Day: Tuesday
Date: December 29h, 2020
Time: 6:30
Location: Storrs, Ct
TV: SNY
No. 3 UConn Huskies No. 16 DePaul
Blue Demons 5-0 5-2
Prior Meetings
DEPAUL | UCONN LEADS 17-1 H: 6-0 | A: 7-0 | N: 4-1
12/28/83 DePaul 70, UConn 64 Coral Gables, Fla.
01/28/06 #5 UConn 84, #12 DePaul 75 Chicago, Ill.
03/06/06 #8 UConn 69, #15 DePaul 57 Hartford, Conn.
01/24/07 #7 UConn 88, DePaul 76 Storrs, Conn.
03/01/08 #1 UConn 77, DePaul 76 Chicago, Ill.
03/09/08 #1 UConn 86, DePaul 67 Hartford, Conn.
01/13/09 #1 UConn 77, DePaul 62 Storrs, Conn.
02/10/10 #1 UConn 95, DePaul 62 Chicago, Ill.
02/05/11 #2 UConn 89, #9 DePaul 66 Storrs, Conn.
01/21/12 #3 UConn 88, #21 DePaul 44 Chicago, Ill.
02/10/13 #3 UConn 91, DePaul 44 Storrs, Conn.
03/10/13 #3 UConn 94, DePaul 61 Hartford, Conn.
12/19/14 #2 UConn 98, #29 DePaul 64 Bridgeport, Conn.
12/02/15 #1 UConn 86, #18 DePaul 70 Chicago, Ill.
12/01/16 #2 UConn 91, #15 DePaul 46 Storrs, Conn.
12/08/17 #1 UConn 103, DePaul 69 Chicago, Ill.
11/28/18 #2 UConn 99 #16 Depaul 63 Hartford, Conn.
12/28/83 DePaul 70, UConn 64 Coral Gables, Fla.
01/28/06 #5 UConn 84, #12 DePaul 75 Chicago, Ill.
03/06/06 #8 UConn 69, #15 DePaul 57 Hartford, Conn.
01/24/07 #7 UConn 88, DePaul 76 Storrs, Conn.
03/01/08 #1 UConn 77, DePaul 76 Chicago, Ill.
03/09/08 #1 UConn 86, DePaul 67 Hartford, Conn.
01/13/09 #1 UConn 77, DePaul 62 Storrs, Conn.
02/10/10 #1 UConn 95, DePaul 62 Chicago, Ill.
02/05/11 #2 UConn 89, #9 DePaul 66 Storrs, Conn.
01/21/12 #3 UConn 88, #21 DePaul 44 Chicago, Ill.
02/10/13 #3 UConn 91, DePaul 44 Storrs, Conn.
03/10/13 #3 UConn 94, DePaul 61 Hartford, Conn.
12/19/14 #2 UConn 98, #29 DePaul 64 Bridgeport, Conn.
12/02/15 #1 UConn 86, #18 DePaul 70 Chicago, Ill.
12/01/16 #2 UConn 91, #15 DePaul 46 Storrs, Conn.
12/08/17 #1 UConn 103, DePaul 69 Chicago, Ill.
11/28/18 #2 UConn 99 #16 Depaul 63 Hartford, Conn.
12/16/19 #2 UConn 84 #16 DePaul 74 Chicago, Ill.
LAST YEARS HIGHLIGHTS
LAST YEARS HIGHLIGHTS
Last years game was a tale of two halves. UConn dominated this game from the tip and ran out to a 26-13 leaad after one quarter. After another great quarter UConn led 55-29 at the half. I remember this game well. I was stunned to see Depaul go crazy and outscore the Huskies 27-14 in the third quarter to cut the lest to 13. The Blue Demons then went on a 10-1 tear in the first 3 minutes of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 70-66. I will admit I was worried. UConn pushed the lead back out to 8 points and it never got any closer with the Huskies winning 84-74.
UConn was led by Megan Walker wih 22 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. One of her best all-around game last year. Crystal Dangerfield also scored 22 points and had 4 assists and 3 steals. ONO had 19 points and Christyn Williams added 13. Anna Makurat added 8 points off the bench.
Chante Stonewall led DePaul with 21 points. Sonya Morris had 20 points, Dee Bekelja has 12 and Lexi Held added 11 for the Blue Demons.
The Huskies were really sloppy with the ball (21 turnovers) and DePaul used that to get back into the game. Overall a stressful but fun game to watch.
Team Overviews
(game scores are clickable for more detail)
DePaul
The Huskies come into this game at 5-0 on the season. It's been crazy just trying to get games played with a COVID delay. The team has done well considering. They picked up a game against UMass Lowell coached by Shea Ralph's husband winning 79-23. They went right into Big East conference games beating Seton Hall 92-65, Creighton 80-47, Xavier 106-59, and in their last game against Villanova 90-52.
DePaul
DePaul comes into this match up with a 5-2 record. After a slow 1-2 start, they are now on a 4 game winning streak. Their two losses were to ranked teams, losing 93-91 in their opener to No. 13 Texas A&M and in an embarrassing loss, No. 5 Louisville ran the Blue Demons off the court 116-75. In their third game against a ranked team DePaul beat No. 9 Kentucky 86-82. In the only comparable game, DePaul beat Creighton in their last outing 90-81 while UConn beat them 80-47.
