DoggyDaddy's Dailies 11/1/16

                                                                                                                                                        
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Well, it didn't take long for my first prediction to be wrong!

The starting lineup is out, and while I had 4 of them right in Chong, Nurse, Williams and Samuelson, I was wrong about the 5th starter.

My thought was that it would be Butler with the more flexible player in Collier coming off the bench. But looks like Geno is going with the smaller and quicker and more dynamic lineup to start the season.

I will have another chance to be right in the second exhibition game.

Hey, I was talking about the first regular season game.....yeah....that's it............     

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I found a write up on the upcoming exhibition opener from the IUP perspective.

The IUP women's basketball team opens exhibition play in 2016-17 with a trip to defending NCAA Division I national champion Connecticut on Tuesday before finishing exhibition play with a trip Sunday to Atlantic Coast Conference member Pittsburgh, which is coached head coach Tom McConnell's sister, Susie McConnell Serio. The Crimson Hawks were picked to finish second in the PSAC West. The Crimson Hawks are coming off a PSAC tournament runner-up finish and their third straight 20-win season. Picked fourth in last year's preseason coaches' poll, IUP went 16-6 in the league to finish second in the division, eventually falling to Cal in the championship game. IUP advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament for the second straight season. IUP returns one starter from last year's NCAA tournament squad in junior Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry). With the ability to play both the wing and the post, Smith averaged 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game a season ago, also tallying 50 blocked shots and 25 steals. Smith shot 44.1 percent (143-of-324) from the field and 44.0 percent (37-of-84) from three-point range. Also returning is guard Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Catholic), who started and played in four games last year before missing the rest of the season due to injury. She transferred to IUP before last year after two seasons at Division I Central Connecticut State. Five more players who have seen extended time include: sophomore guard Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic), junior guard Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk), sophomore forward Kendall Hunter (Burke, Va. /Paul VI Catholic), sophomore forward Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East), and redshirt sophomore guard Courteney Storm (Hollidaysburg, Pa. /Hollidaysburg).

Click on the player's name to get more info.

The big thing I got out of this write-up is that they only bring back one starter. This can't be good for a Div II team playing the defending Div I champion.

It should be a good practice for UConn to start gaining it's own identity after the graduation of the big three!

If you want to watch, it will be on the web at this address. Video Stream

$9.99 per month. Just cancel after the two exhibition games. 

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ESPN came out with their top 25 rankings (Link in the UConn section). It looked pretty good with UConn at No. 1. Here is their write up about the Huskies.

1. Connecticut Huskies

2015-16 record: 38-0; national championPoints (highest/lowest vote): 95 (1/4); two first-place votesNotable returners: Kia Nurse (9.3 PPG, 2.7 APG); Gabby Williams (8.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG); Katie Lou Samuelson (11.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG)
A new era is dawning in Storrs, but that doesn't mean the level of success will change. The Huskies have won 75 consecutive games and four straight NCAA titles and, despite significant losses, are among the favorites to win again. Gone are Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck, but just as they grew from young players to dominant leaders, coach Geno Auriemma will be counting on elevations from Nurse, Williams, Samuelson and Napheesha Collier. Depth and youth could be an issue against the customary challenging early season schedule that includes road games at Florida State, Notre Dame and Maryland. How freshman and highly recruited point guard Crystal Dangerfield develops, or how Auriemma and his staff work around the loss of Jefferson at the point, could be the key to how far the Huskies go in 2017 and whether they reach a 10th consecutive Final Four.

A pretty good analysis. I don't understand how they left off Baylor (2nd game of the season) when talking about UConn's tough early season schedule. They don't mention Butler either. She will have to be make some impact for UConn to be successful.

You can read all about the other teams by clicking the link I have in the UConn section. I will mention one issue that makes it difficult to think they took the time to really do a good job on the team analysis.

They have Tennessee at No. 14. Not a bad ranking for a team that lost 14 games last year. And they lost their best rebounder in Graves to graduation and one of their top guards to bad knees in Carter. But here is the kicker. They say this - "Keeping the entire roster healthy, and improvement from Cooper at the point, will go a long way to the Lady Vols having the kind of regular season to which they are more accustomed.".

The problem is Cooper is out for the season with an ACL injury. I did just look at the write-up again and ESPN has removed that comment. Looks like they figured out they screwed up. I'm guessing it was from an earlier write-up, like from right after the season ended, before Cooper was injured. Sloppy, sloppy sloppy.     

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By David in Naples!!!!!

Today's Fun with Numbers is dedicated to my Mom, who passed away last week. Just like UConn, she was the best.

