[81alum]

Preview:

UConn survived double overtime against North Carolina State--with the help of a clutch shooting performance by Paige Bueckers-- to get to the final 4 for the umpteenth time. 

UConn's strength is its guard play.  Bueckers was so-so for the first half of the North Carolina game but when the game was on the line she hit nearly all her jumpers and free throws, just taking over.  Senior Chrysten Williams is UConn's leading scorer, though, and freshman Azzi Fudd is hitting 44% of her treys.  Caroline Ducharme is a 6'2" freshman guard who has been starting and is the 4th leading scorer, and those guards don't count Evina Westbrook who comes off the bench and is highly capable.  So UConn has multiple elite guards who play good defense and are capable of scoring at all three levels. 

When the action goes inside, we may have an advantage.  With the unfortunate wrist injury to backup post Dorka Juhász UConn is left with its starter 6'5" senior Olivia Nelson-Ododa and bench forward 6'3" sophomore Aaliyah Edwards.  Both are excellent but UConn lacks depth in the post--something we certainly have in abundance.  

This has been an unusual year for Geno--9 UConn players average 20 minutes or more, or 8 now that Juhász is out.  Scoring has been quite balanced with 4 averaging double digits and 4 more in high single digits.  It is exactly the kind of team in which every player needs to be defended--not well suited to Tara's schemes to take just one or two players away.

Massey rates the UConn defense as 3rd (we are 4th) and its offense as 12th (we are 6th,) but I imagine those ratings are distorted by the absence for much of the year of Bueckers. 

No doubt this will be a tough matchup for us.  UConn won't play Texas's style of defense although they will sometimes do full court press.  Their defense is more like ours--very sound positionally and knowing player tendencies.  Perhaps our best hope on offense will be to go inside repeatedly trying to get their bigs into foul trouble or to exhaust them.

On defense we will have our hands full with their guards.  All of them are 5'11" or taller, creating a real problem for Wilson to defend.  Lexie and Lacie should match up reasonably well, and hopefully Jones and maybe Belibi are athletic enough to keep in front of them.  I could see a role for Emma-Nnopu in this game, and Jump should get more time.

UConn's shooting tends to be accurate and their defense sound.  To beat them we will have to shoot better from the field than we have lately, and it would help to get their bigs in foul trouble so we can have more success inside.

It has been a long time since we played UConn--Arizona did us the favor of knocking them out of the tournament last year before we could face them.  I bet Tara studies Adia's strategy from that game.  The last time we played them was November of 2017, a 53-78 loss in a game where Carrington was our only double digit scorer, with Alanna Smith and Brittany McPhee being held in check.  Alyssa Jerome started, and Anna Wilson played--our only connections to that game.

[81alum]

Preview:

UConn survived double overtime against North Carolina State--with the help of a clutch shooting performance by Paige Bueckers-- to get to the final 4 for the umpteenth time. 

UConn's strength is its guard play.  Bueckers was so-so for the first half of the North Carolina game but when the game was on the line she hit nearly all her jumpers and free throws, just taking over.  Senior Chrysten Williams is UConn's leading scorer, though, and freshman Azzi Fudd is hitting 44% of her treys.  Caroline Ducharme is a 6'2" freshman guard who has been starting and is the 4th leading scorer, and those guards don't count Evina Westbrook who comes off the bench and is highly capable.  So UConn has multiple elite guards who play good defense and are capable of scoring at all three levels. 

When the action goes inside, we may have an advantage.  With the unfortunate wrist injury to backup post Dorka Juhász UConn is left with its starter 6'5" senior Olivia Nelson-Ododa and bench forward 6'3" sophomore Aaliyah Edwards.  Both are excellent but UConn lacks depth in the post--something we certainly have in abundance.  

This has been an unusual year for Geno--9 UConn players average 20 minutes or more, or 8 now that Juhász is out.  Scoring has been quite balanced with 4 averaging double digits and 4 more in high single digits.  It is exactly the kind of team in which every player needs to be defended--not well suited to Tara's schemes to take just one or two players away.

Massey rates the UConn defense as 3rd (we are 4th) and its offense as 12th (we are 6th,) but I imagine those ratings are distorted by the absence for much of the year of Bueckers. 

No doubt this will be a tough matchup for us.  UConn won't play Texas's style of defense although they will sometimes do full court press.  Their defense is more like ours--very sound positionally and knowing player tendencies.  Perhaps our best hope on offense will be to go inside repeatedly trying to get their bigs into foul trouble or to exhaust them.

On defense we will have our hands full with their guards.  All of them are 5'11" or taller, creating a real problem for Wilson to defend.  Lexie and Lacie should match up reasonably well, and hopefully Jones and maybe Belibi are athletic enough to keep in front of them.  I could see a role for Emma-Nnopu in this game, and Jump should get more time.

UConn's shooting tends to be accurate and their defense sound.  To beat them we will have to shoot better from the field than we have lately, and it would help to get their bigs in foul trouble so we can have more success inside.

It has been a long time since we played UConn--Arizona did us the favor of knocking them out of the tournament last year before we could face them.  I bet Tara studies Adia's strategy from that game.  The last time we played them was November of 2017, a 53-78 loss in a game where Carrington was our only double digit scorer, with Alanna Smith and Brittany McPhee being held in check.  Alyssa Jerome started, and Anna Wilson played--our only connections to that game.

