UCONN vs. Chattanooga
Day: Monday
Date: November 30th, 2015
Location:Chattanooga
Time: 6:30
Time: 6:30
TV: SNY/ESPN3
No. 1 UConn Huskies Chattanooga Lady Mocs
3-0 5-2
Prior Meetings
First meeting between these two programs
Overview
UConn
DATE TIME OPPONENT SCORE ATTEND HIGH POINTS HIGH REBOUNDS
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11/16/15 5:30 p.m. at Ohio State W 100-56 11435 (24)STEWART, Breanna (11)WILLIAMS, Gabby
11-23-15 7 p.m. KANSAS STATE W 97-57 8369 (25)STEWART, Breanna (12)WILLIAMS, Gabby
11-28-15 1 p.m. NEBRASKA W 88-46 10113 (25)STEWART, Breanna (10)STEWART, Breanna
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11/16/15 5:30 p.m. at Ohio State W 100-56 11435 (24)STEWART, Breanna (11)WILLIAMS, Gabby
11-23-15 7 p.m. KANSAS STATE W 97-57 8369 (25)STEWART, Breanna (12)WILLIAMS, Gabby
11-28-15 1 p.m. NEBRASKA W 88-46 10113 (25)STEWART, Breanna (10)STEWART, Breanna
UConn is coming off another terrific effort. Like the Kansas State game, UConn was played tough and close by a quality opponent in Nebraska. What is amazing to me is the margin of victories were so big for teams that I expect to do some damage this season.
Stewart has been amazing and the last game the bench showed their potential against Nebraska. With Butler cleared to play, I'm excited to see what she adds to the already deep rotation.
Chattanooga
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Attend | High Points | High Rebounds | ||
| 11/13/15 | 6:30 p.m. | 1 | MCNEESE STATE | W | 68-53 | 1565 | (19)Keiana Gilbert | (13)Jasmine Joyner |
| 11/15/15 | 2:00 p.m. | BUTLER | W | 60-49 | 1549 | (12)Moses Johnson | (9)Moses Johnson | |
| 11/17/15 | 7 p.m. | at Indiana | L | 43-54 | 1960 | (13)Keiana Gilbert | (10)Jasmine Joyner | |
| 11/20/15 | 6:30 p.m. | 1 | SOUTHERN MISS | Wot | 53-48 | 1111 | (20)Jasmine Joyner | (13)Jasmine Joyner |
| 11/23/15 | 7:01 p.m. | at Tennessee | L | 57-59 | 9449 | (19)Queen Alford | (9)Keiana Gilbert | |
| 11/25/15 | 6:30 p.m. | ARKANSAS STATE | W | 55-54 | 1189 | (14)Keiana Gilbert | (8)Keiana Gilbert | |
| 11/28/15 | 6:00 p.m. | TENNESSEE MARTIN | W | 61-46 | 1238 | (31)Jasmine Joyner | (17)Jasmine Joyner |
Chattanooga is coming off a nice win over instate rival Tennessee Martin 61-46 led by their star 6'2" junior Jasmine Joyner who scored 31 points and added 17 rebounds and 7 blocks.
The Lady Mocs are undefeated at home, only losing to Indiana and Tennessee on the road. The Lady Mocs lost a tough game to No. 4 Tennessee 59-57 where they really had a chance to win the game.
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| UCONN STATS |
UConn Starters
11 Kia Nurse
6' Sophomore Guard
Kia had a tough outing against Nebraska. It seemed she was in between shooting and driving and struggled with her decision making in that regard. I expect she might be a little pissed off and will have a much better game against Chattanooga.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 26.0, FG% .409, 3PT% .333, PPG 9.3, RPG 3.0, APG 2.3, 6 steals, 0 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
With such a big rotation of talented players, Jefferson was not as offensive minded in the last game. She knows that setting up all these great players will just make them a better team. But she will take the big shot when she has to.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 29.7, FG% .690, 3PT% .286, PPG 14.0, RPG 3.0, APG 5.3, 6 steals, 0 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
A little slow start to the season but it's great to see her playing extended minutes. I'm sure you will see her shooting percentage slowly increase from her 41%. But no one can complain about her three point shooting. I wish she would take more.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 30.7, FG% .441, 3PT% .429, PPG 13.0, RPG 6.3, APG 2.7, 3 steals, 1 block
30 Breanna Stewart
6'4" Senior Forward
6'4" Senior Forward
Speaking of three point shooting, Stewart is 6-11 so far this season. She said she is feeling more confident in the shot and that goes a long way in making a high percentage.
