Date: November 20th, 2016
Day: Sunday
Where: Maravich Center
TV: ESPN
No. 3 UConn Huskies LSU Tigers
Prior Meetings
2-0 3-0
Prior Meetings
UConn leads series 7-1
H: 4-0; A: 2-0; N: 1-1
3/27/00 W 86-71 N
1/16/06 W 51-48 H
2/11/07 W 72-71 A
3/26/07 L 50-73 N
2/25/08 W 74-69 A
1/3/09 W 76-63 H
11/28/10 W 81-51 H
12/21/15 W 86-40 H
Team OverviewsH: 4-0; A: 2-0; N: 1-1
3/27/00 W 86-71 N
1/16/06 W 51-48 H
2/11/07 W 72-71 A
3/26/07 L 50-73 N
2/25/08 W 74-69 A
1/3/09 W 76-63 H
11/28/10 W 81-51 H
12/21/15 W 86-40 H
This is what I said about last years game -
UConn played LSU without Stewart and Butler. So small ball was the call of the day.
UConn was a little off on offense, not shooting very well but the defense was terrific. They put on full court pressure early and often, forcing LSU to take shots late in in the clock. Fantastic effort by every player.
The second quarter was more of the same. UConn's defense was out of this world. UConn led at the half, 39-14. A fantastic defensive effort without it's best post defender.
UConn started the third quarter a little slowly. But quickly after that, UConn made LSU pay for packing in their zone with several three pointers UConn had a 50-16 lead, outscoring LSU 11-2 after 4 minutes into the 3rd quarter.
LSU started to hit a few shots and the third quarter ended with a 24-12 UConn advantage and a 63-26 lead for the Huskies.
UConn continued it's domination in the 4th quarter. UConn stretched the lead to 77-33 with 5 minutes left when on a rebounding effort under the LSU basket, Bethel basically threw Williams down to the ground where she laid there for a few minutes. She finally got up a little woozy but ok enough to walk off the court. On replay, you could see it was a cheap shot. An intentional play to try to hurt someone. The officials looked at the play on replay and determined what we all saw was what happened. A flagrant one foul was call and it was the right call. UConn was up 82-38 with two minutes remaining in the game.
UConn won this contest 86-40 in a terrific defensive effort. Hmmmm...I believe I called a 45+ point win.
LSU comes into this game at 3-0, winning their first three games for the first time since the 2009-10 season when they went 9-0 before losing. Something tells me that won't happen again this year. They beat Louisiana Tech 77-73, Wake Forest 60-57 and Rice 66-55. Not exactly "murderers row".
UConn has now had a win on the road against a very game Florida State team. It was a close contest throughout and UConn was able to put together a solid second half in pulling this one out 78-76. They then faced No. 2 Baylor and played a terrific game against the No. 2 team in the country (then) winning 72-61.
UConn has now had a win on the road against a very game Florida State team. It was a close contest throughout and UConn was able to put together a solid second half in pulling this one out 78-76. They then faced No. 2 Baylor and played a terrific game against the No. 2 team in the country (then) winning 72-61.
UConn Starters
11 Kia Nurse
6' Junior Guard
Baby steps. No, not the title of the book the character that Richard Dreyfus wrote in the movie "what about bob" (one of my favorites) but more of the difference in Nurse's play from the FSU game to the Baylor game. Her defense was terrific and the main reason Geno played her 38 minutes. She also was great with her passing, handing out 6 assists and only 1 turnover. Right now, the shots are not falling, but she had several shots rattle around the rim, just missing. Soon she will put together a complete game. Very soon.
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Junior Forward
Gabby had the tale of two halves against Baylor. She was really hard on herself and will use that first half performance to motivate herself to play a certain way going forward. The LSU game will be an excellent opportunity to do just that. Look for an explosive game for Williams.
12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Senior Guard
Chong had a great game against FSU and a not so great game against Baylor. Geno saw the heat that Dangerfield was bringing and it impacted Chong's minutes. But she wasn't terrible in the game. She just didn't have the same aggressive play that she had in her FSU performance. I'm sure Geno will talk to her and get her going again.
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Sophomore Guard/Forward
Katie looks more under control and a lot more comfortable against Baylor, letting the game come to her and not rushing things. When she plays this way, she is one of the best players in the country. Her game is getting more and more diverse. Look for a 5 or 6 three point shooting game soon. Real soon.
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
It was clear how important it is to have Collier on the court when UConn led 52-42 and she left the game with 4 fouls. Baylor was able to quickly close the tie the game at 54 with Collier on the bench. She has to play smart and stay in the game. But against LSU? It won't matter.
