USC Post Game | Page 5 | The Boneyard

USC Post Game

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Without sounding like a Fan Boy, this was one of UConn's top defensive efforts (with a few 3rd Q speedbumps). Rarely seen a team so fast and quick, particularly when playing against a Top 20 team. While UConn started out missing many of its shots, you had a feeling that no opponent could withstand this barrage and the Huskie offense went on a a number of typical runs.

A few surprises:
-Williams was having her best game of the year early in the game then was taken out and didn't play many meaningful minutes after. Very aggressive and decisive.
-One of the high points of the game was Azzi's defense on Jazzy Davidson. At times, Jazzy looked shell shocked. Announcers rarely mentioned this-one of the best defensive efforts of the year deserved more credit. Rarely do you see a top offensive star also play this level of shut down defense.
-Was Geno sending some messages? Allie and Jana in particular didn't get much playing time even with Huskies up 30+ and Strong sick. Where they ill as well?
-Blanca was outstanding throughout the game on both offense and defense. I've come to ignore the 1-2 times a game when she gets a breakaway and can't seem to finish the layup. If you have not seen the game, suggest watching some of her lighting quick drives and defensive efforts. They were special. The segment when USC tries unsuccessfully 3-4 times to inbound the ball is a highlight! This was as good a defensive effort as you will ever see from any one team or player any year or any time.
 
browns said:
Simply a fantastic play on the defensive end..amazing..special kudos to Azzi for her effort against Davidson
Serah upped her game with the 9 boards in only 21 mins
Heckel seemed out of sorts but that was probably nerves
Very good all around game from Ashley ..if she could only be consistent with her shooting..she has the worse shooting % on the team except for Caroline but she does an awfull lot of things well
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With Geno mentioning that Strong was sick, wondering if there is a virus affecting the team. As mentioned, Heckel seemed a half step off and Allie and Jana played minimal minutes.
 
Bone Dog said:
I just love the third photo, of Jana trying to breathe courage directly into Kayleigh. This is definitely a team that all loves each other. What a joy to see.
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Agree. Great photo of Jana hype-girling K9. Jana's game is slowly getting better, but her teammate skills have been All-American level from the beginning.
 
BobbyJ said:
I agree with this possibility. The only thing I don't agree with is USC. They aren't really talented. They have two serious players, Smith and Davidson.
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2024-25 ACC First Team and 2023-24 ACC Second Team selection Kara Dunn?
 
I don’t care who is the NPOY or 1st team AA in any substantial way. But it is a convenient way to measure our favorite players. Azzi and Sarah’s stats won’t be the gaudiest in the conversation unless maybe it’s some advanced metric like BPM. But what is likely to become obvious, assuming we win out in the regular season, is that they are the anchors of a dominant team in D1. That context will likely count for something. It seemed to have in Paige’s first season.

The only major tests that remain are Iowa ND and Tennessee, and it’s not clear how major they really are at this point. As the conference schedule begins, our SOS is likely to decline quite a bit and stats will tell even less of the story for Azzi and Sarah.
 
BRS24 said:
Yep. Imagine what practices are like now, with 13 players and practice players available. Then compare it to a few years back where the coaches just couldn't do much of quantity, which affected the quality of practice.
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We all know that Practices are Geno's heaven. He has stated many times that Practice sets the tone for EVERYTHING. The Deep subs seem to be playing at a higher level when they get in -- better than in past seasons where it was visibly concerning. In addition, the 9-12 players look like the "difficult practices" are paying off for them. They look smoother and more flowing than past years when they finally get on the court.
 
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YKCornelius said:
2024-25 ACC First Team and 2023-24 ACC Second Team selection Kara Dunn?
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Well, I did say "serious". Maybe the voters mixed her up with someone else. I just don't consider a career 32% 3 ball shooter with 1.4 APG a serious player. Maybe a decent contributor. Plus a serious player might have had some impact on last night's game. But she didn't.
 
Ashlynn does not get enough love. Her 3-ball is a thing of beauty. I am glad that she is still being aggressive with her shot. What really stands out about Ashlynn and what I love, she is always in motion and working the angles on both ends of the floor. That is what makes her such a huge rebounder, especially on the offensive side of things.
 
The flow and tempo were amazing for the Huskies. Watching the game, I felt like the game from our young ladies was like a remarkable poem. All aspects of our game were flowing seamlessly from one play to the next. A true thing of beauty.
 
JellyBean said:
Ashlynn does not get enough love. Her 3-ball is a thing of beauty. I am glad that she is still being aggressive with her shot. What really stands out about Ashlynn and what I love, she is always in motion and working the angles on both ends of the floor. That is what makes her such a huge rebounder, especially on the offensive side of things.
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I think she gets plenty of love. That’s why we squabble over her so much.

But I agree with you about her perpetual motion. And I’m guessing this is what Geno values about her too. She makes it hard for opponents to know what to expect from UConn’s defense. She’s like a free radical in the mix — always knows her assignment but is also prepared to dive into the lane to make a play. Kids like that are worth their weight in plutonium. [please excuse the imagery. I just finished a semester teaching quantum theory.]
 
