UCONN at St. John's
Day: Sunday
Date: Dec 21, 2014
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena
Time: 1:00
TV: ESPN2
Records UConn 10-1, St. John's 12-1
Overview
UConn and St. John's have met 56 times since 1978 with UConn winning 39 games while SJU has won 17. That doesn't look bad for the Johnnies until you look a little closer. SJU won the first 12 and 15 of the first 16 games. Which means that St. John's has only won twice since 1998, once in 1993 ad the latest only 2 years ago in 2012. Shenneika Smith hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 8 seconds for the St. John's 57-56 win. This game snapped the Huskies' 99-game home court winning streak.
St. John's comes into this game after a huge Big East win against New Jersey rival Seton Hall. It was a typical SJU uglyball game. The Johnnies have had a terrific season record wise, but they really haven't played anyone of significance. Their best win before Friday nights game against SHU was at South Florida. Hey, 12-1 is nothing to sneeze about. They know how to win and they are a very experienced team.
UConn has now won 9 straight games since that fluke against Stanford the last being a 51 point win over East Carolina. Their play over the last few games have been uneven, but when they are good, they've been great. Everyone is healthy so I added Ekmark back into the player list.
UConn has now won 9 straight games since that fluke against Stanford the last being a 51 point win over East Carolina. Their play over the last few games have been uneven, but when they are good, they've been great. Everyone is healthy so I added Ekmark back into the player list.
UConn Starters
11 Kia Nurse 6' Freshman Guard
MPG 25.8, FG% .576, 3PT% .429, PPG 13.4, RPG 3.4, APG 3.7, 22 steals,
0 blocks
0 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson 5'7" Junior Guard
MPG 27.3, FG% .525, 3PT% .429, PPG 11.3, RPG 2.0, APG 4.6, 32 steals, 2 block
23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 5'11" Senior Forward
MPG 31.2, FG% .524, 3PT% .507, PPG 14.7, RPG 5.0, APG 2.8, 20 steals, 2 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck 6'2" Sophomore Forward
MPG 25.4, FG% .554, 3PT% .174, PPG 13.6, RPG 4.8, APG 2.8, 7 steals, 4 blocks
30 Breanna Stewart 6'4" Junior Forward
MPG 30.9, FG% .507, 3PT% .366, PPG 17.3, RPG 7.2, APG 2.7, 19 steals, 19 blocks
UConn Bench
41 Kiah Stokes 6'3" Senior Center
MPG 19.7, FG% .563, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.9, RPG 8.0, APG 1.0, 7 steals, 44 blocks
12 Saniya Chong 5'8" Sophomore Guard
MPG 20.9, FG% .438, 3PT% .310, PPG 6.3, RPG 2.0, APG 1.6, 7 steals, 5 blocks
15 Gabby Williams 5'11" Freshman Guard
MPG 15.2, FG% .648, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.7, RPG 4.7, APG 1.3, 16 steals, 5 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark 6' Freshman Guard
MPG 14.5, FG% .167, 3PT% .000, PPG 1.0, RPG 2.5, APG 1.0, 3 steals, 0 blocks
UConn Complete Stats
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St. John's Starters
(player write-ups are from St. John web site)
(player write-ups are from St. John web site)
Highly athletic and mobile forward, boasts good footwork in the post ... made an immediate impact in the St. John's starting line up with the absence of then-senior Da'Shena Stevens .... a put-back shooter
MPG 32.4, FG% .519, 3PT% .000, PPG 5.2, RPG 11.8, APG 1.2, 6 steals, 28 blocks
24 Jade Walker 6'1" Sophomore Forward
A versatile player who can be deployed at multiple positions and played at every spot on the court in high school. Walker combines size and inside strength with the ability to knock down the mid-range shot as well as handle the ball. Walker possesses a strong move to the basket and has the length and speed to defend both on the block and on the perimeter.
MPG 26.7, FG% .418, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.2, RPG 5.9, APG .6, 5 steals, 7 blocks
3 Aliyyah Handford 5'9" Senior Guard
Had an explosive freshman campaign and was an unanimous selection to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team... was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times... tabbed the All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Rookie of the Year... noted by ESPN as the "best unsigned point guard in her class and best at her position" ... ranked No. 9 as a point guard and No. 55 nationally by ESPNHoopGurlz ... "ultra-athletic" and versatile guard with a great body who can slash and finish in traffic ... she is active on the glass and is not afraid to draw contact and invade the paint ... a good size for either back court position ... she's clever with the ball and can fashion her own finishes, all the way to the rim or off pulls when the pass isn't available ... she was the first official signed recruit of the Joe Tartamella Era.
