Who Could (Possibly) Defeat UConn in the Tournament?

[Plebe]

We are young and consistently inconsistent. That being said, Walz does his best work late in the season and as an underdog. Anything beyond the first weekend and I feel like we are playing with house money, all the pressure is off to just have fun and play ball. (The pressure is not truly off, but in terms of what this team should do, the pressure is off.)

I would be thrilled to see us make a run to Indy. Could be the shortest trip of any team in the NCAA, should it happen with the first rounds at home, regionals hopefully in Lexington and the FF in Indy.

We have 4 legitimate double digit scorers on any night. We are playing pretty well for a very young team. We play the games for a reason, but at the end of the day, the Championship is Uconn's to lose, in my opinion. I'm hopeful we will knock on the door this year, but if not, I expect us to be there for the next few years.

Actually, Louisville has been on a pretty steady upward curve ever since its rocky start in November. Although I didn't watch it, the NC State game is the only "bad" outing that Louisville appears to have had in 2016. They've been playing, I think, like the 5th-best team in the country.

 

[Buzzyboy]

So, Charlie Creme's guesses at seedings not withstanding, is there a team, or teams, you think could actually challenge Connecticut in the NCAA tournament?

Here are my choices:

Notre Dame: They play with a ferocious intensity, and their record this year and the past four rivals Connecticut's. They have lost one game in the ACC since jointing, and just one game in the past three years to a team not Connecticut. They played us tough at the beginning of the season. They will be loaded for bear at the end.

Louisville: They are on an incredible run, with just one defeat in the last nineteen games, and that a narrow loss to Notre Dame. They're young, and if they don't win the NC or go to the FF this year, they will be favorites to do so next year.

Maryland: I think they've become better since their narrow loss to UConn early on. And Walker-Kimbrough is an amazing force. If UConn has another bad-shooting start as it did against Tulane, could a Maryland take advantage and keep the Huskies from recovering?

Baylor? I haven't seen them play. Texas? They were supposed to be good last year, but UConn destroyed them.

Who's not going to challenge UConn? I don't see a strong mid-major out there. Dayton isn't last year's Dayton. Marist doesn't have Rachel Fitz anymore. Could a St. Mary's pose a threat to top seeds? What do you think?

I still think this is Connecticut's year. They're not as strong as last year, but the triumvirate of Stewart, Jefferson, and Tuck, plus a fast-improving KLS should see them through. Your thoughts?

My recollection of the Notre Dame game was that they (ND) were unconscious shooting from three point and it was a combination of UConn's defense being a bit off and just one of those crazy nights where everything the Irish put up went in. I'm inclined to think it'd be just about impossible for them to duplicate their shooting night and even then, UConn won by double digits.

 

[trb123]

1. For the first time in many years, I do not think the team is in peak condition at the end of the regular season. The two starters who worry me most are Kia and Morgan.
Kia had a great second half after Geno talked with her at halftime. I wish she had not needed the reminder.

2. All teams will play us rough. I am afraid of injuries. I hope we do not play Syracuse.

3. I still believe that we will the championship. But my confidence level has gone down significantly.
The Patriots vs the Giants Superbowl game is haunting me.

 

[CocoHusky]

1. For the first time in many years, I do not think the team is in peak condition at the end of the regular season. The two starters who worry me most are Kia and Morgan.
Kia had a great second half after Geno talked with her at halftime. I wish she had not needed the reminder.

2. All teams will play us rough. I am afraid of injuries. I hope we do not play Syracuse.

3. I still believe that we will the championship. But my confidence level has gone down significantly.
The Patriots vs the Giants Superbowl game is haunting me.

Prescription: 1) Relax, teams have been trying to be physical with UCONN since Stewie been in uniform. 2) Find and read any of TonyC's post.
3) Syracuse???- This might require something opiate based if you are really scared of UCONN playing them.

 

[trb123]

Prescription: 1) Relax, teams have been trying to be physical with UCONN since Stewie been in uniform. 2) Find and read any of TonyC's post.
3) Syracuse???- This might require something opiate based if you are really scared of UCONN playing them.

I think the chance of injury is higher if we play Syracuse. The coach does not like Stewie and the play may be extra rough. Better if we can avoid this game.

 

[HuskyNan]

Prescription: 1) Relax, teams have been trying to be physical with UCONN since Stewie been in uniform.

Long before that. Remember Maya had to wear a rib protector and Diana was ways covered in bruises. Such is the life of a superstar.

 

[Vowelguy]

The coach does not like Stewie

Are there quotes to back up this statement?

 

[chrissaran]

UConn is better than last year because Breanna is having her best year. When a player of her caliber is having her best year, watch out.

 

[bags27]

As has been the case against all top 25 teams with strong guard play, we have trouble getting separation. It's not clear why that is, since Mo, Kia, and Lou are excellent defenders, and Stewie and Napheesa are great blockers and rebounders, and Morgan and Gabby are great rebounders. Perhaps they match UConn's pace. So, who could beat UConn? A team with excellent guard play who just has a better night for a variety of reasons. As trb123 said: no one gave the Giants a chance against the Patriots (either time....!).

