UCONN @ DePaul
Day: Wednesday
Date: December 2nd, 2015
Location: Chicago
Time: 7:30
Time: 7:30
TV: FS1
No. 1 UConn Huskies DePaul Blue Demons
4-0 6-1
Prior Meetings
Prior Meetings
UConn 12 DEPAUL 1
H: 6-0; A: 4-0; N: 2-1
12/28/83 L 64-70 N
1/28/06 W 84-75 A
3/6/06 W 69-57 N
1/24/07 W 88-76 H
3/1/08 W 77-76 A
3/9/08 W 86-67 N
1/13/09 W 77-62 H
2/10/10 W 95-62 A
2/5/11 W 89-66 H
1/21/12 W 89-44 A
2/10/13 W 91-44 H
3/10/13 W 94-61 H
12/19/14 W 98-64 H
Overview
UConn and DePaul met last season with most of the same players going against each other. UConn graduated Kaleena Mosquada-Lewis, who contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds to last seasons 98-64 UConn win. Kiah Stokes played 16 minutes and added 4 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
UConn was led by Stewart's 25 points and Nurses 19 points. Gabby Williams added 14 points off the bench.
DePaul lost starters Brittany Hrynko and Megan Rogowski to graduation. Hrynko was their leading scorer in that game for with 17 points and Rogowski added 13 points.
The returning starters are Megan Podkowa, Chanise Jenkins, and Jessica January who added 6, 10 and 13 points respectively to DePaul's scoring. Two starters on this years squad Grays and Schulte did not score last year coming off the bench in a 10 combined minutes. Brandi Harvey-Carr also cam off the bench last year and will do the same in this game. She had 5 points in 14 minutes.
DePaul really struggled in this game, shooting 34.8% from the field and was only 6-27 on threes. UConn was able to score easily as their offense was in high gear. They had 28 assists in this game on their 40 field goals.
UConn is coming of a great effort at Chattanooga. Not that the game was ever in jeopardy, but they played like the game was close. Total effort for 40 minutes by every player that saw court time. The defense was all-world in this game.
Stewart, Jefferson and Tuck have all played to expectations and the bench is really starting to come into it's own. We are all waiting for the first appearance of Natalie Butler.
DePaul is coming off two easy wins after their first loss of the season to Baylor. They put up a big effort in that game but Baylor was able to pull away in the second half and win 86-72.
DePaul entered the top 25 this week at 23 in the AP poll and 18 in the coaches poll. As usual, Bruno has put together a solid team.
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| UCONN STATS |
UConn Starters
11 Kia Nurse
6' Sophomore Guard
Kia is struggling a little from the outside. I expect that to change soon. It looks to me that she is rushing her three point shot. Slow down Kia!!!!
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 24.8, FG% .444, 3PT% .300, PPG 9.0, RPG 2.5, APG 2.5, 7 steals, 0 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
Six Turnovers??? Really Moriah? I know, a couple were bad calls, but the others were just sloppy. This is so unusual for Jefferson. She will be focusing on taking care of the ball against DePaul.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 28.5, FG% .735, 3PT% .375, PPG 14.3, RPG 2.5, APG 5.0, 10 steals, 0 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
What a surprise to see that Morgan is leading the team in minutes played. On one hand that is a great sign about how healthy she is. On the other hand, it shows that UConn needs some help in the post and that will happen when Butler starts playing.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 29.8, FG% .455, 3PT% .333, PPG 12.3, RPG 5.8, APG 2.5, 3 steals, 1 block
30 Breanna Stewart
6'4" Senior Forward
6'4" Senior Forward
While she didn't score like the other three game, Stewart had another terrific game. She is playing so strong, it's like a different player. Add that to her over the top skills? Unstoppable.
4 Games - MPG 28.0, FG% .633, 3PT% .500, PPG 22.0 RPG 7.8, APG 3.8, 6 steals, 14 blocks
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward
Ok...did I jinx her? Not any more. She put up another double-double against Chattanooga. Loved her 14 points in the second half. Hated her zero points in the first half.
