UCONN versus South Florida
Day: Sunday
Date: January 18th, 2015
Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Ct.
Time: 1:00
TV: ESPN2
Records UConn 15-1 (5-0)
South Florida 14-3 (5-0)
South Florida 14-3 (5-0)
Overview
UConn is 13-0 against South Florida in their short history together. The early games were competitive with one even going to overtime. But the most recent history and more relevant to Sunday's game shows UConn with big wins every time but one. The game in January of 2012 was pretty competitive. UConn was only up three at the half before finally pulling away to win by 15. In the games that UConn and USF have played since that game, UConn has won by 23, 28, 25. Closer than most of the other teams UConn has played the last 2 years, but competitive? Not really.
12/28/02 W 72-56 A
12/1/04 W 75-65 (ot) H
1/24/06 W 77-47 H
2/20/07 W 81-67 A
3/4/07 W 74-54 N12/1/04 W 75-65 (ot) H
1/24/06 W 77-47 H
2/20/07 W 81-67 A
1/30/08 W 71-48 H
1/6/09 W 83-37 A
3/8/09 W 79-42 H
1/4/10 W 84-42 H
12/2/10 W 80-54 A
1/28/12 W 77-62 H
3/2/13 W 85-51 A
1/26/14 W 81-53 H
2/16/14 W 63-38 A
South Florida comes into this game hot, winning their last eight games. Their coach is saying all the right things.
“You’re chasing the dragon every year, that’s what we call it. That’s
why you coach and that’s why you build a program. That’s our next step,”
Fernandez said. “We’ve got to have a big, huge, national signature win and it’s
a great opportunity for our kids.”
USF has kept 12
opponents to under 35 percent shooting from the floor, has held its past five
foes to less than 63 points. They have had several good wins, beating Oklahoma, Villanova, Chattanooga and Illinois. And a couple of close losses to good teams, by five against Kentucky and two against St. John's. They are representing the AAC very well.
UConn appears to be playing better and better. They came out like a gangbusters against Temple and until Geno called off the dogs, they dominated the game. There is no starting five that can compete with UConn and only the spottiness of the bench gives anyone hope of beating them. If there is a better duo in WCBB than Stewart and Tuck, I haven't seen them.
UConn Starters
11 Kia Nurse 6' Freshman Guard
Once Nurse figured out her hair situation she was on fire against Temple. 4-5 on three pointers has her now close to .500 for the season. I'm now surprised when she misses when she is open. The more I watch her the more the expression "tough as nails" applies.
2014-15: MPG 24.8, FG% .563, 3PT% .491, PPG 12.8, RPG 3.4, APG 3.1, 28 steals, 0 blocks
Well, you can't hit 80% on three point shots forever and the law of averages got her against Temple. But she had another game with 5 assists and 0 turnovers. Can't ask much more from your PG than that.
2014-15: MPG 27.3, FG% .541, 3PT% .489, PPG 11.7, RPG 1.9, APG 5.0, 40 steals, 3 block
23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 5'11" Senior Forward
She has stopped settling for just 3's and that just makes her more effective. It was clear she decided to work hard driving to the basket and posting up smaller defenders against Temple. You could see that slowly evolving but her ability to mix things up makes her so much more difficult to defend.
2014-15: MPG 29.9, FG% .514, 3PT% .495, PPG 13.6, RPG 4.8, APG 2.8, 21 steals, 2 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck 6'2" Sophomore Forward
The word is out. Tuck is one of the best players in the country. We UConn fans knew it was there, but even the most fervent fan didn't expect to see this level of domination in the post from her. We all thought it would be KML and Stewie, but Tuck has appeared to join them in possible AA status.
2014-15: MPG 25.5, FG% .586, 3PT% .194, PPG 14.8, RPG 5.0, APG 2.8, 11 steals, 5 blocks
30 Breanna Stewart 6'4" Junior Forward
Aggressive. That is all she needs to be and it's back in the POY conversation. And against Temple, we saw plenty of that. With her slightly awkward shot from distance, I'm not sure she will ever be consistent from beyond the arc, but she is still the best player in the country.