[Card10Fan]

My initial thoughts; How are we going to defend Bueckers? It seemed NC State could not/would not adjust their screen and roll defense. Pagie was money in the mid ranger and got a lot of open looks and made them all late. Will we attempt to go big with Haley, Fran, and Cam. We've gone with this lineup more lately with Haley at the 3. Uconn is not deep in the post with the Juhasz injury. Can we take advantage. Can we rebound and limit their 2nd chances.  Lastly can we hit perimeter shots.  We are going to have to score points to win. I don't expect a game in the 50s like Texas. I think we will have to be on point offensively. I'm excited for Friday! Lets go!

[Card10Fan]

My initial thoughts; How are we going to defend Bueckers? It seemed NC State could not/would not adjust their screen and roll defense. Pagie was money in the mid ranger and got a lot of open looks and made them all late. Will we attempt to go big with Haley, Fran, and Cam. We've gone with this lineup more lately with Haley at the 3. Uconn is not deep in the post with the Juhasz injury. Can we take advantage. Can we rebound and limit their 2nd chances.  Lastly can we hit perimeter shots.  We are going to have to score points to win. I don't expect a game in the 50s like Texas. I think we will have to be on point offensively. I'm excited for Friday! Lets go!

[Maple Leaf]

March Madness: Stanford's Cameron Brink grabs defensive torch (usatoday.com)

Anna and Cameron with the Hull-Hull-Jones-Belibi and friends may have present the puppies with a few too many challenges.

[Maple Leaf]

March Madness: Stanford's Cameron Brink grabs defensive torch (usatoday.com)

Anna and Cameron with the Hull-Hull-Jones-Belibi and friends may have present the puppies with a few too many challenges.

[treetop11]

Preview:

UConn survived double overtime against North Carolina State--with the help of a clutch shooting performance by Paige Bueckers-- to get to the final 4 for the umpteenth time. 

UConn's strength is its guard play.  Bueckers was so-so for the first half of the North Carolina game but when the game was on the line she hit nearly all her jumpers and free throws, just taking over.  Senior Chrysten Williams is UConn's leading scorer, though, and freshman Azzi Fudd is hitting 44% of her treys.  Caroline Ducharme is a 6'2" freshman guard who has been starting and is the 4th leading scorer, and those guards don't count Evina Westbrook who comes off the bench and is highly capable.  So UConn has multiple elite guards who play good defense and are capable of scoring at all three levels. 

When the action goes inside, we may have an advantage.  With the unfortunate wrist injury to backup post Dorka Juhász UConn is left with its starter 6'5" senior Olivia Nelson-Ododa and bench forward 6'3" sophomore Aaliyah Edwards.  Both are excellent but UConn lacks depth in the post--something we certainly have in abundance.  

This has been an unusual year for Geno--9 UConn players average 20 minutes or more, or 8 now that Juhász is out.  Scoring has been quite balanced with 4 averaging double digits and 4 more in high single digits.  It is exactly the kind of team in which every player needs to be defended--not well suited to Tara's schemes to take just one or two players away.

Massey rates the UConn defense as 3rd (we are 4th) and its offense as 12th (we are 6th,) but I imagine those ratings are distorted by the absence for much of the year of Bueckers. 

No doubt this will be a tough matchup for us.  UConn won't play Texas's style of defense although they will sometimes do full court press.  Their defense is more like ours--very sound positionally and knowing player tendencies.  Perhaps our best hope on offense will be to go inside repeatedly trying to get their bigs into foul trouble or to exhaust them.

On defense we will have our hands full with their guards.  All of them are 5'11" or taller, creating a real problem for Wilson to defend.  Lexie and Lacie should match up reasonably well, and hopefully Jones and maybe Belibi are athletic enough to keep in front of them.  I could see a role for Emma-Nnopu in this game, and Jump should get more time.

UConn's shooting tends to be accurate and their defense sound.  To beat them we will have to shoot better from the field than we have lately, and it would help to get their bigs in foul trouble so we can have more success inside.

It has been a long time since we played UConn--Arizona did us the favor of knocking them out of the tournament last year before we could face them.  I bet Tara studies Adia's strategy from that game.  The last time we played them was November of 2017, a 53-78 loss in a game where Carrington was our only double digit scorer, with Alanna Smith and Brittany McPhee being held in check.  Alyssa Jerome started, and Anna Wilson played--our only connections to that game.

You left out Muhl who averages 20 minutes a game and was the Big East Defensive POY. She is 5'10", roughly same size as Anna. Their other guards are basically all 5'11" and we go 6'0 and 6'1, so we have height advantage.

[treetop11]

Preview:

UConn survived double overtime against North Carolina State--with the help of a clutch shooting performance by Paige Bueckers-- to get to the final 4 for the umpteenth time. 

UConn's strength is its guard play.  Bueckers was so-so for the first half of the North Carolina game but when the game was on the line she hit nearly all her jumpers and free throws, just taking over.  Senior Chrysten Williams is UConn's leading scorer, though, and freshman Azzi Fudd is hitting 44% of her treys.  Caroline Ducharme is a 6'2" freshman guard who has been starting and is the 4th leading scorer, and those guards don't count Evina Westbrook who comes off the bench and is highly capable.  So UConn has multiple elite guards who play good defense and are capable of scoring at all three levels. 

