Between Geno's interview and my reading so many negative fan musings, I've decided to have only positive items in my blog. So, if you are inclinded to only look at the negative this is not the blog for you. Or maybe it is, and it will wipe away some of that doom and gloom.
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Congrats to the Champs
Thanks for having our backs this season, UConn Nation!
An unbelievable season for a player that was not expected to be playing this many minutes at the point. She broke Sue Birds single season assist record. With several games left she will obliterate that number.
That's π§πππ€π§π ππ§πππ ππ§ Nika MΓΌhl to you pic.twitter.com/K0tefYF0XS
Not much to say. Season one is over. UConn won the regular season Big East title. Season two is up next with the Big East Tournament. Win this and move on to the NCAA Tournament. 9 more wins!! Stay positive UConn Nation!!!
Some Photos for your viewing pleasure
The Champs
Michael Jordan Tongue
Ayanna Can Sky!!
So can Aubrey!
Wow, so can Aaliyah!
Well, we will get ONE back!!!
What could have been and what will be!
We will need El Afy and Brady in the middle next year!!
After the men's beatdown of Providence the other night, the Friar coach Ed Dooley was not happy with the reaction from the UConn fans there. He called them "Arrogant and Spoilled".
Husky Ticket Project raises money to get tickets to bring kids to the games for the next generation of Husky fans. Gotta love the cleverness here.
Obviously the "4" is for the number of men's National Championships and the "11" is for the women's National Championships. These will be collector items after the Huskies win another championship!!
Monday is Senior night where UConn and it's fans will celebrate Lou Lopez Senechal and Dorka Juhasz in the traditional senior night ceremony. It always brings tears to their teammates eyes.
Even though Lou has been here for this one season, she has had a big impact on the program. I've said it many times as had many UConn fans and Geno as well. Where would UConn be if she wasn't here.
Dorka has had a much better season than her first year at UConn which was prematurely ended with a horrible broken wrist. She has had a year that will improve her WNBA draft stock. I think she will be a terrific pro.
The Huskies take on a terrible Xavier team which, of course, means they will have their best game of the season. The Huskies beat them rather easily in the first matchup in a palindrome score 73-37. UConn had one of those sloppy games, with 22 turnovers, but the Huskies played their bench for extended minutes and they had 9 of them. Nika had a tough game with 6 turnovers of her own although she did have 9 assists. Nika only needs three assists to own the single season assist record for the Huskies. That should happen in the first quarter.
The first match up was the game that Edwards went into the stands and had an injury. Just one more frustrating time for UConn. She only played 14 minutes in that game.Bettencourt played 23 minutes and had 7 points and 3 assists. Wonderful game for her.
I am going to stop predicting that the Huskies will break out of their offensive issues. I've been wrong every time for weeks. But I do expect UConn to dominate the game and come close to duplicating the first matchup margin of victory.
"Our fans at UConn appreciate people who play hard, who are great team players, try to play the game the right way and honor the game the way it's supposed to be played." pic.twitter.com/kVza0Li77T
Just little trip down memory lane for our graduate players
Dorka played her undergrad at Ohio State in just 3 seasons. On April 21, 2021 Dorka announced her commitment to play one year at UConn to study for her masters psychology. She scored her 1000th career point against UCLA last season and grabbed her 1000th career rebound this season against St John’s. Dorka is currently at 1,538 points and 1,135 rebounds. She has 203 assists in her career, 74 from this season for far. She also has 136 career steals and 121 blocks.
Starting and playing in every single game this season, Lou has been the rock of this Husky roster. Lou is currently at 2078 career points, 563 career rebounds, 200 assists, and 119 steals.
UConn has never had two graduate students their roster at the same time, that I can think of. These two have created a new player legacy in the short time in their Husky uniforms. The transfer portal has its perks and these two stars have been game changers!
Fast fact: That's 30 consecutive 25-win seasons for @UConnWBB ... Second-longest current run is Baylor with 19 (Bears are 17-10 this season so some work to do) followed by Florida Gulf Coast (13) and Louisville (10).
UConn WBKB coach Geno Auriemma picks up a $25,000 bonus as Huskies beat DePaul, 72-69, to clinch at least a share of the Big East regular season title.
Great game between No. 6 Iowa and No. 2 Indiana. I mean a GREAT game. This game is what WCBB is all about. Two really talented teams going head to head, basket for basket. Whew...I was holding my breat. With 1.5 seconds left and down two points, Iowa double screens for Caitlin Clark and she hits a three pointer at the buzzer. It was just an amazingly clutch shot from the player who I would pick as POY. That shot might have clinched it.
