UConn Temple Post Game Report

 

UConn-Temple Post game report 

(pictures from the Hartford Courant, UConnhuskies.com)

 

It was good to see Coach Cardoza having fun with Geno before the game. I'm sure it wasn't long into the 13-0 run to start the game before the fun ended. I loved how hard her players played and when the inside was clearly shut down for them, they didn't hesitate to take the three pointer. Temple only loses 1 player and their best players looks to be a freshman, so the future is brighter for the Owls.

 

Geno loved how the UConn players knew they had an inside advantage and kept going to the bigs in the paint. Tuck was overwhelming for the Temple players and it was just a dominant performance on the boards as well. In the second half, when Temple doubled down low at every chance, UConn found the very hot Kia Nurse and she hit several consecutive three pointers on nice assists from Stewart, Tuck and KML.

 

I'm sure some won't find these games beautiful, but it was good enough for me!  

 

Game Quotes     

 

Geno - On starting fast "That's pretty much the goal most games. I can't think of a better way to start any game, getting three or four layups right away, and getting to the free throw line as well. Morgan (Tuck) and Stewie were very aggressive right from the beginning, and they know if they're working hard, are aggressive, and they want the ball, they're going to get it. We're not going to refuse to throw it to them because we haven't shot from the three point line yet. That's the plan every game, today it worked a lot better."

 

On Stewart and Tuck -  "They're good together. They both have very good instincts. They can anticipate each other's moves. They've played a lot of basketball together, and they have a lot of certain skills that allows them to be good teammates and help each other. Those two have a great rapport together, and that's not necessarily something you can teach or coach."

 

Coach Cardoza - "You watch film on them and they have Kiah Stokes and Brianna Stewart, and you can’t go in and challenge them if you don’t have a post player. They’re just going to sit there and wait. I felt like it was going to be difficult for our guards to do what they do best and that is beat people off the dribble because they are there waiting for you. So we were forced to shoot a lot of 3’s because those are the only shots we thought we were going to get that were open. We’re not going to get points in the paint when you have Stewart and Kiah Stokes in there waiting for you.”

 

 

 

Kia Nurse - “I think there’s definitely room for improvement on any team, anywhere. I know there’s little things that we can clean up, and we’re going to be working on those things in practice, but we’ve come out pretty well and our offense is working as best as it can right now.”

“Definitely, I think our defense is a little intimidating at times…Offensively, we like to get out and run and that can cause a lot of problems. Defensively, we like to get up on you and create turnovers and that can also cause problems for other teams.” 

 

Morgan Tuck -  “I think going inside is what we tried to do because they were undersized and we knew that… We just want to prove to the coaches that we can produce each game. He gets on the post sometimes about not being tough enough and not having a presence, so I think we tried to do that.”

 

 

 

Player of the Game
Morgan Tuck 

 

I don't believe there is a WCBB players right now that has the complete set of post moves that Morgan Tuck has. Drop steps left and right. Front pivot, inside pivot, step through, you name it, she has it. Now she isn't missing any layups, jump hooks or jumps shots. She is getting more and more comfortable with her mid-range game.

24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, just another great game for a great player. And all of this in only 23 minutes.
 

  

Moriah Jefferson 
 

Wow....she is human....lol. Not a great shooting game for Jefferson, but another solid game leading the offense. Geno kept her minutes to 20, but she managed five assists and another game with zero turnovers.
  

 

 

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

 

Great shot by my friend DannyK of the record breaking ball. Thanks!!! I love the other shot I posted above. It shows her driving hard to the basket, expanding her game. She was terrific against Temple. She didn't just settle for three's.  The evolution of KML's game has been enjoyable to watch. Now that the pressure of breaking the record is over, look for more games like this.

 

17 points, 10 rebounds, 7-10 shooting, 2-3 on 3's, 4 assists.  

 

 

Breanna Stewart 

 

Hot and cold. That describes Stewart's outside game this year. Wednesday against Temple is was cold. But she is a true AA and when she is not hitting the outside shot, the rest of her game doesn't suffer. She still managed 18 points along with 6 rebounds and 6 assists in only 22 minutes. And her defense never suffers.        

 

Kia Nurse 

 

Ok, now we know. Hair loose? Bad player. Hair in bun? Great player. Thanks to John A for the info.

 

"With hair down, she (Nurse) was 0 of 2 from the field with no points in 12 minutes. Hair up, she had four 3s in 9 minutes. Hair up wins" 

 

4-5 on three point shots has moved her just a smidge behind KML and ahead of Jefferson on the team percentage. It's amazing how folks were so down on her outside shot at the beginning of the season and now she is a hair below 50%.

 

13 points, 5 rebounds and one assists.    

 

 

 

Kiah Stokes

 

I know, it's not a picture of Kiah blocking a shot. I just wanted to show everyone her perfect form on her jump shot. And against Temple she was terrific. Almost POG in my mind just because she was so solid in this game. 9 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocks. Just awesome. She is now over 4 blocks per game and still on pace to break Lobo's rebounding record.   

 

 

 

 Saniya Chong

 

I don't understand what the fans are expecting from her. She is starting to play her role on this particular team to perfection. She is allowing the starting guards to get some rest without hurting the team in the process. Is she as good as Nurse or Jefferson? No, but she doesn't have to be. I saw a glimpse of the player I saw in HS with a floater in the lane....NICE.  

 

4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal.

 

 

Gabby Williams

  

UConn's Dennis Rodman (only in rebounds) had 10 more rebounds against Temple. She jumps so effortlessly, the rebounds just nestle in her hands high above her opponents. Her shooting percentage took a hit with her 2-8 effort, but that is surely and anomaly.

 

5 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks.

 

 

Courtney Ekmark

 

As you can see in this photo, Ekmark is working hard. The results? Meh......

 

Keep on working Courtney, it will come soon.

 

 

 

 

 

UConn's next game is Sunday, January 18th at 1:00 against Jose Fernandez's South Florida Bulls.

 

Clearly the 2nd best team in the AAC, South Florida has occasionally given UConn a tough game. I'll be writing my Pre Game Analysis pretty soon so look for it. I'm hoping sometime Saturday.