MPG 32.6, FG% .468 3PT% .182, PPG 19.4, RPG 5.8, APG 2.5, 30 steals, 3 blocks
4 Aaliyah Lewis 5'5" Senior Guard
An exciting player that possesses uncanny speed and quickness along with a fierce competitiveness and desire to win. Makes up for her short stature with unorthodox strength and physicality for a point-guard. Excels in transition and is not afraid to attack the basket. Is noted for her ability to understand pace and tempo while controlling a game and running a half court offense.
MPG 35.1, FG% .391, 3PT% .000, PPG 5.1, RPG 3.1, APG .1, 5 steals, 4 blocks
15 Danaejah Grant 5'9" Senior Guard
A versatile, athletic and strong combo guard with strong ball-handling skills and an attacking mentality that makes her a constant scoring threat. Grant is capable of creating scoring opportunities for herself as well as finding an open teammate when the opportunity presents itself.
MPG 35.4, FG% .467, 3PT% .267, PPG 19.7, RPG 6.1, APG 2.2, 8 steals, 2 blocks
St. John's Bench
12 Kyra Dunn 6'3" Grad Student Guard
Having graduated from the University of California-Berkeley, Kyra Dunn will use her remaining year of NCAA eligibility as a graduate student at St. John's in 2014-15... A talented forward with touch from the outside... Gained NCAA Tournament experience while at Cal... Spent her first two years of college at the University of Pittsburgh.
MPG 11.3, FG% .286, 3PT% .000, PPG 1.5, RPG 2.5, APG .1, 1 steals, 10 blocks
MPG 11.3, FG% .286, 3PT% .000, PPG 1.5, RPG 2.5, APG .1, 1 steals, 10 blocks
13 Crystal Simmons 5'10" Freshman Guard
One of the team's most athletic players... touted as a one of the team's most prolific defenders despite her youth... played her last two years of high school basketball in New Jersey after growing up in Spain...
One of the team's most athletic players... touted as a one of the team's most prolific defenders despite her youth... played her last two years of high school basketball in New Jersey after growing up in Spain...
MPG 9.4, FG% .235, 3PT% .250, PPG .9, RPG .8, APG 0.3, 5 steals, 2 blocks
5 Tonoia Wade 6' Freshman Forward
A talented player who can play a variety of positions... stands at six-feet tall, but has played guard for most of her life... has the ability to hit shots from the outside in addition to holding her own on the inside.
MPG 7.2, FG% .143, 3PT% .111, PPG .6, RPG 1.1, APG 0.1, 3 steals, 0 blocks
Game Analysis
SJU is a senior heavy team with four senior starters and a grad student coming off the bench. I listed 8 players, but after seeing the box score from the Seton Hall game, it looks like only six will see serious minutes. They rely on Handford and Grant, their two senior guards for scoring, both average close to 20 points per game. Between the two of them they have taken 437 of the 757 total shots taken by the team. That is a crazy percentage. In the Seton Hall game they took 37 of the 57 shots.
So, we have established that they shoot a lot. The problem is they don't make a lot. Overall this edition of SJU is a terrible shooting team. They hit 42.4% from the field, 23.1% on three's and 58.9% on FT's. They do rebound well, led by the senior Thompson who averages 12.4 per game. She had a fantastic game against SHU with 12 points and 20 rebounds.
SJU's defense is their strength and it better be when you only score 62.9 PPG. Their defensive numbers are terrific. They give up only 51.7 PPG and have held their opponents to 33.9% from the field ad 23.9 on three's.
UConn has 5 players in double digit scoring, and have raised their team shooting percentage to 52.8% and 39% on 3's. They have had a few games where they started slow, most recently in the East Carolina Game with Geno going ballistic at half time. But regardless of these periods of uneven play, UConn has played the majority of the time as a team very capable of winning it all. And I expect a consistent game in The Garden on Sunday.
