Villanova Postgame Thread

[oldude]

Some thoughts on the Villanova game:

• The Huskies dismantled yet another conference foe. While some BY’ers may question the level of competition in the BE, it might be time to recognize that this UConn team is deep, talented, exceptionally well-coached and starting to play up to their considerable potential.
• Once again UConn exploded out of the gate as the team appears to be fully embracing Geno’s simplified offense. The Huskies ball and player movement is effortless, efficient and effective…...an absolute thing of beauty.
• One element of that simplified offense is to run the hell out of the 2-man game with Sarah & Paige. They play off each other like they have been doing it their entire lives, and they have only played together for 18 games.
• Paige was on a heat check from the opening tip, scoring 14 pts on 6/7 shooting in the 1st qtr. For the game, the best player in WBB had 21 pts, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals in approximately 25 minutes on the court.
• This was the most aggressive I have seen Kaitlyn on offense since she was at Princeton. She was a BIG-TIME SCORER at Princeton, and when she plays like she did tonight, Kaitlyn adds yet another scorer to UConn’s lethal offense, which must be terrifying to opponents.
• Azzi had an uncharacteristically ordinary shooting game, but my goodness is she tenacious on defense!!!
• Every game Jana does a few more things on the court that makes you feel that she’s starting to get it, and that she’ll become a force by March.
• UConn put up a bunch of ridiculous numbers tonight. Here are my favorites: 26 assists, 8 turnovers, 3.25 A/TO.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Player of the Game: Paige Bueckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jcoton56]

No let downs, no hesitation. very fluid top to bottom!

 

[Kaizen]

Good game. Everyone played.
Paige, Sarah and Kaitlyn scored 21, 22 and 17 each.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[pghhuskydoc]

All gas, no brakes. The team is playing loose and free and really syncing with each other. Kaitlyn Chen really coming on as the PG.
That was a joy to watch.

 

[Bone Dog]

The starters rolled over Villanova like they posed no greater obstacle than a paperclip would to a Mercedes. And Allie got the honor of hanging a 100 point game on them. And the team shot 65%, and 53% from 3. OMG!

Paige and Sarah were awesome as usual. Paige was 1 assist and 2 rebounds from a triple double. And Kaitlyn had that breakout scoring night we’ve all been hoping for: 17pts on 7-8 shooting and 2-3 from outside the arc. She looked so confident! It was a wonderful thing to watch.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[maxw]

Just imagine one more year of Paige, Azzi, Sarah, and the supporting cast, how great would the chemistry be! It was joyous to watch the team play tonight.

 

[HuskyNan]

Some thoughts on the Villanova game:

• The Huskies dismantled yet another conference foe. While some BY’ers may question the level of competition in the BE, it might be time to recognize that this UConn team is deep, talented, exceptionally well-coached and starting to play up to their considerable potential.
• Once again UConn exploded out of the gate as the team appears to be fully embracing Geno’s simplified offense. The Huskies ball and player movement is effortless, efficient and effective…...an absolute thing of beauty.
• One element of that simplified offense is to run the hell out of the 2-man game with Sarah & Paige. They play off each other like they have been doing it their entire lives, and they have only played together for 17 games.
• Paige was on a heat check from the opening tip, scoring 14 pts on 6/7 shooting in the 1st qtr. For the game, the best player in WBB had 21 pts, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals in approximately 25 minutes on the court.
• This was the most aggressive I have seen Kaitlyn on offense since she was at Princeton. She was a BIG-TIME SCORER at Princeton, and when she plays like she did tonight, Kaitlyn adds yet another scorer to UConn’s lethal offense, which must be terrifying to opponents.
• Azzi had an uncharacteristically ordinary shooting game, but my goodness is she tenacious on defense!!!
• Every game Jana does a few more things on the court that makes you feel that she’s starting to get it, and that she’ll become a force come March.
• UConn put up a bunch of ridiculous numbers tonight. Here are my favorites: 26 assists, 8 turnovers, 3.25 A/TO.

I’m giving Ice a shout out for playing more aggressively, going hard for rebounds, and upping her game at the right point in the season

 

[Tonyc]

We are coming together and it is be u tit ful. Oldude great analysis. How many teams can put up our numbers? Over 60% How many teams have a Big 3 like UConn? No Team has a Paige let alone a Paige Azzi and Sarah. Opponents are gonna have to control them and Im not sure they can even if we have an off game. Get out the cryin towels for our opponents. We can put up big numbers that no other team can put up NO Other Team

 

[yhun89]

Maddy Siegrist was in attendance to scout her future teammate, how nice of her

 

[WiseWillie]

View attachment 106423
View attachment 106424

All good stats for sure including the minutes distribution.

 

[EricLA]

I thought the offense was incredible.

