USF Postgame Thread

[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.