Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 12/10/18

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There were not many links and not many Top 25 games to report on so the blog is a little short on info. It's exam time, so most days will be like this the next week or so. I'll try to come up with some interesting stats and stories! And the occasional picture of my grandkid!!

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UConn Stats Comparison

2017-18 2018-19

87.8 PPG 87.9

61.4 Defensive PPG 53.0

26.4 Scoring Margin 34.9

51.7 Field Goal % 51.9

35.2 Defensive FG% 31.9

40.1 Three Point % 40.9

29.2 Defensive 3PT% 24.9

72.2 Free Throw % 72.7

42.6 Rebounds/game 43.4

8.6 Rebounding Margin 10.0

22.4 Assists per game 20.7

15.6 Turnover per game 10.8

1.4 Assists/TO ratio 1.9

10.4 Steals per game 6.3

5.0 Blocks per game 3.1

UConn is around 1/4 of the way through the season so I thought I would compare how this version of the Huskies compares with last year's version at the same time.

It is amazingly close, but that is no surprise as most of these stats are a product of the UConn system and not necessarily the players.

The biggest difference is turnovers, blocks and steals.

At this point and time last season, UConn was a turnover machine. Almost 5 more turnovers per game than this year. And last year's version had 4 more steals and 2 more blocks per game. My "expert" analysis of that tells me that you lose possessions with the turnovers but you gain them back with the steals and blocks, so basically, those stats are a wash.

Bottom line, even with losing Gabby Williams, Kia Nurse and Azura Stevens, and adding only the two freshmen Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa the UConn Machine just keeps on keepin' on. It bodes well for the team next season, even with losing Collier and Samuelson.

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No. 6 Maryland was the only top 25 team in action Monday and they were an easy winner over Loyola (MD). As they should have been. Loyola (MD) is now 0-10 for the season.

The Terrapins are undefeated at 10-0 and I'm not sure they will lose a game in the regular season. The Big Ten is not very strong, although Michigan State just upset the former No. 3 Oregon team, so Maryland could very well run the table in the conference. And for sure, there was no chance of them losing any OOC games with the weakness of their schedule.

I won't embarrass those teams, but their RPI is 259, 82, 220, 83, 339, 68, 147, 273, 101 and 329.

The lowest RPI they faced was Georgia Tech and the only ranked team was a weak South Carolina squad.

They still have a game against RPI 204 Delaware before conference play starts. That would be an average RPI of 191 for their OOC opponents. Weak.....come on Brenda, grow a pair!!!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

Nine games into the season, the Huskies remain undefeated and many statistics are what fans expect. Some are not. For example, freshman Olivia Nelson-Ododa has taken 31 free throw attempts. Crystal and Christyn have 29 COMBINED. Weird... Here are some other anomalies:

1. Kyla is shooting 80% from three-point range. (4-5)

2. Mikayla Coombs has 9 steals in 109 minutes. That is just 2 steals from the team lead.

3. Freshman Christyn Williams has a team-leading 11 steals.

4. Napheesa is shooting 63% from the free throw line.

5. Christyn leads the team in minutes played at 304 or 33.8 per game.

6. Pheesa is averaging a double-double in points (18.4) and rebounds (10.2).

7. Kyla has started 2 games, played 114 minutes and has not been to the free throw line.

8. Crystal has 23 turnovers in nine games, Last year she had 53 all season.

9. Mikayla has 3 blocked shots. The same # as Katie Lou. Coombs is 5'8".

10. Napheesa has 32 assists and only 13 turnovers. That ratio is 2.46.

No game until December 19th due to final exams.

Go Huskies..!!