USF Postgame Thread

[BBallF]

Watched a replay of the first half again this morning before work. It really struck me — like I hadn’t being paying attention before — just how quickly the ball moves even in the half court offense. It seems like a lot of it is Sarah, who is a passing genius. But KK and Kayleigh and Azzi can be really quick passers, and even Blanca sometimes.

The contrast to USF’s offense was really stunning. They looked like they were stuck in the mud most of the time next to UConn. It wasn’t just that we made great plays. It was mainly that even ordinary plays just happened at such a pace and USF couldn’t keep up.

I fully expect the passing game to get even quicker and crisper as the season progresses. The closest comparison I can think of is the Gabby-Phee-KLS teams, which seemed to set a high bar for passing.

Last year's team passed great also. The ball just zipped around last night. With our defense, it is very hard to zip anything. They are so tenacious.

 

[Rowdy831]

Sarah and Azzi have been remarkable so far this season. KK though is the leader and when she is in the game UConn can score whenever she wants them to score. I would like to see better play when she is on the bench from the guards but they are so good it really isn't going to matter. In time I think Fisher and Blanca will pass up some players and be the keys to a long long run.

 

[Longtime fan]

Some postgame thoughts on the USF game.

• I suspect Jose was happy to watch the game from the stands tonight. ☺️
• There may not be a team in the country who can run their offense effectively against UConn. Tonight, the Husky defense was absolutely suffocating, forcing USF into 20 turnovers, while holding the Bulls to just 51 points on 37% shooting.
• When you lose two outstanding pg’s to the W, you might expect to stumble out of the gate next season. But the Huskies have barely missed a beat with their ball and player movement on offense, as KK, Sarah, Azzi & Ash orchestrate the offense with the newbies, youngsters and transfers all getting up to speed quickly. UConn is currently 2nd in the nation in assists per game, 3rd in A/TO ratio while averaging almost 90 ppg.
• For the 2nd game in a row, the Husky 3-pt marksmen lit it up from downtown as UConn went 9/23 with Azzi, amazingly, going 0-4 😮.
• It’s difficult to overstate just how important KK is to UConn’s strong 1st qtr starts this season, whether she is terrorizing the opposing pg on defense or pushing the ball up in transition and dropping dimes on offense. If she gets into foul trouble, the Huskies don’t lose much in Kayleigh.
• Everyone tends to focus on Azzi’s offense. Can you blame them? But Azzi has become a relentless on-ball defender, who’s strength, quickness and footwork are as good as any guard in WBB.
• Serah worked much harder tonight to establish low post position, before the ball arrived. As a result, when the ball arrived, she just had to turn and score. I sense Jamelle, the post whisperer, at work. 😎
• Blanca continues to impress whether she’s knocking down 3’s, driving to the basket like a freight train or locking down opponents on D.
• I really like the minutes that Allie is giving the Huskies off the bench.
• Sarah with 14 pts, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers.....ho hum.......
• Next up the Blue Demons at Gampel on a very special day when Sue's #10 will be retired.

I just want to make an observation about an as yet unheralded bench player. Miss Fisher (#7). She seems like an unpolished, yet bigger and faster ( is that even possible ?) version of KK. We have a lot to look forward top. And every time she gets on the court, she does some things to suggest she will be hard to keep on the bench. I think we got another good one.

 

[donalddoowop]

? Everyone is one of those people who post based on what we think.

Sometimes some are based on what we know.

 

[donalddoowop]

I saw most of her FIBA tournament games for Egypt that were available and I know what I saw. It doesn’t matter what she did against undersized European/ Middle Eastern teenagers, this is D1 WCBB. It looks like Auriemma agrees with my assessment of her current abilities. People can make all the excuses they want for her but if she wants to play more she’s got a lot of work and improvement to do.

Caliber of opponent has nothing to do with what moves a player has. She has the moves. Caliber of opponents comes into play in whether or not a player can execute those moves.

 

[JRRRJ]

I'm hoping CD finds the basket more consistently, but with the talent on this team, playing time is not easy to get. Strong is not our PG, but I think she is our field general, on the floor. K9 helps balance KK, by being ready to make the change without many problems.
I'm thinking, by March, Blanca will be even better...Azzi could have shot better, but sometimes all shooters get a cold streak, she always comes back.

Even if her shot doesn't return to days-of-yore levels, Caroline has performed well in her few minutes so far.
Second on the team a number of per-40 categories: Total RB, assists. Leads the team in fewest fouls per 40, A/TO (5.00!) She moves well and does the talking in the huddles.

