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USC Postgame Thread

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Tough game. Someone posted "whoever gets to 70 first, wins." How wise of who posted. Uconn got to 70+ first and "VIOLA" we won. The 3rd quarter almost gave me a heart attack as it looked like Uconn forgot how to play BB. Thank God they took charge in the 4th quarter.WE had 3 GIGANTIC players that carried the game. Paige, Sarah and Kaitlin. AZZI did her share also. Uconn was the better team this night and now on to the rest of our journey to No.12. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!
 
ec33 said:
24 Final Fours and 12 National Titles looks far prettier than 24 and 11.

Tired of being under .500 in Final Fours.
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Technically, they are not under .500 in Final Fours. Before today, 23 trips to FF4, with 11 NC means they must have won 22 games out of the 34 games they played in the FF4?
 
maple said:
Wow. What a game.

Sarah was HUGE in this game. I’ve said it before but if this is how Sarah is as a freshman, she is going to be scary good in the years to come. She was doing it on both ends of the floor and helped our offense come alive when we were struggling.

And then Chen caught fire. And then Paige hit that huge three to cap off the first half. And when we needed Azzi the most, she finally came alive and got us some huge buckets. And I can’t not mention the contributions of Shade, Ice, Jana, Aubrey, and KK, all of whom provided valuable energy, rebounds, and hustle. UConn was not going to win the game without a team effort — so they played as a team and ground out a win. Absolute energy on both ends.

Maybe this game would have ended differently if JuJu hadn’t gotten hurt. Or maybe it wouldn’t have. Unfortunately, none of us can say for sure. This was definitely Sarah’s revenge game though after the loss earlier this season.

As an aside, I’m still haunted by that loss to tOSU a few seasons ago. It’s so nice to see UConn be able to break the press!!

The FT shooting discrepancy was an absolute disgrace. It was almost single-handedly keeping USC in the game in the second half.

This was a battle and we won it. Enjoy the evening and now on to the next. Unfinished business. Let’s get it.
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Sarah is already scary good.
 
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The reason UConn won:

They really have a lot of pieces they can throw at you
if one group or player doesn't work, there's always another.

-I always said ...that at least once, Kaitlyn Chen would have a monster game when it was out needed...tonite
was the night
-Sarah was fearless and wonderful
-Azzi (finally) came through in the 4th with 2 key triples
that were really needed
-Surprise: Audrey came in, played quite a few minutes
and settled down a tiring defense (when she missed
that layup, I could have brained her)...
-The defensive intensity in the first half and in the final
minutes was remarkable. USC couldn't get a clean
possession at the end

And I just have to mention, an observation I made in the
last game: that when Azzi drives across the lane, she is
unaware of how open she is for a pull-up. Tonight, she did one better...totally free for a layup, she inexplicably
passed the ball out...Actually...there is an explanation...something to do with spacial relations and a little bit like blackjack, card counting...in this case defensive placement of the opposition. might have to do with aural perception...Bet she fixes that up for next season.

And Paige..ho-hum...a superstar
 
Tonyc said:
No sour grapes however before the last couple of minutes USC went to the line 26 to our 8 They may not have had Juju but they made up for it going to the line. Yeah we committed some fouls but they didnt?????????????
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I'll give some sour grapes...every USBWA voter that didn't vote Sarah #1 for NFOY needs to reevaluate their voting criteria. Period.
 
This was a 14 point win that could easily have been a 25 point win. USC even without Juju is good and we beat them by double digits despite more sloppy passes and dribbling than was absolutely necessary. Paige did her thing, Sarah was huge, Chen kicked in 15 points, and Azzi after a horrible shooting night redeemed herself with 8 well needed points in the 4th quarter. Overall we got through a tough last 8 matchup without playing our best. This is a formidable team folks. I can't wait to have at it with UCLA.
 
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Now on a positive note. This is one terrific team. Sarah is so poised, and talented. She knows how to get position against bigger players. She knows how to fake and shoot and shows absolutely no emotion. Paige is the GOAT maybe of all time. As Great as Diana Stewie and Maya were Paige is some efficient. Great game for Chen. She stepped up big and was huge the entire game.
The defense was suffocating and USC hung in and kept making shots. They will be a tuff out next season. Theyre gonna be really good. UCLA next. We will see what Genos game plan is. Our defense will make the difference.
 
Obviously great games for Sarah and Paige.

Azzi couldn't even hit a layup but like a gunslinger kept on shooting. Needed her threes when UConn was only up by 5.

I was very impressed with Chen. No turnovers. She handled the press perfectly. And she made layups when the team needed them. I believe she had two in the second quarter during a dry spell. And then some more in the fourth quarter.

