Who Could (Possibly) Defeat UConn in the Tournament?

[Carnac]

I've read all of the posts above. All of you make some very valid and spot on points. In the "Who can beat UConn debate", just remember that Geno knows what's ahead in the tournament. He knows the EXACT time to jack up his girls and have them at their peak (performance wise). When UConn arrives in Indiana, they will be stoked, ready to play their best games of the year. You can suggest all of the what if's and maybe's you want to. All of the chips will be in the center of the table. This will be the biggest weekend of the season. This is what they've been training for since the first day of practice back in October. They've had this weekend circled on their calendars since the schedule was announced. They will bring their A GAME. THAT will be they first thing they pack.

ALL 5 starters will be ready to play 40 minutes BOTH games. Mo and Stewart are not going out on a sour note.
They along with the rest of the team will do whatever they have to do to win the NC. It's going to come down to those last two games. UConn will be ready. Geno is a master motivator. He knows what buttons to push and when. If you don't remember anything else, remember this: Geno always says "If we bring our A game, no one is going to beat us". You can take that to the bank.

It's not going to happen, but a UConn collapse in the finals would be bigger news than when they win. (notice I didn't say IF they win).

 

[CocoHusky]

"Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, based obscurely on a Greek original via William Anderson Scott). Madness, in the ancient Greek world, came from hubris, and I sense a lot of it here. Just sayin'....

But I think a certain amount of Hubris is to be expected on a UCONN WCBB board no?

If not us, then who?
If not now, then when?”
― John E. Lewis

 

[bags27]

But I think a certain amount of Hubris is to be expected on a UCONN WCBB board no?

If not us, then who?
If not now, then when?”
― John E. Lewis

John E. Lewis ripped off a traditional Jewish sentiment attributed to Rabbi Hillel (contemporary of Jesus): "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?"
The point of this is to remember that, while we must hold ourselves accountable, we must also think of others. And we cannot put off those obligations.
Hillel was certainly influenced by contemporary Hellenistic Greek thought, and while he wouldn't agree with the basic point about hubris, he would acknowledge that modesty is an essential quality of being human. Just sayin'.....

 

[Roundball fan]

ON a given night any one can be beat. We would have to play bad and the other team would have to shot very good. As has been said if we bring our A game we can't be beat. Stewie finally had an off game so that is out of the way. The best of the UConn Huskies is about to come out, so to every player I say go get the NC. Shooting for 4. South Carolina will be in the championship game and I love beating them. HUSKIES, HUSKIES who that gonna beat them HUSKIES?

 

[iamcbs]

It's been said time and again, that the only way to have a chance to beat UConn is a team has to be able to score to match them. With the way the Huskies play D, no team they face will score enough. Geno has two basic principles on defense; take away the opposition's most effective scoring threat and don't allow the opposing team to run the plays they run most effectively, as they did with tOSU, South Carolina, and FSU. UConn runs a read and react offense and they score effectively from all five positions, so they are extremely difficult to defend, Stewart and Tuck are match-up problems for any team they face. ND can score but UConn can defend ND relatively easily because Brianna Turner won't beat the UConn Big's don the floor the way she does everyone else and she's really not an effective post player, he paint points come on lobs and beating teams down the floor.

If UConn is going to be beaten by anyone a confluence of events must occur, a "perfect storm," if you will, otherwise an 11th Natty is a foregone conclusion...

 

[CocoHusky]

John E. Lewis ripped off a traditional Jewish sentiment attributed to Rabbi Hillel (contemporary of Jesus): "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?"
The point of this is to remember that, while we must hold ourselves accountable, we must also think of others. And we cannot put off those obligations.
Hillel was certainly influenced by contemporary Hellenistic Greek thought, and while he wouldn't agree with the basic point about hubris, he would acknowledge that modesty is an essential quality of being human. Just sayin'.....

I am always thinking of others. So a rephrasing of Lewis quote might look like this :
If UCONN fans cannot brag (on a UCONN board no less) what other fans can brag ?
UCONN is defending back, to back, to back ,( getting ready to defend ) national Champions, If UCONN fans cannot brag now when will we ever be able to brag.?

 

[bags27]

If UCONN fans cannot brag now when will we ever be able to brag.?

April 6, is all goes well.

