UCONN @ Central Florida
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 21st, 2015
Location: CFE Arena, Orlando Florida
Time: 7:00
TV: SNY
UConn 16-1 (6-0)
Central Florida 6-11 (2-4)
Overview
My last full day in Florida and it's a little overcast. Heading home tomorrow and I will be watching this game from my comfortable couch with no grandkids to bother me. That sucks!!!!
I loved the comment by Taurasi that after watching the first Tennessee UConn game in Storrs on TV, she said it was like Disneyland. Disneyland for women's basketball. Well, since they will be in Orlando, Wednesday night will be like Disneyworld. But for Central Florida, it will be the ride they want to end as quickly as possible.
UCF is one of the schools in the AAC that fans of other programs and even many UConn fans point to as what is wrong with the AAC. Terrible teams that just can't compete on any level with UConn and even many of the other AAC teams. And in a lot of ways they are right. They have had some really bad losses, 18 to Stetson, 22 to Middle Tennessee State, 16 to Cincinnati. They won 6 games they should have won. And two games ago they almost upset Tulane and lost by one at the buzzer.
They are coming in on a four game losing streak. Don't expect that streak to be broken.
UConn is coming off a terrific performance against a talented but over matched South Florida team.
They played about as perfect a first eight minutes that I have seen in a while. And the second half was a terrific team effort. The winning streak is at 15 and rising with no challenge in sight until the South Carolina game in February.
I loved the comment by Taurasi that after watching the first Tennessee UConn game in Storrs on TV, she said it was like Disneyland. Disneyland for women's basketball. Well, since they will be in Orlando, Wednesday night will be like Disneyworld. But for Central Florida, it will be the ride they want to end as quickly as possible.
UCF is one of the schools in the AAC that fans of other programs and even many UConn fans point to as what is wrong with the AAC. Terrible teams that just can't compete on any level with UConn and even many of the other AAC teams. And in a lot of ways they are right. They have had some really bad losses, 18 to Stetson, 22 to Middle Tennessee State, 16 to Cincinnati. They won 6 games they should have won. And two games ago they almost upset Tulane and lost by one at the buzzer.
They are coming in on a four game losing streak. Don't expect that streak to be broken.
UConn is coming off a terrific performance against a talented but over matched South Florida team.
They played about as perfect a first eight minutes that I have seen in a while. And the second half was a terrific team effort. The winning streak is at 15 and rising with no challenge in sight until the South Carolina game in February.
UConn Starters
11 Kia Nurse 6' Freshman Guard
Nurse had a foul plagued first half against South Florida. But even so, she managed 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. It still feels like a freshman mini-slump. Maybe this is the game she breaks out.
2014-15: MPG 24.8, FG% .557, 3PT% .482, PPG 12.5, RPG 3.4, APG 3.1, 31 steals, 0 blocks
Well, that shooting slump didn't last long. Jefferson didn't miss a shot against South Florida. And she had her first turnover in 3 games. She is just playing the best basketball of her career.
2014-15: MPG 27.5, FG% .561, 3PT% .511, PPG 11.9, RPG 2.2, APG 5.1, 42 steals, 3 block
23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 5'11" Senior Forward
The Rock. That is my new nickname for her. She is so solid. She is playing tougher and tougher in the post. Her touch is as feathery as ever. Quite the contrast. She is really rounding into form with her 18 points in only 23 minutes against USF.
2014-15: MPG 29.5, FG% .513, 3PT% .495, PPG 13.9, RPG 4.6, APG 2.8, 21 steals, 2 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck 6'2" Sophomore Forward
Tuck was voted AAC player of the week for the second time this past week. And for good reason. She was terrific against South Florida with 15 points on 7-10 shooting. It's clear she has taken the mantle of leadership from Dolson and it's made a big difference in the maturation of this roster.
2014-15: MPG 25.7, FG% .592, 3PT% .188, PPG 14.8, RPG 5.1, APG 2.8, 11 steals, 7 blocks
30 Breanna Stewart 6'4" Junior Forward
Boy, did she look pissed off against South Florida? They were smacking her around and she had had it. The look on her face after blocking a shot was one I hadn't seen before. I'd love to see her take this attitude with her going forward. She had a great game against USF with 17 points 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. SMACK!
2014-15: MPG 29.2, FG% .521, 3PT% .327, PPG 16.8, RPG 7.4, APG 3.0, 27 steals, 37 blocks
UConn Bench
Ok. Kiah. We get it. You can block shots. PLEASE be more aggressive on the offensive end. Do it for me. SEVEN blocks? Lobo, can you see Kiah in your rear view mirror?? Your records are in sight!!
