USC Postgame Thread

[Nev]

Kiki Iriafen is a forward not a center. At 6'3" she only had one inch on her. She might not do that well against a real top flight center. Why would Strong play out of position for herself. It will do nothing for her preperation for the next level.

Iriafen may be listed as 6-3 in height but she looked 2 inches taller than Strong. Who's correct? Probably neither on each team's roster. Iriafen is taller and Strong a little bit shorter.

 

[Nev]

Overlooked is yet another abysmal end-of-game possession in a tight game, a common theme for 10 or more years.

Agree with you, except it all started after their last championship with Stewie.

 

[Dogstar]

It’s harder to double team someone who brings the ball up the court, which Paige should do more often and put teams in pick and roll hell. And if teams try to send a double at her, then Sarah (or whoever the screener is) can slip the screen relentlessly until they’re forced to adjust.

Here lies the problem....the screener is usually a big, either Sarah, Ice or Jana, the screener then dives to the hoop, if the screener is Sarah and Paige is doubled thn ur in pretty good shape bcus she can drive, shoot a pullup, pass to a post for a layup or kick out to someone in either corner whn another player steps up to stop her, but if it's Ice or Jana neither is really capable of driving or pulling up and their passing from the high high post is somewhat..ummmm shall we say questionable. Teams will take tht situation everytime as long as Paige or Sarah is not shooting. That's why a CONSISTENT 3rd option is needed. And right now I'm not seeing tht 3rd consistent option. Azzi is greatly missed bcus no team is leaving her open and Silk can take advantage of anyone ..one on one and that's been proven.

 

[uconnfan68]

So what happened for Paige to regress in her game?

Did she regress, or did expectations grow too large?

 

[boontonbomber]

Wow! Just watched the second half again, and what a great 3rd quarter KK played. Wow! And she played all of 27 seconds in the 4th !? Head scratcher.

 

[UConn990411]

Here lies the problem....the screener is usually a big, either Sarah, Ice or Jana, the screener then dives to the hoop, if the screener is Sarah and Paige is doubled thn ur in pretty good shape bcus she can drive, shoot a pullup, pass to a post for a layup or kick out to someone in either corner whn another player steps up to stop her, but if it's Ice or Jana neither is really capable of driving or pulling up and their passing from the high high post is somewhat..ummmm shall we say questionable. Teams will take tht situation everytime as long as Paige or Sarah is not shooting. That's why a CONSISTENT 3rd option is needed. And right now I'm not seeing tht 3rd consistent option. Azzi is greatly missed bcus no team is leaving her open and Silk can take advantage of anyone ..one on one and that's been proven.

There’s no reason the screener has to be a post player all the time.

 

[Dogstar]

There’s no reason the screener has to be a post player all the time.

More thn half the time it is

 

[ERWUC65]

Surprised no one asked Geno in post game presser why KK didn't play much in 4th Q.

They did, it was 2nd part of 2 part question and he completely ignored it and went on to next person.

 

[ABCDFE]

They at least showed some fight this time, but the same bad habits continue to put this team in difficult positions.

I know a lot of people don’t want to hear this, but the coaching has been inexplicable this season. We’ve seen way too many Chen minutes at the expense of Arnold/Azzi, not nearly enough of Paige at the point, and Brady starting over El Alfy is indefensible at this point.

It’s time for a lineup change so this team can compete athletically with the top teams in the nation.

I think this is an interesting take

 

[donalddoowop]

Hey, I loved what our team did. Juju. who is great, torched us early. But GA and staff figured out a way to minimize her and that gave us a chance. I know Sarah must feel so bad about the missed second FT, but she was one of the big reasons for the almost comeback. Losing is no fun, but I think the team learned a lot of things that will help going forward.

I watched Strong after she hit the first free throw. She looked nervous. I am not surprised she missed the second one. However, instead of panicking like some veteran players do and shoot the ball hard of the backboard and crossing the free throw line too soon. she shot a regular throw and waited for it to hit. If she could have caught the rebound cleanly, she had a good chance to shoot the rebound. No one should blame her for missing that second free throw.

 

[Zarathustra]

Props to this team for battling back. Strong and KK really carried the comeback.

Awful first half absolutely killed us. Gave me PTSD flashbacks to that FF game against Mississippi State back in 2017. You just can’t let teams dominate against you in the first half; it’s too much to overcome.

Not the same type of game but I had flash back to ARKANSAS.

 

[Zarathustra]

What an intense game. I had to turn the sound off as the announcers were stressing me out.

How many people had Morgan Chelli being a second half fixture on their bingo cards? Good for her for rising to the occasion.

I would take Ashlynn Shade on my team any day.

We are going to enjoy Sarah Strong for the next few years.

I too turned off the announcers. !!

Please send Sarah to the basket anytime you need a critical score and possible free throw. Also please play Morgan more. Great comeback from 18 down!

In the post-game presser Sarah's heart-felt answer to the questioner:
" It hurts to lose ... I'm upset right now ". And then there was Paige's
comment when asked about Sarah's play: " Sarah is a team player".
A tremendous "Huskie-like" comment in support of her teammate!

