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Here is my UConn/Arizona Pregame Report
UPDATE ON NIKA MUHL
From Geno - “She says she feels good. We’re getting ready to practice as soon as we finish with the with the media stuff so we’ll know more a little bit later. It was encouraging that our medical staff said that after doing a little bit yesterday, she looked pretty good, and I’m hoping that after she does a little bit more today, she’ll feel just as good tomorrow morning when she wakes up. But we probably won’t know for certain, 100%, until after shoot-around tomorrow.”
Sounds encouraging. Here she is at practice. A quick look, but she is there!
📍Alamodome pic.twitter.com/tt9inupDJG
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) April 1, 2021
Got to explore the San Antonio Zoo yesterday! pic.twitter.com/YYz02pBHQo
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) April 1, 2021
I want to give a shout out to my buddie Ken. He posts some great links, videos, and tweets and I get to use them in my blog. It wouldn't be as good without his contributions. Here is the latest tweet I borrowed.
Here's the results of our predictions for the #ncaaW #WFinalFour. Our model gives UConn a better than 50% chance to take home the trophy.
— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) April 1, 2021
You can check out all our data and how our predictions have done at https://t.co/54nykc8qns pic.twitter.com/HSW940qfyZ
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Geno's Pregame Availability
Caroline won it in a shoot out with Azzi Fudd.
A real interesting video
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What a wonderful story!!
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MORGAN WOOTTEN HS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Congrats to Azzi Fudd on winning this award. It's been a crazy year where many players didn't have a lot of games, but based on reputation, Azzi won this year's award.
Guess who won last year? I'd give you three guess but I think you all would get it in one guess.
Prior to each game since /2002 , a national player of the year has been chosen from the field of McDonald's All-Americans based on activity in the community, classroom and on the court. The award is named in honor of high school coach Morgan Wootten, one of the founders of the McDonald's game.
Here are the past winners.
- Girls
- 2002: Nicole Wolff
- 2003: Ivory Latta
- 2004: Candace Parker
- 2005: Abby Waner
- 2006: Tina Charles
- 2007: Maya Moore
- 2008: Elena Delle Donne
- 2009: Kelsey Bone
- 2010: Chiney Ogwumike
- 2011: Elizabeth Williams
- 2012: Breanna Stewart
- 2013: Taya Reimer
- 2014: Ariel Atkins
- 2015: Katie Lou Samuelson
- 2016: Crystal Dangerfield
- 2017: Evina Westbrook
- 2018: Christyn Williams
- 2019: Haley Jones
- 2020: Paige Bueckers
UConn has three winners of this award in their starting lineup. And if you include Westbrook and Delle Donne, UConn players have now won 11 of the 20 times this has been given out.
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Congrats Caroline Ducharme! AMFAM Girls’ 3-Point Champ winner. Check it out Sunday on @CBS . Next up, she’s off to UConn! pic.twitter.com/Yl8C9WHVt7
— Jack Salzwedel (@AmFamJack) March 30, 2021
1:30 EST on CBS
Caroline won it in a shoot out with Azzi Fudd.
No worries about the boot on Azzi. Just a precaution from a turned ankle.
PERFECT RACK by @azzi_35 with the boot on. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀
— High School Slam (@HighSchoolSlam) March 30, 2021
Impressive stuff at the @amfam Girls 3-Point Championship. #DreamFearlessly pic.twitter.com/4fR1Pa0S5p
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Painful to watch the first 3-4 minutes as it's the end of the Mississippi State game from a few years ago.
So, this is for any Arizona fans that read my blog.
Are there any??
