UNC Postgame (merged)

[msf22b]

Did Kaitlyn actually foul out? I don't remember her being mentioned for being in foul trouble Or the announcers mention it when she left the court.
Edit: upon instant review, it was at the 54.3 mark of the 4th. The announcers missed it.

That's where we are with announcers...producers etc...blab, blab, blab
They all missed it

 

[Zonepress]

When Geno finally gets the starting rotation right, this team is going to be real dangerous. KK and Jana should be starting now and the second Azzi is ready, she will start also. KK plays much better defense and Jana's floor is the same as Ice's while her upside is much much higher. Jana needs those minutes to develop. 3-21 from 3 for those not named Paige. That's lower than 15%.

I agree with you regarding KK
You and I must have watched different games
If you think Jana is a more effective player than ice right now

 

[JoePgh]

Allie didn't enter the game until the mid-4th quarter, when no one else was hitting 3's. I think Geno was hoping that she would hit a couple of 3's and light a fire for the rest of the offense. But her two 3-point attempts weren't especially close (the second one was an air ball, which might be a new experience for her), and on defense she gave up a 3 by not guarding the opponent closely enough.

I think it was nerves. We probably won't see the "real Allie" until she gets enough minutes to get her nerves under control, and I'm not sure when that is going to happen against good competition.

Sarah's 3-point shooting difficulties are harder to explain, since she shows absolutely no nerves in any other aspect of her game, and she obviously gets plenty of minutes. One has to assume that she will eventually revert to her long-term average for 3-point shooting, which is much better than what she has shown in the first three games.

This is the first game where Ice clearly played better than Jana. They both rebounded at about the same rate: Ice got 9 rebounds (3 offensive) in 25 minutes, and Jana got 4 rebounds (1 offensive) in 12 minutes. UConn as a whole out-rebounded UNC by 41-37, and both teams got the same number of offensive rebounds (11). Since both teams had post players who were about the same size and level of experience, that was a creditable performance for UConn. It helps that UConn's most inexperienced post player (Sarah) had 13 rebounds (2 offensive) in 38 minutes -- not to mention 5 blocks. Those who said that she prefers to hang out on the perimeter are dead wrong.

 

[Blueballer]

When Geno finally gets the starting rotation right, this team is going to be real dangerous. KK and Jana should be starting now and the second Azzi is ready, she will start also. KK plays much better defense and Jana's floor is the same as Ice's while her upside is much much higher. Jana needs those minutes to develop. 3-21 from 3 for those not named Paige. That's lower than 15%.

No way KK and Jana should be starting (yet). KK doesn't look to score enough and Jana isn't ready in multiple ways. Just a case of getting more reps but not as a starter yet. Coming off the bench for both of them serves the team very well.

 

[and one]

My thought at the end of the first quarter was that as nice as it is to see Paige dominate the offense and put up big numbers - and it really is fun to see all the things she can do - I don't want UConn to be a pretty good team with one superstar. I don't think that is the case, no, I know it isn't the case, not with Sarah in the house. But as the game went on and open shots weren't falling it did get frustrating. I know the team is young and will get better against good competition, but as yet the team still needs to prove that they can win on days Paige is having an off night. I think they can and will. Hopefully.

We got a road win against a pretty good team. It was closer than it should have been but still a win. I'll take it.

 

[freshler40]

It’s a game of runs, and our runs were better than theirs. Got a little scary at times but we clamped up on defense when it mattered to put the game away. I will happily take a double digit win against a top 15 team where we led for 39 minutes

We saw aggressive Paige tonight. She can truly drop 25+ any night she decides to. What a game from her

I said it after the first game this season, but I think we’re all really going to like Sarah Strong. I feel pretty confident saying she’s our 2nd best player already

Let’s go Huskies!!

We tend to play off the ball handler giving them open 3 pointers. In a couple of other cases, we missed defensive assignments when NC inbounded. If we tighten that up and keep a good pace of play, not many teams can keep up with us. Our three-point shooting can only be better. We have a lot of upside. Loved our inside defensive effort, especially Sarah and Ice were terrific tonight. We seemed to play much better at a faster tempo and have the bench to make that a hallmark of this team.

