UTSA Postgame Thread

[NYFan]

I've seen a lot of comments about how UConn didn't "destroy" their opponent by as much as other top seeds destroyed their opponents. I saw an article about how South Carolina had the 6th biggest margin of victory today (69 points) in women's NCAA basketball tournament history.
No. 1 South Carolina posts one of the biggest blowouts in women's NCAA tournament history in win over No. 16 Southern
This was a year after they set a team record for point differential in a tournament game (60 points). What was interesting is how the article said how none of the winning teams in the five biggest margins of victory went on to win the national title! (UConn actually holds the record for the largest margin of victory while winning a national title).

So it's not necessarily "how badly you defeat your opponent" that counts...

 

[AzzisBraids]

Everyone was off at times today and they still won by a wide margin. That should be scary for the field. I won't say much more because I'd like move on to the Syracuse match-up.

 

[hoophuskee]

UCONN looks scary-good. They held the opposing team to 14 points at halftime. The only way the opposing team could do anything was when UCONN pulled both the press and their dogged man-to-man defense, - and 4 of the 5 starters were mostly out. UCONN's zone is not a core defense either. Probably did it so not to embarrass the other team to a degree, and to save themselves a bit for game 2.

UCONN's defense is just spectacular. We'll see eventually how it can impact the other top teams frm E8 onward.

Overall a very strong game.

 

[HuskyNan]

Lol

 

[HopJim]

I understand that some day your 3's do not fall but there is no excuse for missing 41% of your FREE throw.

Good point but at this stage of the season, unlikely to be able to coach up too much better free throw form. This will likely factor into Geno's substitution patterns should games get tight. Not too concerned since starters have come through this season when needed.

 

[HopJim]

Serah started out scoring and then was taken out. Maybe that affected her play after she came back in. Jana did not play long enough to make a difference.

While far from perfect, Serah's offense has greatly improved the past 10 games or so. Several games where she scored 5-7+ points in Q1, then got taken out for significant periods of time. When returned to the court, she often was playing with new lineup. While I hate to see players who are hot taken out, usually this means Blanca comes in and often performs well per yesterday's outstanding effort.

 

[my2cents]

I think I have posted this numerous times through the years that too many BYer's just don't understand.
Geno has absolutely NO interest in beating teams by 70+ points.
He doesn't press in the second halves, he takes his first line players out in the 3rd quarter , not to return.
His third line players play significant minutes in the 4th quarter, where they play a zone. (UConn never plays a zone)
So, all you people that try to make significant points about the team or game after Geno calls off his ladies, please don't.
You are hurting my brain.

 

[HuskyNan]

I think I have posted this numerous times through the years that too many BYer's just don't understand.
Geno has absolutely NO interest in beating teams by 70+ points.
He doesn't press in the second halves, he takes his first line players out in the 3rd quarter , not to return.
His third line players play significant minutes in the 4th quarter, where they play a zone. (UConn never plays a zone)
So, all you people that try to make significant points about the team or game after Geno calls off his ladies, please don't.
You are hurting my brain.

And I keep reminding people that teams only need to get a win to move on, even if it’s ugly or low scoring margin. Both of us are going to be ignored

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

So the reason why i feel this game was quite good is that it showed we have many scorers, who, when given the chance, succeed. Foul trouble will happen, and scorers will go cold. We have the players who can fill the gaps. I'm totally fine with this game. In a tight game, let's be real.. we're not playing zone, it's going to be full on in-you-face. Ash, K9 and Blanca showed we have few soft spots to try to exploit.

The Top 9 (with the handicapping on Azzi, KK and the cold shooting (it happens, but no shots were forced)) did well in an adhoc stress-test game:

• Check out the Per 40 +/- (MOV pace) for Winning Time Rotations &1, Pocket Bridge Rotations &1 and Top Bridge Rotations &1, in traditional and small ball rotations.
• The Per 40 +/- pace means the MOV could have been a lot worse — the starters only played 12 minutes.
• Geno and CD’s in-game choices were able to use the adversity to get Kayleigh, Allie, Blanca and Jana experience being the cavalry for their first NCAAT together.
• It was nice to have Caroline experience being in an NCAAT, injury-free, in her last go-around.
• &1 Rotation Stint Types explainer.

