Doggydaddy's Den: Doggydaddy's Dailies 1/29/16

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I'm sure you are tired of hearing about my Florida life. Grandson was up much of the night and crying today. Teething and a cold and the plane flight. It could be tough week.

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Here is my UConn/Memphis Pre Game Report

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An interesting night the SEC and ACC schedule. To me it shows again the parity in WCBB that I've been saying all year long.

But if you watched any of the games or read the box scores, you begin to question whether it is parity or mediocrity. I'm betting on the latter. Here are a few examples.

Notre Dame needed a 16-8 fourth quarter to beat a pretty weak Georgia Tech team 54-42. Notre Dame was only 2-16 on threes and 10-24 on free throws. That's 40% from the FT line. Horrible.

I wrote earlier about Northwestern and their crash to earth after early season success. But they were still able to take No. 7 OSU to the wire in a Buckeye win, 76-73. At least this was a high scoring game.

In another fine example of mediocrity, No. 17 Miami defeated Virginia Tech 57-45.

How about this great game by a ranked SEC team. No. 10, yes TEN Texas A&M beat an underwhelming Alabama team 59-57. Hey, they ALMOST got to 60 points.

No. 22 Missouri beat a terrible LSU team 52-46. Missouri scored FOUR points in the third quarter to let LSU back into the game. Yes, UConn beat LSU 86-40.

So, take a look at these games. Ranked teams either losing or really being tested by some really inferior teams. There are examples of this kind of poor play in the top twenty five all season long.

One SEC and Tennessee fan said to me that SMU "plays like a mid-major on a good day", in an attempt to trash the AAC. Clearly that can be said for many many many of the power five teams, more so in the overrated SEC.

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This one deserves a separate section. Maybe a separate blog!

In a game that will push Tennessee out of the Top Twenty for the first time in a shitload of seasons, the Lady Vols lost to Mississippi State in overtime 65-63.

This was also the first time EVER that Mississippi State has beaten Tennessee.

But tonight was more about how it happened and the subplots throughout the game.

The big news was that Deshields was out of the starting lineup. She still played 30 minutes. But she was extremely ineffective when she was on the court. She was 1-4 from the field, 0-1 on threes, 1-2 on free throws, 1 assists and 3 turnovers. This is an all-American? A possible Wooden Award winner? She seemed detached for most of the game.

As the game progressed, it looked like a great move by Warlick. The rest of the Tennessee team played some decent basketball, shooting the ball well at 60% in the first half and hitting a nice percentage of their threes. The score was tied on a late long three by Reynolds at the buzzer, 33-33.

The third quarter was Tennessee's best 10 minutes of the season. They were 9-13 from the field, scored 22 points and held Mississippi State to ten points. This gave Tennessee a 12 point lead, 55-43.

The fourth quarter was Tennessee's worst 10 minutes of the season. They were 1-8 from the field with three turnovers in scoring 3 points. THREE POINTS. Sorry, didn't mean to yell. But if you can say that some teams played like a mid-major, then you can surely say that Tennessee plays like a high school team. They gave up 15 points to allow Mississippi State to come back and tie the game 58-58.

Mississippi State outscored Tennessee 7-5 in the OT to take the 65-63 win. With 17 seconds left, Tennessee had the ball and a chance to tie or win with a three. Freshman T'ea Cooper missed a point blank layup and it was over. This on the back end of the 64-63 point loss to Kentucky has to be devastating to these young women.

To tell you the truth, I was formulating my write up of this game from the standpoint of Tennessee getting a much needed win and the move of Deshields to come off the bench once I watched the third quarter. I would have bet anything they would score 60 plus points in this game in regulation. I felt that there was no way Tennessee could use this one. I'm sure Tennessee fans felt the same way. How did they lose this game when Mississippi State shot 24-73 from the field for 32.9% and 3-16 on threes for 18.8%? Only five TOs for MSU and 14 for Tennessee is one reason.

They now play Alabama and Arkansas at home over the next week and they HAVE to win both. But the way this team is playing, I don't know how confident anyone could be that they can even win both.

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From David in Naples

For much of this season, UConn has been chided for missing 3 point shots and a lack of defense when opponents shoot threes. The truth is UConn has made 144 threes and given up only 115. The Huskies are now hitting 3s at a 36% accuracy rate and holding opponents to 32.4%.

Last year, UConn made 40.6% of their three pt shots and held opponents to under 27%. However, two years ago, the accuracy rate for the Huskies was 36.6% for the season. This year's team is already at that level and improving toward the 40% mark.

The fewest three point baskets for the Huskies this season were 2 against Chattanooga (48 pt win) and 3 against UCF (55 pt win). Other than those two lopsided victories, UConn has had at least 6 or more every game. In the 3 toughest games (N.D., DePaul and USF) the Huskies made 6, 8 and 13 three point baskets.

For the first 10 games, UConn made 66 threes with an accuracy rate of 34.7%. In the last 9 games, the Huskies are 68-171 or 39.7%. That is a full 5% improvement. Relax...

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In a display of embarrassing basketball, Clemson only managed 33 points in a 75-33 loss to Louisville, who is playing some great basketball.

Clemson shot only 30% from the field, 0-9 on threes and 21 turnovers.

Horrible play for a Power-5 team.

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So, without further ado!!!

Ladies and Gents, DD looks at the news........

Auriemma Losing Friend In Manuel; Other Things Learned Hartford Courant

Highlights: UConn women roll American-Republic

Source: Warde Manuel agrees to be next U-M AD USA Today

Williams sparks more aggressive UConn defensive effort Jim Fuller

Milestone rebound only small part of Stewart's impressive night Jim Fuller

Geno on Warde Manuel leaving UConn revisited Jim Fuller

UConn turning up the pressure Jim Fuller

Stewart reaches rebound milestone as UConn rolls Carl Adamec

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Upsets in Red

Late games in Green

A'ja Wilson leads No. 2 South Carolina to 81-62 victory USA Today

Turner, Allen lead No. 3 Notre Dame past Georgia Tech USA Todaay

No. 7 Ohio State Rallies to Defeat Northwestern 76-73 ABC News

No. 10 Texas A&M survives scare against Alabama, 59-56 USA Today

No. 11 Florida State women blitz Wake Forest 96-55 USA Today

Reed Helps Vanderbilt Women Slip Past No. 12 Kentucky 71-69 ABC News

No. 13 Mississippi State women edge No. 19 Tennessee in OT YAHOO Sports

No. 14 Louisville women roll past Clemson 75-33 USA Today

No. 17 Miami Women Turn Back Virginia Tech 57-45 ABC News

Cunningham, No. 22 Missouri Women Beat LSU 52-46 ABC News

NO AAC GAMES

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!!

Nia Coffey Northwestern 23 points
Kelsey Mitchell Ohio State 27 points
Alexa Hart Ohio State 14 points 11 rebounds
Alaina Coates 13 14
Shandricka Sessom 26 points
Ariel Stephenson Wake Forest 20 points
Makayla Epps Kentucky 25 points
Brittany Brown Florida State 22 points 9 rebounds 11 assists

I'm sure there are more. I'll look in the morning.

Get Well Soon Johnny!!!!

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