We've learned a lesson

[Tonyc]

Weve been getting by turning the ball over. Tonite it bit us in the hinny. This is the one thing we needed to improve on and maybe now we will. This is a silly loss but maybe a good one if we can win a NC. This is a learning experience for UConn. STJ played tuff, really tuff, they hussled and in the end it was our turnovers that hurt us. We will get better from this as we have only one senior Tiffany and with a great class coming in we will be fine. Chalk it up to learning and we will be fine. Please no whinning. The wine and cheese party will be after we beat ND and I will be there.

 

[UConnChapette]

It is unrealistic to expect to win every game. We are used to winning, especially at home. But at some point, there was going to be a loss. Tonight was that night. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.

The good news is Kiah showed some really good stuff tonight. She has really developed in the second half of this season. The bad news is just about everyone else stunk up the joint. Usually solid Kelly wasn't. Stef's head was not in the game. Tiff I think was pressing too hard. Bria was just not there. Caroline? Not sure what happened to her or why she didn't play much in the second half. KML had an okay game. Tough to win when only one or two players are doing what needs to be done.

They will learn from this loss. The ND game now looms very large, as does the BET.

 

[meyers7]

We learned a lesson.

That is still to be determined. Hopefully though.

 

[Icebear]

If one focusses on the loss one will learn nothing. The lessons are what they are; take care of the rock and keep the opponent off their offensive boards.

 

[Aluminny69]

What we've learned: Teams will continue to NOT defend Faris, electing to play 5 on four, clogging up the middle, and daring Faris to beat them...

 

[meyers7]

The lessons are what they are; take care of the rock

We've been having problems with that one for quite some time though. Don't think we are gonna learn that one this year.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Not sure what lesson was learned. Play better perhaps? Defend like you're the #1 rated defense? If you're a starter play like one?

The team has limped through some poorly played games recently. Tonight it caught up with them. It's been a long time since I've seen an opponent put up so many poorly contested shots. Including the last one.

 

[tomcat]

I agree with every word in Tony's post except the idea that turnovers are the ONE thing UConn needed to improve. Sorry, but as important as TOs are, IMHO they are not the only thing that needs improvement.
-- There was a really disturbing tendency tonight to sit back and let things happen to the team, and St. John's was poised enough to accept that challenge.
-- What happened after the turnovers was instructive. UConn gave up a ton of points after turnovers, something they almost never do.
-- This team seems to lose its composure from time to time. Maybe it's because Hartley is a bit off her game, and she's the one who has bailed UConn out time and again, or maybe because KML is having a really hard time. But without those scorers, and with the lack of crisp passes into the center, this team seems to have no Plan C.
-- This is not the first time that UConn has been outscrapped. They lost to ND in that way and were challenged by a number of other teams, pulled out most of them, but often looked like they werre having troubles.

I don't think UConn was exposed or anything, just that the team is fragile in a number of ways, and when it comes up against a well-coached team that casn play aggressively without fouling, they will have their share of problems.

 

[Icebear]

We've been having problems with that one for quite some time though. Don't think we are gonna learn that one this year.

Yes, and it is ironic because the first half of the year we were doing very well.

 

[Aluminny69]

UConn only 13 assists on 22 baskets. Very unusual..

 

[Icebear]

UConn only 13 assists on 22 baskets. Very unusual..

That's 60%, not that unusual.

 

[meyers7]

Yes, and it is ironic because the first half of the year we were doing very well.

Geno has said on his show, they go too fast. Need to be quick without rushing. But we are not there yet. Not sure if they'll make it this year.

 

[Icebear]

Geno has said on his show, they go too fast. Need to be quick without rushing. But we are not there yet. Not sure if they'll make it this year.

Very true.

 

[Aluminny69]

That's 60%, not that unusual.

Well, CD thinks it is, for UConn, at least. She said it showed the lack of teamwork on offense.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm sorry Your Honor...youths. This team may be too young. We will see. I know we have the talent.

 

[Icebear]

Well, CD thinks it is, for UConn, at least. She said it showed the lack of teamwork on offense.

Strange. Two more assists and it is almost 70% and that is a very high assist rate. Most teams are less than 50% and we had few fast breaks tonight to boost our %. As to how they ran the offense there were obvious problems.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Crappy deim. For the Johnny lurkers its a play on Latin words.

 

[Replicant]

We'll be just fine. We had an unusually bad night because everyone not named Stokes was atypically unfocused. Hence the rushed plays, errant passes and defensive lapses. Kiah was literally the only player who performed at, or above normal standards. I can't recall the last time we had that many players out of sync in any game, for the entire game. Give the Johnnies their due and assume they had something to do with it. I don't expect to see a collective UConn brain fart like tonight, perhaps ever again. And neither does St. John's, who got their 1st win against us in the last 26 tries and it took a Hail Mary 3 at the buzzer. I pity Pitt!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

We'll be just fine. We had an unusually bad night because everyone not named Stokes was atypically unfocused. Hence the rushed plays, errant passes and defensive lapses. Kiah was literally the only player who performed at, or above normal standards. I can't recall the last time we had that many players out of sync in any game, for the entire game. Give the Johnnies their due and assume they had something to do with it. I don't expect to see a collective UConn brain fart like tonight, perhaps ever again. And neither does St. John's, who got their 1st win against us in the last 26 tries and it took a Hail Mary 3 at the buzzer. I pity Pitt!

Ditto.

 

[BrianUC]

When you make mistakes and still eke out the win again and again, you can start to drift a bit. This game will be really helpful - you can actually lose if you lose your focus. A loss like this will serve us well down the road.

 

[rington]

We'll be just fine. We had an unusually bad night because everyone not named Stokes was atypically unfocused. Hence the rushed plays, errant passes and defensive lapses. Kiah was literally the only player who performed at, or above normal standards. I can't recall the last time we had that many players out of sync in any game, for the entire game. Give the Johnnies their due and assume they had something to do with it. I don't expect to see a collective UConn brain fart like tonight, perhaps ever again. And neither does St. John's, who got their 1st win against us in the last 26 tries and it took a Hail Mary 3 at the buzzer. I pity Pitt!

Too bad ND isn't next, instead of Pitt.

 

[Bestiarius]

I didn't see too many lapses in the SJU defense and they swarmed the boards mightily. Their good D just made our O look bad. A great game by an experienced, motivated team that is back to full strength, and they deserved to win it. On a different night it could have easily gone the other way. It took a 3 point shot by a player that only made 4 3s all year to beat us. I was impressed by them.

 

[DaddyChoc]

That's 60%, not that unusual.

come on Ice... you know that below what they "normally" do. 17,18 on 22 baskets is more like it

 

[DaddyChoc]

Too bad ND isn't next, instead of Pitt.

too bad for UConn's streaks... cause it may have been TWO in a row for the 1st time since (let me ask Bob)

 

[ed4ourgirls]

come on Ice... you know that below what they "normally" do. 17,18 on 22 baskets is more like it

For the year so far, UConn has 529 assists on 783 made baskets - or 67.6%, or right
around the 2/3 mark that has been roughly "normal" for years. So tonight we were
a little below normal, but not significantly so IMO. (particularly in view of the paucity of
fast break layups tonight)