When the action goes inside, we may have an advantage.  With the unfortunate wrist injury to backup post Dorka Juhász UConn is left with its starter 6'5" senior Olivia Nelson-Ododa and bench forward 6'3" sophomore Aaliyah Edwards.  Both are excellent but UConn lacks depth in the post--something we certainly have in abundance.  

This has been an unusual year for Geno--9 UConn players average 20 minutes or more, or 8 now that Juhász is out.  Scoring has been quite balanced with 4 averaging double digits and 4 more in high single digits.  It is exactly the kind of team in which every player needs to be defended--not well suited to Tara's schemes to take just one or two players away.

Massey rates the UConn defense as 3rd (we are 4th) and its offense as 12th (we are 6th,) but I imagine those ratings are distorted by the absence for much of the year of Bueckers. 

No doubt this will be a tough matchup for us.  UConn won't play Texas's style of defense although they will sometimes do full court press.  Their defense is more like ours--very sound positionally and knowing player tendencies.  Perhaps our best hope on offense will be to go inside repeatedly trying to get their bigs into foul trouble or to exhaust them.

On defense we will have our hands full with their guards.  All of them are 5'11" or taller, creating a real problem for Wilson to defend.  Lexie and Lacie should match up reasonably well, and hopefully Jones and maybe Belibi are athletic enough to keep in front of them.  I could see a role for Emma-Nnopu in this game, and Jump should get more time.

UConn's shooting tends to be accurate and their defense sound.  To beat them we will have to shoot better from the field than we have lately, and it would help to get their bigs in foul trouble so we can have more success inside.

It has been a long time since we played UConn--Arizona did us the favor of knocking them out of the tournament last year before we could face them.  I bet Tara studies Adia's strategy from that game.  The last time we played them was November of 2017, a 53-78 loss in a game where Carrington was our only double digit scorer, with Alanna Smith and Brittany McPhee being held in check.  Alyssa Jerome started, and Anna Wilson played--our only connections to that game.

You left out Muhl who averages 20 minutes a game and was the Big East Defensive POY. She is 5'10", roughly same size as Anna. Their other guards are basically all 5'11" and we go 6'0 and 6'1, so we have height advantage.

[PVTree]

Another disadvantage is Paige Bueckers being a Minnesota native. Fans may cheer for the local player, and she may get inspired to play in her home state.

[PVTree]

Another disadvantage is Paige Bueckers being a Minnesota native. Fans may cheer for the local player, and she may get inspired to play in her home state.

[TheFarm07]

We are 7-11 (2-4 in the postseason) all time against UConn, but we've lost 8 of the last 10 times we played them. Three of our victories came in the early '90s before they won their first national title.

After playing UConn 12 times from 2005 to 2014, including five times in the postseason, we've only played Auriemma's squad once since then (a 53-78 setback in Nov. 2017).

81alum pointed out that Jerome and Wilson are the only players still remaining from that contest and so much time has passed since then that there wouldn't normally be any players left from that game if they hadn't come back for extra years. Jerome started that game, played 22 minutes and ended up with 2 points on 1/5 shooting, while Wilson played a measly 3 minutes and took one shot and turned the ball over once.

We are on a three game postseason losing streak to the Huskies after winning the previous two:

• 2014 National Semifinals (56-75): This will be our first postseason matchup against UConn since the 2014 national semifinals when the Huskies ended Chiney's collegiate career with a 75-56 win. We kept the game close in the first half thanks to some hot shooting by then-freshman Lili Thompson, but in the end, after holding them to 28 first half points, we couldn't contain Breanna Stewart and co. forever and gave up 47 second half points. Chiney was limited to 15 points on 5/12 shooting; Orrange was our leading scorer with 16 points on an inefficient 5/14 shooting night.
  
• 2010 National Championship (47-53): Despite holding a Maya Moore-led team to an unheard of 12 points in the first half, we could only muster 20 points on our end and that 8-point lead wasn't large enough to survive the second half. The Huskies offense woke up after halftime with 41 points in the last 20 minutes, while ours only got marginally better as the game wore on. Jayne Appel was struggling with an injury and finished her illustrious career with a very forgettable line (0 points on 0/12 shooting). I always wondered what could have happened if we had a healthy Appel to pair with Nneka and Kayla Pedersen inside. While the trio was a combined 10/39 from the field that day, they did have 37 rebounds between the three of them.
  
• 2009 National Semifinals (64-83): UConn thrashed us to avenge their loss from a year earlier. The Huskies was an unstoppable force during this period and unfortunately we couldn't stop them (no one could that season). Appel and Nneka, in her freshman season, together had 39 points and 19 rebounds for our frontcourt, but the rest of the team was a combined 10/43 and that was nowhere near enough to keep up with the Huskies' duo of Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery who put up 50 against us.
  
