Voepel picks Baylor over UConn to reach the Final Four | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Voepel picks Baylor over UConn to reach the Final Four

I remember our three losses last year (Oregon, SC, and Baylor), two of which I saw at Gampel and the other on TV. A few minutes into the Oregon game I knew we were outmatched, and it was going to be a long night. SC, at home, while looking less formidable than Oregon, seemed to have our number too. The only game that I thought we had a chance of winning was against Baylor. We hung in there with them but, in the end, their physicality overcame the relative softness of Olivia, the freshman Aubrey, and the game Kyla. We are a different, much more formidable team this year. Olivia is a year more experienced and playing to her strengths. Sure we miss Crystal and Megan, but PB and Evina are hardly steps down. And then there is "Nika is so tough...," "Everywhere Aubrey," and "Relentless Aliyah." This year's Huskies are better, deeper, and far tougher than the team that could have beaten Baylor last year. And if we face them in the regional, I think we will beat them this year.
 
Important ONO and AE stay out of foul trouble in a physical game. ONO can't afford offensive fouls when setting picks.
 
HuskyNan said:
Naw. They’re just trying to get UConnNation stirred up to click on their articles and link them on fan sites. No one can take umbrage like an outraged Husky fan - it’s not exactly a secret. And Stanford is still a hot button for a lot of fans that like to relive the perceived slight of Rebecca by Tara 26 years ago.
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I'm kind of a fan of ancient history (and especially a good grudge), and I had forgotten all about this bruhaha from years ago. Here's a link t o an old Hartford Courant story re Geno/Rebecca/Tara from years ago, if anyone is interested.

www.courant.com

GOOD TIMING BY TARA

Ten years, Tara VanDerveer said, is a long time. And she’s right. Ten years is long enough to melt enough ice to see some truth underneath. Ten years is long enough to see VanDerveer and Geno…
www.courant.com www.courant.com

So, another first place finish for UConn? We're the champions of Umbrage! ;)
 
In many many years of watching the men’s and women’s tournament I know one thing: games that are several rounds away and generate a lot of speculation often end up not materializing.
This is a wackier year than normal, there’s no dominant team, and the crowd will be unpredictable. After the 1st round, almost anything can happen.
 
dogged1 said:
I'm kind of a fan of ancient history (and especially a good grudge), and I had forgotten all about this bruhaha from years ago. Here's a link t o an old Hartford Courant story re Geno/Rebecca/Tara from years ago, if anyone is interested.

www.courant.com

GOOD TIMING BY TARA

Ten years, Tara VanDerveer said, is a long time. And she’s right. Ten years is long enough to melt enough ice to see some truth underneath. Ten years is long enough to see VanDerveer and Geno…
www.courant.com www.courant.com

So, another first place finish for UConn? We're the champions of Umbrage! ;)
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When told in December 1993 -- after a 19-point rout of UConn -- that the Huskies should be much improved with the arrival of a certain player from Bloomfield, VanDerveer responded: "We signed six Nykesha Saleses."

On Dec. 21, 1997, after an 16-point UConn victory in Lakeland, Fla., VanDerveer would deny ever saying it. The tape recorder insisted otherwise. The bottom line was that Sales lit up the Stanford tree for 46 points, a UConn-scoring and in-your-face record that still stands.

Then there's...

But it was the Rebecca Lobo situation that made things hairy in a lot of people's minds. "Rebecca was coming out as the darling of college basketball. There were a lot of great players already on that Olympic team, but all anybody wanted to talk about was Rebecca Lobo, Rebecca Lobo."

Lobo didn't start in a much-awaited exhibition return to Storrs. VanDerveer only played her only 13 minutes in a 36-point rout of UConn and that came off cold. She came off even colder, saying Lobo had a problem saying no to endorsements and needed to say yes to more conditioning. Many UConn fans thought VanDerveer was jealous of the adoration UConn had received and her distaste for Geno's flamboyance was being visited on Lobo.

"The kids on that team had a chance to really be showcased [when they return to their campuses] and it didn't happen here," Auriemma said. "I don't know if it was resentment on her part toward the way Rebecca was being treated or she didn't like the way Rebecca was playing or working. I never did ask her."
 
