Doggydaddy's Den: September 2016

Friday, September 30, 2016

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 10/1/16

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Back to my season opening questions....here is the next one.

"Will Nurse shrug off the tough Olympic games to take the leadership roll UConn will need from her?"

I'll try to answer if she will, but UConn REALLY REALLY needs her to become the upper class leader that left with the graduation of the big three. It doesn't mean replacing their statistics. We all know that is impossible for one player to do. But she can pick up the slack as a leader along with her fellow junior Gabby Williams. I also have hopes that Chong can contribute in that regard. But it's Nurses fiery attitude that separates her from the other two. She is very "Kara Lawson" like in that regard.

I do believe she will bounce back from that tough Olympics to excel for the Huskies. She was a little inconsistent last season. She was actually more solid her freshman year with her scoring and shooting percentages down in her sophomore year. I don't think she will ever be a dominant scorer or outside threat, but she certainly has the capability of physically dominating games from the guard position.

One thing to remember. Her play in the Olympics were against women much older and physically more mature. A college sophomore against 25+ year olds. Not an easy task.

Hopefully Geno will work on her confidence and she can put it all together in the 2016-17 season.

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It's not over till it's over!!!! But it's looking bad!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

UConn and Baylor are the only teams with multiple wins in the National Championship game and no losses. Even Tennessee, with their 8 victories in the Final, has lost 5 times trying to be Champions. The fact that 4 of those loses came to the Huskies explains some of the craziness that bubbles up from Vol nation. Notre Dame had their perfect 1-0 record in the National Championship game (2001 winner) crushed by 4 defeats in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Of course, those last two were to UConn. 8-)

Three of the 2 time National Championship winners (USC, Stanford and Louisiana Tech) have a combined 7 losses in the biggest game of the season. Baylor has wins in 2005 and 2012, the only times they made the Final. Getting to the Championship game is very hard, winning it is even harder. In fact, since 2000, only 6 different teams have won the National Championship in women's basketball. Notre Dame, Maryland (2006) and Texas A&M (2011) each won the title once. Baylor (2005, 2012)and Tennessee (2007, 2008) each won twice.

That leaves 10 Championships, since 2000, for the UConn Huskies. Add in the first title in 1995 and you have a perfect 11-0 record in National Championship game. That achievement dwarfs Baylor's 2-0 record, Southern California's 2-1 mark, Stanford's 2-2 ledger and Louisiana Tech's 2-4 record. Even Tennessee's 8 wins are slightly tarnished by 5 disappointments.

Geno coaches the whole season to prepare for the Final Four, and in particular the Championship game. That strategy has worked well. You might even say "perfectly."

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Scores (links in the WNBA link section)

Phoenix Mercury @ Minnesota Lynx

Chicago Sky @ Los Angeles Sparks

Top Performers/UConn Performers (bold)

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UCONN LINKS

Nada.....Nothin.....Zippo....Zilch

WCBB LINKS

CIAA to move 8 championships _ but not basketball _ from NC Waco Tribune
Women's Basketball Announces 2016-17 Schedule Yale Team Site
She won 27 games as head coach, but was forced out anyway CNN Money
KU women’s basketball to host two top-10 recruits at Late Night Kansas Star Ledger
Full House: ‘Tent City’ filled to capacity as fans await tickets to Big Blue Madness KY Forward
Preseason honors: Epps, Akhator named to Sporting News All-American team KY Forward
SEC decides to keep championships in North Carolina, bucking boycott trend LA Times

WNBA /USA TEAMS LINKS

Chicago Sky, Red Stars hope to follow Bandits' playoff success Daily Herald
Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve Named WNBA Coach of the Year WDIO
For Reeve, Award Is More About The League Than Herself WNBA
WNBA: Lynx's Reeve, Fowles honored Brainerd Dispatch
Sky have no answers for Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker ABC News
Mystics hope to move up in draft position for the first time SB Nation
Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles Named 2016 WNBA Defensive Player of Year WNBA
Seimone Augustus' Prince-themed playoff sneakers are [insert flame emoji] City Pages

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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
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board

ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board

Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else

Thursday, September 29, 2016

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 9/30/16

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I love this link - Job Opening: Part-Time Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

Come on all you experts out there. It's a start!!!!!

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It's not over till it's over!!!! But it's looking bad!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

David asked that I post this story instead of his usual numbers.

