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Straight from the Dog
Well, I said goodbye in my last blog, but I guess I have more to say.
The season is done. It was a weird one for all the injuries and illnesses. So weird. But like Geno has said, this team found a way to persevere time after time.
We can only imagine how the season would have gone if Paige, Azzi and Aubrey played a full season together. So much talent and so many missed games.
But, I'm a firm believer in looking forward, not backwards, and the future looks amazing for 2022-23.
I won't go into starters and bench players. I always leave that up to Geno. But their depth chart looks pretty darn good. There are players that can play more than one position. Geno will have a great time rotating the players on the court.
Bueckers and Fudd will be the best back court in the country next season. And while they were pretty good this year when they finally got to play together, as Bachman-Turner Overdrive said "You ain't seen nothin' yet".
A full off season with a year more of experience and we will finally see their true abilities shine. I can't wait to year the reports of UConn's summer camp.
So many good things to look for next year.
- Dorka with one more year of the UConn system and pretty much a guarenteed starter. Her confidence will be sky high.
- Ducharme was never the same after her head injury. But we know what she can do and I will predict that she will be UConn's most improved three point shooter. Close to 40% next year.
- UConn will have not just one defensive stopper but two. Muhl and Griffin will terrorize opponents offenses. That will battle all season for the team lead in steals.
- The Edwards we saw in many of the games in the second half will be what we see all season. And more. Edwards and Griffin will battle for the teams lead in offensive rebounds. Aaliyah is a maniac on the boards. And don't be surprised if she hits a couple of three pointers.
- So, will DeBerry follow through with what she promiced Geno? She is staying at UConn through the summer to work and her game and she told Geno she will work hard to earn a bigger role next season. I can't wait to see her improvement. Get in better shape, and play with an attitude.
- I always wondered how Gabriel would do with some serious playing time. With Nelson-Ododa graduating, I would love to see her as part of the regular rotation.
- That leaves the two freshman. I know many fans don't believe they can contribute as freshman, but I disagree. I know, shocking. But I've watched a ton of video of both players, and they have the skills and attitude to garner some minutes. Patterson will get time just because of her defense. And Brady is a big that can hit the outside shot.
Ok, I named 11 players and only 200 minutes in each game. But, as we sadly saw this season, it all seems to work out. Hopefully only minor games missed by players. you know for sure that Bueckers, Fudd, Edwards, Ducharme, Griffin, Muhl and Juhasz will see regular minutes. Who of DeBerry, Gabriel, Patterson and Brady will fill out the rotation? Can't wait to find out.
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You might have noticed how often I mentioned Aubrey Griffin. She is maybe the player I am most excited to see at 100% next season. I think many fans have forgotten how much she contributed in the 2020-21 season. She only played 17 minutes per game, but she led the team in rebounds per minute, offensive rebounds per minute, steals per minute and was second in blocks per minute. She also shot 53% from the field. She has a great post up game and can really finish around the basket. I'm sure that some think I'm overplaying her ability to impact the team next season. Those folks would be wrong. Watch this entire highlight video and tell me that Aubrey can't be a big impact next year.
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I'll admit that I'm not a fan of Maryland's women's coach Brenda Frese, but I hate to see any team lose really good players. The Terps just had two amazing players enter the portal.
Maryland star Ashley Owusu has entered the transfer portal
— highlightHER (@HighlightHER) April 5, 2022
Huge news 🤯 @brhoops pic.twitter.com/JLqIMwXDTG
Maryland women's basketball star Angel Reese is entering the transfer portal, sources told https://t.co/CL4vgvxIwS. Enormous loss for the Terps, who earlier today saw star Ashley Owusu enter the portal.
— Jeff Ermann (@Jeff_Ermann) April 5, 2022
Huge blows for Brenda Frese's program.
Either one of these players is a game changer for some schools.
Reese is a 6'3" forward who can really handle the ball. She led Maryland in scoring at 17.8 PPG and rebounding at 10.6 RPG. She has three years left if she decides to use the Covid year.
