We had an off shooting nite

[Vowelguy]

Here’s an idea: why don’t we just say the team is used to a Spaulding ball, and the game was played with a Wilson, so that’s why they didn’t play better.

 

[Stagnant]

Honestly, the defensive strategy employed by Creighton against Chen is the exact same strategy they used against Nika for years. Creighton dared Nika to shoot for years. And Nika usually made them pay. And so, they weren’t daring her to shoot during her senior year. They were tightly guarding her. She forced that strategy change.

I expect them to dare Chen and KK to shoot again when we play them in Storrs.

 

[Blond D.]

Sounds like you don’t have much experience actually playing basketball. You can tell by the sound the ball makes when it hits. Rims are fastened to backboards, and the tightness of the screws is variable. I’m sure 100% of the rims these days are designed to give during dunks (to avoid breaking backboards). Not something women’s games usually worry about, but arenas they play are used by both men and women. Another fun fact is the type of net used. Teams that like to go fast usually have nets that don’t impede the ball. Others like the net to hold the ball briefly.

I have plenty of experience. Ive played on basketball teams since I was in the 5th grade all the way up to 12th grade. Since then Ive played in many city leagues and pick up games. The ball might bounce higher when it hits the rim on some courts but a good shot is a good shot.
I seen us hurrying many shots during the game. Not quite the smoothness we usually have. Plus I heard we did not get a shoot around.

 

[ERWUC65]

Here’s an idea: why don’t we just say the team is used to a Spaulding ball, and the game was played with a Wilson, so that’s why they didn’t play better.

I think it's even funnier that the Vowelguy can't spell Spalding correctly.

 

[Skeets]

I have plenty of experience. Ive played on basketball teams since I was in the 5th grade all the way up to 12th grade. Since then Ive played in many city leagues and pick up games. The ball might bounce higher when it hits the rim on some courts but a good shot is a good shot.
I seen us hurrying many shots during the game. Not quite the smoothness we usually have. Plus I heard we did not get a shoot around.

I'm with you. I'm more in the camp that it was just a bad day. The ball is supposed to hit net, not rim (or just barely nick the rim. Bad days happen. Been there, done that.

What drives men's players crazy is when the tournament moves to domed stadiums. The depth perception really changes shots. With no shoot around maybe that affected the women. Not a lot of time with the sight lines, rims, etc. all lead to a bad day.

 

[HuskyNan]

In the postgame, Geno said sometimes shots just don’t fall (“that’s basketball“) but he wants the team to control the things that they can - i.e. defense and effort. He felt the team did ok but there are still some things to work on. He didn’t elaborate

 

[BBallF]

Yes & No. Creighton chose to let Kaitlyn & KK shoot open 3’s, but made every effort to guard Paige, Azzi, Sarah & Ash at the arc. For the most part, their defensive game plan worked.

That's exactly right. KK and KC took a combined 18 of our 70 shots from the field which is 26% meaning that they combined to take more than 1 out of every 4 shots our team took and they moistly shared the minutes ( only 6 minutes more than the 40 minute game). Do you really want that number of shots from the point guard position when you have Paige, Sarah and Azzi?

In the first quarter Paige took 3 shots. She was not being doubled in that first quarter. They just played her close and left KC and others open. For Paige's 3 shots in the first quarter, one was on the first possession of the game, the next was on a possession where she brought it up and hoisted a 3 and the third was a forced drive and charge. She wasn't getting the ball because she wasn't being looked for. The emphasis has to be on who is shooting. Paige, Sarah, Azzi and then Ash should be taking the overwhelming majority of the shots. Our point guards have to be point guards. Defer to the All Americans on the floor and set them up. One first team and one probably second or third this year at the worst.

 

[oldude]

That's exactly right. KK and KC took a combined 18 of our 70 shots from the field which is 26% meaning that they combined to take more than 1 out of every 4 shots our team took and they moistly shared the minutes ( only 6 minutes more than the 40 minute game). Do you really want that number of shots from the point guard position when you have Paige, Sarah and Azzi?

