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Post by The Aztec Panther on Mar 25, 2024 10:01:10 GMT -8
UCONN is great, no question. But they have also lost three times this year and got their asses handed to them twice. They also have a few close wins versus non tourney teams. They haven’t been tested in a while. With their hype train now in full motion I’d be interested in seeing how they’d react to a punch in the mouth. You do remember that their team was inconsistent during the regular season last year, right? Then they became a juggernaut. They're a juggernaut again. This should be a blowout. They're bigger, stronger, faster, and more skilled than us. Our only hope is that they have an off game. Could happen. Not likely.
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Post by azdick on Mar 25, 2024 10:11:33 GMT -8
If we were to pull off the upset, it will have been the result of playing our best defensive game of our lives. Miracles do happen.
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Post by richpjr on Mar 25, 2024 10:12:34 GMT -8
UConn should be a heavy favorite for a reason and that is fine. But...Alabama was also a heavy favorite last year and we know how that turned out - shock the world!
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Post by laaztec on Mar 25, 2024 10:19:59 GMT -8
UConn should be a heavy favorite for a reason and that is fine. But...Alabama was also a heavy favorite last year and we know how that turned out - shock the world! Alabama was a 6.5 favorite in that one.
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Post by junior on Mar 25, 2024 10:25:00 GMT -8
SDSU's 2023 offense did not have Jaedon LeDee. He has become an equalizer. And UConn lost some of their best players. SDSU's offensive addition of LeDee will make a huge difference in the rematch. If only the rest of them show up like they did this week - and why wouldn't they?
This will be a closer game than it appears to be right now. The money will continue moving to the AZZZZZZZZtecs side of the line as the week goes on. This will likely be the premier game of S16, so it'll get plenty of attention. And that's besides the fact that it rematches the two teams from last year's Final. Jaedon is finally getting the national attention he deserves.
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Post by FULL_MONTY on Mar 25, 2024 10:33:42 GMT -8
UCONN is very talented defensively as well as offensively. They are the most complete team in the tournament. It's a challenge for sure.
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Post by newyorker2586 on Mar 25, 2024 10:38:05 GMT -8
They’re going to have to shoot good again to have a shot. Not giving Spencer looks on the outside is key. Also, bumping Newton and Castle are key. LeDee against Clingnan should be fun. Parrish is going have to shoot it well. Trammell can’t be reckless.
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Post by sdmotohead on Mar 25, 2024 10:52:13 GMT -8
Line has moved to UConn -11
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Post by aztech on Mar 25, 2024 11:53:27 GMT -8
UConn...better than last year...... Aztecs not as good as last year..... TROUBLE! We're better at scoring over last year's team, but not as good in rebounding or rim protection. Dutcher did mention that he saw our flaw from last year's game. Players aside, it'll be interesting to see which coach out foxes the other. The Hurleys or the Fisher/Dutcher duo.
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Post by myownwords on Mar 25, 2024 11:58:23 GMT -8
Line has moved to UConn -11 They're reading this board. LOL
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Post by 🥸 Hopeless Aztec on Mar 25, 2024 12:01:32 GMT -8
I am super pumped for this game on Thursday and I am having a hard time waiting. I am about to go on a long trip just to make the time go by.
However, I do feel like the UCONN team this year is better rounded and playing at the peak. 😁. I might even go as far as saying this years UCONN team is better than last years team from what I have seen.
Now, I don't think this Aztec team is as good as last years team, but we are playing well on offense. The reason we lost last year was we couldn't score for periods of time. This team can avoid that if we play like we did against Yale. I kept asking where has this team been all season. It was nuts!
Now, for us to have a chance, we can't have more than ONE 3-4 minute scoring drought, we need to beat UCONN on the boards and shoot better than 35% on 3's. Those are my three keys to a win. I am an expert in my own mind.
No matter what happens this Thursday, it was another great season and fantastic run. These young men should hold their heads high no matter the result from the game.