She ended up with 34 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. The only problem I have watching Clark play is how much it makes me miss Paige Bueckers. Two great players. Damn.
Indiana's Grace Berger is a hell of a player. And next year UConn will their very own Berger style player. Watch Grace and you will see Ashlynn Shade. Their styles are so alike. Both incredibly strong guards. I can't wait to see Shade in a UConn uniform.
Year after year, UConn fans were worried that the team had too many easy wins. That they weren't battle tested. At least that worry is gone for this version of the Huskies.
In another tough game, UConn went on a 9-0 run to erase a 65-61 DePaul lead with 3:35 left in the game.
Edwards started the run with a great drive to the basket. After a defensive stop, Lopez Senechal drove the baseline for a nice reverse layup to tie the game. DePaul called a time out, but UConn continued their momentum by forcing a Blue Demon turnover and Edwards followed that with another good drive on a pass by Nika Muhl to take the lead 67-65.
In maybe the biggest play of her young career, Ayanna Patterson straight up blocked Aneesha Morrow's shot attempt. Not easy to do. UConn's Griffin missed her layup attempt and in a pretty bad play Edwards fouled out. Forunately for UConn is was only their third team foul.
DePaul missed a three pointer and Nika grabbed the rebound. She passed it to Lou and sprinted to the corner. Lou drove the lane and when the defense collapsed, she hit Nika in that corner. Muhl let it fly with a hand in her face and hit a huge three pointer to give UConn a 5 point lead 70-65 with 1:13 remaining.
Of course, as it usually goes for the Huskies, DePaul had their chances to get back in the game. Patterson fouled sending DePaul to the line for two free throws to close the gap to 3 points. After the Huskies called a time out, Juhasz had a clear lane for a lay up and missed the easy bucket. DePaul hit an unimpeded lay up to get to within a point at 70-69. On the ensuing inbounds play, Dorka threw a poor pass and Lou did not extend enough for the ball and the Huskies turned it over. With no time outs remaing, Morrow drove right at the basket where she was met by the Husky defense. Juhasz grabbed at the ball and forced a jump ball. The arrow was in UConn's favor. The Huskies inbounded the ball to Muhl who was fouled. She hit them both with seven seconds left for the 72-69 lead. DePaul air balled their final attempt to tie and the game was over. Whew!!!!
As Geno said in the courtside post game, this team is full of tough players. They did a great job at the end of the game and he was so proud of them. I'm agree with those comments. They hit the shots they had to hit and made the stops they had to have.
No time to rest for these warriors. The travel home Saturday and have their final regular season game against Xavier, who they beat 73-37 earlier in the season. The Musketeers are 0-19 in the Big East and 7-21 on the season.
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Geno Post Game Courtside Interview
Game Highlights
Full Game Replay
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Geno Auriemma still doesnt have a specific timeline on Azzi Fudd’s timeline return but said “sooner than I thought two weeks ago”
So, what the heck does that mean? To me it can only mean one thing. Doubtful it would be against Xavier in a meaningless game. More likely she will be back for the Big East Tournament. That would be the only sooner left if he was thinking the NCAA tournament. Ok, I'm not sure that makes sense but it did when I typed it...lol. I'm sticking with the first Big East tournament game. That is on March 4th against the winner of the Georgetown/Butler game. That's six more days rest. I sure hope so!
As an aside, what the hell is wrong with the fans that keep saying she should just not play anymore this year....period. She can't red-shirt, she's a competator, and if she is clear and has the will to play, she should play. And she will. Check this out!!!
Two to tie, three for the record. Nika Muhl had 8 assists against DePaul. Sue Bird set the UConn women's basketball records for assists in a season when she dished out 231 helpers in the 2001-02 season. It should happen against Xavier on Monday at Senior Night.
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UConn 2024 commit Allie Ziebel was on fire in Neenah's opening regional win.
29 points (9-12 FG, 7-10 3-PT, 4-4 FT), 3 reb, 4 assists, 2 steals in about 23 minutes. The game is tough to watch with the camera angle.
If you have read my blog after the last few Stanford games you would not be surprised that they lost Saturday to No. 8 Utah. The Utes earned a share of the PAC12 regular season title with the win and good for them. They were led by guard Gianna Kneepkens with 28 points. She was 5-9 on threes to lead the attack from deep by Utah. They were 12-27 as a team and will be a tough out in the NCAA tournement because of their 3 point prowess.
The Cardinal have been squeaking out their wins and finally met a team good enough to finish the job. Brink was once again in foul trouble limiting her minutes to 28. This persistant foul trouble is going to end Stanford's season in the NCAA.
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