Uconn is in trouble..

[mlindsay]

It is really hard to beat UConn with bigs because of how aggressively they defend the guards and passing lanes. Posts can't do anything if they don't get the ball. When they lose it's generally one of three things or a mix of three things.

1. UConn has an off night.
2. Someone on the opposing team has a career night.
3. They could not defend the opposing teams guards adequately.

I never thought Baylor was going to be an issue it's teams like DePaul & Temple (like mlindsay stated previously) that are going to give this team issues. The funny thing about looking at a game on paper is that it can be overwhelmingly decisive or completely misleading.

UConn has played a lot of teams with imposing size and supposedly dominating post players and you can probably only count on 1 hand how many times that team has beaten UConn in probably 15 years or more.

You are exactly right and these coaches (Coach Bruno) and (Coach Cadoza) know Geno and his style of play very well having coached with him (Bruno with the National Team) and (Cadoza as one of his assistants from UConn).

 

[sccshortstop]

I didn't see Ucon's game against FSU but my takeaway from this game is said all by Hoya. Did we have no chance to get Dangerfield? She is going to be their next monster on the court.

Like a chance of a snowball in hades!!!

 

[Amb3096]

You are exactly right and these coaches (Coach Bruno) and (Coach Cadoza) know Geno and his style of play very well having coached with him (Bruno with the National Team) and (Cadoza as one of his assistants from UConn).

SC will also be a bad matchup for UConn: a true back to basket post with size, an agile and athletic high post, and two dynamic guards who can score from anywhere on the court. They will have plenty of time to get their freshmen PGs some valuable reps by the time that game is played.

 

[Hoya Saxa]

SC will also be a bad matchup for UConn: a true back to basket post with size, an agile and athletic high post, and two dynamic guards who can score from anywhere on the court. They will have plenty of time to get their freshmen PGs some valuable reps by the time that game is played.

While it is still very early in the season, South Carolina's two transfers might make it the team to beat this year.

 

[sccshortstop]

While it is still very early in the season, South Carolina's two transfers might make it the team to beat this year.

I believe you are right!!

 

[mlindsay]

SC will also be a bad matchup for UConn: a true back to basket post with size, an agile and athletic high post, and two dynamic guards who can score from anywhere on the court. They will have plenty of time to get their freshmen PGs some valuable reps by the time that game is played.

I think it will be, I called for UConn to lose this game yesterday because of the many weapons SC has but many are in the starting lineup and if you can find a way to get someone in early foul trouble (preferably Wilson) you might have a chance.

I don't think the back to the basket Post will hurt them because the 6'5" Butler is giving them quality minutes.
The fact that Wilson is a matchup nightmare at 6'5" at the High Post and on the Wing and you add the "Baller" in Davis who can light it up and Gray who isn't a slouch it will be hard to defeat. Dangerfield and Chong will have to make Cueavas work on defense to take the burden off of Collier and Samuelson.

Geno will have a game plan but I think SC will be able to expose it! (It won't be a blowout though) SC wins by about 8.

 

[Amb3096]

I think it will be, I called for UConn to lose this game yesterday because of the many weapons SC has but many are in the starting lineup and if you can find a way to get someone in early foul trouble (preferably Wilson) you might have a chance.

I don't think the back to the basket Post will hurt them because the 6'5" Butler is giving them quality minutes.
The fact that Wilson is a matchup nightmare at 6'5" at the High Post and on the Wing and you add the "Baller" in Davis who can light it up and Gray who isn't a slouch it will be hard to defeat. Dangerfield and Chong will have to make Cueavas work on defense to take the burden off of Collier and Samuelson.

Geno will have a game plan but I think SC will be able to expose it! (It won't be a blowout though) SC wins by about 8.

I think where A'ja will be able to exploit UConn in ways that Baylor couldn't is that she is a long, athletic post player with size who can attack off the dribble. She doesn't have to get the ball in a certain position. She is good enough to create from just about anywhere inside of the 3 pt line. That, combined with the two transfers hovering the perimeter daring UConn to double team Wilson with Coates ready to clean up any misses will make them very hard for UConn to defend.

I really do want a blowout. I hope SC doesn't let me down.

 

[Volfan2012]

Somebody totally shut down Davis last night. That is what every teams needs someone that can shut a player down.

 

[mlindsay]

I think where A'ja will be able to exploit UConn in ways that Baylor couldn't is that she is a long, athletic post player with size who can attack off the dribble. She doesn't have to get the ball in a certain position. She is good enough to create from just about anywhere inside of the 3 pt line. That, combined with the two transfers hovering the perimeter daring UConn to double team Wilson with Coates ready to clean up any misses will make them very hard for UConn to defend.