 

[Cuango]

Jana started last season after the first few games and helped lead the team to a NC. Now, she comes back this season and has to prove herself again. If Geno concentrated on working with her as much as he is with Serah, I believe she will prosper. She has the footwork, moves, a mid-range jumper, a three-point shot and a jump hook shot. If her teammates knew ow to properly pass the ball into the post the way they do Sarah, she would be more efficient on offense. UConn is going to need her skills in order to win a NC.

Not sure why this was so poorly received? I too would like to see Jana get more minutes and I believe we will need her. I still believe in her and think she will be a big time player for us before her time here is done!

 

[BobbyJ]

Caliber of opponent has nothing to do with what moves a player has. She has the moves. Caliber of opponents comes into play in whether or not a player can execute those moves.

So you're saying she'd be great if Auriemma could schedule some HS level teams to play? I'm not going to pick the kid's game apart on a public forum, I'll just repeat that she's got a lot of work to do to become a consistent impact player.

 

[1974yankees]

I am OK with small players and no "big guy" in the middle. Give me 6-8 skilled basketball players and we will have another championship.

I count at least 8 of them on this team right now... I remember some of Dee's teams didn't really have a legitimate big man/women.

Last years team didn't.

Besides we have Sarah and Serah...

Do we need a 7 footer that can't move to win? I will take the 5 foot 6 inch kid that goes right through her...

 

[ccwarrior]

First off, we could have easily put up 100 plus on USF but thankfully Coach is not that kind of coach. Secondly, I love that we have a team with multiple scoring options on the floor. Such a balanced attack is hard to stop. Thirdly, I love the ball movement by the team. The way the ball was swinging from corner, wing, top, wing, to opposite corner, it was a thing of beauty! Those passes were sharp and, on the money, for the most part.

Great win!! Go, Huskies!!

We also could have dropped a 100+ on them if we made more bunnies😉 The effort to get to the basket is great, but these are lay-ins.

 

[WiseWillie]

I am surprised the SEC and B1G schools don’t just come and try to buy some of UConn’s players. Make them NIL deals they can’t refuse and UConn can’t match. I suppose it is only a matter of time until that happens.

Great review. I was lucky to be at the game last night having flown down from Jersey and had floor seats. It is a great venue to watch a game.

Our defense up close is almost terrifying. KK actually fakes her man on defense repeatedly as though she is going to try to deflect the ball and makes it impossible for the offense to get started. We do not lose very much at that position when Kayleigh comes in either, she is a very opportunistic player both on defense and offense.

In the pre-game warm ups, USF was deadly from the arc at one point making 12 in a row by various players. Once the game started, it was a different story and it had to do with the defense.

Azzi is an extraordinary defender and very underrated. She shuts down whoever she guards. She is smart, quick and strong. Sarah is just so impressive on defense. Her timing on deflections and steals is precise and merciless. Her diving onto the floor when we were up 35 is just so telling of who she is and how we play.

Jana tried out the floor also and our bench went crazy when she did. I thought she had a solid game last night. As many BYers have stopped mentioning her I will say this. She is much improved over last year. More athletic, better footwork, but still has to learn to set the pick and not move. When she does do it right and allows the dribbler or cutter to do the work, it is a dream pick because of its width and strength.

I was so impressed with how much we communicate with each other as a team. KK and Kayleigh direct traffic mostly on offense but so does Azzi and Sarah. On defense, I heard "switch" all the time an they execute it perfectly.

Blanca is something else. She is long, physically powerful, hugely talented and almost seems to be going at half speed. If you noticed, she reduced her speed on her patented spin move by about 50%, no doubt through coaching. It was under control and that move and the nifty drop pass by Sarah, were probably the best looking plays of the night.

Talk about the effects of coaching, Serah used her left hand and went to her left better than she has all year so far and looked really comfortable out there asking for the ball.

Very sad seeing both Morgan and Ice in warm ups and knowing how frustrating it must be. I was struck with how tall Morgan is. I just didn't think of her that way while seeing her from a distance or on TV. I also really feel for Caroline. She had a good "floor and glue" game and tries to get everyone involved, especially Ay last night, but her shot is just not dropping and she passed up an 8 foot pull up. As for the 0-4 from Azzi from the arc, it looked like she was just trying to aim her shot instead of just letting it fly. I have seen. that at times in the past with her so it is just a temporary thing.

Lots more thoughts and observations but it is was just an incredibly enjoyable experience. One last item. We had our UCONN tops on but for floor seats you can't wear opponents gear. Good idea as one of our most illustrious alums noted. When UCONN came out of the tunnel right before the game began, I thought I was at Gampel it was so loud! We are everywhere and in droves.

I didn't think that I could ever like any team better than last year's but I have to say after watching them up close, I honestly love this team. They are a sheer joy to watch. They are focused, workmanlike, fearless, and so supportive of each other that you just are in awe. We are up by 30 and we play like we are down by 5. Yup, that's UCONN.

