Doggydaddy's Den: Doggy's Doghouse 12/31/2023

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Even my daughter (mother to Logan and Barrett)

is looking for my Blog!!!

GO UCONN!!!!!

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Here is my UConn/Marquette Pregame Report.

Here are some Pregame Interview comments. No videos, just audio.

Geno on @UConnWBB Christmas break: "I don't think that break came at the perfect time for us. It's a lot of days and it's going to take some time to get back into the swing of things." #Huskies host Marquette at sold-out XL Center Sunday.
— carl adamec (@CarlAdamec) December 30, 2023

.@PaigeBueckers1 on @UConnWBB freshmen: "They have this tremendous confidence and fearlessness about themselves. We've tried to instill in them we trust them and we believe in them and have utmost confidence in them. We want them to contribute. They're doing a really great job"
— carl adamec (@CarlAdamec) December 30, 2023

UConn women’s basketball should have its usual 10 players available tomorrow. Ice Brady has a head cold, but it’s nothing major.

Geno didn’t have an update on Caroline Ducharme. “I don’t anticipate any (updates on her) either,” he said.
— Daniel Connolly (@DanielVConnolly) December 30, 2023

Nika Muhl (@MuhlNika) on returning to @UConnWBB from Christmas break: "When you're at the break, you're not really at the break because you're constantly thinking about what's next especially with the two games (Marquette/Creighton) we have coming up next. We have to be prepared"
— carl adamec (@CarlAdamec) December 30, 2023

Paige Pregame Audio Only

Nika Pregame Audio Only

Ashlynn Pregame Audio Only

Geno Pregame Audio Only

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** Designates Upset

Friday December 29th, 2023

No. 1 South Carolina 73 East Carolina 36

No. 2 UCLA 71 No. 6 USC 64

No. 4 Iowa 94 Minnesota 71

No. 5 Texas 79 No. 10 Baylor 85 **

No. 7 LSU 110 Jacksonville 68

No. 8 Colorado 76 No. 12 Utah 65

No. 11 Kansas State 66 Cincinnati 41

No. 17 Ohio State 60 Michigan 69 **

No. 21 Creighton 67 St. John's 56

No. 23 TCU 81 BYU 57

No. 25 West Virginia 85 Kansas 60

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Madison Booker

Sarah Strong

Yes, I'm putting this comment in the Recruiting area.

I watched the Texas Baylor game and Madison Booker, who was tough against UConn was great in this game. She had 25 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. At 6'1" and a "big" body, she just did what she wanted on the court. If you see Sarah Strong play, you would see an amazing resemblance in their games. One thing that Strong has more of is a three point shot. It will make her even more effectice in the college level. Hopefully at UConn.

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77-45 #1 @mitty_wbb beats Camas (WA) in Portland. @McKennaDub highlights of 24p 6r pic.twitter.com/l6dyTqgb5v
— Aaron Woliczko (@AWoliczko) December 30, 2023

I'm really loving Wolicko's game. She really reminds me of Napheesa Collier. A tough post player with great inside moves and an outside game as well. Hoping her relationship with Morgan Cheli with convince her to play for UConn. Like Paige brought in Azzi.

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Allie Ziebell in her last game had 39 points (12-20 FG, 6-12 3-PT, 9-10 FT), 9 rebs, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.

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Straight from the Dog

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Caitlen Clark had another big game in a blowout win against Minnesota.

She had 35 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. She was 13-22 from the field, 8-16 on threes. Yes, she took 16 threes. While all those good stats are great. she had a 9 turnover game. I just don't understand why she is playing 33 minutes in a blowout win.

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GAMES OF INTEREST

Well, I did well in some predictions, not so good with others.

"In a Big Ten match up, No. 17 Ohio State visits Michigan. This is always a good game and could have been a good upset pick of the day. However, I expect Ohio State to pull away. Michigan is just not that good this year."

I have to remember. Go with your first instinct. Michigan won this game 69-60.

"New into the Top 25 and still undefeated, No. 25 West Virginia takes on Kansas at the Jayhawks court. I like this for an upset. I'm not that impressed with the Mountineers."

Way off here. West Virginia hammered Kansas by 25 points, 85-60. Kansas sucks...lol.

"No. 10 Baylor takes a ride a couple of hours south to Austin to take on the University of Texas. The Longhorns have to be reeling after finding out that their star Rori Harmon is out for the season. As UConn fans know, it's really hard to play well after an event like that. Especially when it's your leader on and off the court. Both teams are undefeated so one will finally lose. I'm guessing Texas."

Finally got one right. Texas really missed Harmon. A terrible first quarter with 8 turnovers was the difference. Two really good teams. I was impressed with Baylor. Not many Big 12 teams will give them a battle. They do play ranked TCU, Texas again, Kansas State and West Virginia. But Baylor looks tough.

"No. 12 Utah is taking on No. 8 Colorado in a PAC-12 opener for both teams. I'm still not sold on Colorado. They are still living off that opening season win over LSU. Utah is a really tough team. I'm betting on them."

