Doggy's UConn/South Florida II Post Game Report

Game Analysis

What a wonderful pre game ceremony celebrating the seniors. I always love how Geno recognizes the team managers and student assistants just like they do the players. Both Kia and Gabby were so classy in how they comported themselves. 

The game itself was a typical Senior Night outcome. A slow start when the players are too emotional and then the usual UConn streaks, creating a big lead followed by a slower second half when Geno taps on the breaks. 

I was so amazed by UConn's defense, even when the offense got off to such a slow start. Yes, the primary defender on South Florida's leading scorer Laksa was Kia Nurse. And yes, Nurse was just a bull dog in stopping Laksa from getting any open looks. But as the USF coach said, UConn can switch 1-5. Every switch was perfectly timed and more importantly, after the switch, the new defender on Laksa went into faceguard mode. Now THAT is following the game plan to a tee. 

Overall a great game for UConn. They could have won by 60 if they wanted to. They didn't want to.  

Senior Night Festivities

     

Game Highlights

Game Replay

Commercial Free

Game Stats and Box Score

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Geno Post Game Interview

Game Quotes
from Geno

"10 undefeated regular seasons. I guess that they're hard to do otherwise more people would do it an I want to say we still celebrate and appreciate what were doing but its one of those things that doesn't register until after. After you look back and go I cant believe we've done it again...sometimes we get so fixated on what the next 9 games look like and even more importantly the 6 after these 3."

"From the time that she walked on campus Kia has been an amazing competitor and it started in the first couple workouts and she didn't start the first couple games of our season her freshman year and we lost one of them and she has only lost one since, I think, but she's an unbelievable competitor that is the best way I can describe it. Even when she didn't know what she was doing, she was probably scared out of her wits and played amazing. It has been that way ever since.

"And Gabby that was one of those, kids a great player in high school and comes to the pros and never again plays the position he played in college. However, everything they did them in high school helped them in their new position. So its rare that  you have a player that can do what Gabby can do around the basket and defensively that can handle and pass the ball the way she does it."

here: tp://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article197971914.html#storylink=cpy

Game Quotes

Coach Jose Fernandez

"For us and our kids, it's great that they play the best team in the country. We embrace it. Because we are judged against UConn, people don't always look at how UConn does against Louisville, Notre Dame, UCLA and Texas. I think there is a familiarity there  because we see them three times a year. I don't like how our program is judged nationally that way. Look at our losses. We lost by 10 to Notre Dame, we were up in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma, that's the only thing that bothers me."

"I think he has one of the best defenders in the country in Kia Nurse, and I think his length bothers us. He's able to switch one through five and a lot of teams can't do that. Most teams only have one and for 40 minutes they wear that kid down. It's hard to wear down those other guys."

"Our goal is what it has been. We've got three runner up trophies in our conference room. Our goal is to win our first two games in the conference tournament and again play them on Tuesday night and compete for a conference championship."

"You've got to have a short term memory. Our kids know that. We have a week to get ready. We need to get healthy. We had some very good wins last week against SMU and Houston. Up until this point we'd won nine in a row. We're in a good place."

Player Evaluations

Napheesa Collier

Collier let the seniors do her thing and was off on her shot because of it. She only went 3-9 from the field and took three unnecessary three point shots. But even with her weak shooting she managed 7 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal in her 31 minutes. 

  

Kia Nurse

As usual, Kia played the most minutes. She was content to play her usual tough defense, holding Laska to 2 first half points. Her face guarding defense was so effective. Nurse played a game high 36 minutes and was 2-2 on threes. She managed 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in this outing. But look on her face in the picture above is just priceless.  

"Obviously for us we try to take each and every day and appreciate what we have, appreciate the opportunity that we have been given as a result of the people that have built this place and the coaching staff and what they do for us each and every day. At the same time we still have to focus on what is in front [us]."

"Senior night was incredible. It was a great atmosphere to be apart of and I am so fortunate to be part of a program who does things like this to celebrate four years and the journey and the road that Gabby and I have been on and it's all the better when you get to do it with your best friend by your side through it all."

