Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 1/12/2021

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Sigh......

With all the craziness in the country going on, I was so looking forward to watching UConn play on Wednesday. But in maybe an overreaction, UConn's game against Seton Hall was postponed. It wasn't that there was a positive test in the UConn program. It was a positive test within the Providence program, the team UConn played against this past Saturday.

Now, I get why. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. "after an abundance of caution" was the term the Big East used. Yeah, I'll say.

So, after I heard that and that Saturday's game against Villanova being postponed I figured I would just stop blogging for a while. But then I realized how much of a great distraction this is, at least for a couple of hours (that is how long it takes sometimes) I could be distracted. Hey, David sent me his stuff so how could I not share that??!!!

I am hopeful that the Big East will shuffle some games around and UConn will play other teams this week before their next scheduled game against Butler on Tuesday the 19th and Tennessee the 21st. We shall see.

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There were FOUR UConn recruits on the Naismith Midseason Watch list.

'21 Azzi Fudd

'21 Amari DeBerry

'21 Caroline Ducharme

'22 Isunah "Ice" Brady

Wow....that is really something. Sadly. Saylor Poffenbarger didn't make it.

And on that note....my next in depth look at a UConn 2021 recruit!

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Well, Saylor didn't make the Naismith list but she made my blog. Small consolation, huh.

“I mean, I was the kid that was in like fourth grade, telling my P.E teacher I wanted to play at UConn and they looked at me like I had five heads.”

Yes, that sure was an early commitment. She didn't have an offer, but eventually she did. I wonder how long it took for her to accept it...!!!

I'm a big fan of big guards and Saylor fits that bill. She really reminds me in looks and game of Ann Strother. That is a really good thing.

Saylor is a 6-foot-2 guard out of Middleton, Md. As you might expect, she was the first player to sign her national letter of intent of the 2021 recruits. She’s been committed the longest out of UConn’s incoming players, having announced her decision to play for Geno Auriemma and Co. in July 2019. She has a versatile game and the ability to fill a lot of holes on the floor. I love her ability to really fill up the basket from long range, and I mean LONG range. And her release is really quick. You will see that in the clips I post. It's not the best video, but you will get the point. And I love her toughness on the boards. She will easily be able to play both forward postition for UConn.

I wish I could post Youtube videos of her play but there aren't any. But MaxPreps has a ton of shorter clips. I can only post a link to the site with the videos. You have to click on them there. And there are quite a few. Sorry they all have commercials you have to watch first.

Saylor Poffenbarger Video Highlights

Get to know Saylor. Nice interview

From the USA team site

The Scoop

First played basketball at age 5. She grew up going to her mom’s practices.
Enjoys working with young children and children with challenges.
Favorite player is Maya Moore. Moore was the first player she saw and thought, “I want to play like her.”
Favorite class is English, because there is more than one answer, depending on how you interpret the reading.
Favorite pregame meal is ramen noodles.
Inspired by her little brother, who died in 2010. “He plays with me!”
Has never traveled outside of the United States.

Gold Medals: 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
As a member of the 2019 USA Basketball Women's U16 National Team, averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game to help the USA to a 6-0 record and gold medal June 16-22 in Puerto Aysen, Chile.
Named to the 2019 USA Women’s U16 National Team on May 30; selected as one of 18 finalists for the team on May 27; announced as an invitee for trials on May 13.

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No. 21 Texas vs Oklahoma postponed

The BIG EAST announced on Tuesday afternoon that No. 19/22 DePaul's women's basketball conference game against Providence on Jan. 23 at Wintrust Arena has been postponed. Providence announced a pause in team activities due to COVID-19 issues within the program. No makeup date has been announced.

The Syracuse University women's basketball team will finally make its return to the court this weekend. The Orange will host the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday at Noon. Head coach Quentin Hillsman and his team have been sidelined since a road win over Boston College on December 20 after positive COVID-19 cases flared up within the program.

For the second time this season, the Kent State women's basketball team has paused all team-related activities due to COVID-19 issues. The Golden Flashes' games scheduled for Wednesday at Akron and Saturday at home against Western Michigan have been postponed. The Mid-American Conference is working to reschedule those contests for a later date.

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By David in Naples

UConn has blocked 39 shots this season in 7 games. Olivia is the leader in blocked shots with 14. That increases her career total to 168 and puts her solidly in 10th place all-time at UConn. Next up is Kelly Schumaker at 181, just 13 away. Then Maya Moore is at 204 in 8th place. Liv is not the only shot blocker on the Huskies. Aubrey has 6 and Aaliyah is right behind at 5. Even Anna Makurat has 4. Paige and Christyn are at 3.

Interestingly, opponents have blocked only 15 UConn shots out of 445 attempted. An added benefit of having a shot blocker like Liv in the lane is how many shots she alters because the shooter is worried about getting their shot blocked. Opponents are shooting 29% against UConn. That may be one contributing reason...

Go Huskies..!!

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