• 2008 National Semifinals (82-73): We made it all the way to our first national title game since our 1992 championship run that year in Candice Wiggins' senior season. Along the way, we avenged an early season loss to the Huskies by beating them in the national semis. We had a varied attack that game with Wiggins and JJ Hones hitting 6/12 from downtown while Pedersen and Appel scored from inside (32 combined points).
  
• 2005 Sweet Sixteen (76-59): In our only non-Final Four postseason encounter, we caught UConn in a rare period where they lacked superstars (after the era of Bird & Taurasi but before Tina Charles, Montgomery and Moore arrived) and took full advantage, easily winning this game during Wiggins' freshman year.
  

Our regular season matchups have also been tough, but also include two tremendous streak-busting wins for us:

• November 17, 2014 (88-86 OT): No one really gave us much of a shot coming into this game as we had been handedly beaten by UConn just seven months earlier in the national semis and we lost Chiney to graduation afterwards while the Huskies brought back Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. But our team didn't listened and Amber Orrange certainly didn't. At Maples, Orrange hit a buzzer beating three pointer (her only made long range shot of the game) at the end of regulation to force overtime and we held on to end UConn's 47-game winning streak. Thompson was our leading scorer with 24 points while Bonnie Samuelson came off the bench to chip in 14 points and Kaylee Johnson in her second collegiate game pulled down 13 rebounds against the likes of Breanna Stewart and Kiah Stokes.
  
• December 30, 2010 (71-59): We did what 90 teams before us (including us three times in there) couldn't do: beat UConn. In a packed Maples, we not only beat the Huskies, but by double digits. In that moment, we owned the last two wins over Auriemma as they hadn't lost since we beat them in the '08 national semis. We held Moore in check (14 points on 5/15 shooting) while Pohlen led us to victory with 31 points including a perfect 10/10 from the FT line.
  

Anyway, this is what insomnia gets you while we wait for Friday's game, a walk down memory lane.

[TheFarm07]

We are 7-11 (2-4 in the postseason) all time against UConn, but we've lost 8 of the last 10 times we played them. Three of our victories came in the early '90s before they won their first national title.

After playing UConn 12 times from 2005 to 2014, including five times in the postseason, we've only played Auriemma's squad once since then (a 53-78 setback in Nov. 2017).

81alum pointed out that Jerome and Wilson are the only players still remaining from that contest and so much time has passed since then that there wouldn't normally be any players left from that game if they hadn't come back for extra years. Jerome started that game, played 22 minutes and ended up with 2 points on 1/5 shooting, while Wilson played a measly 3 minutes and took one shot and turned the ball over once.

We are on a three game postseason losing streak to the Huskies after winning the previous two:

• 2014 National Semifinals (56-75): This will be our first postseason matchup against UConn since the 2014 national semifinals when the Huskies ended Chiney's collegiate career with a 75-56 win. We kept the game close in the first half thanks to some hot shooting by then-freshman Lili Thompson, but in the end, after holding them to 28 first half points, we couldn't contain Breanna Stewart and co. forever and gave up 47 second half points. Chiney was limited to 15 points on 5/12 shooting; Orrange was our leading scorer with 16 points on an inefficient 5/14 shooting night.
  
• 2010 National Championship (47-53): Despite holding a Maya Moore-led team to an unheard of 12 points in the first half, we could only muster 20 points on our end and that 8-point lead wasn't large enough to survive the second half. The Huskies offense woke up after halftime with 41 points in the last 20 minutes, while ours only got marginally better as the game wore on. Jayne Appel was struggling with an injury and finished her illustrious career with a very forgettable line (0 points on 0/12 shooting). I always wondered what could have happened if we had a healthy Appel to pair with Nneka and Kayla Pedersen inside. While the trio was a combined 10/39 from the field that day, they did have 37 rebounds between the three of them.
  
• 2009 National Semifinals (64-83): UConn thrashed us to avenge their loss from a year earlier. The Huskies was an unstoppable force during this period and unfortunately we couldn't stop them (no one could that season). Appel and Nneka, in her freshman season, together had 39 points and 19 rebounds for our frontcourt, but the rest of the team was a combined 10/43 and that was nowhere near enough to keep up with the Huskies' duo of Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery who put up 50 against us.
  
• 2008 National Semifinals (82-73): We made it all the way to our first national title game since our 1992 championship run that year in Candice Wiggins' senior season. Along the way, we avenged an early season loss to the Huskies by beating them in the national semis. We had a varied attack that game with Wiggins and JJ Hones hitting 6/12 from downtown while Pedersen and Appel scored from inside (32 combined points).
  
• 2005 Sweet Sixteen (76-59): In our only non-Final Four postseason encounter, we caught UConn in a rare period where they lacked superstars (after the era of Bird & Taurasi but before Tina Charles, Montgomery and Moore arrived) and took full advantage, easily winning this game during Wiggins' freshman year.
  

Our regular season matchups have also been tough, but also include two tremendous streak-busting wins for us:

• November 17, 2014 (88-86 OT): No one really gave us much of a shot coming into this game as we had been handedly beaten by UConn just seven months earlier in the national semis and we lost Chiney to graduation afterwards while the Huskies brought back Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. But our team didn't listened and Amber Orrange certainly didn't. At Maples, Orrange hit a buzzer beating three pointer (her only made long range shot of the game) at the end of regulation to force overtime and we held on to end UConn's 47-game winning streak. Thompson was our leading scorer with 24 points while Bonnie Samuelson came off the bench to chip in 14 points and Kaylee Johnson in her second collegiate game pulled down 13 rebounds against the likes of Breanna Stewart and Kiah Stokes.
  