7. Seven is the number of years we lived in South America. Mom adjusted to living in foreign countries and made our lives carefree.
6. Six is the number of continents she visited. Mom's favorite expression was "Have bag, will travel."
5. Five is the number of languages Mom learned to help us live abroad and travel comfortably.
4. Four is the number of times she surprised me on my birthday at Williams College. (You would think after two I would have caught on..!)
3. Three is the number of kids she raised and devoted herself to...
2. Two is for the best two parents a kid could want - Mom and Dad
1. She was #1.

Glad the UConn season is starting..!!
Go Huskies..!!

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UCONN LINKS

UConn vs IUP in Exhibition Game UConn Team Site
UConn vs IUP Press Release UConn Team Site
A UConn era ended, but the Auriemma aura goes on Philadelphia Daily News
UConn maintains hold on top spot in espnW preseason rankings ESPN
UConn Enters the Season with a Target on Their Back Sports Vice
Mystics Abroad: Dolson, Copper Dominating Overseas WNBA
Finally, After Long Wait, A Chance To See The UConn Women Courant
UConn freshmen will be in spotlight in preseason opener New Haven Register
Is this the year for Saniya Chong? Carl Adamec

WCBB LINKS

espnW's top 25 women's players for 2016-17 ESPN
Syracuse Women’s Basketball 2016-2017 season preview: Encore presentation Nunes Magic
Michigan's Flaherty turns passion into prolific scoring ESPN
Women's Basketball Incoming Class Includes 2 Top Australian Recruits  BC Interruption
OU women's basketball: Coale tweaks offense Oklahoma News
Brown Presented with Iron Blue Devil Belt GoDuke
No. 4 Baylor WBB Hosts First Exhibition Game Tuesday Baylor Bears
WVU Set for Exhibition in Clarksburg WV team site
Oregon women’s basketball plans to exceed expectations Oregon Daily Emerald
Kansas women’s basketball team wins exhibition opener Kansas City Star

USC Women's Basketball Program To Hold Coaches Clinic WLTX
UConn was fun to watch, but 5-star recruit really saw her future with Syracuse women's basketball Syracuse Post Standard

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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

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 10/31/16

                                                                                                                                                      
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It's never too early for me to start giving the Lady Vols a hard time. The team I love to hate.

In a recent interview, DDD, Diva Diamond Deshields, said the following -

          

“I want to be thought of the as the player who helped put Tennessee back on the map. Not as if we fell off at any point, we’ve never fallen off. But, we have yet to get to the Final Four, we have yet to get a championship in the post-Pat era."

No, never fallen off. Not Much!!!!

From 1994-95 to 2007-08  -  14 seasons

5 National Championship
4 Runner ups
2 Final Four semi-final losses
2 Elite Eight losses
1 Sweet Sixteen loss

453 wins, 56 losses. Average season 32-4.

The eight years since then?

5 Elite Eight losses
2 Sweet Sixteen losses
1 First Round loss

223 wins, 63 losses. Average season 28-8.

There is NO doubt that the Lady Vols have fallen off over the last eight years since their last championship.

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UCONN LINKS

Look for some pre-game articles about the exhibition opener in the next edition of the Dailies

WCBB LINKS

Women's Watch: DePaul team a great fit for sparkling new basketball arena Daily Herald
KU women's basketball stomps FHSU despite a less than perfect game Kansas Team Site
Karen Aston to participate in Women's Basketball National Media Day  Texas Team Site
Cowgirls Roll In Exhibition Opener OK State
Freshmen lead Black Bears to exhibition win  WCSH6
Ducks get their feet wet in rout Register Guard
What to watch for at Duke women's basketball's Blue-White scrimmage The Chronicle

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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

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 10/30/16

                                                                                                                                                      
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Logan had a Halloween parade today!!!! He didn't like the giraffe costume at first, but was happy at the end.

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3 more days until UConn's exhibition game opener is upon us. I will definitely purchase the package to see the games and then cancel when the regular season starts. I'll post my thoughts after each game.

I will try to get to the XL center game next Sunday. It's always a different perspective to see the game in person.

I've been trying to pick out my starting lineup. I rarely talk about who I think should start and focus more on who I think Geno will start.  

I started with the starters from last season.

G - Nurse has started for every game after that infamous Stanford loss her freshman year so she is a given.

F - Samuelson started much of the second half and all of the NCAA tourney games. She is also the leading returning scorer.

F - Williams started the second half of the game that Samuelson was hurt and also started 12 games during the season.

The last two spots, in my opinion, are between three players. Chong, Collier and Butler.

I believe Geno will go with Chong at the other guard spot and start her along side Nurse. When healthy, I thought she played really well. She had good speed, a solid three point shot and was looking much more like the 30 point 10 assist player she was in HS. Not that she will come close to those numbers. I also think Geno likes the senior leadership she provides.

