Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Doggy's UConn vs Syracuse exhibition game pregame report

 





    UConn Huskies                                                 Syracuse Orange

Monday, October 12th, 2026
Time: 6:30
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, CT  
TV: FS2 

Prior Meetings

SYRACUSE | UCONN LEADS 42-12
 H: 20-4 | A: 16-7 | N: 6-1 

12/29/80 SU 73, UConn 68 Philadelphia, Pa. 
02/13/82 SU 86, UConn 78 Storrs, Conn. 
02/02/83 SU 90, UConn 64 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/25/84 SU 61, UConn 56 Storrs, Conn. 
01/12/85 SU 82, UConn 61 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/13/85 SU 74, UConn 59 Storrs, Conn. 
01/04/86 SU 68, UConn 60 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/01/86 SU 78, UConn 72 Storrs, Conn. 
01/17/87 SU 67, UConn 52 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/18/87 UConn 52, SU 49 Storrs, Conn. 
01/20/88 SU 68, UConn 54 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/20/88 UConn 74, SU 60 Hartford, Conn. 
01/21/89 SU 77, UConn 60 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/08/90 UConn 58, SU 42 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/07/90 UConn 68, SU 56 Storrs, Conn. 
01/16/91 #18 UConn 65, SU 63 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/17/91 #15 UConn 85, SU 49 Storrs, Conn. 
01/15/92 SU 68, #22 UConn 51 Storrs, Conn. 
02/15/92 UConn 83, SU 68 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/02/93 #21 UConn 78, SU 50 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/07/93 UConn 85, SU 54 Storrs, Conn. 
01/03/94 #4 UConn 64, SU 45 Storrs, Conn. 
02/24/94 #4 UConn 79, SU 50 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/22/95 #1 UConn 89, SU 58 Storrs, Conn. 
02/25/95 #1 UConn 89, SU 62 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/02/96 SU 62, #2 UConn 59 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/07/97 #1 UConn 93, SU 67 Storrs, Conn. 
02/26/97 #1 UConn 86, SU 52 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/01/98 #2 UConn 100, SU 62 Storrs, Conn. 
02/03/99 #4 UConn 96, SU 50 Storrs, Conn. 
02/23/99 #6 UConn 105, SU 43 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/18/00 #1 UConn 100, SU 74 Storrs, Conn. 
01/09/01 #1 UConn 76, SU 63 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/27/01 #2 UConn 84, SU 60 Hartford, Conn. 
02/13/02 #1 UConn 85, SU 55 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/12/03 #1 UConn 75, SU 51 Hartford, Conn. 
02/11/04 #2 UConn 82, SU 38 Syracuse, N.Y. 
02/19/05 #11 UConn 85, SU 49 Hartford, Conn. 
03/06/05 #14 UConn 82, SU 56 Hartford, Conn. 
02/22/06 #8 UConn 65, SU 36 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/13/07 #7 UConn 76, SU 45 Storrs, Conn. 
01/15/08 #1 UConn 65, SU 59 Syracuse, N.Y
01/17/09 #1 UConn 107, SU 53 Hartford, Conn. 
02/24/10 #1 UConn 87, SU 66 Syracuse, N.Y. 
03/07/10 #1 UConn 77, SU 41 Hartford, Conn. 
02/28/11 #1 UConn 82, SU 47 Storrs, Conn. 
01/25/12 #3 UConn 95, SU 54 Syracuse, N.Y. 
01/19/13 #3 UConn 87, SU 62 Hartford, Conn. 
03/11/13 #3 UConn 64, #24 SU 51 Hartford, Conn. 
04/05/16 #1 UConn 82, #17 SU 51 Indianapolis, Ind. 
03/20/17 #1 UConn 94, SU 64 Storrs, Conn. 
03/23/21 #1 UConn 83, SU 47 San Antonio, Texas 
03/25/24 #10 UConn 72, #22 SU 64 Storrs, Conn
3/23/26 #1 UConn 98, SU 45 Storrs, Conn.



****************************************************************************

 Game Analysis

Early season games are tough to write about. Exhibition games, let alone the first exhibition game is impossible to write about. But I'll give it a go.

