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Next up for UConn is future BE conference mate Seton Hall on Thursday at the unusual time of 6:30. Maybe that is Jersey time???
The Hall is coming off a 69-65 win in the Bahama's against Vanderbilt, a team that UConn played earlier in the season and beat 64-51.
A quick look tells me that the Pirates aren't a very good shooting team, they turn the ball over a lot and have been outrebounded this season. So, how are they 5-3 on the season? Defense.
They average 11 steals per game and hold their opponents to under 40% shooting.
I'm confident that this won't happen against UConn. Look for a full pregame report soon.
Congrats to junior Megan Walker, who won one of what predict will be several AAC player of the week awards. She has been terrific this year.
I remember an article on ESPN before the season started re-ranking the HS class of 2017 after two years. I believe that Chennedy Carter was moved to number one, Satou Sabally was number two, Kiana Williams was number three and Walker was number four.
After 20% of the season being completed, I think Walker has moved back up to the top of the list. Here are the stats for these four players.
Walker PPG - 20.3, RPG 8.3, Assists/TO 15/15, FG% 47.4, 3FG% 46.7, blocks 3, steals 6
Carter PPG - 22.7, RPG 4.0, Assists/TO 17/23, FG% 43.8, 3FG% 24.2, blocks 0, steals 12
Sabally PPG - 17.8, RPG 6.5, Assists/TO 10/10, FG% 40.7, 3FG% 24.2, blocks 1, steals 6
Williams PPG - 11.5, RPG 3.4, Assists/TO 32/15, FG% 37.8, 3FG% 26.8, blocks 0, steals 9
It's pretty clear to me that so far this season, Megan Walker is having the best season. Her shooting percentages are the key compared to the other three players.
It's early, so I will look back into this after the next 20% of the season is complete.
Well, my prediction for No. 1 was correct. That was easy. Both No. 1 and No. 2 lost so it makes sense that No. 3 Stanford moves to No. 1.
I thought that UConn would be carried along with Stanford up two spots. That is where my prediction went off the rails.
I was only a little surprised that Oregon only slipped 2 spots. But Louisville moving up 6 spots based on one game, albeit a big game, really surprised me. And surprising me a little less but still a surprise is Baylor, based on one game, dropped 5 spots to No. 7.
None of this matters. Polls after around 20% of the season being completed mean nothing. Just some bragging rights and historical stuff.
Interesting that UConn got two first place votes. I'd love to know who did that!!
I thought that UConn would be carried along with Stanford up two spots. That is where my prediction went off the rails.
I was only a little surprised that Oregon only slipped 2 spots. But Louisville moving up 6 spots based on one game, albeit a big game, really surprised me. And surprising me a little less but still a surprise is Baylor, based on one game, dropped 5 spots to No. 7.
None of this matters. Polls after around 20% of the season being completed mean nothing. Just some bragging rights and historical stuff.
Interesting that UConn got two first place votes. I'd love to know who did that!!
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By David in Naples!!!!!
In a perfect world, basketball teams would have balanced scoring among players and equal scoring inside and outside the 3 point arc. Take UConn for example. Four players average in double figures for points. Meg leads at 20.3 per game with Christyn, Crystal and Olivia right behind at 17.8, 13.4 and 11.5 per game. More importantly, the Huskies have inside and outside scoring balance.
UConn has scored 450 points in 6 games for a nice 75 points per game average.
* Of the 450 points, 258 or 57% have come from inside the 3 pt arc.
* Another 138 or 31% have been three-point shots.
* The final 54 points or 12% came from free throws. Even the made free throws are balanced with Meg at 16, Liv at 11, Christyn at 10 & Crystal and Aubrey at 6.
Now consider Baylor. They have scored a total of 702 points in 8 games against a cupcake schedule. While their player averages are balanced, their scoring location is not. Consider:
* 504 points or 72% have been scored from inside the arc. That works against Grambling, where BU took 80 shots and only 9 were threes.
* Only 63 points have been from 3 point makes. That is 9%. Baylor has only tried 59 threes vs 123 for UConn.
* Free throws have added 135 points to the Bears total. That's 19% from the charity stripe.
One sided scoring allows the opponent's defense to adjust and take away what you do best. Good three point shooting keeps the defense spread out and out of the lane. Balance is always the best formula.
Go Huskies..!!
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