5'11" Sophomore Forward
Ok...did I jinx her? Not any more. She put up another double-double against Chattanooga. Loved her 14 points in the second half. Hated her zero points in the first half.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 21.0, FG% .625, 3PT% .000, PPG 11.0 RPG 10.0, APG 2.3, 10 steals, 3 blocks
UConn Bench
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
Butler has been cleared to play. But she didn't play. Maybe against DePaul?
5'8" Junior Guard
Just fitting in. And doing a great job of it. Her play will allow Geno to rest Jefferson when she needs it and give the team more confidence if she has to sit with foul trouble. Even against good teams.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 15.5, FG% .462, 3PT% .375, PPG 4.5, RPG 1.3, APG .8, 0 steals, 1 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark
6' Sophomore Guard
She is taking the game as it comes to her. If it means not shooting that is what she will do. I love how comfortable she looks on the court now. And she is in double digit minutes per game.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 10.0, FG% .600, 3PT% .500, PPG 2.0, RPG 1.0, APG 1.3, 1 steal, 1 block
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward
As Chris Dailey said in the post game interview, she didn't shoot well but it doesn't mean she didn't play well. Funny, but I said that too (pat on the back)......
Her complete game is coming out now. It's great to see.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 19.0, FG% .357, 3PT% .222, PPG 6.5, RPG 3.3, APG 2.3, 3 steals, 0 blocks
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
Mature beyond her years, she just knows how to defend and rebound. And rebound. she has a knack of being in the right place at the right time.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 19.0, FG% .571, 3PT% .000, PPG 8.3, RPG 7.3, APG 1.0, 11 steals, 3 blocks
5'7" Junior Guard
Still shooting 100% on the season!!!
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 2.8, FG% 1.000, 3PT% 1.000, PPG 1.3, RPG 0.3, APG 0.3, 0 steals, 0 blocks
5'7" Senior Guard
School before athletics. She stayed back on campus for some academic work. Hopefully she will catch a flight to Chicago if the work is completed.
2015-16 Stats
3 Games - MPG 2.3, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, PPG 0.0, RPG 0.0, APG 0.3, 0 steals, 0 blocks
Out for the game
6'2" Freshman Forward
UConn freshman forward De’Janae Boykin is still not ready. She didn't make the road trip.
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DePaul Blue Demon
DePaul Head Coach Doug Bruno
Geno gets to coach his team against another great longtime friend in Coach Bruno. For the second time, Bruno will head to the Olympics this time in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as an assistant coach to Geno. In 2012, Bruno helped the National Team to its fifth straight Olympic gold in London in the same role.
Over the last 13 seasons, Bruno has led the Blue Demons to 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's first and second Sweet Sixteen showing in 2006 and advanced to the round of 16 again in 2011 and 2014.
Coach Bruno has been inducted into the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
DePaul Starters
30 Megan Podkowa
6'2" Senior Guard/Forward
2015-16 Stats
Last year Megan was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. She was also voted the BIG EAST Tournament MVP. She has become the leader of the team and the leading scorer and rebounder as well. This her third consecutive season that she will lead the team in rebounds. This year she is leading the team by far in offensive rebounds with a little over 3 per game.
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 28.7, FG% .582, 3PT% .316, PPG 15.8, RPG 7.8, APG 2.7, 8 steals, 2 blocks
14 Jessica January
5'7" Junior Guard
January was All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention as a Sophomore and on the ... BIG EAST All-Freshman team along with UConn player Natalie Butler (who was FOY in the big east). In high school she was McDonald's All American nominee and ranked No. 74 in her class by HoopGurlz.
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 26.7, FG% .408, 3PT% .190, PPG 13.2, RPG 3.5, APG 5.3, 16 steals, 0 blocks
6 games - MPG 26.7, FG% .408, 3PT% .190, PPG 13.2, RPG 3.5, APG 5.3, 16 steals, 0 blocks
13 Chanise Jenkins
5'5" Senior Guard
Jenkins was on the USA Basketball World University Team Games roster. She joined the 1,000 point club last season and was named to the BIG EAST All-Conference squad.
