USA Postgame Thread | The Boneyard

USA Postgame Thread

oldude

oldude

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I’ll keep it short:
  • This game was a celebration of WBB in general and UConn WBB in particular. At the same time, Geno and many of the players are hurting because of the tragedy that took the lives of Kobe and Gigi yesterday. One of the many great things about sports, is that for a couple of hours when you’re playing the game you can set aside some of life’s burdens, at least for a little while.
  • As an exhibition, the best thing about this game is that everybody got through it in one piece.
  • It looked as if all the players had some fun and, hopefully, Anna got to take a selfie with her childhood idol.
 
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The first half was UConn's best game (half) of the season. They played aggressively, weren't intimidated. They drove to the basket, rebounded aggressively. Looked great!

But too many mistakes, especially unforced turnovers. And Makurat ran out of magic- 2 for 8 from outside.

But honestly, I wonder whether Team USA isn't getting too old for this. The older veterans were on the bench late in the second half when USA started sticking it to UConn. Wonder whether some older players are just not going to make the team this year....

But exciting, exhilarating basketball from UConn in the first half!!! YEAHHHHH!!!!
 
I liked it. I did not expect them to win. But I am satisfied that they just did not lay down and die. Great way for them to see excellence at work and something for them to aspire to. Really great for the basketball viewer and audience to see these fine people playing the sport.
 
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Dokey said:
This ought to give them confidence. Boxscore anywhere?
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I know I said it twice during the chat, but I honestly couldn't be prouder of this team. Undersized, undertalented and out gunned, but never out hearted. Meg played like a true #1 pick for some lucky Association team. Ania looked like a future AA and was completely unintimidated. CD make terrific decisions although she had to work hard to get her passes inside and had to go against real length on her dribble drives. Liv took a whuppin' inside and got schooled any number of times, but she battled hard, and her presence was intimidating for anyone going to the hoop...and she hit 4 consecutive FT's and a jump shot. This is a FF team y'all.
 
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Very enjoyable, entertaining game.

I didn't expect UConn to win. However, the team competed hard and played the pros even for a long while. They were able to adapt to what Team USA did in the 1st quarter and outscore them.

Meg, Anna, Crystal and Liv played well.
 
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I think what happened in the 4th Quarter besides Team USA flipping the Switch is some UConn players saw an Opportunity to win the Game. A couple of players tried to do too much and didn't let the Offense Flow. Then when UConn missed or had a Turn over, Team USA went down the court and scored a basket. All of a sudden a one possession game was a 4 or 5 possession game.
 
Makurat has awakened offensively, but with her 3 turnovers tonight, it makes 14 turnovers for her in the past three games alone. She needs to play more under control when she's not shooting herself.

But surprised and heartened that ONO did not get taken to the cleaners. Yes, they scored big underneath, but at least she didn't give in to fouling.
 
Wonderful game to watch and the team competed and played well. I’m proud of the way they played and tried to execute against an obvious better team. I will say Anna Amd Meg looked great. Crystal, CW and ONO, and Aubrey all contributed nicely. It seemed to me that UConn ran out of gas a little at the end and there were some big shots by Team Usa. But watching the team tonight I feel good about this team if they can hit some outside shots.
 
Fairfield Fan said:
Makurat has awakened offensively, but with her 3 turnovers tonight, it makes 14 turnovers for her in the past three games alone. She needs to play more under control when she's not shooting herself.

But surprised and heartened that ONO did not get taken to the cleaners. Yes, they scored big underneath, but at least she didn't give in to fouling.
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:rolleyes: Ania is a freshman playing against WNBA pros. She acquitted herself pretty damn well.

Geez, some UConn fans have ridiculous expectations
 
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Fairfield Fan said:
Makurat has awakened offensively, but with her 3 turnovers tonight, it makes 14 turnovers for her in the past three games alone. She needs to play more under control when she's not shooting herself.

But surprised and heartened that ONO did not get taken to the cleaners. Yes, they scored big underneath, but at least she didn't give in to fouling.
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Always me positive
 
Same point difference as UConn-Tenn. But unlike Tenn, UConn seemed to be on an even keel. Didn't notice any panic runs. Special props to Megan & Anna Mak. Tenn was in somewhat of a funk after the loss to UConn; I don't think this game will have the same effect on the UConn team & especially those two. Hopefully it doesn't impact CD & CW, who were often frustrated by the pro play. For an elderly point guard past retirement age, Bird can really do some damage & she defended the younger & faster Crystal quite well. Be interesting to see how US does against Kentucky. Wonder if any US players or potential players are trapped in China because of the various quarantines. Is there a thread on players playing in China?

The shorter time-clock combined with the size of the US Team (and their speed) caused problems for the team. CD especially seemed to have been affected fighting off 2 first class guards in Bird & Plum, plus Big Syl was like Lauren Cox on steroids (just a metaphor!).

Despite her 3 pt foul on Crystal, Plum's shooting burned UConn in Q4. Nice to see Stewie getting her sea legs, and she hasn't lost her competitive edge.

Also really nice to see Bent & Evelyn doing some excellent subbing, even though the US bench had (ahem) somewhat more depth. Griffin's play sometimes forced cheery noises from me. Olivia Nelson Odah-dah (per the elderly half time commentator's regional pronunciation) did not seem overwhelmed to me, and her FT shooting was the best I've seen in some time; plus she contributed some pretty good passing.

Nice night; cheered me up a little after all the Kobe & his daughter news.
 
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Fairfield Fan said:
Also ran out of gas late in the game. Troubling trend.
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You have got to be kidding! Not only was UConn facing experienced players who were much bigger and much stronger, but the UConn five all had to play FAR more minutes than the U.S. team - which for obvious reasons has a much better bench. Total minutes for UConn five:

Walker 38
Dangerfield 36
Williams 33
ONO 31
Makurat 31
AVERAGE 34

And the U.S. fourth quarter team played the following total minutes:

Ogwumike 27
McBride 25
Grey 24
Plum 17
Stewie/Fowles/Charles 19 (average)
AVERAGE 22.5

So the UConn squad averaged 34 minutes against the biggest, strongest, most experienced, and most talented group they have ever faced. And a much more rested team. The U.S. team's fourth quarter lineup only played an average of 22.5 minutes for the entire night. Further, the first four of that group had only played an average of 13 minutes apiece entering the last quarter. They couldn't possible have been more well rested. And yet it's a "troubling trend" that UConn couldn't keep up with them down the stretch??
 
Conditioning and fatigue...
I though our Husky's really tired out the USA senior first rung
but then, the pendulum swung and our guys showed weakness

And as my wife noted...when USA put in the 2nd group...they were still
man to man (probably) superior to one and all of the UConn kids.

And consider: for large swatches of the game the defensive rebounding was excellent
and the Husky's played excellent team ball.
 
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