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Even my daughter (mother to Logan and Barrett)
is looking for my Blog!!!
GO UCONN!!!!!
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I guess you get numb to the situation. While I predicted a win for the Huskies (I never pick them to lose), I thought this would be a really tough game. The bookies know what they were doing. I saw a 10 point spread. Only an offensive putback and 4 four free throws extended the lead to 12 points.
First the bad. And there certainly was bad.
The start killed them. Texas didn't miss a shot and UConn struggled running their offense. Before you could blink it was 15-3 in the first 2 minutes and 41 seconds. That was just some awful play. Missed shots and turnovers. An Edwards basket and foul shot happened between an 8 point run and a 7 point run.
UConn struggled to close that gap the rest of the game. From that point on, they didn't play badly, but either did Texas.
Nika scored 9 points but had 5 turnovers. She has to cut those down.
Speaking of turnovers, UConn had 21 to only 9 for Texas. That is a recipe for disaster.
They shot a nice 40% on threes but they only took 10. Gotta take more but who can take them and shoot a decent percentage beside Paige right now?
Griffin was scoreless in this game and grabbed only 6 rebounds. No way UConn can win with production like that from her.
Ok, that is enough with the bad. Let's talk about the good. And there is alwayws good.
Edwards looks to be back. 22 points on 9-11 shootoing. She was more aggressive this game.
Nika was 4-4 from the field and 1-1 on threes.
Paige filled the box score with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Brady played 26 minutes. She can play better but she had her moments. Did Geno play her more minutes because Texas was so big? Maybe. Time will tell.
The freshman all looks a little better.
This team as constituted is going to struggle against good teams. Not great teams, good teams. Can that change? Of course. The freshman will play better game after game. And someday, I really believe that Ducharme and Patterson will eventually be back.
Up next is Ball State. I have no idea what to expect from this team. They have to be reeling. They have set a few UConn records. They lost to UCLA and Texas for the first time ever. And they had lost three games earlier in the season than any other team. It has to be killing them.
After Ball State are two ranked teams, Louisville and North Carolina. Thankfully the next three games are at home. They do play better there.
One more thing. Perspective everyone. The three loses are to teams currently ranked 2, 4, and 5.
And as usual GO HUSKIES!!!
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** Designates Upset
Saturday, 12/03
Scores and Links
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@SheGotGame7 - Dallas Day 2 Standouts:
— Ian Mumm (@FiveOnFiveHoops) December 2, 2023
‘24 Leah Harmon
‘24 Paris Bradley
‘24 Tajianna Roberts
‘25 Erianna Gooden
‘25 Jamaria Freeman
‘25 Kelis Fisher
‘25 Quinn VanSickle
‘25 Sania Richardson
‘25 Sienna Betts
‘25 Tianna Chambers
‘26 Gabrielle Troy-Mebane pic.twitter.com/bbrROFLV8V
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.@mitty_wbb Varsity defeat St. Joe’s, Santa Maria 95-63. Box score:
— Mitty WBB (@mitty_wbb) December 3, 2023
Woliczko 33p & 10r; Cheli 22p, 11a & 5s;
Weisman 16p, Bramer 12p, Cook 4, McCarthy 3, Robinson 3, Williams 2.#goMonarchs 💪🏀🦁👑 pic.twitter.com/6tfeKEKMmL
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Straight from the Dog
The other day I posted about someone who said that Geno needs to take time off. Take a leave of absence I believe is what he said. Well, I guess he didn't like that. He replyied to my blog saying - "Unfortunately, you left out the part that Geno finds all of the input from his coaches to be confusing. So, yes I do find that to be confusing, since this is his handpicked staff."
That had me scratching my head. That is not what I heard on that video. So I went back and listened again. Twice.
Geno didn’t say he was confused. Never used that word. He said "everyone has ideas, this idea and this idea and this idea. And it’s frustrating (not confusing) figuring out which one to do."
Big difference between frustrated and confused.
Big difference between frustrated and confused.
It's always better to get your facts straight. This guy didn't.