 

[UConn990411]

More thn half the time it is

Traditionally yes, but the advanced offenses in basketball know how to use unconventional methods to hunt the matchups they want.

For instance, you can have any position player set a screen for the lead guard to force the defense into a mismatch. There’s no reason a guard or wing can’t screen for Paige instead of a post player if they’re trying to exploit the double team or expose a weak spot in the defense.

 

[Longtime fan]

Some thoughts on the USC game;

• Really terrible start to the game for UConn. As with ND, the Huskies came out tight and dug themselves a big hole that they just couldn't climb out of.
• Through my 30 years as a UConn fan, these were the games that I lived for. The Huskies won far more big games than they lost, but even the handful of losses were usually close and hard fought to the end. But I have never seen anything quite like the game I watched tonight.
• Once again, the Huskies showed signs of life in the 3rd qtr. Obviously, UConn can’t continue to wait that long to start playing basketball against teams as talented as USC.
• UConn went with a small lineup and fought their way back into the game. I thought that KK's ferocious defense was the jump start the team needed, and then everyone else started making plays.
• I am sure the BY is frustrated and there will be an inclination among some UConn fans to blame the players and coaches. I have one word for you, DON'T!!!
• The season is not over by any stretch of the imagination. UConn has a lot of things to work on, and it is certainly possible to build this roster into a team capable of making a deep run in March. If anyone can build that team, it’s Geno.
• Merry Christmas everyone. Go Huskies!!!

One of two things must happen to go all the way; 1. Jana and ICE become impactful players. 2. AZZI comes back with all guns blazing and we go with 4 guards and Sarah in the middle.

 

[Longtime fan]

Small and young: a senior, 2 sophomores, and 2 freshmen. Terrific composure from the young guys

KK was amazing. I loved her game in the second half

And Morgan showed great poise hitting a three at a big moment in the comeback.

 

[BBallF]

Some thoughts on the USC game;

• Really terrible start to the game for UConn. As with ND, the Huskies came out tight and dug themselves a big hole that they just couldn't climb out of.
• Through my 30 years as a UConn fan, these were the games that I lived for. The Huskies won far more big games than they lost, but even the handful of losses were usually close and hard fought to the end. But I have never seen anything quite like the game I watched tonight.
• Once again, the Huskies showed signs of life in the 3rd qtr. Obviously, UConn can’t continue to wait that long to start playing basketball against teams as talented as USC.
• UConn went with a small lineup and fought their way back into the game. I thought that KK's ferocious defense was the jump start the team needed, and then everyone else started making plays.
• I am sure the BY is frustrated and there will be an inclination among some UConn fans to blame the players and coaches. I have one word for you, DON'T!!!
• The season is not over by any stretch of the imagination. UConn has a lot of things to work on, and it is certainly possible to build this roster into a team capable of making a deep run in March. If anyone can build that team, it’s Geno.
• Merry Christmas everyone. Go Huskies!!!

I will however blame the referees. Paige was fouled on that last offensive rebound and the number of pushes, stiff arms, fend offs, and reach ins that were not called were very numerous. Since when do you have the right to push off the defender with your non dribbling stiff arm? When we play this kind of game, a non-conference headliner, it always seems to be the officials adopting a let them play approach which is good for the playground but not here and usually favors the more physical team. Having said that, we were flat for the first half and it tells all in our 3s in the game. We shot 26% instead of our usual 36%. They shot 56% from the arc. Even with this game they average 33% and they barely won. Too many extra points to make up though. Also, we were 10-17 from the charity stripe. That was a killer.

 

[Husky fanatic]

Poor Providence

 

[The deacon]

Both should not have been called.

Agreed, if you're a UConn fan only...

 

[Martin84]

Curious decision to not play KK most of the 4th.


Tht was a head scratcher for me also

It was her or Chen

 

[hookshot]

One of two things must happen to go all the way; 1. Jana and ICE become impactful players. 2. AZZI comes back with all guns blazing and we go with 4 guards and Sarah in the middle.

Sara seems a year away and ice is somewhat limited by lack of hops, so would have to find her shot. Azzi and Aubrey potentially impactful for sure, but March is only 10 weeks away

 

[Martin84]

Surprised no one asked Geno in post game presser why KK didn't play much in 4th Q.

Too afraid

 

[Martin84]

I think this is an interesting take

Azzi not playing hurts. Is what Chen brings worth KK, Cheli, Ash not playing more - developing - getting better? And it takes the ball from PB.

 

[boontonbomber]

Sara seems a year away and ice is somewhat limited by lack of hops, so would have to find her shot. Azzi and Aubrey potentially impactful for sure, but March is only 10 weeks away

Sarah is a year away from what?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

No it wasn't. She was inside the foul line.

I don't know who you are referring to here, but Shade was wide open at the arc. It was a bad, rushed shot without looking for her teammates and no UConn player in any position to rebound if she missed.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

That pull up is totally in Chen’s DNA. She would make that 10 foot jump9 times out of 10. Just bad luck.

If Chen made that jumper we would not be having this Chen vs KK discussion. They are both great players who serve a common purpose.

Sorry, you don't take a 1-on-3 shot at that juncture with a defender in front of you, no teammates under the basket to rebound, and two shooters fanning out wide for open opportunities.