UCONN vs Notre Dame
Date: Sunday
December 8th, 2018
Place: Gample Pavillion
Storrs, Ct
Storrs, Ct
Time: 4:00
TV: ESPN2
No. 4 UConn Huskies Notre Dame
7-0 5-5
Prior Meetings
NOTRE DAME | UCONN LEADS 37-13
H: 20-4 | A: 12-4 | N: 5-5
01/18/96 #3 UConn 87, ND 64 South Bend, Ind.
02/24/96 #3 UConn 86, ND 79 Storrs, Conn.
03/05/96 #2 UConn 71, ND 54 Storrs, Conn.
02/09/97 #1 UConn 72, ND 49 Storrs, Conn.
03/04/97 #1 UConn 86, ND77 Storrs, Conn.
12/06/97 #3 UConn 78, ND 59 South Bend, Ind.
02/21/98 #2 UConn 73, ND 61 Storrs, Conn.
03/02/98 #3 UConn 73, ND 53 Piscataway, N.J.
12/08/98 #1 UConn 106, ND 81 South Bend, Ind.
03/02/99 #6 UConn 96, ND 75 Piscataway, N.J.
02/26/00 #1 UConn 77, ND 59 Hartford, Conn.
01/15/01 ND 92, #1 UConn 76 South Bend, Ind.
03/06/01 #2 UConn 78, ND 76 Storrs, Conn.
03/30/01 ND 90, #1 UConn 75 St. Louis, Mo.
01/21/02 #1 UConn 80, ND 53 Hartford, Conn.
01/20/03 #2 UConn 72, ND 53 South Bend, Ind.
02/23/03 #1 UConn 77, ND59 Storrs, Conn.
01/13/04 ND 66, #4 UConn 51 South Bend, Ind.
01/12/05 #16 UConn 67, #7 ND 50 South Bend, Ind.
01/30/05 #6 ND 65, #9 UConn 59 Storrs, Conn.
03/07/05 #14 UConn 67, #10 ND 54 Hartford, Conn.
02/19/06 #8 UConn 79, ND 64 South Bend, Ind.
03/05/06 #7 UConn 71, ND 60 Hartford, Conn.
01/27/07 #6 UConn 64, ND 47 Storrs, Conn.
01/27/08 #1 UConn 81, #16 ND 64 South Bend, Ind.
02/22/09 #1 UConn 76, #24 ND 66 Hartford, Conn.
01/16/10 #1 UConn 70, #3 ND 46 Storrs, Conn.
03/01/10 #1 UConn 76, #8 ND 51 South Bend, Ind.
03/08/10 #1 UConn 59, #6 ND 44 Hartford, Conn.
01/08/11 #2 UConn 79, #19 ND 76 South Bend, Ind.
02/19/11 #2 UConn 78, #8 ND 57 Storrs, Conn.
03/08/11 #1 UConn 73, #10 ND 64 Hartford, Conn.
04/03/11 #10 ND 72, #1 UConn 63 Indianapolis, Ind.
01/07/12 ND 74, #2 UConn 67 (OT) South Bend, Ind.
02/27/12 #3 ND 72, #4 UConn 59 Storrs, Conn.
03/06/12 #4 UConn 63, #3 ND 54 Hartford, Conn.
04/01/12 #4 ND 83, #3 UConn 75 (OT) Denver, Colo.
01/05/13 #5 ND 73, #1 UConn 72 Storrs, Conn.
03/04/13 #2 ND 96, #3 UConn 87 (3OT) South Bend, Ind.
03/12/13 #2 ND 62, #3 UConn 59 Hartford, Conn.
04/07/13 #3 UConn 85, #2 ND 65 New Orleans, La.
04/08/14 #1 UConn 79, #2 ND 58 Nashville, Tenn.
12/06/14 #3 UConn 76, #2 ND 58 South Bend, Ind.
04/07/15 #1 UConn 63, #2 ND 53 Tampa, Fla.
