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It was probably the worst weather day here in usually sunny Florida. Mostly cloudy and very windy, it was not a beach day or a golf day or a pool day. So, it was a shopping day.
Best purchase was a car seat for my grandson. My Daughter and Son-in-Law are bringing Logan to Florida on Thursday and saying until Monday. I am so excited to have my entire family together!!!
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Here is my Pre Game Report for the East Carolina Game.
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I didn't put together a Post Game Report for the Tulane game, so here is a pictorial of the game.
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| I just love the length of her stride and the use of the left hand |
Looks like a fat lip and a loose tooth for Gabby.
I mentioned yesterday how physical this game was!
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| Of course, the comedian Samuelson couldn't resist. |
| OK, talk about being punch drunk...... |
| Lou....Keeping her eye on the ball!! |
| Ok....Lets make a W....!!!!! |
Katie Lou is not so skinny anymore. Wow!!!
Look at those arms and shoulders!
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| No wonder Gabby rebounds so well. She has FOUR arms!!! |
It was great to see Molly take the ball to the hoop!!!! And she was fouled!
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The Selection Committee picked it's top 16 seeds and there were a few surprises.
No. 1 Seeds - UConn, Baylor, Mississippi State, South Carolina
No. 2 Seeds - Florida State, Washington, Notre Dame, Oregon State
No. 3 Seeds - Maryland, Texas, Duke Stanford
No. 4 Seeds - Louisville, UCLA, Kentucky, Arizona State
The first surprise is that Maryland is not in the top 8 teams. It's clear that their 95th ranked schedule had a huge impact in the committee's mind on where to place the Terps. I have been hammering about Frese schedules weak OOC teams and has for a while. She is getting what she deserves.
Another surprise is that Kentucky is in the top 16 with 6 losses. Yes, they have won 4 in a row now, but it was against 4 mediocre SEC teams in Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Alabama. The problem is, I'm not sure who should be there instead.
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I suffered through the South Carolina/Mississippi State game where the Gamecocks won 64-61. I want to give Doris Burke an AMEN. AMEN to her shutting her yap. Man, does she ever babble.
When she called the South Carolina front line the most formidable in the country, I wanted to scream. Yes, they have two really big players in Coates and Wilson, but big is not necessarily better. I don't care who on the South Carolina roster you add to that front line, it's not as good as Williams, Collier and Samuelson. Period.
Ok....now the game. Just a few observations.
I kept hearing from the announcer how much better the Mississippi State offense is this year compared to last year. Was it the 39% shooting that clued him in? The 1-6 from the foul line until Vivians hit 2 of 3 with 18 seconds left? The 61 points? Please. Stop talking out of your butt.
I do like Alison Gray. She was terrific at North Carolina playing in the shadow of Diamond Deshields. And she took over the third quarter with 13 points to push South Carolina into the lead.
Remember when A'ja Wilson professed her desire to play guard? Funny, huh. She looks like she has accepted her role down low and she is a load down there. She really dominated this game on the inside. Strong left hand and a decent jumper in the lane. But NOTHING outside of 8 feet. Some South Carolina fans had the nerve to compare her to Stewart. Right.....
It was 49-48 South Carolina in the lead after three quarters and while the offense of both teams was pretty dismal the game was very exciting. South Carolina had a 3 point lead with under a minute left and Davis of South Carolina fouled Vivians and as I mentioned earlier, she only made two of three. But the rebound went off Wilson's hand and Mississippi State had the ball and a chance to take the lead. They missed an open three from the corner by the coaches daughter. Mississippi State was clearly fouled on the rebound but it wasn't called. The refs instead called a jump ball and It was now Mississippi State's ball with 6.5 seconds left. They got the ball in Vivians hands and she missed the shot.
Tough loss for Mississippi State. The refs really sucked in this one. Way one sided.
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I like Stephanie White, the new coach of Vanderbilt. She was a terrific player in college and WNBA and a terrific coach in the W as well. But, I think she lost her mind.
