UCONN vs. Kansas State
Day: Sunday
Date: December 11th, 2016
Location: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kan.
Time: 2:00
TV: FS1
No. 1 UConn Huskies Kansas State Wildcats
8-0 9-0
Prior Meetings
KANSAS STATE (2-0)
H: 1-0; A: 0-0; N: 1-0
3/19/12 W 72-26 N
11/23/15 W 97-57 H
H: 1-0; A: 0-0; N: 1-0
3/19/12 W 72-26 N
11/23/15 W 97-57 H
Last years Matchup
Highlights
Here is the box score from that game.
I was impressed with Coach Mittie's players last year. They were so intense for the entire game. They cheered from the bench for every good play and let me tell you, there were several. I was particularly impressed with Kindred Wesemann, their 5'7" point guard. She is tough as nails and never backed down from the challenge. It's tough when you play a team as dominant as UConn to show how good you are in relation to the rest of WCBB. Last years game should help them in this one at home.
Overview
It's been a great start for Kansas State so far for the 2016-17 season. While they haven't come close to playing teams as tough as UConn (or most of UConn's opponents) they have beaten one top Twenty-Five team in Auburn 71-66. Well, Auburn WAS in the Top Twenty-Five. They dropped out after the loss to KSU and were overrated anyway. They did beat Power-5 teams North Carolina State 67-50 and LSU 69-54 who UConn also beat 76-53. They beat UT-Arlington 62-49 in their last outing. They were only up by 5 after the third quarter before putting away the Mavericks.
At 9-0, even with a loss to UConn, Kansas State could crack the Top Twenty-Five. They have had a fantastic start to the season.
UConn is coming off the great win against Notre Dame on the road. The effort was the story to me. I've never seen players play so hard like UConn did in that game. And at 8-0, they are now at 83 wins in a row. While not as dominating as last years team, this group of players is turning into something special.
Comparative Team Statistic
Leader in Bold
Leader in Bold
UConn Kansas State
79.9 PPG 70.3
57.4 Defensive PPG 50.4
57.4 Defensive PPG 50.4
22.5 Scoring Margin 19.9
50.0 Field Goal % 46.0
35.5 Defensive FG% 30.5
35.5 Defensive FG% 30.5
42.3 Three Point % 34.3
25.9 Defensive 3PT% 26.3
77.9 Free Throw % 67.825.9 Defensive 3PT% 26.3
37.5 Rebounds/game 41.7
3.4 Rebounding Margin 10.6
20.9 Assists per game 16.6
14.1 Turnover per game 17.3
1.5 Assists/TO ratio 1.0
8.4 Steals per game 7.1
3.8 Blocks per game 4.2
UCONN
UConn Starters
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Sophomore Guard/Forward
This young lady is turning into a matchup nightmare. Inside game is catching up to her outside game. And her defense is holding up against the smaller players she sometimes has to cover.
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1 Sophomore Forward/Guard
This young lady is turning into a matchup nightmare No. 2. UConn really missed her when she had to sit against Notre Dame. She needs to stay out of foul trouble. That being said, she only had two fouls. It would be good for her to play with that many in case UConn needs to keep her in a game that is close.
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Junior Forward
This young lady is turning into a matchup nightmare No. 3. Is there a better passing forward in WCBB? But it's way more than her physical skills that makes her a great player. It's her toughness and mental strength that does it.
11 Kia Nurse
6' Junior Guard
In the dictionary, next to the word Defense is Kia Nurse's photo. She is becoming the stopper for this version of the Huskies and is relishing her role without being a hot dog. Relish, Hot Dog....get it???
Sorry.
12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Senior Guard
A starter, but a great role player. Love her intensity and smarts on the court.
UConn Bench
51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
She will get time in this game against the big KSU players. She is also a terrific role player, finding her niche as the big post and her instincts after a rebound are terrific. She always finds the outlet pass.
5 Crystal Dangerfield
5'5" Freshman Guard
Young is one word for Crystal. Inexperienced is another. But her skills are special and every game she finds a way to share them. She will be amazing by the end of the regular season.
10 Molly Bent
5'9" Freshman Guard
This is a good game for her to get some minutes.
25 Kyla Irwin
6'2" Freshman Forward
6'2" Freshman Forward
Looking forward to seeing her get some more minutes. I'm not sure how many in this game but her time will come soon enough, once the conference games start.
20 Tierney Lawlor
5'7" Junior Guard
I'm hoping she get's plenty of time doing her three-point hand slapping in this one!
*******************************************************************
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State Coach Jeff Mittie
Jeff Mittie, one of the winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I with more than 490 career wins, 17 postseason appearances, nine conference titles and five conference coach of the year honors in 24 years of coaching, enters his third season at the helm of the K-State program in 2016-17.
