on the road?

 

[GoUconn7961]

They're going to hold on but I feel like they need to be up by like 20 heading into the final few minutes to feel comfortable. I only watch the big games but I never feel comfortable with this group in a close game.

Uh - the Cards were the number 1 seed who UConn lost to earlier this year. So, why would you think they'd blow them out by 20 in a regional final?

 

[Tenspro2002]

Didn’t they beat this Notre Dame team by 18 on the road?

ND is playing much better now and, today's performance notwithstanding, Lou is still not 100%.

It should be a close game, but I would have ND favored by a couple.

 

[Waquoit]

At the end of the day, they handled the #1 seed all game. Louisville never had the lead after the 1st quarter. That's not nothing.

 

[HuskyNan]

Another momentum killer was the out of bounds call against Collier on the defensive rebound. Don't know what the referee was looking at as she was clearly in bounds by 3 inches.

Biff took a screen shot

 

[HuskyNan]

It appears to me that their biggest flaw is mobility and a lack of size compared to previous teams. You have to have a guard who can beat people off the dribble or good post up play in women's basketball because the majority of players are not going to have exceptional quickness and this leads to a tough time getting open looks. Samuelson is an amazing shooter but lacks mobility which limits her effectiveness without a very quick point guard who can get her shots. Today, Samuelson just hit some really deep shots with hands in her face... she was awesome and put the team on her back. Without her exceptional performance ... they lose. The play at half court when Dangerfield got herself in tie-up wasn't Geno's fault... Dangerfield has to dribble away as she sees the double team coming.

She is playing with a bone bruise on one of her vertebrae

 

[intlzncster]

Geno is obviously an amazing coach, but his late-game coaching leaves a bit to be desired.

Players have to execute. I’m willing to bet the farm he didn’t draw up Chong taking a beyond stupid shot with way too much time left.
He got gabby a good matchup the next year, but she rushed the shot. It was a great design, but the execution wasn’t there.

It's weird, he develops these amazing teams and they dominate by being so disciplined and executing so well. When the game gets tight near the end they seem to always freak out when I watch.

The women suffer from having to play half the year against complete cupcakes. Geno schedules well, but the league is what it is.

When you're up 30 every game, you're never testing your metal.

I've noticed it more in recent years with the AAC as opposed to the BE. Could be my imagination idk.

 

[intlzncster]

The women suffer from having to play half the year against complete cupcakes. Geno schedules well, but the league is what it is.

When you're up 30 every game, you're never testing your metal.

I've noticed it more in recent years with the AAC as opposed to the BE. Could be my imagination idk.

I do think this group, while having a ton of superlative players, has lacked a true closer for a while now. A killer.

 

[the Q]

The women suffer from having to play half the year against complete cupcakes. Geno schedules well, but the league is what it is.

When you're up 30 every game, you're never testing your metal.

I've noticed it more in recent years with the AAC as opposed to the BE. Could be my imagination idk.

These players disappeared in the last 2 final fours.

 

[intlzncster]

These players disappeared in the last 2 final fours.

I mean, they lost 2 games on last second shots. It's not like they folded like cheap shirts.

But just having that closer at the end, that killer, is something they've lacked.

Maybe they've struggled to develop that, maybe it's just the players.

 

[strivefor5]

how do you think geno would do as men’s coach, genuinely curious to hear your guys’ thoughts

 

[zepfan]

The biggest difference between this team and their dominant teams is a post presence. They rely soooo much on the 3. Maybe next year Nelson-Ododa will be ready but right now their front court is very small compared to teams like Baylor or Louisville. Seems like it used to be UConn always had a 6’5” go-to post player that teams were trying to defend with someone 6’2” but those tables have turned.

Yeah, I agree about the post. Also, we have often had very dominant and quick, crafty guards (Diana, Sue, Renee, Moriah J.) that open things up for others. Dangerfield is very inconsistent with this IMHO.

 

[zepfan]

She is playing with a bone bruise on one of her vertebrae

Yes, and that certainly has slowed her some. But I have observed her limited quickness on the perimeter for several years. When we play teams with quicker defenders she has struggled to get her shot off. Nonetheless, love her and she almost single-handedly won the game today.

 

[imno1]

Next year will truly test Geno. Without NC and KLS this team is going to struggle. Not sure where the consistent scoring and rebounding is going to come from.

 

[zymurg]

The only thing we have as even a peek is what he did with his son's AAU team. They were a seriously untalented group he brought them to the national semi-finals I believe. I think he would be an outstanding coach if he could reverse his age and travel back in time say 40 years. I think I treated this question with the solemnity it deserves. Of course I once wrote about the men being coached by Calhoun's brain in the distant future. Donovan's Brain anyone?

 

[intlzncster]

how do you think geno would do as men’s coach, genuinely curious to hear your guys’ thoughts

Hopefully you're being facetious? That topic has been rehashed over and over and over on this board.

The TLDR of every one of the discussions is that no one agrees on anything.

 

[uconnfan68]

They're seriously flawed. She's the only one who can really handle the ball, but she also can't shoot or pass. If a team could adequately press for a whole game, this team might get stomped

You clearly haven’t watched them. They have 5 ball-handlers on the floor. No one presses them with any success.

 

[uconnfan68]

These players disappeared in the last 2 final fours.

Defeated by Hail Mary last second shots 2 years in a row. Only defeat of the year, both years. Ever seen the guys do that?