• December 30, 2010 (71-59): We did what 90 teams before us (including us three times in there) couldn't do: beat UConn. In a packed Maples, we not only beat the Huskies, but by double digits. In that moment, we owned the last two wins over Auriemma as they hadn't lost since we beat them in the '08 national semis. We held Moore in check (14 points on 5/15 shooting) while Pohlen led us to victory with 31 points including a perfect 10/10 from the FT line.
  

Anyway, this is what insomnia gets you while we wait for Friday's game, a walk down memory lane.

[joemontes]

Interesting to note that this game will feature all the #1 overall recruits over the past 4 years - UConn's Christyn WILLIAMS (2018), Stanford's Haley JONES (2019), UConn's BUECKERS (2020) and UConn's FUDD (2021), and JONES is the only one who could play 4 positions (PF/SF/SG/PG).

Having mentioned that, this is the game where Haley JONES should take over and dominate, because they don't have anybody to match up against her.

UConn will most likely only have two forwards in NELSON-ODODA and Aaliyah EDWARDS since JUHASZ was injured in the NC State game. Tara should alternate between a 4-guard line-up (HULL twins/WILSON/JONES with BRINK) and a 3-forward line-up (BRINK/BELIBI/JONES with HULL/WILSON) and let JONES do her thing in both scenarios.  In the first scenario, JONES will be pitted against Aaliyah EDWARDS and she has the speed and overall skill advantage.  In the 2nd scenario, she will most likely be matched up against either Christyn WILLIAMS or FUDD, and she has the height and overall skill advantage.

[joemontes]

Interesting to note that this game will feature all the #1 overall recruits over the past 4 years - UConn's Christyn WILLIAMS (2018), Stanford's Haley JONES (2019), UConn's BUECKERS (2020) and UConn's FUDD (2021), and JONES is the only one who could play 4 positions (PF/SF/SG/PG).

Having mentioned that, this is the game where Haley JONES should take over and dominate, because they don't have anybody to match up against her.

UConn will most likely only have two forwards in NELSON-ODODA and Aaliyah EDWARDS since JUHASZ was injured in the NC State game. Tara should alternate between a 4-guard line-up (HULL twins/WILSON/JONES with BRINK) and a 3-forward line-up (BRINK/BELIBI/JONES with HULL/WILSON) and let JONES do her thing in both scenarios.  In the first scenario, JONES will be pitted against Aaliyah EDWARDS and she has the speed and overall skill advantage.  In the 2nd scenario, she will most likely be matched up against either Christyn WILLIAMS or FUDD, and she has the height and overall skill advantage.

[BillBradley]

The line opened at Stanford as a 1 point favorite. What a year for both teams, and now it comes down to basically a pick 'em game. So great!

[BillBradley]

The line opened at Stanford as a 1 point favorite. What a year for both teams, and now it comes down to basically a pick 'em game. So great!

[BillBradley]

Dream match-up:  Stanford vs UConn in 2nd National Semifinals match on April Fools Day!

Defensive Match-ups between Starting Line-ups:

5'9 WILSON vs. 5'11 BUECKERS
6'1 HULL vs. 5'11 FUDD
6'0 HULL vs. 5'10 WILLIAMS
6'1 JONES vs 6'2 EDWARDS
6'4 BRINK vs. 6'5 NELSON-ODODA

I think actually Lacie gets Paige. Paige really likes to elevate on her jumpers (ala Rori on Texas), so could use a taller defender. Anna is great at denying perimeter players so will do well on Azzi

Yeah, I see 1 of the Hulls on Paige; and maybe Wilson on Williams

---

I think we'll put Anna on Fudd. She is exactly the type of player that Anna shuts down. Not overly physical, no dribble pullup to shoot over her. About 60% of her shots are catch and shoot 3's. She has a quick release, but she doesn't really like to shoot contested three's. She cannot be left wide open. 
Hulls on Paige and Williams.
Jones on Edwards
Brink on Nelson-Ododa

I think we matchup really well. 

As Teejers has noted, we have to contain Buecker's pullup J - it's got to be a major part of the scout. I think Anna will keep Fudd in check, so if we can do a reasonable job on Paige then I think we'll win. I don't think the other players can score enough to beat us. We like to chase over the top of screens. Will be interesting to see if we still do that or something different (hedge hard or even switch?).  I'm sure Tara has a good strategy in mind :>

Last note at T-4 days...Hannah Jump could play a major role in this one. UConn does not get up in the passing lanes like Maryland and Texas. She can get open against UConn.

[BillBradley]

Dream match-up:  Stanford vs UConn in 2nd National Semifinals match on April Fools Day!