2014-15: MPG 19.9, FG% .507, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.4, RPG 7.8, APG 1.1, 10 steals, 73 blocks
A good progression for Chong the last few games. I think she is getting her confidence. Those back to back three pointers were taken without thinking about it. She needs to do that more often. And her defense, while not perfect, is improving to me.
2014-15: MPG 20.1, FG% .434, 3PT% .333, PPG 5.6, RPG 2.1, APG 1.5, 9 steals, 5 blocks
15 Gabby Williams 5'11" Freshman Guard
It's so much fun to watch her go after the ball. And that almost alley oop was fun to see. I'm sure we will see that again. Hopefully she will finish it better next time. Another good game for Williams with 8 points and 9 rebounds in 20 minutes. I'm going to count this as a good game against a good team. Next challenge will be the big front line of South Carolina. But that is another story.
2014-15: MPG 15.6, FG% .593, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.9, RPG 6.1, APG 1.2, 21 steals, 8 blocks
I thought she played better in this game, although still not hitting her shots. She really works hard out there. It will come, it will come.
2014-15: MPG 11.9, FG% .222, 3PT% .154, PPG 1.4, RPG 1.4, APG 1.0, 4 steals, 0 blocks
UConn Complete Stats
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Central Florida Starters
23 Zykira Lewis 5'8" Sophomore Guard
2014-15 Highlights
-UCF's first American Athletic Conference WBB Player of the Week (11/17)
-Scored in double figures in 10 of 12 games
-Set a new conference single-game scoring record and tied for second in school history with her 41 points against FAU
-Sank 8-of-10 from 3-point range against the Owls, matching the school record
-Put up 28 points in her next outing in win over Oakland, sinking 6-of-10 from behind the arc
-Registered back-to-back 20-point outings, chipping in 25 (10-of-13 FG) at UMass (11/30) before netting 21 in win vs. UNF (12/2)
-Posted back-to-back 26-point outing against Iona (12/14) and Akron (12/17)
-Led team with 25 points and grabbed season-best 7 rebounds in win over Tulsa (1/3)
2014-15: MPG 34.6, FG% .393, 3PT% .351, PPG 20.6, RPG 3.2, APG 1.8, 30 steals, 10 blocks
2014-15 Highlights
-American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week (1/5/15)
-Put up 10 points as a starter in her collegiate debut in season-opening win over FAU
-Netted 15 points and capped 60-56 win against UNF (12/2) with a pair of free throws with 8 seconds left on the clock
-Registered 19 points at St. John's (12/11), rounding out a 3-game streak of scoring double digits
-Started a streak of four-straight double-digit scoring outings with 19 points against Akron (12/17)
-Tallied career-high 22 points off a 60 percent showing from the field at Middle Tennessee (12/20)
-Scored 11 points to help UCF clinch a conference-opening victory at Houston (12/27)
-Sank 8-of-13 en route to 21 points, added 6 rebounds and came up with a blocked 3-point attempt, rebound and two free throws in the final 13 seconds to clinch win over Tulsa (1/3)
2014-15: MPG 28.0, FG% .404, 3PT% .240, PPG 11.7, RPG 2.5, APG 1.6, 15 steals, 5 blocks
13 Britini Montgomery 6'3" RS Senior Forward
2014-15 Highlights
-Registered first double-double of the year (11 pts, 13 reb) in win over Oakland
-Chipped in career-high 22 points and added 10 rebounds against Stetson
-At Iona (12/14), tallied 18 points and career-high 24 rebounds, matching her own school record for boards in a single game, which she shares with former Knight Erika Jones
-Followed that performance with 21 rebounds and 11 points against Akron (12/17), becoming the fourth Knight in program history to achieve two 20-point rebound games in one season
-Contributed 8 points and 7 rebounds in conference-opening win at Houston (12/27)
-Nearly tallied a double-double with 8 points, 9 rebounds in win over Tulsa (1/3)
2014-15: MPG 18.1, FG% .491 3PT% .000, PPG 7.6, RPG 7.6, APG .4, 11 steals, 10 blocks
24 Fifi Nadour 6'1" Freshman Forward
2014-15 Highlights
2014-15: MPG 19.1, FG% .314, 3PT% .143, PPG 4.9, RPG 4.5 APG 0.9, 5 steals, 9 blocks
42 Stephanie Taylor 6'2" Senior Forward
2014-15 Highlights
-Missed first five games of the year due to injury before making her first appearance in win vs. UNF (12/2)
-Scored her first points of the year with 5 at Middle Tennessee (12/20)
-Chipped in 4 points and 4 rebounds in 8 minutes off the bench in conference-opening win at Houston (12/27)
2014-15: MPG 13.1, FG% .545, 3PT% .000, PPG 2.3, RPG 2.5, APG .4, 2 steals, 5 blocks
Central Florida Bench
14 Erica Juarbe 5'9" Junior Guard
2014-15 Highlights
-Posted 2 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists in debut as Knight in season-opening win over FAU
