DoggyDaddy's Dailies 3/30/16

     

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Here is the link to my ESPN Challenge page.

  

After Friday's action, here are the leaders -

 Synthia - 890
Chappette - 870
Jbb1985Knife-edge - 820 
JerrJerrMorg - 800
JerrJerrmo - 790
ptgrd69 - 780
Jbb1985Karnevil9 - 750
DoggyDaddy - 740
Congrats to Synthia, who picked Syracuse to get to the final four and is still leading!!

 

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Here is a tie to the Oregon State program from UConn.

 

UConn sophomore center Tammy Arnold, a former USA Today high school player of the year from Oregon City, Ore., transferred to Oregon State in 1997.

Arnold, 6 feet 3, was selected the top high school post player in the country her senior year after averaging 22.7 points and 12 rebounds. She played little at UConn as a freshman and even less her sophomore season. At the time, Arnold's high school coach , Brad Smith, said the lack of playing time was the key factor in her decision.

As a freshman at UConn, she averaged 12.5 minutes and 4.3 points. Arnold averaged 5.7 minutes and 2.2 points as a sophomore, appearing in only one of four NCAA Tournament games. The transfer forced Arnold to sit out the 1997-98 season to regain her NCAA eligibility.

 

Sadly, she quit basketball after her junior season at Oregon State as she was bothered with injuries.

 

She played in 27 games, starting the first 13, in 1998-99 and scored 193 points, an average of 7.1 per game and she averaged 4.4 rebounds. She has a career shooting percentage at OSU of .381 from the field, .176 from 3-point range and .575 from the foul line. In 31 games at OSU, Tammy averaged 6.5 points a game and 4.0 rebounds per contest.  

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Morgan Tuck, Breanna Stewart, and Moriah Jefferson on the Wooden AA team!!!!   I believe this qualifies Ms. Tuck for the wall of honor.

Excellent!!!

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We saw a glimpse of the future Monday night. With 7:22 left in the 2nd period, Morgan Tuck picked up her 2nd personal foul. Current thinking usually dictates a quick substitution by the coach & Geno put Napheesa Collier in right away. There were two problems. Gabby Williams had just exited with her 2nd foul, bringing back in Katie Lou, and the score was only 30-25.

UConn, the three time defending National Champions, with the triumvirate of Seniors, had two freshman in the game for a make or break 7 minutes. Texas missed a jumper and Collier grabbed the rebound. Mo fed Stewie for three and the lead was 8. Two more defensive rebounds by Napheesa, sandwiched around her two lay ups left the Huskies up by 12. Then a free throw by Collier, a block by Katie Lou and a perfect three by Samuelson left Texas on the short end of a 16 point deficit. From 5 to 16, UConn's lead never was close again. Thanks to the "freshman double-double."

For the game, KLS and Napheesa scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, combining for the double-double and giving Geno 44 minutes of great effort and results. Morgan returned for the 2nd half and gave the Huskies 22 points and 6 assists. Texas never got close and finished down 21 points. Congrats to the rookies, you delivered in the clutch. The future looked good.

 

******************************************************

1 UConn vs  2 Oregon State

Jefferson won't pass up chance to set UConn assist record Carl Adamec
UConn seniors headed back to the Final Four Jim Fuller
UConn to make ninth straight Final Four appearance; Oregon State earns first ever LA Times Beavers' storybook season runs into powerhouse Connecticut  Corvelle Gazette-Times
NCAA women: UConn, Oregon State reach Final Four Newton Citizen
No. 2 Seed Oregon State Vs. No. 1 Seed UConn Hartford Courant
Canzano: A case for Oregon State women upsetting UConn Oregon Live
UConn, Oregon State to meet in women's Final Four Quadrangle
Uconn, Oregon State make Women’s Final Four Durango Herald
Women's Final Four schedule 2016: UConn, Oregon State grab last 2 spots Oregon Live
Nine consecutive Final Fours trips for No. 1 Connecticut  Pittsburgh Post Gazette
UConn women advance to ninth straight Final Four The Boston Globe
Oregon St. advances to first Final Four Comment
UConn heads to 9th straight Final 4 after beating Texas NYSE Post
NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT: First-timers join UConn in Final Four Indiana Gazette
UConn keeps on rolling Nashua Telegraph
  

