USC Postgame Thread

[Zanzman]

I think that fall that Shade took in the last game is still a consideration. She wasn't sharp, she wasn't quick and she wasn't playing fundamental defense all of which are what usually makes her difficult. She will have a some rest this week to recover and I do think she and Azzi will be keys to bringing home number 12.

My wife thought she saw Ashlynn grab her back after her offensive foul

 

[TheGOAT23]

That was probably the toughest shot Azzi took all game. When she made it, I came out of my chair screaming. It took the lid off for Azzi, leading to a critical 8-pts in the 4th qtr.

Welp, my wife was asleep during that time. I was screaming like a mime at that point. She came out earlier and said, if you scream one more “danggone” time…!!! Oops! Sorry. I didn’t know that you were sleeping.

 

[jaydee602]

When KK drove the lane & scored on a layup, I thought, "Great. The bench will give us some scoring tonight!"
I never figured that those were the only points from the reserves. None of the other bench players scored a point. In fact, there was only one other shot attempted!!
I guess that proves there are several ways to win a game!

 

[BBallF]

KC had another gear in the fourth quarter. Everyone on USC looked like they were one gear behind. Just a great all around game by her.

 

[HuskyNan]

I thought Marshall had a great game for USC. It appeared to me that she lost a bit of composure in the third quarter but eventually got it back. The second half defense on her was IMO the key to the game. Uconn in the first half could not stop her and was more effective than Iriafen.

Indeed. Marshall had position in the paint and a smaller defender on her but the guards played hot potato with the ball on the perimeter until they turned it over. Marshall was stamping her feet in frustration

 

[jaydee602]

KC had another gear in the fourth quarter. Everyone on USC looked like they were one gear behind. Just a great all around game by her.

I wonder if USC overlooked Kaitlyn. After all, how many Huskies can they game plan for? They did great job minimizing Azzi & our bigs. They tried denying Paige.
Somehow, Chen sneaked under the radar!

 

[mhshuskies]

I wonder if USC overlooked Kaitlyn. After all, how many Huskies can they game plan for? They did great job minimizing Azzi & our bigs. They tried denying Paige.
Somehow, Chen sneaked under the radar!

When the game got a little tight and the offense was not flowing with Kaitlyn on the bench, Geno got her right back into the game.

 

[donalddoowop]

Great win in a game where you clearly didn't play your best. I thought the defense was good tonight but KK and Shade both were way less than usual on that end of the court which matters. Paige had a good night but missed several shots she usually doesn't miss and the rebounding outside of Sarah as poor to say the least.

Huge plus of the game was KC who in my opinion played her first good game when playing a quality team. She is good on offense yet often doesn't get engaged on that end of the floor buut last night she made some plays that were vital to the win and she will need to continue her play next weekend for UConn to beat UCLA.

Jana is a beast but she doesn't keep the ball up and away from the little people on her shots and rebounds. She needs to get a personal coach to team her how to play the post in the offseason because she isn't getting it in practice with the team. She is young and will get it but Friday will be a big test for her.

Her father is her personal coach. She knows how to play, she just has not adjusted to how Geno wants her to play. Also, if Muhl was still on the team Jana would be scoring at least ten points a game. Muhl knows how to feed the post in a position to score.

 

[donalddoowop]

Kaitlyn had other big scoring games.

 

[jaydee602]

When the game got a little tight and the offense was not flowing with Kaitlyn on the bench, Geno got her right back into the game.

You noticed that too! He wanted Kaitlyn to break the fullcourt press. It was very telling because she replaced KK, who is very capable running point.
I think Chen plays a calmer game while KK plays a more frantic pace.

 

[HuskyNan]

Her father is her personal coach. She knows how to play, she just has not adjusted to how Geno wants her to play. Also, if Muhl was still on the team Jana would be scoring at least ten points a game. Muhl knows how to feed the post in a position to score.

Jana needs to work on some fundamentals- footwork, positioning, keeping the ball high, boxing out, and she needs to stop dribbling in the paint before taking a shot. I’d like to see her use the backboard instead of flipping the ball towards the hoop, too

 

[Linart]

Interesting to note that of the three teams that beat us during the season (Tennesse, USC and Notre Dame) not one of them is still playing.

Ah, revenge is sweet.

 

[Valleyfan]

Here we go again!
Vegas just posted the opening line for UCONN/ UCLA
The Huskies are favored by 8.5 points!!

