Tuesday, February 3, 2015

UConn/Cincinnati II pregame report


 
 
 
 
 
                      
 
 
 
 
 
 
UCONN @ Cincinnati
Day: Tuesday
Date: February 3th, 2015
Location: XL Center, Hartford CT   
Time: 7:00
TV: SNY
 UConn 20-1 (10-0)
Cincinnati 6-15 (3-7)

Head to Head
 
1/12/06 W 92-71 H
1/30/07 W 70-60 A
1/19/08 W 86-49 H
1/24/09 W 65-34 A
1/7/10 W 83-51 H
1/29/11 W 80-46 A
1/19/12 W 80-37 H
1/26/13 W 67-31 H
12/29/13 W 67-34 H
2/1/14 W 86-39 A
3/8/14 W 72-42 N
1/25/15 W 96-31 A

 Overview
 
Cincinnati's season has not improved much since the last time these two teams met in January. Not only was the loss to UConn a terrible 65 point loss, Geno held back for as much as he could and they still lost by the largest margin this year. In the following game they lost to Memphis by twelve at home, scoring only 44 points. They did beat one of the worse teams in the league, Houston, in overtime in their last game. I'm not sure that is such a great accomplishment.     
 
UConn is coming off their sloppiest performance since the St. Johns game. They had several great performances before faltering some against Temple Sunday. It was only one game and I'm not sure Cincinnati can take much solace in that game and how it might impact how UConn plays in this game. In fact, it was probably one of the worst things that could happen. Geno now has them home, working harder than ever, and will be using his considerable motivational skills to have them revved up for Wednesday's game. Sorry Jamelle.        

UConn Starters
 
11 Kia Nurse 6' Freshman Guard
 
Last time against Cincinnati - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 TO, 1 steal
 
 
2014-15: MPG 24.9, FG% .550, 3PT% .477, PPG 11.6, RPG 3.5, APG 3.2, 39 steals, 0 blocks

4 Moriah Jefferson 5'7" Junior Guard
 
Last time against Cincinnati - 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 TO, 1 steal
 
 
2014-15: MPG 26.2, FG% .572, 3PT% .509, PPG 11.7, RPG 2.5, APG 4.6, 52 steals, 3 block

23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 5'11" Senior Forward

Last time against Cincinnati - 19 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 TO, 1 steal

2014-15: MPG 28.0, FG% .537, 3PT% .513, PPG 14.1, RPG 4.3, APG 2.7, 23 steals, 3 blocks
 
3 Morgan Tuck 6'2" Sophomore Forward

 
Last time against Cincinnati - 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TO's, 1 steal, 1 block
 
2014-15: MPG 25.7, FG% .577, 3PT% .171, PPG 14.5, RPG 5.3, APG 3.0, 15 steals, 8 blocks
 
30 Breanna Stewart 6'4" Junior Forward

Last time against Cincinnati - 19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 TO's, 4 steal, 1 block
 2014-15: MPG 27.7, FG% .533, 3PT% .328, PPG 16.8, RPG 6.7, APG 3.3, 38 steals, 44 blocks



                 UConn Bench


41 Kiah Stokes 6'3"  Senior Center

Last time against Cincinnati - 4 points, 14 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 TO's, 3 blocks
 
2014-15: MPG 20.8, FG% .528, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.5, RPG 8.2, APG 1.0, 13 steals, 101 blocks
 
12 Saniya Chong 5'8" Sophomore Guard


Last time against Cincinnati - 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 TO's
 
 
2014-15: MPG 19.8, FG% .455, 3PT% .362, PPG 6.0, RPG 2.2, APG 1.8, 11 steals, 6 blocks


 
15 Gabby Williams 5'11" Freshman Guard
   
Last time against Cincinnati - 7 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TO's, 1 steal
2014-15: MPG 16.5 FG% .624, 3PT% .000, PPG 8.5, RPG 5.9, APG 1.3, 28 steals, 8 blocks


22 Courtney Ekmark 6' Freshman Guard

Last time against Cincinnati - 3 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists, 0 TO's
 
