Villanova Postgame Thread

[oldude]

You think she has been playing at her current level all season?

To me, she has consistently played in a lower gear (offensively). But sure, it was consistent.

Her defense has been stellar, but offensively she had been playing "mistake free" (hence the A/TO with Azzi and Sarah doing a lot of lifting). But now she is playing aggressively on the offensively end as well as the defense end. Scoring more and creating more.

Yes, I think KK has been playing great all season, whether it’s been running UConn’s offense or locking down opponents pg’s on defense, she has had a wonderful season. The BE conference saw fit to name KK to the all~conference 1st team. That honor isn’t bestowed on a player that just plays a few good games at the end of the season.

But don’t take my word for it. Go back and check the box scores. In the very 1st game of the season against a very good Louisville team, KK shot 6/10 with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.

 

[Bigboote]

Quiet tournament for Shade. That’s okay. More opportunities in the big tournament.

I watched Shade for most of a quarter last night. She got one or two touches most trips down the court. She was setting a LOT of screens, many right after handing off to Azzi, Sarah, or Allie, some of them double screens with Serah or Jana leading to nice open shots. I wonder if that's her designated role this postseason.

 

[jaydee602]

The Huskies are trying to win the National Championship. Geno needed/wanted something from his players and needed to play people as long as he did. I figure after 40 years, he knows what he needs. And Azzi played 27 minutes, Sarah 22

I have no issue with the late three. The kid was probably excited to get an open look

I agree about that last three point shot. They were her only points & it allowed her to be entered on the scorecard in a Championship Game.
UCONN fans cheer baskets by Ayanna, Caroline, & Fisher in the last minutes of a lopsided game. That basket meant nothing to anyone but the player. Let her enjoy it!

 

[Geew1992]

You think she has been playing at her current level all season?

To me, she has consistently played in a lower gear (offensively). But sure, it was consistent.

Her defense has been stellar, but offensively she had been playing "mistake free" (hence the A/TO with Azzi and Sarah doing a lot of lifting). But now she is playing aggressively on the offensively end as well as the defense end. Scoring more and creating more.

KK had also been playing with fingers and wrists wrapped for the majority of the season. Like I've said before, some of yall take KK for granted.

 

[WiseWillie]

It's important to note that Nova was giving us all we could handle at Finneran in the first half only a little while ago. You would never know that by the beat down tonight. KK's defense on Bascoe immediately set the tone and shut her down. Geno had Sarah hanging around in the back court too forcing Bascoe to get rid of the ball. Losing their playmaking engine was a mortal blow.

While we talk about KK's defense, I just want to point out one of the most underrated defenders in America. Henry has the ball near half court waiting to run down the clock, she is protecting the ball as she dribbles. Azzi is faking her on defense. Yup, faking her on defense. Henry decides to put the ball between her legs. Done, Azzi pushes it, gets it and is gone. So solid and so overlooked.

We now will have a minimum of 10 days before the next game. I still think there will be some minor tweaking, some new emphasis, some ratcheting down. Geno always does. This team is all about their depth. So many weapons and so much energy.

One more thing. John Fanta's mixed metaphor of the night: "Geno Auriemma, like a fine merlot, these Huskies can't be stopped". Huh?

Glad you mentioned Azzi's defensive prowess. We seem to concentrate on her offensive production which is truly AA level but besides KK, Azzi imo has significantly improved in every defensive assignment throughout the entire season.

 

[husky98]

Scoring wasn’t needed, to say the least. Having said that she was everywhere doing the dirty work.

There is a reason she starts.

Her defense and dirty work will be invaluable in the tournament. She doesn't stop. Underated.

 

[Geew1992]

Her defense and dirty work will be invaluable in the tournament. She doesn't stop. Underated.

Most underrated player on the team

 

[Zarathustra]

That 3 pointer did irk me a bit, especially after we took the shot clock violation in the previous possession

Yes, but, it was just one player who made that shot. I don't blame Villanova
in the least.

 

[husky98]

The Huskies are trying to win the National Championship. Geno needed/wanted something from his players and needed to play people as long as he did. I figure after 40 years, he knows what he needs. And Azzi played 27 minutes, Sarah 22

I have no issue with the late three. The kid was probably excited to get an open look

Agreed that shot didn't bother me at all, good for her.

 

[husky98]

The Huskies are trying to win the National Championship. Geno needed/wanted something from his players and needed to play people as long as he did. I figure after 40 years, he knows what he needs. And Azzi played 27 minutes, Sarah 22

I have no issue with the late three. The kid was probably excited to get an open look

I think they're referring to Nova / Dillon, not Geno.

