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Message: [QUOTE="jdote33, post: 4817315, member: 11252"] Just got back home. final game observations: Uconn vs UNC Similar to Alissa Pili, I do stan Paige Bueckers. It's just great to watch her play. She was just great and did some things that were special. It was hard to comprehend some of the blocks. And if I was a defensive scout, I'd plan on her rejecting the screen and heading to the basket. In any event, I'm not sure she's lost a game in the state of Connecticut (terrible jinx), but she feeds off the crowd. 14 shots kinda irks me, but that's just her. There was a play in the third where she got the ball in semi transition, she could've easily pulled up for a three. If it was Caitlin Clark, she definitely would've pulled up, and in my eyes would've been justified, as its such a momentum shot. I kinda think Azzi would've pulled up for the three. Instead Paige slows down a bit, waits for Aaliyah Edwards and passes it to her and she draws a foul. Overall, I thought UConn played ok. Their rotations still seem a bit in flux with all the injuries, and they have some glaring weaknesses, particularly size/rebounding. They had some head scratching possessions/turnovers, but I don't want to be too negative. They beat a good North Carolina team, and though at halftime it was a tie game, it felt like they were in control most of the game. Nika is defnitely a threat offensively, and A.Shade was pretty good. Edwards also was good to see live. She makes tough shots, like she's learned how to be a go-to offensive player for sure. I actually came away relatively impressed with Carolina. They were missing a lot of players, though Teonni Key did dress, she did not play. Paulina Paris was there but did not play either. I thought Lexi Donarski played pretty well, like she seemed to make Uconn pay every time they made a mistake, even if the stats don't bear that out. I thought Gakdeng was great, like a real problem inside. She definitely gives UNC something that they were missing. So what's their issue. I hate to be that guy, but it starts with their seniors who in large part have brought the program back to contention. I thought Utsby was not good today. I'm a fan of hers. She's 6'1, long and athletic. She missed several bunnies, and did not take advantage enough when Uconn went small against them. I thought Deja Kelly was fine. She's a mystery to me. Her ability to stop on the dime and pull up/create her own shot is elite. But she's always been a sub 40 percent shooter from the field. She was in a battle with KK Arnold most of the game, and just never seemed to catch a good rthyme. Probably not the fairest comparison but in a game where several role players stepped up on both sides - Paige goes for 26 on 14 shots. Utsby and Kelly go for 21 combined on 29 shots. To win a game like the one today they both simply had to be better. Nevertheless i do think UNC will still be a tough out in the ACC. Anyways really great event. Utah vs South Carolina was probably the best game. As a UConn fan, seeing them live was pretty cool and the crowd was the best that game. [/QUOTE]

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