It was 3am when Mark E. Ross awoke to a phone call that his 15 year old sister had been killed in an auto accident. Mark, her protective older brother, immediately started the long drive back to Detroit to be with his family. The problem was Mark was pulled over for speeding in Ohio. His license had expired and there were some outstanding warrants out for his arrest. As a young black man, Mark knew he would be arrested and never make it to Detroit. They towed his car away and Mark sat crying in the police car. He explained to a white, older police officer what had happened and why he needed to get to Detroit.

The police officer entered the police car and sat next to Mark. He prayed over Mark and for his family, then returned to his squad car. When he returned he explained Wayne County refused to come get Mark and arrest him because the warrants were minor and traffic related. The police office then drove Mark the last 100 miles to Detroit to be with his family.

Mark's Facebook post says, "Everybody knows how much I dislike police officers but I am truly grateful for this guy. He gave me hope." And there is a picture of the two of them embracing.

Maybe there is a lesson for other people in this story. I hope so...

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Scores (links in the WNBA link section)

Phoenix Mercury @ Minnesota Lynx

Chicago Sky @ Los Angeles Sparks

Top Performers/UConn Performers (bold)

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UCONN LINKS

When is first night again???

WCBB LINKS

OHIO STATE Women's Basketball Land of 10
Video: Kevin McGuff and the Ohio State women’s basketball team are ready for a big 2016-17 Land of 10
Epps, Akhator Named Preseason All-Americans by Sporting News LEX 18
Breakfast Club With Jamie Coming This Year San Jose State Team Site
Meet Coach Tsipis and the 2016-17 Badgers UW Badger
Former MSU star Aerial Powers makes WNBA all-rookie team Lansing State

WNBA /USA TEAMS LINKS

Stewart named WNBA Rookie of the Year Carl Adamec
Former UConn star Breanna Stewart named WNBA Rookie of the Year Jim Fuller
Stewart Named 2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year UConn Team Site
C-NS grad Breanna Stewart named WNBA rookie of the year Post Standard
WNBA star Natasha Cloud read to fuel the Fire Townsville Bulletin
Sky lose Game 1 of WNBA semifinals to Sparks Chicago Tribune
Chamique Holdsclaw Speaks At UConn About Depression, Mental Health Courant
WNBA star Skylar Diggins retraces the steps of her childhood South Bend Tribune
Former Gamecocks star Tiffany Mitchell named to WNBA All-Rookie squad The Post and Courier
Boyette Selected to WNBA All-Rookie Team WNBA
San Antonio wins the WNBA draft lottery WLWT 5
Breaking down the results of the WNBA Draft Lottery Today's Fast Break
Parker, Ogwumike showcase why they’re WNBA’s best frontcourt SB Nation
Lynx crush Phoenix in playoff opener at Xcel Energy Center Bring me the News
2 MVPs too much; Sparks rout Sky 95-75 in playoff opener Billings Gazette

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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
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board

ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board

Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 9/29/16

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Time for another question that I asked last month.

"How much will last year's freshman class, Samuelson and Collier, improve in their second season?"

Let's star with Samuelson. She ended up a starter last year and a terrific one. On a team with Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson, she averaged 19.2 points her last 10 games. She found her shot from long range as well. She had a terrible start to the season, hitting only 12-47 (25.5%) her first 11 games. But she was 65-154 (42.2%) for the rest of the season. She was exceptional her last 11 games going 35-63 (55%). She just got better and better. I think she will just be outstanding from beyond the arc. One of the best in the country. She also showed she can handle the ball and her off the ball defense continued to improve. She will get 25+ minutes per game next year and should be a 15-20 point scorer.

Collier played the entire season with a torn labrum in her hip that had been bothering her since HS. I don't think we saw the full range of her ability because of that. I remember her being the best player on the last USA team she played on with some terrific college players. We only saw glimpses of that player last season. But she was second on the team in blocks, show her terrific defense for a freshman, her nose for the basketball on rebounds and the occasional solid jumper. In spite of her dealing with the bad hip, she managed 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds. She shot a solid 53% from the field and led the team in FT% at 91.3. All terrific numbers that will only go up when she increases her minutes from the 17.3 she averaged last year. I really expect her to be an impact player with her Freshman-Sophomore jump!!!

So, how much will last years freshman class improve this season? A whole lot!!!!!

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It's not over till it's over!!!! But it's looking bad!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

Before last season's statistics are relegated to the archives, here is one last quiz to highlight some interesting results. No cheating...