I have no problem with Dillon playing her starters. The Nova kids are practically pro/semi pro players. They're down by 40. She can play them however she needs to prep them for their next game. This isn't little league.

 

[husky98]

I believe her scoring is going to be needed from here on out. When she scores against the better teams it seems to spark the rest of the UConn players.

Aside from her defense, all we need from Shade is 1 or 2 back breaking threes at the right time. Especially if KK and the bench can pick up the scoring slack.

 

[oldude]

Aside from her defense, all we need from Shade is 1 or 2 back breaking threes at the right time. Especially if KK and the bench can pick up the scoring slack.

Even if Ash doesn’t knock down 1 or 2 x 3’s per game, she’s a player that other teams can’t possibly play off of and, since she’s constantly moving on offense, she’s going to exhaust whichever opponent who’s tasked with chasing her all over the court.

 

[Huskee11]

I have no issue with the late three. The kid was probably excited to get an open look

Joens had not hit a three the entire tournament and had not scored at all in the game, so I get it.

I'm old enough to remember when teams played until the final buzzer no matter what the score was. And we wouldn't have had the famous Brianna Pulido basket in 2016 if Geno had pulled the plug.

At some point it changed, initially I think with the winning team not shooting if its possession began with the shot clock turned off. Then it expanded beyond that, and then the losing team was expected to follow suit. It feels like it has been this way for decades but it was not always like this. It is similar to the kneeldown in football, but it often feels more awkward, with players not always sure what to do, whether to defend or not.

I realize Joens is a starter, but oftentimes a reserve is thrown in for two minutes and the hold the ball protocol eats up about half of their playing time.

I would be fine with going back to the old days and playing until the final buzzer. The best argument against that is why risk injury at the end of a blowout. But by that logic, you could also stop playing at the two or three minute mark.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I’m sorry, but Denise Dillon is a class act. I listened to Dillon’s postgame and I really don’t believe she was ungracious or sounded like her team lost by 2. What I do believe is that after playing UConn so well in Philadelphia recently, she was really bummed that her team was beaten so badly last night. Other than that, she said all the right things about UConn as well as her team.

I think the game at Nova was the anomaly. We were in a bit of a mini-slump that week, and Sarah was not 100% health-wise. I understand Coach Dillon's optimism, but I wasn't expecting a second close game.

 

[Majic Hands]

I believe her scoring is going to be needed from here on out. When she scores against the better teams it seems to spark the rest of the UConn players.

I think I’ve seen her on several occasions being the one who takes the first shot.

I think she tends to take more shots when her teammates seem to be having just a little lack of confidence in their shots. Thankfully the confidence tends to come roaring back.

Agree completely. Going forward she has to be ready. Thankfully that’s her middle name Ash Ready Shade 😃

 

[Majic Hands]

Joens had not hit a three the entire tournament and had not scored at all in the game, so I get it.

I'm old enough to remember when teams played until the final buzzer no matter what the score was. And we wouldn't have had the famous Brianna Pulido basket in 2016 if Geno had pulled the plug.

At some point it changed, initially I think with the winning team not shooting if its possession began with the shot clock turned off. Then it expanded beyond that, and then the losing team was expected to follow suit. It feels like it has been this way for decades but it was not always like this. It is similar to the kneeldown in football, but it often feels more awkward, with players not always sure what to do, whether to defend or not.

I realize Joens is a starter, but oftentimes a reserve is thrown in for two minutes and the hold the ball protocol eats up about half of their playing time.

I would be fine with going back to the old days and playing until the final buzzer. The best argument against that is why risk injury at the end of a blowout. But by that logic, you could also stop playing at the two or three minute mark.

I seem to remember a European”?” player placing the ball on the floor instead of standing there bouncing the ball.

Can’t remember if it was one of our players or on another team.

I know I’ve seen us dribble out the next to last possession and then other team inbounds and dribbles out the last few seconds.

I didn’t realize it was a nonstarter kid that hadn’t had a scoring opportunity. Gotta remember they’re still kids

 

[oldude]

I seem to remember a European”?” player placing the ball on the floor instead of standing there bouncing the ball.

Can’t remember if it was one of our players or on another team.

I know I’ve seen us dribble out the next to last possession and then other team inbounds and dribbles out the last few seconds.

I didn’t realize it was a nonstarter kid that hadn’t had a scoring opportunity. Gotta remember they’re still kids

That player was Nika. It was kind of her thing, and it was pretty cool.

 

[Majic Hands]

That player was Nika. It was kind of her thing, and it was pretty cool.

Darn it!! I should have known that.

Just love that kid.

Actually getting ready to turn on YouTube to see if I can find the game to watch Nika & Olivia V

 

[Bigboote]

Darn it!! I should have known that.

Just love that kid.

