What would it take to beat us? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

What would it take to beat us?

Stagnant said:
My question about ucla is can they handle athleticism? They didn’t when the played Texas earlier this year.

Their guards are skilled. But, they are the same guards they had last year (basically)… they did add more shooting. But when we beat them in the final four; we ran them all over the place. Our guard play dictated the pace and they couldn’t hang. Our guards won that game.
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A healthy Leger-Walker and the transfer Kneepkins have added a whole lot to the UCLA backcourt.......
 
I don't think there's a huge gap to be honest if teams bring their same A/B/C level of play. I do think UCONN is probably the best team when everything is clicking, but any of the #1 seeds are more than capable of winning a game if they catch UCONN on a poor shooting day. Texas has 2 wins over South Carolina and a win over UCLA, they have better spacing offensively with the addition of Crump and play great defense. South Carolina might be the fastest/quickest team in the country and is solid on both ends. Both coaches have beat UCONN in the tournament before. And then UCLA who has the best center in the country and three wings that all average 13+ PPG and are flirting with 50/40/90 splits. Top 6 players are all seniors and they just obliterated a good Iowa team by 51 points. If those 4 teams make the Final Four I'd still put money on UCONN but any of them could come out on top. Then you have Kim Mulkey and LSU, and Kim has won multiple championships with teams that came out of nowhere to pull it off. If UCONN were to lose to one of these teams I think it'd be an upset but not at the level of 2013 Baylor/Louisville, 2017 UCONN/Mississippi State or 2023 Iowa/South Carolina.
 
Please Please Please UConns defense stops everybody. Barring injuries and big foul trouble UConn wins it all. Your cant shoot if you cant get an open shot. If you dont have 5 ball handlers your gonna cuff it up. I dont care how big or fast your are if you cant get a clean shot off well???????????? This UConn teams is better than last years and this year they're Paigeless.
 
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I’m not sure that any of the other top teams have anyone who can do what Sarah can do (which is everything really, really well), have anyone who can shoot like Azzi, have a guard who’s as disruptive as KK, or have someone coming off the bench who’s as good as Blanca. That’s not to say we can’t lose in the tournament…of course anything can happen. But it is to say that to beat us you have to play your A+ game.
 
msf22b said:
Obviously when you have 2 defenders pressuring one offensive player, someone is open.

I haven’t studied the games in slo-motion to determine why our pressure defense is so much more effective than (say) Tennessee’s…Perhaps someone can explain...
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IMO, 2 factors are at play. 1) while their players are athletic and some of them have quickness, they aren’t nearly as persistent as our Huskies. We keep pressuring teams after they’ve crossed the half court line; Lady Vols usually give up at that point. 2) more importantly, our players have a great instinct for when to have 2 players collapse on the dribblers and cause a trap. It’s especially effective when they do it along the sideline which really makes it 3 on 1. I rarely saw Tennessee collapse on dribblers this way.
 
ctfjr said:
one bad shooting night
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At the right time! We are definitely a very good team and will likely overcome even a poor shooting night for the first three games. After that however, that poor shooting night combined with high level play from our opponents, foul trouble, turnovers, rebounding issues, not defending the three point line, and finally injuries, are all possible candidates for causing us to lose.

I like our chances but make no mistake, we are not a lock for #13! UCLA is very scary, Texas seems to be on a mission, South Carolina is a wounded bear, and there may be a couple of other teams that, on a given night, could make some noise! I just pray we can stay healthy! That is the big concern for me! The other things, Geno could possibly make adjustments for. Go Huskes!!!
 
A team that has a hot shooting night. Uconn Biggs get in foul trouble. Uconn has a sleepy third quarter. A team that slows play down and protects the ball.. out rebounds uconn by 10-15.
 
Next 12 said:
A team that is better than Uconn and I don't believe that team exists. A team with a better coach than Geno and I don't believe that coach is here. A team with a better bench than Uconn and that bench doesn't exist. Uconn will do all that is necessary to win 6 in a row. Uconn's destiny is already written and that is NO 13 Championship Trophy. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!
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We must not speak of this.
 