 4 Syracuse vs 7 Washington 

Women's Final Four: Syracuse, Washington first to earn trips to Indy NCAA
Washington women beat Stanford 85-76 to reach Final Four Seattle Post
TIPPING OFF: Syracuse, Washington women to Final Four Wingate Wire
Final Four Washington Basketball Oklahoma News
Only eight Tournament Challenge brackets picked correct Final Four ESPN
March Madness 2016: How can Syracuse be in the Final Four? Wingate Wire
NCAA Women's Tournament 2016: Schedule, Bracket Ahead of Final Four Bleacher Report
Kelsey Plum is first Husky named to Wooden All-America team Seattle Times
Final Four-bound Huskies among best college basketball teams in Washington  Seattle Post

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Message Boards
 

UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!! 

College Fans Only - WCBB board where no holds are barred

Vol Nation - Tennessee women's basketball board    

CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board  

ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board

Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else

 

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 3/29/16

     

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Here is the link to my ESPN Challenge page.

  

After Friday's action, here are the leaders -

 Synthia - 890
Chappette - 870
Jbb1985Knife-edge - 820 
JerrJerrMorg - 800
JerrJerrmo - 790
ptgrd69 - 780
Jbb1985Karnevil9 - 750
DoggyDaddy - 740
Congrats to Synthia, who picked Syracuse to get to the final four and is still leading!!

 

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Congrats to Stewart and Jefferson for their first team AP all American selection and to Morgan Tuck for being selected to the second team. Wonderful honors that are just the beginning.

UConn defeated Texas 86-65 to send them to Indianapolis for their NINTH consecutive Final Four. An amazing feat and one that will be like DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak. Not soon to be broken.

This was a great win by UConn against a very game Texas team. Last year they collapsed in a heap after UConn put a run on them. This year, they fought tooth and nail the entire 40 minutes, a credit to their coach and the players themselves.

Thanks to my friend David (from Naples) who does the "Fun with Numbers" for my blog every day, I was able to attend the game with close to mid-court seats and three rows from the court. Amazing view of the game. I was really able to see close up how physical the game can be.

I can't remember a game where Stewart was on the floor so often. And when so many times there was no foul call. The refs really let them play. The difference between the early version of Stewart and the current version is how she handles the physicality of how some teams play her. She used to shy away from contact after a few hits. Now she relishes it. She turned that into 21 points 15 rebounds

Tonight, Morgan Tuck played as good as she can. She scored 22 points, going 9-14 from the field and hitting 3-4 on threes. She also handed out 6 assists. She was just spectacular!

A few random thoughts -

* There was one time Stewart and Jefferson were caught in a switch on defense and Moriah was stuck in the post trying to front the 6'5" Lang. Texas threw an entry pass well over Jefferson's head, but her incredible leaping ability came into play as she leapt and grabbed the ball before it got to the Texas post. An amazing play. My friend David called it man to 1/2 man defense.

* UConn got caught a little flatfooted more than one time when Texas ran their fast break off of a UConn made basket. I don't think I saw that happen to them all season.

* The crowd was exceptional. Loud the entire game and REALLY loud as the seniors exited the game for the last time in Connecticut. A wonderful ovation.

* UConn was 12-21 from the three point line. Maybe their best game of the season from long distance. Hot, hot, hot!!

* UConn had a total of 8 fouls for the game. 6 were in the second quarter. How weird is that? I can't remember the last time the opposition was shooting the penalty free throws. Now, I won't pick on the refs, but what happened that was different? Hard to believe all 6 of them were really fouls.

I got to see all my media friends that I have met over the years. Joe D, who was the celebrity host at a golf outing I run, Meghan Culmo, who also was host in a different year, Mike Dimauro and Joe Zone, who were on a CPTV interview show with me a couple of years ago, Harriet Unger, from CPTV who produced the show. It was a great game and I had a ball!!!!!

I'm sure I'll have more to say about it in future dailies.

Post Game Presser
 

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Believe it or not, this was post by a UConn fan after the game on a message board.

Texas exposed UConn tonight - Be very physical with Stewie!! UCONN struggled to a team they absolutely destroyed last year. Baylor has owned Texas this season not even close. Depending on the game tonight with Baylor and Oregon State.. Which I think Baylor will absolutely destroy them tonight. My point is if UCONN plays like they did tonight in the national semis it will be a loss for my beloved huskies. I know UCONN is up but just doesn't seem like a typical UCONN performance. I'm quite nervous about the semis in Indy!!

