[WBB fan]

First game against Arizona this year was a smackdown, the Card winning 81-54, but the 2nd game, on Feb 22, was much closer. We won 62-48 and our biggest lead of the game was 16 -- so not accurate to say we beat them twice by more than 20 points.

Arizona is not a team to be taken lightly, as they fully demonstrated tonight.

[WBB fan]

First game against Arizona this year was a smackdown, the Card winning 81-54, but the 2nd game, on Feb 22, was much closer. We won 62-48 and our biggest lead of the game was 16 -- so not accurate to say we beat them twice by more than 20 points.

Arizona is not a team to be taken lightly, as they fully demonstrated tonight.

[Spiny_Norman]

First game against Arizona this year was a smackdown, the Card winning 81-54, but the 2nd game, on Feb 22, was much closer. We won 62-48 and our biggest lead of the game was 16 -- so not accurate to say we beat them twice by more than 20 points.

Arizona is not a team to be taken lightly, as they fully demonstrated tonight.

Aari McDonald was 3-18 in game 1 and 8-24 in game 2. A total of 1-12 from 3. I don't think you can count on her to have a 3rd consecutive bad game vs. Stanford. In particular, I remember her game-winner in Tucson last year. I only hope that Stanford has a lead at the end of the game that is large enough that McDonald heroics are not enough.

[Spiny_Norman]

First game against Arizona this year was a smackdown, the Card winning 81-54, but the 2nd game, on Feb 22, was much closer. We won 62-48 and our biggest lead of the game was 16 -- so not accurate to say we beat them twice by more than 20 points.

Arizona is not a team to be taken lightly, as they fully demonstrated tonight.

Aari McDonald was 3-18 in game 1 and 8-24 in game 2. A total of 1-12 from 3. I don't think you can count on her to have a 3rd consecutive bad game vs. Stanford. In particular, I remember her game-winner in Tucson last year. I only hope that Stanford has a lead at the end of the game that is large enough that McDonald heroics are not enough.

[Sam Leopold]

A gentle reminder of something from last month, when it came out about how the women were getting inferior treatment in their tourney:

I've heard some stories . . . you know how kids are [chuckle] . . . there is never enough food to feed a kid. I don't care if you let them loose in a supermarket overnight, they're going to come out in the morning and say 'I'm hungry.' [chuckle]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=31095920


Karma was a wildcat tonight, and it went to town on somebody's expensive clothing and furniture.

Let those words bounce around in your mind, Geno, on the plane ride home from San Antonio to CT.

[Sam Leopold]

A gentle reminder of something from last month, when it came out about how the women were getting inferior treatment in their tourney:

I've heard some stories . . . you know how kids are [chuckle] . . . there is never enough food to feed a kid. I don't care if you let them loose in a supermarket overnight, they're going to come out in the morning and say 'I'm hungry.' [chuckle]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=31095920


Karma was a wildcat tonight, and it went to town on somebody's expensive clothing and furniture.

Let those words bounce around in your mind, Geno, on the plane ride home from San Antonio to CT.

[Goose]

I am not sure what we saw in the UConn Arizona game tonight. It would seem that UConn just isn't that good. It could be that they were overconfident, but they sure didn't turn it up a notch in the second half and roll on to victory. It could be that their coach didn't have them properly prepared and had no answer when his star player just wasn't getting it done. It also could be it was a fluke. FWIW, I tend to doubt the latter. I will say that UConn didn't get to play a lot of tough games to give them much  experience against a "near peer" competitor. That can't help. Sometimes in games like these you get the feeling that if they played 10 times Arizona would only win once. I didn't feel that way tonight.

[Goose]

I am not sure what we saw in the UConn Arizona game tonight. It would seem that UConn just isn't that good. It could be that they were overconfident, but they sure didn't turn it up a notch in the second half and roll on to victory. It could be that their coach didn't have them properly prepared and had no answer when his star player just wasn't getting it done. It also could be it was a fluke. FWIW, I tend to doubt the latter. I will say that UConn didn't get to play a lot of tough games to give them much  experience against a "near peer" competitor. That can't help. Sometimes in games like these you get the feeling that if they played 10 times Arizona would only win once. I didn't feel that way tonight.

[chimera]

UA is playing very well right now, so what happened in the past games this season may not be totally indicative of their strength.  I do wonder if the magic will wear off.  Often an underdog who defeats a superior team (and if they had not played like garbage, especially inside with their bigs UConn is overall better) comes back to earth in the next game (see Texas vs South Carolina for example).  It would kinda suck to lose to UA so I hope the team plays their A game.  As much as I worry about facing a hot team who knows us well, can't complain about facing a 3 seed in the title game.  UA played great to win but UConn also messed the bed, as it were, maybe took UA lightly???  We better not do that...

