What can I say about this game. UConn started the game on a 16-2 run before hitting the wall and only scoring 3 points more in the first quarter in the last 5:37 to take a 19-9 lead. They then started the second quarter with a 17-0 run. Like I said in my pregame report, Michigan State wouldn't know what hit them.
Oh, I predicted a 35 point win. Only one off....not bad...!!!
Stevens was just dominating in this game. I just can't imagine this team with Stevens playing like this, and then adding in the versatile game of Samuelson when she gets back and the rugged inside game of Camara and you have maybe the best roster in UConn history. Hyperbole? Maybe. Time will tell.
Game Highlights
******************************************************************************
Game Quotes from Geno
“I think there are times during the game when the pace of the game gets to the other team, you can see it. Sometimes it happens early. Sometimes it happens in the middle. Sometimes it happens late. We try to look for that time, we try to look for when does it show itself that the pace is too much for them to handle. And we try to go at it another gear a little bit more and see if we can end it right there.”
''The first quarter was all just us rebounding, out-letting and going down and shooting the basketball. The second and third quarter was us playing basketball the way we play.''
''I think the two of them (Nurse and Dangerfield) are doing a great job of controlling the tempo of the game. Where the ball goes and how it gets there and making enough shots to keep everybody honest.
Our guards are really, really good right now.''
''We got Stevens to be a little more aggressive and she was really good in the second quarter and the second half, because we got her moving,. She went to the offensive glass. She did things that basketball players do.''
“I can’t even base anymore on what I see today as any indication of what I’ll see tomorrow or the day after or the day after. What I see today is, wow, this is what Azura can be every night if she wanted to. Does that mean we’re going to get that on Tuesday night? I have no idea. We’ll see. I hope so.”
''The first quarter was all just us rebounding, out-letting and going down and shooting the basketball. The second and third quarter was us playing basketball the way we play.''
''I think the two of them (Nurse and Dangerfield) are doing a great job of controlling the tempo of the game. Where the ball goes and how it gets there and making enough shots to keep everybody honest.
Our guards are really, really good right now.''
''We got Stevens to be a little more aggressive and she was really good in the second quarter and the second half, because we got her moving,. She went to the offensive glass. She did things that basketball players do.''
“I can’t even base anymore on what I see today as any indication of what I’ll see tomorrow or the day after or the day after. What I see today is, wow, this is what Azura can be every night if she wanted to. Does that mean we’re going to get that on Tuesday night? I have no idea. We’ll see. I hope so.”
UCLA Coach Suzi Merchant and her Players
Coach Merchant - “I think that’s the UConn factor a little bit, think some of our kids were a little bit intimidated by that.”
Coach Merchant on recruiting - “In an eight-day span, it’s over. That’s what you’re up against a little bit from a recruiting standpoint. There’s just not enough parity in the women’s game.”
Coach Merchant - “They’re just the gold standard. There’s kind of UConn and everybody else.”
Guard McCutcheon - “The first couple possessions, you kind of get a feel of that speed and that length, of how hard they play. For the rest of the game, you know it’s going to be like that. This team is like a machine.”
Player Evaluations
Azura Stevens
Player of the game
Player of the game
Wow. Wow. Wow. I haven't seen a dominating performance by a center in a UConn uniform since Tina Charles. That is saying something. In her 31 minutes Azura had 25 points, and career highs of 16 rebounds and 5 assists. She added a block and a steal and only had one turnover. She did hit a three pointer, but once she decided to work inside the paint, she just dominated. Too tall for small defenders and too quick for bigger defenders, Michigan State had no answer for her. As Geno said, we will see if this is what we see from her going forward. But certainly this version makes UConn an impossible team to beat.
“I definitely didn’t play as well as I wanted to and contribute to the team. That had been on my mind for a couple of days.”
“A lot of other teams waver. We try to bring the same intensity no matter who we’re playing. I think I’ve always had it but now it’s getting to a point where I bring it out every game, and not kind of wait for coach to yell at me or someone to kind of shove me and then get me revved up. Just bringing it from the minute we tip off.”
“There were definitely points during the game where I felt like more connected with the team and the way that we were playing, and the flow and the rhythm. So I definitely am going to watch this film and just keep these moments in my head. It was kind of nice to leave the game feeling like I actually helped the team out.”
Crystal Dangerfield
Crystal had a terrific game that was overshadowed by Stevens great effort. But make no mistake about it, Dangerfield impacted the game just as much. She struggled from long range, but in her 34 minutes she had a career high 10 assists. She also added 10 points for her first career double-double. She also controlled the Michigan State guards defensive and added 3 steals.
She just controls the game and has an idea of what to do on every play. I wouldn't trade her for any point guard in the country.
She just controls the game and has an idea of what to do on every play. I wouldn't trade her for any point guard in the country.
Kia Nurse
Speaking of great guards, Kia had a terrific game. What a motor! She was constantly on the move, ahead of all the Michigan State players scoring layup after layup. In her 31 minutes Kia had 20 points and a tidy 5 assists with only one turnover. She added 2 steals and is the real vocal leader on the court.
Napheesa Collier
Another funky shooter performance by Collier. She was only 6-13 from the field and 1-3 on threes. But in her 28 minutes, she was just terrific in every other aspect of the game. She had 14 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks. She sometimes forces her shot so far this year. A little more selective and her shooting percentage will improve. But no complaints from me!!!
Gabby Williams
Gabby is such a smart player. She knew where the points were coming from so she decided to do everything else she could to help UConn win. She only took 6 shots making 4. In her 28 minutes she had 8 points 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. She was so generous she also had 4 turnovers, of which one had Geno going ballistic on the sideline. It's kinda weird to see a senior like her make so many dumb mistakes, but it's there for us to see. I'm sure she will keep working on fixing that. 14 turnovers on two games. Bleeech!
Megan Walker
The Rest
A pretty quiet game for Walker but a solid one. In her 18 minutes she scored 5 points 3 rebounds and an assists with NO turnovers.
The Rest
It was great to see the bench get some minutes and everyone scored except for Lexi Gordon. AEH his two nice threes and when she played with some starters she looked pretty darn good.
Including Walker, the bench was 8-14 from the field and contributed 19 points 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 48 minutes. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Including Walker, the bench was 8-14 from the field and contributed 19 points 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 48 minutes. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Final Thoughts
Up next is Nevada to finish off this long road trip. The Wolf Pack is 2-2 with a game against SMU on Sunday. In this contest, Dog eats Wolf.
No comments:
Post a Comment