2014-15: MPG 29.5, FG% .520, 3PT% .340, PPG 16.8, RPG 7.2, APG 3.1, 26 steals, 32 blocks
UConn Bench
Stokes had one of her best games against Temple with 9 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocks and is ahead of pace to break Rebecca Lobo's single season block record. As always, I'd like to see her be more aggressive offensively and it would do her well in her WNBA draft status. I saw a spark of that in her last game.
2014-15: MPG 20.2, FG% .531, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.6, RPG 8.0, APG 1.1, 10 steals, 66 blocks
Although we all want more from Chong, Geno is starting to get what he needs from her. She had a solid game in her 24 minutes against Temple. And when I saw her drive into the lane and make a floater, I saw the aggressive Chong from HS days. Giving solid guard minutes off the bench is imperative to UConn's success.
2014-15: MPG 20.3, FG% .436, 3PT% .313, PPG 5.6, RPG 2.0, APG 1.6, 9 steals, 5 blocks
15 Gabby Williams 5'11" Freshman Guard
While she didn't hit her usual high percentage of shots, Williams was still the rebounding machine we have seen all season long. This will be her first test of playing a tougher team since she only played 6 minutes against Duke. She needs to be the same player against every team and this is her chance to show she has taken the next step in her freshman progression.
2014-15: MPG 15.3, FG% .617, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.8, RPG 5.9, APG 1.2, 20 steals, 7 blocks
Not much to say here. I think that Geno would like her to be in the regular rotation but the rust is slow to come off. You can see how hard she is working on the court and she much be doing the same in practice as Geno is giving her game minutes. Hitting a few open 3's will help.
2014-15: MPG 12.7, FG% .214, 3PT% .200, PPG 1.3, RPG 1.3, APG 1.0, 4 steals, 0 blocks
UConn Complete Stats
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South Florida Starters
10 Courtney Williams 5'8" Junior Guard
2014-15: Recorded two double-doubles this season against Villanova on Nov. 15
and Oklahoma on Nov. 27 ... Tallied a season-high of 27 points, shooting a
perfect 7-for-7 on the line vs. Oklahoma on Nov. 27 ... Notched a season-best 12
rebounds against Illinois in the Paradise Jam on Nov. 28.
2014-15: MPG 31.9, FG% .387, 3PT% .367, PPG 19.3, RPG 8.5, APG 3.3, 26 steals, 14 blocks
24 Alisia Jenkins 6'1" Junior Forward
2014-15: Tallied six double-doubles averaging 10.4 rebounds and 13.5 points per
game ... Tied a career high of 21 points on two occassions both at the Paradise
Jam vs. Oklahoma on Nov. 27 and Illinois on Nov. 28 ... Recorded a perfect
free-throw percentage on three occasions.
2014-15: MPG 31.6, FG% .563, 3PT% .000, PPG 12.2, RPG 11.2, APG .7, 27 steals, 39 blocks
20 Laura Ferreira 5'11" Junior Forward
2014-15: MPG 24.8, FG% .351 3PT% .338, PPG 7.8, RPG 3.8, APG 1.0, 10 steals, 10 blocks
45 Katelyn Weber 6'5" Sophomore Center
2014-15:
Recorded a season-high three points at Chattanooga on Nov. 16 ... Tallied a
season-best six rebounds vs. Oklahoma in the Paradise Jam on Nov. 27.
2014-15: MPG 16.2, FG% .514, 3PT% .000, PPG 3.1, RPG 3.9 APG 0.0, 2 steals, 5 blocks
13 Laura Marcos Canedo 5'8" Sophomore Guard
2014-15: MPG 13.4, FG% .389, 3PT% .000, PPG 1.4, RPG 1.0, APG 1.8, 1 steals, 1 block
South Florida Bench
3 Tamara Taylor 5'10" Senior Guard
2014-15: MPG 18.1, FG% .440, 3PT% .400, PPG 9.4, RPG 2.4, APG .9, 13 steals, 2 blocks
15 Shavantae Naylor 5'9" Junior Forward
2014-15: MPG 13.7, FG% .548, 3PT% .000, PPG 3.4, RPG 3.2, APG 0.1, 6 steals, 3 blocks
23 Shaleth Stringfield 5'6 Junior Guard
2014-15: MPG 18.5, FG% .490, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.2, RPG 1.9, APG 2.2, 8 steals, 0 blocks
11 Ariadna Pujol 6'1" Sophomore Guard/Forward
2014-15:
Notched a season-high six points at Maryland on Nov. 19 ... Maintained a perfect
free throw percentage on three ocassions ... Tallied three rebounds against UNC
Asheville on Nov. 22.
