UCONN versus Temple
Sunday, February 14th, 2016
Temple University
Philadelphia PA.
Philadelphia PA.
Time: 12:00
TV: ESPN2
TV: ESPN2
No. 1 UConn 23-0 (12-0) Temple 17-7 (11-2)
Head to Head games
UConn has played Temple 8 times in their history, winning the last 6 after losing twice in the PG era (pre-geno).
1/16/81 L 68-71 A
1/16/82 L 49-62 H
3/23/10 W 90-36 N
1/11/14 W 80-36 H
1/28/14 W 93-56 A
1/14/15 W 92-58 H
2/1/15 W 83-49 A
1/16/16 W 104-49 H
1/16/82 L 49-62 H
3/23/10 W 90-36 N
1/11/14 W 80-36 H
1/28/14 W 93-56 A
1/14/15 W 92-58 H
2/1/15 W 83-49 A
1/16/16 W 104-49 H
Overview
I said in my pre game report for the first matchup that this is maybe the best team that Tonya has had to available to bring into Storrs and one of the best she has had since arriving at Temple in 2008. I brought up the win over now ranked No. 16 Florida, a great win for Temple and the AAC. Then UConn HAMMERS them 104-49 and they go on to lose to UPenn in the next game. Probably partly as a hangover from the UConn beating.
So, here we go again, with Temple on a six game winning streak since the UPenn game, beating a decent Tulane and upsetting No. 21 South Florida to take over second place in the conference coming into the UConn matchup. They beat Houston by 30 in the warm up game before the UConn matchup.
UConn is coming off a terrific win over No. 2 South Carolina on the road 66-54. The game was not as close as the final score as UConn had a 21 points lead entering the 4th quarter before pulling the plug on the offense and defense, allowing the GameCocks to close the gap the last 5 minutes of the game. Still undefeated and playing well, UConn will have lots of confidence coming into this game.
If this was a world were UConn could actually be challenged by an AAC team, this would be an important game where Temple could close to one game in the standings. But it's still UConn and everyone else.
Last Meeting
Katie Lou Samuelson played in her second start in the first meeting and she had her best game of the season to date with career-highs of 21 points and six assists.
Breanna Stewart led the Huskies with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. UConn had a great game shooting, making 54.7% of their shots and at the time a season-high 13 3-pointers.
After an early 5-5 start, UConn held Temple scoreless for 6:59 as Temple missed 12 straight field goal attempts during this stretch. It was all downhill for The Owls after that. UConn ended the first half with a 16-3 and led 57-21 lead at halftime.
Natalie Butler had one of her better games with 11 points and eight rebounds.
UConn turned Temple over 20 times while holding them to 29% shooting from the field. Alliya Butts scored 12 points to lead Temple but was only 5-19 from the field and 2-11 on threes.
The Huskies had ten players in double digit minutes ranging from 13-24.
Here are the game highlights from the first matchup
Stat by Stat Comparison
Leader is bolded.
Leader is bolded.
UCONN Temple
89.0 Points Per Game 69.3
48.7 Opp Points Per Game 61.2
.528 Field Goal % .393
.336 Opp Field Goal % .376
.363 3 Point Field Goal % .308
.318 Opp 3 Point Field Goal % .314
.797 Free Throw % .685
40.9 Rebounds Per Game 40.0
29.7 Opp Rebounds Per Game 38.2
21.7 Assists Per Game 13.7
12.2 Turnovers Per Game 14.7
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .9
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .9
12.2 Steals Per Game 9.5
6.4 Blocks Per Game 4.6
UConn Starters
30 Breanna Stewart
6'4" Senior Forward
6'4" Senior Forward
Stewart had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks against Temple in the first matchup. All in 21 minutes.
2015-16 Stats
22 Games - MPG 29.0, FG% .589, 3PT% .444, PPG 19.7 RPG 8.3, APG 4.1, 37 steals, 73 blocks
22 Games - MPG 29.0, FG% .589, 3PT% .444, PPG 19.7 RPG 8.3, APG 4.1, 37 steals, 73 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
Tuck only played 14 minutes against Temple in the first matchup. She had 6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
2015-16 Stats
18 Games - MPG 27.5, FG% .528, 3PT% .295, PPG 14.3, RPG 5.7, APG 3.2, 12 steals, 8 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
Jefferson play 23 minutes in the first matchup, scoring 11 points but handing out 5 assists and pilfering the ball twice.
2015-16 Stats
22 Games - MPG 31.3, FG% .583, 3PT% .405, PPG 13.5, RPG 2.6, APG 5.6, 62 steals, 2 blocks
11 Kia Nurse
6' Sophomore Guard
Nurse played a team leading 24 points the first time these two teams met. Her defense was outstanding as she scored 8 points and had 4 assists.
2015-16 Stats
23 Games - MPG 27.9, FG% .418, 3PT% .337, PPG 9.5, RPG 2.0, APG 3.0, 35 steals, 5 blocks
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward
The last time these two teams met she had 21 points going 5-8 on threes and dishing 6 assists.
