A really fun win for UConn as they hammered Central Florida 106-51. I predicted a 65 point win and that fourth quarter defense was really annoying. I thought I had this one right! But we got to see some terrific play up and down the lineup.
Stewart had 21 points on 8-11 shooting in 21 minutes.
Butler had 20 points on 9-11 shooting in 19 minutes.
Williams had 19 points on 9-11 shooting in 21 minutes.
Collier had 14 points on 7-10 shooting in 19 minutes.
Remarkable play by this amazing frontcourt. Oh yeah, the were missing Tuck. Amazing.
While they struggled from long range, they shot 60% from the field and 68.8% on threes. 81.3 (13-16) on free throws, and 29 assists. A great team effort.
Post Game will be out tomorrow.
Ok, the caption in the Courant for this photo was "a couple of UConn fans take a closer look at their favorite players".
Yeah, right. Unless the players are in the stands across the arena, there is no way they were looking at the players.
What they were doing in the time honored form of all dirty old men. They were scoping out the babes. Not that I have ever done that.......
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Maybe one of the most important "must win" regular season games for the Lady Vols on Thursday night.
No. 18/22 Tennessee is playing a home game against Vanderbilt where the Commodores have NEVER won. but more importantly, this game is before the two away games against top ten teams, Kentucky and Mississippi State.
Tennessee is ranked 18th in the AP poll that doesn't include the loss to Notre Dame. The coaches poll does include that loss which is why they are ranked lower at 22nd.
As I mentioned yesterday, Tennessee has the longest streak of being in the top 25 poll with 561 spread over more than 30 years, one of the few stats that Tennessee still has over UConn. With a loss to Vanderbilt, they will go into the road games needing a win at Kentucky to stay in the top 25.
This streak of being in the top twenty-five is really impressive. It shows a sustained period of excellence for the Lady Vols. Even in the struggles since Parker graduated, there has never been a Tennessee team that looks like this.
We will see if the Tennessee mystique can keep the Lady Vols in the top twenty-five, even if they lose to both Vanderbilt and Kentucky........and after that, Mississippi State? Whew...How bad can it get?
Stay tuned for the continuing saga of "As the Vols Turn".
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And there's more. From Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Is it adversity or pressure for the Lady Vols
I think as a coach," she said, "when you're losing games you have a tendency to want to question yourself. I'm not going to do that. I've been doing this all my life. You're not always going to be on top. Sometimes you go through some adversity. That's what we're doing right now.
"One year doesn't make me a bad coach. My concern is not whether people believe in me. It's the kids."
Wow....it almost makes me feel badly for her.
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From David in Naples
Geno Auriemma has a deep and versatile group of young players to use while Morgan Tuck is out for 2 weeks. Each has a particular skill set that is not just good, but great. Consider:
1. Katie Lou Samuelson has now made the transition to starter, but 14 of her first 16 games were off the bench. She leads the Huskies with 27 made threes. After a slow start, Lou is 15-31 on threes in the last five games. That's 48.4%..!!
2. Need blocked shots and defense? Napheesa Collier is 2nd on the team with 25 blocks. Only Stewie has more..!! She is also 2nd on the team in steals with 32. Only Moriah has more with 38. In addition, Collier is hitting her free throws at a 92% rate, #1 on the team.WOW..!!
3. Gabby Williams is Geno's Swiss Army Knife, providing a variety of skills when she plays. She is leading the team in field goal percentage at 59.5%. She is making her free throws at a 72.4% clip and is 3rd on the team in steals (30) & blocks (8). On defense she can play against guards on the point or rebound with the bigs under the basket.
4. Natalie Butler has played in the last 6 games and gives Geno a big presence in the lane. She is shooting 55% from the field and already has 8 steals and 6 blocks. Her highlights include several sweet shots from the top of the lane and both right and left handed lay ups.
Taken together, these four players average 31 points per game, 21 rebounds, shoot 56% from inside the arc and are among the team leaders in rebounds, steals, blocks and shooting %. Not bad for the younger kids on the team.
1. Katie Lou Samuelson has now made the transition to starter, but 14 of her first 16 games were off the bench. She leads the Huskies with 27 made threes. After a slow start, Lou is 15-31 on threes in the last five games. That's 48.4%..!!
2. Need blocked shots and defense? Napheesa Collier is 2nd on the team with 25 blocks. Only Stewie has more..!! She is also 2nd on the team in steals with 32. Only Moriah has more with 38. In addition, Collier is hitting her free throws at a 92% rate, #1 on the team.WOW..!!
3. Gabby Williams is Geno's Swiss Army Knife, providing a variety of skills when she plays. She is leading the team in field goal percentage at 59.5%. She is making her free throws at a 72.4% clip and is 3rd on the team in steals (30) & blocks (8). On defense she can play against guards on the point or rebound with the bigs under the basket.