In the first quarter Paige took 3 shots. She was not being doubled in that first quarter. They just played her close and left KC and others open. For Paige's 3 shots in the first quarter, one was on the first possession of the game, the next was on a possession where she brought it up and hoisted a 3 and the third was a forced drive and charge. She wasn't getting the ball because she wasn't being looked for. The emphasis has to be on who is shooting. Paige, Sarah, Azzi and then Ash should be taking the overwhelming majority of the shots. Our point guards have to be point guards. Defer to the All Americans on the floor and set them up. One first team and one probably second or third this year at the worst.

I don’t disagree. But I also believe that your pg has to be able to shoot the basketball or it negates the effectiveness of the pg. Nika was not a great shooter, but she worked at it to the point where she shot over 40% from the arc as a senior.

 

[WiseWillie]

I’m sorry to disagree, @Tonyc. The shots mainly didn’t fall because of Creighton’s defense. They sped up Azzi Kaitlyn Ash and KK, especially in the first half. We did the same to them. But it’s more telling for us, because we need to be able to respond better to that sort of defensive pressure if we want to win a NC.

I think Geno will be working on this for the next couple months, but we should expect to see more of the same against SC — our shots won’t fall and it won’t just be “an off day.” Watch the SC-LSU game to see the same process work itself out. And it’s not like SC can’t be rushed. They can, as that game showed. But we need to overcome this more urgently than they do if we want to win it all.

We play Creighton once more, maybe twice more if they make it far enough in the BET. That will be an important gauge of where the team is, just like the SC game.

One last thing: Creighton rushed our shooters because they play a great switching, sagging defense. It was a team effort. SC is capable of guarding any team’s shooters straight up. They have enough speed on the perimeter to face guard at the arc And still not worry that an opponent will drive past them. This is a higher level of difficulty than we faced yesterday, because without a lot of switching, Paige won’t be able to find Sarah in the lane so easily.

A current discussion topic on this forum is the upcoming TN and SC games. In a recent presser Geno himself said he is not that concerned with out of conference games. That almost means that winning against them is not as high a priority to him as it is for us rabid Boneyarders.

To Geno out of conference games seem to be more of a learning tool than whether we win or lose. The angst on the Boneyard about facing bigger, better teams is not looked at by Geno (if I may interpret what he said) to see if we can win (although sure he'll take it) but more to see what works and doesn't work against them and getting the team prepared for a long run in March. So looking ahead, maybe the way to look at the TN and SC games is just that: important learning experiences. So we maybe need to ratchet the negative and overabundance of nervousness down to what this successful coach and staff want to achieve. I'm already more relaxed.

 

[oldude]

A current discussion topic on this forum is the upcoming TN and SC games. In a recent presser Geno himself said he is not that concerned with out of conference games. That almost means that winning against them is not as high a priority to him as it is for us rabid Boneyarders.

To Geno out of conference games seem to be more of a learning tool than whether we win or lose. The angst on the Boneyard about facing bigger, better teams is not looked at by Geno (if I may interpret what he said) to see if we can win (although sure he'll take it) but more to see what works and doesn't work against them and getting the team prepared for a long run in March. So looking ahead, maybe the way to look at the TN and SC games is just that: important learning experiences. So we maybe need to ratchet the negative and overabundance of nervousness down to what this successful coach and staff want to achieve. I'm already more relaxed.

I don’t believe for a second that Geno is not concerned with the games against TN & SC. I do believe that he wants to take the pressure off his team in those games. Win or lose, UConn still has to finish out their conference schedule and get ready for the Big Dance.

 

[Charliebball]

I’m sorry to disagree, @Tonyc. The shots mainly didn’t fall because of Creighton’s defense. They sped up Azzi Kaitlyn Ash and KK, especially in the first half. We did the same to them. But it’s more telling for us, because we need to be able to respond better to that sort of defensive pressure if we want to win a NC.