Stewie with a great three point shot? Fagetaboutit!!!!!!!
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 28.3, FG% .634, 3PT% .545, PPG 24.7 RPG 9.0, APG 4.0, 4 steals, 10 blocks
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward
Ok...did I jinx her? I called her a superstar and then she has a very pedestrian game. But only on the offensive side. Her defense was just as stellar. Look for her to fill up the stat sheet against Chattanooga.
5'11" Sophomore Forward
Ok...did I jinx her? I called her a superstar and then she has a very pedestrian game. But only on the offensive side. Her defense was just as stellar. Look for her to fill up the stat sheet against Chattanooga.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 20.3, FG% .609, 3PT% .000, PPG 10.0 RPG 9.3, APG 1.7, 9 steals, 2 blocks
UConn Bench
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
Butler has been cleared to play. How much has yet to be determined. I'm just so happy for her. She will bring an intensity to the game similar to Nurse, only in a 6'5" body. It will be interesting to see how Geno uses her.
5'8" Junior Guard
Chong is looking like a seasoned vet now that she is playing again. Confident with the ball and her shot, she will allow Jefferson to play less minutes without UConn's quality of play to suffer.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 13.7, FG% .455, 3PT% .429, PPG 4.3, RPG 1.7, APG .7, 0 steals, 0 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark
6' Sophomore Guard
Another example of a player looking more comfortable in her own skin. She is making great decisions in her limited playing time. She should see good minutes in this game.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 9.7, FG% .600, 3PT% .500, PPG 2.7, RPG 1.3, APG 1.3, 1 steal, 1 block
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward
Can you say BREAKOUT!!! KLS finally starting hitting shots. I expect her to still have her ups and downs, but we all got to see the entire package of offensive moves.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 18.7, FG% .421, 3PT% .231, PPG 7.0, RPG 3.0, APG 1.7, 3 steals, 0 blocks
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
Collier was a little sloppy in her last effort, but I love her game. She was strong on the defensive end and worked a two player game a few times.
2015-16 Stats
1 Game - MPG 16.5, FG% .375, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.5, RPG 7.5, APG 0.5, 3 steals, 1 blocks
5'7" Junior Guard
What? She didn't score? Only because she didn't shoot.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 2.3, FG% 1.000, 3PT% 1.000, PPG 1.7, RPG 0.0, APG 0.3, 0 steals, 0 blocks
5'7" Senior Guard
Finally on the stats board with an assist. Hopefully we will see more minutes in her future.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 2.3, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, PPG 0.0, RPG 0.0, APG 0.3, 0 steals, 0 blocks
Out for the game
6'2" Freshman Forward
UConn freshman forward De’Janae Boykin is still not ready. Is a redshirt in her future? Not yet.
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Chattanooga Head Coach
Jim Foster
Coach Foster is a good friend of Geno since Geno began his career as an assistant to Forster when the pair were together at St. Joseph’s (Pa.) during the 1978-79 season. He is also a terrific college basketball coach. Here is his Bio from the Chattanooga web site. It's long, but a great read. There is a reason Coach Foster was elected to the WCBB hall of fame.
Chattanooga Starters
3 Jasmine Joyner
6'2" Junior Forward
2015-16 Stats
Joyner is the clear star and leader of this team. Last year she played and started all 33 games. She was named Southern Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player and selected to all-conference first team by coaches and media. Joyner broke a 26-year-old Southern Conference single season record for blocked shots with 132. She set a school and Purcell Pavilion record for blocked shots in a single game with eight against Notre Dame in 26 minutes.
So far this season, she is doing more of the same. She is leading the team in scoring and rebounding. She also has 33 blocks in 7 games.