Seriously. I did not make that up.

First, he said Baylor will destroy Oregon State. WRONG!
Then he said that being physical with Stewart would be UConn's downfall. Yet Stewart had 21 points 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Yes, UConn struggled some. But they still beat a Number TWO seed by 21 points. Trust me, Oregon State is not better than Texas.

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And now the third number one seed has lost and won't be in the final four. No. 2 Oregon State defeated No. 1 Baylor 60-57. This really does show that outside of UConn, parity has arrived in WCBB and when UConn comes back to the pack at some level, it could be a crapshoot for the National Championship in 2016-17.

Oregon State did just enough to beat Baylor but the Bears certain helped the Beavers by shooting 6-14 from the foul line. Just a horrible job by Baylor in what is call FREE throws. They are FREE. You have to make more. Period.

Oregon State was led by Sydney Wiese who scored 18 points and hit the winning free throws at the end of the game. Ruth Hamblin had another double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. She was very good on defense. A big body that really clogs the lane and she added 4 blocks.

More to come on The Oregon State Beavers later this week in my game preview.

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Katie Lou Samuelson has come a long way this season. From part time starter, by way of Geno's dog house, to the fifth starter, all the way to scoring leader. In fact, KLS had led the team in scoring 6 of the last 10 games. Over that span she is averaging 16.2 points per game, 2nd only to Stewie.

Samuelson's 162 points in the last 10 games brings her to 392 for the season. Even more impressive is her 21 assists over that period, which ups her season total to 80. And the non rebounding Samuelson sister now has 115, 5th on the team.

Billed as a great shooter, Katie Lou has found her stroke. In the last 10 games, she is 58-98 or 59.2% from the field. That includes three pt shots, which are most of her attempts. While she leads the team in made threes with 74, she is even deadlier from inside the 3 arc. For the season, KLS is hitting a team leading 70.5%.

Cover Stewie and Tuck down low. Go ahead, I dare you.

 

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Bridgeport

 

1 UConn 86 
2 Texas 65

Connecticut rolls into 9th straight Final Four Limaohio
UConn Heads to Ninth Straight Final Four, Beating Texas  NY Times
UConn Women take care of Texas, set more records on the way ESPN
UConn rolls past Texas, 86-65, reaches ninth straight Final Four Sportzedge
Same result for Texas, but at least this time it battled UConn  Connecticut Post
UConn heads to 9th straight Final 4 after beating Texas News-Times
Just in: UConn 86, Texas 65 Hookem
Will there be parity in women's basketball after this UConn run? 13newsnow
Stewart, Jefferson on AP All-America first team; Tuck a second-team selection Carl Adamec
UConn well represented on Associated Press All-American team Jim Fuller
UConn heads to 9th straight Final Four after beating Texas MSN
UConn heads to 9th straight Final 4 after beating Texas  Yahoo News
Texas' season ends for 2nd straight year with loss to UConn USA Today
NCAA Women’s Tournament: UConn, Oregon St. move on Post Register
UConn women top Texas for record ninth straight Final Four berth Register Citizen
UConn heads to 9th straight Final Four after beating Texas Killeen Daily Herald

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Dallas

1 Baylor 57
 2 Oregon State 60

Oregon State holds off Baylor to advance to women's Final Four Oregon Live
Oregon State punches first Final Four ticket ESPN
Oregon St to women's Final Four after 60-57 win over Baylor Yahoo Sports
APTOPIX NCAA Oregon Baylor Basketball Oklahoma News
Baylor fails to make Final Four after heartbreaking loss to Oregon State Dallas News
Baylor's missed 3 at the buzzer sends Oregon State to Final Four ESPN
Beavers beat Baylor, head to Final Four Corvallis Gazette
Oregon State women’s basketball is Final Four bound after beating Baylor Bears Register-Guard
Oregon State women reach Final Four  Portland Tribune
 

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1 UConn vs  2 Oregon State

 

 4 Syracuse vs 7 Washington 

Syracuse, Washington women to Final Four The Daily Astorian
Tennessee falls to Syracuse; Washington tops Stanford Times Daily
TIPPING OFF: Syracuse, Washington women to Final Four Sacramento Bee 
 Washington, Syracuse reach Women's Final Four for first time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

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Message Boards
 

UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!! 