12/05/15 #1 UConn 91, #3 ND 81 Storrs, Conn.
12/07/16 #1 UConn 72, #2 ND 61 South Bend, Ind.
12/03/17 #1 UConn 80, #3 ND 71 Hartford, Conn.
03/30/18 #3 ND 91, #1 UConn 89 (OT) Columbus, Ohio
12/02/18 #2 UConn 89, #1 ND 71 South Bend, Ind.
04/05/19 #3 ND 81, #2 UConn 76 Tampa, Fla.
I put the UConn wins in bold to emphasize the UConn dominance
It's going to be strange to predict a 20+ win over Notre Dame but it's hard to not see how that will happen. UConn showed some really good offense against Seton Hall. And I'm hopeful that Griffin had a big wake-up call on what she can do. This is another game where she would be a match-up nightmare.
UConn has the advantage in every way and at every position. Now, after the Seton Hall game, where the Pirates came into the game at 30% on threes taking only 20 per game, and hit 13-34, I won't rule out Notre Dame having a hot game. But this game has the feel of a UConn/Duke game several years ago. Gample was sold out, Duke was a big rival, it was loud and UConn was inspired to play harder than ever. I believe UConn won that game by 30. Sounds like a good number to me.
H: 20-4 | A: 12-4 | N: 5-5
01/18/96 #3 UConn 87, ND 64 South Bend, Ind.
02/24/96 #3 UConn 86, ND 79 Storrs, Conn.
03/05/96 #2 UConn 71, ND 54 Storrs, Conn.
02/09/97 #1 UConn 72, ND 49 Storrs, Conn.
03/04/97 #1 UConn 86, ND77 Storrs, Conn.
12/06/97 #3 UConn 78, ND 59 South Bend, Ind.
02/21/98 #2 UConn 73, ND 61 Storrs, Conn.
03/02/98 #3 UConn 73, ND 53 Piscataway, N.J.
12/08/98 #1 UConn 106, ND 81 South Bend, Ind.
03/02/99 #6 UConn 96, ND 75 Piscataway, N.J.
02/26/00 #1 UConn 77, ND 59 Hartford, Conn.
01/15/01 ND 92, #1 UConn 76 South Bend, Ind.
03/06/01 #2 UConn 78, ND 76 Storrs, Conn.
03/30/01 ND 90, #1 UConn 75 St. Louis, Mo.
01/21/02 #1 UConn 80, ND 53 Hartford, Conn.
01/20/03 #2 UConn 72, ND 53 South Bend, Ind.
02/23/03 #1 UConn 77, ND59 Storrs, Conn.
01/13/04 ND 66, #4 UConn 51 South Bend, Ind.
01/12/05 #16 UConn 67, #7 ND 50 South Bend, Ind.
01/30/05 #6 ND 65, #9 UConn 59 Storrs, Conn.
03/07/05 #14 UConn 67, #10 ND 54 Hartford, Conn.
02/19/06 #8 UConn 79, ND 64 South Bend, Ind.
03/05/06 #7 UConn 71, ND 60 Hartford, Conn.
01/27/07 #6 UConn 64, ND 47 Storrs, Conn.
01/27/08 #1 UConn 81, #16 ND 64 South Bend, Ind.
02/22/09 #1 UConn 76, #24 ND 66 Hartford, Conn.
01/16/10 #1 UConn 70, #3 ND 46 Storrs, Conn.
03/01/10 #1 UConn 76, #8 ND 51 South Bend, Ind.
03/08/10 #1 UConn 59, #6 ND 44 Hartford, Conn.
01/08/11 #2 UConn 79, #19 ND 76 South Bend, Ind.
02/19/11 #2 UConn 78, #8 ND 57 Storrs, Conn.
03/08/11 #1 UConn 73, #10 ND 64 Hartford, Conn.
04/03/11 #10 ND 72, #1 UConn 63 Indianapolis, Ind.
01/07/12 ND 74, #2 UConn 67 (OT) South Bend, Ind.