4. Natalie Butler has played in the last 6 games and gives Geno a big presence in the lane. She is shooting 55% from the field and already has 8 steals and 6 blocks. Her highlights include several sweet shots from the top of the lane and both right and left handed lay ups.
Taken together, these four players average 31 points per game, 21 rebounds, shoot 56% from inside the arc and are among the team leaders in rebounds, steals, blocks and shooting %. Not bad for the younger kids on the team.
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Memphis, with a 40 point loss to UConn, had no chance against the second best team in the conference in 15th ranked South Florida. None. Zilch. Well.....how about dem Tigers!!!!
Memphis beat South Florida in OT, 88-87 in a great game to watch (ok, I didn't see it, but it seemed exciting by the play by play). This game is a great example of good basketball.
South Florida shot 46% from the field, 46% on threes, 82% on FT's (14-17), and 20 assists on 30 baskets.
Memphis shot 45% from the field, 30% on threes, 93% on FT's (29-31), and 19 assists on 27 baskets.
Take a look at most of the SEC box scores and you will see nothing that looks like this.
SEC, overrated.
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So, without further ado!!!
Ladies and Gents, DD looks at the news........
Stewart Leads UConn To 106-52 Victory Against UCF Hartford Courant
UConn Tries To Get Used To Playing Without Tuck Hartford Courant
Rout helpful to UConn foe Roger Cleaveland
Milestone in reach for UConn's Big Three Jim Fuller
Challenging day at practice for UConn Jim Fuller
Should the Big Ten expand and add UConn? Land-Grand Holy Land
Stewie & Jefferson Named As Candidates For Senior CLASS Award The UConn Blog.com
Morgan Tuck sidelined for 2 weeks with knee pain Daily Campus
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Upsets in Red
East Carolina Holds Off Cincinnati, 63-60 East Carolina Team Site
TU women get road win over Houston, 79-62 Tulsa's Channel Eight
SMU Falls to Tulane 54-42 SMU Team Site
TU women get road win over Houston, 79-62 Tulsa's Channel Eight
SMU Falls to Tulane 54-42 SMU Team Site
Thanks to Johnny C for sending me many of these numbers!!!
Johnny C is on the DL with a shoulder injury. I'll do my best to get you the info!!
Zykira Lewis Central Florida 20 points
Breanna Stewart UConn 21 points
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough Maryland 22 points
Brionna Jones Maryland 22 points
Nicole Bauman Wisconsin 22 points
Imani Boyette Texas 19 points 10 rebounds 6 blocks
Kitija Laksa South Florida 20 points
Courtney Williams 22 points
Ariel Hearn Memphis 33 points 10 rebounds
Asianna Fuqua-Bey Memphis 16 points 11 rebounds 6 assists
Ivonne Cook-Taylor Texas Tech 20 points
April Wilson Purdue 24 points
Breanna Lewis Kansas State 23 points 13 rebounds
Nia Coffey Northwestern 27 points
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah Northwestern 13 points 12 rebounds
Maggie Lyon Northwestern 22 points
Carlie Wagner Minnesota 23 points
Rachel Banham Minnesota 32 points
Bridget Carleton Iowa State 13 points 10 rebounds
Kaylee Jensen Oklahoma State 27 points
Brittney Martin Oklahoma State 26 points 13 rebounds
Roddricka Patton Oklahoma State 13 assists
Peyton Whitted Penn State 14 points 13 rebounds
Zykira Lewis Central Florida 20 points
Breanna Stewart UConn 21 points
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough Maryland 22 points
Brionna Jones Maryland 22 points
Nicole Bauman Wisconsin 22 points
Imani Boyette Texas 19 points 10 rebounds 6 blocks
Kitija Laksa South Florida 20 points
Courtney Williams 22 points
Ariel Hearn Memphis 33 points 10 rebounds
Asianna Fuqua-Bey Memphis 16 points 11 rebounds 6 assists
Ivonne Cook-Taylor Texas Tech 20 points
April Wilson Purdue 24 points
Breanna Lewis Kansas State 23 points 13 rebounds
Nia Coffey Northwestern 27 points
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah Northwestern 13 points 12 rebounds
Maggie Lyon Northwestern 22 points
Carlie Wagner Minnesota 23 points
Rachel Banham Minnesota 32 points
Bridget Carleton Iowa State 13 points 10 rebounds
Kaylee Jensen Oklahoma State 27 points
Brittney Martin Oklahoma State 26 points 13 rebounds
Roddricka Patton Oklahoma State 13 assists
Peyton Whitted Penn State 14 points 13 rebounds
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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
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:
Notwithstanding the above Pheesha stats, Gabby drew the start card last night. Nice problems for Geno/CD to have
ReplyDeleteAlong with the now obligatory 'Farr Holly' chant on VN, we are seeing a 'Hire Geno' sentiment.
ReplyDeleteThings is rough in the Mid-South.