Sunday, January 7, 2018

Doggy's UConn/South Florida Post Game Report

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Game Replay!! 


Game Analysis

What a performance by this version of the Huskies! They have been on quite the roll the last few games and this one took it to another level. I'll get into the player performance later and focus on the team effort.

Since the Notre Dame game, UConn has averaged 98 PPG over their last six contests. They have also only given up 46 PPG over the last 4 games. Now, the opponents talent and performance level has something to do with it, but this game was against the second best team in the AAC and one that had only lost by 10 points against Notre Dame.

UConn held South Florida to 49 points, 20 in the first half. They held the Bulls to 27.8% shooting and 22.6% on threes. They focused on the top three scorers and held them to 11 points. Laksa was scoreless in 25 minutes going 0-11 from the field and 0-8 on threes. Jespersen was 3-16 from the field and 1-5 on threes for her nine points. Ferreira was 1-16 from the field only scoring late in the fourth quarter and 0-8 on threes for 2 points.  
        
UConn was above average in almost every offensive category. The Huskies performed better in field goal %, 3 point %, assists, rebounds, steals, points, blocks, steals, and pretty much anything else you can attach a number to.

This team is as explosive as any UConn team that I can remember. They will surely average over 90 PPG, quite an accomplishment.

Game Highlights


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Post Game Interview Geno


Jan 6, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma in the third quarter against the South Florida Bulls  at USF Sun Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Game Quotes from Geno

Kia is relentless when it comes to defensive pressure she puts on people. Some kids get tired. Some kids just stopo after a while. She never does. I think the kid (Laksa) got  little frustrated and a little hurried and the shots weren't the way she normally gets them."

"Because Collier had such a phenomenal year last year, it seems like she's really struggling this year. Yet by any other stretch of the imagination, she's having a great year. I don't know if you can duplicate last year. I don't know how you do that. But today was more like it. It was the same shots she's been getting all year but it was just a different look about her. There was a lot more confidence. It seemed like she did things with a little more authority instead of being a bit tentative. I don't know if she can sustain it, but we'll see."

"I don't know if the game was officiated in a way that benefitted one team or another. It didn't seem to be a lot of questionable calls or non-calls. I thought it was really good. I thought the third foul on Lou was a little questionable, but I'm biased I guess."


Post Game Interview Jose Fernandez



Post Game Interviews USF Players


Image result for jose fernandez south florida uconn
Game Quotes from
South Florida Coach Jose Fernandez

"I think we've got a pretty good basketball team. The start of the game, you prepare, you watch film and you get your (players) ready for their speed, their toughness, their aggressiveness and how hard they cut and how hard they play. Even with your male scrimmage guys, you can't mimic the pace and the way that they play. With Gabby, Pheesa and Katie Lou, you've got three All-Americans from last year's team."

"I thought the ball didn't go in the basket for us and we didn't defend and go to the glass as we usually do. I think we're a very good offensive team, but for us to have a chance, we can't shoot as poorly as we did. The bright spot for us was I thought our bench – Vanessa Blagmon, Alyssa Rader, Shae Leverett – those guys got some really, really good minutes experience-wise."

"It's one game. This can't affect Temple. We've got to put this behind us. We've got to go on the road and get Temple and get ready for UCF at home. Then we're on the road to Wichita State and Memphis. We'll see (UConn) again up there and we plan on seeing them again for the conference championship."


Player Evaluations


Jan 6, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse (11) gets fouled by South Florida Bulls guard Maria Jespersen (12 in the first quarter at USF Sun Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Kia Nurse

Kia dominated this game. And she only scored 8 points in her team leading 34 minutes. It was all on the defensive side. She took South Florida's Laksa totally out of her game, make her tentative in every move, shot, pass and breath she took. At times it looked like Kia and Laksa had their uniforms sewed together. Nurse also added 5 assists with no turnovers and a couple of steals.   