So who gets the final starting spot? Collier and Butler bring a totally different skill set to the game. Colliers quickness and improving outside shot and her ability to guard small players may come into play. But Butler's size can't be ignored. And with several big teams on the schedule (Florida State, Baylor, South Carolina) Geno might want to get her some confidence and raise the bar in expectations and see how she responds.

I really am struggling with this last spot, but I'm going to go with Butler.

If Butler can play more like her freshman year at Georgetown, she will hold onto that spot all season.

Can't wait to see what Geno does!!!
  
          
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UCONN LINKS

Former Olympic high jump hopeful Gabby Williams focused on basketball NH Register

WCBB LINKS

Women's Basketball Preview: Vanguard depth creates puzzle  LA Times
Women's Basketball Opens Season Against Chico State Sunday Pacific Tigers
Numbers finally appear to be on LSU Lady Tigers' side The Advocate
Oft-injured Buckeyes finally have strength in numbers Columbus Dispatch
Stanford women's basketball is catching fire on the recruiting trail  Rule of Tree
 Carey excited for team to play in Clarksburg The ET
UK’s Matthew Mitchell lands another Top 100 basketball recruit for 2017 class Kentucky.Com
Juco coach who bled blue helped Evelyn Akahtor fall in love with UK  Kentucky.Com


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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

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 10/29/16

                                                                                                                                                      
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So much fun baby-sitting for Logan Friday night!!!!

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My friend Charlie posted on a UConn board his guess for minutes, points and rebounds for the individual players for the 2016-2017 season.

With around 90 minutes available with the graduation of Stewart, Jefferson, Tuck and Pulido predicting these numbers are much harder than last year.

I'll take a shot at it.

Nurse 31 mpg, 12 ppg, 3 rpg
Samuelson 28 mpg, 16 ppg, 5 rpg
Williams 27 mpg, 12 ppg, 8 rpg
Collier 27 mpg, 14 ppg, 10 rpg
Butler 22 mpg, 10 ppg, 6 rpg
Chong 20 mpg, 8 ppg, 3 rpg
Dangerfield 20 mpg, 7 ppg, 2 rpg
Bent 10 mpg, 3 ppg, 2 rpg
Irwin 10 mpg, 4 ppg, 3 rpg
Lawler 5 mpg, 1 ppg, 1 rpg

Total - 200 minutes, 87 ppg, 43 rpg

Geno is really going to rely a lot on Nurse and don't be surprised if you see her play ton of minutes against the better teams.   

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UCONN LINKS

No UConn links

WCBB LINKS

One-two punch returns for UW women’s basketball: Kelsey Plum, Chantel Osahor Seattle Times
Shepard goes into second season as leader for Husker women Lincoln Journal Times
Video: Aggie hoops teams show off dancing skills The Eagle
Hardin a pleasant find for UK women's team WKYT
Cowgirls Set For Exhibition Action On Sunday OkState
Penn State women's coach Washington discusses upcoming season in conference call EIN News
New season, new look for UK women's hoops Courier-Journal
No Tyler Scaife causes C. Vivian Stringer to think back to 2001-02 Rutgers season New Jersey Online
ESPN's Voepel: UofL women a title contender  Courier-Journal
Three takeaways from UNC women's basketball media day  The Daily Tarheel
Ohio Picked to Finish First in MAC East by Coaches WOUB
What to watch for at Duke women's basketball's Blue-White scrimmage The Chronicle


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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

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 10/28/16

                                                                                                                                                      
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The USA Today coaches preseason poll is now out and in a little surprise, UConn is No. 1, even with the loss of their three best players.

Connecticut is No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports women's basketball preseason poll USA Today

I would guess that happened based on a few different reasons. The first is that some coaches think that until they lose, the defending champion deserves that top spot. Another reason is the great respect (even though he is not loved) from his fellow coaches. The third is that some of the coaches might believe that the rest of the teams are just not good enough to topple the Huskies.

It's mostly just fodder for conversation on the message boards. And another opportunity for fans to try to show everyone how smart they are compared to the coaches that vote in this poll.

It should be very interesting to see how the AP writers poll compares. My gut tells me that UConn will not be No. 1 in that one. In fact, I would bet they are outside the top 3. I certainly would tend to move them off the top spot. I mean, losing your three top players has to bring them down to earth from their incredibly lofty position from last season.

Right now, UConn will be playing an incredibly tough schedule based on Coaches Poll.

They start the season on the road against No. 12 Florida State. They follow that up with a home game against No. 4 Baylor.

Their December schedule is ridiculous. They play the always tough No. 21 DePaul and then No. 6 Texas at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Then on the road to South Bend to play No. 2 Notre Dame. They follow that up at home against No. 6 Ohio State and end the month at No. 6 Maryland.

They finish this unprecedented OOC schedule on February 13th at home against No. 3 South Carolina.

That's No. 2,3,4,5,6,7 (tied for 6th), 12 and 21.