Remember that ESPN wants a Texas team going deep into the tournament, Texas has a lot of ESPN+ subscribers and the more that watch the more revenue ESPN earns.
I think Voepel missed the point that for Baylor to beat UConn they must first beat Tenn. Tenn is much like Baylor, relying on defense and rebounding. I am hoping that game happens because it would be a battle royal. The winner may not be ready to play UConn.
 
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Alydar said:
Remember that ESPN wants a Texas team going deep into the tournament, Texas has a lot of ESPN+ subscribers and the more that watch the more revenue ESPN earns.
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leaving aside your ESPN+ statement which doesn’t make sense to me .... So ESPN executives tell Voepel what to write? Do they tell Rebecca what to say too or is she the only one giving her honest opinion?
 
HuskyNan said:
Naw. They’re just trying to get UConnNation stirred up to click on their articles and link them on fan sites. No one can take umbrage like an outraged Husky fan - it’s not exactly a secret. And Stanford is still a hot button for a lot of fans that like to relive the perceived slight of Rebecca by Tara 26 years ago.
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A lot of outside fans come to the Boneyard because it is an unanimous No.1 Top 25 ranking for Fan Sites in the country! No ones even close!
 
CL82 said:
When told in December 1993 -- after a 19-point rout of UConn -- that the Huskies should be much improved with the arrival of a certain player from Bloomfield, VanDerveer responded: "We signed six Nykesha Saleses."

On Dec. 21, 1997, after an 16-point UConn victory in Lakeland, Fla., VanDerveer would deny ever saying it. The tape recorder insisted otherwise. The bottom line was that Sales lit up the Stanford tree for 46 points, a UConn-scoring and in-your-face record that still stands.

Then there's...

But it was the Rebecca Lobo situation that made things hairy in a lot of people's minds. "Rebecca was coming out as the darling of college basketball. There were a lot of great players already on that Olympic team, but all anybody wanted to talk about was Rebecca Lobo, Rebecca Lobo."

Lobo didn't start in a much-awaited exhibition return to Storrs. VanDerveer only played her only 13 minutes in a 36-point rout of UConn and that came off cold. She came off even colder, saying Lobo had a problem saying no to endorsements and needed to say yes to more conditioning. Many UConn fans thought VanDerveer was jealous of the adoration UConn had received and her distaste for Geno's flamboyance was being visited on Lobo.

"The kids on that team had a chance to really be showcased [when they return to their campuses] and it didn't happen here," Auriemma said. "I don't know if it was resentment on her part toward the way Rebecca was being treated or she didn't like the way Rebecca was playing or working. I never did ask her."
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What raised my eyebrows was Vanderveer predicting a Tennessee victory after we shellacked her team by 27 points in the FF semifinal. She metaphorically shoots her own team in the foot to downplay UConn’s success. I think she resented the brash, Italian new guy on the scene at the time, but has adjusted to the reality since then.
 
Jordy said:
That’s a ridiculous guess. Voepel is almost always one of the reporters on the post game pressers. Why would she ask questions if she hadn’t watched the game? Her job is to watch women’s basketball.
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I think her prediction is ridiculous and so is your post.
 
On paper, it’s probably a good matchup for Baylor if both teams get there. They have a defender to match up with our best player and we probably don’t have one to match up with theirs in our starting lineup - we play four guards and Smith is a traditional 4 (who can step out and shoot a little). AE maybe would be our best bet if we go two bigs, but then front court depth is a problem.

But first High Point.
 
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Vowelguy said:
leaving aside your ESPN+ statement which doesn’t make sense to me .... So ESPN executives tell Voepel what to write? Do they tell Rebecca what to say too or is she the only one giving her honest opinion?
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Try listening to a Knick radio announcer and a Celtic radio announcer do the same game and you'll get an idea of how "honest" sports journalists are.
No one is suggesting that executives dictate what Voepel writes.
 
Alydar said:
Try listening to a Knick radio announcer and a Celtic radio announcer do the same game and you'll get an idea of how "honest" sports journalists are.
No one is suggesting that executives dictate what Voepel writes.
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The play by play guy for a team is never assumed to be objective. Many of them in fact work for the team.

