****************************************************************************
Wow, what a great day for WCBB fans.
I'll talk about just a few of the Top Twenty teams that played Sunday. Some really interesting results!!
No. 2 UConn beat No. 14 (not for long!!) Texas 72-54. As Coach Daily said in the post game interview, "They had a deer in the headlights look and I don't know why". It seems that this team is prone to some early game mistakes. But they continue to show great maturity and are developing several stars.
The Huskies were led by the ever improving Napheesa Collier, who had 24 points and 8 rebounds along with 5 steals. All three led UConn for the game. She also hit 2-3 three pointers. She is now at 50% from long range. With that improvement, Collier is becoming impossible to guard. Samuelson had a slow 1st half but was able to score all of her 12 points after the break. She has scored in double digits in every game. When was the last time UConn had two possible 20 point average scorers on the same team?
Nurse continued to break out of her shooting slump. In fact, I would call it over. Dead. Done. Kia is now shooting her three point shots at 42.5%. Along with 5 assists, she really had a solid game. Williams, the new point forward, had a team leading 6 assists.
I loved how Natalie Butler got a real extended run in this game. Her improved conditioning is really paying off. Geno specifically mentioned how he liked how she played in this game. I really liked how she played BIG in this game. UConn needs that from her and they are getting it.
A terrific team effort. I'll be working on a full post game analysis, but the Notre Dame game is Wednesday. I need to put together a complete pre game analysis of that game. Right now I'm really enjoying this team. I'll worry about Notre Dame Monday.
***************************************************************************
Unranked Duke put a hurting on No. 3 South Carolina 74-63 in a game that they controlled from the beginning. Rebecca Greenwell (is this her 7th season?) had a fantastic game with 29 points going 4-7 on three pointers. It was the first win against a top 3 team since 2009 for Duke. Yeah, a big win for the much maligned Coach McCaully. Everyone, including me, have been calling for her ouster. But credit to her, she seems to have this soon to be ranked team ready for a very good season. Well, until she screws it up. Then I'll call for her ouster again.
South Carolina is an interesting team. They have a POY candidate in A'ja Wilson. She is really talented, but sometimes she disappears and it always seems to be in big games. Her 4 turnovers were killers. Coates wants to be an AA but she just can't play as small as she did in this game. Only 8 points and 5 rebounds in a full 37 minutes? That just won't cut it. The two transfers were a real disappointment in this game. They were supposed to bring some big time offense to the team, but both have played like they did before the transfers. Davis is a volume shooter and will be as likely to shoot you out of a game as she is to keep you in one. And Gray, who I like, is just trying too hard.
Those four will be playing almost the entire game against the better teams. They played 37, 37, 35 and 31 minutes. The point guard position is split between Cuevas and Harris. That's it. The rest of the bench sees only token minutes. A six player rotation can be a big problem. Even if it has worked for UConn in prior years, it takes a special coach to handle that. I don't think Staley is that coach. Her team plays an undisciplined game and that comes directly from her.
The main problem is with that point guard rotation. Cuevas is the same player as a junior as she was as a freshman. She can't shoot (4-19 on threes) and struggles to deliver the ball to the posts. The other point guard is a freshman and just learning the college game. She is also struggling from long range going 4-14. But I like her potential and her assists to turnover ratio is better than you can expect from a young player.
This is another flawed Dawn Staley team. But they have a ton of talent and should beat up on most teams. Probably the best in the SEC.
***************************************************************************
No. 1 Notre Dame had a glorified practice today against Valparaiso winning 114-54. I won't spend a lot of time on this game because it doesn't mean anything. The best part for ND and their fans was the breakout games for the two freshman Boley and Young. Both are terrific players and I'm sure the Irish are hoping this is a sign of things to come. Boley scored 15 points going 3-5 on threes and Young scored 20 points, going 3-4 on threes. If they can bring some of that to the UConn game, it will be very tough game for UConn. But the Huskies are not The Crusaders.
