Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 11/14/17

*********************************************************************************

In case you missed it here is my UConn/Stanford post game report.

*********************************************************************************

I watched the South Carolina/Maryland game and the defending National Champions looked pretty good early on taking a 19 point lead early in the second quarter. They certainly got off to a great start before letting Maryland back in the game late in the game in a 94-86 win.

A'ja Wilson is still A'ja Wilson. A tough matchup for every team in the country. But I really like the two transfer additions in Lindsay Spann from Penn State as a 5th year senior and Alexis Jennings a Junior from Kentucky. Plus the returning players Harris, Herbert-Harrigan, and Cliney and the freshman all looked good.

I expect them to stay in the top 5 all season and go far in the tournament based on just talent.

Just an observation. The SC players seem to complain to the refs quitc a bit. And one received a technical for taunting. And lastly, at the end of the third quarter a Maryland player took a rebound coast to coast for a layup with very little resistance from the South Carolina players. As the SC team walked to the bench after the buzzer, they were pointing and clearly unhappy with each other. Coach Staley told them to knock it off. It's little things like that, that show me the immaturity of the SC team at times. These are things you just never see UConn players do.

*********************************************************************************

Yeah, Maryland looked like a team that lost it's top three scorers from last year. Early on they really struggled to get good shots and make the ones they did get.

I'm sure that Coach Frese thought that Destiny Slocum would be there this year leading the team. We all know how important a great point guard is to any successful team. But this Maryland team seems to be shy of a leader with the ball.

They pretty much played better than South Carolina over the 25 minutes and this will go a long wat to get them to improve as the season goes on. Lots of new part. But lots of confidence after this great comeback even in losing.

They will still beat up on the weaker teams on their schedule and the Big Ten is not the strongest Big Five conference so there will be wins in conference.

********************************************************************************

By David in Naples!!!!!

David found the time to do this! Thanks David!!

Nobody challenges their team like the Duke Blue Devils. While UConn scheduled cupcakes Stanford, California, Maryland, UCLA, Notre Dame and DePul in their first 8 games, Duke takes on the giants of Women's basketball. Consider the murderous schedule of the Blue Devils:

Nov. 5th - Alaska Anchorage
Nov. 12th - Grand Canyon
Nov. 16th - High Point
Nov. 19th - Villanova
Nov. 22nd - Old Dominion
Nov. 25th - Oregon State
Nov. 26th - Presbyterian

Several notes - The Grand Canyon game is against the school, not the landmark. High Point may actually be the high point of their schedule. Presbyterian is a school, Duke is not taking on the whole religion.

Oh, one other thing. Five of the games are at home, where the Dukies feel safe and comfortable. Way to go Duke..!!

*********************************************************************************

UCONN LINKS