Syracuse is coming off a very good season going 24-10 for the year. They lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament to the Huskies 98-45. It was a pretty ugly game for the Orange while UConn, behind 34 point from Azzi Fudd, just breezed through the game.  

Uche Izoje, a 6'3" sophomore forward, was the leading scoere last season and clearly the best player on the team. Syracuses biggest fear was losing her to the portal but she decided to return. Uche was the ACC freshman of the year. 

That's is for starters returning. There are 4 other returning players and some will have to start this year.

Shy Hawkins, a 6' junior wing is back. She started 17 games last year and averaged 5.4 PPG and 2.2 RPG. She shot 40% from the field. 

Olivia Schmitt, a 5'5" sophomore guard returns after averaging 1.9 PPG, 1.5 APG and shot 26.6% from the field and 31.4% on threes. She started one game last season. 

Keira Scott, a 6'1" junior forward, also started one games last year. She averaged 2.6 PPG and 1.5 RPG and shot 38% from the field.  

Angelica Velez, a 5'7" senior guard, is the final returning player from last years roster. Maybe the worst shooter on a team of bad shooters, she averaged 2.2 PPG on 29% from the field and 21% on threes.

Will some of these returning players join Izoje in the starting lineup? 

They did add four freshman however, none of them are in the Hoopgurlz top 100. Who knows how much they will even play this year. Certainly will see some time in this game. I'm sure everyone on the team will see minutes.

That leaves four incoming transfers.

Ty Skinner is a 5'5" 5th year guard. She is playing in her fourth game after playing with Delaware her first two seasons, Arizona State for two seasons and then SMU last season. She was injured for two of those season. Her best year was at Arizona State when she averaged 19 PPG.

Jaleesa Molina, a 6'3" senior forward is a transfer from Temple where she played her first 3 seasons. She averaged 9.9 PPG and 7.4 RPG from the Owls.

Emely Rodriguez is a 6' junior guard. She played her freshman season at UCF and then played her sophomore season at Iowa before being injured after 6 games and missed the rest of the season. 

Sarah Rambus is a 6'3" senior forward. She is a transfer from Oregon where she played her first three seasons. Averaged career-highs in points (6.3), rebounds (2.4), and field goal percentage (53.7%) across 36 appearances as a junior.
    

Final Prediction


It's kinda silly to predict this game when the only outcome we should want is no injuries. UConn will give minutes to everyone and those still recovering in some way from injury might even sit this one out. 

But it wouldn't be a game analysis without a prediction. Here are a few.  

No one will play more than 25 minutes. Maybe less.

Strong, Arnold, Shade, El Alfy and Heckel will start.

If her ankle is ok, Ziebell will be the first player off the bench.

The three freshmen will see plenty of minutes. 

And of course a score prediction? 

UConn by a lot. 
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Doggy's UConn vs South Carolina Final Four Pregame Report


                                                            
              
            1 Seed                                                                1 Seed               
      UConn Huskies                                  South Carolina Gamecocks
            38-0                                                                    35-3

 Friday April 3rd , 2026
5:00 PM  
Mortgage Matchup Center
Phoenix, Ariz.
ESPN


SOUTH CAROLINA | UCONN 
UCONN LEADS 11-5 
H: 5-1 | A: 4-2 | N: 2-2 

12/17/07 #2 UConn 97, USC 39 Storrs, Conn. 
12/28/08 #1 UConn 77, USC 48 Columbia, S.C. 
02/09/15 #2 UConn 87, #1 USC 62 Storrs, Conn. 
02/08/16 #1 UConn 66, #2 USC 54 Columbia, S.C. 
02/13/17 #1 UConn 66, #6 USC 55 Storrs, Conn. 
02/01/18 #1 UConn 83, #7 USC 58 Columbia, S.C. 
03/26/18 #1 UConn 94, #7 USC 65 Albany, N.Y. 
02/11/19 #4 UConn 97, #11 USC 79 Hartford, Conn. 
02/10/20 #1 USC 70, #5 UConn 52 Columbia, S.C. 
02/08/21 #2 UConn 63, #1 USC 59 (OT) Storrs, Conn.
11/22/21 #2 UConn 57, #1 USC 73 Paridise Island, Bahamas
04/03/22 #1 USC 64, #5 UConn 49 Minneapolis, Minn.
2/4/23 #1 USC 81, #5 UConn 77 Hartford, Conn. 
02/11/24 #1 USC 83, #11 UConn 65 Columbia, S.C.
02/16/24 #4 USC 58, #7 UConn 87 Columbia, S.C.
04/06/25 #3 UConn 82, #2 USC 59 Tampa, Fla.

