Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 2/9/20

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Image result for not pretty has to be gritty

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As I said last night, UConn has their hands full on Monday night against No. 1 South Carolina. They are a big team, but not as big with Laeticia Amihere not available. She made the Canadian Senior team and will be with them.

The Gamecocks are a very good team, but I'm not sure they are a great team. They have lost only one game, to a good Indiana team 71-57. And they have beaten eight Top 25 teams including No. 2 Baylor. However, the Bears were without Cox in this game. She is a difference maker.

South Carolina starts two very good players in Seniors Harris at point guard and Herbert Harrigan at forward. They are solid and consistent players. They are two of the four double digit scorers in the starting lineup. The other two are freshman center Boston and freshman guard Cooke. These two have been terrific additions to the Gamecocks and big reasons South Carolina is No. 1 in the country.

Boston, in particular, has been dominant at times in the post. She leads the team in scoring at 13.3 PPG and rebounds at 9 per game. She also has 65 blocks, averaging 3 per game. She is not only tall, but she is big and will be real trouble for Nelson-Ododa to handle.

Cooke is a dynamic freshman who is averaging 12.4 PPG. I've seen her just explode from from the outside and has taken the most three pointers on their team. The Huskies can't leave her open.

Outside of the top four players I've mentioned., the rest of the team are solid but not spectacular. I'm not sure how much any of them will contribute in this game. SC plays a lot of players, but in the competitive games, they don't get much from the bench. We will see if someone steps up in this game.

UConn needs to play better than they did against Baylor and Oregon. To me they looked overwhelmed and that is so unlike UConn teams. But I noticed a different feel in the last game and not just because it was against a mediocre Memphis team. With Makurat in the starting lineup, the team just looked more in sync. And as disappointing as Williams has been at times this season, the post game comments from her and her conversation with Geno give me hope that she can play like one of the best players in the country. This would be a great game to do that. Keep Nelson-Ododa out of foul trouble and I like UConn's chances.

Sorry, I didn't have time to put together my usual pregame report with more details. But this game really speaks for itself. It could mean the difference between a No. 1 seed of a No. 2 seed for UConn.

I will give my usual optimistic prediction. UConn by 5+.

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Lots of games Sunday in the Top 25 and there were three upsets.

In an overtime game, No. 12 Arizona beat No. 9 Oregon State 65-58. Both teams shot poorly from the floor and from beyond the arc, but it was the 15-15 free throw shooting for Arizona that made a big difference. Remember this article? It seems so long ago...lol.

No. 25 Arkansas beat up on No. 15 Kentucky 103-85. Kentucky had just not been the same after their leading scorer Howard was lost for a few games. But she was back in this one, and it was the defense that really let them down. 103 points to Arkansas? 65 points in the second half? They deserve an UGGY award for that effort!!

Finally, No. 5 Louisville lost their second game this week, losing to 12-11 Syracuse 59-51. They previously lost to who I consider an overrated No. 17 Florida State team. So, how does this impact the seeding? I'd have to imagine that Louisville will drop to at best a 2 seed, but maybe even a 3 seed. They play at No. 7 North Carolina State in their next game so a three game losing streak is not out of the question. NC State is now in the hunt for a 2 seed.

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By David in Naples!!!!

UConn sits with a record of 20-2 and many interesting stats jump out from the combined team stat sheet. For example, Aubrey has now reached 107 rebounds, despite less than 400 minutes played. She also is exactly 50-100 shooting from the field. Consider:
1. Evelyn Adebayo is 3-3 from three range.
2. Anna has 11 assists against Memphis, but only 54 in 21 games prior to that.
3. Anna has also taken 94 threes and only 36 shots inside the arc.
4. Squeaks has 111 rebounds, tried 91 threes, has 41 Turnovers and 341 points.
5. Megan still leads the Huskies in points (428), rebounds (197), made free throws (60) and is 2nd in assists (68).
6. Crystal, Aubrey and Molly are the only players w/ more steals than turnovers.
7. Opponents are shooting only 28.5% from three range vs UConn. UConn is just below 40%.

Go Huskies..!!

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