***************************************************************************
No. 17 Kentucky lost to No. 7 Louisville in the battle for the state of Kentucky. It wasn't pretty. The score was
56-56 after regulation. I'm sure Jeff Walz was happy that they won. He went crazy last week say that "losing is unacceptable". Well, Jeff, winning is better but don't you want them to PLAY better?
Both teams were pretty unimpressive in this game. Bad shooting, poor passing. Some clutch plays made at the end by Asia Durr and a nice 26 point effort at Myisha Hines-Allen paved the way for the Cardinals win.
***************************************************************************
No. 4 Baylor put the hammer down on No. 22 Tennessee 88-66 in a game that wasn't that close. Will this send the Lady Vols out of the top 25? It should, but you know how the voters are.
So where to start with this game? Well, for Baylor, Alexis Jones was just one rebound away from a triple-double. She had 30 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. She also added 3 steals and was clearly the best player on the court. It might have been the best performance of any player in this young season. It was also good to see Nina Davis have a great game. She added 20 points and 9 rebounds. Tennessee had no answer for these two players.
I was surprised how ineffective the two bigs for Baylor were in this outing. Brown and Mompremier combines for 4-21 and 8 points. Credit to Russell for playing excellent post defense. It's that part of her game that will get her into the WNBA. She grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots.
It was a very good team effort on defense forcing Tennessee into 15 turnovers and only 31.4% from the floor. But then again, Tennessee is a team that generally struggles on offense.
Ahh, Tennessee. A team with supposed top 5 talent. But they appear to play bottom 5 strategy. I watched this team very closely in this game and they are totally clueless on offense. I see players just standing around while Deshields tries to make a play. They do try to get the ball inside. They have to as Holly's only coaching words to them are "get the ball inside". That's her offensive strategy. Now, it's not a bad idea. Russell is getting better and better at getting post position and finish. She had 22 points on 8-16 shooting and was sadly the same 50% from the FT line going 6-12. The other bright spot for Tennessee on offense is Nared. She had 19 points in this game and was 2-4 on threes.
That's it for Tennessee on offense. The rest of the team shot 7-34. And 1-7 on threes. Bad.
And the leader of the bad is Deshields. She was 4-15 from the field. and 0-1 on threes. She added her usual 5 turnovers. After a solid start to the season, she last four games have been awful. Her FG% is down to 42.1 and her three point shooting is now 30% and dropping. Worse, she now has more turnovers than assists. It was clearly her penchant for trying to take over the game from the tip off that put Tennessee in their early hole. But it's not just her offense that is hurting Tennessee. I watched her on defense in this game and she was just lazy and passive, a terrible combination. She offered NO help defense and shied away from any contact. A leader does not do that.
It really frosts me that Doris had the nerve to call her a top 5 talent in WCBB. There are 5 players on UConn better than her. Channeling my inner Tara with that comment....lol.
It's hard to see this team making the NCAA tournament the way they are playing. ANd I can't see how there will be any improvement with the limited coaching and stagnate player development that Holly Warlick offers. Ugly in Knoxville.
P.S....I really hated how she tried to use the tragedy in Gatlinburg to inspire her team. Poor taste Holly. Very poor.
So where to start with this game? Well, for Baylor, Alexis Jones was just one rebound away from a triple-double. She had 30 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. She also added 3 steals and was clearly the best player on the court. It might have been the best performance of any player in this young season. It was also good to see Nina Davis have a great game. She added 20 points and 9 rebounds. Tennessee had no answer for these two players.
I was surprised how ineffective the two bigs for Baylor were in this outing. Brown and Mompremier combines for 4-21 and 8 points. Credit to Russell for playing excellent post defense. It's that part of her game that will get her into the WNBA. She grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots.
It was a very good team effort on defense forcing Tennessee into 15 turnovers and only 31.4% from the floor. But then again, Tennessee is a team that generally struggles on offense.