UConn Bench
51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
The question coming into the Baylor game was can Butler hold her own against talented bigs. I think she answered that with a resounding yes. She was tough on the boards, played solid defense without fouling and ran the court like a forward. More to come from this talented big.
5 Crystal Dangerfield
5'5" Freshman Guard
What a weapon off the bench. She is such a dynamic player. Her game against Baylor was about the best I've seen from a freshman in such a big time environment. In the easier games (like this one against LSU) she might now see the 30 minutes she had against Baylor. But 25 mpg is in her future.
10 Molly Bent
5'9" Freshman Guard
Molly played a few minutes at the end of the first half and I was impressed. She made one bad pass, but overall, she looked like she belonged. It was a great initiation to big time basketball. She will see plenty of minutes going forward once the tougher games are out of the way. I bet she plays 10 minutes plus against LSU.
25 Kyla Irwin
6'2" Freshman Forward
6'2" Freshman Forward
As with Molly Bent, I love that Geno gave her a few meaningful minutes at the end of the first half in the Baylor game. She will see plenty of time in the regular rotation in games other than when Geno cuts down the rotation.
20 Tierney Lawlor
5'7" Junior Guard
Lawlor still waiting for her first minutes. Bet on the LSU game! And at least one three pointer!
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LSU Bears
Head Coach Nikki Fargas
“We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that LSU Women’s Basketball is back at that elite level, that we are competing for SEC championships, and that we are going to position ourselves to cut down nets,” said Fargas.
Fargas has produced a trio of 20-win seasons and an overall record of 93-71 (.567) over her five seasons at the helm of the Lady Tigers. Her 93 victories ranks her as the second-winningest Lady Tiger basketball coach in school history in terms of total wins, just behind legendary coach Sue Gunter. In her first five seasons, LSU has secured four NCAA Tournament appearances highlighted by back-to-back trips to the NCAA Sweet 16, and 18 victories over ranked opponents.
Fargas, who won national championships as both a player and an assistant coach at Tennessee and turned UCLA into a national power in just three years, has that combination of outstanding in-game coaching ability and tremendous recruiting competence. In addition, Fargas has been a leader off the court in the Baton Rouge community, helping the Lady Tigers connect with the city of Baton Rouge while donating their time and efforts to making a difference. She and her Lady Tigers were heavily involved in assisting residents and local church communities following the devastating flood in August 2016 that impacted thousands of people in the area.
LSU Starters
20 Alexis Hyder
5'11" Senior Forward
2016 LSWA Newcomer of the Year
2016 All-Louisiana Second Team
2016 Honorable Mention Associated Press All-SEC
2015-16 Offensive Player of the Year · LSU Team Award
Will open her senior season on an eight-game double-digit scoring streak ... Earned her bachelor’s degree in sports administration commerce in spring 2016 ... Led LSU in scoring and rebounding in 2015-16 with 12.2 points and 7.9 rebounds a game ... Posted 10 double-doubles and was the only Lady Tiger to score 20-plus points in 2015-16 ... Sat out the 2014-15 season due to NCAA transfer rules ... Played her freshman and sophomore seasons at North Texas after starring at Lyndon B. Johnson Early College High School in Austin, Texas.
0 Chloe Jackson
5'9" Sophomore Guard
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (2015-16)Redshirted during the 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will be eligible to play for the Lady Tigers during the 2016-17 season … Transferred from North Carolina State after she starred at Riverdale Baptist in Maryland.
11 Raigyne Montcrief
5'10" Junior Guard
2015-16 Preseason All-SEC Second Team
2014-15 SEC Player of the Week · Feb. 9
2014-15 LSWA All-Louisiana Second Team
2014-15 SEC Academic Winter Honor Roll
2014-15 Offensive Player of the Year · LSU Team Award
2014-15 Student-Athlete Academic Award · LSU Team Award
2014 All-SEC Freshman Team
2013-14 SEC Freshman of the Week (Dec. 2, 2013 & Feb. 10, 2014)
2014 Louisiana Freshman of the Year
2014 LSWA All-Louisiana Honorable Mention
2013 Barclays Invitational All-Tournament Team & Most Outstanding Player
Opened the 2015-16 season as a Preseason All-SEC Second-Team pick by the league coaches … Started the first three games before being sidelined with a knee injury … Had surgery in November 2015 and missed the remaining 28 games of the season … Enters her redshirt-junior season with 60 career starts in 65 total games played … Totals 37 career games of double-figure scoring and six games of double-digit rebounding … Had a productive sophomore season, averaging 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game … Averaged 10.1 points per game as a freshman but missed LSU’s last two NCAA Tournament games after she suffered a season-ending knee injury … Came to LSU as the No. 18 ranked high school player in America by ESPN.com.
