OU leading 47-24 at halftime...

[YCN]

but let's not let them off the hook.

Since Geno seems to take pride in humiliating blowouts, maybe we should send a message to a fellow Connecticut team.

Geno's team won by 49, so maybe we should win by 60!

Sorry Geno if this offends you, but there are things about you that offend me.

[sooner64]

76-38. How long have the backups been playin??

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[Bark]

You can dislike Geno for many reasons, but he doesn't take pride in humiliating blowouts. So use something else to pick at him. There lots, but running up the score is not one of them.

Of the games in which UConn as won by 20+ points, the starters have averaged slightly less than 25 minutes. And UConn did not press at all in the second half in any of these games.

Want to know the average starter minutes for the Sooners's 20+ point wins? Hint: Sherri's starters play longer.

[This message has been edited by Bark (edited 03-17-2002).]

[schooner2]

Speaking of starters playing time, several bench players played more minutes than the starters last night. Again, the over-arching theme this year - rest, rest, rest. And OU had the opportunity to do so last night as they quickly overmatched Hartford.

Was not impressed whatsoever with either Villanova or Pepperdine. Pepperdine couldn't hit shots or rebound and that spelled their doom. Have to pity Villanova's play-by-play announcer. It should go something like this:

And they finally bring the ball across the half-court line with about 20 seconds left, and so-and-so dribbles, dribbles, dribbles, still dribbling, yes still dribbling, .... oh wait, she passes, and that player dribbles, dribbles, dribbles, yes, still dribbling, wait, can you believe it, another pass!, and she dribbles, dribbles, yes, you know what ...... and she notices that 4 seconds are left on the shot clock, she drives furiously to the paint and the running 8 footer rolls in! Score another 2 for Villanova.

They should have passed out the no-doze pills for that game. Pepperdine didn't apply any guard pressure whatsoever. And I was not impressed with Villanova's guards. OU's defense should eat them alive. But you never know, guess we'll wait till Monday to see how the game goes.

[Bark]

Villanova purposely plays a boring game. It is they're normal strategy to run down the shot clock and end up taking a three. They're disciplined and well coached and are dangerous if they get hot. They had 757 3-point attempts in 29 games prior to the tourney and made about a third of them. The number of attempts are approximately 50% more than any other team in the Big East.

They are very good at this strategy and choose to use it as athletically, they know they do not match up well against most teams.

Sooners should win easily, as long as OU does not get impatient. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[swok34]

I think I read on womenscollegehoops that if OU/Villanova met, it would be the 2 most extreme forms of basketball played in the entire tournament......no kidding, boring, boring, that first game last night. I watched the Iowa/Virginia game yesterday, the 8/9 seeds at Connecticut and that was a GREAT game.

I really liked Hartford's team, they were so over-matched and looked like "deers caught in headlights" over the crowd; but they were certainly a spunky/fighting bunch.

I kind of got the impression that Sherri was trying to allow Shannon Selmon to work through some things last night, as she played more than I've ever seen her play and stayed on the court until the end........meaning that Lindsey Casey did not get to play and she was the sole reserve for OU that did not play.

and, YCN..........UConn's starters are that good that they can seal a game in 25 minutes.....we were talking to some Villanova folks last night and a friend of mind commmented that she didn't think that UConn could go through a conference like the Big XII undefeated.....the Villanova fan piped in that "UConn is that good".....and I do have to agree that their starters are the best 5 on the floor. Bark, have the reserves improved? I recall the comments a couple of months ago about "the slugs".

[YCN]

I apologize, Bark. Perhaps it was my jealousy showing?

I think my main complaint is that UConn gets up big, but even without the starters doesn't slow the tempo.

Accepted coaching principles say that when your team gets a big lead, you eat clock, because that is the best way to ensure that your team wins the game. In Coach Auriemma's case, and considering the overall talent level, it seems like UConn just wants more more more.

[Bark]

UConn's Slugs

In general these kids were never really bad or deserved to be called Slugs. Early in the season on his TV show, Geno was discussing his bench. He mentioned that the media and fans were heavily critizing his bench. So (YCN, here's something not to like about Geno) in his normal cryptic, "showboat" fashion, Geno used the term "slugs". Well it stuck.

There are four healthy scholarship reserves for UConn.

Ashley Battle (F/G, redshirt freshman)
Athletically, Ashley plays much like Action Jackson, but Ashley tends to get too fast an out of control. Your Jackson is a much better shooter, Battle is a very good rebound/defender. The second half of the season, Ashley has improved in the "in-control" area. Yes, this slug has improved a lot.

Jessica Moore (C/F, redshirt freshman)
Jessica has actually played well throughout the season, but primarily lacked consistency. Each game her overall contributions were positive, but in some games, several good plays were needed to compensate for some bonehead ones. Moore's consistency has improved in the second half of the season. She finishes very well and now rebounds and plays defense much better. Yes, this slug has improved a lot.

Maria Conlon (SG, sophomore)
Maria actually has been the brunt of slug thing. As she is not very athletic and "chunky", I've got to believe she took a lot of criticism because of her appearance. UConn fans are basically spoiled. Maria actually does a good job in eating minutes for Bird/Taursi. Her best attributes are her 3-point shooting, passes into the posts, and steady/low-mistakes/unspectacular play. Conlon's 3's shooting percentage went down-the-tubes during the height of the slugs thing. This lasted for 4-6 weeks and her shooting slump probably extended the slugs thing even longer. Tough on the kid. But she has regained her shooting in recent games, and her self esteem seems to be coming back. Over the last dozen or so games, Geno trys not play man defense when Maria's in (she's very slow). This helps. In reality this slug hasn't improved too much, but she has regained her "start of the season" level of play and is once again a contributor.

Ashley Valley (PG/SG)
UConn's only true scholarship freshman. Has a lot to learn in terms of work habits and game intensity. Her basketball skills level is actually pretty good, but she doesn't get the playing time since she hadn't earned it until recently. This slug's improvement is undetermined, as she has never played any significant minutes.

Morgan Valley is injured, Stacy Marron is a walk-on.

[Bark]

YCN, no need to apologize, there's lots not to like about Geno. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

And since many think this team is unbeatable this year (I don't subscribe to that), the big bad bully effect brightens the negative spotlight on him.

[This message has been edited by Bark (edited 03-17-2002).]

[Jennifer]

I didn't get to the first game until halftime.
We were bored to tears watching that. I told my dad I'd get more entertainment watching OU warm up. It was agonizing.