UNC Postgame (merged)

[Centerstream]

UConn vs UNC highlights via UConn Huskies YouTube channel

 

[Rb335]

I was disappointed that Q did not get ANY playing time. This is the one thing that she DOES need.
Although not always consistent in making the proper moves, she has shown sparks of improvement this year. This is the time of the year to weave players such as her into the rotation.

I’d guess it comes down to two things.

1. Defense. She struggles with keeping a player in front and sometimes looks lost.

2. The per 40 stats through two games was illuminating. Q was taking shots at the highest rate - more attempts per 40 min than anyone on the team. And through those 2 games had the lowest fg% on the team.

She should get ample playing time in conference to work on the things the staff are looking for.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Oh, I'm sorry; I didn't know that NINE was the magic number of players to use!

Actually, IMO, nine is probably too many Players. The starters need to get into the flow of the game in order to play well. They can’t be subbing in and out of the lineup.

 

[hoophuskee]

I was disappointed that Q did not get ANY playing time. This is the one thing that she DOES need.
Although not always consistent in making the proper moves, she has shown sparks of improvement this year. This is the time of the year to weave players such as her into the rotation.

I hate to sound harsh but the team isn't designed so that everyone can play in tough games. If she isn't playing better than others in a combo of practice and games, then why not trust the coach that has been so successful to play the player's he feels are best? In other words, who says that she has to be in the rotation in tough games? This isn't 4th grade where everyone has to participate near equally.

 

[Topdawg]

1. We took 29 3-point attempts. That is good. Our shooting percentage was low. It will get better.
2. Our free throw shooting needs to improve to a point where it becomes an asset rather than a liability. More cutters will get us to the line more often.
3. We were a little high on turnovers and a little Low on assists. That should improve with game experience.

All in all, a good game with a great start To the game!

 

[hoophuskee]

It’s game 3. Arguably 6 games for the first real test (Notre Dame).

• I
• Hopefully, there will be less minutes of Paige-as-point-guard-break-glass moments in future games;
• P

What is this?

 

[huskyharry]

View attachment 104799

3/21 from 3 for everyone except PB. Many were wide open.

Awesome game by Sarah & Paige

 

[RoadMaster]

Bigggg Swipe..

 

[RoadMaster]

And again...

 

[UcMiami]

Surprised at the less than complementary comments on Chen. In a game where most of the Uconn players couldn't hit a barn door, she, Ice, and Paige (and Jana) were the only players at 50% from the field and she also was the only one who shot 100% from the line. She would have gotten a lot more assists if the rest of the team hadn't gone 9-32 (2-13 dropping Sarah out of the numbers.)

Ash is a streaky shooter and that is one of the things she needs to work on. KK needs to be a better jump shooter. They are still young, though they certainly got plenty of experience playing last year. But they represent the 'older' players at this point, and need to be solid.

Moment was a little too big for the freshmen Morgan and Allie, but this is the first road game and only their third overall. They got their feet wet and didn't look lost. Jana I thought played some good minutes.

Ice was great. Played strong and active, and I loved the three. She has a good jump shot, hopefully that three will give her confidence.

Sarah was also great - her hands on defense, and on catching and rebounding are a revelation. That three ball will start falling and then watch out.

I think Q needs to realize that she isn't going to get minutes with her shooting, but with her activity - she can be a disrupter on defense with her length and quickness, and can slash and hit the O boards rather than settling for being a spot up three specialist.

And of course Paige is magic.

UNC is a good team with a lot of talent and a very good coach - they too have a lot of young talent trying to learn. Uconn and UNC will both be a lot better down the road. Wouldn't be surprised to see UNC in the top ten before the season ends. That was Nivar's first game of the season, and Toomey's 4th of her career.

 

[UCONNRPh]

Was a mediocre game in person but Paige was on fire. Rest were very inconsistent. But we got the win. UNC never got real close with their runs. Was great to see the Huskies. Sat next to a bunch of family and friends as well HS teammates of Sarah Strong.

So many Paige signs and mega amount fans wearing Paige jerseys. Loved seeing it.

Got to see Rebecca Lobo too.

 

[oldude]

Was a mediocre game in person but Paige was on fire. Rest were very inconsistent. But we got the win. UNC never got real close with their runs. Was great to see the Huskies. Sat next to a bunch of family and friends as well HS teammates of Sarah Strong.

So many Paige signs and mega amount fans wearing Paige jerseys. Loved seeing it.

Got to see Rebecca Lobo too.