***************************

    Comparative Team Statistics

                                            UConn                                 South Carolina

                                              87.9         PPG                            87.2
                                              50.1        Defensive PPG             57.4
                                              29.7        Scoring Margin            29.8
                                              52.0        Field Goal %                50.9
                                              33.4        Defensive FG%            34.6 
                                              38.7        Three Point %              36.5
                                              27.0        Defensive 3PT%           28.5
                                              74.2        Free Throw %              72.4
                                              37.7        Rebounds/game            42.3
                                                6.1        Rebounding Margin      8.4 
                                              23.4        Assists per game           18.3
                                              12.7        Turnover per game       12.8
                                                1.9        Assists/TO ratio             1.4
                                              15.7        Steals per game             9.7
                                                5.0        Blocks per game            5.9  
                                                 


*******************************************************************

SOUTH CAROLINA 


South Carolina Starters

 
Game Analysis

South Carolina lost a lot of players from last seasons team that was beat up by UConn in both the regular season matchup 87-58 and in the championship game 82-59. Surprising results for sure. 

Gone are 6'2" forward Chloe Kitts, who was lost for the sesaon to injury, Te-Hina Paopao a 5'9" guard, 6'3" forward Sania Feagin and Bree Hall, a 6' guard. That's four of the five starters from last seasons championship game. Top player off the bench MiLaysia Fulwiley, a 5'10" guard left in the transfer portal. 

5'8" RS senior point guard Raven Johnson is the only returning starter. She has really upped her game this year, making smarter players with a terrific 192/57 assists/TO ratio and also so  much better than any time in her career from deep, shooting three pointers at 39.8%. UConn won't be able to cheat off of her on defense. She is also shooting a career high 49.8% from the field and for the first time double digit scoring at 10.0 PPG. She is the true leader on this team.

Sophomore Joyce Edwards, a 6'2" Forward, is the leading scorer on the team at 19.7 PPG up 7 points this year. and second in rebounding at 6.4 RPG. She is the best player on the team and is even better than last season. Edward's shooting is up from 53.5% to 59.5%. Edwards also leads the team in steals and is second in blocks shots. A much better all around player than years past. You can see why she was considered competition to Strong for HS players of the year back when. 

6' junior guard Tessa Johnson moved into the starting lineup and is clearly the three point sniper on the team. You can't leave her open for a second. She is fourth on the team in scoring at 12.9 PPG. Johnson shoots the ball at 46.2% from the field but her strong point is the 44.5% on threes. And it's not low volume. She takes around 6 per game. Tessa has a solid floor game too with a 90/46 assist/TO ratio.  

6'6" senior center Madina Okot transferred in from Mississippi State and has achored the paint for the Gamecocks. She is a double double machine, averaging 13.5 PPG (3rd on team) and 10.9 RPG. She gets most of her points from close in shooting 58.4% from the field and a surprising 46.2% on threes. However, she has only taken 26 three point attemps all season. UConn will have to work hard to keep Okot off the offensive glass as she averages 4 per game. She also leads the team in blocked shots with 1.5 per game. A true big center. 

5'9" senior guard Ta'Naya Latson, the nation's leading scorer last year brought her terrific offensive game to South Carolina from Florida State. She was a volume shooter last season which allowed her to score so many points. This year she has toned down her game to fit into a team with other great players and has done a very good job. She is only scoring 14.3 PPG (second on the team) but her efficiency is up. She is shooting 49% from the field. She has struggled from deep this year, shooting long distance at only 29.3% on threes. Another good ball handler she has an assist to turnover ratio of 113/51.  

The South Carolina bench is pretty young with 2 freshman, 1 sophomore and a senior that doesn't see much time in competative games.