5 Aylana Mitchell
6'2" RS Freshman Forward
Started her true freshman campaign off with 14 points in her very first game ... Played in two more contests before being sidelined with a back injury that required surgery ... Had surgery in November 2015 and missed the remainder of the 2015-16 season while doing rehab with the athletic training staff.
2 Chanice Norton
5'8" Sophomore Guard
2015-16 Newcomer of the Year · LSU Team Award
Started 22 of 31 games as a true freshman and averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds a game … Hails from London, England and prepped at Barking Abbey Basketball Academy in England before spending her final two high school seasons at Potter’s House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida … Represented England on the U16 Team at the 2012 and 2013 FIBA European Championships.
LSU Bench
10 Jasmine Rhodes
5'10" Senior Guard
Will enter her senior season averaging 3.4 points and 2.3 rebounds for her career … Has made 16 starts in 90 games of action, 14 of which came during her junior campaign … Averaged 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds as a junior … Over her first two seasons, tallied 57 of her 59 appearances off the bench - her two starts came at #4 Louisville during the 2014 NCAA Sweet 16 and versus UNC Greensboro (Dec. 28) at the 2014 Miami Holiday Tournament … Played in 27 games, making one start as a sophomore … Averaged 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds a game during the 2014-15 season … Played a valuable role off the bench where she registered 31 of her 32 appearances as a freshman … Averaged 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game during LSU’s three NCAA Tournament games … Joined the LSU program in 2013-14 as the top prospect out of the state of Alabama ... Her high school, Faith Academy, registered a combined 60-5 record during her junior and senior seasons.
1 Jenna Deemer
5'7" Junior Guard
2014-15 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
2014 Miami Holiday All-Tournament Team
Opens her junior season ranked fourth all-time in the LSU record book for three-point field goal percentage with a mark of 37.9 percent (64-169) … Also ranks tied for seventh all-time with six treys made in a single game … Has played in 50 career games, making 10 starts in two seasons of action … Averages 7.1 points per game for her career … Missed 12 games as a sophomore because of an illness … Played in 31 games as a freshman and was a 40-percent (63-156) shooter from the field.
30 Jaylen Richard-Harris
5'4" Freshman Guard
Game Analysis
It's the battle of the unbeaten!! 2-0 UConn against 3-0 LSU. Fowles, Augustus.....ok.....not really.
Like last year, UConn will play their game, pressuring the LSU guards early and often. They will use their size advantage to score inside. They will run off turnovers and even off of made baskets.
Last year UConn ran them into the ground and I don't see much different happening. The only starter from last year returning to the starting lineup this year is Alexis Hyder. Chanice Norton is a new starter this year after coming off the bench in the UConn game last season. After that, there are three new starters, with Jenna Deemer moving to the bench. Coach Fargas will certainly be looking for better results from the new players.
LSU usually plays a zone and will probably to that to hand the advantage UConn has. There is no way this version of LSU can cover their UConn counterparts without zoning.
Deemer is really the only three point shooter for LSU and has a career percentage of 38%. Well, that is before this season. Demmer has had a tough time this season going 2-19 in three games. The rest of the team is 2-15. That makes LSU 4-34. They can't continue to shoot that poorly, can they? I don't think UConn is the right defense for them to improve.
LSU doesn't have any size in their starting lineup other than RS freshman Mitchell. At 6'2", she is the only player over 5'11". Senior Alexis Hyder is a 5'11" fireplug. She has excellent strength in the post and against many teams, she can really use that to her advantage. She plays the middle of their zone and does a lot of bumping as players come into her area. She also is very subtle in using her body to clear out rebounding space.
LSU's only chance is to force turnovers, but they really don't have the players to do that. I do expect them to try and pressure UConn but that won't last long after UConn breaks the pressure for easy scores. It's really a lesson in futility. The other approach, which occurred in last years game, is for LSU to play really physical. They sent Williams flying last year and she was lucky she didn't get hurt. I'm sure Geno is concerned with more of the same.
Geno knows that coming off this big game against Baylor he will have to make sure his players focus. If not, they will be more prone to turnovers. He will push the pace early even into the third quarter. If, as I expect, UConn has a big lead he will hold up on the press and keep it a half court game in the 4th quarter. I would expect him to go deeper into the bench with everyone getting playing time.
Final Prediction
Even without Tuck and Jefferson, I don't see this game much different than last years 45 point win. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if UConn is able to outdo that margin. LSU is a team that can compete with the lower level Div I teams but at the top of the spectrum, they just can't keep it close.
UConn will want to make a statement in this game against a Power 5 Conference team even one as weak as LSU and to show that they can maintain their effort game after game. They will press early and often, run at every chance and feed the post when they don't. This is over early and gets ugly. UConn by 50+.
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