"That's something that really translates to our offense and pushing the ball to our advantage. Defensively, we were good on a number of their players. Laksa was definitely a point of emphasis. Defense is mostly effort, so if you can get in there and do the nitty-gritty stuff it usually works out in your favor".

"The beauty of our team is that, at some point, everybody will have their breakthrough. It goes around in circles and each and ever game it's somebody new, usually. But to have everybody in the form that we have with now with the energy - and where we are mentally and physically  - is great."



Jan 6, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Katie Lou Samuelson (33) gets a shot off over South Florida Bulls wing Laura Ferreira (10) in the third quarter at USF Sun Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Kati Lou Samuelson 

Every time out,  Katie Lou is showing everyone how complete her game is now. She is really seeing the court well, making terrific passes along with her usual terrific three point shooting. Limited in the first half because of foul trouble, Samuelson was limited to only 22 minutes in this game but she still scored 15 points and handed out 3 assists. She is still over 50% for the season on threes thanks to going 4-7 in this game.

"We were just really focused. We just want to disrupt teams' offenses as much as we can. They're really good. We knew this would be one of our toughest tests in conference and we were ready to go."


Jan 6, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) takes a shot in the first quarter against the South Florida Bulls at USF Sun Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Crystal Dangerfield

The word is out that Dangerfield is suffering from shin splints. It sure looks like Geno and the medical staff have this condition under control. Lots of stretches and icing. She had her usual plays that were just spectacular. She only went 2-6 on threes, and her percentage is going down and down. Hopefully she will be out of her long range shooting slump soon. She looks a little rushed. In her 28 minutes Crystal had 10 points, 5 assists and only 1 turnover.



Jan 6, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward Napheesa Collier (24) takes a shot over South Florida Bulls guard Maria Jespersen (12) in the third quarter  at USF Sun Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Napheesa Collier

The REAL Napheesa Collier was spotted in this game! In this outing she was 12-15 from the field. In her 28 minutes she scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for a nice double-double. IN a real complete game, she added 4 assists and 4 blocks. Now, the numbers sometimes tell the story,  but her body language was just terrific. She really looked more comfortable on the floor. Lets hope she continues this way the rest of the season.    

"What we work on, really, is not letting off the gas."


Jan 6, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward Gabby Williams (15) looks to get past South Florida Bulls guard Maria Jespersen (12) in the first quarter at USF Sun Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
 Gabby Williams

Similar to Nurse, Gabby's main contribution was on defense. She just totally disrupts the opponents offense and South Florida was no exception. She was all over the court. Hands in the passing lanes, pressuring the ball handler, and what I love is how quick she is in the post defense, striking when the entry pass is made, stepping around the offensive player looking for the pass. Now, it's not like she didn't contribute in other ways. In her 26 minutes she had 9 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists 3 steals and a block. A complete game.


Jan 6, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward Azura Stevens (23) blocks the shot of South Florida Bulls center Alyssa Rader (54) in the second quarter at USF Sun Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Azura Stevens 

I love this picture of Stevens. She has perfect shot blocking form with her left arm extended. Azura has made a difference with her terrific post defense. I guess Geno's constant prodding has paid off! What a weapon off the bench. Not to shabby on offense either. In her 18 minutes she had 15 points, missing only 1 two point shot. She added 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.       

The Rest

It was so great to see the contributions of the rest of the bench in this game. Walker, Irwin and Bent all had 6 points each with Irwin and Bent hitting two three point shots each. They contributed big time to the 25 point fourth quarter, the highest point total quarter of the game. All the players are getting more and more comfortable with their roles. It's so great to see.

 Final Thoughts

UConn plays at home against Central Florida in their next game on Tuesday night. I'll be home in Connecticut for that game but not going to see them in person in Storrs. I'll try to have a pre game report, but this one should be another walkover.  

Here are the pictures David took from behind the UConn bench. Great job!!!!














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