Owusu is a stocky 6' guard that can dominate the game at times. Second leading scorer on Maryland at 14.3 PPG she also have 99 assists on the season.
Wow...big losses for Maryland. Crazy! Makes you wonder what is going on there and who might be next.
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By David in Naples
Sad ending to a great season, but truly a tremendous effort this year by the Huskies..!! The stats from the South Carolina game tell the story.
Consider:
1. Both teams made 22 field goals. UConn was 22-54 and SC was 22-60.
2. Huskies shot 41% from the field, SC shot 37%.
3. UConn had 15 turnovers, SC had 14.
4. The Huskies were called for 21 fouls. SC had just 11.
5. As a result of the fouls called, SC had 26 trips to the fouls line vs 4 for UConn.
6. Rebounding totals were big time in favor of SC, 49-24.
7. The lead after the 1st period was 14 points. Final margin was 15.
8. UConn's bench played 60 minutes out of 200 total. (30%)
9. Azzi Fudd was sick prior to the game and Olivia re-injured her groin against NC State.
10. UConn finishes 30-6 and 2nd in the nation.
Consider:
1. Both teams made 22 field goals. UConn was 22-54 and SC was 22-60.
2. Huskies shot 41% from the field, SC shot 37%.
3. UConn had 15 turnovers, SC had 14.
4. The Huskies were called for 21 fouls. SC had just 11.
5. As a result of the fouls called, SC had 26 trips to the fouls line vs 4 for UConn.
6. Rebounding totals were big time in favor of SC, 49-24.
7. The lead after the 1st period was 14 points. Final margin was 15.
8. UConn's bench played 60 minutes out of 200 total. (30%)
9. Azzi Fudd was sick prior to the game and Olivia re-injured her groin against NC State.
10. UConn finishes 30-6 and 2nd in the nation.
And.......
Christyn was the leading scorer this season with 468 points. That was slightly behind her 472 points last year, but 1 point ahead of her sophomore year scoring of 467 points. Freshman season she scored 443 points. Very consistent..!! That totals 1,850 points and put her in 15th place all-time at UConn. Svetlana remains in 14th place just 15 points away.
A bit surprisingly, Evina was 2nd in scoring at 323 points. She started or played in every one of the Huskies 36 games. She also finished 2nd in assists with 113, just behind Olivia at 116 assists.
The weird part comes for 3rd place in scoring. It is a 3 way tie for 3rd with 303 points. (Say that fast three times.) Azzi, Caroline and Olivia all scored 303 points. Azzi did it in 25 games, Caroline in 31 and Olivia in 33. Aaliyah was 6th at 283 points and Paige finished 7th with 248 points. Paige did lead in average per game at 14.6 for her 17 games.
Go Huskies..!!
A bit surprisingly, Evina was 2nd in scoring at 323 points. She started or played in every one of the Huskies 36 games. She also finished 2nd in assists with 113, just behind Olivia at 116 assists.
The weird part comes for 3rd place in scoring. It is a 3 way tie for 3rd with 303 points. (Say that fast three times.) Azzi, Caroline and Olivia all scored 303 points. Azzi did it in 25 games, Caroline in 31 and Olivia in 33. Aaliyah was 6th at 283 points and Paige finished 7th with 248 points. Paige did lead in average per game at 14.6 for her 17 games.
Go Huskies..!!
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UCONN LINKS
Several links are pay sites. Sorry!
Paige passes 1 million instagram followers Sports Illustrated
New task for UConn - dethrone the champs Journal Inquirer
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i agree about aubrey
ReplyDeleteI agree about Aaliyah's potential from the 3-pt line. For about the last 1/3 of the season, she showed a pretty, and a reliable, jumper from about 15 ft+. All she needs to do is extend that a bit. As it is, the more she can be successful from 15 ft, the more defenses will have to respect it, and that'll open up space for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI hope Aubrey returns at 100%. Thanks for your analysis of the games this year. I'm looking forward to next season. Have a great summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for your blogs this season and years past. They are required reading for me!
ReplyDeleteBleeding blue, forever.
HuskyHarper