The suggestion was that voepels pick was a result of “ESPN” wanting something. Who is ‘espn’?

Voepeis job is to give wcbb commentary.
 
oldude said:
As I stated, Baylor is a really tough defensive team. Last year Cox was a mismatch nightmare on offense and she anchored Baylor’s defense. The Lady Bears are very good, but not nearly as formidable this year.
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Massey says UConn is #1 defensively, Stanford #2, Baylor #3. Offensively, Stanford is #4, UConn #6, Baylor #7. It seems the elite 8 & finals are the time to rain 3s. UConns A game will be enough for #12.
 
BBallF said:
I like UCONN in this potential match up with Baylor. I think the guard play and speed will determine the outcome.
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.... And no slow starts, please. Baylor knows it could not beat the old UConn, but is overconfident about the 'new' UConn - We must show them the light. A quick 3 & suffocating defense will be revelatory. The same is true for Stanford. There's a new dynasty in town.
Actually in 2013, we beat then #1 Stanford at their place by 26 (61 - 35), lost to then #1 Baylor at home (76 - 70). The best part, though was losing to Notre Dame 3 times (twice in the preceding month, once in triple-overtime), & then whomping on 'em in the final four by 18, behind Stewie's 29 points as a freshman. Baylor lost before we could get a rematch. That was the first year of Stewie's dynasty - and this is the first year of Paige's dynasty - and reinforcements are on the way. UConn was 35 - 4 then, & will be 30 - 1 in the year of the coronavirus.
 
Play tough defense, aggressive offense, hit the glass, limit the turnovers and play smart. Don't rush at any point in time during the game. Play with speed but not fast.
 
JoePgh said:
I think that is a fair analysis. But as a UConn fan, I would offer the following counterthoughts:
  • The graduation of Lauren Cox and the Te'a Cooper are significant subtractions for Baylor, who dominated last year's game mainly through Cox's inside defense and Cooper's 3-point shooting.
  • The departures of Crystal Dangerfield and Megan Walker were significant, but are fully compensated (in my opinion) by the arrival of Paige Bueckers and Evina Westbrook. I don't see equivalent "adds" on the Baylor side.
  • Aaliyah Edwards is a whole new factor for UConn -- the Huskies had no one like her on last year's team. That should change the "balance of power" in the paint significantly in UConn's favor. Nika Muhl is also a new factor, but I don't think she will have the same significance in the Baylor game.
  • UConn's returning players (Olivia Nelson Ododa and Christyn Williams) have gotten a lot better, particularly in the latter part of this season, but I'm sure that the same can be said of Baylor's returning players.
Last year's game was extremely close until halfway through the 4th quarter, when something happened and UConn was unable to continue scoring. Did Kim Mulkey come up with a defensive stroke of genius? Or did UConn's shooters just go cold at the wrong time? I'm not sure, but the final score was an 18-point Baylor win.

The factors noted above should make UConn stronger and Baylor weaker than last year. The question is whether the differences are enough to make up an 18-point margin. I don't know the answer to that question, but of course I'm rooting for UConn.
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What could have given Baylor & others overconfidence was the fact that 2019 - 20 UConn seemed to have lost ground a bit - The old UConn would never have lost 3 games to the highest ranked teams by 18, 18, & 16 points, & gone 28 - 0 against the rest. It could have given Baylor & Stanford the false impression that UConns run was done. We can correct that impression this year.
 
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CL82 said:
When told in December 1993 -- after a 19-point rout of UConn -- that the Huskies should be much improved with the arrival of a certain player from Bloomfield, VanDerveer responded: "We signed six Nykesha Saleses."
...
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Reading that anew, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking umbrage with Tara for what she said. She opened her big yap and history proved her wrong. She hasn't won the big one since.
 
