Yes, I had a great time!!!
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UConn breezed through Trevecca Nazarene (Tennessee) 99-54 in their last warm-up before they open the season against California on Sunday, November 10th at 1:00 in Storrs.
I had time tonight to watch the entire game and it was a pleasure to see. Trevecca Nazarene is a small team but they played solid team ball. Of course they couldn't match the size and athleticism of the Huskies.
It's always difficult to predict that how the team plays against overmatched opponents will carry forward against the better teams. But you can get a feel for how the team plays and how the players connect on the court both offensively and defensively. And you can see where players have improved and what the new players will bring to the table.
Team wise, offensively, UConn looked great. They moved the ball around quickly and always made the extra pass. I can't even remember anyone taking a bad shot. Sure they missed some, but not becuase it was a shot they shouldn't have taken. the fast break was explosive, and visions of Williams, Dangerfield, Walker and Griffin flying down the court will give opposing coaches nightmares. The Huskies shot 74% in the first half and 50% on threes in that half as well. They were like a well oiled machine before Geno slowed them down.
Defensively there is still work to do. Most of the time the players did a great job with their help defense. But there were too many open shots, mostly three pointers and I'm sure Geno will be working on that with the team.
Clearly the intensity in the second half dropped some, but that always happens when it's such a blowout in the first half. Geno stops pressing and slows down the fast break.
Here's a quick player by player analysis from this game.
Crystal Dangerfield - She is going to reek havoc on the defensive end this season. She was all over the court, pressuring the player with the ball, hawking passes in the lane and around the perimeter and just making it difficult for Nazarene to get their offense going. Offensively, she is the true quarterback on this team. She made a couple of hellacious passes for easy baskets. She played 24 minutes scoring 17 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, handing out 3 assists and picking off 4 steals. A very nice boxscore.
Christyn Williams - Nothing spectacular in this game but solid. She looked smooth on three pointers and ran he court well. In 27 minutes she scored 10 points but only 1 rebound and 2 assists. She will have better games.
Megan Walker - If she could only make her free throws....lol. Kidding. Yeah she missed too many, but wow, what a change from sophomore to junior year. They just redid the 2017 HS class rankings and she was moved to No. 4. I believe after this season, she will be back to No. 1 over that overrated volume shooter Chennedy Carter. She is in Maya Moore shape this season. She ran the court hard the entire game and when she got her position in the low post, nothing could stop her. She has noticeably increased her quickness both offensively and defensively. She played a team leading 30 minutes and again scored 28 points. She also had 8 rebounds and blocked two shots. Her outside shot is still there and if she doesn't average 20+ points per game I'd be shocked.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa - I finally saw what some fans have been calling for. ONO looked to get post position and make offensive moves. She was strong in bumping the defender as she worked for position. She hit a couple of jumpers and against a smaller team grabbed several rebounds. I did not like her reaching over players, as she was called for a couple of fouls in doing that. UConn can't afford her to get into foul trouble. She only played 23 minutes, most of those in the first half. But she did go 4-5 from the field for 8 points and she added 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. If she can continue to pass well out of the post, UConn will be even tougher to handle in the half court offense.
Anna Makurat - I have to admit something. I love her game. She is definitely not your typical freshman. She brings the European style of play to this team. You rarely see a freshman use the ball fake like she does to get the defender off their feet, but that is a real weapon for her. Her foot speed is a problem against quicker teams, but right now that's not her game. Instead she plays big and strong out there. She also sees the court really well and can deliver passes in tight quarters. She missed her first few three point shots but hit 2 of her last three to finish with 9 points. She was able to use her size to grab 7 rebounds and her court vision allowed her to hand out 4 assists. In a nice full box score, she also had 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Aubrey Griffin - Geno always rewards good practices and clearly Griffin is starting to get it. She was first off the bench and played like she wants to be in the starting lineup. At 6'2" with long arms, she is starting to become a terrific on the ball defender. And her length allows her to snake inside for layups. I haven't seen if she has an outside shot because she doesn't take any. I believe she had range out to the three point line in high school, so eventually, with more confidence, we might see that down the road. There was a fast break between Griffin and Walker that just blew my mind. Two great athletes. She is just a scorer. In her 20 minutes, she had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
Molly Bent - I don't know, maybe it was the tape on her right wrist but Molly looks like a different player this season. She did have one lapse where she threw the ball right to a defender bringing to mind her issues with turnovers from last season, but other than that, she did a great job. She ran the point and made some great passes into the post. She still passes instead of shooting when she is wide open at times and I wish she would just let it fly. But I think she will get solid minutes this season. Time will tell if that will mean minutes against the really good teams. Molly played 14 minutes scoring 5 points, handing out 3 assists and added 2 steals and a block.
Kyla Irwin - You think Kyla worked on her three point shot in the off season? I believe she has only missed one in the two exhibition games. I think this will get her minutes with the regular rotation. With all the talent out there, she will get plenty of open shots. She is such a heady player too. You can't teach speed and that will impact her playing time. She just can't defend on the perimeter and that will keep her on the bench against certain teams. But in games like this, she is very effective. Kyla had 16 minutes and scored 8 points. She added 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
Evelyn Odebayo - I don't think or at least I hope we haven't seen what she can bring to the table. I'm not sure she is getting it yet. Both on offense and defense. I did see a couple of nice post moves tonight and some strong rebounds. But she has to learn how to play UConn team offense and defense. Hopefully it will come. UConn needs some size in the front court. She only played 11 minutes and scored 2 points. She did grab 6 rebounds in her limited minutes. That is a good thing!!
Geno gave his first six players the most minutes, working to get a regular rotation in place for the opening game.
Next up is California on Sunday. I hope to have a full pregame report before then.
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I don't remember seeing this picture before. This is a REAL dunk. Not like those other dunks that barely get over the rim. Olivia can really get up there.
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By David in Naples!!!!!
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UCONN LINKS
Uconn routs Div II Trevecca Nazarene to wrap up preseason
UConn beats Trevecca Nazarene in final tune-up
Unless Westbrook goes private the NCAA can hide in privacy
US Women's team to face UConn
UConn to face US Women's team
US Women's team to play exhibition against UConn
Awkward goodbyes? UConn's fairwell tour of the AAC
Tall order: UConn needs Nelson-Ododa to stand out
Westbrook waiver issue could rekindle the UConn/Tennessee rivalry
ESPN re-ranks the HS Class of 2017
Statistical Sites
Uconn routs Div II Trevecca Nazarene to wrap up preseason
UConn beats Trevecca Nazarene in final tune-up
Unless Westbrook goes private the NCAA can hide in privacy
US Women's team to face UConn
UConn to face US Women's team
US Women's team to play exhibition against UConn
Awkward goodbyes? UConn's fairwell tour of the AAC
Tall order: UConn needs Nelson-Ododa to stand out
Westbrook waiver issue could rekindle the UConn/Tennessee rivalry
ESPN re-ranks the HS Class of 2017
Top Twenty-Five Scores and Links
Upsets in Red
Upsets in Red
Rankings and RPI Sites
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
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
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I'm always open for suggestions. Just please reply to this blog or email me at: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
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