Another fun day with my Florida family. My oldest granddaughter was in a cheerleading competition. It's crazy there!!! Just think Dance Mom's on steroids! But the team did great and won the competition for their grouping.
So, not enough time to write the UConn/Memphis Post game report. Sorry! But I did have time Sunday night to put this together.
Two more days here in Florida. Tomorrow rain, but our last day, Tuesday, will be beautiful!
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Two more days here in Florida. Tomorrow rain, but our last day, Tuesday, will be beautiful!
Here is my UConn/Tulane Pre Game report.
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Interesting day in the top twenty-five Sunday. There were 14 teams in action and only South Carolina, at No. 2 and Texas A&M at No. 10 ,were top ten teams playing and they played each other.
Only No. 12 Kentucky was upset, losing to Florida, 85-79. Proving once again that there is parity and mediocrity at the same time in the SEC.
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I had a chance to watch most of the South Carolina at Texas A&M game Sunday evening that SC won 70-63. It was a fun game to watch as both teams had their moments of really nice play. Courtney Walker was terrific for A&M in scoring 23 points and adding 7 rebounds. Some of her moves in the lane were spectacular. The other Courtney, Williams added 13 points and their terrific point guard Jordan Jones added 10 points 3 assists and 3 steals. But it wasn't enough to win this game at home.
South Carolina showed at times why they are undefeated and at other times they made you wonder how the hell they ARE undefeated. A'ja Wilson was absolutely a beast in the paint. When she misses she is able to collect the rebound and she either makes the layup or gets fouled. But she has no outside game other than the occasion jumper from inside the foul line. In this game she hit 9-10 free throws way above her usual average in scoring her 27 points. She added 10 rebounds and 4 blocks. But she also had 5 turnovers. The Gamecocks hit 20-25 free throws in this game for 80%. For a team that usually shoots 63%, it could mean the difference between a win and a loss and might have done just that in this game.
Tiffany Mitchell did score 20 points but once again she struggled on her with her three-ball, only shooting 1-7. Coates had six assists and all had to be to Wilson on the High-Low. They really had that going!
The most interesting stat for South Carolina was that until a free throw by Tina Roy with 14 seconds left in the game only four players, Wilson, Coates, Mitchell and Sessions scored for SC. That means that the other five players on the floor scored exactly one point. They didn't add much else as they had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. They did add 5 turnovers.
The lack of bench help is going to hurt South Carolina in their matchup with UConn. They will need a lot more help to have any chance against the Huskies.
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No. 20 South Florida defeated SMU 66-48 in an AAC clash Sunday. SMU played USF tough early on but the Bulls were just to much for the Mustangs. The difference were turnovers where South Florida only had 8 to the 20 by SMU. Both teams really struggled from the field with USF shooting only 31.7 and SMU 29.6. Three point shooting was just as bad. Plenty of bad basketball in this contest.
No. 20 South Florida defeated SMU 66-48 in an AAC clash Sunday. SMU played USF tough early on but the Bulls were just to much for the Mustangs. The difference were turnovers where South Florida only had 8 to the 20 by SMU. Both teams really struggled from the field with USF shooting only 31.7 and SMU 29.6. Three point shooting was just as bad. Plenty of bad basketball in this contest.
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From David in Naples
UConn has started with a 20-0 record and a #1 ranking in the country. But, the Huskies are playing twice as well as their opponents, at least in some statistics. For example, for the season, UConn has scored 482 points in the 1st quarter, when it matters, while holding opponents to 234.
When it comes to assists, the Huskies are also twice as generous, 442 vs 214. On made free throws, UConn is even better than twice as talented at 238 vs 86. That is 2.76 times better. The Huskies have also stolen the ball twice as often, 245 vs 123 for the other guys.
By far the most dominant statistic for UConn is blocked shots. They have 132 blocks, while opponents have managed just 45. That is nearly three times as many. Finally, the Huskies boast the best two players in the country, Stewie and MoJeff. With those two, it makes sense that UConn would play twice as well as opponents.
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When it comes to assists, the Huskies are also twice as generous, 442 vs 214. On made free throws, UConn is even better than twice as talented at 238 vs 86. That is 2.76 times better. The Huskies have also stolen the ball twice as often, 245 vs 123 for the other guys.
By far the most dominant statistic for UConn is blocked shots. They have 132 blocks, while opponents have managed just 45. That is nearly three times as many. Finally, the Huskies boast the best two players in the country, Stewie and MoJeff. With those two, it makes sense that UConn would play twice as well as opponents.
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I'm pretty quick to point out the issues with Tennessee to the point of being a little obsessed with it. I can live with that. But I'll try to be fair and point out that they had a pretty good game against Alabama Sunday.
Behind 17 points and 10 rebounds by Jamie Nared, a double-double for Mercedes Russell and 17 points for the freshman point guard, T'ia Cooper.