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 24.0, FG% .456, 3PT% .308, PPG 11.5, RPG 2.5, APG 4.7, 12 steals, 0 blocks
6 games - MPG 24.0, FG% .456, 3PT% .308, PPG 11.5, RPG 2.5, APG 4.7, 12 steals, 0 blocks
35 Mart'e Grays
6'2" Sophomore Forward
Became DePaul's sixth and fourth consectutive BIG EAST All-Freshman honoree. As a freshman she played in 31 games and averaged 13.5 minutes a game.
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 20.2, FG% .521, 3PT% .280, PPG 9.7, RPG 4.0, APG 1.5, 7 steals, 1 block
22 Brooke Shulte
5'9" Junior Guard
A non-starter playing few minutes she is now in the starting lineup and putting in almost 26 minutes per game and averaging almost double digits points.
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 25.8, FG% .522, 3PT% .333, PPG 9.2, RPG 4.0, APG 2.1, 9 steals, 0 blocks
DePaul Bench
1 Ashton Milender
5'6" Sophomore Guard
Milender had a nice freshman year playing in 31 games and averaging over 20 minutes per game. This year she is coming off the bench and playing very well.
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 21.0, FG% .449, 3PT% .394, PPG 10.3, RPG 3.5, APG 1.1, 7 steals, 0 block
6 games - MPG 21.0, FG% .449, 3PT% .394, PPG 10.3, RPG 3.5, APG 1.1, 7 steals, 0 block
44 Brandi Harvey-Carr
6'4" Junior Forward
The only real size on the team, she should see some decent minutes against UConn. But that just means quick foul trouble.
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 13.7, FG% .542, 3PT% .000, PPG 5.7, RPG 3.5, APG .3, 4 steals, 2 blocks
24 Tanita Allen
05 Lauren Prochaska
6 games - MPG 13.7, FG% .542, 3PT% .000, PPG 5.7, RPG 3.5, APG .3, 4 steals, 2 blocks
5'10" Freshman Guard
The only freshman in the rotation, Allen was ranked No. 22 in the nation at her position by ESPNW. She was ranked the No. 4 player on the Carolina Scouting Report’s Top 100 in the Class of 2015 and named to the Full Court website’s 2015 Fresh 50 Watch List
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 12.8, FG% .350, 3PT% .200, PPG 2.8, RPG 3.0, APG 1.0, 5 steals, 1 block
6 games - MPG 12.8, FG% .350, 3PT% .200, PPG 2.8, RPG 3.0, APG 1.0, 5 steals, 1 block
5'8" Sophomore Guard
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 14.8, FG% .154, 3PT% .167, PPG 2.3, RPG 2.0, APG 2.9, 9 steals, 1 block
6 games - MPG 14.8, FG% .154, 3PT% .167, PPG 2.3, RPG 2.0, APG 2.9, 9 steals, 1 block
Game Analysis
DePaul is doing what they usually do in scoring a lot of points averaging 87 points per game. They were able to score 72 points against Baylor's tough defense. Not an easy task. I'm sure Bruno realizes his teams only chance to make a game of it is to make a lot of threes. The good news for DePaul is they take a lot of threes. Their top six scorers have all taken more than fifteen threes each. They have taken 160 three pointers so far this season. That's over 26 per game. That is a LOT of threes.
DePaul is also one of the best passing teams in the country. Coach Bruno is an excellent offensive coach and his players do a great job valuing the ball. This year they have 134 assists, an average higher than UConn's at 23.4 per game. And they have only turned the ball over 89 times. There are not many teams that have a 1.5 assist/to ratio.
The question for DePaul is twofold. Can they hit their three point shots at a high percentage? Can they find a way to play enough defense to keep UConn under 80?
Both are doubtful.
While DePaul will be able to take a lot of threes, they are just not shooting as well as I the past. While they take over 26 per game, they only make on average 8 of them. They need to make something like 15-30 in order to score enough point to get into the 70's as their inside game will be shut down by UConn's tough inside defense. Other than Megan Podkowa, who can carve out some room on the inside, they have no offensive answers in the paint.
Defensively, this is a mismatch. DePaul is able to create turnovers against most teams, and as sloppy as UConn has been with the ball I would expect DePaul to have some success in doing that. But they have no answer on possessions where UConn doesn't turn the ball over. They have no answer for Stewart (who does?) or Tuck on the inside. Williams had great success last year against this team and is turning into a huge mismatch.
