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A blog on UConn women's basketball.

Monday, March 04, 2013

Free-throw disparity getting plenty of attention

UConn coach Geno Auriemma began expressing his displeasure in the disparity in the number of free throws shot during the Notre Dame games.

In the first meeting of the season Notre Dame attempted 24 foul shots compared to 14 attempted by the Huskies.

"We shoot more free throws than every team we play for the last 28 years I have been here except for one team," Auriemma said after Saturday's win over South Florida.

Certainly players like Natalie Novosel (who graduated last year) and reigning Big East Player of the Year Skylar Diggins have a knack for selling it when they feel contact. Diggins attempted 12 free throws in Notre Dame's 73-72 win on Jan.5.

However, I think it is a little too simplistic to merely say that Notre Dame gets to the free-throw line more than the Huskies especially since UConn tends to be more than a little perimeter happy. In that January game UConn junior center Stefanie Dolson did not attempt a free throw and UConn had nearly twice as many 3-point attempts (23 to 12) than Notre Dame.

UConn has been focusing on the low-post offense in recent weeks and started Morgan Tuck against USF on  Saturday. I'd be very surprised if Dolson didn't attempt a free throw tonight. I would think the Huskies will try to establish Dolson in the low post early and often. 

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ironic that UConn had plenty of FT opportunities. 3 missed front ends of 1 and 1. Don't blame the refs. Dolson was moving on a screen she should not have been doing. Diggins easily 1st team AA. McBride 3rd team. Dolson's 11 TO and 5 fouls on national TV might have cost her 3rd team AA.

10:49 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Live by your favoritism. Die by your favoritism. Great decision to leave Doty and Hartley in so long. Brilliant.

Why not go big with Stokes or Buck to give Dolson rest, which just might have kept her from making the terrible decision to screen 80 feet from the basket.

Year long lack of faith in your players once again cost the Huskies. They lack heart and confidence because they know Geno will yank them after 1 mistake.

At what point is the media going ask Geno what is really going on with his terrible decision making. Not only did some players not play, they did not gain valuable big game experience for next season. Insane.

11:10 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Missed free throws, shots they usually make. Can't say this nicely--it cost Uconn the game.
Stokes maybe Buck is a liability in Seaton Hall games.
As much as Uconn fans think otherwise, Dolson was moving on a pick -- stupid move for someone with 4 fouls. Uconn fouled way too much. Notre Dame fouled often an badly when they were losing the game.
Turnovers from 3rd, 4th, 5th years players is hard to take. Turnovers happen. Taking the ball away from Jeffersons by Diggins (Sr to Frosh) was to be expected. Jefferson handing off to Faris with two defenders wasn't.
Stewart and Tuck getting the inbound pass was just plain stupid--when KML is the best foul shooter on the team. Geno should have set that up--keep the ball out of the hands of freshmen at crunch time.

10:22 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Geno's temper and big mouth gave ND a point they didn't deserve. As far as I am concerned, the cost them the game. He makes enough money to afford some anger management counseling.

10:49 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

+ 1 Trillion on Geno needing anger management. And he needs therapy to stop playing god with his players. Coaches are supposed to develop players.

6:00 PM 

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