"I think that when they (Tennessee) play hard all the time, when they share the ball, especially like they played in the first half tonight, and in the fourth quarter, you can line them up against Connecticut."
But they don't. And even when they do, they don't have the offensive game plan, the talent beyond Deshields, Russell and Nared, and overall coaching to line up with UConn.
In fact, I don't think that any of the Tennessee players would crack the UConn starting lineup. I'm certainly a UConn homer, but come one Stephanie. You know better than that.
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By David in Naples!!!!!
Sometimes, UConn's statistics are strange, weird and oddly similar. For example, 18 games into the season, Gabby and Napheesa have the same rebound totals. Not just overall, but the exact number of offensive boards (46) and exactly the same defensive rebounds (102). What are the odds? How about that Gabby has 92 baskets and 92 assists.. 
Kia actually has 73 baskets and 71 assists, but would have 73 if Collier hadn't missed those two "in close" lay-ups. 
Instead, there is that odd fact that Kia and Pheesa have both made 52 free throws and Gabby has 52 steals. Or, that Pheesa averages 29 minutes per game playing and has 29 blocked shots.
How about that UConn has made 143 three point shots and Napheesa has 143 baskets..? Just so weird...
Did you know Katie Lou has made 46% of the Huskies three point attempts and shoots 46% on her threes? Crystal has 34 baskets, Kia has 34 turnovers and Pheesa has 34 steals. As a team, UConn averages 13 turnovers per game, Saniya has 13 turnovers, Natalie has made 13 free throws and Kyla & Molly have combined for 13 baskets. While that is a bit scary, I guess it all balances out.
Natalie has appeared in all 18 UConn games and averages 18 minutes per game. She also has 18 blocked shots and 18 more turnovers than steals. In addition, Nat has 0 three point attempts, 0 games where she has started and 0 games where she has fouled out.
Finally, it should be noted UConn has made 573 baskets and Katie Lou has played 573 minutes. Husky opponents have made 393 baskets and Katie has 395 points. Oh well, close enough... 
Go Huskies..!!
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Kia actually has 73 baskets and 71 assists, but would have 73 if Collier hadn't missed those two "in close" lay-ups. Instead, there is that odd fact that Kia and Pheesa have both made 52 free throws and Gabby has 52 steals. Or, that Pheesa averages 29 minutes per game playing and has 29 blocked shots. How about that UConn has made 143 three point shots and Napheesa has 143 baskets..? Just so weird...
Did you know Katie Lou has made 46% of the Huskies three point attempts and shoots 46% on her threes? Crystal has 34 baskets, Kia has 34 turnovers and Pheesa has 34 steals. As a team, UConn averages 13 turnovers per game, Saniya has 13 turnovers, Natalie has made 13 free throws and Kyla & Molly have combined for 13 baskets. While that is a bit scary, I guess it all balances out. Natalie has appeared in all 18 UConn games and averages 18 minutes per game. She also has 18 blocked shots and 18 more turnovers than steals. In addition, Nat has 0 three point attempts, 0 games where she has started and 0 games where she has fouled out.
Finally, it should be noted UConn has made 573 baskets and Katie Lou has played 573 minutes. Husky opponents have made 393 baskets and Katie has 395 points. Oh well, close enough... Go Huskies..!!
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UCONN LINKS
Geno ponders new defensive scheme for No. 1 Huskies American Republican
UConn women aim to turn up defensive pressure on opponents Middletown Press
Samuelson, UConn keep rolling NWA Online
Huskies Set for Round Two with Pirates Tuesday UConn Team Site
Upsets in Red
Late games in Green
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Mississippi State's offense wasn't too bad, even with their awful FT stats (far below their season averages in both attempts and make-%). Their offense was deceptively good despite poor shooting, because they got lots of offensive rebounds and committed few turnovers.
ReplyDeleteThey lost because they couldn't force SC to miss shots inside the 3pt arc. SC made 59% of their 2pt shots and got a ton of free throws.