Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 2/16/2022

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GO UCONN!!!!!

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It was an exciting night out to dinner last night! We went to a great place in DelRay.

I would recommend it.

I spotted former Yankee and current announcer on Yankee broadcasts Paul O'Neal sitting a few tables away. I'm not shy so I went over and after some small talk I asked for a selfie.

Me - Would you mind if we took a picture?

Paul - Sure, no problem.

Paul's wife - Paul, stand up....

Me - Wow, you are tall...

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Just got to practice at Gampel.

Paige Bueckers is in the court pic.twitter.com/wtQ1l46Y2Z
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) February 16, 2022

Paige Bueckers and Olivia Nelson-Ododa working with the blue (first) team as @UConnWBB does halfcourt work at practice
— carl adamec (@CarlAdamec) February 16, 2022

Hello from UConn women’s basketball practice in Storrs.

Paige Bueckers is a participant with the ball near the Husky logo pic.twitter.com/ZUxqKOii2V
— Daniel Connolly (@DanielVConnolly) February 16, 2022

Paige Bueckers is on the court in today’s practice. pic.twitter.com/7gSL8SJpj1
— UCTV Sports (@UCTVSports) February 16, 2022

Another clip of Paige at practice hitting a three 👀 pic.twitter.com/ReE4NzXIAh
— UCTV Sports (@UCTVSports) February 16, 2022

Great to see @paigebueckers1 back on the practice floor today! Her first day doing defensive drills & getting up and down the floor a bit. @GenoAjustsayin and the @UConnWBB happy to have the All-American trending in the right direction! @WTNH @UConnHuskies pic.twitter.com/EwFhGi7zYf
— John Pierson (@JPPierson) February 16, 2022

This is realy big news. You can't come back and play until you can practice. And now she is practicing. A huge step for Paige.

The videos tell us that she can make snap passes to both sides of the court. And that she can easily hit the three from the top of the key. And running lightly. So she getting there.

I'm liking my 2/27 Senior night game as her big time return.

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KK Arnold Arnold

29 points (12-19 FG, 2-4 3-PT, 3-4 FT), 7 assists, 3 steals

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GAMES

No. 6 Iowa State 48 No. 14 Texas 73

No. 7 Baylor 80 TCU 55

No. 15 Oklahoma 87 Texas Tech 97

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Straight from the Dog

I said this in yesterday's blog - "UConn is listed as a 3 seed in the Bridgeport Region. Good. If Iowa State loses a game or two in the next two weeks, I expect him to flip-flop those two teams. And Oklahoma is now a 2 seed? They have a Net ranking of 27. Yes, 27. And 14 in the Massey ratings. I don't think the Committee will agree with SECreme with this selection."

The Charlie SECreme jinx is in full view. No. 15 Oklahoma lost to now 10-14 Texas Tech 97-87 and I have a feeling Charlie won't have them a 2 seed anymore.

And as I was hoping, No. 6 Iowa State lost BIG to No. 14 Texas on the Longhorns' home court. Not just a loss but Iowa State got destroyed, losing 73-48. Can they still be a 2 seed? Maybe. But I like UConn's chances to move to a two seed.

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Nia Clark (5-9 RS SO guard, Indianapolis, IN) has entered her name into the portal as a grad xfer out of Xavier WBB (and is no longer listed on their roster); played in 17 games this season, starting 14 and averaging a team-best 11.7 PPG; started her college career at Miami (OH)
— Raoul (@Raoul_000) February 16, 2022

A bad Xavier team just became really bad. Friday's game just got easier for UConn.

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That brace is something else. I heard they are going to start a new television series.

Bionic Bueckers!!

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By David in Naples

Earlier in the season, before she was hurt, Paige played 36.4 minutes per game. Caroline Ducharme was averaging 31 minutes per game in the last 4 games she played. Similar story with Olivia, She was playing 25 minutes per game, even with some foul trouble.

My point is that in the last three games, those three were not available to play. So, who covers for those missing players. Consider the minutes played by Azzi, Nika and Christyn over the last three games. (from Marquette, DePaul and Villanova)

1. Azzi - 38, 34 and 40 minutes
2. Nika - 40, 38 and 37 minutes
3. Christyn - 38,40 and 40 minutes

Clearly, those three players are working overtime with Paige, Caroline and Olivia injured. The hope is that with all six healthy, minutes can be spread out and production maintained. Seven players have started 11 games or more. Add in Azzi's four starts and UConn has 8 players capable of starting. That gives Geno options to match up against certain teams in the tournament and depth when the game is playing.

Go Huskies..!!

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