-Registered first career start in win vs. UNF (12/2)
-Brought down 7 rebounds at FIU (12/6), leading the team for the first time this year
-Grabbed season-best 9 rebounds against Akron (12/17)
-Ignited a 15-0 rally to close out the first half against Tulsa by scoring career-high 7 points (5-6 FT) and added five rebounds in the victory
2014-15: MPG 17.6, FG% .346, 3PT% .000, PPG 1.6, RPG 3.8, APG 1.2, 14 steals, 4 blocks
11 Yanique Gordon 6'4" Senior Forward/Center
2014-15 Highlights
-Nearly recorded a double-double in the season opener (9 pts, 10 reb) in 18 minutes of playing time
-Posted another double-digit rebounding performance (10) in win over Jacksonville to go along with 7 points and four blocks
-Led team in rebounding (7 boards) in win against UNF in her first start of the year (12/2)
-Recorded first-career double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench in conference-opening win at Houston (12/27)
-Followed that performance with team-high 10 rebounds in win versus Tulsa (1/3)
2014-15: MPG 16.8, FG% .506, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.0, RPG 6.7, APG 0.2, 13 steals, 10 blocks
2 Andrea Hines 5'7 Senior Guard
2014-15 Highlights
-American Athletic Conference's leader in assists this season
-Dished career-high 10 assists in UCF's season-opening win against FAU
-Posted 7 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds in win against Jacksonville
-Filled the stat sheet with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 0 turnovers at FIU (12/6)
-Brought down season-best 7 rebounds and added 5 points at St. John's (12/11)
-Dished 7 assists to help clinch conference-opening win at Houston (12/27)
-Tallied season-best 9 points and 6 assists in win over Tulsa (1/3)
2014-15: MPG 18.5, FG% .490, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.2, RPG 1.9, APG 2.2, 8 steals, 0 blocks
Game Analysis
UConn and UCF come into this game at opposite ends of the spectrum. UConn is a great shooting team. UCF is a terrible shooting team. UConn is a great defensive team. UCF is a mediocre defensive team. Now, that is not to say that UCF is without talent. Second year player Zykira Lewis is the leading scorer in the AAC. She has some skills, and I expect a similar game to what Courtney Williams did in the South Florida game. She will get her shots and make her share of them. But the rest of the team will struggle mightily.
UCF does have some size with 6'3", 6'2", and 6'1" across the stating front line with 6'4" coming off the bench. But you need more than size, you need someone that can put the ball in the basket and Central Florida doesn't have enough of that to compete with most AAC teams let alone UConn. They will struggle to hit 40 points.
UConn, on the other hand, wants to keep building on their improving play. So expect a full out start and aggressive play for the first half. And even with a big half time lead, more aggressive play to start the second half. It will be up to the bench to determine the final margin. I have noticed that the chemistry between Chong, Williams, Stokes and Ekmark is improving with one of the starters joining them. Against Temple it was KML and against USF it was Stewart. For those who hate blowouts, find something else to do.
UCF does have some size with 6'3", 6'2", and 6'1" across the stating front line with 6'4" coming off the bench. But you need more than size, you need someone that can put the ball in the basket and Central Florida doesn't have enough of that to compete with most AAC teams let alone UConn. They will struggle to hit 40 points.
UConn, on the other hand, wants to keep building on their improving play. So expect a full out start and aggressive play for the first half. And even with a big half time lead, more aggressive play to start the second half. It will be up to the bench to determine the final margin. I have noticed that the chemistry between Chong, Williams, Stokes and Ekmark is improving with one of the starters joining them. Against Temple it was KML and against USF it was Stewart. For those who hate blowouts, find something else to do.
Final Prediction
This is one of those games that Geno and the end of the bench will decide the final margin. as we get closer to the end of the regular season, Geno will care less and less about keep the score down and more and more about making sure the team is ready for the NCAA's. This one might get real ugly for UCF. There is only one way that this can go. And UConn will determine the score.
UConn by 55+.
UConn by 55+.
That was a great comment by Taurasi..... "Where is this place? It's like Disneyland for wcb."
ReplyDeleteGlad she found out where it was and went there!