Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 3/26/19

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It's a quietday in WCBB so not too many links to share. I'll keep hunting!!!

In the meantime, I'm working on a UConn/UCLA Pre Game Report with a bunch of detail for you to check out. Hopefully it will give you a better perspective on UConn's next opponent in the tournament. Based on some comments I've read some UConn fans could really use the education.

See Below!

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Yes, UConn is in big trouble. No chance to win this next game according to some fans. So, before I put together some details in the Pre Game Report, here are a few for a sneak preview to give you a little perspective. But first, here are some interesting takes on the game and my comments.

"UCLA will be a monumental opponent on Friday night."

Monumental? Sure UCLA is playing well, but beating Maryland to me is not that big of an accomplishment. They were overrated all season to me. UCLA has lost 12 games this season. That number is what is monumental.

" I give a decided edge to UCLA. Given UCLA's length and athleticism, its confidence and momentum, if and when UCLA starts to hang close, get a lead, or even perhaps stretch a lead a bit into the first five minutes of the third quarter, they may begin to smell blood in the water; and things could get ugly for UConn. Under such circumstances UCLA, could win this by 15 points, perhaps even more."

A decided edge to UCLA? Yes, they are on a roll but decided? As you will see in my Pre Game Report, UConn is the one with the decided edge. Anytime you have the best player on the court you have the edge and that player is Collier. In what parallel universe could UConn lose by 15 points or even more?

"I think UConn has developed into one of the weakest penetrating teams in the country. they either pass inside to Collier, or shoot a three. what an offense; hard to watch. c'mon Williams, c'mon Dangerfield, c'mon Samuelson; get inside!"

This is just a bullshit statement. One of the weakest penetrating teams in the country? First of all, passing the ball to get an open shot is what UConn does, so dribble penetration is not the style that they play. And passing it inside to Collier is a GOOD thing. And UConn has 4 capable three point shooters so setting that shot up is a good thing as well. And I'm pretty sure that every player in the starting five is capable of dribble penetration.

"UCLA has scored 80 plus points against Oregon &Maryland. We are not a good defensive
team. "

Defensive Numbers

Oregon - 62.4 PPG, 39.7 FG%, 30.6 3FG%
Maryland - 61.2 PPG, 36.5 FG%, 32.4 3FG%
UConn - 55.3 PPG, 33.8 FG%, 28.3 3FG%

See the difference and how that statement is just dumb?

"We could have lost to Buffalo the other night, and they had nine losses while playing in a mid-major conference."

The lead was never less than 8 and if anyone felt that the game was losable it's because they are oblivious to the facts.

"Rebounds against UCLA and free throw shooting are going to be a problem. Big time, and Geno knows it. This could be U-G-L-Y Friday. I hope I'm wrong, but if UConn rebounds and shoots the same free throw percentage they did against Buffalo, they lose by 12-15. Possibly more. Pheesa can't do it all against this team, certainly not against Louisville and definitely not against Baylor. I'm honestly not very hopeful"

This one takes the cake. So, this guy/gal knows ahead of time that rebounds and free throws are going to be a problem? Come on! I mean they do shoot over 70% on free throws for the season, so why does anyone think one poor FT shooting game will mean that is how they shoot FT's in this game? Lose by 12-15? Even more? Even 1 seeds Baylor and Louisville only won by 11 and 9 points. A 12 loss team will win by more? And why does this moron think that Collier will be the only one doing anything against UCLA, Louisville and Baylor? Wow...….

So, show some confidence UConn fans!!! I like their chances.

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In some really interesting news, I've seen a couple of articles talking about Tennessee firing Holly Warlick and going after......get ready......Jeff Walz, head coach of Louisville. This would be a HUGE get for the Lady Vols and he would immediately turn them into a top 25 team again and probably top 10 in short order.

I don't know if he would do it. Stay Tuned!!!

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By David in Naples!!!!!

Going into the Buffalo game, UConn was averaging 11.6 fouls per game. Napheesa had 51 fouls in 34 games or 1.5 per game. Crystal had been whistled for 41 fouls and Katie Lou only 40. Their average per game was 1.2 and 1.1 per game. One can conclude that as the veteran members of the team, they had all learned how to play hard, but not foul. In the Buffalo game, the refs called 21 fouls on the Huskies, including 4 each on Crystal, Lou and Pheesa. That impacted UConn negatively, sending Dangerfield to the bench and forcing Lou and Pheesa to play much more passively on defense.

The 4 fouls called on Pheesa represent 7.3% of all the fouls she had this season. (4 divided by 55) For Lou, the Buffalo fouls were 9% of her total fouls all season. For Crystal, the fouls were 8.9% of her total. Did all three of the senior/junior leadership on the Huskies suddenly forget how to play defense or is some other explanation more logical? Three players who average just over 1 foul per game don't suddenly forget and start fouling at a higher rate. It was the officiating that was different that game.

The refs did call 25 fouls on Buffalo, so they were "balanced" in their foul calling. But, Buffalo played 10 players and spread their fouls evenly. They had one with 5, two with 4, three with 3, 1 with two and a last one with only one foul. Two Bulls somehow managed to not foul anyone. The saddest fact of all is that in some fans view, the problem was UConn's lack of defense and laziness. The truth is that fouls were called at a much different rate and the Huskies had to adjust their season long style of play.

Go Huskies..!!

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UCONN LINKS