2015-16 Stats
23 Games - MPG 21.3, FG% .439, 3PT% .339, PPG 9.2, RPG 3.2, APG 2.3, 24 steals, 3 blocks
UConn Bench
51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Junior Guard
Chong played 15 minutes in the first matchup with Temple scoring 2 points, grabbing 4 rebounds and handing out 3 assists.
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward
5'11" Sophomore Forward
Williams had an ok game with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in 21 minutes.
2015-16 Stats
23 Games - MPG 19.4, FG% .619, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.8 RPG 6.3, APG 1.2, 47 steals, 10 blocks
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
Collier had a nice game against Temple the last time out with 10 points and 4 rebounds along with her usual 2 blocks. All in 22 minutes.
2015-16 Stats
23 Games - MPG 18.7, FG% .545, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.0, RPG 5.8, APG .8, 35 steals, 33 blocks
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
Butler had a fine game against Temple in the first matchup. In only 17 minutes, she had 11 points and 8 rebounds along with 2 blocks.
2015-16 Stats
12 Games - MPG 15.4, FG% .563, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.8, RPG 5.2, APG 1.3, 9 steals, 11 blocks
5'8" Junior Guard
Chong played 15 minutes in the first matchup with Temple scoring 2 points, grabbing 4 rebounds and handing out 3 assists.
2015-16 Stats
18 Games - MPG 16.1, FG% .441, 3PT% .409, PPG 5.3, RPG 1.6, APG 1.3, 13 steals, 2 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark
6' Sophomore Guard
Courtney played a productive 13 minutes against Temple the first time with 3 points and 2 rebounds.
2015-16 Stats
19 Games - MPG 10.4, FG% .486, 3PT% .360, PPG 2.5, RPG 1.3, APG .8, 5 steals, 1 block
20 Tierney Lawlor
5'7" Junior Guard
Played 3 minutes against Temple
2015-16 Stats
22 Briana Pulido
5'7" Senior Guard
Played 3 minutes against Temple
2015-16 Stats
18 Games - MPG 3.3, FG% .500, 3PT% .400
, PPG .5, RPG 0.2, APG 0.2, 1 steals, 0 blocks
, PPG .5, RPG 0.2, APG 0.2, 1 steals, 0 blocks
5'7" Senior Guard
Played 3 minutes against Temple
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 2.5, FG% .273, 3PT% .167, PPG 0.5, RPG 0.1, APG 0.1, 1 steals, 0 blocks
UConn Complete Stats
*******************************************************************
Tonya Cardoza
Head Coach
In case you missed it in my last Temple preview -
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Temple University (2008-present)
Head Coach Five seasonsSeason Overall Conf. Postseason
2008-09 21-10 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2009-10 25-9 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2010-11 24-9 13-1 A-10 NCAA
2011-12 23-10 13-1 A-10 WNIT
2012-13 14-18 5-9 A-10
2013-14 14-16 8-10 American
2014-15 20-17 12-6 American WNIT Final Four
Totals 141-89 73-33
2011 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
2011 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2010 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2009 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
Temple University (2008-present)
Head Coach Five seasonsSeason Overall Conf. Postseason
2008-09 21-10 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2009-10 25-9 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2010-11 24-9 13-1 A-10 NCAA
2011-12 23-10 13-1 A-10 WNIT
2012-13 14-18 5-9 A-10
2013-14 14-16 8-10 American
2014-15 20-17 12-6 American WNIT Final Four
Totals 141-89 73-33
2011 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
2011 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2010 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2009 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
Temple Starters
15 Alliya Butts 5'4" Sophomore Guard
2015-16: MPG 33.2, FG% .401, 3PT% .343, PPG 15.9, RPG 2.6, APG 3.0, 65 steals, 5 block
2 Feyonda Fitzgerald 5'7" Junior Guard
First UConn Game - Fitzgerald played a tough 34 minutes, but she only shot 3-11 from the field. She added 5 assists but had 6 turnovers as well. She did manage 8 points and 2 steals.
015-16: MPG 35.0, FG% .341, 3PT% .293, PPG 13.5, RPG 3.6, APG 5.0, 38 steals, 2 block
22 Tanaya Aikenson 5'9" Sophomore Guard
2015-16: MPG 29.2, FG% .453, 3PT% .130, PPG 11.7, RPG 5.9, APG 1.0, 23 steals, 5 blocks
First UConn Game - Fountain played only 16 minutes going only 1-5 from the field in scoring 2 points with two rebound.
2015-16: MPG 22.7, FG% .412, 3PT% .357, PPG 9.0, RPG 6.1, APG 1.1, 26 steals, 14 blocks
1 Erica Covile 6'1" Senior Guard
Covile was huge in the upset of South Florida but in the first matchup with UConn she played only 17 minutes. But she did manage 5 points and 5 rebounds.
2015-16: MPG 26.7, FG% .397 3PT% .293, PPG 9.6, RPG 7.2, APG 1.5, 29 steals, 11 blocks
Temple Bench
21 Kadijiah Berger 5'10 Sophomore Guard
Berger was outstanding in the first matchup against UConn. She scored 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. She did this on 4-5 shooting and 3-4 on threes.
