UCONN versus UCF
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 20th, 2015
Location: XL Center
Time: 7:00
TV: SNY
No. 1 UConn 16-0 (6-0) Central Florida 4-13 (1-5)
Head to Head games
1/1/14 W 77-49 A
2/19/14 W 83-35 H
1/21/15 W 100-45 A
1/21/15 W 100-45 A
Overview
Here are last year's game highlights
As I said last season, UCF is one of the schools in the AAC that fans of other programs and even many UConn fans point to as what is wrong with the AAC. Terrible teams that just can't compete on any level with UConn and even many of the other AAC teams.
It's hard to argue with that when talking about Central Florida. And in a lot of ways they are right. They were 3-1 after their first four games, but then lost twelve games in a row. Some of those were really bad losses. By 15 to Stetson, 18 to Cincinnati, 21 to Tulane, 45 to South Florida.
They are coming in off a nice win against Cincinnati 80-60 in their last outing. I believe this was the first time they have beaten Cincinnati on the road. They were led by their star guard, Zykira Lewis, who scored 21 points and went 4-9 on threes. 80 points was their highest points scored ever in the AAC. They certainly will be coming into this game on a high.
UConn is coming off one of their best performances in a 104-49 win over Temple. Temple is not that bad a team, but UConn was able to make them look that way. It was great to see KLS score 21 points and hand out 6 assists in her first start. Williams looked great off the bench. Stewart had a terrific game. It goes on and on. It looks to me the team is rounding into form and will put a hurting on the conference opponents before the South Carolina game. Starting with this game.
Stat by Stat Comparison
Leader is bolded.
Leader is bolded.
UCONN Central Florida
88.8 Points Per Game 65.1
51.5 Opp Points Per Game 71.9
.518 Field Goal % .376
.343 Opp Field Goal % .393
.370 3 Point Field Goal % .248
.337 Opp 3 Point Field Goal % .309
.777 Free Throw % .700
41.9 Rebounds Per Game 45.1
30.6 Opp Rebounds Per Game 39.1
21.6 Assists Per Game 12.8
11.8 Turnovers Per Game 18.4
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .7
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .7
11.4 Steals Per Game 7.6
6.3 Blocks Per Game 3.4
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UConn Starters
30 Breanna Stewart
6'4" Senior Forward
6'4" Senior Forward
She's back!!! It just feels good not to have to type that she is in a shooting slump. She broke out big time against Temple. Hopefully she can continue that for the rest of the season.
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 29.5, FG% .580, 3PT% .457, PPG 19.5 RPG 8.3, APG 3.9, 21 steals, 47 blocks
15 Games - MPG 29.5, FG% .580, 3PT% .457, PPG 19.5 RPG 8.3, APG 3.9, 21 steals, 47 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
What a great team leader. She just gets it. Her three point shooting is creeping back up to 40%. She bange her knee and head and appears to be a game time decision.
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 31.8, FG% .545, 3PT% .379, PPG 13.2, RPG 2.5, APG 5.5, 38 steals, 1 blocks
11 Kia Nurse
6' Sophomore Guard
Ok...Kia STILL is in a shooting slump. It might be just a down year for her. The proverbial sophomore slump. Well, it's close halfway through the season. Time to play like a Junior.
2015-16 Stats
16 Games - MPG 27.8, FG% .426, 3PT% .338, PPG 9.9, RPG 2.3, APG 2.9, 23 steals, 4 blocks
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward
5'11" Sophomore Forward
She looks great coming off the bench. But with Tuck out, Gabby moves into the starting lineup for two weeks.
Her energy on defense can impact the game like Stokes did last year, only she uses her size, leaping ability and quickness to make steals not blocks.
Her energy on defense can impact the game like Stokes did last year, only she uses her size, leaping ability and quickness to make steals not blocks.
2015-16 Stats
16 Games - MPG 19.7, FG% .595, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.3 RPG 6.1, APG 1., 30 steals, 8 blocks
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward
And now starting for UConn, Katie Louuuuuuuuuuu. It's great to see and even better to see how she reacted to the promotion. Her FG% is up to 44.2 and her three point % is up to 34.6, Keep it up Katie Lou!
2015-16 Stats
16 Games - MPG 19.5, FG% .442, 3PT% .346, PPG 8.9, RPG 3.1, APG 2.4, 13 steals, 0 blocks
UConn Bench
51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Junior Guard
It's all about health for Saniya. She is playing well when she does play. UConn could use her as the first guard off the bench.
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
Bumped from the starting lineup, Napheesa needs to play with Williams-like energy off the bench. She has some of that going on, but she has SO much more to give. We might not see that until next season, but this years version looks pretty darn good.
2015-16 Stats
16 Games - MPG 20.1 FG% .477, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.6, RPG 6.2, APG .8, 32 steals, 25 blocks
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
I would love to see Butler play against some players with size before the South Carolina game. She does a great job on the boards, defends the post well and can surprisingly hit her jumpers. Her performance at GTown last year was no fluke. She is that good. And getting better.
2015-16 Stats
6 Games - MPG 14.2, FG% .552, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.0, RPG 6, APG 0.7 8 steals, 6 blocks
5'8" Junior Guard
It's all about health for Saniya. She is playing well when she does play. UConn could use her as the first guard off the bench.
2015-16 Stats
12 Games - MPG 14.9, FG% .467, 3PT% .419, PPG 5.6, RPG 1.7, APG 1.3, 6 steals, 2 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark
6' Sophomore Guard
She still has nice stats this year shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% on threes.
2015-16 Stats
13 Games - MPG 10.2, FG% .500, 3PT% .375, PPG 2.5, RPG 1.2, APG .8, 2 steals, 1 block
20 Tierney Lawlor
5'7" Junior Guard
Ms. PERFECT STILL!!!
Ms. PERFECT STILL!!!
2015-16 Stats
22 Briana Pulido
5'7" Senior Guard
2015-16 Stats
11 Games - MPG 2.9, FG% 1.000, 3PT% 1.000, PPG .8, RPG 0.1, APG 0.3, 0 steals, 0 blocks
5'7" Senior Guard
Ms. Intensity at the back of the bench.
2015-16 Stats
10 Games - MPG 2.5, FG% .222, 3PT% .167, PPG 0.5, RPG 0.0, APG 0.1, 0 steals, 0 blocks
OUT FOR THE GAME
Only 14 minutes of effective play. Some foul trouble had Geno limiting her minutes, so he took advantage of that to rest her creaky knees. Looks like her knee is really barking. Out for two weeks. better now than later in the season.
UConn Complete StatsOUT FOR THE GAME
3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
Only 14 minutes of effective play. Some foul trouble had Geno limiting her minutes, so he took advantage of that to rest her creaky knees. Looks like her knee is really barking. Out for two weeks. better now than later in the season.
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 28.6, FG% .538 3PT% .333, PPG 14.9, RPG 5.9, APG 3.5, 10 steals, 7 blocks
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Joi Williams
Head Coach
With more than 20 years of overall coaching experience under her belt, Joi Williams will enter her ninth season as the head coach at UCF and 13th season as a head coach in 2015-16. Williams is the winningest coach in UCF women's basketball history with 107 wins to her name heading into the 2015-16 season.
In her eight seasons building the UCF program, Williams has already compiled an impressive list of accomplishments, including leading the Knights to the 2009 and 2011 NCAA Tournaments after her teams claimed Conference USA Championships in those seasons. Williams has also represented both UCF and her country by working with USA Basketball. She currently is serving a four-year term with the USA Junior National Team Committee, helping select coaches and athletes for USA Basketball's college-aged competitions.
23 Zykira Lewis
5'8" Junior Guard
Became 21st 1,000-point scorer in UCF history
-Ranks among UCF's top-3 career 3-point FG leaders
-Added her name among UCF's top 10 career scorers and top 10 for career FGs
-Netted her 1,000th point with her second 3-pointer against Buffalo (11/28) and went on to record her first career double-double with game-highs in points (25) and rebounds (12)
MPG 34.3, FG% .358, 3PT% .313, PPG 15.9, RPG 4.5, APG 2.2, 37 steals, 11 blocks
32 Joclyn Massey
6' RS Junior Forward
6' RS Junior Forward
-Ranks among top 10 in the conference for both rebounding and field goal percentage
-Brought down career-high 14 rebounds in her first career start in UCF's season-opener at Nebraska-Omaha (11/14)
-Registered first career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds against Florida A&M
-Contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds at Akron (12/5)
-Matched career-high 14 rebounds and clocked all 40 minutes of playing time against St. John's (12/13)
-Put up career-high 20 points (8-10 FG) and 10 rebounds against Florida (12/30)
MPG 31.6, FG% .538, 3PT% .000, PPG 10.4, RPG 9.1, APG 1.2, 15 steals, 5 blocks
12 Nyala Shuler
6' RS Freshman Forward
6' RS Freshman Forward
-Earned first starting nod against FIU (11/17) and netted her first points of the season (6)
-One of UCF's seven double-digit scorers with 10 against Florida A&M (11/20)
-Nearly recorded double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds at South Alabama (11/24)
-Registered first double-double with 11 points and career high 10 rebounds against St. John's (12/13)
-Led UCF in assists (4) in American opener against Cincinnati (1/2) -Posted a solid performance against East Carolina (1/7) with 8 points and 9 rebounds (7 offensive)
-Contributed season-best 12 points and 7 rebounds against Bearcats (1/16), helping UCF earn its first conference win and first victory at Cincinnati in program history
-One of UCF's seven double-digit scorers with 10 against Florida A&M (11/20)
-Nearly recorded double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds at South Alabama (11/24)
-Registered first double-double with 11 points and career high 10 rebounds against St. John's (12/13)
-Led UCF in assists (4) in American opener against Cincinnati (1/2) -Posted a solid performance against East Carolina (1/7) with 8 points and 9 rebounds (7 offensive)
-Contributed season-best 12 points and 7 rebounds against Bearcats (1/16), helping UCF earn its first conference win and first victory at Cincinnati in program history
MPG 23.4, FG% .342, 3PT% .105, PPG 5.5, RPG 5.5, APG 1.2, 13 steals, 8 blocks
5'10" Sophomore Guard
-Averaging better than 11 points per game in conference play
-Netted 7-of-10 from the field for season-best 17 points and added four assists in win over FIU (11/17)
-Nearly posted triple-double with 10 points, career-best 8 assists and career-best 8 rebounds in win over Florida A&M
-Led UCF in assists (4) against Oklahoma State (12/22)
-Led UCF in scoring for the first time this year against East Carolina (14 points)
-Helped guide Knights to their first win in conference play and first win at Cincinnati (1/16) in program history with 14 points and a team-high 4 assists
5'5" Freshman Guard
-American Athletic Conference's leading rookie scorer
-Put up 22 points and 6 rebounds in her debut as a Knight as starting point guard in the season-opener at Nebraska-Omaha (11/14)
-Netted 11 points in three-straight games against FIU (11/17), Florida A&M (11/20) and South Alabama (11/24)
-Dished 10 assists at Stetson (12/2), which is one of the top single-game performances in the league this season
-Tallied 10 points and grabbed career-high 8 rebounds in first American Athletic Conference game of career against Cincinnati (1/2)
-Led UCF in assists (3) against East Carolina (1/7)
-Converted 4-of-6 from the field to finish with 9 points against Temple (1/13)
MPG 26.2, FG% .345, 3PT% .300, PPG 6.5, RPG 2.9, APG 3.1, 14 steals, 2 blocks
Central Florida Bench
24 Fifi Nadour
6'1" Sophomore Forward
-Started in season-opener at Nebraska-Omaha (11/14), tallying 6 points and 6 rebounds
-One of UCF's seven double-digit scorers with 10 points against Florida A&M (11/20)
-Averaged 10 points a game in back-to-back matchups against Buffalo and Butler at UCF's Thanksgiving Classic
-Nearly tallied double-double against Butler (11/29) with 12 points and 9 rebounds
-Netted 6-of-11 from the field en route to 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds at Stetson (12/2)
-Brought down 7 offensive rebounds en route to 11 and added 8 points against Cincinnati (1/2) -Led UCF in rebounding at Tulane (1/10) with 10 boards and nearly had a double-double with 8 points
-Helped UCF clinch its first conference win and first victory at Cincinnati (1/16) in program history with 6 points, 8 rebounds and two blocked shots
