UCONN versus Temple
Day: Saturday
Date: January 16th, 2015
Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Ct.
Time: 6:00
TV: CBS SN
No. 1 UConn 15-0 (5-0) Temple 11-5 (5-1)
Head to Head games
UConn has played Temple 7 times in their history, winning the last 5 after losing twice in the PG era (pre-geno).
1/16/81 L 68-71 A
1/16/82 L 49-62 H
3/23/10 W 90-36 N
1/11/14 W 80-36 H
1/28/14 W 93-56 A
1/14/14 W 92-58 H
2/1/14 W 83-49 A
1/16/82 L 49-62 H
3/23/10 W 90-36 N
1/11/14 W 80-36 H
1/28/14 W 93-56 A
1/14/14 W 92-58 H
2/1/14 W 83-49 A
Overview
This is maybe the best team that Tonya has had to available to bring into Storrs and one of the best she has had since arriving at Temple in 2008. They started the season with a 97-91 win over 20th ranked Florida (not for long), a great win for Temple and the AAC.
After going 3-4 over their first seven games and getting hammered by then No. 13 Florida State, they have now won eight of nine, only losing 69-67 to SMU. They have won their last three, but those have been against Tulsa, Cincinnati and UCF. Not exactly murderer's row.
UConn had a great 1st quarter against Memphis in their last game, but seemed to be going through the motions to finish the game quickly and get home after a long road trip. They did what they had to do to win 86-46.
Stat by Stat Comparison
Leader is bolded.
Leader is bolded.
UCONN Temple
87.7 Points Per Game 71.3
51.7 Opp Points Per Game 61.0
.516 Field Goal % .413
.347 Opp Field Goal % .375
.362 3 Point Field Goal % .313
.339 Opp 3 Point Field Goal % .291
.779 Free Throw % .673
41.5 Rebounds Per Game 40.8
30.4 Opp Rebounds Per Game 38.2
21.3 Assists Per Game 13.6
11.9 Turnovers Per Game 15.3
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .9
1.8 Assists/Turnover Ratio .9
11.5 Steals Per Game 9.7
6.1 Blocks Per Game 4.1
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UConn Starters
30 Breanna Stewart
6'4" Senior Forward
6'4" Senior Forward
Still in a shooting and scoring slump but does everything else. It's time for her to break the slump and do some serious scoring.
2015-16 Stats
14 Games - MPG 30.1, FG% .566, 3PT% .429, PPG 19.3 RPG 8.1, APG 4.1, 20 steals, 41 blocks
14 Games - MPG 30.1, FG% .566, 3PT% .429, PPG 19.3 RPG 8.1, APG 4.1, 20 steals, 41 blocks
3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward
6'2" RS Junior Forward
Still carrying AA statistics and with all the talk from Geno and her teammates on how important she is, I expect that honor to happen.
2015-16 Stats
14 Games - MPG 29.62, FG% .546 3PT% .344, PPG 15.6, RPG 5.9, APG 3.6, 9 steals, 7 blocks
4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard
5'7" Senior Guard
Mo is once against MoJett!!! I believe she will have an incredibly strong last half of the regular season.
2015-16 Stats
14 Games - MPG 32.4, FG% .541, 3PT% .375, PPG 13.4, RPG 2.6, APG 5.6, 36 steals, 1 blocks
11 Kia Nurse
6' Sophomore Guard
Like Stewart, she is still slumping with her shooting and scoring. And like Stewart, she doesn't let that impact how she rebounds, passes and defends. And HUSTLES!
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 28.1, FG% .433, 3PT% .339, PPG 10.1, RPG 2.3, APG 2.9, 22 steals, 3 blocks
24 Napheesa Collier
6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard
It looks like Collier might have lost her starting job. We will see as we get closer to the game. She seems a little lost out there again. Geno player her fewer minutes in the last two games and she didn't start the second half against Memphis.
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 20.0 FG% .475, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.4, RPG 6.3, APG .7, 31 steals, 23 blocks
UConn Bench
51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Junior Guard
The knee is still an issue limiting her to 12 minutes against Memphis, and that is really too bad. Hopefully she can get back into the regular rotation against Temple.
6'5" RS Sophomore Center
I love that she played 18 minutes in her last outing. Her offensive game is still a work in progress. She looked like she favored the injured hand a little in her last outing. But she is still averaging very close to what she did at GTown her freshman year based on 40 MPG.