Tonyc said:
Please Please Please UConns defense stops everybody.
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I don't think so..........I hope you are right. We are best, but it will be close. A little bad luck and poof, we are out.
 
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Watched a lot of games last week, including those featuring the most often mentioned candidates to win it all : UCLA, Texas, South Carolina, LSU, UCONN. A few thoughts: there are some really good women’s basketball teams this year. The team lifting the trophy will have truly earned it. If that team is UCONN, my take, it will be because of our defense, our defense turning into offense, and our perimeter shooting. We need to shoot threes like we did last year. When Azzi hit one, then Ash, then Sarah, then Paige it’s not just the points alone, but it is so demoralizing to the other team. As long as our post players just minimize the contributions of the other teams bigs, we can get #13! Go Huskies!
 
For those who are listing all the things that UConn could fall down on also applies to those other contenders. We have seen high seeds falter before reaching the final four. And it has happened to UConn.

I am cautiously optimistic that we bring home #13. First, this team is a sisterhood. They are connected like no other team. It shows on the court. Our defense is probably our biggest weapon. The constant pressure we bring can wear down any team. Team speed and our conditioning. Our bench - Blanca, K9, Allie and Jana would be starters on any other team. Sarah and Azzi. And Geno.

More will be clear when the tournament is set.
 
Here's a question: UCLA is graduating seven or eight players this year. There has been a lot of talk that one thing that helped UConn last year was "wanting to win it for Paige." For UCLA it's this year or bust. That could motivate them to better play or it could make them push so hard that they play too fast and make a lot of errors. What do folks think, will the do-or-die help or hurt the Bruins?
 
It will depend on the team, but for any team, getting the NPOY Strong in foul trouble and being hot from 3 will make the task a lot "easier."

The bigger unknown is how does UConn respond if it gets down to the wire and the game is close? They have not had a meaningfully close game since Nov. 21 against Michigan. They have plenty of experience to manage the pressure, but the team has been in almost no "late game" situations this year where they've had to execute.
 
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Back around Thanksgiving, November 21st to be precise, UConn darn near got beat by Michigan. One player in particular in that game, that UConn just could not stop and she darn near pulled it off for them. Had the rest of the Wolverine team been anywhere near what they could have been, perhaps we would not be undefeated right now.

Syla Swards - Guard
40 minutes
29 points
8 for 14 in 3-pt shots
9 rebounds
3 assists
and 1 steal

Last season, Notre Dame had the Hannah Hidalgo show going against the Huskies and it was very similar in that she just would not miss.

Historically, at least over the past few years, the team has shown a weakness as not necessarily being a great defensive team against a hot 3-pt shooter.
 
ctfjr said:
one bad shooting night
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Have to agree and add one other low probability but possible issue. If the bad shooting night is Azzi related, other team may choose to sag on Sarah. While Sarah is one of the most consistent and creative shooters in basketball, could be an issue. I did not mention both Sarah or Azzi both having a bad game the same night due to sickness or other issue, since I view this as unlikely.
The other side of this coin is the other team has an exceptional shooting night. The one downside of UConn's press as previously mentioned has been it often gives up 3's. Other teams have been missing but this is the primary issue why many teams the last month have stayed close in Q1. Unlikely UConn doesn't adjust but still a potential speedbump.
 
Next 12 said:
A team that is better than Uconn and I don't believe that team exists. A team with a better coach than Geno and I don't believe that coach is here. A team with a better bench than Uconn and that bench doesn't exist. Uconn will do all that is necessary to win 6 in a row. Uconn's destiny is already written and that is NO 13 Championship Trophy. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!
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Everyone on the Boneyard is squirming uneasily as they read this post!🤣
 
If UConn plays its game, they can not be beaten, except... in 1985 unranked Villanova beat #1 Georgetown in the National Championship by going 80% from the field, and had 27 free throws to 8 for G'Town.
Villanova won by 2 points.
 