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Post by monty619 on Mar 25, 2024 12:03:23 GMT -8
UConn...better than last year......Aztecs not as good as last year..... TROUBLE! I don’t agree that UCONN is better. They had Sonogo who was an absolute beast in the tourney last year….and their best player might have been Jordan Hawkins. Both in the NBA with Hawkins as a lottery pick. They are still very good but last year’s team was. Juggernaught. This sounds an awful lot like all the people giving up before we played Alabama last year.
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Post by hoobs on Mar 25, 2024 12:10:19 GMT -8
I think SDSU has a decent chance to win if:
LeDee stays out of foul trouble Aztecs hit 35+% from 3-pt Keep the rebounding margin pretty close Win the battle of turnovers (& convert fast-break opportunities) and...UConn shoots <35% from 3-pt
That's a heck of a shopping list... but it's all possible. In the National Championship game, I think UConn's length on the perimeter really affected our outside shooting. We face the same problem this season, except for adding Saunders & Hyde as outside shooters with size. Butler & DT need to keep up their excellent play (both offense and being *very* disruptive on defense), and Parrish & Waters need to rediscover their mojo -- even if that is working more to penetrate and hit mid-range stuff.
--------- (edit) Taking it a step further, here's what I think offense production needs to look like to win... magic number being scoring 77 points:
Ledee: 22+ Butler & DT: 22 combined Saunders & Byrd: 18 combined Pal, Parrish, Waters, Heide: 15 combined
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Post by biotec on Mar 25, 2024 12:30:14 GMT -8
My wife and I were scouting UConn during their game vs. Northwestern. During one of the breaks, she looks at me and says, "there's no way we're beating these guys". I had to laugh. We're going to have to cheat and play dirty - like set up roadblocks on the way to the arena, somehow introduce food poisoning, use voodoo dolls, whatever it takes.
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Post by amishaztec on Mar 25, 2024 12:38:39 GMT -8
UConn...better than last year......Aztecs not as good as last year..... TROUBLE! Yea, same hype as last year with #1 Alabama, so what. UCONN also is a different team than last year, they lost 3 starters from last years team. Clingan also is a sophomore, played limited minutes last year. They aren't as proven in the big moments of March year, and have lost 3 games this year. I like our chances coming off our best game of the year.
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Post by mactec on Mar 25, 2024 12:55:52 GMT -8
We will live or die by the three this next game. It will take a 40%+ 3 point shooting night for us to win. JMO.
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Post by AzTex on Mar 25, 2024 12:56:37 GMT -8
My wife and I were scouting UConn during their game vs. Northwestern. During one of the breaks, she looks at me and says, "there's no way we're beating these guys". I had to laugh. We're going to have to cheat and play dirty - like set up roadblocks on the way to the arena, somehow introduce food poisoning, use voodoo dolls, whatever it takes. I like your wife's suggestions.
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Post by aztecking on Mar 25, 2024 13:40:59 GMT -8
An advantage we will have relative to other teams facing UConn in the tournament is our player’s confidence in knowing they can play with UConn. The national narrative was that UConn blew us out. It was actually a 5 point game with 5 min to go. If UConn misses that three we have a chance to get it to a single possession with all the momentum. Who knows what happens then. So I don’t think we will come in scared that we are playing this monster like I think other teams do.
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Post by sdsu93 on Mar 25, 2024 13:42:07 GMT -8
…but the committee is doing everything they can to make it hard for UConn. I mean, they have to travel from Connecticut to….Boston.
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Post by mactec on Mar 25, 2024 14:08:26 GMT -8
…but the committee is doing everything they can to make it hard for UConn. I mean, they have to travel from Connecticut to….Boston. What an eye roll comment. The committee has it out for them because they tip at 7PM instead of 10PM? What the heck is he talking about? That means they get extra time to prep for a potential Elite 8 game. The early tip time isn't a disadvantage to them in the Sweet 16 because both teams have a shorter prep (by an insignificant amount, 2 less hours when they have 4 days to prepare. And they don't have to waste a day traveling like we do).
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