Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 3/6/20

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So much going on and so much to share. Hopefully I get to it all in this blog. However, Saturday will be a different story.

While I am retired, I do work part time for a kosher caterer and Saturday I am working a very long day. 9-2:30 and then 4:30-hopefully only 10:30. Sigh...I'm too old for this!!!

So, there is a good chance I don't produce a blog at my usual time. Maybe I will get to it Sunday morning. Maybe not!!!

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Temple beat East Carolina for the right to get slapped around by UConn Saturday.

Here is my post game report from UConn's 83-54 win on November 17th in the first match up of these two teams.

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They easily could have had a video with "TOP 10 PLAYS" from the Temple game. They didn't include any of the 5 blocks from Nelson-Ododa.

Once you look past the two middle quarters of the Temple game, you can see the team that this group of young ladies can become. Each player is starting to figure out their roles and with more confidence, there will be more and more quarters like the 1st and 4th quarters against Temple.

My player of the game was Kyla Irwin. Yes, she only played 5 minutes, but in front of maybe 50 friends and family, she was 3-3 from the field, hit her only three pointer for 7 points. Can you imagine the pressure on this young woman when she went to the scorer's table to check in? The look on her face was pure joy after hitting that three pointer. I couldn't be happier for one of my favorite UConn players. Come on Geno, find some more time for her!

Olivia Nelson-Ododa had her third double in three games, scoring 15 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding 5 blocks. She is really coming into her own. Her shooting percentage is low (39%), but that should improve as the season progresses. She is also second on the team in assists with 4 per game. From the center position. Wow.

Megan Walker had a solid game against Temple with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. She just has that look this year. Confident for sure. And when she gets the ball in the low post, she will either score or get fouled. I love it!

Crystal Dangerfield broke out of her shooting slump, hitting three 3 pointers. She looked much better in this game. Probably getting more healthy from her summer surgery. She had 14 points and 3 assists. That steal and fast break in the highlight video reminded me of last year. She is so quick.

Christyn Williams is the best player on the team. At least that is what I believe. She made a couple of moves that were just all-world. And when she can knock down the three pointers, she is basically unguardable. She had 19 points in this one on 8-12 shooting.

On to the two freshmen.

Guess who leads the team in assists and also has the lowest shooting percentage? Thanks to David, I know the answer! With 14 assists, Anna Makurat has shown she really knows how to play the game. And once she starts making baskets, she will keep doing that. I just love her game and her attitude. She had only 2 points but added 7 assists and 4 rebounds. She contributes in more ways than scoring.

And Aubrey Griffin? Ahhh....Aubrey. She has more talent than she knows what to do with. She had 9 points and 8 rebounds for the game. Great stats. I love her energy off the bench. I hope Geno keeps her there.

Molly Bent and Evelyn Adebayo only had a minute each. Both contributed in that lonely minute. Molly had 2 quick assists and Evelyn made her only basket on a nice post move.

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So, how will this game work out? Well, UConn has been on a roll to end the regular season and I don't see that changing against Temple in this game.

UConn only went 6 deep in the last match up, but with 3 games in 3 days, if UConn has a big lead, I would bet Geno uses all of the bench.

Against East Carolina, Mia Davis had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. You can bet against the rejuvenated UConn defense, she won't come close to those numbers. There is not a lot of scoring options for the rest of the team.

Look for a tidy 40+ point UConn win in this one, depending on how much of the lead the bench gives up later in the fourth quarter.

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Pregame Interviews

Geno

Christyn Williams

Crystal Dangerfield

Megan Walker

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Congrats to Geno, Megan, Crystal, Christyn, Olivia and Anna. What a great year for everyone!!!

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Yes, it's that time of year. The time of year that I just can't keep up with all the conference tournaments.

So, I'll just hit a few highlights.

There were two upsets at the time I posted this blog.

No. 25 Arkansas had one lead in the entire game and it was at the end of the game. They beat No. 14 Texas A&M 67-66 to move on in the SEC tournament. Kiara Williams grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds and was fouled on a putback, making two free throws for the win.

Unranked Michigan beat No. 11 Northwestern 67-59 to move on in the Big Ten Tournament and reach the semi-finals.

There is one other games that could be an upset that was still in process at the time I published this blog. Ohio State is hammering No. 19 Iowa 48-31 at the half.

In a late game, No. 7 Stanford is taking on No. 14 Oregon State. This is a big game in regards to the NCAA seedings for Stanford.

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Candace doesn't look too happy, huh

Yes, Tennessee fans, it was another bad outing for your Lady Vols. And in front of Candace Parker.

No. 14 Kentucky took them to the proverbial woodshed, beating Tennessee 86-65 in a game that felt like it wasn't even that close.

The Lady Vols added another 19 turnovers to their season totals and if the freshman Horston didn't have a career game, it could have been much worse. I'm sure the Lady Vol fans are wondering where this Horston was all season.

Rhyne Howard, the super-sophomore for Kentucky, set a team season record for three pointers. She is a terrific and humble player.

So, what happens now for Tennessee? Well, they wait so see what the selection committee decides to do with them. Charlie Creme has them as the first team above the last four in. So that means that if there are some upsets in the conference tournaments where two teams instead of one gets in or the four teams just below Tennessee continue to win in their tournaments, Tennessee has the possibility of actually missing the NCAA tournament.

It's unlikely, but possible. Crazy if they don't make it.

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