Actually getting ready to turn on YouTube to see if I can find the game to watch Nika & Olivia V

This link should get you there Wendesday afternoon:

 

[#1Genofan]

“Nobody said she wasn’t a class act?” I was responding to a post that referred to Dillon as “uncharacteristically ungracious.” That doesn’t sound very “classy” to me. There was another post by a BY’er that suggested she complained about the refs which was also untrue.

All I meant by "uncharacteristically ungracious" is that she normally seems characteristically gracious, but I didn't find her comments measured up to that in the presser. Understandable, considering her team lost by 39 and she probably thought her team had a chance to win.

 

[ec33]

KK had also been playing with fingers and wrists wrapped for the majority of the season. Like I've said before, some of yall take KK for granted.

Apparently so as many haven't notice the difference in her play of late.

KK has been steady, Far steadier than I ever thought she would be. But UConn is not lacking for steady players. What they are going to need come the Final Four is some stellar players. Expecting Azzi and Sarah to all the heavy lifting is a narrow path to a championship (and Azzi is not coming back next year).

KK more than anyone else has it in her to be that steady stellar performer UConn will need over the rest of her UConn career.

 

[DefenseBB]

Dillon was hardly effusive in her praise of UConn in her presser. Understandable after a drubbing. But doesn't she realize that Geno didn't want to embarrass her team further. No press in the second half, KK played 19 minutes, Sarah 22,
Leave our big guns in we win by 70.

I know this post has been addressed and I don't want to make @my2cents defensive on this post but I want to echo a few comments and offer some of my own observation while at the game and as a statistical analyst.

After only losing by 14 early when she lost by 49 back in January, I think Dillon really thought her team had closed the gap. Her referencing their poor shooting is both true and untrue. Her team shoots only a pedestrian .438 from the floor and a decent .346 from 3 point. However, UConn defense is another level that despite "open looks" the shots were hard to get vs. easy open looks so I do think while the shots may have been "open" they were still "stressed" and I think Denise is under-estimating that aspect. We sat right by her bench and being the absolute competitor that she is, she was constantly harping about the calls and non-calls which I attribute to being into the throws of competition. The post game hand-shake was quick and quiet which is usually not the case especially when Geno meets with Denise.

In looking at Villanova's schedule where they were 25-7, 3 losses to UConn and good losses to Fairfield and Princeton who both will be in the NCAAT and two losses at both St John's and a senior-laden Marquette team (who drastically underachieved). This team won at both James Madison and West Virginia who won their tournaments. This is a good team and can absolutely make it to the sweet 16 depending on the draw.

Denise is a good coach, competes and wants to win, I wish she was a tad more effusive but by golly, it's ok if the other team is irritated.

 

[Gus Mahler]

I feel bad for Denise. She's lost some good players over the past few years. Imagine if Maddie Webber were still on the team. They might well be ranked and looking at a 6 or 7 seed.

 

[DefenseBB]

Even less classy? Leaving most of your starters in the entire game when you are losing by 40 points. What was up with that?

Also for @EricSD, why do these little things bother you so much? It's a game, you can't control how the other team behaves but you can control yourself. Heck, the game was well in-hand with 8 minutes to go and Allie was hoisting 3's so was that "classy"? Kids want to play and they did. Joens taking that wide open 3 on a bang-bang pass play we ok by me.

Frankly, I am glad the Big East has one other program that tried competing and wasn't in awe and bowing down to "mighty UConn". Hopefully this feistiness translates into better recruiting for her, more NIL money to give to her star players and ability to retain a player. Imagine if this team could have kept Maddie Weber? Not quite sure why she left for Illinois but I suspect $ is the reason.

We can't have it both ways, a better competitive conference and everyone deferring to the "UConn lore". I say bring it on 'Nova and we will stomp you again and again and again. Stay motivated.

 

[oldude]

All I meant by "uncharacteristically ungracious" is that she normally seems characteristically gracious, but I didn't find her comments measured up to that in the presser. Understandable, considering her team lost by 39 and she probably thought her team had a chance to win.

Clearly, Dillon was very disappointed with the outcome of the game. But the very first thing she did in her postgame comments was give credit to UConn. So the comments that she appeared ungracious and acting like they had only lost by 2 at the buzzer, clearly suggests that she wasn’t giving sufficient credit to UConn. I’m not sure what you would have her say, “UConn beat the hell out of us?”

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Just got around to the highlights and a play by Azzi blew me away. About 20 seconds to go in the first half and she meets Villanova's Point bringing the ball up and they face off pretty far outside. Azzi has her stuck there poking left and right several times and suddenly the ball has left the Point and you know the rest. She plays uncanny defense with great hands. Unbreakable concentration. I love it.