Seven games against top 21 teams. and 6 games against top 7 teams. Whew!

7-0 would be amazing. 6-1 spectacular. I'm guessing more like 5-2. Don't ask me which two yet. You will have to wait!!!!

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Tara Vandervere was inducted in her local Jewish HOF. Here was here comments.

"I was confused, quite honestly, when I got the call — because I’m not Jewish. But I’m really very honored,” said Tara VanDerveer, who as coach of the Stanford women’s basketball team has led the Cardinal to 985 victories and two national titles. “Everyone is saying, ‘I didn’t know you were Jewish,’ and I’m not. But it’s very exciting. I think I must have been invited because I’ve been to more bar mitzvahs then anyone else.”

Wonderful!!!!

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UCONN LINKS

UConn is No. 1 in WBCA Coaches Poll Jim Fuller
UConn women No. 1 again American Republican
Rehabbing With Tuck: Volume 1 WNBA
Only Geno Auriemma Would Say Coaching In Olympics 'Relaxing'  Courant
UConn Women No. 1 In USA Today Coaches Poll, Despite New Cast Of Characters  Courant

WCBB LINKS

Maryland women voted No. 5 in preseason coaches poll; UConn still No. 1  Baltimore Sun

Syracuse women’s basketball ranked 13th in preseason Coaches Poll Nunes Magician

UConn, Notre Dame top women’s college basketball preseason coaches poll ExcelleSports
Kathryn Westbeld a key piece of Notre Dame women's basketball puzzle Reporter Times
OU women's basketball ranked No. 18 in USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll Tulsa World
Women's Basketball Meets the Media Scarlette Knights
Women's Basketball ranked sixth in preseason USA Today Coaches Poll  U of Texas
Year of Women at local Jewish Sports Hall of Fame JWeekly
Syracuse Ranks #13 Nationally in Coaches' Poll Cuse.Com
UCLA Women’s Basketball Ranked #9 in Preseason USA Today Poll Go Joe Bruin
Women's Basketball Ranked 23rd In USA Today Coaches' Poll 12th Man
Kentucky women ranked No. 19 in preseason coaches’ poll Kentucky.Com
Iowa women's basketball team on a mission following disappointing season Globe Gazette
USC women's hoops No. 3 in USA TODAY Sports preseason poll  Greenville Online
Fifty Percent of Teams Listed in Preseason Coaches Poll Big 12 sports 

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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

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 10/27/16

                                                                                                                                                      
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Happy Belated birthday to my Daughter and mother of my cute grandson Logan. She had a tough day today suffering from a flu bug. Feel Better!!!!!


And Happy Birthday to my granddaughter Noa, who turns double digits today. Miss you!!!!!


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The season can't start soon enough for me. I have found this pre-season extremely slow going. The horde seems to have taken a lot of time off. Not a lot of articles about the players, what they did this summer, what they worked on. How they appeared to look. We used to get much more as the build up happened for the season.

Maybe is a reflection on the big three not being there. The fun and anticipation for 4 in a row for Stewart, Jefferson and Tuck.

But guess what. This version of the Huskies are going for the fifth championship in a row for Connecticut. And until they lose in the tournament, it doesn't matter how many games they lose on the road to the NCAA's.

I believe this season will be a lot more interesting. Hey, I know that I won't be predicting double digit wins in every game. My job of doing the post and pregame analysis will be much more difficult. I'll actually be wrong on occasion. I hope I can handle that.

I'll start soon in taking a look at the team, the individual players, the schedule and maybe even a prediction that you can kill me for after the season.

Just remember this, the first exhibition game is only 5 days away. WHOO HOO!!!!!!!                     


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By David in Naples!!!!!

David is taking some time off for personal reasons. I'll try to fill in but not tonight.

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UCONN LINKS

No Butts about it, Temple guard motivated Carl Adamec
Tough start ahead, UConn takes it a day at a time Carl Adamec
Olympic memories aren't fading away for UConn's Auriemma Jim Fuller
Geno Loves The Challenges UConn Faces This Season, So Retirement Isn’t An Option Courant
Only Geno Auriemma Would Say Coaching In Olympics 'Relaxing'  Courant

WCBB LINKS

With UConn weakened, it's anyone's game — maybe even the Terps' Baltimore Sun

Lipscomb junior among country's top point guards Nashville Post

Maryland picked to win Big Ten women's title  Sentinel Tribune

Blue Devils Hold Annual True Blue Golf Classic Go Duke

Texas A&M Women's Basketball Adds Alyssa Michalke, 2015-16 Texas A&M Corps Commander, To Roster KXXV
Gophers Women's Basketball Media Day KSTP
Maryland women’s basketball seeking more after being picked to win Big Ten in 2016-17 season Washington Post

  

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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