UCONN vs UCF
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 9th, 2018
Location: Gampel Pavilion
Time: 7:00 PM
TV: SNY/ESPN3
No. 1 UConn 13-0 (3-0) Central Florida 11-5 (3-0)
Head to Head games
1/1/14 W 77-49 A
Here are the Highlights
from the AAC Tourney game from last year
Overview
from the AAC Tourney game from last year
Central Florida is coming in on a four game winning streak, including their first three games of their AAC conference schedule. They beat Temple 76-46 in a surprising 30 point win, at SMU 60-42 and in their last game they beat AAC newcomer Wichita State 59-53.
They have won 7 of their last 8 after a slow 2-3 start. But all of this can be taken with a grain of salt. That being the weak schedule. Here are the numbers from Realtime RPI.
| Date | Opponent | Opp. RPI Rk | Results | |||
| 11-10 | Mercer | 15-2 (2-0) | 70 | 64-73 | L | |
| 11-13 | at | Chattanooga | 11-5 (2-0) | 82 | 58-57 | W |
| 11-17 | at | Gardner-Webb | 8-3 (1-1) | 116 | 65-30 | W |
| 11-19 | at | Virginia Tech | 12-4 (1-2) | 52 | 69-86 | L |
| 11-22 | Elon | 9-4 (2-1) | 73 | 57-71 | L | |
| 11-25 | IUPUI | 10-3 (3-0) | 74 | 63-59 | W | |
| 11-26 | Northern Iowa | 5-9 (2-2) | 161 | 53-43 | W | |
| 11-30 | at | Samford | 7-9 (0-2) | 149 | 51-58 | L |
| 12-10 | Georgia Southern | 1-12 (0-4) | 325 | 62-38 | W | |
| 12-13 | at | Boston U. | 7-6 (2-1) | 150 | 47-32 | W |
| $ 12-17 | at | UC Davis | 12-3 (2-0) | 58 | 62-55 | W |
| 12-20 | at | Pacific | 5-9 (0-4) | 155 | 74-78 | L |
| 12-28 | Davidson | 6-10 (1-2) | 158 | 62-54 | W | |
| 12-30 | Temple | 9-5 (1-1) | 134 | 76-46 | W | |
| 01-03 | at | SMU | 6-10 (0-3) | 191 | 60-42 | W |
| 01-06 | Wichita St. | 5-12 (0-3) | 215 | 59-53 | W | |
Their toughest games were in their first 6 games when they went 3-3. Their disruptive defense works against the weaker teams and they have gone 8-2 since then.
UConn is playing their best ball of the season. The conference schedule is only 3 games in and UConn looks to be starting an historic run through the AAC. Since I'm showing UCF's Realtime RPI info I might as well do the same for UConn.
| Date | Opponent | Opp. RPI Rk | Results | |||
| $$ 11-12 | vs | Stanford | 9-7 (3-1) | 27 | 78-53 | W |
| $$ 11-17 | California | 11-4 (2-2) | 25 | 82-47 | W | |
| $$ 11-19 | Maryland | 15-2 (4-0) | 24 | 97-72 | W | |
| $$ 11-21 | at | UCLA | 11-4 (2-2) | 16 | 78-60 | W |
| $ 11-25 | vs | Michigan St. | 12-5 (2-2) | 40 | 96-62 | W |
| 11-28 | at | Nevada | 8-6 (2-2) | 133 | 88-57 | W |
| $$ 12-03 | Notre Dame | 15-1 (4-0) | 2 | 80-71 | W | |
| $ 12-08 | at | DePaul | 11-5 (3-1) | 33 | 103-69 | W |
| $ 12-19 | vs | Oklahoma | 7-8 (2-2) | 32 | 88-64 | W |
| 12-22 | vs | Duquesne | 13-3 (3-0) | 76 | 104-52 | W |
| 12-31 | Memphis | 6-9 (1-1) | 166 | 97-49 | W | |
| 01-03 | at | East Carolina | 8-8 (0-3) | 252 | 96-35 | W |
| $$ 01-06 | at | South Florida | 12-4 (2-1) | 30 | 100-49 | W |
Quite the difference.