Gabby Williams

What can I say that hasn't been said about this amazing talent. She is going to be a star at the next level. She has it all except an outside game, but don't count her out there either in her future. So many more plays that make you just go "wow" and a great person to boot. In this game she played 28 minutes and had 18 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists. 1 block and 3 steals. Whew. A great way to finish her home game career.      

"It has been crazy playing with Kia. I think that our connection and chemistry has evolved so much and we just have so much fun together on the court and I think that's the best part about it."

"Yeah, the coolest part about it was having my family there. People don't realize, the people who were out there with me tonight, how much they've had an impact on my success here. That fact that the fans got to cheer for them tonight was really special for me."

Kati Lou Samuelson  

Lou showed her versatility again in this game. In her 30 minutes she had 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and  3 steals. She is looking really good and with no residual issues with her ankle.     

"As a leader, Kia is a person that she is so passionate about the game and she is so involved. We know we are going to get her best effort every game. She is so dialed into that and obviously, we will take some things from her and try and emulate that as well.

"Yeah Mississippi State has had a great season and they are playing really great basketball they have a lot of weapons and a lot of people playing at their highest. I think they have a few seniors.. they have a couple of seniors who are really trying to finish out their year strong. If that game comes we will observe that when it happens and I am sure we will be excited to play and motivated. As I said before nothing is guaranteed and we know that after last year, so we know that and really aren't trying to look ahead at all."

Crystal Dangerfield

It was great to see Dangerfield get a good run. You could see her timing coming back after weeks of not practicing. The rest before the AAC tournament will do her well. Crystal played 30 minutes and was 3-4 from the field and 1-1 on threes. She scored 8 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and handed out 2 assists. I think we will see the early season Dangerfield soon.  

Azura Stevens

Just another terrific performance off the bench by Stevens. She is coming off 3 games that earned her AAC player of the week and this one is just one more that should just show WCBB that she is as good as any center in the country. Yeah, I know, too skinny to play post. I disagree. She makes up for her lack of strength with long arms and great timing. In this game she played 18 minutes and scored 21 points and added 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.  

Megan Walker

Walker was the only bench player besides Stevens to see significant time as part of the regular rotation. She had her moments including one really strong drive from the right key. She looked great on that and a mid-range jumper. She played some tough defense as well. In her 15 minutes, she had 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist. 

Kyla Irwin, Molly Bent,
Mikayla Coombs, Batouly Camara, Lexi Gordon

It was clear to Geno that Jose was not going to pull his starters, so he didn't give the back end of the bench much time in this one. But I'm sure the 3 sophs and 2 freshman had a good look at how UConn treats it's seniors and can imagine their Senior nights!   

 Final Thoughts


AAC CHAMPS!!

So, now we have a few days off for the team before the AAC tournament at the Mohegan Sun. UConn has the number one seed and could end up playing South Florida one more time. It will give UConn a chance to play in a tournament atmosphere before the three weeks of NCAA play starts.

I'm feeling pretty good about this team right now. Especially with the level of play by Azura Stevens. She gives UConn something they didn't have last season with her length and her ability to play the post on offense. She seems to have really figured it out. Folks like to talk about how sometimes a play figures it out in the tournament similar to how Stewart did her freshman season. I would submit to you that what Stevens went through is similar to Stewarts first year. And I think we might see Azura battle the other UConn stars for post season honors.

And now, here are some videos that I saw on YouTube recently that are just wonderful. I hope you all enjoy them!!

Senior Night 2004 - Taurasi, Conlon, M. Valley

Svetlana Abrosimova 

That injury cost UConn the championship that season.

Kelly Faris Caroline Doty Heather Buck UConn Senior Night 2013

UConn Husky Women 1995-96 Senior Night

Shea Ralph Senior Night

And finally, one of my favorite classes, the graduating class of 2016!!!

Morgan Tuck, Moriah Jefferson and Breanna Stewart

Love the reaction from this years graduating seniors while on the bench enjoying the show.