Ahh, Tennessee. A team with supposed top 5 talent. But they appear to play bottom 5 strategy. I watched this team very closely in this game and they are totally clueless on offense. I see players just standing around while Deshields tries to make a play. They do try to get the ball inside. They have to as Holly's only coaching words to them are "get the ball inside". That's her offensive strategy. Now, it's not a bad idea. Russell is getting better and better at getting post position and finish. She had 22 points on 8-16 shooting and was sadly the same 50% from the FT line going 6-12. The other bright spot for Tennessee on offense is Nared. She had 19 points in this game and was 2-4 on threes.
That's it for Tennessee on offense. The rest of the team shot 7-34. And 1-7 on threes. Bad.
And the leader of the bad is Deshields. She was 4-15 from the field. and 0-1 on threes. She added her usual 5 turnovers. After a solid start to the season, she last four games have been awful. Her FG% is down to 42.1 and her three point shooting is now 30% and dropping. Worse, she now has more turnovers than assists. It was clearly her penchant for trying to take over the game from the tip off that put Tennessee in their early hole. But it's not just her offense that is hurting Tennessee. I watched her on defense in this game and she was just lazy and passive, a terrible combination. She offered NO help defense and shied away from any contact. A leader does not do that.
It really frosts me that Doris had the nerve to call her a top 5 talent in WCBB. There are 5 players on UConn better than her. Channeling my inner Tara with that comment....lol.
It's hard to see this team making the NCAA tournament the way they are playing. ANd I can't see how there will be any improvement with the limited coaching and stagnate player development that Holly Warlick offers. Ugly in Knoxville.
P.S....I really hated how she tried to use the tragedy in Gatlinburg to inspire her team. Poor taste Holly. Very poor.
***************************************************************************
So, the bad ole SEC had a tough week.
No. 3 South Carolina, No. 22 Tennessee, No. 17 Kentucky, No. 25 Texas A&M , No. 23 Auburn all lost. Will Tennessee, Texas A&M and Auburn all drop out of the top 25? Doubtful. The SEC mystique will prevail.
No. 3 South Carolina, No. 22 Tennessee, No. 17 Kentucky, No. 25 Texas A&M , No. 23 Auburn all lost. Will Tennessee, Texas A&M and Auburn all drop out of the top 25? Doubtful. The SEC mystique will prevail.
***************************************************************************
Did I mention that Doris Burke is an idiot? First she calls Deshields a top 5 player. Then during the end of the Baylor Tennessee game she starts hyping the UConn/Notre Dame game. Especially the Notre Dame players.
According to Burke, Ogunbowale can now get 30 in any game (she did in the first game of the season), Mabrey can go for 30 in any game (she has never gone for 30) and Turner can go for 30 in any game (who has no 30 point games this season.
What is wrong with this woman....can't she just tell the truth?
***************************************************************************
By David in Naples!!!!!
Heading into tonight's game against Texas, UConn's Katie Lou Samuelson has 99 three point baskets. Odds are she will get over the century mark. Here are some other milestones for her team mates that may be broken soon.
1. Kia Nurse has 290 career field goals. Just 10 more to reach 300.
2. Napheesa Collier has grabbed 239 rebounds in 44 games. The next 11 will put her over the 250 mark.
3. Saniya Chong has 88 three point baskets and needs just twelve to pass 100.
4. Natalie Butler is just 8 rebounds short of 150 for her career.
5. Kia also has 236 assists, so adding 14 gets her past 250 for her career.
6. The next 5 points scored by the Huskies will get them to 500 for the season.
7. KLS has 6 career blocked shots. She is only 408 behind Stewie's record 414.
Individual records mean very little to this team. Winning the game with maximum effort and perfect execution are the only goals. Still, it's nice to see these great players reach milestones in points, assists, blocks or rebounds.
Go Huskies..!!