I think Geno will be working on this for the next couple months, but we should expect to see more of the same against SC — our shots won’t fall and it won’t just be “an off day.” Watch the SC-LSU game to see the same process work itself out. And it’s not like SC can’t be rushed. They can, as that game showed. But we need to overcome this more urgently than they do if we want to win it all.

We play Creighton once more, maybe twice more if they make it far enough in the BET. That will be an important gauge of where the team is, just like the SC game.

One last thing: Creighton rushed our shooters because they play a great switching, sagging defense. It was a team effort. SC is capable of guarding any team’s shooters straight up. They have enough speed on the perimeter to face guard at the arc And still not worry that an opponent will drive past them. This is a higher level of difficulty than we faced yesterday, because without a lot of switching, Paige won’t be able to find Sarah in the lane so easily.

UConn seems to often have "off" shooting nights against better competition.........that's a function of better defense, better athletes etc.........it's up to UConn's defense to respond in kind........that's the difference between winning and losing......

 

[Charliebball]

I don’t believe for a second that Geno is not concerned with the games against TN & SC. I do believe that he wants to take the pressure off his team in those games. Win or lose, UConn still has to finish out their conference schedule and get ready for the Big Dance.

beating Tennessee and South Carolina is the difference between a one seed and a two/three seed in the big tournament.....that matters....

 

[oldude]

beating Tennessee and South Carolina is the difference between a one seed and a two/three seed in the big tournament.....that matters....

I think that if UConn beats TN, that pretty much locks up a #2 seed, assuming they run the table in the BE. If the Huskies can also take down the Gamecocks in Columbia, which is a monumental challenge, I do agree that would result in a #1 seed for UConn.

 

[Tonyc]

At this point in the season if you have a wide open shot you've got to make a high percentage of them. You can have an off day but for the most part wide open make it and force defenses to guard you. Its that simple. Im sure their working on that.

We are not where we want to be yet. We are still not 100% and we are still inexperienced but we are getting there. Luckily we have Paige Sarah and Azzi to bail us out. As the season progresses we will see where we are. Creighton was a measuring stick. Tenn and SC will be also. We need to keep improving stay healthy and work hard and it should work itself out.

 

[PacoSwede]

At this point in the season if you have a wide open shot you've got to make a high percentage of them. You can have an off day but for the most part wide open make it and force defenses to guard you. Its that simple. Im sure their working on that.

We are not where we want to be yet. We are still not 100% and we are still inexperienced but we are getting there. Luckily we have Paige Sarah and Azzi to bail us out. As the season progresses we will see where we are. Creighton was a measuring stick. Tenn and SC will be also. We need to keep improving stay healthy and work hard and it should work itself out.

i assume they've been working on that since october. if they haven't gotten it by now, will they ever?

(i agree that anyone can have off days, but it seems chronic for most of the team. consistency would be nice.)

ash and azzi have shown they can be snipers (others may prove to be in time) but are undependable, so apparently the prime culprit is in their heads -- nerves, lack of confidence, a susceptibility to getting things caught in the throat, etc. -- and it's doubtful practice and correcting technical flaws alone will solve the problem. straightening their heads out may be impossible, it's like overcoming an ingrained habit or a substance dependency and that's a very difficult task. the known 'good shooters' have to address it, not count on time, effort or desire to magically change it. introspection starts it and only facing the
'head' problem will fix it.

nika was referenced earlier. mechanics (practice) improved her shooting yet even then she took few shots (fewer than 5 a game, i'm sure) because she understood her role was giving the better shooters the shots (plus, defense and leadership) and only took her own when she had excellent opportunities (and still, she had 'off games' with only goose eggs; kaitlyn suffered the same kind of 'off game' v. creighton).

 

[Rowdy831]

I posted this elsewhere, but it applies here also.

"Live by the Three, Die by the Three."