Stat by Stat Comparison
Leader is bolded
Leader is bolded
UCONN Central Florida
91.3 Points Per Game 61.4
56.9 Opp Points Per Game 54.7
.534 Field Goal % .420
.338 Opp Field Goal % .370
.400 3 Point Field Goal % .267
.288 Opp 3 Point Field Goal % .280
.721 Free Throw % .664
43.7 Rebounds Per Game 37.4
33.2 Opp Rebounds Per Game 34.2
23.8 Assists Per Game 12.8
13.3 Turnovers Per Game 15.1
1.9 Assists/Turnover Ratio .8
1.9 Assists/Turnover Ratio .8
10.0 Steals Per Game 11.1
5.8 Blocks Per Game 2.1
UCONN
UConn Starters
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1" Junior Forward
MPG -29.6, FG% .549, 3PT% .290, FT% .692, 15.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 25 blks, 23 stls
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Senior Forward
MPG - 26.9, FG% .604, 3PT% .000, FT% .690, 11.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 7 blks, 34 stls
11 Kia Nurse
6' Senior Guard
MPG - 32.8, FG% .574%, 3PT% .500, FT .800, 15.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 7 blks, 14 stls
5 Crystal Dangerfield
5'5" Sophomore Guard
MPG - 32.2, FG% .475, 3PT% .475, FT% .706%, 12.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.2 apg, 0 blks, 21 stls
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Junior Guard/Forward
MPG - 27.4, FG% .528, 3PT% .509, FT% .789, 18.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2 blk, 13 stls
UConn Bench
23 Azura Stevens
6'6" Junior Forward
MPG - 23.0, FG% .568, 3PT% .167, FT .733, 13.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 29 blks, 10 stls
3 Megan Walker
6'1" Freshman Guard/Forward
MPG - 17.2, FG% .459, 3PT% .294, FT% .625, 6.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, .9 apg, 3 blk, 4 stls
32 Batouly Camara
6'2" Sophomore Forward
MPG - 2.6, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, FT% .000, 0.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0 blk, 1 stls
10 Molly Bent
5'9" Sophomore Guard
MPG - 6.2, FG% .625, 3PT% .667, FT% .000, 1.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .5 apg, 0 blk, 2 stls
25 Kyla Irwin
6'2" Sophomore Forward
MPG - 7.9, FG% .550, 3PT% .333, FT% .000, 2.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .5 apg, 0 blk, 2 stls
4 Mikayla Coombs
5'8" Freshman Guard
MPG - 5.1, FG% .300, 3PT% .200, FT% .000, .7 ppg, .5 rpg, .3 apg, 1 blk, 4 stls
*******************************************************************
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson
Head Coach
On April 1, 2016, Katie Abrahamson-Henderson was announced as UCF's head women's basketball coach.
During the 2016-17 campaign, Abrahamson-Henderson led the Knights to their best season since joining the American Athletic Conference. Her squad achieved milestone after milestone in her first year at the helm.
Finishing the season with a 21-12 overall record, the Knights added 14 to its total in the win column from the previous season. That 14-victory swing was tied for the second-best turnaround among women's Division I basketball teams.
UCF started the season with a 10-2 record, its best mark since the 1982-83 campaign. Heading into league play, Abrahamson-Henderson's squad posted its best mark in The American at 9-7. During conference action, the Knights earned the program's first-ever road victories over East Carolina and USF.
On Feb. 14, Abrahamson-Henderson led her team to a 66-62 win over then-No. 22 USF. Not only did her squad collect all six points in the War on I4 rivalry series, it also picked up the program's first-ever win over a ranked opponent in the Division I era.
Earning its highest seed and first-round bye in The American Championship, No. 4 UCF topped Tulane in the quarterfinals to pick up its first victory in the league tournament.
UCF reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2010-11 season and made its first-ever WNIT appearance. With a 73-53 victory over Stetson on March 16 marked the program's first postseason victory in either the NCAA or WNIT tournaments.
Under her guidance, a pair of Knights - Aliyah Gregory and Zykira Lewis - earned all-conference accolades. Having two Knights recognized on The American postseason teams was not the only program first; Gregory became the first Knight to earn First Team honors in The American.