2015-16 Stats
4 Games - MPG 13.5, FG% .522, 3PT% .000, PPG 5.0, RPG 5.6, APG 0.6, 8 steals, 4 blocks
5'8" Junior Guard
The knee is still an issue limiting her to 12 minutes against Memphis, and that is really too bad. Hopefully she can get back into the regular rotation against Temple.
2015-16 Stats
12 Games - MPG 13.7, FG% .448, 3PT% .448, PPG 5.4, RPG 1.3, APG 1.1, 5 steals, 3 blocks
15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward
5'11" Sophomore Forward
A little sloppy in her last out, she turned it on against the Memphis bench. I'm sure Geno would like to see her take care of the ball better and finish around the basket more than she has recently.
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 19.6, FG% .604, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.3 RPG 6.3, APG 1.1, 27 steals, 8 blocks
33 Katie Lou Samuelson
6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward
Katie LOUUUUUUUUUUU......
She is really turning it on and Geno had some great things to say about her. He will make her all she can be.
2015-16 Stats
15 Games - MPG 19.2, FG% .416, 3PT% .314, PPG 8.1, RPG 3.1, APG 2.2, 13 steals, 0 blocks
22 Courtney Ekmark
6' Sophomore Guard
Not a good shooting game against Memphis. This was the first game where I saw her force her offense. A learning experience.
2015-16 Stats
12 Games - MPG 9.9, FG% .500, 3PT% .357, PPG 2.4, RPG 1.2, APG .8, 2 steals, 1 block
20 Tierney Lawlor
5'7" Junior Guard
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
2015-16 Stats
10 Games - MPG 2.4, FG% .250, 3PT% .167, PPG 0.5, RPG 0.0, APG 0.1, 0 steals, 0 blocks
UConn Complete Stats
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Tonya Cardoza
Head Coach
We all know the history with Tonya and Geno. Here is some numbers to show how well she has done on her own at Temple. She is a terrific coach.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Temple University (2008-present)
Head Coach Five seasonsSeason Overall Conf. Postseason
2008-09 21-10 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2009-10 25-9 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2010-11 24-9 13-1 A-10 NCAA
2011-12 23-10 13-1 A-10 WNIT
2012-13 14-18 5-9 A-10
2013-14 14-16 8-10 American
2014-15 20-17 12-6 American WNIT Final Four
Totals 141-89 73-33
2011 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
2011 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2010 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2009 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
Temple University (2008-present)
Head Coach Five seasonsSeason Overall Conf. Postseason
2008-09 21-10 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2009-10 25-9 11-3 A-10 NCAA
2010-11 24-9 13-1 A-10 NCAA
2011-12 23-10 13-1 A-10 WNIT
2012-13 14-18 5-9 A-10
2013-14 14-16 8-10 American
2014-15 20-17 12-6 American WNIT Final Four
Totals 141-89 73-33
2011 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
2011 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2010 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
2009 Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year
Temple Starters
15 Alliya Butts 5'4" Sophomore Guard
Honors: 2015 American Athletic Conference Third Team... 2015 American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team (unanimous selection)... 2015 Philadelphis Big 5 Rookie of the Year... 2015 Philadelphis Big 5 Second Team... American Freshman of the Week [1/26/15; 2/16/15]... Philadelphia Big 5 Honor Roll [11/24/14; 1/26/15; 12/14/15]... American Athletic Conference Player of the Week [12/14/15].
2015-16: MPG 32.4, FG% .416, 3PT% .373, PPG 15.7, RPG 2.6, APG 2.8, 43 steals, 2 block
2 Feyonda Fitzgerald 5'7" Junior Guard
Honors: 2014-15 Pre-Season Second-Team All-Conference pick... 2014 American Second-Team All-Conference selection ... unanimous All-Freshman Team pick ... 2014 All-Big 5 Second Team ... 2014 PhillyCollegeSports.com Rookie of the Year and All-Philly Second Team ... American Fourth Team All-Conference by College Sports Madness ... American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week [3/4/14; 1/27/14; 12/23/13; 12/1/13; 11/18/13] ... Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week [12/23/13; 12/2/13; 11/17/14] ... American Athletic Conference Honor Roll [2/24/14] ... Philadelphia Big 5 Honor Roll [3/3/14; 2/24/14; 1/27/14; 1/13/14; 12/8/14] ... PhillyCollegeSports.com Honor Roll [3/6/14; 1/13/14; 12/23/13; 12/16/13]... American Athletic Conference Honor Roll [11/17/14] .