I understand that anywhere you sat in the arena you were likely to be sitting next to a bunch of family and friends as well as HS teammates of Sarah Strong…

 

[Stagnant]

I am curious to know what Morgan did wrong. The moment was too big for her? Explain. She had a +5 +/- on the floor.

Isn’t it lazy analysis to just group her together with Allie and say the moment was too big for the freshmen?

 

[ERWUC65]

KK was honestly pretty huge tonight with Chen being so shaky. KK was good on defense, stole the ball, and controlled it well under pressure.

Ash wasn’t great no, but she did have some decent looks. Whole team shooting was super off, abnormal for us to shoot multiple airballs in a game, especially by folks like Sarah, Paige, etc. They shot one airball each. Not normal.

Chen was shaky but had 9 points, KK good on defense but only 2 points. Not good that Paige had to return to PG for team to win.

 

[rubymae4]

Another item to add to the “nerves” for the less experienced players:

Geno’s all time wins record has been slated for the next game (Wed., FDU) with an assumption that UConn would beat NC. Several former players have plans to attend on Wed. I’m sure there was more than the usual pressure for this game, as the team wouldn’t want to plans to be disrupted.

 

[DefenseBB]

Paige was all Paige (AA).
Sharan S was freshman AA
Ice was solid
Ash was a player
Chen has potential to be Caitlyn Paige if her 3 point shot can fall
KK is solid
Other freshman we’re servicible

Wait what? No, no and NO, while I was encouraged by her corner three on the pass from Paige, her top of the key "bank in 3" was a really bad shot that she got lucky on. Nothing in her prior 3 years of playing indicates her shooting will ever come close to 35% never mind that of "Paige". Her defense was atrocious which included her fouling out and this is from a 5th year senior? She did have a really bad give away as Milford noted but I disagree that she played well other than that. She can be a contributor but did not warrant all the minutes that Geno gave her last night.

Seriously, where does this board come up with the rosy comparisons and optimism that was clearly lacking from what occurred in the game?

The good news for me is last night was significantly better than where we were a year ago and as Geno, CD and staff have proven over 40 years, the team improves drastically from Nov to March. I was simply astounded by the whole game of Sarah (if not disappointed in her shooting) as she has great hands, good defense, great court vision and really nice body control and when you consider she's a "freshman" just wow.

Ice also had her moments of looking very good and like the #5 prospect from 2022. Her defense was really good and even the fouls called were questionable, I am not a fan of her 3 point shot but if she can truly knock them down at 35% or more, great.

Ash disappeared last night. while still her energizer bunny self on defense, she has to prove she can compete against top 25 teams and not just the lesser teams.

KK had her goo and bad moments but in general, I like the energy. Ultimately she needs to prove she can run the team with Paige on the floor.

Jana again showed freshman tendencies. One step forward, one step back. Despite all of @Bone Dog constant promoting of her skills, she has a long way to go to prove that prognosticating correct. Our lack of depth in the front court is a major concern.

Besides Paige, the team was 3-21 from the 3 point line- you have to hit the open 3 at some degree of confidence (32-35%). Is it just a bad night shooting or is this team really not a good shootinggroup? Time will tell. No one can assert with any degree of certainty on this.

All in all, I am ok with last nights game and we all know the team has items work on and they will. Geno does need to use his bench more and I am completely confused why he didn't press as we do have better depth than most teams in the country.

This team has skill and could prove to be a special lot if Azzi comes back as Azzi, Aubrey can add instant energy and Ayanna can give a paint presence.

 

[Conndog]

I like Chen’s shooting, but I wish she would bring the ball up court faster. They’d have more time to run plays.

 

[Jonathan14]

Lots of interesting analysis here. One thing I don't believe I saw mentioned that I appreciated last night and in the first two games is the high-low post passing between Ice and Sarah. They already seem to have a knack for finding each other and for delivering the ball in the right place.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

What is this?

It is a metric to measure success of Geno’s point of emphasis this season: developing the team to play UConn basketball without Paige (see @ 0:44: SNY YouTube video).

• Longer post here.

Paige will play point in many possessions. It is whether or not she has to do so mostly in clutch situations against some choice teams or to give the opponent’s defense further wrinkles they have to grapple with, is the question.

 

[hoophuskee]

Not good that Paige had to return to PG for team to win.

Why? Why wouldnt it show team's versatiltiy?