Former UConn recruiting target 6'1" freshman Agot Makeer has really started to come on this season. after only three double digit scoring games (12, 12, 10) in her first 26 games, she has scored 16, 15, 10 and 18 in her four NCAA tournament games. You can see why UConn was so high on her. After shooting only 20% on threes this season, she is 3-9 in the NCAA tournament. Long and lean, she is great at running the court. Overall she is averaing 6.5 PPG and 3.4 RPG.  

Maddy McDaniel, a 5'9" sophomore guard, will be the second player off the bench. She is a decent player with overall solid skills. She is only shooting 38.2% from the field but has a good 37.9 three point percentage. She has an amazing assist/turnover ratio of 79/16. That is why she is part of the regular rotation. Dawn can trust her with the ball.   

6'7" freshman Alicia Tournebize from France was added to the roster second semester and has slowly garnered more minutes as the season went on. She is tall but more of a forward than a true big. I can't see her getting much minutes in this game unless to give a starter a blow.   

Maryam Dauda, a 6'4" senior forward will be probably riding the pine in this game. With Edwards and Okot playing 35+ minutes only foul trouble will get her on the court. 

Any way you look at it, Dawn is most likely only playing 7 players against UConn with significant minutes.

Player by player comparisons

PG - Raven Johnson vs KK Arnold. A great matchup between two of the best point guards in the country. Johnson is the better offensive player, but it's not by much. And Arnold is the better defender but it's not by much. Hard to pick a winner between them.

Advantage - Even

SG - Tessa Johnson vs Azzi Fudd. Two terrific players. Johnson is not the complete player that Fudd is. Azzi is better getting off her midrange shot and is the better defender. They both are deadly from three point land with Johnson at 44.5% and Fudd at 45.5%. Johnson is really good. Fudd is better. 

Advantage - UConn

SF - Ta'Niya Latson vs Ashlynn Shade. Neither one is a small forward as both teams go with 3 guards in the starting lineup. Latson is a prolific scorer for her career but has fit in well with the team concept for Dawn. Her defense is just fair. Shades has been in a terrible shooting slump recently but she is still all over the court defensively and adds so much emotionally to the team. 

Advantage - South Carolina 

PF - Joyce Edwards vs Sarah Strong. Clearly the two best players on each team. Edwards is so much better this season, improving her scoring and her efficiency. Up 7 PPG, you can almost write down 20 points for her. She is great around the basket with slippery post moves and a really good offensive rebounder. What more can I say about Strong that hasn't been said? National player of the year doesn't take second fiddle to anyone. 

Advantage - UConn

C - Madina Okot vs Serah Williams. This will be a huge (not only in size)  test for UConn's Williams. Okot has dominated the paint in almost every games she has played in. She didn't have a great game against TCU but that doesn't mean much. Williams has been on and off all season, but she appears to be playing her best basketball recently. This matchup is closer than some might think.    

Advantage - South Carolina (slightly)

Bench - Makeer, McDaniel, Tournebize, Dauda vs Blanca, Heckel, Zeibell, El Alfy. This is a true advantage for the Huskies. Blanca is a starter that comes off the bench and in some respects so is Heckel. With the length of Okot, El Alfy might get more minutes. Overall, the UConn bench is so much better than the South Carolina bench. 

Advantage - UConn 

Coach - Dawn vs Geno. Yes, I'm on a first name basis with these two HOF coaches. It's hard to pick on over the other, but Geno's resume gives him the nod.

Advantage - UConn.

Final Prediction

Remember the two games last year that UConn won by 29 and 23 points? Forget about those. This is a new season. South Carolina is starting FOUR new players compared to last season. UConn is starting three new players compared to last year. 

A big difference is the two rturning starters for UConn are Strong and Fudd, two All-Americans. 

For South Carolina to win they need to dominate the boards and hit s decent percentage of their three point shots. And they have to defend the three point line as well and hope UConn is not hot from deep. 

For UConn to win, they have to limit South Carolina's offensive rebounding and not leave the good shootings lime Tessa Johnson open from deep. UConn needs to turnover South Carolina as well, not an easy task as they do take care of the ball.   

So, how will it play out?  Certainly no blowout in either direction. I believe that UConn is still the more talented team and with Geno game planing for them, UConn will do enough to win this game. Defense will rule the day and UConn's defense is just the best. As usual the refs are the wildcard. Hopefully a well officiated game.

UConn by 7+.    
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)