When UConn is hitting their 3 pt. shots, they look unbeatable. But when they are missing, it seems like there is no Plan B. They shot poorly against Notre Dame (3 for 16 18%), USC (6 for 23 26%) and even Creighton ( 4 for 20 20%).
So, this is the key for UConn this season. No other UConn Championship team has been so reliant on the 3 point shot. This doesn't leave much margin for error.

They really don't have an inside game so plan B is to continue to shoot from outside. Sarah can play inside but when struggling outside why not put in a big line up and bang? As far as good defense goes, I thought Creighton made KC make the threes and she missed every shot that wasn't a layup in that game. That allows 5 of their defenders to defend 4 of your players and that makes it tough on the 4.

 

[Rowdy831]

UConn isn't a good three point shooting team. They have had two games where they were amazing but the other games are below average so maybe they need to have a better plan. KC is a liability on offense and will be targeted by SC as the weakest defender. Paige, Azzi and Sarah are great players and against the great teams all three of them need to show up and play at the level equal to their ability. The last thing you can do is say a player has an off game when the player knows it is a big game and that happens too often for UConn lately.

I will add that Sarah is an amazing player. She has a calmness about her that you just don't see in most players, even the great ones. Right now she is the team MVP and I look to UConn to ride her once the tournament begins and I think she will deliver. She also showed she can defend against Creighton and that is the strength of this team.

 

[DennieEddy]

I think it's even funnier that the Vowelguy can't spell Spalding correctly.

I'd like to buy a "U", Pat!

 

[Vowelguy]

UConn isn't a good three point shooting team. They have had two games where they were amazing but the other games are below average so maybe they need to have a better plan.

Not sure what plan B is when you dont have an inside game and you're not a great 3-point shooting team.

3-pt % against the 5 best opponents (UNC, Ole Miss, ND, USC, Crei): 24, 21, 19, 26, 20.

 

[BobbyJ]

They really don't have an inside game so plan B is to continue to shoot from outside. Sarah can play inside but when struggling outside why not put in a big line up and bang? As far as good defense goes, I thought Creighton made KC make the threes and she missed every shot that wasn't a layup in that game. That allows 5 of their defenders to defend 4 of your players and that makes it tough on the 4.

Because defensively their two bigs are comparatively slow, can't guard anyone in space, and foul a lot in the post. Tenn. and SC would run them off the floor.

 

[AmeriConn]

Here’s an idea: why don’t we just say the team is used to a Spaulding ball, and the game was played with a Wilson, so that’s why they didn’t play better.

That sounds like something I’d expect to hear from a SC.

 

[PacoSwede]

Not sure what plan B is when you dont have an inside game and you're not a great 3-point shooting team.

3-pt % against the 5 best opponents (UNC, Ole Miss, ND, USC, Crei): 24, 21, 19, 26, 20.

wow. if that's right, uconn is lucky to not to have 5 losses 'stead of 2. the pathetic trey shooting is even a bigger flaw than i thought.

 

[Stagnant]

UConn isn't a good three point shooting team. They have had two games where they were amazing but the other games are below average so maybe they need to have a better plan. KC is a liability on offense and will be targeted by SC as the weakest defender. Paige, Azzi and Sarah are great players and against the great teams all three of them need to show up and play at the level equal to their ability. The last thing you can do is say a player has an off game when the player knows it is a big game and that happens too often for UConn lately.

I will add that Sarah is an amazing player. She has a calmness about her that you just don't see in most players, even the great ones. Right now she is the team MVP and I look to UConn to ride her once the tournament begins and I think she will deliver. She also showed she can defend against Creighton and that is the strength of this team.

Co-sign. I agree we are not a good 3 point shooting team. There is enough data now to reach that conclusion. The games we shot really well in are outliers; and we should not anticipate them imo.

 

[Vowelguy]

wow. if that's right, uconn is lucky to not to have 5 losses 'stead of 2. the pathetic trey shooting is even a bigger flaw than i thought.

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