****************************************************
Even my daughter (mother to Logan and Barrett)
is looking for my Blog!!!
GO UCONN!!!!!
******************************************************
Merry Christmas to all my fellow UConn fans. It's been a great season so far. Now I know some of you don't think so, but I think every season is a great season. I feel blessed to be a fan of such a wonderful program.
There is more enjoyment in the future and I would bet some surprises as well.
After this blog I'll be taking a break for the holiday. I believe there are games starting on the 28th, so I will probably start my dailies again then.
I am working on the Marquette Pregame Report so look for that soon and then the Creighton Pregame Report to follow.
GO UCONN!!!!
**************************************************
Use the arrow to see each Freshman! They are really talented
**************************************************
** Designates Upset
No Games
**********************************************************
Lara Somfai is transferring to IMG Academy, will be playing with Kelis Fisher.
Lara is definately a player of interest for the Huskies. From Australia, she is a 6'3" forward that is really skilled. She would be a great addition to the '25 class. And it can't hurt that she will be playing with Kelis. Somfai said she will be playing right away for the team. Then a full season next year. Here is a highlight video.
No. 18 in white
*************************************************
Straight from the Dog
Sigh, UConn fans. Some are really crazy. I mean like NUTS.
" I am really scared about the future for UConn right now. And so I feel like every roster spot is so important. I feel like UConn can’t afford to miss on any of them. And I know that is not accurate. There are 15-16 roster spots and the rotation is always 7-8. But it’s just how I feel. I have some dread when I consider the future. Not sure what UConn’s role will look like."
The best think this fan said was "But it's just how I feel". Because if that fan thought this was based on fact, well, I don't know what to say.
This feeling of doom when we just saw the three freshmen play so well in the last game? That makes no sense to me.
Geno has two great, and I mean great recruits coming in next year in Allie Ziebell and Morgan Cheli. Allie is the No. 4 recruit and Morgan is No. 18. I would bet she will be much higher the next time the rankings are updated.
In 2025 they have No. 23 Kellis Fisher, a 5 star guard. And the aforementioned 6'5" Grandy Malou-Mamel.
So, who is here next season?
Sr 5'11" Azzi Fudd, hopefully back better than ever.
RS So 6'2" Ayanna Patterson, also healthy for the first time in a while.
RS Fr or So 6'5" Jana El Alfy, recovered from her achilles and ready to go.
RS Sr 6'2" Carolina Ducharme. Hard to say if whe will be able to play.
Those are the four injured players. Who else for next year.
5'9" So KK Arnold
5'9" So Ashlynn Shade
6'1" So Qadence Samuels
6'4" RS So Ice Brady
5'9" Junior Ines Bettencourt
6'6" Senior Amari DeBerry
And of course the two freshmen
5'10 Fr Allie Ziebell
6'2" Fr Morgan Cheli
There is room for two more. Hopefully 6'2" Sarah Strong, the No. 1 player in the 2024 class and maybe a portal transfer.
I look at this and all I see is a great team. I mean really great. I have no idea what this fan is seeing that would make him use words like "dread" and "scared".
Buck up! The team is going to be GREAT!!! And a national championship contender. Can't ask for more than that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
One more UConn dummy - "In a logical world, right now UConn cannot plan on, Azzi, Ayanna, Caroline".
This was in a conversation about next season. This "fan" seems to be convinced that injured players have no ablility to come back and play. The odds are they can. Even players with multiple injuries.
Personally I'm counting on Fudd, and Ayanna. Caroline is different with a head injury.
How do people live with being so negative? Sad.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Someone mentioned that I should have given Oklahoma an UGGY award for their performance against Southern in a big upset.
While that is a really bad loss for Oklahoma, and it diminishes Tennessee's win over the Sooners (I'm always a fan of that), that doesn't qualify them. Here is my criteria.
1. Team scores less than 40 points. Sometimes low 40's will do.
2. Shooting percentage under 30%. The lower the better.
3. A really really really bad assists/turnover ratio.
Those are the main ones. Sometimes being outrebounded by a crazy amount will part of the equation.
Okahoma scored 70 points, shot over 40% from the field and over 35% on threes for that game. Losing was ugly, But overall not ugly enough in the other ways to quality.
*****************************************
By PHIL
Undefeated Watch
I predicted “...but I think they’re going to stumble in the near future despite playing triple digit ranked teams”. Louisiana Tech was ranked number 193 and has a record of 4 – 9 but was able to and Cal Baptist’s streak.
The last time I reported there were 18 teams working on an undefeated streak and we’ve had some fallout — there are now only 10 teams with undefeated records.
Three teams lead the pack with 12 game winning streaks – Texas, NC State and TCU. That means two of the three leaders are from Texas and in the same conference so something’s gotta give soon.
I predicted, “Surprising Washington has an easy game on Saturday but then a major challenge when they play at Louisville on 20 December.” Louisville delivered, preventing Washington from joining the other three at the top of the heap.
Texas won’t be challenged by their next game against Jackson State but on New Year’s eve eve they will have their hands full with Baylor, were nipping at their heels with their own undefeated streak of 10 games. Texas is favored by eight.
NC State probably will prevail at Virginia and hosting Florida State. If they make it past both of those their toughest tests will be at Virginia Tech. If they survive that, it’s mostly clear sailing until they visit Notre Dame in mid-February.
TCU is just barely ranked but the third of the three teams with a perfect dozen wins. They should survive the rest of the calendar year but will be severely tested at Baylor on 3 January where Massey has them as a 15-point underdog to Baylor.
Should all three of them stumble, there is South Carolina as well as surprising Marquette with 11 – zero records.
Milestone watch
Plus one for every assist block point rebound and steal. I don’t add extra for offensive rebounds as it already seems to favor the bigs. Minus one for every missed shot (2, 3 or foul), turnover or foul committed.
UConn 158, Toronto -15.
Net positives/minutes: Aaliyah 27/24, KK 27/30, Qadence 25/20, Ashlynn 21/26, Paige 20/21, Aubrey 10/13, Ines 9/18, Amari 7/15, Nika 7/19, Ice -1/14.
Many accolades, clearly one player with so far worrisome lack of progress. Hopefully whatever the issue is will melt away!
********************************************************
UCONN LINKS
Several links are pay sites. Sorry!
********************************************************
Here is an option for any contributions for my time in putting together this blog.
I'm not requiring the contribution in order to read the blog. It's totally voluntary. And I'm not recommending how much to donate or how often.
Thanks to all my loyal readers!!!
If you don't have Venmo, you can sign up here
or add the app to your iPhone or iPad.
And here is another option that is being pushed by Paige!!
********************************************************
Message Boards
UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!!
Vol Nation - Tennessee women's basketball board
ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board
Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else
UCONN Information
UConn 2023-2024 Statistics (updated after 1st game)
I'm always open for suggestions. Just please reply to this blog or email me at:
No comments:
Post a Comment