11-28-2014, 07:06 PM
Analysis:
It is not hard to see why we lost statistically:
NC was 12/29 from three, while we were 5/17. Their big forward McDaniel hit 3 three point shots, avenging Ruef's similar performance in the regional final.
NC outrebounded us 57/32. That is probably why they had 24 points in the paint to our 12
We shot only 31% for the game.
Lili was 6/18, while NC's Latifah Coleman had a career high 19 points against us, going 4/6 from three point range.
One theory is that we were too worried about their inside presence, and did not take perimeter defense against them seriously enough. But we held them to 70 points which is not bad considering their caliber of team. What is completely horrifying is that we scored only 54 points. We have more of an offense problem than a defense problem, even though our defense was non-existent on the perimeter.
I think we are at that point where other teams can play "scouting report defense" and just sell out to stop Lili, and we can't keep up. We either need to become much more efficient from three point range (just 29%) or else we need at least one of our posts to start making offensive plays. Kailee was 0/4, McCall was 1/4, Greenfield was 0/3, Kaylee was 2/3 and was the brightest spot. But that adds up to 3/14 and will not get it done.Â
Looking Ahead
Our team needs immediate improvement. Hawaii is a much improved team from a year ago and we play them tomorrow. They played C.al tight and lost by 7 after leading them much of the first half. If we don't play significantly better than we just did, we will lose to Hawaii on their home court.Â
In short, the euphoria of UConn seems like a very long time ago. We have a lot of learning and improving to do. We need a post to emerge as a scorer. We need Amber and Bri to start scoring more to relieve Lili. We need to increase our three point shooting percent. We need to defend the perimeter against the three point shot--something we seem not to have done--at all. That is a lot to work on.
In short, at this point it is getting difficult to see how we win the Pac-12. Of course, Tara always gets the most out of her players and we will see great improvement. But I had thought that McCall would be a major offensive force by now, and that Lili would be one of a pair of scorers from the guard position. And I had not anticipated how much our defense would decline. These are major issues that need to be worked out, and I'm not sure they all will be.
It is not hard to see why we lost statistically:
NC was 12/29 from three, while we were 5/17. Their big forward McDaniel hit 3 three point shots, avenging Ruef's similar performance in the regional final.
NC outrebounded us 57/32. That is probably why they had 24 points in the paint to our 12
We shot only 31% for the game.
Lili was 6/18, while NC's Latifah Coleman had a career high 19 points against us, going 4/6 from three point range.
One theory is that we were too worried about their inside presence, and did not take perimeter defense against them seriously enough. But we held them to 70 points which is not bad considering their caliber of team. What is completely horrifying is that we scored only 54 points. We have more of an offense problem than a defense problem, even though our defense was non-existent on the perimeter.
I think we are at that point where other teams can play "scouting report defense" and just sell out to stop Lili, and we can't keep up. We either need to become much more efficient from three point range (just 29%) or else we need at least one of our posts to start making offensive plays. Kailee was 0/4, McCall was 1/4, Greenfield was 0/3, Kaylee was 2/3 and was the brightest spot. But that adds up to 3/14 and will not get it done.Â
Looking Ahead
Our team needs immediate improvement. Hawaii is a much improved team from a year ago and we play them tomorrow. They played C.al tight and lost by 7 after leading them much of the first half. If we don't play significantly better than we just did, we will lose to Hawaii on their home court.Â
In short, the euphoria of UConn seems like a very long time ago. We have a lot of learning and improving to do. We need a post to emerge as a scorer. We need Amber and Bri to start scoring more to relieve Lili. We need to increase our three point shooting percent. We need to defend the perimeter against the three point shot--something we seem not to have done--at all. That is a lot to work on.
In short, at this point it is getting difficult to see how we win the Pac-12. Of course, Tara always gets the most out of her players and we will see great improvement. But I had thought that McCall would be a major offensive force by now, and that Lili would be one of a pair of scorers from the guard position. And I had not anticipated how much our defense would decline. These are major issues that need to be worked out, and I'm not sure they all will be.