Great review BBallF. "We are everywhere and in droves" could be a new motto. Congrats on flying from Jersey to support the Huskies. There is nothing like floor seats to see and feel the action.

 

[Doctor G]

I just want to make an observation about an as yet unheralded bench player. Miss Fisher (#7). She seems like an unpolished, yet bigger and faster ( is that even possible ?) version of KK. We have a lot to look forward top. And every time she gets on the court, she does some things to suggest she will be hard to keep on the bench. I think we got another good one.

Fisher can ball. A long, smooth, penetrate-and-dish PG, she is already one of the best 1-on-1 offensive talents on the team as well as an excellent passer. She currently plays well below her potential on defense but I bet she is getting coached up every day. Big Fish will continue to compete for playing time.

 

[BBallF]

And Kayleigh looks even better with the starters.

She does and had no problem directing traffic. However, KK is probably the best defensive PG in the country. She at times shuts down an entire offense because the opposing PG can’t start their offense.

 

[BBallF]

Interesting game. We won the first half by 32 and the second half by 2.

Sarah and Blanca both missed multiple baskets at the rim, and Azzi missed a bunch of shots that she almost always makes. We could have won by 50. 😃

Sarah had a "routine" double-double. She's goooooood!

Serah had several nice moves and maybe no bad plays at all.

Kayleigh showed energy and shot-making in Q4.

Does Blanca's body run at a different tempo than everyone else on earth?

Who had this on his/her bingo card--Azzi Fudd making a real run at Defensive Player of the Year?

UConn is now 143-0 against American Conference teams. This is not a typo.

Two interesting questions. About Blanca’s tempo? The answer is yes. She seems like she is playing a pick up game at the playground and is almost bored. Then bang a burst. She is so long and so athletic it is entirely deceptive . As for Azzi, her defense is off the charts. As great as KK is, Azzi is a complete shutdown. She was playing their featured player and you would never know that.

 

[BBallF]

I just want to make an observation about an as yet unheralded bench player. Miss Fisher (#7). She seems like an unpolished, yet bigger and faster ( is that even possible ?) version of KK. We have a lot to look forward top. And every time she gets on the court, she does some things to suggest she will be hard to keep on the bench. I think we got another good one.

She is a very physical freshman point guard, is long, and has a very smooth and confident handle. Her drive moves are very crisp and strong. We definitely got a good one. If as oldude perceptively points out she were on a mid level team she would not only be starting but probably averaging double figures.

 

[hoophuskee]

I am still concerned and disappointed that Jana now seems to be in the cleanup crew, but it appears that ship has sailed. I wonder where Ice will fit into the post rotation when she becomes healthy.

It's also clear that Geno likes the "small" lineup with Sarah at the 5 and probably Blanca at the "4" (more or less). That's no problem against most teams, or even against top teams for some number of minutes. It certainly will give those teams major problems when they are on defense, since UConn can play 5-out and have perimeter scoring threats at every position. But I think Geno recognizes that it is not a 40-minute answer against big post players like Okot, Betts, or Reagan Beers. The biggest problem against those opponents will be rebounding -- Sarah can't be expected to shoulder that responsibility by herself and still be effective for 40 minutes at the offensive end.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned that South Florida was dominating in offensive rebounds until the 4th quarter. Then Jana came into the game and got 4 rebounds (3 offensive) in just 12 minutes, still mostly against USF's starters. Meanwhile Serah Williams got only 3 rebounds (all defensive) in 17 minutes, and Blanca got 2 rebounds (both defensive) in 19 minutes. To me, it is fairly clear that the best pure rebounder on the UConn roster against other big opponents is Jana. That is why I think it is important to the team that she work her way out of the cleanup crew before the postseason tournaments.

I noticed on the last game day thread you had said similar things. I don't agree with your view when you were being critical of Geno in regard to not playing Jana much and either mentioned or implied that she earned from last year. IMO Geno has always earned more. Geno plays his best players big or small. That's It's mostly small. .Also, I 100% agree with your implied point that Serah and Blanca don't nearly rebound well for their size. We have to know he is going to be blasting them for rebounding but I agree with Geno's philosohy of playing your best and make the other team match up to you. Nor do I agree with you that "the ship has salied" for Jana. This is early December. Heck, last year how many people were thinking UCONN was going to win it all after the Tenn game?

As a result, I see at this moment Blanca has an efg% of 69%. And her 3pt shooting is 62.5%. And Allie's efg is 66.7%. Her 3pt shooting is 42.9%. How can there be any justification of not playing these players when they're doing so well? For the 4/5 spots, why wouldn't it make better sense to keep pushing Serah and Blanca to be tougher? I agree that their rebounding and toughness is a huge issue. But I don't agree with not playing your best either.