1. Kia Nurse has 290 career field goals. Just 10 more to reach 300.
2. Napheesa Collier has grabbed 239 rebounds in 44 games. The next 11 will put her over the 250 mark.
3. Saniya Chong has 88 three point baskets and needs just twelve to pass 100.
4. Natalie Butler is just 8 rebounds short of 150 for her career.
5. Kia also has 236 assists, so adding 14 gets her past 250 for her career.
6. The next 5 points scored by the Huskies will get them to 500 for the season.
7. KLS has 6 career blocked shots. She is only 408 behind Stewie's record 414.
Individual records mean very little to this team. Winning the game with maximum effort and perfect execution are the only goals. Still, it's nice to see these great players reach milestones in points, assists, blocks or rebounds.
Go Huskies..!!
*****************************************************************************
UCONN LINKS
Collier, No. 2 UConn top No. 14 Texas by 18 for 82nd straight win Carl Adamec
Tuck Likes What She Sees Of UConn Courant
College basketball: UConn women beat Texas to extend win streak to 82 Houston Chronicle
UConn women topple Texas in Jimmy V Classic after some adjustment New Haven Register
No. 2 UConn wins 82nd straight, beats No. 14 Texas 72-54 USA Today
Upsets in Red
Late games in Green
Young scores 20 as No. 1 Notre Dame routs Valparaiso 114-54 Yahoo Sports
Duke women upset No. 3 South Carolina 74-63 USA Today
Jones helps No. 4 Baylor trounce No. 22 Lady Vols 88-66 Yahoo Sports
Maryland women dominate UMBC, 94-42 Washington Post
No. 7 Louisville Holds off No. 17 Kentucky 69-67 in OT ABC News
No. 8 Florida St. routs W. Carolina for seventh straight win USA Today
Ohio State women’s basketball suffocates Cincinnati in 80-38 win Land-Grant
Monique Billings Helps No. 10 UCLA Rout Hawaii 72-49 NY Times
McCall helps No. 11 Stanford handle UC Davis 68-42 SF Gate
Late run helps Oral Roberts stun No. 12 Oklahoma Oklahoma News
No. 13 Washington Women Beat Cold-Shooting Fresno St. 85-54 NY Times
No. 16 West Virginia bench rises to Challenge vs. Ole Miss Metro News
Thomas, Hayes lead No. 18 Miami women by Old Dominion 66-56 USA Today
Syracuse women's basketball breezes past Central Connecticut State Post-Standard
Duke women upset No. 3 South Carolina 74-63 USA Today
Jones helps No. 4 Baylor trounce No. 22 Lady Vols 88-66 Yahoo Sports
Maryland women dominate UMBC, 94-42 Washington Post
No. 7 Louisville Holds off No. 17 Kentucky 69-67 in OT ABC News
No. 8 Florida St. routs W. Carolina for seventh straight win USA Today
Ohio State women’s basketball suffocates Cincinnati in 80-38 win Land-Grant
Monique Billings Helps No. 10 UCLA Rout Hawaii 72-49 NY Times
McCall helps No. 11 Stanford handle UC Davis 68-42 SF Gate
Late run helps Oral Roberts stun No. 12 Oklahoma Oklahoma News
No. 13 Washington Women Beat Cold-Shooting Fresno St. 85-54 NY Times
No. 16 West Virginia bench rises to Challenge vs. Ole Miss Metro News
Thomas, Hayes lead No. 18 Miami women by Old Dominion 66-56 USA Today
Syracuse women's basketball breezes past Central Connecticut State Post-Standard
*******************************************
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
I'm always open for suggestions. Just please reply to this blog or email me at:
the AAC IS BETTER OR JUST AS GOOD AS THOSE OTHER CONFERANCE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE POWER FIVE IS FAKE
ReplyDeletemobile ageing. It degrades collagen fibers, which reasons sagging and wrinkles. women do not typically shave their faces, but they have got different wishes that a skin care moisturizer cream can satisfy. retaining make-up out in their pores is one in every of them. For more ==== >>>>>> http://guidemesupplements.com/dermessence/
ReplyDelete