Abrahamson-Henderson came to UCF after six seasons at Albany, where she led the Great Danes to a combined nine America East Conference tournament and regular season titles. Her Albany teams recorded five 20-win seasons en route to five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program’s first bid in 2011 and its first NCAA Tournament victory in 2016.
During the 2016-17 campaign, Abrahamson-Henderson led the Knights to their best season since joining the American Athletic Conference. Her squad achieved milestone after milestone in her first year at the helm.
Finishing the season with a 21-12 overall record, the Knights added 14 to its total in the win column from the previous season. That 14-victory swing was tied for the second-best turnaround among women's Division I basketball teams.
UCF started the season with a 10-2 record, its best mark since the 1982-83 campaign. Heading into league play, Abrahamson-Henderson's squad posted its best mark in The American at 9-7. During conference action, the Knights earned the program's first-ever road victories over East Carolina and USF.
On Feb. 14, Abrahamson-Henderson led her team to a 66-62 win over then-No. 22 USF. Not only did her squad collect all six points in the War on I4 rivalry series, it also picked up the program's first-ever win over a ranked opponent in the Division I era.
Earning its highest seed and first-round bye in The American Championship, No. 4 UCF topped Tulane in the quarterfinals to pick up its first victory in the league tournament.
UCF reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2010-11 season and made its first-ever WNIT appearance. With a 73-53 victory over Stetson on March 16 marked the program's first postseason victory in either the NCAA or WNIT tournaments.
Under her guidance, a pair of Knights - Aliyah Gregory and Zykira Lewis - earned all-conference accolades. Having two Knights recognized on The American postseason teams was not the only program first; Gregory became the first Knight to earn First Team honors in The American.
Abrahamson-Henderson came to UCF after six seasons at Albany, where she led the Great Danes to a combined nine America East Conference tournament and regular season titles. Her Albany teams recorded five 20-win seasons en route to five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program’s first bid in 2011 and its first NCAA Tournament victory in 2016.
Central Florida Starters
5'10" Senior Guard
2 Korneila Wright
5'7" Sophomore Guard
MPG 32.2, FG% .389, 3PT% .353, PPG 10.3, RPG 3.4, APG 4.0
12 Nyala Shuler
6' RS Junior Guard
6' RS Junior Guard
MPG 29.3, FG% .492, 3PT% .364, PPG 4.4, RPG 7.6, APG 1.0
3 Zakiya Saunders
5'9" RS Senior Guard
MPG 35.5, FG% .405, 3PT% .150, PPG 13.3, RPG 5.4 APG 4.9
MPG 35.5, FG% .405, 3PT% .150, PPG 13.3, RPG 5.4 APG 4.9
5 Masseny Kabar
6'3" Freshman Forward
MPG 25.7, FG% .505, 3PT% .000, PPG 8.3, RPG 5.9 APG .6
Central Florida Bench
23 Lawriell Wilson
5'8" Junior Guard
MPG 17.5, FG% .464, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.9, RPG 3.6 APG 1.5
11 Kayla Thigpen
5'8" Junior Guard
MPG 14.9, FG% .389, 3PT% .500, PPG 3.8, RPG 2.6 APG .3
33 Jamesha Paul
5'8" Junior Guard
MPG 13.4, FG% .347, 3PT% .000, PPG 2.7, RPG 1.7 APG .6
Game Analysis
Central Florida is the kind of team that should really struggle with UConn. They have only two players 6' or more, they don't shoot well, they don't rebound well, they don't defend the deep post well. But that being said, they had pretty much the same issue last season and still managed to give the Huskies a tough time, only losing to them by 36 in their first matchup and 22 in the second matchup. The Knights just made the two games a slop fest, with lots of bumping and hoping that fouls don't get called.
UCF starts 4 guards and one forward. 5'9" Saunders, 5"10 Gregory, 5'7" Wright and 6' Shuler Their lone post presence is 6'3" freshman Kabe. And they bring in three 5'8" junior guards off the bench.