 

[JordyG]

The Temple game was next game after the South Carolina. Morgan had two full weeks of down time before South and the schedule allows her to have almost as much rest going into the NCAA tournament.
AAC Finals is March 7 th. 1st and Second round games start on March 18th. Realistically UCONN should probably not need Morgan until regional finals which are the March 28th. There is plenty of time to rest & Morgan will be fine- I hope.

Interestingly Morgan hasn't worn her knee brace for two games. I don't think her knee is at this time her biggest issue. She's running the floor well. With her back to the basket she's taking a nice long step left and right and planting strong for layups. Honestly to me it just seems her timing is off. Not just inside where double teams have been an issue for her, but outside as well. Players need to play themselves out of stuff like this. I'm not worried. It will help if KLS continues to keep the pressure off the inside by making shots.

 

[JordyG]

I dislike very much how people are Roger Clemensing-misremembering the Dayton, BYU, this years ND game. Each game required a halftime adjustment and UCONN has the best in the business at making adjustments. In the second half of those games UCONN adjusted well enough to have leads that were well above the expected MOV. Here is the thing about defeating UCONN in a big game, one or more UCONN players can afford to have a bad game because Stewie never has a bad game. To beat UCONN ALL your players must play at their best.

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".

 

[nd2tty]

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".

Hmm, don't know about that. Maybe "essentially". But a senior KML shooting 49% from 3 vs. KLS shooting 37% (albeit 42% in recent weeks). KML had 100+ assists. KML was also a better rebounder, offensive and defense. Defensive liability or not - and KLS, while improved defensively from the beginning of the season, ain't Stewie or Mo (or even Nurse for that matter) - I'll take the senior. I mean, UConn isn't going to lose or anything....

 

[JordyG]

I thought the effective words were "If KLS continues" and "Essentially". I would argue whether KML was a better rebounder or a better passer. Stats only tell A truth. And never "nothing but".

 

[Blair]

Honestly, the only team I think can beat UCONN is UCONN itself! It's up to them!

Well said...

 

[Gus Mahler]

Some time ago I pondered starting a thread on who was the better passer, KML or KLS. I thought the world of KML overall, and thought her passing was very underrated. But, when I watch KLS, it is not her shooting that impresses me, it's her passing. She just seems like a natural.

 

[arty155]

"Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad"... Madness, in the ancient Greek world, came from hubris, and I sense a lot of it here...

 

[JordyG]

Some time ago I pondered starting a thread on who was the better passer, KML or KLS. I thought the world of KML overall, and thought her passing was very underrated. But, when I watch KLS, it is not her shooting that impresses me, it's her passing. She just seems like a natural.

Yes. I've noted before that her passes are crisp, especially her chest passes which seem to me picture perfect. She just needs to know and read her teammates better. All that with time.

 

[bags27]

View attachment 12212

It sort of worries me that you have time to do that. (I say with envy!).

 

[nd2tty]

I thought the effective words were "If KLS continues" and "Essentially". I would argue whether KML was a better rebounder or a better passer. Stats only tell A truth. And never "nothing but".

That's fair. Though KML's rebounding in big games was always somewhat overlooked. The senior vs. freshman aspect matters far more than the stats. I expect KLS to have ups-and-downs between now and April (not sure she will be Stewie-good in freshman post-season campaign though), but I'm not sure that we beat ND last year in the NC game without KML's timely plays and shots (that 3pt and 2pt in consecutive possessions in the 4Q especially).

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I am always thinking of others. So a rephrasing of Lewis quote might look like this :
If UCONN fans cannot brag (on a UCONN board no less) what other fans can brag ?
UCONN is defending back, to back, to back ,( getting ready to defend ) national Champions, If UCONN fans cannot brag now when will we ever be able to brag.?

As the pitcher Dizzy Dean once said, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it." And Connecticut has been doing it for the past three years. Confidence that this year's team can do it again comes from their record of knocking off the top-ranked teams in the nation- already!

Odds on favorite. And that ain't braggin'.

 

[JordyG]

An

As the pitcher Dizzy Dean once said, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it." And Connecticut has been doing it for the past three years. Confidence that this year's team can do it again comes from their record of knocking off the top-ranked teams in the nation- already!

Odds on favorite. And that ain't braggin'.

And of course Satchel Page said "Don't look back something may be gaining on you". No looking back. This team plays like champions and sees itself as champions. Enough for me.

 

[hoophuskee]

Any team that gets to the final four is a threat. If an amateur hockey team in Lake Placid could beat the world's greatest team, then in one game UCONN could lose on a neutral court. If they play ND it won't be neutral.

 

[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.