2014-15: MPG 13.2 FG% .258, 3PT% .222, PPG 1.8, RPG 1.9, APG .9, 4 steals, 0 blocks

UConn Complete Stats



*******************************************************************
 
 
Cincinnati Starters

 
35 Marley Hill  6'2" Sophomore Forward 
 
 
 
Last time against UConn - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 TO's, 2 blocks
 
 
 
2014-15: MPG 33.6, FG% .438, 3PT% .000, PPG 12.8, RPG 9.4, APG .8, 8 steals, 23 blocks

 
03 Anna Owens 5'6" Freshman Guard
 
Owens was named FOW for the AAC this week. She had been on the honor roll four times this year before snaring this award. She scored 25 points on 4-8 three point shooting in the overtime win over Houston. She opened the week with 9 points 6 rebounds and 3 assists against Memphis.
 
Last time against UConn - 8 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 TO's    
 
 
2014-15: MPG 37.4, FG% .361, 3PT% .434, PPG 13.1, RPG 4.9, APG 2.9, 21 steals, 3 blocks
 
23 Jasmine Whitfield 5'10" Junior Guard
 
Last time against UConn - 2 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 4 TO's
   
    2014-15: MPG 33.6, FG% .336 3PT% .259, PPG 10.9, RPG 4.5, APG 2.0, 18 steals, 4 blocks

 
25 Chelsea Jamison 5'10" Senior Guard
 
Last time against UConn - 0 points, 1 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TO's
   
2014-15: MPG 26.7, FG% .416, 3PT% .333, PPG 5.5, RPG 5.5 APG 0.8, 12 steals, 8 blocks
 
22 Bianca Quisenberry 5'8" Sophomore Guard
 
Last time against UConn - 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 TO's
 

 
 
 2014-15: MPG 20.9, FG% .308, 3PT% .188, PPG 4.8, RPG 3.2, APG 1.5, 24 steals,4 blocks
Cincinnati Bench
 
05 Makenzie Cann 6'0" Freshman Guard
 
 Last time against UConn - 6 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 TO, 1 steal
 
2014-15: MPG 21.6, FG% .342, 3PT% .348, PPG 6.0, RPG 1.9, APG 1.0, 8 steals, 2 blocks
 
13 Brandey Tarver 5'10" Sophomore Guard
 
 Last time against UConn - 5 points, 6 rebounds, 0 assists, 4 TO's, 1 steal
 
2014-15: MPG 20.4, FG% .342, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.4, RPG 3.8, APG 0.6, 4 steals, 6 blocks
 
 



 Game Analysis

Some of this is repeated from my first game preview. Not much has changed. Cincinnati is starting four guards and one forward. They have two guards off the bench. Coach Elliott played a lot of zone in the first matchup and like Temple, will try to force UConn to the outside as much as possible.  UConn will want fast break at every chance  before the Cincinnati defense can set up.

Cincinnati has a couple of talented players in Marley Hill and Ana Owen. They are 8th and 9th in the AAC in scoring. Hill is a terrific rebounder, 2nd in the AAC and excellent around the rim. Owen is a very good outside shooter and 5th in both 3 point shooting percentage and 3 pointers made.

But the talent discrepancy is just too much for the Bearcats to handle. It just won't matter what they do. Like the first game, UConn will just run it's offense, practice plays, take the best shot and then defend the hell out of the ball on the other end.

Cincinnati still can't shoot and still can't pass. They will not do well against UConn's pressure defense.         
 

Final Prediction
  
I said this last time - "Under normal circumstances, UConn would play their normal game, run out to a huge lead, play hard 5 minutes into the second half and play one starter with the four reserves for 10 minutes and then remove the starter and one other bench player and play the walk on's the rest of the game. And UConn would win by 50+. "
 
After seeing the last game and with how much ease UConn beat the Bearcats by 65, I can't see it being much closer. Maybe Cincinnati will play better?

UConn by 55+

With a victory, Geno will become the sixth coach in the women’s game to record 900 career wins. He's 899-134 and the .870 career win percentage ranks first all-time. I'm sure the players will want to respect him with a great performance.

Changing to UConn by 60+
 
 

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