Here is my UConn/SMU II Pre Game Report.
Big news as Morgan Tuck has announced she will walk with fellow 2012 recruiting class members Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson along with Briana Pulido on Senior night. It doesn't mean she won't be coming back for her 5th year, but I feel it's unlikely. We will miss this incredible class.
I have a few links in the UConn section. Check out the link to Samuelson talking with Taurasi while she was here for the USA workouts. Very cool.
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Important win for Temple Tuesday night, beating Tulane 72-67. They probably need a win against South Florida for the second time and a couple of wins in the AAC tournament to get a bid.
GO OWLS!!!!
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I'm not sure where they would be ranked but in this poll they are below Duquesne 27, UTEP 24, Oklahoma State 24, Florida 21, Green Bay 20, Seton Hall 11, St John's 11, West Virginia 11, Florida Gulf Coast 7, Auburn 7, Georgia 6, Albany 5, Western Kentucky 3, NC State 3, Arkansas State 1.
Dropping faster than a big ole raccoon falling off a deck after Pat Summit hits it.
So, with no recruits for 2016, Tennessee is lowering their sights to recruit 6'4" Emily Schubert out of Elizabethton Tennessee. She is rated 89 and way out of the top 100.
“I think we just believed in ourselves, and we came out and played as hard as we could,” said Schubert, whose performance came in front of college scouts from Duke, Tennessee, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and William & Mary. "
How crazy would it be if she goes somewhere else. Local recruit rejects her home state school. My god, the fans will just lose it!
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From David in Naples
The answer to the question, "Who is UConn's best rebounder?" is not quite as obvious as it seems. The player with the most offensive rebounds is Napheesa Collier at 65. Next is Gabby with 56 and then Stewie with 50. Collier has her 65 offensive rebounds while playing 478 minutes. Stewie has played 722 minutes, almost 34% more time on the court. Fourth in offensive rebound is Morgan Tuck at 45. She has played 170 fewer minutes than Stewie, as well.
Stewie does lead in defensive rebounds with 159 and total rebounds at 209. Gabby is 2nd in both categories with 106 defensive and 162 total rebounds. Given her height, those are just amazing totals. Natalie Butler has 76 total rebounds in just 226 minutes of playing time. Stewie has played 3.19 times more minutes. Just for fun, multiply Butler's 76 rebounds times 3.19. In theory, Natalie would have 242 total rebounds, compared to Stewie's 209, if they played identical minutes. Maybe, maybe not..
That said, the best way to answer the question is to look at the UConn record books. Breanna Stewart is currently 5th in total rebounds with 1,065. Stef Dolson is just 36 rebounds away and then Rebecca Lobo is 203 away in 3rd place. In conclusion, it can be said Stewie is the best rebounder on this UConn team. She is also the best scorer, shot blocker and many other things....
Stewie does lead in defensive rebounds with 159 and total rebounds at 209. Gabby is 2nd in both categories with 106 defensive and 162 total rebounds. Given her height, those are just amazing totals. Natalie Butler has 76 total rebounds in just 226 minutes of playing time. Stewie has played 3.19 times more minutes. Just for fun, multiply Butler's 76 rebounds times 3.19. In theory, Natalie would have 242 total rebounds, compared to Stewie's 209, if they played identical minutes. Maybe, maybe not..
That said, the best way to answer the question is to look at the UConn record books. Breanna Stewart is currently 5th in total rebounds with 1,065. Stef Dolson is just 36 rebounds away and then Rebecca Lobo is 203 away in 3rd place. In conclusion, it can be said Stewie is the best rebounder on this UConn team. She is also the best scorer, shot blocker and many other things....
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This is from the NDNation board, McGraw's Bench. I can always find something to write about after visiting there...lol.
Last year: ND without Turner at home vs UConn: Lost by 18. ND with Turner in NCAAs: Lost by 10 (Improvement of 8 points, going from home court to neutral)
This year: ND without Turner on the road vs UConn: Lost by 10 points.
Ignoring other differences in the team (freshmen coming on stronger over the course of the season, not relying as heavily on one player, etc.), that would suggest at worst a 2 point loss (and considering the difference in home court between the two regular season game, combined with ND's 27 straight wins in close games compared to UConn's 3-4 game losing streak in such games, you might be able to argue away those 2 points).
So basically, forgetting just how far ND has progressed since December, are you also suggesting that Turner isn't worth 10 points in a game?
We're not just talking offense, but defense as well. She's averaging over 3 blocks a game (that's 6 points right there), and if she adds just 4 points to that (and she averages 14 ppg), well, you have the margin of victory in the previous UConn game (not to mention rebounds).
This year: ND without Turner on the road vs UConn: Lost by 10 points.