College Fans Only - WCBB board where no holds are barred

Vol Nation - Tennessee women's basketball board    

CockyTalk - The upstart South Carolina women's basketball board  

ND Nation - Notre Dame women's basketball board

Rebkell - WCBB for everyone that thinks they are smarter than everyone else

DoggyDaddy's UConn/Texas Elite Eight Pre Game Report




UCONN vs Texas

Day: Monday

Date: March 28th, 2016

Location: Bridgeport
Time:7:00

TV: ESPN

 

1 Seed UConn Huskies                                    2 Seed Texas

           35-0                                                                28-4

 

Overview

 

Prior Meetings

 

UConn - 6-0

 H: 1-0; A: 1-0; N: 4-0

4/6/03 W 71-69 N

1/17/05 W 73-57 H
2/12/06 W 71-58 A
3/25/08 W 89-55 N
11/17/09 W 83-58 N 
3/28/15 W 105-54 N
 

 Overview

Last year UConn met Texas in the Sweet Sixteen game, absolutely destroying the Longhorns 105-54. Prior to that it had been quite a while since these two programs met. The previous time was 2009 in San Antonio Texas (Neutral court?) where the Huskies slammed the then No. 10 Texas Longhorns 83-58 in the second game of the season.

But only last years game has any bearing on how this game will go. UConn is starting 4 of the same players, and Texas has everyone back that contributed in the game last season. But while Texas adds a decent freshman guard,  UConn adds a FOY type player and also a terrific forward off the bench. So it would appear to be a similar matchup. Here were my thoughts after last years game.

Well, I sure picked a great game to go to for my first NCAA tournament game. No, it wasn't a close game that UConn won on a buzzer beater. It was another UConn beat down of an overmatched opponent. Only this time is was against a solid Texas team that had a 6'7" post and a 6'5" post for UConn to deal with.

 

UConn came out strong jumping out to a quick 17-6 lead five minutes into the game. Texas seemed to weather the storm outscoring UConn 13-9 over the next five minutes. With the score 26-19, UConn went on an incredible 24-2 run with Stewart scoring 12 of those points. It was 8 minutes of perfect basketball. Unbelievable.

 

The half ended with UConn ahead 52-24 and there was no doubt how this was going to end. UConn responded to Geno's challenge (see his quotes below) to be even better in the second half than they were in the first. They came out on an 18-4 run in the first 3:16. That made it 42-6 over 12 minutes. These numbers are staggering.

 

So, how did UConn do it? Fantastic shooting for one. In the second half 3:16 run, four different players hit three pointers. Geno's game plan to work the ball around and wear out the Texas posts was run to perfection. McGee-Stafford was held to 7 points and 7 rebounds in only 17 minutes. She was just ineffective against UConn. She was unsure of herself, turning the ball over 3 times. Their other post, Kelsey Lang, was held to 6 points on 2-8 shooting. Stokes sent one of her shots flying. 

 

Since that game, the two freshman are now sophomores and both Adkins and McCarty start for the Longhorns. Relegating both Sanders and Lang to the bench.

Texas has only lost 4 games all season, and three of those losses were to Baylor and the other was to Oklahoma. So, they  can't be THAT bad...lol.

Texas biggest wins were against Tennessee, Mississippi State, Stanford, West Virginia and Oklahoma State.

UConn and Texas played the same team X times.

Kansas State. Texas won 66-51 and 58-51 while UConn beat them 97-57.
Mississippi State. Texas won 53-47 while UConn beat them 98-38.

Take that for what it's worth!

Here are the pregame press conferences.

