[Goose]

Saying UConn can't get ready for the tournament or that Bueckers wasn't prepared doesn't seem well founded to me. UConn's tournament record over the past 30 years is second to none, and they've managed to eke out 11 National Championships. Bueckers has averaged 21.6 points in the tournament, better than her season average pre-tournament of 19.7. But, in one game, we did see a freshman unable to carry and lead her team at the same level that McDonald, a senior, could. 



[And Taurasi in the 2001 semifinal was 1-15 shooting and fouled out. If she wasn't flustered, it didn't help her out at all.]

I agree that Bueckers being "frustrated" or "flustered" wasn't the problem. Arizona simply played better than UConn did. I would still say that UConn as a team (not just Bueckers) was not prepared for the pressure they faced from Arizona. The failure of the front court to match Arizona's isn't Bueckers "fault", but she was unable to find a way to get them going. McDonald being a senior had the experience to lead her team and UConn didn't phase them. I am sure everybody watching the game, including Arizona fans were thinking "OK, UConn is going to go on a run. Will Arizona have an answer?". But UConn never really did go on a run. They just didn't have it in them. Arizona isn't physically better than UConn. UConn just wasn't ready to play a serious opponent who would attack them relentlessly all game long.
The fact that other UConn teams were prepared and/or didn't face a team that was able to challenge them in other years has absolutely nothing to say about this year. They weren't ready for Arizona. This isn't shown by the fact they lost, but rather because of how they lost.

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More on point for us.
Dana Evans: 24 points, 6-8 3PT
Zia Cooke: 25 points, 5-8 3PT
Aari McDonald: ??

W
W
??
The other team gets a vote. At this level, you have to anticipate meeting some teams who can play. Tara has been pretty good at devising a strategy to deliver solid defense and wins. As the UConn game demonstrated, Buekers more or less got her points. You probably aren't going to "stop" McDonald either. However, if you can stop the rest of the team and just slow down/contain MCDonald, you will win. Lets hope we can do that, as we have in our previous games. It may be much harder this time, as the rest of Arizona's team is playing better and "believes".

[Goose]

Saying UConn can't get ready for the tournament or that Bueckers wasn't prepared doesn't seem well founded to me. UConn's tournament record over the past 30 years is second to none, and they've managed to eke out 11 National Championships. Bueckers has averaged 21.6 points in the tournament, better than her season average pre-tournament of 19.7. But, in one game, we did see a freshman unable to carry and lead her team at the same level that McDonald, a senior, could. 



[And Taurasi in the 2001 semifinal was 1-15 shooting and fouled out. If she wasn't flustered, it didn't help her out at all.]

I agree that Bueckers being "frustrated" or "flustered" wasn't the problem. Arizona simply played better than UConn did. I would still say that UConn as a team (not just Bueckers) was not prepared for the pressure they faced from Arizona. The failure of the front court to match Arizona's isn't Bueckers "fault", but she was unable to find a way to get them going. McDonald being a senior had the experience to lead her team and UConn didn't phase them. I am sure everybody watching the game, including Arizona fans were thinking "OK, UConn is going to go on a run. Will Arizona have an answer?". But UConn never really did go on a run. They just didn't have it in them. Arizona isn't physically better than UConn. UConn just wasn't ready to play a serious opponent who would attack them relentlessly all game long.
The fact that other UConn teams were prepared and/or didn't face a team that was able to challenge them in other years has absolutely nothing to say about this year. They weren't ready for Arizona. This isn't shown by the fact they lost, but rather because of how they lost.

-----
More on point for us.
Dana Evans: 24 points, 6-8 3PT
Zia Cooke: 25 points, 5-8 3PT
Aari McDonald: ??

W
W
??
The other team gets a vote. At this level, you have to anticipate meeting some teams who can play. Tara has been pretty good at devising a strategy to deliver solid defense and wins. As the UConn game demonstrated, Buekers more or less got her points. You probably aren't going to "stop" McDonald either. However, if you can stop the rest of the team and just slow down/contain MCDonald, you will win. Lets hope we can do that, as we have in our previous games. It may be much harder this time, as the rest of Arizona's team is playing better and "believes".