The post players needed to do more than rebound - they needed to defend and work within the offense. Since the goal was to get Azzi open, do Amari and Piath know enough about the motion offense for the pick and roll or give and go? Can they pass well? Can they switch on defense?
You’re 100% right.
But UCONN only allowed them 22 shots from 3. Your defense would encourage the 68% to continue with even more shots. from 3.
If I'm not mistaken, Centerstream and Vowelguy, the discussion was about worst beatings for UConn, and someone noted the bad loss to Oregon. My question, 'which time?' would seem valid, since the Huskies have lost badly to Oregon twice in recent seasons. Correct?
They didn't have ONO who is essential, eh?
But this thread is about our current team and season. So your question does not seem valid, to me at least.
You call that effort? Look at the stats. We were out rebounded 37-21 yet they didn't have a player taller than 6'-1" and we had one 6'-3" and one 6'-5". On the offensive glass they got 12 and we got 4. What is necessary to get defensive rebounds to prevent offensive rebounds from the other team? Boxing out which takes effort. How about the loose balls? How about the 4 offensive rebounds in a row? It's called hustle which takes effort. If we had the effort as you posit, then why was the last quarter so different from the first 3? Look at the scoring in the 3rd quarter. That was lack of effort plain and simple. We took 5 more shots in the fourth quarter due to effort and hustle and defense. At a 40% FG clip, that's 4 more points a quarter for the first 3 and we win by 9 on that stat alone. They woke up in the fourth quarter, got the ball to Azzi and played good, energetic defense which is effort with a capital E but it was too late. There is no spin to put on this to call it something it wasn't. It was the most un-UCONN game I have seen in memory and unfortunately no excuses can spin that performance into anything other than what it was.
As bad as the defense was can you imagine Deberry or Piath trying to guard perimeter players or players that cut off screens
Well said
Exactly
Okay, I could go with that, although there were references to other pre-'21-22 season games. Oh, well, not that important.
Well some people have trouble with belief.
Agree, but I look at this as more of a Geno issue. Muhl is the best point guard we have at the moment. She plays at full speed the entire game but sometimes does not match up well against quick players or certain defenses. Was loose with the ball early in the game and her inability to drive or create her own offense really hurt in the 4th quarter. Geno knew injuries happen and did not recruit another point guard so hard to criticism Muhl when she plays as hard as possible but gets outmatched. I die with every loss but try to stop worrying about the season and hope to see the true Huskie team in the playoffs.
We always get the most focus and best game from every team, but we have seen some of the best competitive coaching this year that I remember.
With our offensive sets and limited rosters we may be a much easier read for other coaches. If these coaches can stop one or two players or get them in early foul trouble like Edwards was they play five against 3. There are many more metrics and analysis done these days, more specialized coaching etc. Times are changing. We have to as well.
While I have not been on the "Geno has to play DeBerry or Paith," bandwagon, this would have been an ideal time to give one or both a shot. Having two shot blockers like DeBerry and Edwards in at the same time would have stopped the drives and reduced the ability to pull the UConn guards inside, allowing so many open 3 pointers. Conversely, on offense, UConn would have had a major advantage going to the boards, causing the Vill. guards to have to help out more and opening up UConn for more 1st half 3-pointers . Dorka tried to fill both roles, but in a physical game, she doesn't seem to have the frame or strength. Just a thought - always easy to second guess.