2015-16 Stats
7 games - MPG 34.0, FG% .456, 3PT% .400, PPG 13.4, RPG 9.6, APG 2.0, 6 steals, 33 blocks
20 Keiana Gilbert
5'11" Sophomore Guard
Highlight of her freshman season, Gilbert was named the ESPNW National Player of the Week following the Mocs’ win over Austin Peay and No. 4 Tennessee. She scored a career-high 27 points in the win over the Lady Vols.
2015-16 Stats
7 games - MPG 37.4, FG% .468, 3PT% .125, PPG 11.9, RPG 6.1, APG 2.1, 9 steals, 2 blocks
7 games - MPG 37.4, FG% .468, 3PT% .125, PPG 11.9, RPG 6.1, APG 2.1, 9 steals, 2 blocks
33 Queen Alford
5'10" RS Junior Guard
2015-16 Stats
7 games - MPG 22.0, FG% .320, 3PT% .333, PPG 6.3, RPG 3.3, APG 0.7, 10 steals, 2 blocks
7 games - MPG 22.0, FG% .320, 3PT% .333, PPG 6.3, RPG 3.3, APG 0.7, 10 steals, 2 blocks
35 Aryanna Gilbert
5'9" RS Sophomore guard
2015-16 Stats
7 games - MPG 28.9, FG% .452, 3PT% .286, PPG 4.4, RPG 2.9, APG 2.5, 10 steals, 5 blocks
1 Alicia Payne
5'9" Senior Guard
Last year Payne was selected Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. She is leading the Lady Mocs in assists this season and is the ONLY player on the team that has a positive assist/to ratio.
2015-16 Stats
7 games - MPG 36.7, FG% .412, 3PT% .231, PPG 5.7, RPG 2.3, APG 3.7, 13 steals, 3 blocks
Chattanooga Bench
23 Moses Johnson
6' Junior Guard
Johnson is the first player off the bench for the Lady Mocs. She adds a strong rebounder from the guard spot for Chattanooga.
2015-16 Stats
7 games - MPG 16.0, FG% .467, 3PT% .100, PPG 5.1, RPG 4.9, APG .4, 6 steals, 1 block
7 games - MPG 16.0, FG% .467, 3PT% .100, PPG 5.1, RPG 4.9, APG .4, 6 steals, 1 block
Game Analysis
There are lots of issues for Chattanooga in playing UConn. Because they are a really well coached team they are able to handle teams with similar talent levels. And more talented that are not well coached (hi Tennessee) are also teams the Lady Mocs can compete with. But a team as talented as UConn and as well coached is a huge problem for Chattanooga.
Chattanooga has some issues that they just can't disguise. They only have 6 players in their rotation and with Joyner, Payne and Keiana Gilbert playing close to 40 minutes in most games they are at a huge disadvantage against a high pressure, quick paced UConn team. Even with a terrific player like Joyner.
They also play a very small lineup with the 6'2" Joyner the only player over 6' tall. The remaning players are only 5'11", 5'10", 5'9", 5'9" with 6' coming off the bench. All listed as guard. Now, against a big Tennessee team, but managed to double the post on the entry pass and give up the three point shot. That will be a painful game for Chattanooga if they do that. But that really is all they can do. UConn also does too good a job passing from big to big for them to be too be impacted by any post doubling the Lady Mocs will do.
They also don't handle the ball well. They have ONE player with a positive assist to turnover ratio. The entire team has 90 assists and 119 TO's.
If they fatigue, struggle to make shots, turn the ball over and lose the rebounding battle in a big way, UConn will just hammer them into submission.
UConn will do what they do best. Pressure defense, rebound misses and run run run. Stewart is certainly a match nightmare for anyone, but more so for a small team like Chattanooga. Geno will want to give Butler some minutes so it should be interesting to see how she plays. She might not see that much as Geno might want to match up with his smaller team for much of the game. That is something else to look for.
Final Prediction
I know that Coach Foster is a wonderful coach. And after watching his team against Tennessee, maybe he can pull a few rabbits out of his hat and make the game competitive. But there are just too many BIG advantages for UConn. I mean really big.
I don't see UConn starting slow like the last couple of games. They run out to a big lead. Only Geno's friendship with Jim Foster might make the game closer. The problem is unless he plays Lawlor and Pulido extended minutes the 2nd five are just too good to keep the score down.
UConn rocks the Mocs by 45+.
Hi Tennessee!!
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