2014-15: MPG 9.4, FG% .364, 3PT% .333, PPG 3.1, RPG 3.9, APG 1.1, 3 steals, 4 blocks
Game Analysis
South Florida is led this year by Courtney Williams, all AAC guard and one of the best in the country. They depend on her for so much. She leads the team in scoring and assists, 2nd in steals and rebounds. She has taken 200 more shots than any other player on the team, close to one third of all their shots. This can be a big problem for USF if UConn can shut her down. Not many teams have been able to do that, but not many teams play defense like UConn and not many teams have players like Jefferson and Nurse to guard her.
Another problem for USF is their top two point guards have injury issues. Stringfield had an injection on Monday and Canedo is still hurting from straining her knee at Tulane. Canedo sat out their last game and Stringfield played only 6 minutes. But I'm sure some of that was because they were playing against SMU and it gives them more time to rest and recover before the UConn game. They will need both available to have any chance of keeping it close.
USF also relies on 6'1" forward, Alisia Jenkins to hit the boards and hit them hard as she averages over 11 rebounds a game. This can be another issue for USF going against UConn's tough and big front line. I'm not sure she can be as effective on the boards as she has in other game. Their
South Florida doesn't handle the ball very well either. They have 90 more TO's than assists. Devastating against a tough defense like UConn. UConn will pressure them as much as possible, in the full court and half court.
What USF brings is a tough and tenacious man-to-man pressure defense. They have done a great job shutting down the opposing offenses. Can this work against UConn?
UConn has the top offense in the country. They are shooting an amazing 53% from the field. They hit almost 40% on 3's. It's doubtful that USF can shut them down, or even slow them down much. They might be able to keep UConn's scoring in the 70's. Their defense is that good. But UConn's defense will give fits to a one dimensional offense like South Florida.
One last word from USF - "They are human just like us. I feel people look at them and just be like, ‘Oh, they’re unstoppable,’” Williams said. “We all practice, we all put in the same amount of time. We’re in the gym extra the same way they’re in the gym extra, so I don’t see why we can’t be the team to beat them.”
Well, love the attitude, but good luck with that.
UConn by 30+.
Another problem for USF is their top two point guards have injury issues. Stringfield had an injection on Monday and Canedo is still hurting from straining her knee at Tulane. Canedo sat out their last game and Stringfield played only 6 minutes. But I'm sure some of that was because they were playing against SMU and it gives them more time to rest and recover before the UConn game. They will need both available to have any chance of keeping it close.
USF also relies on 6'1" forward, Alisia Jenkins to hit the boards and hit them hard as she averages over 11 rebounds a game. This can be another issue for USF going against UConn's tough and big front line. I'm not sure she can be as effective on the boards as she has in other game. Their
South Florida doesn't handle the ball very well either. They have 90 more TO's than assists. Devastating against a tough defense like UConn. UConn will pressure them as much as possible, in the full court and half court.
What USF brings is a tough and tenacious man-to-man pressure defense. They have done a great job shutting down the opposing offenses. Can this work against UConn?
UConn has the top offense in the country. They are shooting an amazing 53% from the field. They hit almost 40% on 3's. It's doubtful that USF can shut them down, or even slow them down much. They might be able to keep UConn's scoring in the 70's. Their defense is that good. But UConn's defense will give fits to a one dimensional offense like South Florida.
Final Prediction
As I always say, it's about match ups. And this is another poor one for a UConn opponent. I just can't see USF scoring more than 50 points. UConn will wear them down and Williams will feel like she is being defended in a phone booth with no room to maneuver. The rest of the team is just not strong enough defensively to stop the UConn inside game. I'm hoping it's a close game, just for the sake of USF getting an NCAA bid, but I don't think that is possible.
One last word from USF - "They are human just like us. I feel people look at them and just be like, ‘Oh, they’re unstoppable,’” Williams said. “We all practice, we all put in the same amount of time. We’re in the gym extra the same way they’re in the gym extra, so I don’t see why we can’t be the team to beat them.”
Well, love the attitude, but good luck with that.
UConn by 30+.
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