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If you haven't seen it yet, here is my full UConn/South Florida Post Game Report
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I wrote about UConn's depth the other day. Here are some comments from David in Naples about the subject. He has some great insight on the topic!
Those who measure "team depth" based on roster size are missing an important point. The best "team depth" measure is how many good players, can play multiple positions. Consider the recent Baylor loss to West Virginia. In a very close game, Baylor played 9 of their 13 players. Five of them, including one starter were scoreless. Five players, 0-9, zero points and 5 turnovers. Is that depth? Does that make Baylor "deeper" than UConn? In a word, no.
Now look at depth based on how many good players can play multiple positions. Start with point guard. Can Kia Nurse, Saniya Chong and Crystal Dangerfield all play the point for the Huskies, and play well? How many other teams can say that? How about the shooting guard? Can Kia, Saniya or Katie Lou play there, next to Crystal? How about guarding an opponents' big center like Alaina Coates? In the game this year, Gabby, Napheesa and Butler all took turns playing against the other team's big. How many UConn players can step out and make three point baskets at a 40% clip? The answer is 4 and Crystal, who hit 31%, can get hot from three as well. Team depth is what you gain or lose bringing bench players in for starters or moving starters around to allow breaks, not how many warm bodies are in uniform.
What about foul trouble? What about it. Napheesa has fouled out 3 times this season and has learned to play with fouls. Gabby has never fouled out of a game in her career. Lou averages 1.5 fouls per game. Is that a problem? Saniya and Kia are the only other players who have fouled out. Both fouled out 1 time and have per game foul averages LESS than Lou. The team bus breaking down is more of a problem than players fouling out.
Geno has the most flexible, versatile team in college basketball. Most of the team can play multiple positions, with only Crystal and Natalie limited to one spot. Molly and Kyla can fill in minutes, in an emergency. There is no "team depth" issue on the Huskies. Just my opinion...
I wrote about UConn's depth the other day. Here are some comments from David in Naples about the subject. He has some great insight on the topic!
Those who measure "team depth" based on roster size are missing an important point. The best "team depth" measure is how many good players, can play multiple positions. Consider the recent Baylor loss to West Virginia. In a very close game, Baylor played 9 of their 13 players. Five of them, including one starter were scoreless. Five players, 0-9, zero points and 5 turnovers. Is that depth? Does that make Baylor "deeper" than UConn? In a word, no.
Now look at depth based on how many good players can play multiple positions. Start with point guard. Can Kia Nurse, Saniya Chong and Crystal Dangerfield all play the point for the Huskies, and play well? How many other teams can say that? How about the shooting guard? Can Kia, Saniya or Katie Lou play there, next to Crystal? How about guarding an opponents' big center like Alaina Coates? In the game this year, Gabby, Napheesa and Butler all took turns playing against the other team's big. How many UConn players can step out and make three point baskets at a 40% clip? The answer is 4 and Crystal, who hit 31%, can get hot from three as well. Team depth is what you gain or lose bringing bench players in for starters or moving starters around to allow breaks, not how many warm bodies are in uniform.
What about foul trouble? What about it. Napheesa has fouled out 3 times this season and has learned to play with fouls. Gabby has never fouled out of a game in her career. Lou averages 1.5 fouls per game. Is that a problem? Saniya and Kia are the only other players who have fouled out. Both fouled out 1 time and have per game foul averages LESS than Lou. The team bus breaking down is more of a problem than players fouling out.
Geno has the most flexible, versatile team in college basketball. Most of the team can play multiple positions, with only Crystal and Natalie limited to one spot. Molly and Kyla can fill in minutes, in an emergency. There is no "team depth" issue on the Huskies. Just my opinion...
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By David in Naples!!!!!
The regular season is over, the AAC Tournament won and UConn is 32-0. All is well in the universe, so far. In looking at the statistics for the season, several items just jump off the page. For example, Crystal Dangerfield is just 3 assists shy of 100. How did that happen? She is a freshman and they don't get 100 assists. Moriah had 69 her first year. Maya did have 116 in her freshman year, but she was, you know, Maya..!! Here are several other stats that catch the eye.
1. Napheesa already has 266 baskets for her 647 points. By comparison, Stewie had 274 total baskets to lead the team last season.
2. Kyla Irwin has 5 three point baskets, same as Molly Bent and 4 more than Gabby.
3. Katie Lou makes 44% of her threes (110-252) while opponents only make 27% of their tries.
4. UConn scored twice as many points in the 1st period as opponents (741 vs 362).
5. Napheesa has more steals (54), more blocks (63) and more assists (70) than turnovers (47). Only player to do that.
6. Saniya, 5'8', has 7 blocked shots, Katie Lou, 6'3", has 8.
7. UConn makes 79% of their free throws, opponents only 66%. Both shoot from exactly the same distance.
8. Opponents have 331 assists while UConn has 328 steals.
9. The Huskies have scored 2,772 points on 2,007 shots and 536 free throw attempts. That is a team NISE of +229.
10. Kia Nurse has 111 assists and 111 baskets. She has 41 turnovers and 41 personal fouls. She had 66 rebounds and 66 made free throws.
Just over a week of rest and practice and then on the NCAA Tournament..!!
Go Huskies..!!
1. Napheesa already has 266 baskets for her 647 points. By comparison, Stewie had 274 total baskets to lead the team last season.
2. Kyla Irwin has 5 three point baskets, same as Molly Bent and 4 more than Gabby.
3. Katie Lou makes 44% of her threes (110-252) while opponents only make 27% of their tries.
4. UConn scored twice as many points in the 1st period as opponents (741 vs 362).
5. Napheesa has more steals (54), more blocks (63) and more assists (70) than turnovers (47). Only player to do that.
6. Saniya, 5'8', has 7 blocked shots, Katie Lou, 6'3", has 8.
7. UConn makes 79% of their free throws, opponents only 66%. Both shoot from exactly the same distance.
8. Opponents have 331 assists while UConn has 328 steals.
9. The Huskies have scored 2,772 points on 2,007 shots and 536 free throw attempts. That is a team NISE of +229.
10. Kia Nurse has 111 assists and 111 baskets. She has 41 turnovers and 41 personal fouls. She had 66 rebounds and 66 made free throws.
Just over a week of rest and practice and then on the NCAA Tournament..!!
Go Huskies..!!
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UCONN LINKS
Geno's conference call: AAC competition improving Carl Adamec
UConn signee Megan Walker earns Naismith All-American Jim Fuller
Dear Basketball Gods: Please Do Not Let HBO Jinx The UConn Women Huffington Post
INTERESTING LINKS
New Heritage Minute on legendary women’s basketball team Kamloop BC Now
Florida Women's Basketball Program Will Have New Coach In 2017-18 Florida Gators Now
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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
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board
ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board
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NISE!
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