Comparative Team Statistic
Leader in Bold

 

                                            UConn                                        Texas

 

                                              88.5              PPG                     71.3
                                              47.7        Defensive PPG          55.6

                                              40.8        Scoring Margin          15.7

                                              52.8        Field Goal %             43.6
                                              32.9        Defensive FG%         34.9

                                              37.3        Three Point %           33.1
                                              30.4        Defensive 3PT%       27.8

                                              79.8        Free Throw %           69.5

                                              41.2        Rebounds/game        41.8

                                              11.7        Rebounding Margin    9.5 

                                              21.6        Assists per game       14.1

                                              11.8        Turnover per game    15.9

                                                1.8        Assists/TO ratio             .9

                                              12.3        Steals per game          8.0

                                                6.5        Blocks per game         5.2

                                                         

UConn Starters

 

30 Breanna Stewart 
6'4" Senior Forward

NCAA Game 1 - 20 minutes, 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assist, 0 TO, 8 steals, 3 blocks

NCAA Game 2 - 34 minutes, 21 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assist, 4 TO, 5 blocks

NCAA Game 3 - 25 minutes, 22 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assist, 1 TO, 5 blocks, 1 steal

 

2015-16 Stats

34 Games - MPG 28.4, FG% .585, 3PT% .419 PPG 19.3 RPG 8.6, APG 3.9, 62 steals, 120 blocks

 

3 Morgan Tuck
6'2" RS Junior Forward

NCAA Game 1 - 20 minutes, 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 TO, 2 steals

NCAA Game 2 - 35 minutes, 20 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assist, 1 TO, 1 steal, 1 block

NCAA Game 3 - 28 minutes, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assist, 2 TO, 3 steals

 

2015-16 Stats

  30 Games - MPG 26.1, FG% .506, 3PT% .288, PPG 13.0, RPG 5.9, APG 3.3, 26 steals, 9 blocks

4 Moriah Jefferson
5'7" Senior Guard

NCAA Game 1 - 23 minutes, 14 points, 0 rebounds, 5 assist, 1 TO, 2 steals

NCAA Game 2 - 34 minutes, 20 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assist, 0 TO, 3 steals

NCAA Game 3 - 23 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebounds, 4 assist, 2 TO, 4 steals

 

2015-16 Stats

   34 Games - MPG 30.3, FG% .557, 3PT% .432, PPG 12.7, RPG 2.6, APG 5.4, 92 steals, 6 blocks

11 Kia Nurse

6' Sophomore Guard   

NCAA Game 1 - 27 minutes, 14 points, 0 rebounds, 6 assist, 0 TO, 4 steals

NCAA Game 2 - 28 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assist, 1 TO

NCAA Game 3 - 26 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 TO

 

2015-16 Stats

   35 Games - MPG 27.6, FG% .441, 3PT% .353, PPG 9.3, RPG 1.9, APG 2.7, 49 steals, 6 blocks

33 Katie Lou Samuelson

6'3" Freshman Guard/Forward

NCAA Game 1 - 25 minutes, 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 TO, 2 steals

NCAA Game 2 - 22 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 TO

NCAA Game 3 - 28 minutes, 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

 

 2015-16 Stats

   35 Games - MPG 23.5, FG% .495, 3PT% .389, PPG 11.2, RPG 3.3, APG 2.3, 37 steals, 5 blocks

UConn Bench

 

15 Gabby Williams
5'11" Sophomore Forward

NCAA Game 1 - 22 minutes, 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal

NCAA Game 2 - 14 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 TO

NCAA Game 3 - 17 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 TO, 3 steals

  

2015-16 Stats

   35 Games - MPG 18.9, FG% .639, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.0 RPG 5.7, APG 1.3, 69 steals, 12 blocks 

 

24 Napheesa Collier

6'1 Freshman Forward/Guard

NCAA Game 1 - 21 minutes, 14 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block

NCAA Game 2 - 13 minutes, 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal 

NCAA Game 3 - 14 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block 

2015-16 Stats

   35 Games - MPG 17.5, FG% .522, 3PT% .200, PPG 6.8, RPG 5.3, APG .9, 47 steals, 45 blocks

51 Natalie Butler
6'5" RS Sophomore Center

NCAA Game 1 - 2 points, 1 block, 1 TO

NCAA Game 2 - 1 points

NCAA Game 3 - 14 minutes, 6 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
  

2015-16 Stats

   24 Games - MPG 13.0, FG% .570, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.1, RPG 4.4, APG .9, 13 steals, 20 blocks
 

12 Saniya Chong
5'8" Junior Guard

    

NCAA game 1 - 12 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebounds, 4 TO

NCAA game 2 - 6 minutes, 8 points, 1 steal

NCAA Game 3 - 10 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

 