 

[huskeynut]

I think I have posted this numerous times through the years that too many BYer's just don't understand.
Geno has absolutely NO interest in beating teams by 70+ points.
He doesn't press in the second halves, he takes his first line players out in the 3rd quarter , not to return.
His third line players play significant minutes in the 4th quarter, where they play a zone. (UConn never plays a zone)
So, all you people that try to make significant points about the team or game after Geno calls off his ladies, please don't.
You are hurting my brain.

BINGO!!!!!!!

This should be known by all UConn fans. But we need to keep reminding them.

Thanks 2cents.

 

[jaydee602]

And I keep reminding people that teams only need to get a win to move on, even if it’s ugly or low scoring margin. Both of us are going to be ignored

I believe that Geno had no intention of embarrassing UTSA. He called off the full court press, went to a soft zone, & refused to play his starters in the 4th quarter depite their lack of playing time.
A 40+ point MOV was satisfying enough & UTSA left Storrs with a sense of pride. A win for everyone!

 

[oldude]

I believe that Geno had no intention of embarrassing UTSA. He called off the full court press, went to a soft zone, & refused to play his starters in the 4th quarter depite their lack of playing time.
A 40+ point MOV was satisfying enough & UTSA left Storrs with a sense of pride. A win for everyone!

Geno also has a long and respectful relationship with Karen Aston from her days as HC at TX. Here again, Geno has no interest in embarrassing a fellow, longtime HC.

 

[Sun Dog]

Would love to have the chance to attend practice today. What do the coaches focus on when the next game is tomorrow? And, they are all one and done from now on. Great comfort in knowing we have a coaching staff for whom this is familiar ground. The Cuse has some talent. Would have preferred Iowa State, but we should “survive and advance”. Go Huskies!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I suspect they work on any scout complexities as a walk through, a light workout, and lots of ball tossing at the hoop.

 

[oldude]

Would love to have the chance to attend practice today. What do the coaches focus on when the next game is tomorrow? And, they are all one and done from now on. Great comfort in knowing we have a coaching staff for whom this is familiar ground. The Cuse has some talent. Would have preferred Iowa State, but we should “survive and advance”. Go Huskies!

UConn has this process down to a science. The “scout” on Syracuse was done before the weekend, revised shortly after the Orange beat the Cyclones. The scout was rolled out to the team last night and reinforced today and tomorrow. Practices will be relatively light involving stretching, shooting drills and implementing the game plan for tomorrow’s game.

I have always believed that in order to beat UConn during the tournament, you better beat them during the 1st game of the weekend, when you have more time to prepare, because no coaching staff does a better job of preparation on a single day’s rest than Geno and his staff.

 

[Bigboote]

I disagree that we shouldn’t be playing bench players. You never know what will happen in the tournament and it’s good for every player to be prepared.

I agree. UConn had two players sitting out much of the first half with three fouls. Personally, I'd rather have subs in than have Azzi foul out in the first half.

Also the team will have four games in something like ten days. The players all always have nagging injuries. This was the first and likely easiest game of the tournament, let the players who will probably be playing 30-35 minutes in later rounds rest. Let the players who might not have meaningful minutes in the Final Four get some minutes on network TV. I would've liked to see Ayanna and Caroline score, but enjoyed seeing them out with Kelis in the last five minutes. I really really hope Patterson comes back next year.

One thing to add: Did anyone notice that Ashlynn was much more aggressive offensively when Azzi was out for much of the first half? She does what her team needs, and they needed scoring while their scorer was on the bench.

 

[Bigboote]

Would love to have the chance to attend practice today. What do the coaches focus on when the next game is tomorrow? And, they are all one and done from now on. Great comfort in knowing we have a coaching staff for whom this is familiar ground. The Cuse has some talent. Would have preferred Iowa State, but we should “survive and advance”. Go Huskies!

