**************************************************************************
I'm going to keep this here to remind you all to vote for UConn players!!!!!
Lou, Gabby - Women's Citizen Naismith Trophy (vote March 19-30)
***************************************************************
I hope to have a little time to put together a full post game report. But this game especially the first quarter was something special. The shooting, the passing, the defending....UConn was just at the top of their game. Dangerfield was a spark, giving UConn a game that she hadn't been able to do since her shin splints were acting up. All five starters scored in double digits. And it was another 20+ assist game. They were just unbelievable.
Kudos to an emotional A'ja Wilson, who scored 27 points but didn't have enough help this year to go any further in the tournament. The game long tribute was a little much. As texted me "we have two seniors too". But I guess they knew early that Wilson was playing her last game. And that Nurse and Williams have more to accomplish. They can talk about them as they come out of the National championship winning game!
Geno was thrilled after the game and why not. This team looks to be on a mission but XX will not be an easy team to beat.
***************************************************************
Well, this could be a great post season for UConn in more ways than one. In the PowerAde Jam Fest, UConn recruit Olivia Nelson-Ododa made the finals of the dunk contest along with two male players. She scored 100 on her first dunk and hit a baseline dunk as well for 88 points. Amazing. This girl has ups and is a true shot blocker. Her defense will get her time on the court next season for the Huskies.
Her future teammate Christyn Williams's team won the Shootout contest. I guarantee that she would have won the three point shooting contest. She didn't miss one in the many highlights I've linked!...lol.
***************************************************************
AP
Next year Williams and Nurse move on and Steven and Dangerfield will make this team.
***************************************************************
UConn 94 South Carolina 65
UConn Blows Out South Carolina, Reaches Final Four In Style Courant
Dangerfield, Williams lead UConn to 11th consecutive Final Four SNY
UConn women rout South Carolina, advance to Final 4 Jim Fuller
Dangerfield, Williams lead UConn to 11th consecutive Final Four SNY
UConn women rout South Carolina, advance to Final 4 Jim Fuller
UConn headed to 11th consecutive Final Four ESPN
UConn Blows Out South Carolina to Advance to Final Four UConn Blog
UConn Crushes South Carolina En Route to 11th Straight Final Four NY Times
UConn Becomes Third No. 1 Seed to Qualify for Women’s Final Four SI
Notre Dame 84 Oregon 74
UConn Blows Out South Carolina to Advance to Final Four UConn Blog
UConn Crushes South Carolina En Route to 11th Straight Final Four NY Times
UConn Becomes Third No. 1 Seed to Qualify for Women’s Final Four SI
Notre Dame 84 Oregon 74
As I watched this game I asked myself, which do you prefer, the devil you know or the devil your really, really, really know. But the end of the game I was happy to see Notre Dame again. For one, it made it that all four No. 1 seeds are in the final four. There is some symmetry there and I'm a fan of symmetry. And if UConn is going to win this thing, I want to play the best. Clearly Notre Dame was better than this game Oregon team. They are still just a little young. Ionescu is a great player but she got a little tight in the second half. I believe she will learn from this. She is really DT light. I love her game. Like the South Carolina game, I'll have a pregame analysis to copy and paste and just update with the latest. And we have the first game to look at for clues to how this game might go.
One last comment. Was Mabrey's flop the flop of all flops? So happy for replay. At first I thought she got hit in the face. But she wasn't touched. Then she tripped on her teammate. I just hate that style of play.
There is no team I would like to have UConn beat more than ND. Not even Tennessee.
I'm tired. I'll add links for this game later. It's been a LONG night.