UConn's defense will have to work hard in preventing open three's. DePaul will find that open player. But UConn is the best at closing in on the open shooter with their amazing switching defense. DePaul will get some open looks. But not enough to make the difference.
On offense, UConn has a big advantage in the paint with Tuck, Williams and Stewart. Look for plenty of posting up of the smaller DePaul players. But look for the quick pass out of the inevitable doubling of the ball. Big to Big passing by Tuck and Stewart is deadly and if UConn is hitting their threes it could get ugly.
Final Prediction
This is a tough game to call other than UConn will win. All the variables I mentioned in my analysis. Which way will they go?
My guess is that DePaul will break out of their shooting slump some and hit enough threes to have Geno call one time out. That will keep the game close enough to be interesting.
In the end UConn's offense prevails in this game and UConn wins by 25+.
Additional info and updated Final Prediction
Thanks to my friend Cat for reminding my that I totally forgot about the two eligible transfers from Illinois who add some depth and talent to the Blue Demon roster.
From the DePaul website - Newcomers Jacqui Grant and Amarah Coleman fit right in during a 96-46 triumph over Colgate that saw DePaul improve to 5-1 on the season. Colgate dropped to 0-4.
Grant and Coleman transferred from Illinois and were granted eligibility by the NCAA earlier in the week. Grant is a 6-foot, 3-inch junior forward from Maine South who immediately bolstered the Blue Demon inside attack. Coleman is an athletic 5-11 sophomore guard from Bolingbrook who strengthens an already deep and talented backcourt.
Grant and Coleman transferred from Illinois and were granted eligibility by the NCAA earlier in the week. Grant is a 6-foot, 3-inch junior forward from Maine South who immediately bolstered the Blue Demon inside attack. Coleman is an athletic 5-11 sophomore guard from Bolingbrook who strengthens an already deep and talented backcourt.
34 Jacqui Grant
6'3" Junior Forward
2014-15 at Illinois - appeared in 30 games with 29 starts… one of only three players to appear in all 30 game for the Illini… averaged 9.6 points and was second on the team with 7.0 rebounds per outing… second on the team with 27 blocks… led Illinois with 148 defensive rebounds… made 16 3-pointers and boasted a .425 field goal percentage… averaged 10.4 points against Big Ten opponents… led the Illini on the glass in 13 games… season-best 15 boards against No. 15 Iowa… season-best 29 points at Penn State and against Minessota… led the Illini in scoring in six contests… season-best five triples against Penn Sate.
Ranked the No. 28 power forward and No. 108th overall player in the nation in the class of 2013 by Blue Star
2015-16 Stats
6 games - MPG 18.0, FG% .416, 3PT% .500, PPG 14.0, RPG 5.0, APG 4.0, 2 steals, 0 blocks
10 Amarah Coleman
5'11" Sophomore Guard
Made 30 appearances with six starts… named Illinois’ Most Improved at the end of the season banquet… averaged 7.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 20.4 minutes… in her six starts averaged 11.6 points and 3.4 assists per game…finished the season with 54 assists which ranked fourth on the team… dished out four or more assists in seven games… best six assists against then-No. 9 Kentucky… season-high 24 points against Maryland, went 10-of-15 from the field… recorded 25 steals.
ranked No. 79 overall in 2014 class and No. 18 point guard by ESPN Hoopgurlz… ranked No. 82 nationally by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
2015-16 Stats
1 game - MPG 18.0, FG% .500, 3PT% .333, PPG 15.0, RPG 2.0, APG 0.0, 2 steals, 0 blocks
So, how does this impact the game? Well, clearly they push the bottom of the bench further down and will see playing time go down for Harvey-Carr, Millinder and Allen. Grant and Coleman are better them those players. One or both might crack the starting lineup later in the season.
Grant gives them someone else to counter UConn's inside game and will see plenty of time in this game. She is a very capable three point shooter and will make it much harder for UConn to defend DePauls inside game. Coleman is one more weapon to play an already talented backcourt.
UConn still has too much for DePaul but the game will feel a lot tougher for the Huskies. I'll lower my MOV to 20+ with the addition of Grant and Coleman.
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