I really do want a blowout. I hope SC doesn't let me down.

I would love a blowout as well to see Geno's reaction throughout the game. and like I said UConn has to find a way to get Wilson out of the game because I think that helps their chances but you are right it will be tough for most teams to defend SC but it will extremely tough for UConn because their size is limited in a spot that they will need it to be.

Wilson is a lot more offensively sound than Monpremier and Cox and at 6'5" harder to defend when Davis and Gray can knock down 3's consistently and also get to the basket. The game is in UConn and the refs and ESPN will try to ensure that the beating isn't as bad.

 

[Amb3096]

Somebody totally shut down Davis last night. That is what every teams needs someone that can shut a player down.

I think Kim Mulkey's gameplan shut down Nina Davis. She was hellbent on exploiting the big girl matchup, or setting up the outside shooters. Nina was odd-man out. I recall that she got stuffed twice by Gabby Williams inside the paint and took 2 ugly as sin jump shots that had no shot of going in. Other than that, she might as well not have been in the game because she made absolutely no difference on either offense or defense.

 

[gule]

kim sold her soul to get brown, cox, and the other big girl. She kicked Davis to the curb because she is not 6' 4"

 

[sccshortstop]

I would love a blowout as well to see Geno's reaction throughout the game. and like I said UConn has to find a way to get Wilson out of the game because I think that helps their chances but you are right it will be tough for most teams to defend SC but it will extremely tough for UConn because their size is limited in a spot that they will need it to be.

Wilson is a lot more offensively sound than Monpremier and Cox and at 6'5" harder to defend when Davis and Gray can knock down 3's consistently and also get to the basket. The game is in UConn and the refs and ESPN will try to ensure that the beating isn't as bad.

When is their game played?

 

[mlindsay]

I think Kim Mulkey's gameplan shut down Nina Davis. She was hellbent on exploiting the big girl matchup, or setting up the outside shooters. Nina was odd-man out. I recall that she got stuffed twice by Gabby Williams inside the paint and took 2 ugly as sin jump shots that had no shot of going in. Other than that, she might as well not have been in the game because she made absolutely no difference on either offense or defense.

Exactly and this is why I don't think Baylor will really be a threat to win anything. As we have seen from Mulkey in the past, she chases all the size and is so focus on getting that size the ball that she alienates a lot of her players. i.e. Griner and that class only winning 1 National Championship. It's cool to want the biggest/tallest team, but if you can't do anything with them, it defeats the purpose.

 

[Amb3096]

Exactly and this is why I don't think Baylor will really be a threat to win anything. As we have seen from Mulkey in the past, she chases all the size and is so focus on getting that size the ball that she alienates a lot of her players. i.e. Griner and that class only winning 1 National Championship. It's cool to want the biggest/tallest team, but if you can't do anything with them, it defeats the purpose.

I think Lauren Cox can change that for Baylor, because she is more of a traditional faceup 4 than a true center like Brown. Mompremier is a center, period. She has no high post game. Playing Mompremier and Brown makes them a better rebounding team and they can shut down the paint on defense, but it limits them on offense because both of them need to be under the basket to score. Once Cox gets settled, she will change their offense. She didn't score, but she had some really nice moves and just didn't finish. She is going to be a really good player for them.

I'm impressed by what Nina Davis did for 3 years, but the writing on the wall was always there for her. At some point, being a 5'11 post player with no jump shot will catch up with you. I expected that to happen in WNBA training camp, but she looked completely out of her league last night when UConn was clogging up the paint. She has to expand her game this season if she expects to have a professional career in the US. Part of that is on Mulkey for not developing her for the next stage, but I can partly see why she would let her play her game given how effective she's been for Baylor so far.

 

[Nuyoika]

I think it will be, I called for UConn to lose this game yesterday because of the many weapons SC has but many are in the starting lineup and if you can find a way to get someone in early foul trouble (preferably Wilson) you might have a chance.

I don't think the back to the basket Post will hurt them because the 6'5" Butler is giving them quality minutes.
The fact that Wilson is a matchup nightmare at 6'5" at the High Post and on the Wing and you add the "Baller" in Davis who can light it up and Gray who isn't a slouch it will be hard to defeat. Dangerfield and Chong will have to make Cueavas work on defense to take the burden off of Collier and Samuelson.

Geno will have a game plan but I think SC will be able to expose it! (It won't be a blowout though) SC wins by about 8.

