[81alum]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=9533.msg83577#msg83577 date=1391980829]
No, this loss cannot be attributed to our offense, even though we certainly can improve on that score.   

I disagree partly. 
...
The reason we had decent offensive numbers was because we had such poor defense that there were lots of possessions, plus all the extra offense piled up in the last few minutes.
[/quote]
Well, maybe we are not so far apart.  I do think that the main story was poor defense.  We have not allowed 87 points to anybody in at least three years--probably much longer, but I'm not going to scrounge further than 2010.  UConn has not scored 87 on us in quite some time--and not this year.

I do agree that we needed Amber and Lili to cut to the basket more often.  They have shown the ability to do that.  I wonder if the game plan was "off" somehow.

Our frosh will improve their defense with experience.  Chiney had some issues her freshman year, too.  Ros became an expert defender only towards the end of her career.  This will come with time and increasing levels of basketball IQ and muscle memory.

On the positive front--I really did like the way we fought back when it seemed hopeless.  And Mikaela was awesome.  And Bonnie making 11 points in 2 minutes proves to me that she is at her best when she just focuses and shoots and doesn't think too much about getting wide open. 

We will come back from this.  It might mean a 2 seed--or it might not--but that has never been an impediment to our tournament success before.  Think Candice and company against Maryland.

[81alum]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=9533.msg83577#msg83577 date=1391980829]
No, this loss cannot be attributed to our offense, even though we certainly can improve on that score.   

I disagree partly. 
...
The reason we had decent offensive numbers was because we had such poor defense that there were lots of possessions, plus all the extra offense piled up in the last few minutes.
[/quote]
Well, maybe we are not so far apart.  I do think that the main story was poor defense.  We have not allowed 87 points to anybody in at least three years--probably much longer, but I'm not going to scrounge further than 2010.  UConn has not scored 87 on us in quite some time--and not this year.

I do agree that we needed Amber and Lili to cut to the basket more often.  They have shown the ability to do that.  I wonder if the game plan was "off" somehow.

Our frosh will improve their defense with experience.  Chiney had some issues her freshman year, too.  Ros became an expert defender only towards the end of her career.  This will come with time and increasing levels of basketball IQ and muscle memory.

On the positive front--I really did like the way we fought back when it seemed hopeless.  And Mikaela was awesome.  And Bonnie making 11 points in 2 minutes proves to me that she is at her best when she just focuses and shoots and doesn't think too much about getting wide open. 

We will come back from this.  It might mean a 2 seed--or it might not--but that has never been an impediment to our tournament success before.  Think Candice and company against Maryland.