2015-16 Stats

   30 Games - MPG 13.4, FG% .424, 3PT% .368, PPG 4.1, RPG 1.4, APG 1.1, 20 steals, 2 blocks

 

 

22 Courtney Ekmark

6' Sophomore Guard

   

NCAA Game 1 - 13 minutes, 1 assists, 2 TO, 2 steals 

NCAA Game 2 - 4 minutes

NCAA Game 3 - 9 minutes, 2 points, 1 assist, 1 TO

 

2015-16 Stats

   31 Games - MPG 9.4, FG% .446, 3PT% .361, PPG 2.1, RPG 1.2, APG .7, 12 steals, 1 block

 

20 Tierney Lawlor

5'7" Junior Guard



NCAA Game 1 - 3 minutes, 1 turnover

NCAA Game 2 - 3 minutes

NCAA Game 3 - 3 minutes

2015-16 Stats

  28 Games - MPG 3.1, FG% .429, 3PT% .400, PPG .3, RPG 0.1, APG 0.2, 1 steals, 0 blocks

22 Briana Pulido 
5'7" Senior Guard

NCAA Game 1 - 3 minutes, 1 rebound

NCAA Game 2 - 3 minutes, 1 rebound

NCAA Game 3 - 3 minutes, 1 point, 1 assist, 1 block

 

2015-16 Stats

   25 Games - MPG 2.7, FG% .176, 3PT% .100, PPG 0.3, RPG 0.2, APG 0.1, 1 steals, 0 blocks

 

UCONN TEAM STATS 







*******************************************************************

 

Head Coach Karen Aston

 

Karen Aston returned to the institution where she originally carved her reputation as an energetic leader and relentless recruiter in 2012, becoming just the fourth Texas Women's Basketball head coach in program history.

Since arriving at The University of Texas, Aston has made steps to lay the foundation for the Longhorns’ return to national prominence, which she experienced as an eight-year assista­nt to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt. Aston was instrumental in the Longhorns’ trip to the 2003 NCAA Final Four and a pair of Sweet 16 appearances in 2002 and 2004.

A native of Benton, Ark., Aston was a two-time first-team all-state selection at Bryant High School. She capped her high school career by leading Bryant to the 1982 Arkansas Class 4A State Championship. Aston earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in physical education from Arkansas-Little Rock in 1987. She played two seasons of basketball at UALR after transferring from Ouachita Baptist.

Texas Starters

11 Brooke McCarty 5'4" Sophomore Guard

  

NCAA Game 1 - 23 minutes, 12 points, 1 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 TO, 2 steals

NCAA Game 2 - 36 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assist

NCAA Game 3 - 39 minutes, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assist, 2 TO

2015-16: MPG 30.8, FG% .458, 3PT% .412, PPG 11.7, RPG 2.7, APG 2.5, 43 steals, 7 blocks

 

34 Imani Boyette 6'7" Senior Center 

 

NCAA Game 1 - 34 minutes, 6 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 TO, 31 block

NCAA Game 2 - 23 minutes, 6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assist, 2 TO, 1 block

NCAA Game 3 - 24 minutes, 18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 TO, 2 blocks

2015-16: MPG 22.8, FG% .507, 3PT% .333, PPG 11.5, RPG 9.0, APG 0.7, 28 steals, 103 blocks

  

01 Empress Davenport 5'7" Senior Guard

  

NCAA Game 1 - 23 minutes, 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal 

NCAA Game 2 - 18 minutes, 4 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assist, 3 TO

NCAA Game 3 - 33 minutes, 8 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 5 TO

 

2015-16: MPG 23.2, FG% .308, 3PT% .269, PPG 7.0, RPG 3.1, APG 2.1, 13 steals, 2 blocks

24 Arial Adkins 5'11" Sohpmore Guard

 

NCAA Game 1 - 25 minutes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks

NCAA Game 2 - 27 minutes, 22 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 TO, 3 steals

NCAA Game 3 - 26 minutes, 16 points, 8 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 TO, 2 steals

2015-16: MPG 20.6, FG% .531, 3PT% .327, PPG 10.9, RPG 4.0, APG 1.2, 34 steals, 7 blocks
 

02 Celina Rodrigo 5'8" Senior Guard

 

NCAA Game 1 - 25 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assist, 1 TO, 2 steals

NCAA Game 2 - 31 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assist, 1 TO, 1 steal, 3 blocks 