 

[Bone Dog]

Paige played 37 minutes... sigh. Need Azzi back soon.
Sarah was awesome even when she couldn't buy a 3. If she'd merely hit 2 out of 7 the game wouldn't have been close. 3 out of 7 and we'd be calling it a blowout. I doubt she stays this cold for much longer.
Morgan played good D even though the stats don't really show it.
Allie couldn't get anything going -- @Zonepress is right, Geno put her in an impossible situation
Kaitlyn still has some work to do, though the stats (except PFs) suggest otherwise.
KK looked better than the stats show.
Ash couldn't hit anything, though she played decent defense
Jana was hamstrung by 2 early fouls, but held it together and was an intimidator for her 12 minutes.
I liked Ice's game. She faced a tough challenge and played good D and controlled the boards for her 24 minutes. Interestingly, Geno sat both of them for 4 minutes and played small ball with Sarah in the post. This is a workable model for him.

It was their first game against a ranked opponent and they learned something from it -- I hope. One thing they had to recognize is how much better than every player in D1 Paige is. They got a glimpse of greatness tonight and saw how much they need her.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

3rd game. Away. New faces. Still experimenting. Went about as I expected. Geno could have put Paige back in earlier when the lead dwindled, but I think he was seeing what a little game pressure would do. If you downgraded Azzi...see why she's important? I rarely complain about refs, but a couple calls on Jana were TERBL!

 

[SCNCHuskie]

Great win and our freshman had their welcome to big-time basketball in a hostile environment.

Did not feel like a hostile environment. The crowd was at least as loud for UConn as for UNC.

 

[HuskyNan]

Minutes by class:

Grad & Senior (Paige & Kaitlyn) 63
Soph (Ash, KK, Ice) 78
Frosh (Sarah, Morgan, Allie, Jana) 58

 

[ERWUC65]

This game shows just how much we need Azzi. The sophomores (Ash, Q, KK) are not ready for prime time against top teams. I think the freshman (Sarah, Allie, Morgan) will give them a run for the money. In the meantime, it will be our experienced players that get us to the promised land.

 

[oldude]

Did not feel like a hostile environment. The crowd was at least as loud for UConn as for UNC.

Yes, it seemed so on TV. There also appeared to be a lot of empty seats.

 

[Stagnant]

Allie seemed nervous. That last three that she airballed was wide open.

 

[Charliebball]

A game of several phases...Paige was all world in the 1st quarter...There was nothing anyone could do about her ability to get into a position to score. Somewhat less so thereafter until the last few minutes in which she hit a few timely shots to end any thought of a North Carolina comeback

After the first quarter, certainly in the 2nd half it was more of a grind it out game in which our 43% shooting basically tells the story.

Courtney Banghart is an excellent coach, set up some excellent defenses.made it difficult to get good shots, especially in the paint and tonight, UConn's three shooting was unexceptional....which made it almost a game. But UConn's defense, notably Strong made it an even more miserable experience for the better NC shooters.

A gripe...not against either team...Being an old-timer...I remember when the purpose of the announcers was to tell us what was happening on the floor, to acknowledge who came in and out of the game, to tell the score (perhaps not necessary with it on the screen) and to clearly indicate who fouls are on...Did they even say that Chen fouled out?...If they did, I must have missed it.

Among eligible players Q never got in...Is Geno relegating her?

Q runs too hot and cold to get minutes in a really competitive game at this point in the season.......she's got to earn Geno's trust.....

 

[Charliebball]

This game shows just how much we need Azzi. The sophomores (Ash, Q, KK) are not ready for prime time against top teams. I think the freshman (Sarah, Allie, Morgan) will give them a run for the money. In the meantime, it will be our experienced players that get us to the promised land.

Azzi and Aubrey who changes games without even shooting......