02/27/12 #3 ND 72, #4 UConn 59 Storrs, Conn.
03/06/12 #4 UConn 63, #3 ND 54 Hartford, Conn.
04/01/12 #4 ND 83, #3 UConn 75 (OT) Denver, Colo.
01/05/13 #5 ND 73, #1 UConn 72 Storrs, Conn.
03/04/13 #2 ND 96, #3 UConn 87 (3OT) South Bend, Ind.
03/12/13 #2 ND 62, #3 UConn 59 Hartford, Conn.
04/07/13 #3 UConn 85, #2 ND 65 New Orleans, La.
04/08/14 #1 UConn 79, #2 ND 58 Nashville, Tenn.
12/06/14 #3 UConn 76, #2 ND 58 South Bend, Ind.
04/07/15 #1 UConn 63, #2 ND 53 Tampa, Fla.
12/05/15 #1 UConn 91, #3 ND 81 Storrs, Conn.
12/07/16 #1 UConn 72, #2 ND 61 South Bend, Ind.
12/03/17 #1 UConn 80, #3 ND 71 Hartford, Conn.
03/30/18 #3 ND 91, #1 UConn 89 (OT) Columbus, Ohio
12/02/18 #2 UConn 89, #1 ND 71 South Bend, Ind.
04/05/19 #3 ND 81, #2 UConn 76 Tampa, Fla.
I put the UConn wins in bold to emphasize the UConn dominance
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The Huskies come into this game at 7-0 on the season and is coming off a really fun and mostly competative game against Seton Hall. They were without their point guard Crystal Dangerfield out for the second game in a row with back spasms. Geno was very happy about the effort against the Pirates. I'm sure UConn is happy to be home and playing in a sold out Gampel Pavilion.
The player names are clickable to see their Bios
Notre Dame
I think Notre Dame got a good idea what they were in for after their opening game, a 60-55 win over Fordham. They followed up with a 84-60 win against Loyola (MD). Two losses followed against now ranked teams, 74-63 against Tennessee and 72-69 against Michigan. Their next game was against Toledo and the Irish was lucky to escape with a 54-51 win against Toledo. Yes, Toledo. And they probably played their best game of the season against ranked Michigan State winning 76-72. Their next three games were in the Cancun Challenge. They lost their first two games, 69-60 against Florida Gulf Coast and 65-59 against South Dakota State, They were able to bounce back with an overrated South Florida team 67-51. In their most recent game, Notre Dame lost to Minnesota 75-67 at home for their third home loss of the season.
UCONN
The Huskies come into this game at 7-0 on the season and is coming off a really fun and mostly competative game against Seton Hall. They were without their point guard Crystal Dangerfield out for the second game in a row with back spasms. Geno was very happy about the effort against the Pirates. I'm sure UConn is happy to be home and playing in a sold out Gampel Pavilion.
UCONN
The player names are clickable to see their Bios
UConn Starters
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish
McGraw is considered by many the 2nd best active coach in WCBB. It's hard to argue that based on the accomplishments of her program. She is a terrific recruiter, a fine tactician and a wonderful motivator of young women. Notre Dame certainly knows that and in July 2012, she signed a landmark 10-year contract extension that will keep her coaching at Notre Dame through the 2021-22 campaign.
The past 24 seasons (1995-96 to the present) have been the most successful in Notre Dame's history.
Notre Dame Starters
Notre Dame Bench
Game Analysis
Last year I wrote some glowing words about Notre Dame in my two pregame reports. The Irish were still formidable and in fact, I called these two programs the best in WCBB.
This year is a different story. UConn is not a dominant team this season but they are still really really good. Notre Dame, on the other hand, is having a really really tough season. I pretty much had to start from scratch to produce the Notre Dame starting and bench players. In fact, I could only use ONE player, Kaitlin Gilbert, was in the rotation at all last year that returned this year. Well, at least healthy enough to play.