Defensive Match-ups between Starting Line-ups:

5'9 WILSON vs. 5'11 BUECKERS
6'1 HULL vs. 5'11 FUDD
6'0 HULL vs. 5'10 WILLIAMS
6'1 JONES vs 6'2 EDWARDS
6'4 BRINK vs. 6'5 NELSON-ODODA

I think actually Lacie gets Paige. Paige really likes to elevate on her jumpers (ala Rori on Texas), so could use a taller defender. Anna is great at denying perimeter players so will do well on Azzi

Yeah, I see 1 of the Hulls on Paige; and maybe Wilson on Williams

---

I think we'll put Anna on Fudd. She is exactly the type of player that Anna shuts down. Not overly physical, no dribble pullup to shoot over her. About 60% of her shots are catch and shoot 3's. She has a quick release, but she doesn't really like to shoot contested three's. She cannot be left wide open. 
Hulls on Paige and Williams.
Jones on Edwards
Brink on Nelson-Ododa

I think we matchup really well. 

As Teejers has noted, we have to contain Buecker's pullup J - it's got to be a major part of the scout. I think Anna will keep Fudd in check, so if we can do a reasonable job on Paige then I think we'll win. I don't think the other players can score enough to beat us. We like to chase over the top of screens. Will be interesting to see if we still do that or something different (hedge hard or even switch?).  I'm sure Tara has a good strategy in mind :>

Last note at T-4 days...Hannah Jump could play a major role in this one. UConn does not get up in the passing lanes like Maryland and Texas. She can get open against UConn.

[Spiny_Norman]

A really important part of the defensive preparation will be how to handle UConn's high ball screens. The main role for their bigs seems to be setting screens for the guards. They may then roll to the basket or crash the boards. How will Stanford cover the screens - go over, go under, switch? Watching Haley Jones, the Hulls and Anna Wilson switch on screens is like an elaborate choreographed dance with everyone almost always in the right place. Their experience really shows.

Offensively, would Stanford prefer an up tempo game or more of a half court game?

[Spiny_Norman]

A really important part of the defensive preparation will be how to handle UConn's high ball screens. The main role for their bigs seems to be setting screens for the guards. They may then roll to the basket or crash the boards. How will Stanford cover the screens - go over, go under, switch? Watching Haley Jones, the Hulls and Anna Wilson switch on screens is like an elaborate choreographed dance with everyone almost always in the right place. Their experience really shows.

Offensively, would Stanford prefer an up tempo game or more of a half court game?

[CompSci87]

Offensively, would Stanford prefer an up tempo game or more of a half court game?

Stanford offense is excellent either way. Not sure about UConn this year, but normally they are good in half court and even better in transition. 

I think I would vote uptempo to take advantage of Stanford's much greater post depth.

[CompSci87]

Offensively, would Stanford prefer an up tempo game or more of a half court game?

Stanford offense is excellent either way. Not sure about UConn this year, but normally they are good in half court and even better in transition. 

I think I would vote uptempo to take advantage of Stanford's much greater post depth.

[teejers1]

I think we'll put Anna on Fudd. She is exactly the type of player that Anna shuts down. Not overly physical, no dribble pullup to shoot over her. About 60% of her shots are catch and shoot 3's. She has a quick release, but she doesn't really like to shoot contested three's. She cannot be left wide open. 
Hulls on Paige and Williams.
Jones on Edwards
Brink on Nelson-Ododa

I think we matchup really well. 

As Teejers has noted, we have to contain Buecker's pullup J - it's got to be a major part of the scout. I think Anna will keep Fudd in check, so if we can do a reasonable job on Paige then I think we'll win. I don't think the other players can score enough to beat us. We like to chase over the top of screens. Will be interesting to see if we still do that or something different (hedge hard or even switch?).  I'm sure Tara has a good strategy in mind :>

Last note at T-4 days...Hannah Jump could play a major role in this one. UConn does not get up in the passing lanes like Maryland and Texas. She can get open against UConn.

How Stanford defends the pick and roll will be absolutely critical to the outcome of the game.  The #1 priority should be to stop the pull up jumper in space - i.e., the shots that Bueckers (and Fudd) knocked down to win the NC State game.  Whether you flash and recover or switch (can they really chase over the top), you have to be able to contest the mid-range pull up.

Also, Stanford needs to be wary when UConn's 4 -across goes extra high.  Every once in a while, you'll see the 4 across players go above the FT line.  That is simply to allow wing with ball to straight up beat their man off the dribble to the rack before help D can arrive.  They have Paige, Fudd, Westbrook and even Williams (iirc) has the ability to beat the defender - especially an unsuspecting one - off the bounce.

My only nit with you is on Fudd.  I've only seen her play (in any extended amount) in the NC State game, and I thought she showed great ability to drive and dish and drive and pull up.  She also was very clutch.

The guard defensive play for Stanford is going to be absolutely critical. 

I'm just assuming (I hope correctly) that Stanford will win the battle inside.  In fact, I'm banking on dominating there.

[teejers1]

I think we'll put Anna on Fudd. She is exactly the type of player that Anna shuts down. Not overly physical, no dribble pullup to shoot over her. About 60% of her shots are catch and shoot 3's. She has a quick release, but she doesn't really like to shoot contested three's. She cannot be left wide open. 
Hulls on Paige and Williams.
Jones on Edwards
Brink on Nelson-Ododa

I think we matchup really well. 

