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Twenty one Top 25 teams in action with a few upsets! You KNOW I have something to say......
No. 2 Notre Dame, with their 7 player rotation handled Georgia Tech 77-54 behind 25 points by Arkie Ogunbowale. It's tough when your only two players off the bench are forwards. With only two true guards and no real point guard it will get a little tougher in their next game against No. 3 Louisville. Mabrey is just not a point guard. She had 5 assists but 5 turnovers. And her lack of quickness is going to be an issue. And she is not adding much on offense, going 0-2 on threes and only scoring 4 points. They will need more from her.
Speaking of No 3. Louisville, they were able to defeat unranked Virginia Tech 67-56 behind 21 points by the very talented Asia Durr. She was 4-6 on threes and more efficient than usual with her 21 points coming on 13 shots. Louisville on offense is pretty much two player team with Durr and Hines-Allen dominating the ball. Looking forward to seeing how UConn handles them when they play in a few weeks.
The one game I was able to watch was the game between No. 4 South Carolina and No. 15 Missouri. I hadn't seen Missouri play this season, but that didn't stop me from saying that the Tigers were overrated. I might have to take that back. Missouri was able to defeat the Gamecocks 83-74 but that is not why I think they are not overrated anymore. The Tigers play a terrific brand of basketball. Their ball movement is great and they have some nice outside shooters and solid inside play. Sophie Cunningham is one terrific player. She is hard nosed and a real leader. I didn't like her "shake" move after hitting a basket and being fouled. It was a little over the top. Now, as well as Missouri played, South Carolina showed what happens when POY candidate A'ja Wilson plays like it was her first game in college. She had foul trouble the entire game, and many of those fouls were just dumb. And her attitude was just awful. She sat on the bench and sulked and her last foul? It looked to me that she just didn't want to be on the court. She ran over a player setting a screen. It was obvious and not a foul a first team AA should be making. She only played 16 minutes scoring 8 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. As much of a leader that Cunningham is, Wilson is just not that kind of leader. Her coach is not much better. She whined the entire game to the officials, had a technical because of it and then late in the game, she got her second technical to get ejected from the game. In a move not becoming the US Olympic coach she egged the crowd on with her hand gestures and then finally gave a few salutes to the fans. I hope UConn beats them by 50.
No. 7 Tennessee kept it's unblemished record alive with an 86-73 win over a terrible Vanderbilt team. Yeah, I know, a win is a win, but the Lady Vols continue to be unimpressive. Against a much smaller team with no one over 6'2" Tennessee's Mercedes Russell had a career high 31 points. And 6'3" transfer Greene had a great game with 17 points. Tennessee wisely used it size to dominate Vanderbilt. But of course, I can't be totally positive about the Lady Vols. Jamie Nared, the AA candidate in many TN fan's eyes, had another poor shooting game, going 5-16 from the field and 0-4 on threes. Her shooting percentages are very Deshield like at 39.5% from the field and 25.5% on threes. Their SEC FOY candidate was able to cut back on her turnovers after 9 in her last game. But she was 1-10 from the field and 0-3 on threes. They are lucky to be playing so many weak teams so far this season. Tennessee will finally have some true tests with their next four games. On the road against No. 18 Texas A&M (who runs hot and cold), No. 4 South Carolina and No. 2 Notre Dame and then at home against No. 5 Mississippi State. I might have to eat some crow if they win 2-3 of these games. Time will tell!
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Speaking of No 3. Louisville, they were able to defeat unranked Virginia Tech 67-56 behind 21 points by the very talented Asia Durr. She was 4-6 on threes and more efficient than usual with her 21 points coming on 13 shots. Louisville on offense is pretty much two player team with Durr and Hines-Allen dominating the ball. Looking forward to seeing how UConn handles them when they play in a few weeks.
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The one game I was able to watch was the game between No. 4 South Carolina and No. 15 Missouri. I hadn't seen Missouri play this season, but that didn't stop me from saying that the Tigers were overrated. I might have to take that back. Missouri was able to defeat the Gamecocks 83-74 but that is not why I think they are not overrated anymore. The Tigers play a terrific brand of basketball. Their ball movement is great and they have some nice outside shooters and solid inside play. Sophie Cunningham is one terrific player. She is hard nosed and a real leader. I didn't like her "shake" move after hitting a basket and being fouled. It was a little over the top. Now, as well as Missouri played, South Carolina showed what happens when POY candidate A'ja Wilson plays like it was her first game in college. She had foul trouble the entire game, and many of those fouls were just dumb. And her attitude was just awful. She sat on the bench and sulked and her last foul? It looked to me that she just didn't want to be on the court. She ran over a player setting a screen. It was obvious and not a foul a first team AA should be making. She only played 16 minutes scoring 8 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. As much of a leader that Cunningham is, Wilson is just not that kind of leader. Her coach is not much better. She whined the entire game to the officials, had a technical because of it and then late in the game, she got her second technical to get ejected from the game. In a move not becoming the US Olympic coach she egged the crowd on with her hand gestures and then finally gave a few salutes to the fans. I hope UConn beats them by 50.
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No. 7 Tennessee kept it's unblemished record alive with an 86-73 win over a terrible Vanderbilt team. Yeah, I know, a win is a win, but the Lady Vols continue to be unimpressive. Against a much smaller team with no one over 6'2" Tennessee's Mercedes Russell had a career high 31 points. And 6'3" transfer Greene had a great game with 17 points. Tennessee wisely used it size to dominate Vanderbilt. But of course, I can't be totally positive about the Lady Vols. Jamie Nared, the AA candidate in many TN fan's eyes, had another poor shooting game, going 5-16 from the field and 0-4 on threes. Her shooting percentages are very Deshield like at 39.5% from the field and 25.5% on threes. Their SEC FOY candidate was able to cut back on her turnovers after 9 in her last game. But she was 1-10 from the field and 0-3 on threes. They are lucky to be playing so many weak teams so far this season. Tennessee will finally have some true tests with their next four games. On the road against No. 18 Texas A&M (who runs hot and cold), No. 4 South Carolina and No. 2 Notre Dame and then at home against No. 5 Mississippi State. I might have to eat some crow if they win 2-3 of these games. Time will tell!