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12:30PM GAME II
TEAM KOBE | ||||
| Coach Christina Camacho (Veterans Memorial HS) | ||||
| Sara Puckett | 6'2 | F | Muscle Shoals | Tennessee |
| Caroline Ducharme | 6'2 | G | Noble and Greenough | Uconn |
| Azzi Fudd | 5'11 | G | St. John's | UConn |
| Jayda Curry | 5'6 | PG | Centennial | Cal |
| Rayah Marshall | 6'4 | SF | Lynwood | USC |
| Destiny Adams | 6'2 | F | Manchester Township | UNC |
| De'Mauri Flournoy | 5'7 | G | Carrollton | Vanderbilt |
| Rori Harmon | 5'5 | PG | Cypress Creek | Texas |
| Kierra Sanderlin | 5'7 | PG | Judson | Rutgers |
| Amari DeBerry | 6'5 | F | Williamsville South | Uconn |
| Aaliyah Moore | 6'3 | F | Moore | Texas |
TEAM GIGI | ||||
| Coach Annissa Jackson (Wagner HS) | ||||
| Kendra Gillispie | 6'2 | F/P | Harding Charter | Marquette |
| Payton Verhulst | 6'1 | G | Bishop Miege | Louisville |
| Destiney McPhaul | 5'8 | PG | West Catholic | Virginia Tech |
| O'Mariah Gordon | 5'5 | PG | Braden River | Florida State |
| Saniya Rivers | 6'0 | G | Eugene Ashley | South Carolina |
| Reigan Richardson | 5'11 | SG | Cannon | Georgia |
| Jasmine Shavers | 5'10 | G | Mesquite Horn | Mississippi State |
| Bree Hall | 6'1 | G | Wayne | South Carolina |
| Teonni Key | 6'4 | W | Cary | UNC |
| Sania Feagin | 6'4 | F | Forest Park | South Carolina |
Pass Tha Ball WHO's NXT? ALL AMERICAN game will be held on Friday, April 2, 2021 at the Antioch Sports Complex during the Women's Final Four weekend in San Antonio, TX. Games will be played at 10:45 AM CST & 12:30 PM CST.
Live streamed at this LINK. I believe it is a pay site. I'm hoping someone watches and posts about the games. UConn players are in the 12:30 CST game.
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Thanks to Connie on a UConn Message board for this great poem
Baylor At The Bat
The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the UConn five that day;
Up 12 midway through Quarter 1, but plenty more to play.
When Olivia fouled not once but twice, amidst a bunny missed,
A sickly silence fell o’er a many household sorely pissed.
And so the Lady Bears roared back to take the lead by two,
And heading to the locker room, cruel Huskies’ fate did rue.
We thought if only Paige could lead us back from the abyss,
I’d put up even-money Mulkey’s jacket’d go amiss.
Midst traded blows, blocks, rebounds strong, and no-calls end-to-end,
The mighty teams did battle on, no lead could they extend.
When suddenly the tide did turn in the dark’ning Texas night,
As an 8-0 run put Baylor up, their victory flaming bright.
Then kismet kind now turning cruel possessed a hamstring taut,
With Didi out did Paige unleash her havoc coolly brought.
Oh! Points did rain from rafters high, and the defense gathered poise,
The lead reversed, then opened up 9 points amidst the noise.
Yet not so gentle ‘to the night did Baylor softly slink,
They raged on (on top of Paige), their season on the brink.
The Huskies cold now from the arc, the paint, the free-throw line,
The lead did shrink, to but a shot, as if all by design.
With 18 seconds on the clock, no time outs left, just will;
An in-bounds pass, 8 seconds ticked, yet time seemed standing still.
Above the arc did Carrington the fated sphere then grip,
She darted right, then leftward drove, Olivia on her hip.
Then flashing mighty Olivia cut off the base line strong,
And UConns’ fortress towers did converge amidst the throng.
The three then came together, mere seconds on the clock,
Midst arms and hands and elbows all, let go a final shot.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere Geno grins;
But there is no joy in Texas. No call. UConn wins.
The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the UConn five that day;
Up 12 midway through Quarter 1, but plenty more to play.
When Olivia fouled not once but twice, amidst a bunny missed,
A sickly silence fell o’er a many household sorely pissed.
And so the Lady Bears roared back to take the lead by two,
And heading to the locker room, cruel Huskies’ fate did rue.
We thought if only Paige could lead us back from the abyss,
I’d put up even-money Mulkey’s jacket’d go amiss.
Midst traded blows, blocks, rebounds strong, and no-calls end-to-end,
The mighty teams did battle on, no lead could they extend.
When suddenly the tide did turn in the dark’ning Texas night,
As an 8-0 run put Baylor up, their victory flaming bright.
Then kismet kind now turning cruel possessed a hamstring taut,
With Didi out did Paige unleash her havoc coolly brought.
Oh! Points did rain from rafters high, and the defense gathered poise,
The lead reversed, then opened up 9 points amidst the noise.
Yet not so gentle ‘to the night did Baylor softly slink,
They raged on (on top of Paige), their season on the brink.
The Huskies cold now from the arc, the paint, the free-throw line,
The lead did shrink, to but a shot, as if all by design.