As Teejers has noted, we have to contain Buecker's pullup J - it's got to be a major part of the scout. I think Anna will keep Fudd in check, so if we can do a reasonable job on Paige then I think we'll win. I don't think the other players can score enough to beat us. We like to chase over the top of screens. Will be interesting to see if we still do that or something different (hedge hard or even switch?).  I'm sure Tara has a good strategy in mind :>

Last note at T-4 days...Hannah Jump could play a major role in this one. UConn does not get up in the passing lanes like Maryland and Texas. She can get open against UConn.

How Stanford defends the pick and roll will be absolutely critical to the outcome of the game.  The #1 priority should be to stop the pull up jumper in space - i.e., the shots that Bueckers (and Fudd) knocked down to win the NC State game.  Whether you flash and recover or switch (can they really chase over the top), you have to be able to contest the mid-range pull up.

Also, Stanford needs to be wary when UConn's 4 -across goes extra high.  Every once in a while, you'll see the 4 across players go above the FT line.  That is simply to allow wing with ball to straight up beat their man off the dribble to the rack before help D can arrive.  They have Paige, Fudd, Westbrook and even Williams (iirc) has the ability to beat the defender - especially an unsuspecting one - off the bounce.

My only nit with you is on Fudd.  I've only seen her play (in any extended amount) in the NC State game, and I thought she showed great ability to drive and dish and drive and pull up.  She also was very clutch.

The guard defensive play for Stanford is going to be absolutely critical. 

I'm just assuming (I hope correctly) that Stanford will win the battle inside.  In fact, I'm banking on dominating there.

[TheWildJacko]

I think we prefer an uptempo game as long as we're playing with good court awareness and not throwing too many wild passes. We seem to do best when we're always moving and moving the ball. If we're standing around the perimeter passing it back and forth, or if all our plays are isolation from the top of the key, we're in trouble. Best case scenario, we have another block party, Anna and the Hulls get some steals, and we hit a bunch of shots in transition and on backdoor cuts.

[TheWildJacko]

I think we prefer an uptempo game as long as we're playing with good court awareness and not throwing too many wild passes. We seem to do best when we're always moving and moving the ball. If we're standing around the perimeter passing it back and forth, or if all our plays are isolation from the top of the key, we're in trouble. Best case scenario, we have another block party, Anna and the Hulls get some steals, and we hit a bunch of shots in transition and on backdoor cuts.

[martyup]

If we win the championship I would like to see the team bust out a Soul Train line dance.

Several players on Stanford's roster have "the game" to match the dancer on the left; matching the dancer on the right could be a problematic . . .

P.S.  Great/hilarious clip.

The great thing about a Soul Train tunnel dance is that it is totally freestyle.  You can do anything you want.  I'll bet even Tara could pull this off without any practice.  However, somebody has to bring the boombox.



Since the Final 4 is in the Twin Cities, the hometown of Prince, if the team wins, they should dance to "Let's Go Crazy."

[martyup]

If we win the championship I would like to see the team bust out a Soul Train line dance.

Several players on Stanford's roster have "the game" to match the dancer on the left; matching the dancer on the right could be a problematic . . .

P.S.  Great/hilarious clip.

The great thing about a Soul Train tunnel dance is that it is totally freestyle.  You can do anything you want.  I'll bet even Tara could pull this off without any practice.  However, somebody has to bring the boombox.



Since the Final 4 is in the Twin Cities, the hometown of Prince, if the team wins, they should dance to "Let's Go Crazy."

[teejers1]

I think we prefer an uptempo game as long as we're playing with good court awareness and not throwing too many wild passes. We seem to do best when we're always moving and moving the ball. If we're standing around the perimeter passing it back and forth, or if all our plays are isolation from the top of the key, we're in trouble. Best case scenario, we have another block party, Anna and the Hulls get some steals, and we hit a bunch of shots in transition and on backdoor cuts.

I expect fewer successful backdoor cuts against UConn, as I don't think they overplay the pass to the wing as much as Texas did (and others do).
But maybe.  Backdoor cuts can work against any kind of D - it's all about surprise - and maybe UConn defenders drop their guard, so to speak, on the back door cut.  Hope so.

I'm wondering if Stanford can exploit the high-low game against UConn.  Just think our advantage is there, and not at guard position.

[teejers1]

I think we prefer an uptempo game as long as we're playing with good court awareness and not throwing too many wild passes. We seem to do best when we're always moving and moving the ball. If we're standing around the perimeter passing it back and forth, or if all our plays are isolation from the top of the key, we're in trouble. Best case scenario, we have another block party, Anna and the Hulls get some steals, and we hit a bunch of shots in transition and on backdoor cuts.

I expect fewer successful backdoor cuts against UConn, as I don't think they overplay the pass to the wing as much as Texas did (and others do).
But maybe.  Backdoor cuts can work against any kind of D - it's all about surprise - and maybe UConn defenders drop their guard, so to speak, on the back door cut.  Hope so.

I'm wondering if Stanford can exploit the high-low game against UConn.  Just think our advantage is there, and not at guard position.