[chimera]

UA is playing very well right now, so what happened in the past games this season may not be totally indicative of their strength.  I do wonder if the magic will wear off.  Often an underdog who defeats a superior team (and if they had not played like garbage, especially inside with their bigs UConn is overall better) comes back to earth in the next game (see Texas vs South Carolina for example).  It would kinda suck to lose to UA so I hope the team plays their A game.  As much as I worry about facing a hot team who knows us well, can't complain about facing a 3 seed in the title game.  UA played great to win but UConn also messed the bed, as it were, maybe took UA lightly???  We better not do that...

[M T]

Sorry, I don’t want UCLA to win another national championship (MBB).

[M T]

Sorry, I don’t want UCLA to win another national championship (MBB).

[BostonCard]

UConn will be back next year.  They have no seniors on the team, and they are bringing in the #1 class in the country.  Azzi Fudd along with Buekers in the backcourt will be deadly; Deberry and Nelson-Ododa in the frontcourt will give them tons of weapons.

BC

[BostonCard]

UConn will be back next year.  They have no seniors on the team, and they are bringing in the #1 class in the country.  Azzi Fudd along with Buekers in the backcourt will be deadly; Deberry and Nelson-Ododa in the frontcourt will give them tons of weapons.

BC

[martyup]

UConn will be back next year.  They have no seniors on the team, and they are bringing in the #1 class in the country.  Azzi Fudd along with Buekers in the backcourt will be deadly; Deberry and Nelson-Ododa in the frontcourt will give them tons of weapons.

BC

[martyup]

UConn will be back next year.  They have no seniors on the team, and they are bringing in the #1 class in the country.  Azzi Fudd along with Buekers in the backcourt will be deadly; Deberry and Nelson-Ododa in the frontcourt will give them tons of weapons.

BC

[BillBradley]

That was a weird game for me to watch. I wanted Arizona to win the game and was rooting aloud for Aari and co. Great for the P12 and helps to shush the east coast blowhards. But...I really wanted to see a Stanford-UConn final. Would have been great for a number of reasons:
1) Two juggernaut teams battling it out, east coast vs west coast, high interest, great for the women's game
2) Probably the top 2 winningest coaches ever going against each other'
3) The strategies to stop Bueckers and Williams & Kiana, Lexie, Haley. 
4) We would have won. It would have been great for our program. Now we'll never know. Maybe next year :>

---

Also, has anyone commented on Williams 5th foul? Even after a review? She literally did not touch Aari. That was such a bad call and so important as Williams was getting her mojo on. I wonder if Geno will say anything.

[BillBradley]

That was a weird game for me to watch. I wanted Arizona to win the game and was rooting aloud for Aari and co. Great for the P12 and helps to shush the east coast blowhards. But...I really wanted to see a Stanford-UConn final. Would have been great for a number of reasons:
1) Two juggernaut teams battling it out, east coast vs west coast, high interest, great for the women's game
2) Probably the top 2 winningest coaches ever going against each other'
3) The strategies to stop Bueckers and Williams & Kiana, Lexie, Haley. 
4) We would have won. It would have been great for our program. Now we'll never know. Maybe next year :>

---

Also, has anyone commented on Williams 5th foul? Even after a review? She literally did not touch Aari. That was such a bad call and so important as Williams was getting her mojo on. I wonder if Geno will say anything.

[BostonCard]

Yup, I noted it was a phantom foul, and tough because it was her fifth.

BC

[BostonCard]

Yup, I noted it was a phantom foul, and tough because it was her fifth.

BC

[qwerty49]

I am not sure what we saw in the UConn Arizona game tonight. It would seem that UConn just isn't that good. It could be that they were overconfident, but they sure didn't turn it up a notch in the second half and roll on to victory. It could be that their coach didn't have them properly prepared and had no answer when his star player just wasn't getting it done. It also could be it was a fluke. FWIW, I tend to doubt the latter. I will say that UConn didn't get to play a lot of tough games to give them much  experience against a "near peer" competitor. That can't help. Sometimes in games like these you get the feeling that if they played 10 times Arizona would only win once. I didn't feel that way tonight.

There's probably a lot of gnashing of teeth down in Waco tonight.  Shoulda, woulda, coulda -- with emphasis on shoulda.