King Kong said:
.... And no slow starts, please. Baylor knows it could not beat the old UConn, but is overconfident about the 'new' UConn - We must show them the light. A quick 3 & suffocating defense will be revelatory. The same is true for Stanford. There's a new dynasty in town.
Actually in 2013, we beat then #1 Stanford at their place by 26 (61 - 35), lost to then #1 Baylor at home (76 - 70). The best part, though was losing to Notre Dame 3 times (twice in the preceding month, once in triple-overtime), & then whomping on 'em in the final four by 18, behind Stewie's 29 points as a freshman. Baylor lost before we could get a rematch. That was the first year of Stewie's dynasty - and this is the first year of Paige's dynasty - and reinforcements are on the way. UConn was 35 - 4 then, & will be 30 - 1 in the year of the coronavirus.
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I would be shocked at a slow start. The newly reinvigorated defense creates steals, deflections, and a transition offense that creates a fast start. While our players know what this is it will be the first time to play in it for our freshmen and sophomores. There won't be any hesitancy as a team, I am just worried that the pass first mentality by our guards continues. We need the guards shooting and scoring as we get into the later rounds.
 
Postie said:
Baylor has shut down Collier from Texas in three games.I don’t think she scored a total of 15 points in those three games.She is considered #1 pick in draft.I think Olivia will be invisible against Baylor.They will probably put Didi
on Paige she has great length and was defensive player of the year.Baylor Achilles heel is shooting threes.They don’t take many.If we get by Baylor I like our chances
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I expect Liv to play well against Baylor if we play and I will be shocked if Paige is shut down by Didi. They will be tough but I believe we will win that game for sure barring a complete breakdown on our part. Stanford is the team that concerns me. They are the big dog in this kennel and really, imo the only team that might actually beat UConn even if UConn plays well. All the other teams imo will need UConn and Stanford to not play their best game!
 
jaydee602 said:
There are many pundits who had Maryland & Baylor higher than the selection committee ranked them. Consensus is that they should have been seeded higher than NC State, Texas A&M, & South Carolina. So selecting Baylor and/ or Maryland to reach the final four isn't much of a stretch. They are not the typical #6 & #7 seeded teams.
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I agree that Baylor is one of the teams clearly capable of reaching the Final Four. However, Baylor has a problem that Maryland and Stanford don’t have. They have to beat UConn to get there! I think the defenses will cancel each other out and Baylor will be unable to score enough points offensively to win.
 
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Alydar said:
Baylor can win it all but I don't think they will. Like SCar, they lack outside shooting. The Bears had zero top 10 opponents and their best opponent was Arkansas. Not their fault but nevertheless it's a huge ?
Last year Baylor had Cox and this year UConn has Edwards. Egbo is good, Smith is very good, but they are not that good.
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Lol smith is a first team all American! I’d take her over edwards any day
 
Cuango said:
I expect Liv to play well against Baylor if we play and I will be shocked if Paige is shut down by Didi. They will be tough but I believe we will win that game for sure barring a complete breakdown on our part. Stanford is the team that concerns me. They are the big dog in this kennel and really, imo the only team that might actually beat UConn even if UConn plays well. All the other teams imo will need UConn and Stanford to not play their best game!
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Lol liv has scored 0 points in her 2 games against Baylor!
 
oldude said:
Not underestimating Baylor at all. They are a very good team. Let me ask you as a Baylor fan. Do you really think this year’s Baylor team is as good as last year’s?
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No but we are better than people expect us to be and it’s a down year for everyone! Anything can happen this year
 
Waquoit said:
Reading that anew, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking umbrage with Tara for what she said. She opened her big yap and history proved her wrong. She hasn't won the big one since.
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From Jeff Jacobs’ 12/22/97 column, after being told UConn would be improved by adding Nykesha Sales the next season , TVDV replied,

"This is kind of a transition year and we haven't really been in sync," VanDerveer is quoted. "We had our best recruiting class. We signed six Nykesha Saleses."

Now, a UConn fan looking for an excuse to take umbrage thinks Tara dissed Kesh, but someone else might think that she was saying (clumsily and tactlessly) that she was bringing in 6 players that will improve her team. Was it poorly said, absolutely, but Tara wanted Kesh really badly so she knew what a great player she was. Yeah, the lack of tact was probably from sour grapes but Tara in her younger days was a feisty, fiery coach. Reminds me of another coach, one we know and love....
 
"Ain't over til it's over" Look at Penn State wrestling last night. 4 National champs and only 1 was expected to win.
 
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