Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 12/24/17

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Image result for basketball merry christmas

This will be my last daily blog until the games start again. There is a full schedule on Thursday and UConn doesn't start up again until Sunday, 12/31.

My oldest granddaughter Noa (the cheerleader) is flying up from Florida on Christmas day to spend the week with us before we fly her home on 12/31, so I'm not sure how much blogging I will be able to do. We are going out for New Years to see Billy Joel and who knows when I will blog again after the next UConn game. But you know me, I'll find a way to get you info on the game and certainly my opinions on UConn basketball and their fans.

I just want to take a moment to wish all my friends that celebrate the holiday a joyous and merry Christmas. I hope you all get to enjoy your family and friends. With the world so crazy, make sure you hug your parents, wife, husband, partner, children, friends, neighbors, and just about everyone you see.

Enjoy your New Years as well. I know I will vow to be a better person. Join me!

I'll be in Florida until January 9th. Don't hate me when I post a picture from my son's new pool.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!

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If you haven't seen this video yet, enjoy!!!

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And now for some future Husky info!!!!

Olivia Nelson-Ododa played in the Beach Ball Classic held in Myrtle Beach South, Carolina. Lots of good high school talent. Olivia is not surrounded by top talent this year but she did her best to lead her team to a 2-2 record. She averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds. She added 7 blocks and 6 steals in the four games. She made the All-Tournament Team!!! It's tough coming back from a knee injury but ODO is making great progress.

Christyn Williams had a few great game over the past couple of weeks. Here are some highlights

Game 1 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks.

Game 2 more game two 27 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks.

Game 3 This past Tuesday she had 36 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Yeah, highlights are about all made shots, but she is really really talented.

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By David in Naples!!!!!

Last season, Napheesa Collier shot 67.8% from the field and scored 20.4 points per game. This year, she is averaging 15.2 ppg and only making 51% of her shots. Time to panic and point out her lack of confidence & bad shooting form, right? No, not really. Consider these four facts about her game & UConn's overall production.

1. Last season, Saniya was the 5th starter and Crystal was the 6th man. Neither of those players spent much time close in by the basket. This season, the 6th man/part-time starter is Azura. Z spends quite a bit of time in the box and is basically a taller version of Pheesa. So Collier is sharing the low post with someone who plays the same way she does. That someone is scoring 14.6 points every game. One could argue, the Pheesa/Z spot is averaging 29.8 ppg.

2. The season is 10 games old and the easier part of the schedule is ahead. Most likely, Collier's 15.2 ppg and shooting average will rise. Last night against Duquesne, Napheesa shot 54.5% from the field. I doubt the Houston, Tulsa, Tulane and UCF games will hurt either her average points or shooting %.

3. With Z in the game, Pheesa leaves the lane and often sets up further away from the basket. This is clear from her 3 point attempts. So far this year, she has taken 26 threes vs 51 all last season. At this pace, she will take close to 100 threes and that will bring the shooting % down. Keep in mind, she is still making 56% of her inside the arc shots. In the last 2 games, Collier was 14-22 down in the lane. That's 64%.

4. The scoring pattern for the Huskies is just different this season. Crystal, who replaced Saniya, has raised that position's average per game from 8.3 ppg to 12.6 ppg. Kia Nurse has raised her average from 12.7 to 16.4 ppg. Azura's 14.6 ppg has to come out of someone's production. Katie Lou and Pheesa, who led the team with 20.4 and 20.2 scoring averages last year, are both down this year because other players are up. Makes sense..!

The Huskies are averaging 89.4 points over the first 10 games. Last year it was 87.1 per game. Time to panic..?? Seriously, critics need to get a life.

Go Huskies..!!

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UCONN LINKS

UConn Notebook: Swin Cash Adjusts To Life Off The Court Courant

Nurse scores 24 points in "hometown game," UConn routs Duquesne Times Colonist

The Geno Auriemma Show: Geno breaks down the season's start SNY

WCBB Top 25 Results