With 18 seconds on the clock, no time outs left, just will;
An in-bounds pass, 8 seconds ticked, yet time seemed standing still.
Above the arc did Carrington the fated sphere then grip,
She darted right, then leftward drove, Olivia on her hip.
Then flashing mighty Olivia cut off the base line strong,
And UConns’ fortress towers did converge amidst the throng.
The three then came together, mere seconds on the clock,
Midst arms and hands and elbows all, let go a final shot.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere Geno grins;
But there is no joy in Texas. No call. UConn wins.
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By David in Naples
The game against Arizona this Friday will be difficult. They are a good team that has over achieved this year. Their best player is Aari McDonald, a tiny guard who scores more than the next two players combined. (20.3 average vs 19.9 for the next 2 players) She shoots the ball a lot, 444 shots vs 227 for the next player. By contrast, Paige led UConn with 411 shots, but Christyn was just behind with 373 tries. Job #1 for UConn is to make McDonald take difficult, uncomfortable shots.
Job #2 is to rebound at both ends of the court. Arizona was out rebounded 925 to 921 this season. UConn had a positive difference of 1,211 to 872. As a team, Arizona shot 41.4% overall from the field, so there will be lots of misses. UConn hits shots at a 51.6% rate. McDonald took more threes (153) than the next two players combined. For the Huskies, Paige and Christyn shot 135 and 137 threes. McDonald hits 33% of her threes (62-153). Christyn made 34.3% of her threes and Paige made 45.9%. Advantage Huskies..!
In terms of scoring offense, Arizona averages 66.8 per game. That places them #129 in Division 1 hoops. UConn is #4 at 82.7 ppg. Job #3 for the Huskies is score 82 points.
Interestingly, Arizona played 25 games this season and four players started all 25 games and 1 started 22. UConn has started 8 different players and only two have started all 29 games. With Nika doubtful, Aaliyah should start and give UConn even more rebounded height and inside scoring punch. The first two subs for UConn, Aubrey and Anna, have started 5 and 6 games respectively. Quality minutes are needed from subs to give their teams a chance to win.
Go Huskies..!!
Job #2 is to rebound at both ends of the court. Arizona was out rebounded 925 to 921 this season. UConn had a positive difference of 1,211 to 872. As a team, Arizona shot 41.4% overall from the field, so there will be lots of misses. UConn hits shots at a 51.6% rate. McDonald took more threes (153) than the next two players combined. For the Huskies, Paige and Christyn shot 135 and 137 threes. McDonald hits 33% of her threes (62-153). Christyn made 34.3% of her threes and Paige made 45.9%. Advantage Huskies..!
In terms of scoring offense, Arizona averages 66.8 per game. That places them #129 in Division 1 hoops. UConn is #4 at 82.7 ppg. Job #3 for the Huskies is score 82 points.
Interestingly, Arizona played 25 games this season and four players started all 25 games and 1 started 22. UConn has started 8 different players and only two have started all 29 games. With Nika doubtful, Aaliyah should start and give UConn even more rebounded height and inside scoring punch. The first two subs for UConn, Aubrey and Anna, have started 5 and 6 games respectively. Quality minutes are needed from subs to give their teams a chance to win.
Go Huskies..!!
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By Phil
Upsets
60 of the 63 games are now in the books. Eleven of those games, 18% of the total were upsets.
No team in the NCAA Tournament wants to lose, but you REALLY don’t want to be on the losing end of an upset.
Let’s see how those upsets broke down by conference. One each for four conferences, one conference, the B10 with two, and … drum roll please… five upsets suffered by SEC teams. Almost half the upsets were attributable to SEC teams. One upset is happenstance, but five means the selection committee bought into the false narrative that the SEC is the best overall conference. Not even close.
There is an SEC team left, but there are twice as many Pac 12 teams left. I hope the selection committee will, when they get together next year, review how badly they managed to slot the SEC teams. Other than the inexplicable decision to match up UConn with Baylor, as if Baylor was the 7th best overall team, this SEC favoritism mars an overall decent job of selection and slotting.
WCC 1 Gonzaga
B12 1 West Virginia
ACC 1 NC State
Pac12 1 UCLA
B10 2 Rutgers Maryland
SEC 5 Tennessee TAMU Arkansas Kentucky Georgia
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UCONN LINKS
Sorry if some links need a subscription
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