Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 1/30/19

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Baby it's cold outside!!!!

So stay indoors if you can. Wear layers if you go out. Lots of layers. Cover your face!

It's just a couple of days, so hang in there! Pitchers and catchers in 2 weeks!

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If you haven't seen it yet, here is my UConn/Louisville Pre Game report.

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Only one Top 25 game Wednesday and it was the No. 1 team in the country. Baylor was on the road and played conference opponent Oklahoma State.

Yes, Oklahoma State, a team that lost to that powerhouse Tennessee by 13 points. Yes, Oklahoma State, who lost to unranked UCLA by 12. By 9 to unranked West Virginia. By 11 to unranked Kansas State.

A 12-6 team coming in, but 3-4 in a pretty weak Big 12 conference. Just not a very good team.

Now, the upset didn't happen. Baylor was able to pull this game out in the fourth quarter to win 66-58. But it was not the way a No. 1 team should play after getting that honor this week. I didn't see the game, but following the game cast, it was Oklahoma State that led for most of the game and even by 2 points going into the fourth quarter. Did they get the refs whistle in their favor? Yes, but with their size, that is no surprise. It took a 25-29 outing from the free throw line to beat OSU.

Baylor missed a ton of shots, but was able to clean up the misses and get to the line on those chances. The Bears only took 52 shots and had only 19 field goals. 36%. But 14 offensive rebounds made up for some of that.

BTW, the Baylor bench was basically ineffective in the few minutes they played. Three players split 18 minutes and had 3 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

Hey, they won. They deserve the ranking right now. I don't think there is a team in their conference that can beat them so look for a strong No. 1 going into the NCAA tournament.

I'd love UConn to face them again. I believe!!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

PART I

South Carolina played Vanderbilt the other day and beat them 80-69. SC was down 2 at the half but pulled away to lead by 19 with 4 minutes left in the game. Then SC went cold. They did not score for the rest of the game, while Vanderbilt scored 8. The final margin of victory was 11. Vanderbilt's record is 6-14.

UConn also played Vanderbilt early in the season. The Huskies also scored 80 points, but only gave up 42. The halftime score was 44-21 and the final margin was 38 points. In their game, South Carolina had 14 turnovers and only 11 assists. They shot 3-11 from the three-point arc. Vanderbilt shot 45% from the field and 55% from beyond the three-point line. The rebounding margin was only +2 for SC.

This is not the South Carolina powerhouse UConn is used to seeing. Keep that in mind when they meet in February.

PART II

Currently, Christyn Williams has made 22 of her 62 three-point shots. That works out to 35.5%. Fair weather fans worry and criticize her lack of production. But, how do her current numbers compare to the freshman season of other recent Huskies? Consider:

1. Saniya Chong went 30-93 for 32.3% her freshman season.

2. Breanna Stewart was 28-84 her rookie year. That is 33.3%.

3. Moriah Jefferson was 17-64 or 26.6% as a freshman.

4. Crystal Dangerfield was not much better at 26-82 or 31.7% her first year.

At this halfway point in the season, Christyn is struggling a bit with her shot. Apparently, most of the recent greats had exactly the same issue as rookies. How did those four players listed above end up? All improved nicely over the course of their UConn careers. This is something all freshman go through, and Christyn will be fine. Just watch...

PART III

All-time UConn scoring list update. Both Katie Lou and Napheesa are moving on up..!!

7. Diana Taurasi (2,156)

8. Kara Wolters (2,141)
9. Rebecca Lobo (2,133)
10. Katie Lou Samuelson (2,069)
11. Bria Hartley (1,994)
12. Renee Montgomery (1,990)
13. Napheesa Collier (1,963)

Both KLS and Pheesa are not going to pass anyone in their next game. Pheesa is 37 points away from Renee. With luck, that is 2 games away. Lou is 64 points from Rebecca Lobo. After Louisville, UConn plays Cincinnati, East Carolina and Temple. Should be easier to score against thse teams. For Samuelson, after Lobo, Kara Wolters is only another 8 points away. For Napheesa, after, she only needs 5 points to lap Bria Hartley.

Good luck Lou & Pheesa..!!

Go Huskies..!!

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