UConn
The Huskies come into this game at 5-0 on the season. It's been crazy just trying to get games played with a COVID delay. The team has done well considering. They picked up a game against UMass Lowell coached by Shea Ralph's husband winning 79-23. They went right into Big East conference games beating Seton Hall 92-65, Creighton 80-47, Xavier 106-59, and in their last game against Villanova 90-52.
Comparative Team Statistics
Leader in bold
UConn DePaul
89.4 PPG 88.3
49.2 Defensive PPG 79.9
40.2 Scoring Margin 8.4
56.6 Field Goal % 45.0
28.8 Defensive FG% 48.8
35.2 Three Point % 33.5
18.2 Defensive 3PT% 35,5
71.0 Free Throw % 69.9
44.0 Rebounds/game 35.1
10.0 Rebounding Margin 8.1
23.0 Assists per game 19.1
16.0 Turnover per game 15.4
1.4 Assists/TO ratio 1.2
10.6 Steals per game 12.3
5.8 Blocks per game 2.4
PREGAME INTERVIEWS
Christyn Williams
Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Evina Westbrook
GENO
UCONN
The player and coaches names for both teams
are clickable to see their Bios
UConn Starters
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DEPAUL
The former DePaul basketball player who is forever grateful to the athletic scholarship he received from legendary Blue Demon coach Ray Meyer is heading into his 33rd season as the head coach at his alma mater. Born and raised in Chicago and a product of Quigley South High School, Bruno has transformed DePaul women’s basketball into a steadfast national power.
He has guided the Blue Demons to 17 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (18 if they had one last year) ---a feat only the NCAA elite of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Stanford, Tennessee and Oklahoma can also claim.
DePaul Starters
DePaul Bench
DePaul is doing what they usually do in scoring a lot of points averaging almost 90 points per game. I'm sure Coach Bruno realizes his teams only chance to make a game of it is to make a lot of threes. The good news for DePaul is they take a lot of threes, averaging 28 takes per game. The bad news is they are not shooting their usual high percentage. Every player in the regular rotation has hit a three pointer except one.
As usual, DePaul is also one of the best passing teams in the country. Coach Bruno is an excellent offensive coach and his players usually do a great job valuing the ball. But this season they have turned the ball over 15.4 times per game. More than usual.
The question for DePaul is twofold. Can they hit their three point shots at a high percentage against UConn? Can they find a way to play enough defense to keep UConn under 80? It's the same question I asked the last three years and DePaul failed in both aspects.
DePaul lost their only inside player to graduation in 6'1" Chante Stonewall. This season every starter is under 6' tall in their rotation. They do bring Jone Allen, a 6'1" sophomore transfer from Indiana off the bench. She was effective in her only game since becoming eligible. She should see plenty of playing time in this game. There is a 6'2" player and another 6'1" that could see some playing time, but they don't appear to be very skilled.
Look for Sonya Morris, Dee Bekeilja and Lexi Held to take a lot of three point shots. All three average around 6 taken per game. That being said, every player on the court for DePaul will fire away.
DePaul is able to create turnovers against most teams, and UConn can't afford to be sloppy with the ball like last season. It could be a problem with all a week off between games for the Huskies. UConn has the good ball handlers so I don't expect DePaul to have much success in doing that although they will press to try to disrupt the UConn offense. Their defense has been pretty shoddy this year so far. Opponents are shooting 48.8% from the field and 35% on threes. Not good. And with the big loss to Louisville, DePaul is allowing 79.9 PPG. A very ugly number.
It almost goes with saying but UConn's defense will have to work hard in preventing open threes. DePaul seems to find that open player. UConn is the best at closing in on the open shooter with their amazing switching defense and their advantage with their length. However, it's certain that DePaul will get some open looks. If they hit them at a high rate, DePaul can certainly make it close but I don't see how they can slow down the UConn offense.
UConn likes a fast pace, so it will be interesting to see if they still want to do that with a team that scores so quickly like DePaul. The Huskies have a size advantage and I believe a speed advantage as well. UConn will run off DePaul misses and I expect there to be enough of those to allow UConn so score plenty of points.
Games for the Huskie offense seem to go the same every game. Paige Bueckers and Evina Westbrook find Olivia Nelson-Ododa down low for easy buckets or Bueckers slithers her way in the lane for her now perfected pull up jumper. Westbrook and Williams are getting hot from the outside so we should see more of that as well. And I would look for a big scoring game from Anna Makurat. She is due for a hot game.
Good news on the injury front. I've heard that both Edwards and Muhl are cleared to practice. They should both see minutes in this game.
Final Prediction
After a loss in their first meeting ever in 1983, UConn has won the last 17 game in a rivalry that started in 2006. In their first 4 meeting since 2006 UConn won by an average of 8 PPG with one really close game won in the last second by the Huskies. Sine then UConn has won the last 12 games by an average of 30 PPG. I really don't expect this to be too different. Then again, DePaul I didn't think so last year and it was only a 10 point margin. To replicate that it will take them making 40% of the 40+ threes they will have to take and for UConn to struggle on offense. I just don't see both of those happening.
UConn is so difficult to defend this year, mainly because this is maybe the best passing UConn team I have seen in a long time. I would go as far to say that Bueckers, Williams and Westbrook are the best back court in the country. If they take care of the ball, my prediction could be LOW.......
UConn by 25+.
thanks, DD!!
ReplyDeleteMissed you, DD. Great to have this, even if it's a one-off.
ReplyDeletethanks DD appreciate your analysis. Hope you keep the reports coming
ReplyDeleteExcellent analysis, thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you back. The best analysis of UConn women's basketball. Love it.
ReplyDelete