I haven't seen South Carolina this year and since that game is in February I think UConn still has as good chance to win it. Dawn in her pregame interview for the UConn game stated last year she only gives her team 1 game plan. There is no plan B, C, or D. That is why I think UConn has a chance to pull that 1 out.

As a coach you must have moves and counter moves because the best of the best (Muffet, VanderVeer, Auriemma) they WILL make adjustments. If South Carolina does win it will be because of the 3 things I stated earlier in this thread. That is what it took for them to beat tOSU because it wasn't post play.

I am eager to see the South Carolina vs Louisville game that will tell me what I need to know. What I am looking for from South Carolina is balance. Obviously A'ja isn't going to foul out every night and K. Davis isn't dropping 37 every night so once I get to see what normal looks like for them I will have a better idea of spread but an 8 point win sounds fair.

I also want to see their transition defense I think if UConn can make South Carolina uncomfortable with the speed of the game then they have a really good shot at winning. As far as how it will be called I think it depends on if UConn decides to press or not. If they do there will be a lot of fouls both ways. South Carolina last year was sent to the line more than any team win WCBB... didn't matter though because free throw shooting doesn't seem to be a priority for some reason as they don't take advantage of those trips to the charity stripe.

** Funny thing I have noticed about SC over the past 2 years as I have watched nearly all of their games as I wanted to see how A'ja progressed there. Have you ever seen all the assistants get to yell at the refs? That seems so odd to me. Generally it's just the head coach. It's mainly Boyer & Chmiel who do this but I just think it's funny. They then usually have McCray-Penson talk to the player they just yanked who made the mistake.

 

[sccshortstop]

I haven't seen South Carolina this year and since that game is in February I think UConn still has as good chance to win it. Dawn in her pregame interview for the UConn game stated last year she only gives her team 1 game plan. There is no plan B, C, or D. That is why I think UConn has a chance to pull that 1 out.

As a coach you must have moves and counter moves because the best of the best (Muffet, VanderVeer, Auriemma) they WILL make adjustments. If South Carolina does win it will be because of the 3 things I stated earlier in this thread. That is what it took for them to beat tOSU because it wasn't post play.

I am eager to see the South Carolina vs Louisville game that will tell me what I need to know. What I am looking for from South Carolina is balance. Obviously A'ja isn't going to foul out every night and K. Davis isn't dropping 37 every night so once I get to see what normal looks like for them I will have a better idea of spread but an 8 point win sounds fair.

I also want to see their transition defense I think if UConn can make South Carolina uncomfortable with the speed of the game then they have a really good shot at winning. As far as how it will be called I think it depends on if UConn decides to press or not. If they do there will be a lot of fouls both ways. South Carolina last year was sent to the line more than any team win WCBB... didn't matter though because free throw shooting doesn't seem to be a priority for some reason as they don't take advantage of those trips to the charity stripe.

** Funny thing I have noticed about SC over the past 2 years as I have watched nearly all of their games as I wanted to see how A'ja progressed there. Have you ever seen all the assistants get to yell at the refs? That seems so odd to me. Generally it's just the head coach. It's mainly Boyer & Chmiel who do this but I just think it's funny. They then usually have McCray-Penson talk to the player they just yanked who made the mistake.

I agree with the others that you do a pretty good job on our LV site without bashing. I will say I have not noticed that about SC, but strange you said that!! Last night I was watching near the end of your game last night and I did notice that Dailey and Ralph as well as Geno yelling at the refs. I believe it was during the UC flop where Baylor had no chance to come back to win. I do not even think Baylor would anyway.

 

[lvocd]

Looks like the Huskies are on their way to at least the Final Four, and possibly a fifth championship.

Shocking. (Not)

 

[Trixietrouble]

Looks like the Huskies are on their way to at least the Final Four, and possibly a fifth championship.

Shocking. (Not)

I think ND and SC will have something to say about this first.

I also agree with a previous post that a team like DePaul could be trouble for UCONN (they sub like a hockey team changes line shifts).

Last night if just looked like Kim felt her talent should have won the game outright. It didn't look like she made adjustments that could have altered the outcome of the game.

 

[Amb3096]

Last night if just looked like Kim felt her talent should have won the game outright. It didn't look like she made adjustments that could have altered the outcome of the game.

That's what I thought, too. She acted like it was just a matter of time before the 2 big girls overwhelmed UConn's smaller posts, and was content to let it play out. For a while, it looked like she was right until the fouls started mounting up and Dangerfield/KLS took over.