Ok, enough nicety...lol. Diamond Deshields was relegated to coming off the bench and played 18 ineffective minutes. Not only ineffective, but really bad. She shot 1-10 from the field, 0-4 on threes. She did have 5 rebounds and 3 assists. But all that is negated by her 6 turnovers. If you look at the rest of the team without Deshields, their stats are actually really good for this game.
With Deshields they shot 44.3% from the field, 38.1% on threes, 22 assists and 21 turnovers.
Without Deshields they shot 51% from the field, 47% on threes with 19 assists and 15 turnovers.
They can't bench her, but it's going to be difficult for Tennessee to beat good teams when she is playing this poorly.
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So, without further ado!!!
Ladies and Gents, DD looks at the news........
Morgan Tuck And UConn Athletic Trainer Calling The Shots Hartford Courant
UConn's dominance: Not as easy as it may look Roger Cleaveland
Manuel: 'I will speak very highly of UConn' Roger Cleaveland
John Nash column: Jefferson splits the difference in UConn win The Hour Online
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Upsets in Red
Late games in Green
Wilson's 27 points lifts No. 2 South Carolina over Texas A&M USA Today
No. 11 Florida State Women Roll Past Virginia Tech 68-50 ABC News
Florida Women Defeat No. 12 Kentucky 85-79 ABC News
No. 13 Mississippi State Women Beat Arkansas 65-55 ABC News
No. 14 Louisville Women Beat Wake Forest 78-54 ABC News
Utah women’s basketball: No. 15 UCLA rallies past Utes Salt Lake Tribune
No. 16 Stanford Pulls Away From Washington State 69-52 ABC News
Powers Leads No. 18 Michigan St. Women Over Wisconsin 77-54 ABC News
No. 19 Tennessee Women Roll to 70-42 Victory Over Alabama ABC News
No. 20 South Florida women pull away from SMU 66-48 USA Today
Michaelis Scores 20, No. 22 Missouri Handles Ole Miss 60-46 ABC News
January Sparks No. 23 DePaul Women Past St. John's 77-71 ABC News
Plum Leads No. 25 Washington Women Past Cal 75-65 ABC News
Wilson's 27 points lifts No. 2 South Carolina over Texas A&M USA Today
No. 11 Florida State Women Roll Past Virginia Tech 68-50 ABC News
Florida Women Defeat No. 12 Kentucky 85-79 ABC News
No. 13 Mississippi State Women Beat Arkansas 65-55 ABC News
No. 14 Louisville Women Beat Wake Forest 78-54 ABC News
Utah women’s basketball: No. 15 UCLA rallies past Utes Salt Lake Tribune
No. 16 Stanford Pulls Away From Washington State 69-52 ABC News
Powers Leads No. 18 Michigan St. Women Over Wisconsin 77-54 ABC News
No. 19 Tennessee Women Roll to 70-42 Victory Over Alabama ABC News
No. 20 South Florida women pull away from SMU 66-48 USA Today
Michaelis Scores 20, No. 22 Missouri Handles Ole Miss 60-46 ABC News
January Sparks No. 23 DePaul Women Past St. John's 77-71 ABC News
Plum Leads No. 25 Washington Women Past Cal 75-65 ABC News
Thanks to Johnny C for sending me many of these numbers!!!
Mariya Moore Louisville 26 points
Jessica January DePaul 21 points 10 rebounds
Makayla Epps Kentucky 27 points
Rachel Banham Minn 29 points
Hallie Thome Michigan 31 points
Nia Coffey Northwestern 20 points 14 rebounds
Lizzy Wendell Drake 25 points 6 assists
Tabatha Richardson-Smith Seton Hall 28 points
Allazia Blockton Marquette 21 points 10 rebounds
Shannon Cranshaw GW 19 points 10 assists
Jazmon Gwathmey James Madison 24 points 11 rebounds
A'ja Wilson S. Carolina 27 points 10 rebounds
Kaylee Johnson Stanford 19 rebounds
Lili Thompson Stanford 30 points
Aerial Powers Michigan St. 30 points
Kelsey Plum Washington 28 points
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Statistical Sites
NCAA 2015 Stats
NCAA Division I basketball records thru 2013-2014
ESPN Women's Basketball Stats
Women's Basketball State
NCAA 2015 Stats
NCAA Division I basketball records thru 2013-2014
ESPN Women's Basketball Stats
Women's Basketball State
Message Boards
UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!!
College Fans Only - WCBB board where no holds are barred
Vol Nation - Tennessee women's basketball board
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board
ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board
UCONN Information
Interesting Blogs and Links
Carl Adamec's blog, SNY
John Altavilla's blog, Hartford Courant
Jim Fuller's blog, New Haven Register
A Dime Back - A great web site for all UConn Sports, Including UConn Women
A Dime Back - A great web site for all UConn Sports, Including UConn Women
I'm always open for suggestions. Just please reply to this blog or email me at:
