UCONN versus UCF
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 23rd, 2015
Location: Moody Coliseum
Time: 3:00
TV: SNY
No. 1 UConn 16-0 (6-0) SMU 8-9 (3-3)
Head to Head games
UConn - 4-0
2/4/14 W 102-41 H
2/25/14 W 81-48 A
12/27/14 W 96-45 H
1/11/15 W 87-28 A
12/27/14 W 96-45 H
1/11/15 W 87-28 A
Overview
SMU is playing much better this year. They were very young last season and you can tell how much they have improved by just looking at their record. Last season at this time they were 4-15 and 0-8 in the conference and in the midst of a 14 game losing streak compared to 8-9 this year with a conference record of 3-3. Just to compare a few games, last year they lost to Arizona State 77-42 and this year they lost 64-57. They also only lost by two, 72-70 to No. 10 Mississippi State and beat Temple 69-67. They are a much improved team coming into this game and should do better than the 96-45 and 87-28 efforts from last season.
UConn is coming off a terrific effort (minus the last four minutes of the game) against Central Florida while missing Morgan Tuck, who is sitting for a couple of weeks to rest her sore knee. UConn won that game 106-51 behind a terrific effort from the front court of Stewart, Williams, Collier, Samuelson and Butler. Still undefeated and No. 1 in the country, UConn will be looking to keep giving significant minutes to the freshman Samuelson and Collier along with the sophomore transfer Butler.
Stat by Stat Comparison
Leader is bolded.
Leader is bolded.
UCONN SMU
89.8 Points Per Game 61.9
51.5 Opp Points Per Game 60.7
.524 Field Goal % .371
.347 Opp Field Goal % .356
.363 3 Point Field Goal % .261
.336 Opp 3 Point Field Goal % .305
.779 Free Throw % .712
41.9 Rebounds Per Game 43.4
30.2 Opp Rebounds Per Game 39.8
22.1 Assists Per Game 13.7
12.1 Turnovers Per Game 17.5
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .8
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .8
11.9 Steals Per Game 6.4
6.3 Blocks Per Game 5.6
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UConn Starters
30 Breanna Stewart
6'4" Senior Forward
6'4" Senior Forward
Her great shooting percentages are holding strong. Her minutes should continue to drop over the next several games in preparation of extended minutes against South Carolina
2015-16 Stats
16 Games - MPG 28.9, FG% .588, 3PT% .447, PPG 19.6 RPG 8.1, APG 3.9, 24 steals, 49 blocks
16 Games - MPG 28.9, FG% .588, 3PT% .447, PPG 19.6 RPG 8.1, APG 3.9, 24 steals, 49 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
Is there any player more fun to watch than Moriah? A few more good shooting games from the outside and she will have her percentage over 40% before you know it.
2015-16 Stats
16 Games - MPG 31.1, FG% .557, 3PT% .379, PPG 13.0, RPG 2.6, APG 5.5, 40 steals, 1 blocks
11 Kia Nurse
6' Sophomore Guard
Still in her shooting slump but as I keep saying, the rest of her game hasn't suffered so neither will her minutes. She is playing as hard as anyone in WCBB.
2015-16 Stats
17 Games - MPG 27.6, FG% .414, 3PT% .338, PPG 9.8, RPG 2.2, APG 2.9, 28 steals, 4 blocks
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward
5'11" Sophomore Forward
Gabby still starting while Tuck is on the bench. She played some inspired basketball against Central Florida. Look for more of that, as long as her ankle is ok. She rolled it in the UCF game but did come back in and looked no worse for the wear.
2015-16 Stats
17 Games - MPG 19.8, FG% .615, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.9 RPG 6.2, APG 1.2, 33 steals, 8 blocks
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward
Lost her shooting touch in the last game, I'd look for a bounce back in this game. Her overall game has been terrific and she had her first two blocks of the season against UCF.
2015-16 Stats
17 Games - MPG 20.0, FG% .427, 3PT% .333, PPG 9.0, RPG 2.9, APG 2.2, 15 steals, 2 blocks
UConn Bench
51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Junior Guard
Saniya played a solid 19 minutes against UCF. It was good to see her play pain free for that game. UConn could use more of that and hopefully more production when she is in.
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
Phees looked much better against UCF. For her it seems to be more about attitude than anything else that is holding her back. Eventually she won't hesitate when open and show more confidence in her shot. But gotta love her defensive effort.
2015-16 Stats
17 Games - MPG 20.1 FG% .500, 3PT% .000, PPG 7.1, RPG 6.2, APG .8, 32 steals, 27 blocks
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
What a great game for Butler against UCF, scoring a UConn career high of 20 points. She removed her splint and bandage from the left hand and you could see a big difference in her play.
2015-16 Stats
7 Games - MPG 14.9, FG% .625, 3PT% .000, PPG 8.0, RPG 6, APG 1.0 8 steals, 6 blocks
5'8" Junior Guard
Saniya played a solid 19 minutes against UCF. It was good to see her play pain free for that game. UConn could use more of that and hopefully more production when she is in.
2015-16 Stats
13 Games - MPG 15.3, FG% .448 3PT% .406, PPG 5.3, RPG 1.7, APG 1.5, 8 steals, 2 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark
6' Sophomore Guard
Ekmark played plenty in the UCF game and is showing how much more mature her game is. She doesn't take bad shots and is playing much better position defense since the time Geno really gave it to her a few games ago. She looks like she got the message.
2015-16 Stats
14 Games - MPG 10.8, FG% .520, 3PT% .375, PPG 2.5, RPG 1.2, APG .8, 4 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
13 Games - MPG 3.1, FG% 1.000, 3PT% 1.000, PPG .7, RPG 0.1, APG 0.2, 0 steals, 0 blocks
5'7" Senior Guard
Ms. Intensity at the back of the bench.
2015-16 Stats
12 Games - MPG 2.5, FG% .200, 3PT% .167, PPG 0.4, RPG 0.0, APG 0.1, 0 steals, 0 blocks
OUT FOR THE GAME
UConn Complete StatsOUT FOR THE GAME
3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
Still out. Looking forward to her next outfit. Such a classy lady.
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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SMU Head Coach
Rhonda Rompola
Rompola has had pretty good results the past 20 seasons as SMU with record winning percentages and the first postseason tournament appearances in school history. In her 24 years as head coach, Rompola has tallied a 426-300 mark, earning her 400th career victory Feb. 21, 2013 in a win over Tulsa.
SMU Starters
02 McKenzie Allen
5'9" RS Sophomore Transfer Guard
5'9" RS Sophomore Transfer Guard
2014-15:Sitting out after transferring from Arkansas. Enrolled in classes at SMU starting in spring of 2015.
2013-14 (Freshman at Arkansas):Started all 30 games for Arkansas last season, averaging 8.6 points, fourth on the team, shooting 35.5 percent from 3-point range, 43-of-121, and 35.8 percent overall, 88-of-246.
MPG 32.6, FG% .325, 3PT% .329, PPG 14.1, RPG 3.0, APG 2.1, 15 steals, 4 blocks
15 Stephanie Collins 6'5" Sophomore Forward
12 Morgan Bolton 5'6" RS Junior guard
MPG 14.1, FG% .429, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.3, RPG 4.3, APG .6, 2 steals, 3 blocks
20 Dai'ja Thomas 6'2" Freshman Forward
MPG 16.3, FG% .491, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.0, RPG 4.4 APG 1.1, 6 steals, 18 blocks
04 Mikayla Reese 5'8" Sophomore Guard
10 Alisia Froling 6'3" Sophomore Forward
2014-15 (Freshman): American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team...Played in all 30 games with 28 starts, averaging 28.5 minutes...Led the Mustangs and ranked 16th in the American Athletic Conference with 11.5 points per game, scoring 346 during her first collegiate season...Became the first freshman to lead the Mustangs in scoring since Janielle Dodds in 2004-05...Scored a season-high 27 points at UCF (2/7), going 10-of-16 from the field...Also scored 21 points at Tulsa (1/28), and 20 points at Temple (12/30)...Scored at least 10 points 20 times...Posted five double-doubles, including back-to-back double-doubles against UCF (1/25) and at Tulsa (1/28)...Grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds twice, against Texas A&M (12/9) and at Tulsa (1/28)...Averaged 7.2 rebounds per game, ranking ninth in The American...Set an SMU freshman-record with 54 blocks, second all-time in a season at SMU.
MPG 31.7, FG% .475, 3PT% .167, PPG 11.5, RPG 7.2, APG 1.1, 3 steals, 22 blocks
3 Gabrielle Wilkins 5'9" Senior guard
2014-15 (Junior): Averaged 28.1 minutes in 27 games played with 23 starts...Third on the team in scoring with 227 points, averaging 8.4 points per game...Reached double figures nine times, including a career-high 19 points against Tulsa (2/14)...Was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line against the Golden Hurricane...Nearly notched a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds against North Texas (12/3)...Had a season-high 10 rebounds with seven points at Arizona State...Finished the season with 129 rebounds, averaging 4.8 per game...Third on the team with 56 assists...Had a career-high five assists at Tulane (1/17)...Also had three blocks against the Green Wave...Had a season high four steals twice, against Tulsa (2/14) and against Memphis (3/6).
MPG 27.1, FG% .365, 3PT% .304, PPG 8.9, RPG 5.3, APG 2.0, 33 steals, 5 blocks
2014-15 (Freshman): Played in 20 games with eight starts after joining the team in late December...Scored 54 points overall, with a season-high 13 points at East Carolina (2/18)...Also scored 10 points against Cincinnati (2/28), going 5-for-7 from the field...Was second on the team with 25 blocks...Had four blocks three times, at UCF (2/7), against Tulsa (2/14), and at East Carolina (2/18)...Pulled down 48 rebounds, including a season-high seven twice, at UCF (2/7) and at ECU (2/18)...Also had eight assists and four steals.
MPG 28.1, FG% .469, 3PT% .000, PPG 8.5, RPG 6.3, APG 1.5, 7 steals, 38 blocks
2014-15 (Sophomore): Played in all 30 games with 26 starts, averaging 23.8 minutes...Led the Mustangs with 73 assists...Had a career-high seven assists twice, against UTEP (11/16) and against Florida A&M (11/28)...Averaged 5.9 points per game, scoring 178 points...Reached double figures seven times, including a career-high 13 points twice, against Tulane (2/3) and at Memphis (3/2)...Finished with 64 rebounds, including a career-high nine at USF (1/14)...Also had 35 steals, including a career-high six against Memphis (3/6).
MPG 27.8, FG% .257, 3PT% .232, PPG 5.6, RPG 2.1, APG 2.3, 17 steals, 0 blocks
SMU Bench
11 Keely Froling 6'2" Sophomore forward
2014-15 (Freshman): Played in 28 games with 16 starts, averaging 24.7 minutes...Scored 141 points, averaging 5.0 per game...Scored a season-high 14 points, going 6-for-12 from the field against UTEP (11/16), and reached double figures four times...Posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Texas A&M (12/9)...Led the Mustangs in free throw percentage, shooting 86.8 percent (33-of-38)...Went 5-for-8 from the field for 13 points against Houston (2/21)...Averaged 5.8 rebounds, grabbing 149 for the season...Also had 32 assists, 12 blocks and 15 steals.
MPG 14.1, FG% .429, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.3, RPG 4.3, APG .6, 2 steals, 3 blocks
High School: Four-year letterwinner for Cassandra McCordy at Skyline High School...Named Miss Basketball in Texas...District 9-6A MVP, as well as Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year...Averaged 10 points and seven rebounds as a junior...In 39 games as a sophomore, she averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, leading Skyline to a 29-10 record and a trip to the regional semifinals...Shot 53 percent for her career, including a 56 percent clip as a junior...Earned all-state honors after her junior season...Graduated in the top 10 percent of her class.
MPG 16.3, FG% .491, 3PT% .000, PPG 4.0, RPG 4.4 APG 1.1, 6 steals, 18 blocks
2014-15 (Freshman): Averaged 10.8 minutes in 26 games...Scored 63 points, including a season-high nine against Tulane (2/3)...Went 3-of-6 from 3-point range against the Green Wave...Also scored seven points twice, against UTEP (11/16) and against Florida A&M (11/28)...Finished the season with 23 assists and 15 rebounds.
MPG 10.6, FG% .218, 3PT% .156, PPG 2.1, RPG 1.1, APG 1.0, 4 steals, 1 block
Game Analysis
UConn will be forcing the pace as always and with SMU averaging 17.5 turnovers per game, fast break opportunities will be plenty. Add in the low shooting percentage from the Mustangs, and UConn's strong defensive rebounding will have them running for much of the game.
SMU's strength is their size, as they start 6'5" Collins and 6'3" Alisia Froling, and bring 6'2" Keely Froling and 6'2" Dai'ja Thomas off the bench. But it's a young group as the first three are sophomores and Thomas is a freshman. As a group, they block a lot of shots, but the question is can they do that against UConn's big frontcourt.
SMU is not a very good shooting team. They shoot only 37% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc. Of course, somehow they will shoot a higher percentage on threes just to annoy me. I'm sure someone will have a career night shooting from long range.
UConn will like playing against a taller team. Although not nearly as talented as South Carolina, it will help them in preparation for Wilson and Coates.
UConn has a clear advantage at guard play. SMU just doesn't shoot well and Nurse, Jefferson and Chong should be able to lock them up.
Last years games might not be a good indication of this years results. UConn dominated those with precision offense and with tenacious defense. SMU is a much better and mature team. They were very young last season. But their freshman are now solid sophomores and will put up a much better battle. Talent still wins out big.
Last year were 59 and 51 points wins. I'll take 10 points off of that and predict UConn by 45+.
SMU's strength is their size, as they start 6'5" Collins and 6'3" Alisia Froling, and bring 6'2" Keely Froling and 6'2" Dai'ja Thomas off the bench. But it's a young group as the first three are sophomores and Thomas is a freshman. As a group, they block a lot of shots, but the question is can they do that against UConn's big frontcourt.
SMU is not a very good shooting team. They shoot only 37% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc. Of course, somehow they will shoot a higher percentage on threes just to annoy me. I'm sure someone will have a career night shooting from long range.
UConn will like playing against a taller team. Although not nearly as talented as South Carolina, it will help them in preparation for Wilson and Coates.
UConn has a clear advantage at guard play. SMU just doesn't shoot well and Nurse, Jefferson and Chong should be able to lock them up.
Final Prediction
Last year were 59 and 51 points wins. I'll take 10 points off of that and predict UConn by 45+.
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