Ignoring other differences in the team (freshmen coming on stronger over the course of the season, not relying as heavily on one player, etc.), that would suggest at worst a 2 point loss (and considering the difference in home court between the two regular season game, combined with ND's 27 straight wins in close games compared to UConn's 3-4 game losing streak in such games, you might be able to argue away those 2 points).
So basically, forgetting just how far ND has progressed since December, are you also suggesting that Turner isn't worth 10 points in a game?
We're not just talking offense, but defense as well. She's averaging over 3 blocks a game (that's 6 points right there), and if she adds just 4 points to that (and she averages 14 ppg), well, you have the margin of victory in the previous UConn game (not to mention rebounds).
It's amazing what you can do with numbers when you want it to support a particular point of view. Specifically how Notre Dame should beat UConn with Turner back. But when you base your house of cards on faulty numbers, it collapses pretty quickly.
Point 1 - ND played better in the second game of the matchup last season losing by 18 and then by 10.
Last years teams are last years teams. He seems to be bringing up last year because ND played better in the second game so it supports his theory. But it's different players. And using games that have nothing to do with this year is just dumb. I suppose you can take any time two teams play twice and see what happens. It's just pointless.
Point 2 - ND only lost by 10 in the first game without Turner again. Therefore, ND with Turner should close the gap again.
Well, maybe. Turner is a terrific player. No doubt about it. And certainly freshman get better. I'm not sure how much better the freshman Mabrey can be after her 23 points on 10-13 shooting and 3-3 on threes in the first game. Ogunbowale, the other freshman was 3-4 on threes. Is he saying that will happen again in the next matchup? Possible, but not likely. In fact, to expect ND to shoot 13-20 on threes again is just put idiocy. Again, possible? More like doubtful.
Point 3 - Turner is worth a 10 point difference because she could block three points and that is worth 6 points right there.
As anyone with a brain knows, you just don't add in her numbers. Every shot she takes is a shot that someone else is not taking. So add in here 10-15 points and subtract that from someone else or a combination of players. And while she does average 3 blocks a game, UConn just doesn't get blocked that often. Only 2.4 per game. And every block doesn't mean a lost possession. Shots get blocked out of bounds and blocked back to UConn. So 6 points? Doubtful.
Point 4 - combined with ND's 27 straight wins in close games compared to UConn's 3-4 game losing streak in such games.
Really? Going back to close games years ago? Good luck with that. Talk about reaching for straws! Don't hold it against UConn that they haven't been in close games. And THIS team is not on a losing streek of any kind.
My last comment destroys his original premise. UConn was up 20 points with 8 minutes left in the game. It wasn't like it was 10 points the entire 4th quarter. They were up 15 with 3 minutes left before ND outscored UConn 12-7 to end the game. When the game was out of reach. It was NEVER a ten point game in the second half until the end of the game.
We shall see if they meet again. But it won't come down to anything we crazy fans say. It will be up to the players.
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So, without further ado!!!
Ladies and Gents, DD looks at the news........
Auriemma Impressed With Breanna Stewart's Maturity At Olympic Camp Hartford Courant
UConn’s Morgan Tuck enjoying a memorable week New Haven Register
Capsule: SMU At No. 1 UConn Hartford Courant
No. 1 UConn Hosts SMU on Wednesday UConn Huskies Team Site
Upsets in Red
Late games in Green
NO TOP 25 GAMES SCHEDULED
NO TOP 25 GAMES SCHEDULED
Houston 62 UCF 65
Tulane 67 Temple 72
Thanks to Johnny C for sending me many of these numbers!!!
Aliyah Gregory UCF 33 Points
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Statistical Sites
NCAA 2015 Stats
NCAA Division I basketball records thru 2013-2014
ESPN Women's Basketball Stats
Women's Basketball State
NCAA 2015 Stats
NCAA Division I basketball records thru 2013-2014
ESPN Women's Basketball Stats
Women's Basketball State
Message Boards
UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!!
College Fans Only - WCBB board where no holds are barred
Vol Nation - Tennessee women's basketball board
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board
ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board
UCONN Information
Interesting Blogs and Links
Carl Adamec's blog, SNY
John Altavilla's blog, Hartford Courant
Jim Fuller's blog, New Haven Register
A Dime Back - A great web site for all UConn Sports, Including UConn Women
A Dime Back - A great web site for all UConn Sports, Including UConn Women
I'm always open for suggestions. Just please reply to this blog or email me at:
The other flaw in the Turner "blocked shots" argument is assuming that every shot blocked results in a loss of 2 points - that's only true if every shot is a made shot. And, as we all know too well, that's not true, even close-in shots in WCBB. The downside of attempting to block shots is it raises the risk of committing a shooting foul, or even an old-fashioned 3-point play. Against a team such as UConn and their veteran front-court players, that could be a significant risk.
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