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No. 8 Texas, another future UConn opponent, used a second quarter surge to defeat a pretty mediocre Kansas State team. Lashann Higgs has been playing some great ball and led the Longhorns with 26 points hitting all three of her three point shots. Even though Joyner Holmes is back, she is not really ready to contribute. In her four games she is only averaging 6.8 MPG. I don't think she will be much of a difference maker in the UConn matchup. Texas has 12 players with double digit minutes. Crazy. I'm pretty sure that they will cut that down to 7 or 8 against the Huskies.
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Well, goodbye Top 25 Tara! Yes, No. 24 Stanford lost to No. 25 Arizona State 73-66 and so now they will drop back out of the rankings. I never thought they should have been back in.
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Here is my UConn/South Florida Post Game Report.
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Natalie Butler update time!!!!
Nat had another double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds against George Washington in a
62-52 loss. She leads the nation in double-doubles and rebounding!!!
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By David in Naples!!!!!
Doggy will cover the USF game in detail, but here are several Fun Facts from the boxscore:
1. Seven UConn players scored a three-point basket and four had more than one.
2. Eight of the top nine attendance records for USF has been against the Huskies.
3. Napheesa (205 pts) took over the scoring lead from Kia (197 pts) with her 25 against USF.
4. USF missed 52 shots and took only 2 free throws.
5. USF also had more turnovers (14) than assists (12).
6. In their last two games, UConn has blocked 23 shots.
7. The top three scorers from USF were a combined 4-40.... 10%..!
8. The Huskies bench scored 33 points. USF starters scored 26.
9. UConn had only 8 personal fouls and USF took only 2 free throws.
10. Nine Huskies had an assist and the team totaled 27 on 37 baskets.
Next up for the Huskies is UCF at home..!!
Go Huskies..!!
1. Seven UConn players scored a three-point basket and four had more than one.
2. Eight of the top nine attendance records for USF has been against the Huskies.
3. Napheesa (205 pts) took over the scoring lead from Kia (197 pts) with her 25 against USF.
4. USF missed 52 shots and took only 2 free throws.
5. USF also had more turnovers (14) than assists (12).
6. In their last two games, UConn has blocked 23 shots.
7. The top three scorers from USF were a combined 4-40.... 10%..!
8. The Huskies bench scored 33 points. USF starters scored 26.
9. UConn had only 8 personal fouls and USF took only 2 free throws.
10. Nine Huskies had an assist and the team totaled 27 on 37 baskets.
Next up for the Huskies is UCF at home..!!
Go Huskies..!!
And more with some repeats -
Here the list of what went wrong against USF...
1. UConn missed 5 of 18 free throws. That 72% is exactly the season average...
2. My pretzel was stale...
And now the better list of what went right..!!
1. UConn's defense held USF's 3 leading scorers to 4-40 or 10%..!
2. Pheesa was a beast w/ 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals and a three.
3. Seven Huskies made a three-point shot and 4 had more than one.
4. The bench scored 33 points and won the 4th quarter, 25-17.
5. USF had more personal fouls (13) and turnovers (14) than assists (12).
6. The defense pressured the Bulls into 52 missed shots and allowed just 2 free throws.
7. We found out Lou is taller than Z... (see picture)
8. UConn had 27 assists on 37 baskets & shot 53.6% from the field.
9. Katie Lou went 4-9 from three range and USF's Laksa was 0-8, (due to Kia's defense)
10. The 10 blocks mean UConn has blocked 23 shots in the last two games..!
The list could go on and on, as that was a complete beat down from top to bottom. Please note the photo above showing the starters reacting to the excellent bench play. The chemistry for this group is the highest it has been all season. So are the stats..!
Go Huskies..!!
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UCONN LINKS
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WCBB Top 25 Results
WCBB Top 25 Results
Upsets in RED
Ogunbowale, Young pace No. 2 Irish to easy win The Republic
Durr leads No. 3 Louisville past Virginia Tech, 67-56 Fox Sports
Cunningham leads No. 15 Missouri to upset of No. 4 Gamecocks Fox Sports
McCowan leads unbeaten No. 5 Mississippi State past LSU The Republic
Lady Vols beat Vanderbilt behind Mercedes Russell's career day Knoxville News
Texas uses second-half surge to beat Kansas St 75-64 Watertown Daily
9 Oregon 14 UCLA
No. 10 Ohio State outlasts No. 22 Michigan 78-71 in OT USA Today
Syracuse knocks off No. 11 Florida State 76-69 Daily Orange
Maryland women’s basketball rolls past Wisconsin, 71-44 Testudo Time
16 Oregon State 61 USC 65
Brown scores 34, No. 17 Duke women top NC State 69-56 ABC News
Gustafson, Doyle lift No. 18 Iowa women past Illini 84-71 Fox Sports
Hillsman has 31, No. 19 A&M women turn back Auburn 82-73 USA Today
Goodwin, Jensen lead No. 20 Oklahoma St women over Oklahoma Yahoo Sports
No. 22 West Virginia halts Iowa State's comeback attempt Iowa State Team Site
Cowling scores 19, No. 23 Cal women hold on 53-51 Tampa Bay Times
No. 25 Arizona State women turn back No. 24 Stanford USA Today
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