1. Which of these three players had more offensive rebounds?
    A. Moriah
    B. Katie Lou
    C. Kia

2. UConn had 421 personal fouls in 38 games last year. How many players fouled out of a game?
    A. 0
    B. 1
    C. 3

3. Who made more 3 point baskets last season, Stewie or Kia?

4. True or False - Opponents had more turnovers than made baskets AND missed 70% of their 3 pt shots?

5. Who was 3rd in minutes played last year behind Stewie and MoJeff?
    A. Morgan
    B. Kia
    C. Gabby

6. Not counting Stewie's 126 blocked shots, how many blocks did the rest of the Huskies have all season?
    A. 87
    B. 93
    C. 115

7. True or False - Katie Lou had more assists as a freshman than Moriah did her freshman year, more rebounds than Morgan did as a freshman AND better 3 pt accuracy than KML as a freshman.

Answers at the very bottom of the blog. NO CHEATING!!!!

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Scores (links in the WNBA link section)

Semi-finals start Wednesday

Phoenix Mercury 95 Minnesota Lynx 113

Chicago Sky @ Los Angeles Sparks (Late Game)

Top Performers/UConn Performers (bold)

Maya Moore Minnesota 31 points 8 points
Renee Montgomery Minnesota 11 points 3 assists
Lindsay Whalen Minnesota 19 points 7 assists
Sylvia Fowles Minnesota 16 points 10 rebounds
Diana Taurasi Phoenix 25 points 4 assists

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UCONN LINKS

Top recruit Walker taking time as decision time nears Carl Adamec

WCBB LINKS

Women’s basketball: Freshmen getting adjusted to college life Lantern
Former Aztecs women’s basketball coach wins wrongful termination suit against SDSU Fox 5
USF women’s basketball finds new head coach San Francisco Examiner
Women’s Basketball Celebrates WBCA Day of Service Ramblin' Wreck
Two more Top 10 preseason mentions for MSU women's basketball 247 Sports
Scoring on hold but confidence still surges for Syracuse women's basketball transfer Post Standard
Basketball legend Magic Johnson congratulates Nneka Ogwumike for winning WNBA’s MVP award Howng.com
Reports: U of L women's hoops lands '17 recruit Courier Journal

WNBA /USA TEAMS LINKS

San Antonio wins the WNBA draft lottery WPBF
WNBA: Moore scores 31 as Lynx open with 113-93 win over Mercury Salt lake Tribune
Dallas Wings land No. 3 pick in WNBA draft Star Telegram
Stars hope to accelerate rebuild after winning top pick in WNBA draft USA Today
Maya Moore, well-rested Lynx crush Phoenix in WNBA semifinal opener Star Tribune
Mystics win second pick in 2017 WNBA Draft SB Nation
Los Angeles Sparks center Jantel Lavender named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year ESPN

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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
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board

ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board

Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else

Answers: 1. A 2. A 3. Kia 4. True 5. Kia 6. C 7. True

How did you do????

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 9/28/16

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A nice day at school for Logan and an even better dinner!!!!!

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Tennessee just got a commitment from a terrific 2017 point guard Anastasia Hayes. She is top 10 recruit in the ESPN Hoopgurlz 2017 class.

So, why am I writing about this? It's a positive for the Lady Vols and their fans, and I'm sure you have noticed I'm not their biggest supporter. Ok....I hate them....lol.

Well, I'm here to point out the hypocrisy of that fan base.

Here are a few examples of the prevailing opinion from the Tennessee when Crystal Dangerfield, the homegrown Tennessee point guard committed to UConn in October of 2014.

"Cooper and Dangerfield are both pure point guards, one year apart. Dangerfield is too good -- and knows she is too good -- to wait in line for three years behind another equally elite pure point guard. It's understandable that she would want to go to a school where she will either start immediately or, worst case scenario (from her perspective), within a year. Tennessee is loaded with very good guards, and will be for a long time to come; Dangerfield wasn't close to being a necessity."

" Tennessee has already landed a commitment from an elite point guard who is every bit as good as Dangerfield. The greatest need is for posts, not more guards. I realize many will say that the team needs a backup in case of injury, etc. That's a legitimate point. However, I highly doubt either Cooper or Dangerfield would be satisfied being relegated to the role of "backup" for more than a season. You have to consider team dynamics, as well. Too much of a good thing can sometimes lead to very big problems"

Clearly they didn't need another point guard. And with Cooper out for the season with an injury, she will have three more years when Hayes is a freshman.

It's the same situation as with Dangerfield only Hayes actually committed to Tennessee. Both are home grown Tennessee players players that were recruited by Warlick.

Of course now there is NO talk on the message board about too many point guards, how Hayes will play behind Cooper for three years.