Mittie, introduced as the ninth head women’s basketball coach in K-State history before the 2014-15 season, has achieved an overall record of 492-262 (.653) in his previous 24 years as a head coach, which includes stops at Missouri Western, Arkansas State and TCU. His .653 career winning percentage ranks among the top-50 active Division I head coaches and 22nd among active coaches with 20 or more years experience.
Mittie has averaged 21 wins and 10 losses per season and experienced only one losing season in his 24 years of head coaching. Seventeen times Mittie has advanced his teams to either the NCAA or WNIT Tournaments, in which he has a combined record of 17-15.
Mittie, introduced as the ninth head women’s basketball coach in K-State history before the 2014-15 season, has achieved an overall record of 492-262 (.653) in his previous 24 years as a head coach, which includes stops at Missouri Western, Arkansas State and TCU. His .653 career winning percentage ranks among the top-50 active Division I head coaches and 22nd among active coaches with 20 or more years experience.
Mittie has averaged 21 wins and 10 losses per season and experienced only one losing season in his 24 years of head coaching. Seventeen times Mittie has advanced his teams to either the NCAA or WNIT Tournaments, in which he has a combined record of 17-15.
Kansas State Starters
24 Kindred Wesemann
5'7" Senior Guard
• 2016 All-Big 12 Second Team
• 2016 Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• 2016 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• 2016 Nicole Ohlde Defensive MVP
• 2015 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• Named team’s 2015 Most Improved Award winner
• 2014 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team
• Five-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
22 Breanna Lewis
6'5" Senior Center
11 Payton Williams
6'3" Freshman Forward
50 Shaelyn Martin
6'1" Junior Guard
Ranks 26th on the K-State career assists list (202).
21 Karyla Middlebrook
5'7" Junior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
21st in school history for career assists (229)... 8th in school history for career 3-point field goals made (174)... 8th in school history for 3-point field goals attempted (508)... Eighth player in school history with 200 or more career assists and 150 or more career 3-point field goals made... 6th in school history for career free throw percentage (.794; 143-of-180).
• 2016 All-Big 12 Second Team
• 2016 Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• 2016 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• 2016 Nicole Ohlde Defensive MVP
• 2015 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• Named team’s 2015 Most Improved Award winner
• 2014 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team
• Five-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
22 Breanna Lewis
6'5" Senior Center
Ranks 32nd in school history with 1,081 career points... Ranks tied for 16th in school history for career rebounds (585)... 24th player in school history with 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds... Owns the school records for blocks in a single game (8) and blocks in a single season (97)... 2nd in school history for career blocks (223)... Tied the school record for career games with 5+ blocks (14)... Owns the school record for career games with 7+ blocks (2)... 1st in school history for blocks per game (2.37).
• First player in the 49-year history of women’s basketball at Kansas State from the state of Wisconsin.
• Teamed up with Erica Young to play with Athletes in Action in June 2015 in Poland against national teams from France, Latvia and Poland.
• 2016-17 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
• 2016 All-Big 12 First Team
• 2016 Big 12 All-Defensive Team
• 2016 Waco Tribune-Herald All-Big 12 First Team
• 2016 Kendra Wecker Offensive MVP
• 2015-16 Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
• 2015 All-Big 12 Second Team
• 2015 Big 12 All-Defensive Team
• 2015 Nicole Ohlde Defensive MVP
• Spring 2015 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• 2014 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team
• First player in the 49-year history of women’s basketball at Kansas State from the state of Wisconsin.
• Teamed up with Erica Young to play with Athletes in Action in June 2015 in Poland against national teams from France, Latvia and Poland.
• 2016-17 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
• 2016 All-Big 12 First Team
• 2016 Big 12 All-Defensive Team
• 2016 Waco Tribune-Herald All-Big 12 First Team
• 2016 Kendra Wecker Offensive MVP
• 2015-16 Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
• 2015 All-Big 12 Second Team
• 2015 Big 12 All-Defensive Team
• 2015 Nicole Ohlde Defensive MVP
• Spring 2015 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• 2014 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team
11 Payton Williams
6'3" Freshman Forward
Ranked as the No. 64 player in the nation by Prospects Nation... Ranked as the No. 20 forward in the nation by ESPN Hoopgurlz... Fourth player in program history from Topeka, Kansas... Scored over 1,500 points in career... Was the MCAA MVP in both basketball and volleyball her senior year... Named All-MCAA in all five seasons of her career... Finished her senior season with 15.5 points and 12.6 rebounds per game... Averaged 19.3 ppg & 13.1 rpg in 2014-15 in leading Lions to state runner-up finish in KCAA... Set the scoring record for the Burlington Tournament with 37 points against Labette County... In 2013-14, averaged 22.2 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 5.1 spg & 2.3 bpg in leading Cair Paravel to the KCAA state title.
50 Shaelyn Martin
6'1" Junior Guard
Ranks 26th on the K-State career assists list (202).