Only Kabe is averaging 50%+ from the field. And this is against a pretty weak schedule. But it's clear by their stats that offense is not why they have won 11 games so far this season. In all of their victories, they have held their opponent to less than 60 points with those teams averaging 47 PPG. Again, that is a reflection of the schedule.
The offensive numbers for UCF are just ugly. They average 61 PPG, shoot 42% from the field, 27% on threes. They only TAKE 5 threes per game. It's just not part of their offense. A smaller team, they don't rebound well either, averaging 37 per game. As you can probably guess, they don't have a ton of assists either with 12.8 per game and they turn the ball over more than they assist with 15.1 TO's per game.
Defensively, they do force turnovers creating 18.8 per game and 11 of those are steals. It's their bread and butter. Being one of the smaller teams in the league, they only average 2.1 blocks per game. They only post presence, Kaba, only has 8 blocks on the season. That doesn't even lead the Knights. That goes to Shuler with 11 blocks.
UConn is going to take advantage of ever mismatch and there will be several on the court, no matter who is in for the Huskies. Collier and Williams will take the ball hard to the basket and will either get fouled or make the shot. When Stevens is in, she will be able to dominate both the defensive and offensive boards. Katie Lou will be a nightmare for UCF. I expect her to dominate on the offensive end.
UConn will pressure UCF from the outset and see how that goes. Teams with 4 guards can sometimes handle the pressure defense and take advantage of the 2 on 1's that happen. Not Central Florida. They don't have enough quickness and not enough size to pass over the pressure. Look for lots of turnovers.
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. It's another AAC team that just doesn't have the talent to do anything to slow down UConn. They will try by playing as physical as possible. This version of the Huskies just don't seem to be impacted by that strategy. Led by Kia Nurse, sometimes I think they really like these kinds of games. The Huskies can dish it out as much as they have to take it.
All the reasons I mentioned in the analysis makes this a really tough game for Central Florida. They will play hard and not quit, but it won't matter.
UConn by 55+.
UCF starts 4 guards and one forward. 5'9" Saunders, 5"10 Gregory, 5'7" Wright and 6' Shuler Their lone post presence is 6'3" freshman Kabe. And they bring in three 5'8" junior guards off the bench.
Only Kabe is averaging 50%+ from the field. And this is against a pretty weak schedule. But it's clear by their stats that offense is not why they have won 11 games so far this season. In all of their victories, they have held their opponent to less than 60 points with those teams averaging 47 PPG. Again, that is a reflection of the schedule.
The offensive numbers for UCF are just ugly. They average 61 PPG, shoot 42% from the field, 27% on threes. They only TAKE 5 threes per game. It's just not part of their offense. A smaller team, they don't rebound well either, averaging 37 per game. As you can probably guess, they don't have a ton of assists either with 12.8 per game and they turn the ball over more than they assist with 15.1 TO's per game.
Defensively, they do force turnovers creating 18.8 per game and 11 of those are steals. It's their bread and butter. Being one of the smaller teams in the league, they only average 2.1 blocks per game. They only post presence, Kaba, only has 8 blocks on the season. That doesn't even lead the Knights. That goes to Shuler with 11 blocks.
UConn is going to take advantage of ever mismatch and there will be several on the court, no matter who is in for the Huskies. Collier and Williams will take the ball hard to the basket and will either get fouled or make the shot. When Stevens is in, she will be able to dominate both the defensive and offensive boards. Katie Lou will be a nightmare for UCF. I expect her to dominate on the offensive end.
UConn will pressure UCF from the outset and see how that goes. Teams with 4 guards can sometimes handle the pressure defense and take advantage of the 2 on 1's that happen. Not Central Florida. They don't have enough quickness and not enough size to pass over the pressure. Look for lots of turnovers.
Game Prediction
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. It's another AAC team that just doesn't have the talent to do anything to slow down UConn. They will try by playing as physical as possible. This version of the Huskies just don't seem to be impacted by that strategy. Led by Kia Nurse, sometimes I think they really like these kinds of games. The Huskies can dish it out as much as they have to take it.
All the reasons I mentioned in the analysis makes this a really tough game for Central Florida. They will play hard and not quit, but it won't matter.
UConn by 55+.
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