2015-16: MPG 35.0, FG% .364, 3PT% .304, PPG 15.3, RPG 3.9, APG 5.2, 32 steals, 2 block
22 Tanaya Aikenson 5'9" Sophomore Guard
Honors: 2014 Hall of Fame Game MVP... American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week [3/3/15] ... American Athletic Conference Honor Roll [12/1/14] ... Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week [12/22/14] ... Philadelphia Big 5 Honor Roll [12/1/14]
2015-16: MPG 29.9, FG% .454, 3PT% .167, PPG 12.1, RPG 6.1, APG 1.0, 15 steals, 4 blocks
32 Donnaizha Fountain 6'0" Sophomore Guard
Transferred to Temple from Georgia Tech after her freshman season. Sat out 2014-15 due to transfer rules.
Made her Temple debut in a win over Florida, leading the team with nine rebounds, also adding five points... Had six points, five boards, three steals and two blocks at La Salle... Notched six rebounds in 14 minutes of action at Rutgers... Had nine points in 24 minutes against Saint Joseph’s... Had a Temple career-best 10 points and tied a best with nine rebounds against Villanova... Improved a career-best with 13 points at #13/14 Florida State... Recorded her second-straight game with 13 points, also pulling down six boards against Sacred Heart... Picked up 14 points and tied a team-high seven boards at Fordham.
2015-16: MPG 23.2, FG% .417, 3PT% .317, PPG 9.3, RPG 6.7, APG 1.0, 17 steals, 8 blocks
1 Erica Covile 6'1" Senior Guard
Honors: 2015 American Athletic Conference Third Team... 2015 Philadelphia Big 5 Second Team... Named Temple’s first ever American Athletic Conference Player of the Week [1/5/14] ... Named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll [12/28/14; 1/19/15; 2/2/15] ... Named the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week [12/30/13; 1/5/15] ... named the OwlSports.com Athlete of the Week [12/30/13] ...named the PhillyCollegeSports.com Player of the week [12/31/13] ... named the PhillyCollegeSports.com Honor Roll [12/23/13] ... Named to the Philadelphia Big 5 Honor Roll [12/28/14; 2/2/15] ... 2013 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for having a GPA above 3.0.
2015-16: MPG 25.9, FG% .441 3PT% .208, PPG 9.1, RPG 6.6, APG 1.4, 21 steals, 7 blocks
Temple Bench
21 Kadijiah Berger 5'10 Sophomore Guard
Honors: 2014-15 Pre-Season Second-Team All-Conference pick... 2014 American Second-Team All-Conference selection ... unanimous All-Freshman Team pick ... 2014 All-Big 5 Second Team ... 2014 PhillyCollegeSports.com Rookie of the Year and All-Philly Second Team ... American Fourth Team All-Conference by College Sports Madness ... American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week [3/4/14; 1/27/14; 12/23/13; 12/1/13; 11/18/13] ... Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week [12/23/13; 12/2/13; 11/17/14] ... American Athletic Conference Honor Roll [2/24/14] ... Philadelphia Big 5 Honor Roll [3/3/14; 2/24/14; 1/27/14; 1/13/14; 12/8/14] ... PhillyCollegeSports.com Honor Roll [3/6/14; 1/13/14; 12/23/13; 12/16/13]... American Athletic Conference Honor Roll [ 11/17/14] .
2015-16: MPG 16.3, FG% .391, 3PT% .351, PPG 3.3, RPG 2.9, APG 1.6, 8 steals, 2 block
5 Ugo Nwaigwe 6'3" Graduate Forward
Four year player at Wagner. Came to Temple as a graduate student.
Made her Temple debut in a win over Florida, scoring two points, adding three boards... Pulled down five boards at Quinnipiac... Notched four points and six rebounds in a career-high 21 minutes against Saint Joseph’s... Notched four points and pulled down a Temple-career high eight rebounds against Sacred Heart... collected four points and team-high two blocks at Fordham.
2015-16: MPG 14.9, FG% .431, 3PT% .000, PPG 3.1, RPG 4.5, APG .2, 7 steals, 23 blocks
35 Safiya Martin 6'4" Junior Center
Had a game-high 14 rebounds with six points and four blocks at La Salle... Recorded four points and four rebounds at Quinnipiac... Had two points, two rebounds, and two blocks against Sacred Heart... Picked up one block at Fordham.