HopJim said:
Have to agree and add one other low probability but possible issue. If the bad shooting night is Azzi related, other team may choose to sag on Sarah. While Sarah is one of the most consistent and creative shooters in basketball, could be an issue. I did not mention both Sarah or Azzi both having a bad game the same night due to sickness or other issue, since I view this as unlikely.
The other side of this coin is the other team has an exceptional shooting night. The one downside of UConn's press as previously mentioned has been it often gives up 3's. Other teams have been missing but this is the primary issue why many teams the last month have stayed close in Q1. Unlikely UConn doesn't adjust but still a potential speedbump.
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Although I do not really want to see this in the tournament, it would be interesting to see Sarah in a situation where she just puts her head down and decides it’s “Sarah time” What might she do if she were to get mad and decide to really “put the hammer down”?

Though always a concern, an off night from one of our stars is something that Geno imo has done a masterful job in preparing for. I think his bringing along, nurturing, and preparation of our bench is probably the best work he’s ever done in that respect. He is simply the best. Just amazing!
 
Cornell Lt said:
The thing I worry the most about is the consistency of the officiating. Foul trouble could be their Achilles heal
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If the officiating is "over-involved" and yet balanced, a lot of fouls will be called. UConn's bench is a huge asset if that happens. If the officiating is "under-involved," injuries could be an issue over a six-game campaign. If the officiating is unbalanced, well... we'll be talking about it.
The key I'll be looking for is how well the starters "problem solve" against a worthy opponent.
 
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Sun Dog said:
Watched a lot of games last week, including those featuring the most often mentioned candidates to win it all : UCLA, Texas, South Carolina, LSU, UCONN. A few thoughts: there are some really good women’s basketball teams this year. The team lifting the trophy will have truly earned it. If that team is UCONN, my take, it will be because of our defense, our defense turning into offense, and our perimeter shooting. We need to shoot threes like we did last year. When Azzi hit one, then Ash, then Sarah, then Paige it’s not just the points alone, but it is so demoralizing to the other team. As long as our post players just minimize the contributions of the other teams bigs, we can get #13! Go Huskies!ni
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And UConn bench players are not a drop off in 3pt threat. So UConn can spread the floor even with subs in the game. That gives Ms. Strong a lot of opportunity. And, I think the whole team -- KK, Kayleigh, Allie, Ashlynn, even Blanca -- is getting the idea of the Paige-esk stop and pop mid-range opportunity.... or dish off opps to Serah or Jana... Like the way they play!
 
Well one thing is agreed by almost every post in this thread, and it starts with "IF". UConns defense has forced teams to not shoot well. UConns defense has keyed on opponent's top scorer(s) and they haven't shot well. UConns defense has forced teams to turn the ball over a lot. UConns defense has forced teams to play to fast and out of sync. UConns defense is the difference.

Opponents cant do anything about UConns defense to change the game. They cant stop it. They will have to figure out a way to not turn the ball over, get open shots and make them, keep UConn from scoring, make UConn turn the ball over. For any team to beat UConn they have alot to overcome because of UConns defense. Bottom line UConns defense keeps opponents from scoring.
 
An opponent locking our locker-room door. Officials with quick whistles, slow whistles, or just being lazy out there calling the game. Teams that are physicals; holding or just playing bully ball, are a problem.
 
Next 12 said:
A team that is better than Uconn and I don't believe that team exists. A team with a better coach than Geno and I don't believe that coach is here. A team with a better bench than Uconn and that bench doesn't exist. Uconn will do all that is necessary to win 6 in a row. Uconn's destiny is already written and that is NO 13 Championship Trophy. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!
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UConn had a far better team than Mississippi State. Uconn had a far better team than Notre Dame the following year. Any team can be beaten on a given day. The best team does not always win. I assure you, a good day by UCLA accompanied by a bad day for UConn will net a loss.
 
msf22b said:
Obviously when you have 2 defenders pressuring one offensive player, someone is open.

I haven’t studied the games in slo-motion to determine why our pressure defense is so much more effective than (say) Tennessee’s…Perhaps someone can explain...

We give up few uncontested layups but obviously something has to give…and Villanova found open corner 3’s but unfortunately for them, made too few to make the game competitive.

It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the NCAA’s…one aspect which was negative for Villanova was that their point, being harassed in the back court was also their best 3-point shooter.
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I think UConn players may be saying something to the ball handler like... "I like Corn Flakes, give me your Corn Flakes" and it throws the dribbler off! I'm sure K.K. is saying something
 
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