As I have said in the past, it's all about matchups and this isn't a good one for SJU. They have trouble scoring and they are playing a great defensive team. They might struggle to reach 50 and I'm being kind. They start 3 guards and they only have 3 forwards that see minutes. I'm not sure they have the players to keep UConn under 70 points.
So, we have established that they shoot a lot. The problem is they don't make a lot. Overall this edition of SJU is a terrible shooting team. They hit 42.4% from the field, 23.1% on three's and 58.9% on FT's. They do rebound well, led by the senior Thompson who averages 12.4 per game. She had a fantastic game against SHU with 12 points and 20 rebounds.
SJU's defense is their strength and it better be when you only score 62.9 PPG. Their defensive numbers are terrific. They give up only 51.7 PPG and have held their opponents to 33.9% from the field ad 23.9 on three's.
UConn has 5 players in double digit scoring, and have raised their team shooting percentage to 52.8% and 39% on 3's. They have had a few games where they started slow, most recently in the East Carolina Game with Geno going ballistic at half time. But regardless of these periods of uneven play, UConn has played the majority of the time as a team very capable of winning it all. And I expect a consistent game in The Garden on Sunday.
As I have said in the past, it's all about matchups and this isn't a good one for SJU. They have trouble scoring and they are playing a great defensive team. They might struggle to reach 50 and I'm being kind. They start 3 guards and they only have 3 forwards that see minutes. I'm not sure they have the players to keep UConn under 70 points.
Final Prediction
I'm sure there are people out there that remember the game from 3 years ago where SJU was able to upset UConn. That was the only game that Dolson missed in her entire career and it may have been the starting point in her taking the game and herself more seriously. She didn't "feel well" and I'm sure she was kicking herself for doing that.Yet these are different teams for UConn and SJU, where the only players remaining who played any minutes between the two are KML and Stokes. Everyone else is new.
To me, it looks like any other game that UConn plays against an overmatched opponent and I expect similar results.
I'd say that UConn will win this one by 35+ points. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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Ok....the big news you all have been waiting for. Here is the URL for the new UConn Women's message board. It's starting to get active, so sign in, look around and join in!!!!
This forum has been created for those folks who don't mind a little "edge" in the message board experience. While we encourage posters to be civil to one another, we recognize that being UConn fans means we are passionate and opinionated. No one is going to agree with everything you say, and that is okay. But be prepared to face some tough challenges to any opinions you may share that others do not agree with.
The main board is for all things UConn Women's basketball, past, present and future. Feel free to reflect on the glorious past of UConn basketball. Glory in the success of the current team. Eagerly anticipate the future with those players who have signed their letters of intent. If it is about UConn Women's Basketball, this is the main place to be!
Look to the Game Day! board for game threads where in-game commentary and opinions can be exchanged. The game threads will be locked shortly after each game ends. Post game discussion can continue on the main board.
For discussion on recruiting prospects - those young women UCONN is recruiting and may or may not get - there is a board dedicated to recruiting topics.
This forum is first and foremost about UCONN women's basketball, however we recognize there is a lot of interest in other programs. Therefore, we have established a board dedicated to all other teams. Please use that board if you want to start a thread on any program that is not UConn.
The main board is for all things UConn Women's basketball, past, present and future. Feel free to reflect on the glorious past of UConn basketball. Glory in the success of the current team. Eagerly anticipate the future with those players who have signed their letters of intent. If it is about UConn Women's Basketball, this is the main place to be!
Look to the Game Day! board for game threads where in-game commentary and opinions can be exchanged. The game threads will be locked shortly after each game ends. Post game discussion can continue on the main board.
For discussion on recruiting prospects - those young women UCONN is recruiting and may or may not get - there is a board dedicated to recruiting topics.
This forum is first and foremost about UCONN women's basketball, however we recognize there is a lot of interest in other programs. Therefore, we have established a board dedicated to all other teams. Please use that board if you want to start a thread on any program that is not UConn.
Of course, you will find links to my Blog there including one permanently in the links sub board.
Have fun and GO HUSKIES!!!!!
You have it a 5 pm game at Mohegan.... Copy and paste from the ucla game?
ReplyDeleteYep. Cut and paste. Fixed now. Thanks David!
DeleteThe game where we lost to SJU, at home in 2012, Steff played 20 unproductive minutes. The game where she was sick (2013 in Queens), we beat SJU, by a few.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rana. I made the change. My bad.
Delete