Amazing isn’t it! One would have thought we were the tournaments overall 1 seed instead of UCLA. Agree with Huskynan, the pundits don’t like us so they are giving UCLA motivation. If anything, we should be getting points OR we should have been a 1 seed.

 

[ERWUC65]

You noticed that too! He wanted Kaitlyn to break the fullcourt press. It was very telling because she replaced KK, who is very capable running point.
I think Chen plays a calmer game while KK plays a more frantic pace.

I hope Ash's problem is just physical and she recovers quickly. Game was closer than it should have been because both she and Azzi were under par. Not sure what's going on with KK, Kaitlyn more than covered that position, but we need both at their best. Game was quite physical, we were up big, they made a run, we came back, all good experience heading into the UCLA game.

 

[jaydee602]

Amazing isn’t it! One would have thought we were the tournaments overall 1 seed instead of UCLA. Agree with Huskynan, the pundits don’t like us so they are giving UCLA motivation. If anything, we should be getting points OR we should have been a 1 seed.

I agree! I remember a bookkeeper at Caesar's Vegas claiming that UCONN is the most popular WBB team for bettors. So much money is placed on the Huskies that the spread is often inflated.
But UCLA should not be an 8 point underdog!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

When did you start breathing again?

Does really shallow breathing count?

 

[cancontent]

Does really shallow breathing count?

I'd say so. Oxygen has got to get to the brain somehow. We don't want you passing out!

 

[Bone Dog]

Jana needs to work on some fundamentals- footwork, positioning, keeping the ball high, boxing out, and she needs to stop dribbling in the paint before taking a shot. I’d like to see her use the backboard instead of flipping the ball towards the hoop, too

So true. I probably yell more than one of these pearls of wisdom at the TV screen at various moments in every game -- especially keeping the ball high. That one drives me crazy.

 

[Jaml]

I saw a lot of flopping by USC.

I don't think Rebecca or Ryan mentioned it, but when Paige had that rather emphatic block on von Oelhoffen...Paige was clearly making the flopping gesture to the refs to point out a flop.

 

[Jaml]

Paige and Sarah never came off the floor

Iriafen played 40 as well, as did Van Lith for TCU in the other game.

 

[Vowelguy]

Plus: UCLA beat LSU due to their trey shooting not Betts.

But those are related, right?
Im sure those 3s were more open because LSU was concentrating on clogging the post to contain Betts.

It's all an integrated process. Folks got on Geno for leaving Azzi in when she wasn't hitting, completely neglecting that her presence spreads the floor, making it harder for USC to guard Paige, Sarah, and Chen. To consider one person or play in isolation ignores the larger game.

 

[ABCDFE]

Not much to add. I thought Azzi was out of sorts offensively and defensively in the game. Lucky for us she had the coach's support in the fourth quarter and delivered. My hope is that she continues to stay positive find other ways to contribute as the offense will come and go with the ebbs and flows of the game.

I'm guilty as charged for taking Chen for granted. I knew she played well in big games for Princeton, but boy her aggressiveness and fearlessness really helped us win this game. With Shade and Azzi not providing offense beyond Paige and Sarah, here timely 3 point plays were monumental at crucial points in the game. For those of us who worry about getting talented players from the portal and how that would affect the existing roster, I think its time to consider that we stack the roster as much as possible, because that gives the coaching staff the ability to put in the hot hand or take out someone who isn't playing well. I think what's been the secret sauce sort of speak for SC is Dawn is not afraid to get everyone she can, and by doing so on any given night the probability that she can't find the right combo on the flow goes down significantly. That's why I'm in the mindset of can't have enough talent. Just the the NFL, can't have enough good pass rushers and DBs.

 

[JBK]

Jana needs to work on some fundamentals- footwork, positioning, keeping the ball high, boxing out, and she needs to stop dribbling in the paint before taking a shot. I’d like to see her use the backboard instead of flipping the ball towards the hoop, too

Will need her height on Friday

 

[Bone Dog]

But those are related, right?
Im sure those 3s were more open because LSU was concentrating on clogging the post to contain Betts.

It's all an integrated process. Folks got on Geno for leaving Azzi in when she wasn't hitting, completely neglecting that her presence spreads the floor, making it harder for USC to guard Paige, Sarah, and Chen. To consider one person or play in isolation ignores the larger game.

This is so true. It surprises me to see how many fans don't notice this.

 

[AnonChoice]

If you really meant "no sour grapes," then you wouldn't havent written the rest of what you said.
Geez Louise, we won!

Foul calls were ridiculous.