Paige, Sarah, and this game Caitlyn. I loved the comment by Meg or Alan - that Geno challenged Cait to be more aggressive. If this is the Cait we can expect the rest of the year (with KK coming off the bench as the backup PG playing the way she has been), that bodes well for the team. Off shooting night for Azzi, but Cait picked up the "slack". And the chemistry between Paige and Sarah is off the charts.

I thought the post play was better. Both Jana and Ice found ways to contribute. Small but incremental improvements. On the flip side, off game for Morgan.

Also I LOVED how after a huge Q1, we had a really solid Q2, and there was no letup in Q3. Often we go into long lulls after a big quarter or half. Much improvement and that's great to see.

Defensively, it was good but not great. Nova averages only 65 PPG. They scored 57. Their leading scorer averages 15 PPG and she got that tonight. I think you always have to look for places to improve and that's what I saw tonight.

 

[Vowelguy]

Some thoughts on the Villanova game:

• The Huskies dismantled yet another conference foe. While some BY’ers may question the level of competition in the BE, it might be time to recognize that this UConn team is deep, talented, exceptionally well-coached and starting to play up to their considerable potential.

Great performance.
I just don't know how much to infer from playing a mediocre team. Top 20 teams are so much better defensively. I can't gauge how well this will translate. TN game will be instructive.

 

[Next 12]

As good a game that could be played. Uconn was sizzling for 3 quarters and we are almost there with the team being ready for the BIGGIES.; Kaitlen was a surprise with 17 points. Hope she keeps it up. Bring on the rest of the BE so our training sessions can continue. Paige is so ready with 21 points,7 rebounds and 8 assists. Aubrey got her rebounds with what little she was in. It was a standard Uconn win. GO FRESHMEN!!!! GO SOPHOMORES!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!

 

[Topdawg]

Great game overall. All players contributed and most scored points!

I would still like the team to take and make more 3 point shots. We will need that against teams that have size at the post. Glad to see Chen start to score. If Arnold and Shade can score a little more, we will have 6 players who can score double digits.

A strong defense coupled with a fast paced offense can get us deep into the NCAA tournament.

 

[Surly1]

Last season, I was impressed watching Madison Booker play. Her poor shooting performance against SC aside, she showed a high BB IQ. Then, along came Sarah. Is there anything this kid can't do on the court? The unspoken chemistry that has developed between her and Paige is an absolute joy to watch.

Speaking of Paige, tonight was a glimpse of what Paige can/will do in the WNBA. She just knows how to exploit the opposition, whether it's her passing, her killer pull-up middy, or firing in a 3-pointer. When she is surrounded by other players who "get it", her game flair comes alive. This is the Paige we have loved watching since her freshman year.

In her last 6 games since the USC game, she hasn't taken more than 12 shots. Unlike other star players, Paige does not get her points during garbage time.

Lastly, kudos to Kaitlyn Chen. She's athletic, ferocious and quite a capable scorer unleashed. So happy for her that she was feeling it tonight.

Gotta love the direction the team is moving in!

 

[Bone Dog]

Great performance.
I just don't know how much to infer from playing a mediocre team. Top 20 teams are so much better defensively. I can't gauge how well this will translate. TN game will be instructive.

This is a good point. I’d add that Webber, Burke and Carter could probably make the cut as rotation players on more than a few top-20 teams, and Jasmine Bascoe might be more than a rotation player on one or two of them. But the rest of the Villanova roster would not make those teams. Playing Villanova is not all that comparable to playing the starters on a top-20 team.

 

[EricLA]

Great game overall. All players contributed and most scored points!

I would still like the team to take and make more 3 point shots. We will need that against teams that have size at the post. Glad to see Chen start to score. If Arnold and Shade can score a little more, we will have 6 players who can score double digits.

A strong defense coupled with a fast paced offense can get us deep into the NCAA tournament.

UCONN was 9-17 from 3. Last game they were 17-32, but what more do you want? We made 8 less 3's today but scored 4 more points hitting 100 for only the 2nd time this season...

 

[DennieEddy]

Just imagine one more year of Paige, Azzi, Sarah, and the supporting cast, how great would the chemistry be! It was joyous to watch the team play tonight.

Well, maybe maxw: you can convince Paige & Azzi into it!!

 

[Zarathustra]

I’m giving Ice a shout out for playing more aggressively, going hard for rebounds, and upping her game at the right point in the season

ICE was 3/3 with 6 points and had a +/- of + 24 while playing only 11 minutes.
Another example of a Huskie "coming into her own" at a great time. Keep it
up ICE! I loved the two-pointer from the corner and soft touch in the paint.
Very Poised on defense.

 

[RoadMaster]

Swipe..

 

[huskeynut]

Enjoyable game to watch.

Team came out and put the hammer down on Nova, both on offense and defense. Paige and Sarah on the court together is scary.

Kaitlyn Chen showed up as the 3rd big scorer tonight with Azzi having an off game on the offensive side.

Our two headed post did well. Jana almost brought the house down with the steal and the run to the basket. Both Jana and Ice played very good defense.

Next up Creighton.