Doggydaddy's Den: DoggyDaddy's Dailies 3/25/16

*****************************************************************************

Here is the link to my ESPN Challenge page.

After Monday's action, here are the leaders -

Phil - 520
JerrJerrmo - 520
Pinotbear - 520
RVWSleep - 510
Chappette - 510
Lenkiewicz - 510
DoggyDaddy - 500
JerrJerrMorg - 500
Jbb1985Knife-edge - 500

Tough battle!!! Good luck to everyone!

*****************************************************************************

Here is the link to my UConn/Mississippi State Pre Game Report

*****************************************************************************

There are some great games Friday night in the first 4 games of the sweet sixteen. Here is a brief overview of each one.

1 South Carolina 4 Syracuse
Friday March 25, 7:00 ESPN

This is a rematch from last year's 2nd round game where South Carolina destroyed the Orange 97-68. They actually met twice last season, and in the earlier matchup, the game was much more competitive, with the Gamecocks still winning but only by 4, 67-63. I expect this game to be really competitive as well. The Syracuse coach has his team believing they can beat anyone. His cockiness has filtered down to his players. In a good way. Now, I don't like Hillsman, but he has done a great job this season.

South Carolina has the advantage in the front court with A'ja Wilson and Alaina Coates. The Day sisters are really the only size on Syracuse. The Orange play a ton of guards, starting with leading scorers Alexis Peterson and Brianna Butler along with the dynamic Brittany Sykes. They also start another guard, Isabella Slim and the first player off the bench is another guard, Cornellia Condren. Syracuse will have to find a way to deal with South Carolina's size if they want a chance to win.

After Coach Hillsman talked up their three point shooting (we will take 50 if they zone us), I took a look at the SU stats and was stunned. They are shooting under 30% on threes. Really. Butler has taken 370 of them and is shooting 30%. They take almost 30 per game. You'd think they would be better at it by now.

So, they much dominate the boards if they shoot so poorly, right? Well, they have a negative rebounding margin. Huh??? Then I drifted down to the turnover margin and saw why they have been successful this season. They are forcing 24 turnovers per game and have a +10 turnover margin. They do this by pressing almost all the time. South Carolina's guards better be ready. Sessions is a good ball handler, so it will be interesting to see how they handle it. At the least, the press will force South Carolina into tougher shooting positions, out of their comfort zone.

IF Syracuse can force South Carolina into 20+ turnovers and they can hit 35% on threes, they can win this game. But I expect the Gamecocks to handle the pressure and defend Syracuse enough to win this game.

3 Ohio State 7 Tennessee
Friday March 25, 9:30 ESPN2

It's great offense vs very good defense. Ohio State can score on anyone (not UConn) and score early and often. Kelsey Mitchell will get her shots, but will she hit them? Tennessee struggles on offense, especially if the other team is in a zone. Will OSU be smart enough to play that defense, unlike the ASU team, who gave up on the zone after a few minutes.

Tennessee has been led by a revitalized Diamond Deshields, and a newly aggressive Mercedes Russell, two of the most highly regarded recruits for the infamous class of 2013.

But perspective is important. They struggled with Green Bay in the first round, winning only 59-53 and as I mentioned, ASU played right into Tennessee's hand by not playing a zone. I don't think that Ohio State will make the same mistake.

OSU will do what they always do, run, run, and run some more with Mitchell leading the way. The other half of their dynamic backcourt, Alston, has been shaking off and injury but did play 21 minutes in their last game. The just lost Cait Craft, a starting guard to a broken wrist.

Two of the ESPN experts, Hays and Voepel both picked Tennessee. I'll go with the Buckeyes to end the Lady Vol's season Friday night. I guess I just can't pick Tennessee.

1 Notre Dame vs 4 Stanford
Friday March 25, 7:00 ESPN2

Sometimes the game is about the players. This time, the story is about the coaches. The two best women coaches in WCBB. Sorry Dawn and Kim.

McGraw vs Vanderveer.

Muffet vs Tara.

Leather Skirt vs Pants Suit.

Two great basketball minds duking it out. It should be a great game to watch.

Notre Dame has been their usual winning self, losing only to UConn this season. They did have some tough and close games, beating Ohio State by only three 75-72, UCLA in OT 92-84, South Dakota State 75-64, DePaul 95-90, Oregon State 62-61, Louisville 66-61 and Florida State 73-66. All closer games than they had over the last few years. They certainly have enough talent to win this game. They just seem more vulnerable.

Stanford had some really wacko results this year. They lost to Santa Clara, 61-58, and in some real offensively challenged games, lost to Arizona State 49-31 and UCLA 56-36. But since the UCLA game they have gone 13-2 and seem to have found their stride. A fantastic three point play by Lily Thompson gave Stanford a 66-65 against South Dakota State and a ticket into this game.

We will see if Tara can come up with a game plan to slow down the Notre Dame offense and can find a way to score against a tough ND defense. I don't think she can this time. But Notre Dame is still a young team. It's hard to predict how the two freshman, Mabrey and Ogunbowale, will do in a pressure packed Elite Eight game, but I suspect they will be fine.

Notre Dame should win by 10. With the potential of a blowout.

3 Kentucky vs 7 Washington
Friday March 25, 9:30 ESPN

Kentucky was expected to be here. Washington? Not so much. But Kelsey Plum is a exactly that, a plumb of a player!!!

I'll be honest, I don't know that much about either team. I know that Washington goes only 6 deep and Mathilde Gilling hurt herself in the upset of Maryland. Washington also won the PAC12 Tournament in an upset from the 5 seed position. This team just seems to be on a mission.

Kentucky is led by Makayla Epps, who can really carry the Wildcats at times. But she is playing with a sore shoulder. They love to run and pride themselves in their pressure defense.

I just have a feeling that Washington is not done yet.

*****************************************************************************

*******************************************

Statistics can be odd, as in weird, or odd as in not even. And sometimes, stats are perfectly round. For example, UConn has now scored 3,000 points this season. All the made shots, free throws and threes come to exactly 3,000 points in thirty four games. The Huskies have also taken 500 free throws, making exactly 400 of them for a team average of 80.00%. Perfectly round....

Since the the team has played 34 games and five players are on the court at all times, total minutes played this season is 6,800. Almost round.... The player with the most minutes played is Moriah with 1,008. At least it's an even number.

Morgan Tuck is the player with the most "round stats." For example, she has taken 300 shots and made 150 of them. That gives her a 50.00% field goal percentage. She has also made 50 free throws, 20 threes and has 170 rebounds. Turnovers? Of course, 40. Nice and round.

Round stats arts are hard to find and never last. Have fun with them while you can. Go Huskies..!!

*******************************************