NCAA Game 3 - 25 minutes, 2 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assist, 2 TO

 

2015-16: MPG 27.3, FG% .314, 3PT% .348, PPG 5.1, RPG 3.9 APG 3.8, 42 steals, 6 blocks

Texas Bench
 

20 Brianna Taylor 5'9" Junior Guard

 

 

NCAA Game 1 - 11 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 TO, 1 steal

NCAA Game 2 - 17 minutes, 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assist, 1 TO, 2 steal

NCAA Game 3 - 19 minutes, 3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 TO, 3 steals

 

 2015-16: MPG 19.0, FG% .462, 3PT% .375, PPG 5.9, RPG 4.4, APG 1.0, 43 steals, 5 block

 

40 Kelsey Lang 6'5" Junior Center

NCAA Game 1 - 11 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 TO

NCAA Game 2 - 15 minutes, 6 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists

NCAA Game 3 - 11 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds

 

2015-16: MPG 18.8, FG% .524, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.7, RPG 4.5, APG .8, 11 steals, 30 blocks

 

 

 10 Lashan Higgs 5'9" Junior Guard

 

NCAA Game 1 - 15 minutes, 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 TO, 1 steal, 1 block

NCAA Game 2 - 15 minutes, 11 points, 2 rebound, 1 assist, 3 TO, 2 steals

NCAA Game 3 - 15 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 3 TO, 3 steals

 

2015-16: MPG 13.1, FG% .409, 3PT% .182, PPG 6.8, RPG 2.9, APG 1.2, 46 steals, 3 blocks

 

 Texas Stats

 

 Game Analysis

What is clear in looking at the Texas games in the NCAA is that Boyette playing at a high level. At 6'7" she can dominate the paint and now she is even more aggressive with her offense. Aston moved her two sophomore guards, McCarty and Adkins to the starting lineup.  Last season Brady Sanders seemed to be the glue type player for this team, controlling the ball and getting it to the right player at the right time but she is not seeing the same minutes as last season.    

 

Last season there was talk that Texas's height could be a big problem for UConn. They certainly have two skilled big players in Boyette and Lang. But they rarely player together. Other than those two players, Texas goes 5'11", 5'11", 5'9", 5'9", 5'8, 5'7 and 5'4". Other than the rare times Texas plays the two bigs together, they will have four of those guards on the court at the same time. That is big trouble for Texas as it was last year.

I do like the 5'4" McCarty. I said this last year, McCarty is a better version of South Carolina's Bianca Cuevas. More under control and a better feel for the game. And this year she is hitting 41% her threes and takes by far the most of their long range shots. She is leading the Longhorns is scoring. Jefferson will more than likely be defending her. That will be a fun matchup.

The facilitator of the team is Celina Rodrigo, who has 133 assists and only 74 assists. She will have to be on the top of her game and not turn the ball over and find her teammates in good shooting positions. I'm sure Nurse will keep her out of her comfort zone. Unless Kia is covering Adkins, who can really get to the basket. Not a great shooter, Adkins is shooting 51% from the field because most of those are at the rim.

There is one BIG difference this season and that is the absence of Stokes. She was really effective last year against Texas in her 19 minutes with 4 blocks. It will up to Stewart and Tuck to defend the post and they are more than capable.

UConn will continue to use the same formula that has propelled them to this point....pressure on the guards, aggressive defense at all times and lots of Stewart. In the last matchup, Stewart dominated the game with 31 points and 12 rebounds along with 7 assists and 3 blocks. Moriah was also amazing with her shooting 10-12 from the field leading to 25 points and her 6 assists and 3 steals helped push UConn to their eventual 51 point margin.
 

Final Prediction
 

One thing I didn't mentioned is foul trouble. If either post player for Texas gets in foul trouble, this game could get out of hand quickly. And even if they don't that could still happen. It's not like last years game didn't happen. I'm sure that Texas knows what they are in for.

Their defense is better than last seasons but I don't think Texas has the defense to slow down UConn, so I'm looking for 85-90 points for them. I can't see Texas scoring more than 50-55 points against this incredible UConn defense.

That means a low of a 30 point margin and a high of a 40 point margin. I'll split the difference and go with UConn by 35+.  Same prediction as last year. I hope I'm wrong in the same way!!!