 

[Ozimoto]

We have been so spoiled over the last three years that when the team does not play up to expectations we as fans get worried. All of the challengers this year have shown problems with consistency. There are times when Maryland, Ohio State, and Notre Dame have looked unbeatable, but none of those teams have put together four quarters of excellent basketball in a single game from what I have seen. If they do, yes they can win a game against UConn if the Huskies have a quarter like the first quarter against Tulane. Of those teams, Notre Dame is the most concerning to me because they are the most consistent team I have seen with the exception of the Huskies, but there is no guarantee that ND will make it to the Final Four. I think Maryland and Ohio State can match up very well with ND when they are playing well. I have not seen Baylor or Louisville play much so I don't know what they bring to the table but certainly based on their records they could pose challenges as well.

Can you imagine the pressure the players must be under knowing that everyone thinks the results of the NCAA tournament are a foregone conclusion? By the time the tournament rolls around I personally would be so concerned about laying an egg and having to deal with all the second guessing and recriminations that would follow that I would be tight as a drum. Performing under that kind of stress would be a real challenge for me.

To their very real credit, Geno, Stewie, Mo, Morgan and company have managed that stress and play even better as they get deeper into the post season over the past three years. It is an amazing feat. Hopefully they can do it one more time.

 

[hoophuskee]

We have been so spoiled over the last three years that when the team does not play up to expectations we as fans get worried. All of the challengers this year have shown problems with consistency. There are times when Maryland, Ohio State, and Notre Dame have looked unbeatable, but none of those teams have put together four quarters of excellent basketball in a single game from what I have seen. If they do, yes they can win a game against UConn if the Huskies have a quarter like the first quarter against Tulane. Of those teams, Notre Dame is the most concerning to me because they are the most consistent team I have seen with the exception of the Huskies, but there is no guarantee that ND will make it to the Final Four. I think Maryland and Ohio State can match up very well with ND when they are playing well. I have not seen Baylor or Louisville play much so I don't know what they bring to the table but certainly based on their records they could pose challenges as well.

Can you imagine the pressure the players must be under knowing that everyone thinks the results of the NCAA tournament are a foregone conclusion? By the time the tournament rolls around I personally would be so concerned about laying an egg and having to deal with all the second guessing and recriminations that would follow that I would be tight as a drum. Performing under that kind of stress would be a real challenge for me.

To their very real credit, Geno, Stewie, Mo, Morgan and company have managed that stress and play even better as they get deeper into the post season over the past three years. It is an amazing feat. Hopefully they can do it one more time.

While there may be no guarantee- imo they are a near lock to make it because THEY ARE so consistent. IMO a team like Ohio State isn't.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Can you imagine the pressure the players must be under knowing that everyone thinks the results of the NCAA tournament are a foregone conclusion? By the time the tournament rolls around I personally would be so concerned about laying an egg and having to deal with all the second guessing and recriminations that would follow that I would be tight as a drum. Performing under that kind of stress would be a real challenge for me.

I worry a little about KLS in this regard. Maybe she'll pull a Stewie and do great in the NCAAs.

 

[Fiftyish]

I worry a little about KLS in this regard. Maybe she'll pull a Stewie and do great in the NCAAs.

Or she could pull a DT as a freshman in the big dance. In either case the team is not dependent upon KLS's performance.

 

[mhshuskies]

per Chiney, no one can keep Stewie from getting her fourth

 

[Huskies Rule]

Another interesting thing. If KLS continues to shoot as she has, this is essentially the same 5 as last year. Except Lou plays better defense, and the bench is stronger. Just sayin".

As well as Gabby and Napheesa play coming off the bench (and I would miss them a lot), as a one-time hypothetical I would take a Kia Stokes bench over them. We currently lack size down low which might (or might not) be problematic. Stokes would singlehandedly eliminate any post-player size mismatches we would face inside. I know she was offensively challenged, but unless you wanna play Stewie in the post, we have nobody who can do what Kia did so well. Just sayin'.

 

[JordyG]

As well as Gabby and Napheesa play coming off the bench (and I would miss them a lot), as a one-time hypothetical I would take a Kia Stokes bench over them. We currently lack size down low which might (or might not) be problematic. Stokes would singlehandedly eliminate any post-player size mismatches we would face inside. I know she was offensively challenged, but unless you wanna play Stewie in the post, we have nobody who can do what Kia did so well. Just sayin'.

Stokes as a junior and senior. Let's see these two as juniors and seniors, then get back to me. I personally see both of them on future AA lists. I guess we're both just sayin".

 

[CocoHusky]

per Chiney, no one can keep Stewie from getting her fourth

Then Chiney is only one full year behind Diana who predicted the same about this time last year.