I know this really isn't part of the game analysis, but so much has changed, I thought I would tell you why Notre Dame is so down this season. First of all, they lost all five starters. Four graduated, Turner Ogunbowale, Shepard and Mabrey and one left early, Young. Then two players they were relying on to give solid minutes, Patterson and Nixon, transferred. Then two players they expected big minutes from, Vaughn and Prohaska, are out with injury and illness. The last five I mentioned would have been a solid Top 10 lineup. But that is in reality, 9 players gone from last years roster. NINE!
So, what about this season? Notre Dame is starting two graduate transfers, 5'10" Destinee Walker formally from North Carolina and Marta Sniezek, a 5'8" guards formally from Stanford. Walker had come into this season playing only 39 over the span of 2 years and Sniezek missed all of last season. You can see the rust in their games in the early part of the season. But they are getting major minutes, leading the team in MPG at 36.4 and 35.9. They will be on the court for almost all of the game.
The third guard in the starting lineup is 5'10" Sophomore Kaitlyn Gilbert. She is the leading scorer on the team at 14.9 ppg in 33.7 minutes. Right behind her at 13.9 ppg is former UConn recruit, freshman Sam Brunelle, a 6'2" forward.
The last starter is a change for the Irish the last 3 games. 6'4" sophomore Danielle Cosgrove has started the in place of 5'10" Anaya Peoples. Looks to me that Coach McGraw is looking for more size in the starting lineup, even though Cosgrove is only playing 16.6 mpg.
Notre Dame has had a lot of issues on offense this season. They don't have one player shooting more than 33% and that player (Sniezek) is 1-3. Their two leading three point shooters in attempts (100 of their 136 trys) is Walker and Brunelle and they are shooting 21.4% and 22.7%. Notre Dame has had some great shooters in the past. Not this year.
Another issue is their assists and turnovers. I'd look it up, but I'm not sure I would find a Notre Dame team with more turnovers than assists. But this team is averaging 12.9 assists and 16.6 turnovers each games. Very un-Irish like.
Their offensive shooting woes and sloppy ball handling create one of the lowest scoring Notre Dame teams in a long time. They only score 65.9 ppg. I can't remember the last Notre Dame team that wasn't over 80 ppg let along 70 ppg.
You can fix the shooting. It can't be that bad all year. You can fix the ball handling issues. New players need time. The final issue is something I don't think they can fix. They are being out-rebounded 35.7 to 44.2 rpg. That is a huge difference. And for most of the game they have 5'8", 5'10", 5'10", 5'10" and 6'2" on the court at the same time. I just don't believe they can improve in that area.
The Irish are playing a lot more 2-3 zone this season. They have to as their individual players in most positions struggle to stay with their player 1-1. Specifically, Sniezek and Brunelle are just not very quick.
UConn is going to take advantage of their height advantage, with 6'1" Walker, 6'2" Griffin, and 6'5" Nelson-Ododa having their way in the paint and on the offensive boards. They should get plenty of second opportunities. And there should be a lot of kick out passes of UConn is doubled to get some open threes.
I really like the matchups in UConn's favor when they are on defense. Notre Dame is sloppy with the ball and outside of Gilbert and Peoples, they are not quick enough to drive by the UConn players.
It will be interesting to see how Dangerfield responds to being on the court again. Her quickness will be obvious if she is up to her usual standards. She is due for a big assist game.
Final Prediction
It's going to be strange to predict a 20+ win over Notre Dame but it's hard to not see how that will happen. UConn showed some really good offense against Seton Hall. And I'm hopeful that Griffin had a big wake-up call on what she can do. This is another game where she would be a match-up nightmare.
UConn has the advantage in every way and at every position. Now, after the Seton Hall game, where the Pirates came into the game at 30% on threes taking only 20 per game, and hit 13-34, I won't rule out Notre Dame having a hot game. But this game has the feel of a UConn/Duke game several years ago. Gample was sold out, Duke was a big rival, it was loud and UConn was inspired to play harder than ever. I believe UConn won that game by 30. Sounds like a good number to me.
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