The last two games have been inspiring. The matchup against South Carolina will, however, largely determine whether the Huskies are a 1 or 2 seed.
Against a St. John’s team that looked better than its record (how about Leilani Correa!), the team was without three of its most experienced players - Anna Makurat, Christyn Williams, and Aubrey Griffin (except for a couple of minutes). Arguably it put its strongest five on the floor, one consisting of two juniors and three freshmen. The team moved, passed, and rebounded much better with a lineup of ONO, Edwards, Westbrook, Muhl, and Bueckers. The three freshmen starters all set personal scoring records (32, 22, and 11) and scored 69% of the team’s total of 94 points. When one adds the contributions of McLean (7) and Chasson (3) the total reaches 80%. Both are surely unprecedented numbers and we are seeing the bright future. We all knew that Paige was an All-American before these games and the fact that she is shooting more often is what the team needs. Edwards provides the big body inside that the Huskies have lacked for several years and Muhl provides ball handling skills that frees Bueckers up to shoot more. She reminds me of Jen Rizzotti as she charges up the floor. The three frosh also bring a dimension to the team that has been lacking for the last couple of years - toughness.
The one downer was the inability of the team to stop Leilani Correa (33 points), although most of her scoring occurred after the game was no longer in doubt. This is the second time in three games that the Huskies have seemed helpless against quick, high scoring guards. Muhl is turning into the player that I hoped she would become and, as at least one other contributor has also noted, reminds one of Jen Rizzotti, in particular the way she looks when dashing with the ball up the court. Olivia Nelson-Odoba played pretty well with her shot making away from the basket, but will it be effective against the Gamecocks and can she at least partially neutralize Aliyah Boston?
The match on the road against a good Marquette team provided another marker for the young team, one that the Huskies won 87-58. Nothing really new to report. Good games by Bueckers, Muhl, and Edwards, good defense particularly in first half, first points by Poffenbarger, and o.k game by Williams who had the good game except for zilch from 3-point line.
Questions for Monday. Will Williams and ODO play effectively? Will Williams stop standing around looking to shoot 3-pointers and drive towards the basket? Can ONO and Edwards keep out of foul trouble. Can Muhl shoot well enough to take pressure off Bueckers and will the Gamecocks devise a plan to neutralize her? Box and one? Will Boston have her way inside or can the Huskies double team her enough to reduce her effectiveness or play good enough defense to prevent her from getting a touch on every trip up the floor?
I have no clue what will happen on Monday night against what is probably the best team in the nation. A number of things will have to go right for the Huskies to triumph - a solid inside game, Bueckers having another All-American performance, continued tough play by Muhl, and decent games from Williams and Nelson-Odoba.
Against a St. John’s team that looked better than its record (how about Leilani Correa!), the team was without three of its most experienced players - Anna Makurat, Christyn Williams, and Aubrey Griffin (except for a couple of minutes). Arguably it put its strongest five on the floor, one consisting of two juniors and three freshmen. The team moved, passed, and rebounded much better with a lineup of ONO, Edwards, Westbrook, Muhl, and Bueckers. The three freshmen starters all set personal scoring records (32, 22, and 11) and scored 69% of the team’s total of 94 points. When one adds the contributions of McLean (7) and Chasson (3) the total reaches 80%. Both are surely unprecedented numbers and we are seeing the bright future. We all knew that Paige was an All-American before these games and the fact that she is shooting more often is what the team needs. Edwards provides the big body inside that the Huskies have lacked for several years and Muhl provides ball handling skills that frees Bueckers up to shoot more. She reminds me of Jen Rizzotti as she charges up the floor. The three frosh also bring a dimension to the team that has been lacking for the last couple of years - toughness.
The one downer was the inability of the team to stop Leilani Correa (33 points), although most of her scoring occurred after the game was no longer in doubt. This is the second time in three games that the Huskies have seemed helpless against quick, high scoring guards. Muhl is turning into the player that I hoped she would become and, as at least one other contributor has also noted, reminds one of Jen Rizzotti, in particular the way she looks when dashing with the ball up the court. Olivia Nelson-Odoba played pretty well with her shot making away from the basket, but will it be effective against the Gamecocks and can she at least partially neutralize Aliyah Boston?
The match on the road against a good Marquette team provided another marker for the young team, one that the Huskies won 87-58. Nothing really new to report. Good games by Bueckers, Muhl, and Edwards, good defense particularly in first half, first points by Poffenbarger, and o.k game by Williams who had the good game except for zilch from 3-point line.
Questions for Monday. Will Williams and ODO play effectively? Will Williams stop standing around looking to shoot 3-pointers and drive towards the basket? Can ONO and Edwards keep out of foul trouble. Can Muhl shoot well enough to take pressure off Bueckers and will the Gamecocks devise a plan to neutralize her? Box and one? Will Boston have her way inside or can the Huskies double team her enough to reduce her effectiveness or play good enough defense to prevent her from getting a touch on every trip up the floor?
I have no clue what will happen on Monday night against what is probably the best team in the nation. A number of things will have to go right for the Huskies to triumph - a solid inside game, Bueckers having another All-American performance, continued tough play by Muhl, and decent games from Williams and Nelson-Odoba.