Speaking of "earned" I'm sure when Geno was recruiting players like Allie and Ashlynn for example, he spoke of minutes being earned. IMO you don't walk away from this. You try to see if you can get the better players to improve on their weaknesses. Incidnetally Allie was ranked in H/s near Swords. ANd from what I saw there wee times Swrods would be guarding Sarah even in 2nd half when Michigan at times wasn't in zone I think?

 

[donalddoowop]

So you're saying she'd be great if Auriemma could schedule some HS level teams to play? I'm not going to pick the kid's game apart on a public forum, I'll just repeat that she's got a lot of work to do to become a consistent impact player.

No, I am saying the post you made was wrong about what moves she has or does not have. In order for Jana to become a consistent impact player, she has to get the opportunity to be that. That is all I will say on the subject.

 

[Bigboote]

I'd noticed in an earlier game and verified in this one that Shade, who gives full effort running down the court, is not one of the first back on defense after a UConn missed shot. This appears to be by design: She has more offensive rebounds than defensive, and in fact has more than anyone other than the bigs. She seems to be a designated offensive rebounder, and Rebecca pointed out during the game that Shade is an exceptional offensive rebounder for her size.

Her rebounding goes well beyond the numbers, too. I've noticed since her first game that on defense, she always puts a body on somebody. I've noticed this year more and more that she's very good at tipping rebounds to teammates, and also for offensive rebounds, tapping a ball off of an opponent as the ball's going out of bounds. I think she's responsible for 2-3 rebounds every game that she doesn't corral herself.

 

[hoophuskee]

She had them before she got to UConn. Go review her games before she came to UConn. You are one of those posters who post based on what you think.

Mostly Everybody posts "what they think." You "think" what you saw has in a non-USA environment has some sort of higher value than what others "think."

 

[Rocket009]

? Everyone is one of those people who post based on what we think.

Except for the ones who post before they think...

 

[mainerhuski]

Geno said in post game something like "Yeah, the first half was really good, so good thing we played the 2nd half the way we did."

I take that to mean things did not look good/great, and there will be some good film session on things to work on. A lot of nice individual things. I agree the team is continuing to gel and the core group is really separating themselves from the rest. Sadly it looks like Jana is no longer part of the core group.

It seems Geno has settled on KK, Ash, Azzi, Sarah, Serah, Kayleigh, Blanca, and Allie.

• I was encouraged to see Serah look a little better. She seems to be getting a little better each game. Her positioning before getting the ball was much improved from last game. Maybe Geno had an "intense film session with her"? LOL (a-la Blanca)
• The announcers kept talking about Sarah as the most complete player in the country. They are totally right. I continue to worry that her PPG needs to stay closer to 20 than 10, and for several games it's been closer to 10.
• Rebecca said the 2 top contenders for NPOY are Azzi and Sarah. Homerism? Perhaps, but not wrong IMHO. Meaning they are 2 of the very best in the country. Not even sure both will be 1st team AA as voters tend to like the "shiny" which usually means gaudy scoring stats, and Azzi may be the odd (wo)man out when the end of year comes, but we are a LONG way away from that. She just looks so smooth out there, even when her shot is off.
• KK and Ash - man just so solid
• Blanca is up and down, but IMHO she's one of the most impressive freshmen in the country. Before the season, some of us tried to guess where her ranking would be if she were ranked by HG, ASGR, etc. I believe she would easily be top 5, maybe top 2-3. Her potential is off the charts.
• Allie and Kayleigh continue to be really solid

The non core group looked pretty good, even if the 2nd half was an adventure and not so great. Yanna looks smooth, Jana battles, Kelis is going to be really good, and we get to see Caroline!

I really hope to see Ayanna earning more minutes backing up Serah.

 

[HuskyNan]

I'd noticed in an earlier game and verified in this one that Shade, who gives full effort running down the court, is not one of the first back on defense after a UConn missed shot. This appears to be by design: She has more offensive rebounds than defensive, and in fact has more than anyone other than the bigs. She seems to be a designated offensive rebounder, and Rebecca pointed out during the game that Shade is an exceptional offensive rebounder for her size.

Her rebounding goes well beyond the numbers, too. I've noticed since her first game that on defense, she always puts a body on somebody. I've noticed this year more and more that she's very good at tipping rebounds to teammates, and also for offensive rebounds, tapping a ball off of an opponent as the ball's going out of bounds. I think she's responsible for 2-3 rebounds every game that she doesn't corral herself.

She really skied for one rebound during the USF game. The crowd went ooooh, it was so surprising

 

[RockyMTblue2]

USF coach saying they have played tough teams including UCLA this year, but UConn's defense just a whole 'nuther level. Can't simulate it.