Xavier v. UConn WBB

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Last year Xavier was 3-27 overall, and 2-16 in the Big East. This year they were picked 9th out of the 11 teams in the preseason poll. On a positive note, they return their top 9 scorers from last season, and after 4 games, they have already matched last season's win total of 3, but they have not beaten anyone of note, and lost their last game to Valparaiso.

A more detailed preview can be found here: https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2020...eteers-moore-gray-dunham-wasylson-satterfield

This game figures to be even less competitive than the Seton Hall and Creighton games, which were not terribly competitive. Xavier does have a bit more size than Creighton, which had nobody over 6'2" and was pummeled inside by ONO tonight. X has one girl who is 6'6" and one who is 6'4", so they can at least throw out a couple of big bodies.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Nika Muhl is out for the next 2 games due to the foot injury that rendered her ineffective in the first two games:

UConn women’s basketball rolls over Creighton, 80-47

Olivia Nelson-Ododa was unstoppable for the Huskies in the victory.

www.google.com

 

[CaNOLEE]

Mulh’s injury makes sense. She had impressed in camp and not so much in the first two games. Get her healthy and ready for January.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Here is a good Blog preview. Xavier apparently does hit the O boards well, so a lot of minutes from Edwards will be needed to counteract that, UConn 1st in nation in defensive rebounding, opponent points per game and 2 point FG%, although their 3 point FG% is sucking:

Preview: No. 3 UConn women’s basketball vs. Xavier (1 p.m., SNY)

How to watch When: 1:00 p.m. TV: SNY Stream: NBC Sports App (in-market) or FoxSportsGo.com/Fox Sports App (out-of-market) Radio: UConn Sports Network (97.9 ESPN and affiliates) Xavier Musketeers R...

www.google.com

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

UConn shot 75% FGs in the first half and was 6-10 on 3s with 20 assists in the first half alone! Can't complain about this. They need to sustain. Only playing 7 girls, with Muhl hurt and McLean apparently in Geno's doghouse.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

If we see the Chrystyn Williams we saw today the rest of the year, there are going to be good things ahead for this team. They have a lot of offensive weapons. 6 girls scored in double figures including both Edwards and Griffin off the bench. If Makurat made one more 3, there would have been 7 in double figures scoring. 64% FGs for the game- not bad!!!!

 

[CaNOLEE]

I just hope we have a tournament this year. And everyone is healthy.

Then think of the team for next season. Our Deepest team in history with the possibility of being one of our best?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Early in this game (first quarter) UConn WBB played as good a defense as I have ever seen them play. They seemed to call off the press after the first quarter, and since they were up by 31 after the first quarter and on pace to win by 124, it was appropriate to do so. As the game went on, UConn didn't play as good a defense. And they mostly went with a 7 girl rotation for the first 3.5 quarters. But I was encouraged by a number of things I saw today: (1) awesome pressing defense when they turned it on, (2) multitude of scoring options, (3) Chrystyn Williams playing like the "'main woman" everyone hoped she would be, including making incredibly good reads on seams in the defense when they were there; (4) Olivia Nelson Ododa having a 3rd straight very effective game, (5) numerous good passers on this team creating 20 first half assists and 26 for the game, which they might do very regularly, and finally (6) Evie looking really good shooting the 3, playing D and understanding the offense and looking more and more like the #2 national high school recruit who was Tennessee's leading scorer 2 years ago. Oh, and Paige seemed to have an "average" game with 19 points and 9 assists.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

With the 10-18 on 3s today, the women are now 24-67 on the season, a respectable 35%.

 

[the Blades]