Doggy's Doghouse 10/28/19

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

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So far, I have written about three of the new additions to the team, Evelyn Adebayo, Aubrey Griffin and Anna Makurat. The last new addition is Evina Westbrook, the 6' guard who transferred from Tennessee to UConn after the 2018-19 season. 

We still don't know if her waiver request will allow her to play this season. I really wanted to wait until we knew before I wrote about her. But I figured that whether or not she plays this year, I should share what I can for your enjoyment!

It's almost surreal that I would be even contemplate Westbrook being on the UConn roster. Two years of watching her play for my least favorite women's basketball team, Tennessee, has on some level, tainted my opinion of her. I'm sure I could find blog entry after blog entry where I trash the play of this young woman. Now I am going to tell you all the good things about her, now that she is a member of the UConn team. Yeah, pretty homeristic of me, huh. I guess this is the true test for me that I really mean it when I say I will root for anyone that wears the UConn uniform!

Ok, enough of that. On to interviews and highlights!

   

Evina is really talented. She was ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in her HS class sharing that honor with Megan Walker, now her UConn teammate. As you can see in the action videos, she has an incredible handle and a sweet outside shot. She also has terrific court vision. Unfortunately for her, while on the Tennessee team, she was just not coached up. The schemes in that offense were to put it kindly, crap. It's hard for a player to excel when they in that kind of toxic environment. 

I expect some great things from Westbrook, whether it's this year or next. UConn fans will love watching her play and I will enjoy watching her stick it to the Tennessee fans!!!   

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I really love when readers of my blog send me comments on what I wrote. I usually just reply directly to them, but sometimes I like to bring their comment here and reply for everyone to see.

One reader sent me this comment on my post talking about the move to the Big East .  - "better teams? i dont agree same to me... every team in the big east has a crazy losing record against uconn.. just like the AAC.  Geno even said as much". 

I do understand his point. UConn pretty much owned the Big East except for two timeframes. The first was when Rutgers was loaded with players and they actually beat UConn 3 out of 4 and 5 out of 8 from 2005-2008. The other was the Skylar Diggs era where Notre Dame beat UConn 7 out of 8 games from 2011-2013. Otherwise, yes UConn dominated the Big East.

However, there is more to it than that. Based on RPI, there is no doubt that the current Big East is better than the current AAC if you take UConn out of the equation. Looking at last years RPI, the American Conference was the 9th ranked RPI and that included having UConn in the conference. The Big East was the 6th ranked RPI and that is without UConn in the conference.

I could do some simple math to see how the Big East would rank with UConn in the conference, but it would include the improved RPI's for the Big East teams if they all played UConn twice a year. And removing UConn from the AAC makes them just a terrible conference.

So yes, my friend. UConn will be playing better teams, even if UConn beats them all.     

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By David in Naples!!!!!

Next Sunday, UConn plays their first game of the 2019-20 season against Jefferson. (the college, not MoJeff) That should settle the 5th starter debate once and for all, right?  Probably not. Their are still too many questions for that announcement to settle the issue. For example, the eligibility of Evina Westbrook is still pending. The NCAA ruling may come after next Sunday. Even then, if eligible, is she 100% healthy? Those two factors make me think she will sit out Sunday's game. So who starts:

1. Evelyn Adebayo - Big strong body, rebounding force with good moves around the basket on offense. Grad student, mature.. replaces some of what Pheesa did. Playing the 4 gives Megan room to move over to the 3.

2. Kyla Irwin or Batouly Camara - Both 6'2" forwards who know the system. If healthy, Camara was a starter at Kentucky. Irwin is steady, but not spectacular. Picking either one won't hurt against Jefferson...

3. Anna Makurat - the Polish Rifle could replace Katie Lou's 3 point shooting, big 6'1" guard who can rebound, but not run terribly fast. Played professionally, so won't be overly nervous in a college exhibition game.

4. Aubrey Griffin - The opposite of Anna. Uber athletic, can jump out of the building and is very fast. How quickly has she picked up the offense and defensive systems?

My guess is Evelyn, but Geno will mix and match early in the season to get a good balance. One thing for sure, the bench starts out deeper than it has been in a while..!!

Go Huskies..!!

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UCONN LINKS

UConn women's basketball ranked third in espnW's Pre-Season Poll

UConn women need role players to step up this season

Jeff Jacobs: For UConn’s Westbrook, the waiting is the hardest part

WCBB LINKS

Here's how the Pac-12 women's basketball race will shake out in 2019-20

Baylor women big favorites for 10th Big 12 title in row

Notre Dame’s McGraw loses 5 starters, faces big rebuild

Statistical Sites

National Statistics 

Rankings and RPI Sites

 Realtime Daily RPI

Massey Rankings and Matchups

Jeff Sagarin Basketball Ratings 

NCAA D1Women's RPI

ESPN AP and Coaches Poll

ESPN Conference Standings

Warren Nolan RPI and SOS 

Message Boards

UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!! 

College Fans Only - WCBB board where no holds are barred

Vol Nation - Tennessee women's basketball board
CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board 

ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board

Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else

Videos

UConn Women replays

UCONN Information

2019-20 Online Media Guide 

UConn 2019-2020 Roster

UConn 2018-2019 Statistics

UConn 2019-2020 Schedule

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I'm always open for suggestions. Just please reply to this blog or email me at:

doggydaddy.UConn@gmail.com

better teams. i dont agree same to me... every team in the big east has a crazy losing record against uconn.. just like the AAC geno even said as must