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No. 3 Stanford at Gonzaga. The Zags are always tough on Stanford, especially at home.
Wow, were they tough on Stanford. they BLEW them out, scoring 96 points in the processs.
No. 16 Ohio State visits No. 20 Tennessee. This is a big game for the Lady Vols. Can they handle Ohio State's press? A loss takes them out of the Top 25 and sitting at 4-4 on the season. Not good.
They couldn't handle the press and lost 78-58. More on that below.
No. 2 UCLA at Arkansas. Former UConn player Saylor Poffenbarger has been an amazing rebounder averaging 12.6 RPG. Can she still reach double digits against the taller Bruins with Betts leading the way?
Nope,she only had 7 rebounds, only 1 of them offensive. UCLA handled the Razorbacks fairly easily.
No. 1 South Carolina heads to Tobacco Road to take on Duke. They played two years ago and Duke gave them a battle after a tough first half and held the Gamecocks to 56 points for the game. They could give them another tough game. Or it could be a blowout.
It was both. A lose game until the last 5 minutes of the game and then ended up a blowout.
And special kudos to USC Freshman JuJu Watkinds who had her 5th 30+ point game this season. What a great player.
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Ok, more on the Lady Vol game. Nothing like Tennessee losing ugly to make this UConn fan feel better about their loss. I know, pretty petty. Hey, too bad....lol.
Ohio State did what they did to UConn last year in the Sweet Sixteen. Great ball pressure, terrific trapping and nice passing. Tennessee was rattled and they were rattled the entire game. The good news for the Lady Vols was the play for Tamari Key, who had 9 points 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in the most minutes she has played all season. Can she build on that? She better because the other two bigs, Hollingshead and Striplin had 5 points each. Remember that comment "Three elite #1 options in Wells, Spear, and Rickea"?? Spear was 0-9 from the field and 0-8 on threes. Nope, not elite. So now Tennessee is 4-4 and about to leave the top 25. I feel better already.
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By PHIL
Milestone watch
• Aaliyah Edwards had 1275 career points after the UCLA game. She scored 9 in the Kansas game bringing her total to 1284. She is now 41st and needs to reach 1298 to tie Morgan Tuck.
• Nika Mühl had 450 assists after the UCLA game. She recorded 6 in the Kansas game bringing her total to 456. She passed Katie Lou Samuelson and tied Shea Ralph to move into a tie for 18th place. Svetlana Abrosimova has 473.
• Paige Bueckers has 953 career points, so need 47 to reach the 100 point milestone.
• Kim Mulkey Now has has her 700 career wins.
• Nika Mühl had 450 assists after the UCLA game. She recorded 6 in the Kansas game bringing her total to 456. She passed Katie Lou Samuelson and tied Shea Ralph to move into a tie for 18th place. Svetlana Abrosimova has 473.
• Paige Bueckers has 953 career points, so need 47 to reach the 100 point milestone.
• Kim Mulkey Now has has her 700 career wins.
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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.
UCLA 72 UConn 47. Rice 33.
Paige 19, Aubrey 16, KK 8, Nika 7, Ashlynn 3, Qadence -1, Amari -3, Ice -3, Aaliyah -6.
Yikes!
UConn 58 Kansas 37.
Aubrey 21, Paige 17, Nika 11, Aaliyah 10, KK 2, Ashlynn 1, Amari -1,
Qadence -2, Ice -4.
Season totals active players: Paige 107, Aubrey 85, Aaliyah 73, Nika 57, KK 48, Qadence 22, Ashlynn 21, Caroline 7, Ice 00, Ines -1, Amari -5.
Season per minute: Paige .63, Aubrey .58, Aaliyah .42, KK .35, Qadence .33, Nika .31, Ashlynn .27, Caroline .12, Ice 0, Ines -.10, Amari -.22.
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UCONN LINKS
Several links are pay sites. Sorry!
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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!!!
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Message Boards
UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!!
Vol Nation - Tennessee women's basketball board
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Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else
UCONN Information
UConn 2023-2024 Statistics (updated after 1st game)
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