Great team effort.
 
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Tonyc said:
No sour grapes however before the last couple of minutes USC went to the line 26 to our 8 They may not have had Juju but they made up for it going to the line. Yeah we committed some fouls but they didnt?????????????
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I'm with you. I thought it was Uconn against USC and 3 Refs. When I looked at the box score USC han one more foul then Uconn did, so I debated, in the final minute of the game USC committed 4 fouls. So the question I would ask is why were USC's fouls so shot worthy and ours weren't?
 
Paige was dynamic, Sarah was brilliant diffused Iriafen, Chen had the game I knew she could have so so proud of her. Azzi gave me palpitations from her missing 13 shots to letting Von Oelhoffen drive whenever she wanted but she decided she was knocking then down in the fourth. KK has the defensive intensity we needed. Aubrey saw some good minutes. El Alfy and Brady did their best and Im proud of them but they have to learn to defend without fouling for the road ahead.

UConn won this game because Geno Auriemma was orchestrating on the sideline like the rent was due and he was a dollar short. He made the call to go back to Azzi after she was 0/13, continued the pick and roll with Sarah and Paige, kept the ball away from Kennedy Smith who is a defensive menace. Subbed appropriately and was the Wizard of Oz except for he can actually perform all the tricks and magic.
 
UConn990411 said:
Not the worst thing in the world for them to go through some adversity before the Final Four, but it goes without saying they have to play levels above this to win next weekend.

That all starts with Azzi being good for more than one quarter, and they’ll need more from their role players across the board. El Alfy and/or Brady has to show up each game, and I wouldn’t mind seeing Griffin get more run.
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UCLA’s strength is UConn’s weakness- strength at the center position. Jana had her good and not so good moments today, and she will have to hold her own against Betts, but she’ll get some help. I don’t think small ball is going to get the job done, but it’ll be exciting. Great game today!
 
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I was so happy for Kaitlyn (and for us!) having the game she did on that huge stage. For as much as the media has fixated on this being Paige's last chance for a national championship, I was reminded that there is another player in her final season who isn't going down without a fight. Kaitlyn showed tremendous poise and delivered leadership, assists, scoring, and relentless defense. One of her best games as a Husky—if not the best. (Did everyone catch her parents beaming in the audience?) Way to go, Kaitlyn!

Edit: I realized I had spelled Kaitlyn's name wrong. Fixed!
 
Last edited:
File this under, "So You Want To Be a Gambler!"
The opening point spread for this game was UCONN (-13). I thought that was high, but I placed a "small" wager on the Huskies. (The line jumped to UCONN -14.5 today, so I was glad to bet early.)
The game fluctuated around that number until USC hit two "meaningless" 3 pointers in the last minute. Sarah rebounded with 8 seconds left & was running out the clock for a 12 point win & a lost wager for me. Luckily, USC needlessly fouled her. With her two free throws, UCONN covered the 13 point spread!
Meanwhile, those who bet UCONN at -14.5 today lost by a 1/2 point!!
 
Kaitlyn Chen!!! I've said it a few times and I'm going to repeat myself. What she does for this team doesn't stand out in the stat sheet. But she is so valuable.

Sarah Strong is the best rebounder we've had in 10 years. Her ability to go get it is top 5 UCONN history.

I was so glad to see Azzi makes some shots in the 4th. Shooters shoot and I'm glad she kept shooting and great coaching when Geno started the 4th getting her a shot.

Paige Top tier performance and Top tier 3 game stretch. Most unselfish 3 game 100 points scored I've ever seen. The best part is she is playing great defense and rebounding while playing heavy minutes. Also like to add she finally got ft attempts like all the other big names in college basketball get.

Go UCONN!!!
 
jaydee602 said:
File this under, "So You Want To Be a Gambler!"
The opening point spread for this game was UCONN (-13). I thought that was high, but I placed a "small" wager on the Huskies. (The line jumped to UCONN -14.5 today, so I was glad to bet early.)
The game fluctuated around that number until USC hit two "meaningless" 3 pointers in the last minute. Sarah rebounded with 8 seconds left & was running out the clock for a 12 point win & a lost wager for me. Luckily, USC needlessly fouled her. With her two free throws, UCONN covered the 13 point spread!
Meanwhile, those who bet UCONN at -14.5 today lost by a 1/2 point!!
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I did not put a bet down on the game. But I was acutely aware of the 14.5 point spread at the end of the game, knowing a bunch of folks were either ecstatic or pissed off.

Congratulations on getting your bet down on the early line.
 
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