I lost my bet. Colorado used a but fourth quarter to beat the Utes. Utah was up three going into the fourth quarter but Colorado outscored them 25-11 to win by 11 points.

"In a Big East game, No. 20 Creighton, UConn's opponent in the game after Marquette, is taking on St. John's in New York. Creighton should win."

Creighton won 67-56. A decent warm up game for the Bluejays getting ready for the Huskies. Pregame report coming soon.

"Another undefeated team puts their streak on the line when No. 23 TCU takes on a decent BYU team. Not decent enough. Look for the streak to continue."

And it did. Congrats to TCU. The streak lasts for another game.

"In what could be the game of the day, No. 6 USC visits Pauley Pavilion to try to take down No. 4 UCLA. Superstar freshman Juju Watkins missed the Trojans last game with an illness. Hopefully she is back and 100% after the school break. Both California teams are undefeated and have played really well this season. UConn knows all about the Bruins. I think they are the better team. And USC hasn't been tested since the first game of the season in their win over Ohio State. UCLA with a double digit win."

This was a pretty exciting game. UCLA proved their dominance by pulling away late for the 71-64 win. The great USC freshman Juju Watkins had her usual great game with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. She did only go 7-24 from the field but went 11-12 on free throws. She is a dynamic player for sure. UCLA spread the wealth with 4 players in double digits. One more undefeated went down the tubes.

So, how did I do? I picked 7 games and went 4-3. Meh....

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OVERINFLATED LSU STATS

LSU played it's last OOC game before the start of the SEC regular season. They beat Jacksonville like a drum. Maybe after this they well be challenged. Finally.

Here are their OOC rankings and scores in their 12-0 destruction of the other team.

Queens 357 112-55

Miss Valley 351 109-47

Kent 131 109-79

SE Louisiana 219 75-50

Tx Southern 342 106-47

Niagra 263 99-65

Virginia 69 76-73

Virginia Tech 20 82-64

Louisiana 225 83-53

McNeese St 354 133-44

Northwestern LA 318 81-36

Coppin State 297 80-48

Jacksonville 296 110-68

I mean really. Seven games between Massey ranked 296-357. That is just pathetic. Yes, they won it all last year with a similar schedule. But that is not the point. It was pathetic last year too. It's not fair to the fans and players improve against better competition.

Did I mention it's pathetic.

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By PHIL

We’ve got the Runs

A lot of basketball games were played on Saturday. I didn’t get to see them all, but I got to see a lot of them. This is being written while the USC – UCLA game is in progress, so it won’t cover that game.

The theme of the day is runs.

Battle of the Carolinas

I didn’t watch much of the South Carolina game. I watched the first few minutes and ECU did okay and they would’ve done even better if they could hit a foul shot. I see that South Carolina had an eight nothing run in the fourth quarter, but on this day that’s barely notable.

Ohio State – Michigan

In the Ohio State Michigan game, Michigan started out strong with a 9 – 2 run.

Then Ohio State went on a 13 – 0 run.

Early in the second half Michigan went on a 10 – 0 run.

Ohio State responded with a 10 – 0 run.

In the fourth quarter the game was tied at 51 apiece and Michigan scored 9 consecutive points.

That’s five long runs in a single game.

Baylor – Texas

In the Baylor – Texas game Baylor was up 28- 19 when Texas scored 8 consecutive points.

Utah – Colorado

This game started out with the exact opposite game flow, back and forth trading baskets with the largest lead being five points, once by Colorado and once by Utah, until late in the third quarter when Colorado had a slim two point lead 51 – 49. Utah scored 10 consecutive points, and looked like they were taking control of the game, but hold on. Colorado scored 13 consecutive points to take a 66-61 lead.

Utah cut the lead to 4 points, but Colorado ended the game on a 7 – 0 run.

Iowa – Minnesota

I didn’t get a chance to watch this game, but it looks like Iowa had 9 consecutive points in the second quarter and 8 consecutive in the third quarter.

Georgia – Florida State

I know I know this is a women’s basketball discussion forum but I am a Georgia football fan and have to point out that Georgia had 14 consecutive points early, then gave up a field goal then scored 49 consecutive points after the field goal. Now that’s a run.

Milestone watch

• Aaliyah Edwards had 1374 career points after the Butler game. She scored 26 in the Toronto Metropolitan game to reach an even 1400, She passed Sue Bird, Carla Berube, Jamelle Elliot, and Leigh Curl, moving into 34th place. She needs just two points to tie Tamika Williams, nine points to tie Chris Gedney, and 13 to tie Peggy Walsh.

• Nika Mühl had 484 assists after the Butler game. She had 8 assists in the Toronto Metropolitan game to reach 492 assists. She is now in 14th place. She needs 39 to catch Laura Lishness in 13th place, who has 531 career assists.

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SPIDER STATS

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.

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UCONN LINKS

Several links are pay sites. Sorry!

Break is over for UConn as Marquette awaits

UConn women look to carry over momentum after break

No. 18 Marquette: Preview against No. 15 UConn

Preview: No. 18 Marquette looks to stay unbeaten against No. 18 UConn

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