Seton Hall vs. UConn WBB

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I found a few game previews which said Seton Hall's loss Sunday to Albany- which was a real head scratcher after the way SHU played their 1st 2 games- came with SHU missing 2 starters, including East Hartford' Desiree Elmore, and a key reserve. I think their coach is also out with Covid. I could not find anything on why the 3 key players were missing, or whether they would play against UConn. Here is the SHU preview:

Pirates to Host No. 3 UConn on Tuesday - Seton Hall University Athletics

Seton Hall will open BIG EAST Conference play on Tuesday, December 15 when it hosts No. 3 Connecticut in Walsh Gymnasium. Tip time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m....

shupirates.com

In this game I look for UConn's 4 veteran players, none of whom were stellar in the opener, to play much better and lead the way.

 

[Dominicfrank]

I hope this game happens! 4 hours from TIP.

I honestly think the upper classman are who they are. Williams and ONO just lost their way. Still VERY GOOD players but CW, bless her heart, just has lost whatever she had as a freshman. ONO is soft. Cute and soft. This team is only as good as the new blood that came in which is REALLY REALLY good!

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Dom it's one game into the season after a long Covid delay! C'mon man, way too early to make those kinds of judgments. CW and ONO weren't great in the opener but it was just one game. Hopefully they will step it up tonight!

 

[the Blades]

Uconn WBB by 28

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Is that the line?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

The Bovada book had UConn -14.5 which I think was a UConn friendly line in terms of the cover. I like Blades spread of -28 but if SHU without the 2 starters and sub they gonna take a fierce beating.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Rough first half. 2-13 on 3s and now 5-26 through 2 games. This is not the kind of 3 point shooting that is going to win any championships. And UConn has no answer for that 5'3" girl on Seton Hall. She lit everyone up who covered her. Out of sync and rusty shooting = we have a ballgame.

 

[CaNOLEE]

I thought Westbrook and Muhl were stoppers? One better be or this could get dicey again.

And Paige goes around the back and Geno benches her. It was a great pass, Griffin has to catch it and finish.

He‘s the goat for sure in the women’s game, but he’s terrible with his bench. Griffin was amazing here last year, but then we don’t see her for essentially the entire first quarter?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Solid 27 point win. UConn covered the spread of Vegas. Great games by Bueckers and Edwards. ONO and Williams were solid. Edwards had 17 points and 8 boards playing backup minutes. If she even played 17 minutes I would be surprised (edit Edwards played 18 minutes)

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

In the first 2 games Paige Bueckers is 19-25 on FGs- 76%. Not sure I ever heard of a freshman guard shooting the ball that well in the first 2 games. What has surprised me about her is how easily she scores the ball. And it's not based on athletic ability, it's all based on skill with the dribble and reading angles to the basket and seams in the defense. She plays basketball the way Wayne Gretzy used to play hockey. He was not big or fast, but he was skilled handling the puck and could read the ice and the angles and the seams in the defense.

On a sour note though, UConn is 9-35 shooting 3s through 2 games, a lousy percentage of around 26%. That is not winning anything. I am hoping that the girls just need some game shape, some more practices and games and can get their legs under them because this kind of 3 point shooting is not what you want.

UConn has not gotten anything out of Nika Muhl the first 2 games, and I am thinking it is a combination of her foot injury and early season jitters like Makurat last year when she missed her first 19 or 20 3 point shots, and then ended up shooting 41% for the season. Muhl has looked really awkward and out of sync out there. This is a work in progress situation.

I would also like to see Griffin play more, like Canolee mentioned above. She was a huge boost of energy off the bench last year and they need to let her go in and do her thing. I understand Edwards is moving ahead of her in the rotation, but Griffin has to get minutes too.

 

[CaNOLEE]

I expected Paige to have incredible court vision, but I didn’t think she’d score this easily So soon. Obviously she’s not going to shoot 76% for the year. But she takes really good shots and can score at all three levels in any way imaginable, outside of a dunk. So the scoring clip is sustainable.

the one I’m most surprised with is Edwards. She plays like a junior Defensive End seeking contact. Reminds me of Moses Malone in the 80’s. Love her and very welcome to a finesse team, especially when we play South Carolina, Baylor, etc...

Mir can play too. Muhl might be the odd man out once the rotation tightens. She’s on Anna’s 0-America start. And speaking of, Anna is such a good passer, but her touches and looks are going to be reduced this year with the newcomers on the depth chart.

