Connecticut Huskies
American (33-0, 16-0)
The beat goes on for the Connecticut women’s basketball team as the Huskies have reloaded their roster in grand fashion. It would have been very understandable for Connecticut to have lost a couple games early in the season considering they were replacing Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, and Morgan Tuck; the top three picks in the 2016 WNBA Draft. However, the Huskies have not missed a beat at both ends of the court and are primed to add another national championship title in 2017.
Big Wins: 11/17 Baylor (72-61), 12/7 at Notre Dame (72-61), 2/13 South Carolina (66-55)
Bad Losses: None
Coach: Geno Auriemma
Why They Can Surprise:
Connecticut is the clear favorite heading into the NCAA Tournament as they have a tremendous mix of balance in the backcourt and frontcourt. Katie Lou Samuelson has taken her game up to another level in her sophomore season. Samuelson is shooting 49.4 percent from the floor and averaging 21.0 points per game Naphessa Collier has taken over nicely in filling the void of Stewart and Tuck and Collier has been absolutely dominant at times. In the regular season finale down at South Florida, Collier scored 39 points and was 15 of 19 from the floor against the Bulls. Gabby Williams is an excellent all-around player who can score, distribute the basketball, and dominate the boards when necessary as well. This trio of Samuelson, Collier, and Williams, along with Kia Nurse and Crystal Dangerfield are a non-stop matchup nightmare for any opponent on any given night in the NCAA Tournament.
Why They Can Disappoint:
There have been moments during the 2016-17 season that have tested the Huskies. They have had multiple games decided by single digits, which is a rare thing for Connecticut. The most disturbing close win of the season was at Tulane where the Huskies held on for a 63-60 win in a game where they had the Green Wave down by 17 points, but didn’t impose their will on the game like they usually do. So if Connecticut has a game where shots don’t fall early and a team can stay in contact with them into the second half, they could be in a situation like the Tulane game where they have to grind out wins as they get deeper into the NCAA Tournament.
Probable Starters:
Katie Lou Samuelson, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 21.0 ppg, 3.1 apg, 3.8 rpg
Kia Nurse, Junior, Guard, 12.2 ppg, 4.0 apg
Saniya Chong, Senior, Guard, 8.2 ppg, 3.9 apg
Gabby Williams, Junior, Forward, 13.2 ppg, 5.3 apg, 8.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Naphessa Collier, Sophomore, Forward, 20.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.0 bpg
Key Role Players:
Crystal Dangerfield, Freshman, Guard, 6.3 ppg, 3.7 apg
Natalie Butler, Junior, Center, 5.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 85.8 (5th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 54.0 (8, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 51.6 (1, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 34.4 (6, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (43, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.5 (8, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 77.7 (12, 1)
Rebound Margin: 6.4 (35, 3)
Assists Per Game: 23.1 (1, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (17, 1)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2016 NCAA Round of 64 win over Robert Morris
2016 NCAA Round of 32 win over Duquesne
2016 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Mississippi State
2016 NCAA Regional Final win over Texas
2016 NCAA National Semifinal win over Oregon State
2016 NCAA National Final win over Syracuse
2015 NCAA Round of 64 win over St. Francis Brooklyn
2015 NCAA Round of 32 win over Rutgers
2015 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Texas
2015 NCAA Regional Final win over Dayton
2015 NCAA National Semifinal win over Maryland
2015 NCAA National Final win over Notre Dame
2014 NCAA Round of 64 win over Prairie View A&M
2014 NCAA Round of 32 win over Saint Joseph's
2014 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over BYU
2014 NCAA Regional Final win over Texas A&M
2014 NCAA National Semifinal win over Stanford
2014 NCAA National Final win over Notre Dame
2013 NCAA Round of 64 win over Idaho
2013 NCAA Round of 32 win over Vanderbilt
2013 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Maryland
2013 NCAA Regional Final win over Kentucky
2013 NCAA National Semifinal win over Notre Dame
2013 NCAA National Final win over Louisville
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Prairie View A&M
2012 NCAA Round of 32 win over Kansas State
2012 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Penn State
2012 NCAA Regional Final win over Kentucky
2012 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Notre Dame
2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Hartford
2011 NCAA Round of 32 win over Purdue
2011 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Georgetown
2011 NCAA Regional Final win over Duke
2011 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Notre Dame
2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Southern
2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over Temple
2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Iowa State
2010 NCAA Regional Final win over Florida State
2010 NCAA National Semifinal win over Baylor
2010 NCAA National Final win over Stanford
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Vermont
2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Florida
2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over California
2009 NCAA Regional Final win over Arizona State
2009 NCAA National Semifinal win over Stanford
2009 NCAA National Final win over Louisville
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Cornell
2008 NCAA Round of 32 win over Texas
2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Old Dominion
2008 NCAA Regional Final win over Rutgers
2008 NCAA National Semifinal loss over Stanford
2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over UMBC
2007 NCAA Round of 32 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay
2007 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over North Carolina State
2007 NCAA Regional Final loss to LSU
*all team stats through 3/2
