DoggyDaddy's UConn/Nebraska Post Game Report

  Post Game report

UConn really needed a game like this. Chong was back so the regular rotation of 7 players was available. There is no issue with overuse when you have that kind of rotation. The 28 minutes by Chong shows how crucial she is. And 23 by Butler allows Geno to rest the front court.

UConn ran out to an early lead, and it was clear that Nebraska didn't have enough talent to keep it close. While the announcers didn't think they were crisp in their play, I have to disagree with that assessment. Maybe the Huskies set the bar so high, 22 assists on 32 baskets is just not that good?

Highlights below along with quotes and player assessments. Enjoy!!!     

Game Highlights

 Game Stats and Box Score

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Game Quotes From Geno

''I didn't necessarily expect us, coming off exams and then the Ohio State game, that we were going to play exceptionally well,'' Auriemma said. ''But I thought for long stretches we did a lot of great stuff. I thought we played really, really well today. We played exceptionally well defensively almost the entire game. I'm really, really happy with the way things went.''

“It’s going to take time. Whenever you change coaches, whenever you have some of the turnover they’ve had, it’s going to take some time. That doesn’t change the atmosphere in this building. “This is one of the best buildings in all of America. I really, thoroughly enjoyed my last visit here, and nothing’s changed my mind.”

“The stretch that we’ve had since Nov. 14, the teams that we’ve had to play, the places that we’ve had to go to, some of our opponents, it’s been very trying, a very difficult time. My expectations for tonight, I didn’t necessarily expect us, coming off exams and the Ohio State game (an 82-63 home victory), that we were going to play exceptionally well, but I thought for long stretches we did a lot of great stuff.”

“Being thrown into this situation and going from where she was to the Big Ten, it’s a big challenge, obviously. But when you watch them, when you see some of the things they do, they do a lot of great stuff. They don’t have the same personnel to be able to pull it off. In time, that will happen.”

Game Quotes from Coach Amy Williams

''When you just look at it and see 31 points off of turnovers, not only do they turn you over, but then they really make you pay by just shoving it down your throat. It's really uncanny the way they turn your mistakes into positives and points for them.''

“It’s just something that makes this place so special. Incredibly pleased with this crowd and not surprised at all. I know that Husker fans just appreciate great basketball, and you bring the No. 1 team in the country to come in, I think they get excited about those types of opponents.”

“I just asked Geno if he had any advice for a new coach. It was brief. I wish I could sit down and have a long dinner with him and pick his brain several hours. It certainly was fun to meet him today.”

“Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training, and right now we need to improve the level of our training. We’ve got to create habits, when we revert to them, that are a little more competitive. We’re excited to be headed into a much-needed little break here to step away and recharge and refresh and get back in and get ready for Big Ten play. Right now, our team has a good chance to look at this as a good chance to kind of refresh and come back and get back after it again.”

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Player Evaluations

CO-PLAYER OF THE GAME!

Kia Nurse

The iron women of the UConn team, Kia played 33 minutes, helping guide the bench players to better performances while she was on the court. I asked her to get more assists in the next game after having only one against OSU and she happily obliged. She was aggressive but in control on offense a was her usual pain in the butt for the opponent on defense. She had 20 points, 4 assists and only 1 turnover.

Katie Lou Samuelson

Another great scoring game for one of the best offensive players in the country. She continues to expand her game. Drives with her left, pull up jumpers, post moves. And of course she went 3-5 on threes. She ended up with 23 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 2 steals.

"I'm super excited to see my sisters, my mom and dad. They don't really get a chance to come to games and we don't go to the West Coast, so it's not like they can just make it to games. So I'm going to cherish these four days. It's going to be really nice."

Napheesa Collier

A great double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. She really makes the most out of her 6'1" frame. As the expression goes, she has a nose for the basketball. She seemed a little off around the basket on offense, missing a few shots she can make in her sleep. But overall, she showed why she is now considered one of the best players in the country.

"I'm really excited to go home, and see my family and my friends. It's going to be a good break for everyone."

 

Gabby Williams

This was not the usual box score line for Gabby. Only one assist? Slacker!!!! Seriously, she did have a few great passes that were either missed baskets or the player was fouled so no assists. Almost a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds along with 3 steals. She is just so quick in the passing lanes and then BOOM she is off to the races.    

  

Crystal Dangerfield

Not a good game for Crystal. And Geno was NOT happy with her. She had foul trouble in the first half. While the last foul was a terrible call, she did reach on defense (but never touched the player) and Geno probably gave her a hard time for that. She just had one of those freshman games where she started to take her playing time for granted. Geno don't play that game. She didn't play her in the second half, allowing more playing time for others. She ended up with 8 minutes, 3 points, 1 assists and 1 rebound. I'm pretty sure she will go back to the bench and I would bet she works really hard the next week to gain back Geno's trust.

Natalie Butler

Geno had some great things to say about her in this game. While she only shot 2-9 from the field, she did have 4 points 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Geno and I both love the assists from the post players...lol. She is running the court well and she brings something no one else on the team has. SIZE. You can't teach big.

Saniya Chong

Saniya showed everyone why she was missed while out with her concussion issue. She played starter minutes with 28 and had a terrific stat line. 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. What I really loved is what shows up in the picture of her I selected. On the court leadership, something a senior is supposed to do. I would expect her back in the starting lineup against Maryland and I really hope she can build off of this game. 

Tierney Lawlor, Kyla Irwin, Molly Bent

  

It was great to see Bent and Irwin get some serious time. You will see plenty of this in conference play. Lawlor played 3 minutes and had an open three. I was shocked that she missed.

Molly had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists and 2 steals in her 17 minutes. Kyla didn't score in her 12 minutes, but she had 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Solid performances by both in more than end of game mop up duty.    

 Final Thoughts

This game couldn't have come at a better time. The starters got reasonable minutes, the bench played as well and no one got hurt. Now the coaching staff has 8 days to game plan for Maryland, a team that gave them a run for their money last season. After that it's on to conference play with only the South Carolina game in February and MAYBE the South Florida game being a contest.

Working on the game preview and with extra time, I will fill it with a ton of info about the Terps and this matchup.