2015-16: MPG 12.5, FG% .526, 3PT% .000, PPG 1.6, RPG 2.6, APG 0.3, 3 steals, 12 blocks
Game Analysis
While this is one of Temple's better teams, as we all know, it's all about matchups. Temple starts five guard with two of them 6' and 6'1" along with 5'8, 5'7" and 5'4". I'm sure they will do on defense what most of the other teams have done to try to negate UConn's size advantage. Pack the paint and challenge UConn to hit from the outside. Coach Cardoza will bring in her two bigs off the bench, maybe more than the 15 mpg these two play on average. UConn will try to force tempo to score off turnovers and defensive rebounds.
Temple is led by their 5'4" dynamo, Alliya Butts. The sophomore guard has taken her game to another level from her terrific freshman season. She loves the three pointer, with half of her shots coming from beyond the arc. She takes 1/3 of the Owls' three pointers at about at about 6.5 per game. I can't wait to see the Butts/Jefferson matchup. Quick on quicker.
Her backcourt mate.....wait...they start 5 guards so are they all backcourt mates??.....is 5'7" Feyonda Fitzgerald is also very quick and Nurse will have to work hard to keep her in front of her. Fitzgerald also likes the three pointer but likes to use that threat to give her driving opportunities.
This duo is what I would call Ohio State lite. These two guards dominate the play in a similar fashion to OSU's Mitchell and Ashton. UConn will work hard to limit their scoring and force the others to put points on the board.
Temple loves to throw the ball around the perimeter until a drive opportunity shows up. They will either go to the basket or kick out for a three. But they generate most of their offense from their defense. You can see the "Geno" influence in their aggressive defensive play. They will run off misses and off turnovers and they are really really good at it.
Temple will play a 2-1-2 full court pressing defense, trying to speed up UConn. It will be interesting to see how long Cardoza has them doing this. I would guess that she would press as long as it's effective. I think with their height advantage, UConn will be able to pass over the press and get some easy looks. They will have to be careful or Temple will make them pay for every mistake.
Once in their half court offense, UConn has a huge advantage, pun intended. They will try to get the ball inside to their bigs. I don't see how Temple can stop this if UConn is patient. Jefferson is starting to play like she did at the end last season and will control the offense, making the right pass to the right player at the right time.
Temple is led by their 5'4" dynamo, Alliya Butts. The sophomore guard has taken her game to another level from her terrific freshman season. She loves the three pointer, with half of her shots coming from beyond the arc. She takes 1/3 of the Owls' three pointers at about at about 6.5 per game. I can't wait to see the Butts/Jefferson matchup. Quick on quicker.
Her backcourt mate.....wait...they start 5 guards so are they all backcourt mates??.....is 5'7" Feyonda Fitzgerald is also very quick and Nurse will have to work hard to keep her in front of her. Fitzgerald also likes the three pointer but likes to use that threat to give her driving opportunities.
This duo is what I would call Ohio State lite. These two guards dominate the play in a similar fashion to OSU's Mitchell and Ashton. UConn will work hard to limit their scoring and force the others to put points on the board.
Temple loves to throw the ball around the perimeter until a drive opportunity shows up. They will either go to the basket or kick out for a three. But they generate most of their offense from their defense. You can see the "Geno" influence in their aggressive defensive play. They will run off misses and off turnovers and they are really really good at it.
Temple will play a 2-1-2 full court pressing defense, trying to speed up UConn. It will be interesting to see how long Cardoza has them doing this. I would guess that she would press as long as it's effective. I think with their height advantage, UConn will be able to pass over the press and get some easy looks. They will have to be careful or Temple will make them pay for every mistake.
Once in their half court offense, UConn has a huge advantage, pun intended. They will try to get the ball inside to their bigs. I don't see how Temple can stop this if UConn is patient. Jefferson is starting to play like she did at the end last season and will control the offense, making the right pass to the right player at the right time.
Final Prediction
Temple plays hard and is real scrappy. They are quick and can score in bunches if they can turn the other team over. They like to force the tempo and so does UConn. A battle of wills but UConn is much more talented. After the long road trip, UConn will be thrilled to be home. The pace will be frenetic early and if Temple can't keep up by scoring, UConn will run them out of the building.
However, I don't see that happening, much to the dismay of the Husky fans. I expect Temple to have their moments and keep it fairly close before UConn pulls away late.
UConn by 25+ as Temple does the conference proud.
However, I don't see that happening, much to the dismay of the Husky fans. I expect Temple to have their moments and keep it fairly close before UConn pulls away late.
UConn by 25+ as Temple does the conference proud.
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