 

[the Blades]

Is that the line?

No that was the Blades certified prediction, I guess I was off....

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

The line was -14.5, so UConn covered pretty easily.........

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I expected Paige to have incredible court vision, but I didn’t think she’d score this easily So soon. Obviously she’s not going to shoot 76% for the year. But she takes really good shots and can score at all three levels in any way imaginable, outside of a dunk. So the scoring clip is sustainable.

The talking heads on SNY compared her to "Pistol Pete" Maravich. What I have noticed is that UConn has on several occasions used picks and screens to free her on zig zag drives to the hole which she has scored on. You can do that for any guard, but then being able to have that player execute a crossover dribble, not lose the ball or have it stolen or deflected, and not commit an offensive foul while zigging and zagging to the hole, is the part that most players cannot do. We saw that with Kemba Walker, although he had explosiveness that Paige doesn't have. She seems to rely more on her handle and on reading the defense.

Regarding Mir McLean, she had 5 points in 4 minutes last night. She seems to be on the short end of a forward rotation off the bench that includes Edwards and Griffin. It's unfortunate that you don't have enough minutes to give to all these girls. Last night there was 37 minutes to split between the 3 of them, Edwards got 18, Griffin 15 and McLean 4. McLean will probably see more minutes against teams that effectively small ball against UConn. However they should have played her more last night simply because Park-Lane was ruthlessly lighting UConn up. They did use McLean to check her when she came in and she got beat on one drive, but you can't give up after that and nobody else did any better. Park-Lane seriously lit UConn up last night. She played an amazing game for SHU and prevented a worse blowout than what they received.

 

[CaNOLEE]

Back door cover Blades.

is the boys season over? Marone!

 

[Dominicfrank]

I dont mean to be negative but the former players say the same thing. ODO is just soft, not trying to be a jerk but she is just soft. Edwards is REALLY good and looks even more physical playing next to and for ODO. Plus ODO cant make FT's and takes the weird foot inside the line 3 that doesnt work. CW is th real puzzler for me, she is SO good and the color guys nailed it....she just zones out for LONG periods.

CW was a SUPERSTAR for 10mins then SHE GONE.

Paige is the real deal and can score at will. She will take over as the star in all facets be midseason.....and Im happy for that. The kid is SPECIAL.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I would agree that CW seems to have focus issues. She is very inconsistent for an upper echelon player of her ability and ranking. She was criticized last year for confusing her teammates who never seemed to know what was going to do in the halfcourt offense, for poor shooting, and for slumps. I am still thinking she can be fixed and can play more like her freshman year. UConn does not need her to be a superstar, they just need her to be active and involved for 30 minutes or however long she plays and not zoned out for long stretches.

ONO did have 16 points and 10 boards last night, while hitting several long jumpers. Her FT shooting is not good, but how many 6'5" girls are good FT shooters? If she can stick elbow jumpers she will be fine. Her shot blocking is her most important contribution to this team. I do not think she should get as many looks inside as Edwards, who I think will be able to score more easily against better opposition and make more FTs. I see ONO as more of a complimentary player and secondary offensive option.

 

[Dominicfrank]

You are right on ONO, she is a comp player for us.....but that might not be enough. We need bulk and toughness....the two things that have cost us the past 4 titles. Geno has whiffed on these two types of players and the rest of the country has picked up on it and know how to beat him. Paige might be good enough to win anyway and if Edwards fills in the toughness and bulk then we have a serious chance at the net 4 titles being where they belong.....STORRS.

 

[Dominicfrank]

Then ODO does that. Still that was against an Average team.....if she does HALF of that against the elite teams I will do back flips.....still VERY IMPRESSIVE ODO !

 

[CaNOLEE]

Olivia has 10 career games where she’s not missed a FG. That’s crazy.

id like more than 2 rebounds, but it was good to see Christin chip in with 8. She’s not knocking down shots like she should, but good to see her chip in other ways.

As for Liv, let her be ice to Edwards fire. She’s a tad finesse(cough soft), but highly skilled. As she showed last night.

 

[Dominicfrank]

ODO must have read my issues with her and made sure to make me look like a COMPLETE MORON. ODO.....lets keep this up......we need this version of you all season and we easily win it all!

Also, EDWARDS is a STAR. She is a freak athlete that OOOOZZZZES talent. She is going to be the Tuck to PB's Stewie.