[qwerty49]

I am not sure what we saw in the UConn Arizona game tonight. It would seem that UConn just isn't that good. It could be that they were overconfident, but they sure didn't turn it up a notch in the second half and roll on to victory. It could be that their coach didn't have them properly prepared and had no answer when his star player just wasn't getting it done. It also could be it was a fluke. FWIW, I tend to doubt the latter. I will say that UConn didn't get to play a lot of tough games to give them much  experience against a "near peer" competitor. That can't help. Sometimes in games like these you get the feeling that if they played 10 times Arizona would only win once. I didn't feel that way tonight.

There's probably a lot of gnashing of teeth down in Waco tonight.  Shoulda, woulda, coulda -- with emphasis on shoulda.

[M T]

Also, has anyone commented on Williams 5th foul? Even after a review? She literally did not touch Aari. That was such a bad call and so important as Williams was getting her mojo on. I wonder if Geno will say anything.

It was a bad call.
The review was to identify who the foul was called on.  Unfortunately, the officials are not allowed to do a review and say "Oops, no foul" or "What I thought was a foul, wasn't, but I saw another foul."   I presume whichever ref called it realized she/he had blown it, but there was nothing they could do (officially). 

------

48 minutes with Geno before the Final Four (3/31):  https://youtu.be/Wj_pn08ETKU
23 minutes with Geno. Final Four Pregame Press Conference (4/1):  https://youtu.be/vq9zxporsrQ
33 minutes with Adia Barnes.  Final Four Pregame Press Conference:  https://youtu.be/63evBi3C1Nw

Smiling faces:  https://youtu.be/Rr9KzidAdBc
Some long faces (4/2):  https://youtu.be/k83nGYSh2JQ

UConn Final Four Postgame Press Conference:  https://youtu.be/-T8MRSoIavE
Arizona Final Four Postgame Press Conference: https://youtu.be/GXN4i4mtP1k

[M T]

Also, has anyone commented on Williams 5th foul? Even after a review? She literally did not touch Aari. That was such a bad call and so important as Williams was getting her mojo on. I wonder if Geno will say anything.

It was a bad call.
The review was to identify who the foul was called on.  Unfortunately, the officials are not allowed to do a review and say "Oops, no foul" or "What I thought was a foul, wasn't, but I saw another foul."   I presume whichever ref called it realized she/he had blown it, but there was nothing they could do (officially). 

------

48 minutes with Geno before the Final Four (3/31):  https://youtu.be/Wj_pn08ETKU
23 minutes with Geno. Final Four Pregame Press Conference (4/1):  https://youtu.be/vq9zxporsrQ
33 minutes with Adia Barnes.  Final Four Pregame Press Conference:  https://youtu.be/63evBi3C1Nw

Smiling faces:  https://youtu.be/Rr9KzidAdBc
Some long faces (4/2):  https://youtu.be/k83nGYSh2JQ

UConn Final Four Postgame Press Conference:  https://youtu.be/-T8MRSoIavE
Arizona Final Four Postgame Press Conference: https://youtu.be/GXN4i4mtP1k

[fullmetal]

Arizona came out and gave UConn a very physical defensive effort to match UConn's physicality inside.  UConn got punched in the mouth and was playing from behind all game.  Toward the end, you saw Paige get leveled on a drive, taking a shot to the gut and also earning herself a blocking foul.  Welcome to college ball, freshman.  Arizona was not here to take prisoners, and the referees let the women play.  Wildcat players were diving through and around Husky players for loose balls and rebounds.  Looked like tackle football for a bit.  But hey, this is big time ball.  Arizona was living in UConn's minds rent-free toward the end, with UConn acting out of frustration and playing tight/unnecessarily aggressive.

This isn't the same Arizona Stanford saw earlier this year, and we've all been served notice.  Do the Wildcats have another such game in their tank to use against Stanford?  Hope not.  But Stanford has weapons too, and in Tara we trust.

[fullmetal]

Arizona came out and gave UConn a very physical defensive effort to match UConn's physicality inside.  UConn got punched in the mouth and was playing from behind all game.  Toward the end, you saw Paige get leveled on a drive, taking a shot to the gut and also earning herself a blocking foul.  Welcome to college ball, freshman.  Arizona was not here to take prisoners, and the referees let the women play.  Wildcat players were diving through and around Husky players for loose balls and rebounds.  Looked like tackle football for a bit.  But hey, this is big time ball.  Arizona was living in UConn's minds rent-free toward the end, with UConn acting out of frustration and playing tight/unnecessarily aggressive.

This isn't the same Arizona Stanford saw earlier this year, and we've all been served notice.  Do the Wildcats have another such game in their tank to use against Stanford?  Hope not.  But Stanford has weapons too, and in Tara we trust.