 

[PointGuard]

I don't even think DD would start at UC.

Look at the demeanor of every Uconn player over the years. Hate to say it but DD is not the type player UCONN seriously recruits and extends LOI to. Forget start. She would never wear the uniform.

Players who think they are b igger than the game recruit other likeminded players and go off to a NC where they think they can take over a program

Tell me which UConn player, over the past 20 years, you have seen who pouts, whines, moans, groans is unhappy or is not a team player and doesn't hustle every second they are on the floor..... takes a play off?

The type players recruited are "team first" mentality or they are not brought in. If one squeaks by the screening process they transfer out in a year or two.

No SEC team comes close to matching the fundamentals excellence of UConn.

I thought Baylor would kick UConn's butt. UConn always just knows otherwise it seems

 

[sccshortstop]

Look at the demeanor of every Uconn player over the years. Hate to say it but DD is not the type player UCONN seriously recruits and extends LOI to. Forget start. She would never wear the uniform.

Players who think they are b igger than the game recruit other likeminded players and go off to a NC where they think they can take over a program

Tell me which UConn player, over the past 20 years, you have seen who pouts, whines, moans, groans is unhappy or is not a team player and doesn't hustle every second they are on the floor..... takes a play off?

The type players recruited are "team first" mentality or they are not brought in. If one squeaks by the screening process they transfer out in a year or two.

No SEC team comes close to matching the fundamentals excellence of UConn.

I thought Baylor would kick UConn's butt. UConn always just knows otherwise it seems

You might be on to something!!

 

[Amb3096]

Look at the demeanor of every Uconn player over the years. Hate to say it but DD is not the type player UCONN seriously recruits and extends LOI to. Forget start. She would never wear the uniform.

Players who think they are b igger than the game recruit other likeminded players and go off to a NC where they think they can take over a program

Tell me which UConn player, over the past 20 years, you have seen who pouts, whines, moans, groans is unhappy or is not a team player and doesn't hustle every second they are on the floor..... takes a play off?

They are team first or they are not brought in. If one squeaks by the screening process they transfer out in a year or two.

No SEC team comes close to matching the fundamentals excellence of UConn.

I thought Baylor would kick UConn's butt. UConn always just knows otherwise it seems

For the bolded part, Diana Taurasi. And Stefanie Dolson was a Class AAA whiner. As far as she was concerned, she has never committed a foul in her life. Plus, didn't they have several players transfer because they were unhappy with their role on the team...Banks, Edwards and Elkmark? They also signed like 3-4 wing players, including the #1 player in the class. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of them transfer when they realize that they aren't going to be seeing the court much...not that there's anything wrong with that.

The reality is that UConn heavily recruited Diamond, and they would have been happy if she had signed with them. I'm also sure Geno would have laid down the law for her, and she would have responded well to his coaching. Let's not pretend that she wasn't one of the most sought after players in HS, and as a potential transfer.

 

[mlindsay]

For the bolded part, Diana Taurasi. And Stefanie Dolson was a Class AAA whiner. As far as she was concerned, she has never committed a foul in her life. Plus, didn't they have several players transfer because they were unhappy with their role on the team...Banks, Edwards and Elkmark? They also signed like 3-4 wing players, including the #1 player in the class. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of them transfer when they realize that they aren't going to be seeing the court much...not that there's anything wrong with that.

The reality is that UConn heavily recruited Diamond, and they would have been happy if she had signed with them. I'm also sure Geno would have laid down the law for her, and she would have responded well to his coaching. Let's not pretend that she wasn't one of the most sought after players in HS, and as a potential transfer.

Exactly! I was going to say did they not see Taurasi play and fake a tooth injury to land Britney Griner in the Draft and win another title. She is a world class whiner! Great player but to say "No UConn player is" is pathetic

 

[VollyParton]

They've had pouty/moody players, too. Wish I could remember names, but I remember G always being on their case, publicly calling them out, to no avail. Y'all are at the point of ascribing mystical powers to the folks up north.

 

[sccshortstop]

Exactly! I was going to say did they not see Taurasi play and fake a tooth injury to land Britney Griner in the Draft and win another title. She is a world class winer! Great player but to say "No UConn player is" is pathetic

Yep even to this day she is the worse whiner in whatever league she is playing on. To add one more quality she seems to be most proud of is: she has the most vulgar mouth I have ever heard on the basketball court and I have seen Bobby Knight and Kevin Oneil just to name two. Never a female with a mouth link Taurasi!!!:clapping: