UConn WBB vs. UMass-Lowell

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

There is a very interesting subplot to this game which is that UConn assistant coach Shea Ralph is married to UMass Lowell head coach Tom Garrick, who seems to have quickly turned around this program in just 2 years. From the interview with Shea that Ian posted in another thread, it seems this game got scheduled because of this connection between Shea and her husband.

For those of you who do not remember Tom Garrick, he was a great, great player at U of Rhode Island and then played in the NBA with the LA Clippers and a few other teams. He holds the URI single game scoring record with 50, and I recall when his URI team upset Syracuse and went to the sweet 16 in 1988. That was a great Syracuse team that was top 10 and loaded with talent and they had lost to Indiana and Steve Alford in the NCAA finals the prior year.

It's safe to say the 2 year old daughter of Garrick and Ralph has great bloodlines for basketball as both her parents were great college players.

UMass-Lowell lost its first 7 last year but finished 16-8 for a final record of 16-15. This should be a decent opponent and I expect UConn to play 11 girls in this game. We will see everyone and a lot of the freshman.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

A big storyline in this game is what will UConn get out of Evie Westbrook. There was a blog post that she isn't ready and maybe isn't the same player; and a prediction that Nika Muhl may be starting due to her experience overseas, although Muhl has some kind of foot injury and it's not yet clear if she will play tomorrow or how much if she does.

As for Westbrook, tomorrow may be telling as to whether she is just rusty and needs more time, or whether she will never again be the same player she was at Tennessee 2 years ago.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Great first half by UConn. Up 48-13. Bueckers, Westbrook, Ododa, all looked great. I couldn't believe what great passes Westbrook was making. She is a really unselfish player. All the guards are good passers. Also saw great things from Edwards. She is the kind of physical and aggressive inside presence UConn has lacked. She has a tremendous strong body for a freshman and will be a huge factor on the boards and bulling up baskets on O-boards.

Overall looked better than anyone could have expected.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Well it took one game to see that Paige Bueckers is the real deal. Player of the Game with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. She is as good as advertised! I actually thought she was phenomenal and the best player on the floor. She had at least 3 or 4 assists botched by others missing chip shot baskets. She looks like she can score and get to the hole whenever she needs to. She started and she clearly deserves to. Was also very surprised by how well Mir McLean played. She is a smaller version of Griffin!!! Lots of energy and uses that to negate her size disadvantage.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

UConn bench today:

McLean 10 points in 11 minutes
Griffin 9 points in 12 minutes
Edwards 8 points in 12 minutes

TOTALS: 27 points in 35 minutes

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

No. 1 recruit Bueckers excels in UConn debut

No. 1 recruit Paige Bueckers shined for UConn in the Huskies' season-opening 79-23 victory Saturday, leading the team in four categories, including points (17).

www.espn.com

 

[CaNOLEE]

the frosh definitely led the way, with Paige Looking like the star we all envisioned.

Poor second half by Olivia and the vets were just ok. But we have a bench now that we can goto and it’s the first game in a crazy year. I especially like Edwards. Gives us a physical presence that we haven’t had in awhile. She’s a future AA too imo.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Edwards has enormous potential and could be an All American. I like the idea of playing her with Ododa against bigger teams UConn faces.

I just took a look and Seton Hall will be a major step up Tuesday night. They are 2-0 and almost beat UConn down there last year. Geno has to play the bench against teams like this too. But UConn will need more from the veterans this game.

Regarding Ododa's poor second half, she looked tired and was fading away on too many shots. They overplayed her in the first half and were using her as the first offensive option. If you noticed the 3 point shooting attack was nonexistent (3-13 including 0-4 from Williams, not UConn basketball and not what you want, although it is only 1 game and the first game). They need to get ONO to work inside out and have her kick out to Makurat and Westbrook for 3s. Makurat and Evie will be the go to 3 ballers. ONO was too much of a Johnny Selvie black hole inside. Ball needs to be kicked out.

 

[the Blades]