Geno is generous allowing people to attend his practices. Not THAT generous, though. This is when he really makes his secret sauce.

 

[jaydee602]

Geno also has a long and respectful relationship with Karen Aston from her days as HC at TX. Here again, Geno has no interest in embarrassing a fellow, longtime HC.

Good call! And I'm sure she appreciates his respect.

 

[jaydee602]

If UCONN beats Syracuse, they will play in the Sweet Sixteen at Fort Worth vs the winner of tomorrow's Maryland/ North Carolina game.
The Terps play the Tar Heels Sunday @ Noon on ESPN.

Maryland/ North Carolina are battling each other until the end.
Who would UCONN fans want the Huskies to play if they beat Syracuse?

 

[oldude]

Maryland/ North Carolina are battling each other until the end.
Who would UCONN fans want the Huskies to play if they beat Syracuse?

Let’s beat Syracuse first. After that, it really doesn’t matter. Neither team can hang with UConn.

 

[Longtime fan]

The only thing I would say is that if you shoot FT like that, you will lose one of these games when it matters.

Sarah, by my count, boinked three foul shots. Probably equal to her total misses for the season.

 

[jaydee602]

With a win vs. Syracuse, UCONN will play North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen. NC beat Maryland, 74-66.
Maryland missed FOURTEEN of 31 foul shots.
They were 3 for 23 from three point range. Saylor Poffenbarger was 0 for 10 on 3 point shots.

 

[pvdoggy]

With a win vs. Syracuse, UCONN will play North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen. NC beat Maryland, 74-66.
Maryland missed FOURTEEN of 31 foul shots.
They were 3 for 23 from three point range. Saylor Poffenbarger was 0 for 10 on 3 point shots.

My point exactly about UConn missing all those FT yesterday. One of these games, it will come back to bite them

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I am always most fidgety about this first week and Tuesday to whenever is excruciating. I appreciate having Tuesday to whenever though. It may be worse when we are favored by quite a bit.

 

[Woof]

Watching UCLA right now makes me feel a lot better about UConn’s game.

They won by 53. LSU is beating Texas Tech by more than 50 in round 2. We look like the 5th best team right now. I really wish Geno would play Serah and Blanca more and the end of bench players zero at this point. We need them to be as sharp as possible against these teams. LSU has a better offense than us. If they are allowed to foul us, it evens up the defenses.

We are better than last year but these teams are A LOT better than they were last year. We need the players that HAVE to play against them to be their absolute best.

 

[BRS24]

They won by 53. LSU is beating Texas Tech by more than 50 in round 2. We look like the 5th best team right now. I really wish Geno would play Serah and Blanca more and the end of bench players zero at this point. We need them to be as sharp as possible against these teams. LSU has a better offense than us. If they are allowed to foul us, it evens up the defenses.

We are better than last year but these teams are A LOT better than they were last year. We need the players that HAVE to play against them to be their absolute best.

I wouldn't go by score as the only metric. There are things that I'm betting Geno wants to see in each game. A lot would probably have been different if Azzi and KK hadn't gotten 3 fouls in the first half, along with Sarah and Azzi not playing much if at all in the 4th Q. Anyone can run up the score, however, can they execute their offense when it's needed?

 

[hrmancst]

They won by 53. LSU is beating Texas Tech by more than 50 in round 2. We look like the 5th best team right now. I really wish Geno would play Serah and Blanca more and the end of bench players zero at this point. We need them to be as sharp as possible against these teams. LSU has a better offense than us. If they are allowed to foul us, it evens up the defenses.

We are better than last year but these teams are A LOT better than they were last year. We need the players that HAVE to play against them to be their absolute best.

It's great that Geno is getting feedback from basketball experts who obviously know what he is doing wrong. Hopefully he reads this nonsense (er.. make that 'these well thought out criticisms') and changes his obviously poorly thought out coaching strategies