Day: Wednesday
Date: January 26 , 2022
Time: 8:00
Location: Chicago Ill
TV: SNY
No. 9 UConn Huskies DePaul Blue Demons
11-4 (6-0) 16-4 (8-1)
Prior Meetings
DEPAUL | UCONN LEADS 19-1
H: 7-0 | A: 8-0 | 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.
12/16/19 #2 UConn 84, #16 DePaul 74 Chicago, Ill.
12/29/20 #4 UConn 75, #18 DePaul 52 Storrs, Conn.
01/31/21 #3 UConn 100, #17 DePaul 62 Chicago, Ill.
LAST YEARS HIGHLIGHTS
DePaul Season to Date
DePaul comes into this match up with a 16-4 record and 8-1 in the Big East. Three of their losses were to ranked teams, 95-75 to at the time No. 24 Texas A&M, 75-68 to at the time No. 9 Arizona and 91-86 to at the time No. 20 Notre Dame. All of those were early in the season. Their only Top 25 win was 94-85 against at the time No. 14 Kentucky. If you read my blog you should know that beating Kentucky, who will no longer be ranked and has an 8-7 record, is not a big deal. And Texas A&M is having a tough season losing 7 of their last 8 games.
Other score of note - DePaul defeated a bad Rutgers team 77-74.
Depaul's only other loss was against Big East conference mate Marquette, a tought 88-85 loss in overtime.
They have handled the rest of their Big East schedule, a going 8-0 against the rest of the conference.
Comparing scores is not always a wise thing to come up with a prediction, but it's still worth noting.
Xavier - UConn won 78-41, DePaul won 103-85, 94-74.
Butler - UConn won 92-47, DePaul won 101-64, 103-69
St. John's - UConn won 75-57, DePaul won 107-93
So what can we gleen from those game? Just the obvious. UConn is the better defensive team and DePaul is the better offensive tteam.
PREGAME INTERVIEWS
To be added later
UCONN
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 18 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances ---a feat only the NCAA elite of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Stanford, Tennessee and Oklahoma can also claim.
DePaul Starters
5'6" Junior Guard
After a loss in their first meeting ever in 1983, UConn has won the last 19 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 14 games by an average of 30 PPG. But this game could be different. UConn is still short handed and it's possible that the Blue Demons could make 40% of the 30+ threes they take and for UConn to struggle on offense. However, I just don't see both of those happening.
It seasom like I write the same analysis every time for this match up.
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. DePaul takes a lot of threes, averaging 25 takes per game. And this season they are hitting at a solid 35%. And even that is deceiving. Three of their starters combined are shooting 40.8%. Also every player in the regular rotation has hit a three pointer.
As usual, DePaul is also one of the best passing teams in the country. They average 20.5 assists per game. 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 15.3 times per game. More than usual. But the Assist/Turnover ratio is excellent.
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 four years and DePaul failed in both aspects.
Last season DePaul lost their only inside player to graduation in 6'1" Chante Stonewall. They didn't really have a replacement so every starter was under 6' tall in their rotation. This year is a different story as they added freshman phenom 6'1" Aneesha Morrow to the rotation. No doubt she will be BE freshman of the year and maybe national FOY. And also candidate for BE POY as well. She brings needed rebounding and paint scoring for the Blue Demons. Her stats are amazing. She is averaging 20.3 PPG and 12.5 RPG. She has had double digit rebounding against all comers. No reason to think that won't happen against UConn.
Look for Sonya Morris and Lexi Held to take a lot of three point shots. They both average around 5 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. It could be a problem with the quick change in opponent. UConn has 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. DePaul is allowing 75.9 PPG.
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 with the extra pass. The Huskies do have match up issues with DePaul starting 4 guards. UConn won't be able to play their three bigs at the same time. 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 tough on the Huskies but I don't see how they can slow down the UConn offense.
UConn usually 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 and with UConn only going 6 deep. The Huskies have a size advantage and they will run off DePaul misses and I expect there to be enough of those to allow UConn so score plenty of points.
So, after I initially wrote and published this report, Geno said in a press conference that Christyn Williams, depending on how she is feeling, will see some minutes in this game. That is really really great news. Now how many minutes will she play? Geno said that she will be like Nika when she first came back. I looked at those minutes and she played 16 in her first game back. That would be HUGE for the Huskies. I'm going to predict she plays 20. I don't care if she scores a point. I just want to see some great defense.
Final Prediction
After a loss in their first meeting ever in 1983, UConn has won the last 19 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 14 games by an average of 30 PPG. But this game could be different. UConn is still short handed and it's possible that the Blue Demons could make 40% of the 30+ threes they take and for UConn to struggle on offense. However, I just don't see both of those happening.
I expect UConn to at least score a few points more than DePaul averages on defense. And for the Huskies to continue their improved defensive play.
UConn by 10+.
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