 

[ashfan]

Some thoughts on the UNC game:

• The Huskies passed a Big Test today against a very good team. The last time UConn WBB won a regular season game on the road, against a ranked, non-BE team, in that team’s home state, with actual fans in the stands was almost 6 years ago, in December 2018 at Cal. It’s about damned time that streak has ended.
• The Huskies were on a roll until UNC went to a zone. After putting up 16 in the 1st qtr, Paige only had 2 in the 2nd qtr. Other players needed to step up. In the 3rd qtr, UConn got some offensive production from Paige’s teammates and the Huskies were able to extend their lead. In the 4th qtr, UConn slowed it down and hung on.
• Sarah continues to impress with her all-around game, poise and ability to stuff a stat sheet. She had a nice game in front of her homies. I am amazed at how many times Sarah gets her hands on the ball, making steals, blocking shots and coming down with rebounds in traffic.
• Some really nice post defense from both Ice and Sarah. UNC's starting forwards, Gakdeng & Ustby were a combined 2/10 with 5 points in total.
• I hate the double 3-pt line. Twice during the game, Kaitlyn buried a shot from the corner that Rebecca called as a 3, but she was only behind the inner line which made it a 2. I have no idea why Greensboro still has the inner line. It serves no purpose.
• UConn missed a bunch of open 3's tonight. Azzi can't get back in the lineup soon enough.
• This is a game the Huskies learned some things about themselves that they can build off of.
• So let the celebration begin. Geno and CD have tied Tara for the most coaching wins in the history of college basketball with 1,215 wins. I’m going way out on a limb here. Next Wednesday at Gampel against FDU, with many former players in attendance, Geno & CD will become the winningest coaches in the history of college basketball!!!

How's this for heresy? UConn's most promising outside scorers will never realize their full potential until Paige enters WNBA paradise.

 

[donalddoowop]

Wait what? No, no and NO, while I was encouraged by her corner three on the pass from Paige, her top of the key "bank in 3" was a really bad shot that she got lucky on. Nothing in her prior 3 years of playing indicates her shooting will ever come close to 35% never mind that of "Paige". Her defense was atrocious which included her fouling out and this is from a 5th year senior? She did have a really bad give away as Milford noted but I disagree that she played well other than that. She can be a contributor but did not warrant all the minutes that Geno gave her last night.

Seriously, where does this board come up with the rosy comparisons and optimism that was clearly lacking from what occurred in the game?

The good news for me is last night was significantly better than where we were a year ago and as Geno, CD and staff have proven over 40 years, the team improves drastically from Nov to March. I was simply astounded by the whole game of Sarah (if not disappointed in her shooting) as she has great hands, good defense, great court vision and really nice body control and when you consider she's a "freshman" just wow.

Ice also had her moments of looking very good and like the #5 prospect from 2022. Her defense was really good and even the fouls called were questionable, I am not a fan of her 3 point shot but if she can truly knock them down at 35% or more, great.

Ash disappeared last night. while still her energizer bunny self on defense, she has to prove she can compete against top 25 teams and not just the lesser teams.

KK had her goo and bad moments but in general, I like the energy. Ultimately she needs to prove she can run the team with Paige on the floor.

Jana again showed freshman tendencies. One step forward, one step back. Despite all of @Bone Dog constant promoting of her skills, she has a long way to go to prove that prognosticating correct. Our lack of depth in the front court is a major concern.

Besides Paige, the team was 3-21 from the 3 point line- you have to hit the open 3 at some degree of confidence (32-35%). Is it just a bad night shooting or is this team really not a good shootinggroup? Time will tell. No one can assert with any degree of certainty on this.

All in all, I am ok with last nights game and we all know the team has items work on and they will. Geno does need to use his bench more and I am completely confused why he didn't press as we do have better depth than most teams in the country.

This team has skill and could prove to be a special lot if Azzi comes back as Azzi, Aubrey can add instant energy and Ayanna can give a paint presence.

How many times did Jana get the ball where she could score? She was fighting hard to get position while she was in there. Jana will be fine.

 

[Zonepress]

Oh, I'm sorry; I didn't know that NINE was the magic number of players to

I am curious to know what Morgan did wrong. The moment was too big for her? Explain. She had a +5 +/- on the floor.

Isn’t it lazy analysis to just group her together with Allie and say the moment was too big for the freshmen?

 

[MSGRET]

Paige only went to the line once in the whole game, but gets fouled almost every play. Geno is right when he stated that the refs need to start calling the fouls and not wait until Senior Night to do it. On Kaitlyn, Jana and Ice they had 5, 3 and 4 fouls respectively, many of them touch fouls. Only went to the a total of 4 times shooting 5 for 8 while being fouled multiple times without calls.