2015-16: MPG 16.2, FG% .338, 3PT% .310, PPG 3.2, RPG 3.1, APG 1.4, 12 steals, 4 block
5 Ugo Nwaigwe 6'3" Graduate Forward
Nwaigwe played a solid 15 minutes scoring 5 points grabbing 2 rebounds and blocking 3 shots.
2015-16: MPG 14.8, FG% .427, 3PT% .000, PPG 3.4, RPG 4.4, APG .2, 10 steals, 40 blocks
35 Safiya Martin 6'4" Junior Center
First UConn Game - 11 minutes, 1 rebound.
2015-16: MPG 11.0, FG% .480, 3PT% .000, PPG 1.4, RPG 2.4, APG 0.2, 4 steals, 15 blocks
Game Analysis
While this is one of Temple's better teams, as we all know, it's all about matchups. And the first game they played this season proved that out.
Temple starts five guard with two of them 6' and 6'1" along with 5'8, 5'7" and 5'4". They played plenty of zone to try to negate UConn's size advantage. Pack the paint and challenge UConn to hit from the outside. But Katie Lou made them pay for that with one of her best games. Like the first matchup, UConn will try to force tempo to score off turnovers and defensive rebounds. With UConn scoring 104 points last game, you might see Temple try to slow it down some, but that is not the way they play. So, once again, if the pace is fast, look for lots of UConn points.
Temple is led by their 5'4" dynamo, Alliya Butts. She was the high scorer for Temple in the first matchup with 12 points, but it took her 17 shots to do it. The sophomore guard has taken her game to another level from her terrific freshman season even with her tough outing against UConn in the first matchup. She loves the three pointer, with half of her shots coming from beyond the arc. She takes 1/3 of the Owls' three pointers at about at about 6.5 per game. It was fun to see her and Jefferson go at it. Should be fun again.
Her backcourt mate.....wait...they start 5 guards so are they all backcourt mates??.....is 5'7" Feyonda Fitzgerald is also very quick and Nurse did a nice job on her forcing her into 3-11 shooting. Kia will have to work hard to keep her in front of her again. Fitzgerald also likes the three pointer but likes to use that threat to give her driving opportunities.
This duo is what I would call Ohio State lite. These two guards dominate the play in a similar fashion to OSU's Mitchell and Ashton. UConn will work hard to limit their scoring and force the others to put points on the board.
Temple loves to throw the ball around the perimeter until a drive opportunity shows up. They will either go to the basket or kick out for a three. But they generate most of their offense from their defense. You can see the "Geno" influence in their aggressive defensive play. They will run off misses and off turnovers and they are really really good at it.
Coming into the first matchup, I said that Temple will play a 2-1-2 full court pressing defense, trying to speed up UConn. UConn was able to pass over the press and get some easy looks. They again will have to be careful or Temple will make them pay for their mistakes.
Temple starts five guard with two of them 6' and 6'1" along with 5'8, 5'7" and 5'4". They played plenty of zone to try to negate UConn's size advantage. Pack the paint and challenge UConn to hit from the outside. But Katie Lou made them pay for that with one of her best games. Like the first matchup, UConn will try to force tempo to score off turnovers and defensive rebounds. With UConn scoring 104 points last game, you might see Temple try to slow it down some, but that is not the way they play. So, once again, if the pace is fast, look for lots of UConn points.
Temple is led by their 5'4" dynamo, Alliya Butts. She was the high scorer for Temple in the first matchup with 12 points, but it took her 17 shots to do it. The sophomore guard has taken her game to another level from her terrific freshman season even with her tough outing against UConn in the first matchup. She loves the three pointer, with half of her shots coming from beyond the arc. She takes 1/3 of the Owls' three pointers at about at about 6.5 per game. It was fun to see her and Jefferson go at it. Should be fun again.
Her backcourt mate.....wait...they start 5 guards so are they all backcourt mates??.....is 5'7" Feyonda Fitzgerald is also very quick and Nurse did a nice job on her forcing her into 3-11 shooting. Kia will have to work hard to keep her in front of her again. Fitzgerald also likes the three pointer but likes to use that threat to give her driving opportunities.
This duo is what I would call Ohio State lite. These two guards dominate the play in a similar fashion to OSU's Mitchell and Ashton. UConn will work hard to limit their scoring and force the others to put points on the board.
Temple loves to throw the ball around the perimeter until a drive opportunity shows up. They will either go to the basket or kick out for a three. But they generate most of their offense from their defense. You can see the "Geno" influence in their aggressive defensive play. They will run off misses and off turnovers and they are really really good at it.
Coming into the first matchup, I said that Temple will play a 2-1-2 full court pressing defense, trying to speed up UConn. UConn was able to pass over the press and get some easy looks. They again will have to be careful or Temple will make them pay for their mistakes.
Final Prediction
Temple plays hard and is real scrappy. They are quick and can score in bunches if they can turn the other team over. They like to force the tempo and so does UConn. UConn's defense is just too good. I predicted a close game last time (25+) and it turned out to be 50+. I think this one won't be as bad. I do think Temple will play better at home. But UConn will want to continue to improve and they won't let up until late.
UConn by 35+.
UConn by 35+.
No comments:
Post a Comment