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

Sara's hands are so quick and her close out on blocking shots truly is a gift. Idk what's more elite, her defense or offense. Utsby is no fluke of a player and Sara held her to 3 pts.

 

[Zonepress]

This game shows just how much we need Azzi. The sophomores (Ash, Q, KK) are not ready for prime time against top teams. I think the freshman (Sarah, Allie, Morgan) will give them a run for the money. In the meantime, it will be our experienced players that get us to the promised land.

You do know that Ashlin and KK played in the elite eight in the final four game
To say they’re not ready to play against top teams makes no sense

 

[ABCDFE]

Interesting game to watch. You could tell UConn had a player that was head and a shoulders better than anyone on the floor but we she was deferring and trying to involve teammates in the second half, unfortunately other than Sarah we just don’t have a consistent offensive threat yet.

Chen is solid but you can tell she isnt Yet comfortable with handling the point.

Sarah like everyone said is the 2nd best player

We need Azzi to space the floor and make teams pay for going zone.

Shade is too passive

Kk is ok but she hasn’t evolved her offensive game enough

I’m liking what I see from Morgan Cheli. Not the greatest athlete but she is so fundamental

Jana plays with so much energy. She will be fine

Ice playing much better. Glad to see her making quicker decisions and having the confidence to to shoot the 3.

Allie nervous. Hoping she can be a spark plug off the bench.

 

[AzzisBraids]

Paige is so good. I know we all know this but she had to carry this team. They managed without her on the floor but there is definitely a difference. I like Paige bringing the ball up, the defense get's so far up on her that the wings are open. When Azzi returns her and Chen are going to have fun making three's in that set.

Sarah in front of her homecrowd was brilliant from everywhere but 3.

Chen is scrappy but she looks more like a 2 guard the more I see her play. Kk and Paige were so calming at the point. She made me nervous.

Brady worked her tail off and they don't win this game without her keeping UNC's posts occupied.

Aubrey Griffin would have feasted in this game. Excited for full health and kudos to Geno and CD

 

[DeepThreat]

Anyone surprised only 7 players got double digit minutes?

 

[Amashutcha]

Sarah was so tough on defense, wow! Her 3-pt shot should hopefully start falling soon.

Paige was unstoppable in Q1, but seemed to have eased off the gas afterwards. Not sure if she started Q2 but maybe a break between quarters would've helped her continue her flow in Q2. Would've also loved to see her jack a couple of threes against the zone. What's the worst that could happen, she knocks down half of them? I'd take it!

I hope KK gets to develop her offensive skill set. If not a consistent jumper, then maybe better finishing around the rim with both hands. That drive when she got blocked was unfortunately predictable.

They should seriously remove the obsolete three-point line in college basketball games.

 

[oldude]

Anyone surprised only 7 players got double digit minutes?

Not in this game.

 

[CTyankee]

Notes from Greensboro

Crowd was pretty evenly split between Tar Heels and Huskies... Maybe even 60/40 Huskies
I never so many young girls wearing Bueckers jerseys.
Tar Heels fans were very friendly. In fact I was very surprised that UConn has seemingly a huge following among those who considered themselves local to the area.
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is pretty easy-peasy to get in and out of. They handle crowds and traffic pretty well.

The following is just IMHO - I admit to not having the technical expertise of other 'Yarders.

You could tell that UNC was loaded with upperclassmen and UConn was loaded with underclassmen.
Azzie warmed up with the team.
Paige was Paige.
Ashlynn really had a shooting off night.
The officiating seemed not to be consistent.
Fouls in the midde by Ice and Jana were a dilemma for Geno.
I could not believe Kaitlyn fouled out.
The UNC run at the end was well deserved.
85-60 was never in the cards for me.

 

[Boreifs]

I thought we made Toomey look terrific.

Strong and Bueckers were great. Ice was solid. I liked the minutes Morgan gave us at the end of the third quarter.

The stretch where Sara played the five and Morgan the four is something we will see more of, at least until Yanna and Audrey return.