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Even my daughter (mother to Logan and Barrett)
is looking for my Blog!!!
GO UCONN!!!!!
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Another Big East Blowout. The Huskies overcame a slow start to hold Georgetown scoreless for over 7 minutes to take a lead they would never lose. UConn was just too fast for the slower Hoyas. It was another efficient game for the Huskies with 23 assists and only 8 turnovers. In a weird numbers thing, Not one player had more than 1 turnover.
It was a real player's game, go here they are!!!!
This was NICE pic.twitter.com/pCV9y8khXT
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) January 7, 2024
Nika had some really great plays in this game. She had a 15 assist game, a 14 assist game and a couple of 13 assist games but I thought this was the best game of Nika's career. The picture on the right that I chose shows what she can do. Hustle, smarts, lead by example. On this particular play, she was like a cat waiting to pounce. And her three point shooting form is perfect.
Her defense was DPOY level in this game. Her on the ball pressure was huge in forcing 22 turnovers. She had 4 steals but countless hurries. Offensively she was totally into the flow of the game. Her 8 assists and only 1 turnover tells you that. Some of those pin point passes on the break were just breathtaking.
To top it off, she was 5-6 fron the field and 4-5 on threes. No hesitation. And as quick a release as you can imagine. 14 points, 8 assists, 4 steals, 1 turnover in 29 minutes. And four HARD fouls to send messages to Georgetown not to mess with her girls!
Freshman wall? Not yet. I took a double take when I looked at the box score and saw that Ashlynn Shade, maybe the most fit Husky I've seen since Kelly Faris, played 39 minutes. What a slacker....couldn't play all 40?
Not only did she play 39 minutes, she played really effective 39 minutes. Shade is always in perpetual motion. And she is such a joy to watch. The look on her face after one defensive play was just awesome. You can see her game grow game after game. Her "Sue Bird" pull up jumper is impossible to defend.
"Faster than a speeding bullet - More powerful than a locomotive"....yep, she is Supergirl. Ok, no one calls her that, but she is really fast and she is really strong. Her game is getting better and better just like her partner in crime, Ashlynn. They could have made a highlight film of just her plays in this game. Her steal at the end of the first quarter and explosion down the court was something to marvel at. Capt. Marvel? Nahhhh....
She played 30 minutes, second most on the team, and was 5-8 from the field, 2-2 from the line, 12 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Her confidence is through the roof. She is playing like I remember in all the videos from her High School play. There may be freshmen with more gaudy stats but I don't believe right now they are playing any better than Arnold.
It looked like Geno took Aaliyah of the game a few time just to make sure she didn't get killed. I exaggerate. But I would call that one intentional foul assault and battery. But in spite of the physical play, Edwards was able to put her imprint on the game. She was TOUGH in the post and although she missed a couple of bunnys, she was still 7-11 from the field and she hit all four free throws for her 18 points. She added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. And in a nice change of pace, only 1 turnover. All in 26 minutes.
This is the kind of game that Paige Bueckers loves. A game where everyone gets involved. Everyone eats.
However, Paige always stands out. Her inside passing is just magical. It was not her best shooting night, but she defended in the paint and still managed 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals. I was glad to see that she only played 28 minutes. I think that will be the pattern until the Notre Dame and South Carolina games.
Q and Ice. Or is it Ice Q. Definately Ice Q.
Both did what Geno wants. Minutes off the bench that he can trust.
I liked how aggressive Q was in this game. She went strong to the basket and was a ferocious rebounder. She struggled on her three point shot going 0-4. She seemed to rush them a bit. But made a few nice drives to the basket. She played 16 minutes and had 6 points and 5 rebounds. And lots of hustle.
Geno played Ice 22 minutes. She needs it. One really nice turn around jumper in the lane. And a few confused looking post moves. She was overthinking it. A big body needs to go up strong. Hey, did I just coach a litte there? I'm still a big Ice fan.
I don't give Geno enough kudos in my blog. My wife will be happy to know she is not alone in me taking someone for granted.
I think this has been one of his best coaching seasons so far. Yeah, he had to deal with injuries in the last two seasons as well, but his integration of the freshmen into the rotation has been brilliant. Once he decided to go small, something clicked both offensively and defensively. Now he is adding Brady and Samuels into the regular rotation. The players are responding to whatever he has been doing. This team has become so much fun to watch. Thanks Geno. I'll try to mention you more often. And I love my wife.
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Post Game Interviews
Geno Courtside
Georgetown Coach and Player
Geno, Nika and KK
VIDEOS
Full Game Replay
Game Highlights I
Game Highlights II
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** Designates Upset
Sunday January 7th, 2024
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This was liked by both Tonya Cardoza and Morgan Valley
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Highlights of #CPCA (FL) 2024 G/F Emely Rodriguez (@Emyrodriguez21) at the @SUTSReport New Years Classic
— Sleeper Athletes Ladies Basketball (@SAthletesLBB) January 7, 2024
🎥 @ThaRealSleep pic.twitter.com/ztjWGmo9sm
It's easy to forget about Emely Rodriguez, a 6'1" Guard. Big and strong with a really nice outside shot.
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Straight from the Dog
I guess I'm not the only one that is excited about UConn.
After 6 home games, the Huskies are averaging 11,127 fans per game. A definate bump in the numbers.
22-23 - 10255
21-22 - 8892
20-21 - Covid
19-20 - 9527
18-19 - 8870
17-18 - 8888
With some of the weaker teams coming up and more games at Gample left, that number should come down some. Let's see how the attendence is against Providence at the XL. I'll be there to add four to the attendence!
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What a finish to the West Virginia upset of North Carolina. Elizabeth hit the game winner at the buzzer on a really well conceived play.
One more Undefeated take loses. Formerly undefeated Texas and now NCST loses, teams that beat UConn. UCLA is the only one left.
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By PHIL
Undefeated watch - down to three
West Virginia was undefeated mainly due to a weak schedule. They ran into Texas and their streak was over.
Oregon State was on the list for the same reason. Not a single win on their schedule was against a team likely to make the tournament. They gave USC a battle and lost by only two but they lost.
NC State was the most recent undefeated team to lose. It was a nailbiter, where it look like they would hold on when they scored to take the lead with two seconds left in the game, but then Kitley scored, and NC State had used all of their timeouts so could not advance the ball and lost their first game of the season.
That leaves South Carolina, UCLA, and Baylor, each of whom won their most recent game easily. Massey has South Carolina’s winning percentage in the 90s for most of their remaining games. The next two exceptions are at LSU on 25 January and home against Connecticut on 11 February. Massey has South Carolina winning both games but probabilities only in the 70s.
In contrast, UCLA has eight games where the probability of winning is under 70%, and two (at Utah and at Stanford) where they are not favored.
Baylor’s in between the two. There toughest remaining game is Texas at home, but they already beat Texas at Texas.
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 95 Georgetown 35.
Net positives/minutes played: Nika 23/29, Aaliyah 22/26, KK 18/30, Paige 16/28, Ashlynn 15/39, Qadence 4/16, Amari -1/3, Ice -2/22, Ines -3/7.
Arnold, Bueckers, Samuels: 5 rebounds each. Brady 2 rebounds.
Heck of a starting five! Minutes well distributed, Iron Woman award to Ashlynn. Great to see Nika lead the spider stats.
Go Huskies!!
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UCONN LINKS
Several links are pay sites. Sorry!
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UCONN Information
UConn 2023-2024 Statistics (updated after 1st game)
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