• 2016 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• 2016 Pat Bosco Academic Award recipient
• 2016 Priscilla Gary Hustle Award recipient
• 2015 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team
• Three-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
21 Karyla Middlebrook
5'7" Junior Guard
Middlebrook is a transfer from Alabama. She played three seasons at Alabama with 72 games played, 70 starts and an average of 28.8 minutes per game... Named to the 2014-15 SEC Academic Honor Roll Averaged 7.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game in her career... During the 2015-16 season, she averaged 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and a team-high 2.7 assists... Ranked ninth in the SEC in free throw percentage at .750... Ranked 11th in the SEC in steals with 1.7 per game... In her redshirt freshman season of 2014-15, she averaged 7.1 points per game and a team-best 3.2 assists per game ... Ranked sixth in the SEC in assists, eighth in assist/turnover ratio (0.92) and seventh in free throw percentage against league opponents, .793... Second on the team in scoring in SEC games with 8.2 points per contest... Injured her hip in freshman season of 2013-14, forcing her to miss 21 of the final 23 games of the season.
Kansas State Bench
10 Kayla Goth
6' Sophomore Guard
13 Eternati Willock
6'4" Freshman Forward
1 Kaylee Page
6' Sophomore Guard
2016 1st Infantry Div. Sustainment Brigade Tammie Romstad Durable Award
• Fall 2015 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Concluded her debut season in Manhattan with 30 games played, including one start, with 407 minutes played for an average of 13.6 per game... Averaged 1.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists... In Big 12 action, she registered 2.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists
• Fall 2015 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Concluded her debut season in Manhattan with 30 games played, including one start, with 407 minutes played for an average of 13.6 per game... Averaged 1.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists... In Big 12 action, she registered 2.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists
13 Eternati Willock
6'4" Freshman Forward
Ranked as the No. 33 player in the nation by ESPN Hoopgurlz & Girlsbasketballreport.com... Ranked as the No. 6 international prospect by Prospects Nation... Ranked as 4.5 prospect by Peach State Basketball... No. 2 prospect by CROWN Scout Girls Report in 2015 and 2016... First player in program history from Canada... Represented Canada in three international tournaments: 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships for Women, 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women and 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women.
1 Kaylee Page
6'3" Junior Forward
• 2016 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• Named team’s 2016 Most Improved Award winner• Two-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Played in and started all 32 games in her debut season with the Wildcats... Tabulated 885 minutes for an average of 27.7 per game... Averaged 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game... Second on the team in 3-point field goals made (44).
Game Analysis
UConn once again is going into the Lion's Den again. Or is that the Wild Cat's Den? Kansas State as announced a sellout at Bramlage Coliseum, who's official capacity is 12,528. The KSU fans are known for being raucous and I really hope so. I'm sure it won't rattle the Huskies after playing in South Bend just a few nights before. That being said, a big key for this game is Geno's ability to keep the team focused on the task at hand after the BIG win against Notre Dame.
I watched a lot of the KSU vs Tulsa game while on the treadmill at the gym Friday. The Wildcats played exclusively a 2-1-2 zone. The announcers mentioned that they have been practicing both the zone and man-to-man, but I didn't see any of the latter.
Breanna Lewis, the 6'5" senior center mans the middle of the zone and she can block some shots with her long arms. Not quick, but not that slow either. She is also a handful once she receives the ball in the paint on offense. She can hit the baby hook with either hand and has decent footwork to get off her shot. She loves to work the high/low with the other bigs on the team, Willock, Williams and Page and it can be very effective.
Their senior point guard, Kendred Wesemann, is a terrific player. She loves to drive the lane and kick to the other two three-point shooters on the team, Kayla Goth and Kaylee Page. UConn can't afford to play off of them to double the drive or double the big girl Lewis without risking open threes. But UConn is quick enough to recover to cover those shooters. Lewis has gotten better at finding the open shooter when doubled in the post. Goth has also improved, becoming more aggressive with her offense, driving to the basket harder than last season.
The Wildcats run occasionally but are mostly a half court team.
I would expect that Butler sees more than the 9 minutes she played against Notre Dame. Her size should be helpful against the 4 KSU bigs, especially Lewis.
This could be an explosive game for Katie Lou. She could eat up their zone. 5-6 made three pointers would not surprise me.
Final Prediction
Kansas State is a well coached team. Coach Mittie is working hard to improve this team and they seem even better this year than the 19-13 team from last season. But last year they started out 10-1 and struggled once the conference schedule started. This game should give us an indication if KSU has taken a step forward.
At first blush you might think that an undefeated Kansas State team might give UConn a decent game. Of course, reality sets in and the difference between UConn and Kansas State is still wide. Connecticut is just in a different world when it comes to talent and as hard as the Wildcats might play, it won't make up for their lack of team speed on the defensive end. I'm sure that Lewis will get a block or two but UConn is just too quick for this team.
The gap is not as wide as last year's 40 point margin. The Wildcats are a better team. UConn is not as good as last year. It could be a competitive game for a while. But UConn will pull away and win by 20+.
No comments:
Post a Comment