[BosCard]

I

I think we prefer an uptempo game as long as we're playing with good court awareness and not throwing too many wild passes. We seem to do best when we're always moving and moving the ball. If we're standing around the perimeter passing it back and forth, or if all our plays are isolation from the top of the key, we're in trouble. Best case scenario, we have another block party, Anna and the Hulls get some steals, and we hit a bunch of shots in transition and on backdoor cuts.

I expect fewer successful backdoor cuts against UConn, as I don't think they overplay the pass to the wing as much as Texas did (and others do).
But maybe.  Backdoor cuts can work against any kind of D - it's all about surprise - and maybe UConn defenders drop their guard, so to speak, on the back door cut.  Hope so.

I'm wondering if Stanford can exploit the high-low game against UConn.  Just think our advantage is there, and not at guard position.

With a Brink, Belibi, Jones lineup, I’m hoping that Belibi or Jones will be able to post up the UConn guard that is guarding her.  It will probably be Williams guarding Belibi.  I don’t think they will have a guard on Jones because Jones is so effective at exploiting that mismatch in the post.

[BosCard]

I

I think we prefer an uptempo game as long as we're playing with good court awareness and not throwing too many wild passes. We seem to do best when we're always moving and moving the ball. If we're standing around the perimeter passing it back and forth, or if all our plays are isolation from the top of the key, we're in trouble. Best case scenario, we have another block party, Anna and the Hulls get some steals, and we hit a bunch of shots in transition and on backdoor cuts.

I expect fewer successful backdoor cuts against UConn, as I don't think they overplay the pass to the wing as much as Texas did (and others do).
But maybe.  Backdoor cuts can work against any kind of D - it's all about surprise - and maybe UConn defenders drop their guard, so to speak, on the back door cut.  Hope so.

I'm wondering if Stanford can exploit the high-low game against UConn.  Just think our advantage is there, and not at guard position.

With a Brink, Belibi, Jones lineup, I’m hoping that Belibi or Jones will be able to post up the UConn guard that is guarding her.  It will probably be Williams guarding Belibi.  I don’t think they will have a guard on Jones because Jones is so effective at exploiting that mismatch in the post.

[teejers1]

If we win the championship I would like to see the team bust out a Soul Train line dance.

Several players on Stanford's roster have "the game" to match the dancer on the left; matching the dancer on the right could be a problematic . . .

P.S.  Great/hilarious clip.

The great thing about a Soul Train tunnel dance is that it is totally freestyle.  You can do anything you want.  I'll bet even Tara could pull this off without any practice.  However, somebody has to bring the boombox.



Since the Final 4 is in the Twin Cities, the hometown of Prince, if the team wins, they should dance to "Let's Go Crazy."

1.  That belly flop guy just slays me!

2.  I know your suggestion re: Soul Train is not "looking ahead," but "planning ahead" - as Tara explained the distinction.  And if we're planning ahead, then I agree that a Soul Train dance to a Prince song (there are lots to choose from) would be fantastic.  (Hell, if the Cardinal win, a dance to anything would be fantastic).

[teejers1]

If we win the championship I would like to see the team bust out a Soul Train line dance.

Several players on Stanford's roster have "the game" to match the dancer on the left; matching the dancer on the right could be a problematic . . .

P.S.  Great/hilarious clip.

The great thing about a Soul Train tunnel dance is that it is totally freestyle.  You can do anything you want.  I'll bet even Tara could pull this off without any practice.  However, somebody has to bring the boombox.



Since the Final 4 is in the Twin Cities, the hometown of Prince, if the team wins, they should dance to "Let's Go Crazy."

1.  That belly flop guy just slays me!

2.  I know your suggestion re: Soul Train is not "looking ahead," but "planning ahead" - as Tara explained the distinction.  And if we're planning ahead, then I agree that a Soul Train dance to a Prince song (there are lots to choose from) would be fantastic.  (Hell, if the Cardinal win, a dance to anything would be fantastic).

[martyup]

We are now 32-3.  This number has meaning related to Love.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxxzTKDndpNEv...KQ9_Syo51a

https://www.yourtango.com/self/angel-number-323-meaning

[martyup]

We are now 32-3.  This number has meaning related to Love.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxxzTKDndpNEv...KQ9_Syo51a

https://www.yourtango.com/self/angel-number-323-meaning

[Spiny_Norman]

Some people like me might be wondering how Arizona beat UConn in the national semis last year. It was a lot of harassment of Bueckers and a h.u.g.e effort from Aari McDonald. Plus Arizona was aggressive offensively as a team. Arizona shot 31 FTs vs. 20 for UConn.

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/31185864

[Spiny_Norman]

Some people like me might be wondering how Arizona beat UConn in the national semis last year. It was a lot of harassment of Bueckers and a h.u.g.e effort from Aari McDonald. Plus Arizona was aggressive offensively as a team. Arizona shot 31 FTs vs. 20 for UConn.

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/31185864

[Baez87]

We are now 32-3.  This number has meaning related to Love.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxxzTKDndpNEv...KQ9_Syo51a

https://www.yourtango.com/self/angel-number-323-meaning

Right on Marty for your game-time X's and O's!

[Baez87]

We are now 32-3.  This number has meaning related to Love.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxxzTKDndpNEv...KQ9_Syo51a

https://www.yourtango.com/self/angel-number-323-meaning

Right on Marty for your game-time X's and O's!