MPG 18.8, FG% .436, 3PT% .238, PPG 7.3, RPG 6.1 APG 1.1, 12 steals, 13 blocks
11 Kayla Thigpen
5'9" Senior Guard
5'9" Senior Guard
-Named American Athletic Conference's Freshman of the Week (11/30)
-Brought down five rebounds in debut as a Knight in the season-opener at Nebraska-Omaha (11/14)
-Scored first career points (7) in win against FIU (11/17)
-Filled the stat sheet with a game-high 18 points (8-10 FG), four steals and three assists to lead UCF to road win at South Alabama (11/24)
-Matched career-high 18 points against Oklahoma State (12/22)
-Chipped in 10 points in 28 minutes against Florida (12/30)
-Chipped in 11 points and four rebounds against East Carolina (1/7)
MPG 18.1, FG% .333, 3PT% .182, PPG 6.8, RPG 1.9, APG .8, 11 steals, 4 blocks
21 Makenzi Reasor
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
-Made a triumphant return to the court with 11 points and 5 rebounds in season-opener at Nebraska-Omaha (11/14)
-Contributed 6 points and 8 rebounds in UCF's win over FIU (11/17)
- Shot 7-of-14 from the field en route to first double-double with team-high 16 points and 11 rebounds at Akron (12/5)
-One of four Knights to record at least 8 rebounds in American opener against Cincinnati (1/2) -Nearly finished with a double-double against East Carolina (1/7) with 8 points and team-best 10 rebounds
-Swatted career-high and game-high 3 blocks against the Bearcats (1/16) to help UCF clinch its first conference win and first win at Cincinnati in program history
MPG 14.0, FG% .309, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.1, RPG 4.8, APG .5, 6 steals, 8 blocks
Game Analysis
UCF is a little bigger than some of the smaller teams UConn has played. They had 6', 6'1 and 6'2 that play consistent minutes. They also grab 45.1 rebounds per game, more than UConn does. But UCF's problem is not rebounding or height as much as it is their shooting and handling the ball. They have a terrible shooting percentage of 37% and they are a terrible three point shooting team at 24.5%. Of course that means that UCF will get hot from behind the arc and annoy me...lol.
5'8" guard Zykira Lewis is the leading scorer and best player on the team. The junior guard is a dynamic player in the mold of the other tough guards in the conference. She is a volume shooter and takes around eight three-pointers per game. Look for her to shoot often.
6' forward Joclyn Massey averages close to a double-double and is their best frontcourt player. She is good at finishing around the basket shooting 54% from the field. The problem is only ONE other player, 6'1" Fifi Ndoir is shooting over 40%. They are just a terrible shooting team.
I'm not sure what the strategy will be for UCF both offensively and defensively. It's just a bad situation for them. I guess we will all find out together when we watch the game.
With Tuck out and Jefferson a game time decision, UConn will continue to work on different combinations and the bench will get plenty of minutes. If you look at the box score from the Temple game, it would be a blueprint of what Geno wants to do in the weaker AAC games. Everyone playing between 18-24 minutes. But with possibly two players out, look for the that number to be a little higher. Like 22-28 minutes for Stewart, Samuelson, Williams, Nurse, Collier, Butler, Chong and maybe Jefferson. But it's all a guess.
5'8" guard Zykira Lewis is the leading scorer and best player on the team. The junior guard is a dynamic player in the mold of the other tough guards in the conference. She is a volume shooter and takes around eight three-pointers per game. Look for her to shoot often.
6' forward Joclyn Massey averages close to a double-double and is their best frontcourt player. She is good at finishing around the basket shooting 54% from the field. The problem is only ONE other player, 6'1" Fifi Ndoir is shooting over 40%. They are just a terrible shooting team.
I'm not sure what the strategy will be for UCF both offensively and defensively. It's just a bad situation for them. I guess we will all find out together when we watch the game.
With Tuck out and Jefferson a game time decision, UConn will continue to work on different combinations and the bench will get plenty of minutes. If you look at the box score from the Temple game, it would be a blueprint of what Geno wants to do in the weaker AAC games. Everyone playing between 18-24 minutes. But with possibly two players out, look for the that number to be a little higher. Like 22-28 minutes for Stewart, Samuelson, Williams, Nurse, Collier, Butler, Chong and maybe Jefferson. But it's all a guess.
Final Prediction
Even without Tuck this one should be ugly. I mean really ugly. Don't be surprised of UCF s held to under 10 points in each quarter.
Not much more to say. UConn by 65+. Even without Jefferson as well.
Not much more to say. UConn by 65+. Even without Jefferson as well.
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