How did I forget this and surely others have said this above. USC's shot selection was horrible. I have to believe that is a reflection of UConn's defensive pressure getting into their heads. "Shoot it quick, they're coming!" Surely they are a better team than that. Gottleib is a very good coach, but some of those shots were inexplicable. I have no recollection of time outs other than the obligatory feed the commercials ones, but tell me Lindsay took a few???
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
How did I forget this and surely others have said this above. USC's shot selection was horrible. I have to believe that is a reflection of UConn's defensive pressure getting into their heads. "Shoot it quick, they're coming!" Surely they are a better team than that. Gottleib is a very good coach, but some of those shots were inexplicable. I have no recollection of time outs other than the obligatory feed the commercials ones, but tell me Lindsay took a few???
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To me, shooting is just a byproduct of the relentless pressure. (may have been UConn in the 2nd half against MI) Getting sped up.
I'm more surprised that they had no one on the team that could settle them offensively. Jones, Samuels, Jazzy, nope. Or that Gottlieb had no way to counteract the pressure. (PS, not to jinx, knock on wood- same problem for Iowa?)
 
BobbyJ said:
Yeah, this was a real nail biter. The game was over after the first period.
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I found it interesting that early in the game, the announcers mentioned a couple of times how many minutes (something like 4 minutes) the Huskies were trailing in all of their previous games. They showed the graphics once or maybe twice. Granted, USC may have exceeded it but they didn't mention how many minutes the Huskies led, or were behind, after the 5 minute mark of the 1st quarter.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
How did I forget this and surely others have said this above. USC's shot selection was horrible. I have to believe that is a reflection of UConn's defensive pressure getting into their heads. "Shoot it quick, they're coming!" Surely they are a better team than that. Gottleib is a very good coach, but some of those shots were inexplicable. I have no recollection of time outs other than the obligatory feed the commercials ones, but tell me Lindsay took a few???
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She called her only time out that was used in the whole game with 1:55 left in the first quarter with UConn leading 18-9.
 
oldude said:
I am slowly but surely leaning into the idea that this team may be the best defensive team that UConn has ever put on the court. The Huskies depth, connectedness, relentless effort, size and quickness make them an absolute nightmare for everyone they face. What other team in WBB could hold a talented USC team to just 17 points in the 1st half?
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Watching this team's defense makes me think the pregame player against player analysis, while helpful and enjoyable, misses one VERY key factor, which is hard to quantify; team defense.
It's hard to think of another team in D1 basketball that is even close to the 2025-26 Huskies.
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
How did I forget this and surely others have said this above. USC's shot selection was horrible. I have to believe that is a reflection of UConn's defensive pressure getting into their heads. "Shoot it quick, they're coming!" Surely they are a better team than that. Gottleib is a very good coach, but some of those shots were inexplicable. I have no recollection of time outs other than the obligatory feed the commercials ones, but tell me Lindsay took a few???
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FanSince17 said:
To me, shooting is just a byproduct of the relentless pressure. (may have been UConn in the 2nd half against MI) Getting sped up.
I'm more surprised that they had no one on the team that could settle them offensively. Jones, Samuels, Jazzy, nope. Or that Gottlieb had no way to counteract the pressure. (PS, not to jinx, knock on wood- same problem for Iowa?)
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USC's shot selection and inability to re-establish their offence caught my attention as well. Especially when they started to take quick shots instead of running a set offence. They played right into UConn's hands which is dangerous considering how UConn wants to push the pace in transition.
 
Just started watching the game. Wife had me on a holiday party leash all evening. Blanca, KK and K9 at the top of the press seems like a lethal weapon. That’s a whole lotta aggravation! AND…I think it’s pretty clear that UCONN players will not be taking part in the untucked jersey thing. I do see why players find it more comfortable. Just an observation.
 
BobbyJ said:
Rare combination of fast hands and very fast feet. Prototypical defensive skillset and instincts.
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For a quick summary of the skills (still developing) and raw talent of who might be the best FR in this year's class, see Nan's post number 92 in this thread. I also suggest going to the full game recording and watch the complete play when we were winning 69-39. Blanca blocked a shot, got the ball and absolutely blew past all USC players as she dribbled down the full court. It looked like the Trojans were running with their feet stuck in the mud. I have not seen a player with a quicker move to the basket, not even KK or Kelis.

The only thing which will keep her from winning NFOY is a lack of playing time/stats due to all the other skilled Huskies which keeps her from getting the 25-30 minutes she could be getting on a more normal team. This is the same problem SS and have in the NPOY voting.
 
MSGRET said:
Does USC fall out of the Top 25 after the shellacking and does Texas lose some of their 1st place votes back to UConn?
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As I suggested in another post, the bottom half of the top 25 is filled with deficient teams in one way or another. So I think USC remains in the top 25. As for TX, I don’t know whether or not they lose 1st place votes. What I have become convinced of is that UConn will likely win out. That means the only possible way the Huskies lose the #1 overall seed is if TX also wins out and gets a deserved benefit from their outstanding SOS.
 
oldude said:
With Sarah having a less than “Sarah like” game for whatever reason: illness, new shoes, whatever….Azzi may have just reinserted herself into the NPOY discussion?
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I feel like this discussion will go on every other game...
 
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oldude said:
With Sarah having a less than “Sarah like” game for whatever reason: illness, new shoes, whatever….Azzi may have just reinserted herself into the NPOY discussion?
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Maybe, but she is now clearly on the AP 5-person 1st short list! The almost fills my Christmas list, just in case my family reads this, I don’t want them thinking they don’t have to get more UConn garb, cups, glasses, mugs or other paraphernalia…😉
 
BobbyJ said:
I agree with this possibility. The only thing I don't agree with is USC. They aren't really talented. They have two serious players, Smith and Davidson.
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BobbyJ, don’t confuse talent with a lack of a coaching scheme or system. Gottlieb will never be accused of being an “Xs and Os” savant. This team has plenty of highly ranked talent but no coaching plan to get them to play together and elevate each others game. Losing Juju, who basically had card blanche to do whatever she wanted (ie volume shooting) masked a lot of the coaching ills but now, with her out, they were relying on Jazzy to fill that void…
 
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