It's typical of the Tennessee fans. When recruits go somewhere other than Tennessee, they have all the excuses in the world

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It's not over till it's over!!!!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

The number 8 is not usually associated with the game of basketball. There is 1 ball, 2 teams, 3 point shots, 4 periods and 5 players on a side. About the only use for the number 8 is to describe the optimum rotation of starters and substitutes, although Geno sometimes tightens that to 7. However, when it comes to winning National Championships, the number 8 comes up often. Consider:

1. There are 8 teams who have won a single National Championship. (Notre Dame, Purdue, Old Dominion, Texas A&M, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas Tech, Texas) That's 8 total championships for that group.

2. In addition, four institutions have won two National Championships each. (Louisiana Tech, Stanford, USC, Baylor) So that is also 8 total championships.

3. One school, Tennessee, has equaled the rest by winning 8 National Championships. Again, 8 championships.

That is where the pattern stops. One school, in a small town called Storrs, broke the record by winning 11 National Championships, including the last four straight. Those darn UConn Huskies always want to be in a class by themselves. 8-)

P.S. - Thanks to Phil for this idea.

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Scores (links in the WNBA link section)

Semi-finals start Wednesday

Phoenix Mercury @ Minnesota Lynx

Chicago Sky @ Los Angeles Sparks

Top Performers/UConn Performers (bold)

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UCONN LINKS

Nothing tonight

WCBB LINKS

Rice Named SEC Women’s Basketball Leadership Council Vice Chair Lex 18
Texas Women’s Basketball Mini Plans available now UofTexas
UTEP Alum Turner Tabbed As One Of Nine NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist UTEP
Xavier Announces 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame Class Go Xavier
Badgers make five appearances on Big Ten Network in 2016-17 UW Badgers
Dana Evans - one of the top targets on the Louisville women's recruiting list - will Scout

WNBA /USA TEAMS LINKS

Nneka Ogwumike Named WNBA MVP: Latest Comments and Reaction Bleacher Report
Phoenix Mercury, Lynx meet again in WNBA final four AZ Central
DeLisha Milton-Jones retires, is ready for next phase ESPN
Rested Sparks face Chicago in WNBA semifinals LA Times
After Turning Down Lucrative Opportunity, Whalen Soaring With Lynx CBS Minnesota
My Sister: The MVP The Players Tribune
Whalen flourishing after turning down overseas money USA Today
2016 WNBA Semifinals Tip off Wednesday with Doubleheader on ESPN2 ESPN Media Zone
Phoenix Mercury happy to be going back on road vs. Lynx AZ Central
Brondello's star still rising in WNBA and at home Daily Mercury

Lynx’s Janel McCarville, 33, has found just the right role Twin Cities Pioneer Press

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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
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board

ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board

Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else

Monday, September 26, 2016

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 9/27/16

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Sorry about missing last night. I'm nursing a bad cold that really hit me Sunday.

Guess who I caught it from? Could it be that cute little runny nose grandson of mine??

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Not many UConn players left in the WNBA playoffs. Seattle is out, so Stewart, KML and Bird are out. New York is out so say goodbye to Charles, Stokes and Cash (Swin's last game). Yesterday Atlanta lost so Hayes is done for the season. Dolson, Jefferson, Tuck, Faris didn't make the playoffs.

Taurasi and Phoenix are still in. Moore, Montgomery for Minnesota as well.

Only one will make the finals. Good luck UConn Alumni!!!

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The King is Dead, long live the King.......

One of my golf heroes and a true gentleman, Arnold Palmer passed away Sunday. He will truly be missed.

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It's not over till it's over!!!!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

Gabby Williams has now played two full seasons at UConn. She has appeared in 76 of 77 games during that period. Last year she was one of three players to see action in all 38 of the Huskies games, starting 12. While there has been some dramatic improvement in her play, Williams has also been remarkably consistent overall. For example, freshman year she scored 137 baskets. This past season she had 147. Her first year Gabby created 50 assists. This year, 51. The same is true for rebounds, 218 as a rookie and 213 sophomore year.

Other parts of Gabby's game have improved dramatically. No where is this more evident than her free throw shooting. After a forgettable freshman year shooting 42-91 or 46%, Williams improved to 42-56 or 75%. Her steal totals also increased from 46 last year to 72 this past season, 2nd only to Moriah. Unfortunately, her personal fouls also jumped from 45 to 60, but Williams has never fouled out. All of these great statistics happened in the shadow of the Big 3, who have now graduated. Look for Gabby to take her game to the next level and turn 1,300 minutes of playing experience into a breakout season.