Observations from SU’s loss to UConn: Huskies’ 1-2 punch, too little too late
Uche Izoje was held to just 12 points in Syracuse's NCAA Tournament loss to UConn, as the Orange got blown out 98-45 on Monday. Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
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STORRS, Conn. — Lining the walls of the tunnel between UConn’s locker room and Alumni Court is the phrase “Basketball capital of the world,” with a pin dropped on Storrs, Connecticut. Gampel Pavilion is the mecca of college basketball. The Huskies’ student section was filled three minutes after gates opened. If you want a challenge, Storrs is the place to be.
UConn, the greatest program in women’s basketball history, takes this stage on a daily basis. The atmosphere in Gampel, combined with the Huskies’ raw talent, has sparked their whopping 51-game winning streak. Add in the pressure of the NCAA Tournament? Good luck.
Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack knew what lay ahead. She addressed UConn as “the big elephant in the room” Sunday. In 41 years under legendary head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have built an immortal dynasty, winning 12 national titles. This weekend, UConn began its postseason trek to No. 13.
The Huskies were the hardest obstacle that could’ve stood in Syracuse’s path, and it couldn’t do a thing about it. The matchup followed as advertised. The Orange never found a rhythm and fell into a 40-minute rut from the opening tip, ending their season with a brutal 98-45 loss.
Here are some observations from No. 9 seed Syracuse’s (24-9, 12-6 Atlantic Coast) NCAA Tournament Second Round defeat to No. 1 overall seed UConn (36-0, 20-0 Big East) Monday:
Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. That’s it.
With a team like the Huskies, it’s impossible to put all your focus on one player, but if there was one the Orange couldn’t let loose, it looked to be Sarah Strong. Legette-Jack said Sunday that Strong is impossible to stop, and her stats back up the message. Before Monday, Strong had been held to under 10 points in just three games. Monday was her 74th college appearance.
Strong quickly made a mockery of Syracuse’s defense. She scored seven of UConn’s first nine points, showing why she was named the National Player of the Year by ESPN and The Athletic. As boos rained down in Gampel when the Orange had possession, cheers echoed throughout when Strong had the ball.
Her rampage helped the Huskies open Monday’s contest on an 11-2 run, forcing a timeout from Syracuse. But if you thought a two-minute speech from Legette-Jack would be the key to keeping UConn’s forward quiet, you’re gravely mistaken.
As Strong worked down the stretch, the emphasis shifted to her, leaving Azzi Fudd with less pressure. She made SU pay for it. As Strong pump-faked from the arc, Syracuse defenders went flying. It left her an open path to the hoop or an outlet to Fudd.
The two, who led the Huskies with 18.4 and 17.4 points per game entering Monday, combined for 40 in the first half alone. Fudd led UConn with an absurd 26, while Strong had 14 points and seven boards. Syracuse’s whole squad had 12.
As Izoje’s primary defender, Strong forced SU’s center farther and farther away from the paint, so much so that it looked like she was going to be forced to try 3s. While Izoje chose to lay off them, she still only scored four first-half points, a total that tied Angelica Velez for the team-high. Fudd, meanwhile, matched that total with four steals.
The pairing didn’t need to do anything in the second half; the game was already over. But Fudd and Strong kept running wild. Fudd led the Huskies with 34 points, capping a fabulous five years in UConn’s friendly confines. Strong, the future Husky legend, added 18.
Azzi Fudd scored 26 points in the first half of UConn’s win over Syracuse. Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
UConn’s relentless pursuit
It takes a lot to be the No. 1 team in the country and stay undefeated all season long. Like, a lot. Whether it’s the Huskies’ relentless first-quarter full-court press or their ball-hawking on Izoje at the block, Syracuse simply couldn’t figure out how to score.
UConn made things difficult for Laila Phelia early, forcing two turnovers within the first five minutes. Even with the Huskies building a 22-6 lead with three and a half minutes left in the first quarter, UConn swarmed her from the moment Syracuse inbounded the ball on the baseline. Shy Hawkins had to try awkward wrap-around passes. Izoje had to watch her back. SU looked lost.
Auriemma has always had a defense-first approach since taking over the Huskies 41 seasons ago. That rang true all year, with UConn ranking first in the nation with 550 steals. It forced 27 turnovers against UTSA in the first round Saturday, and with its suffocating presence, SU was forced to huck up shots left and right. Few of them fell.
In the first half, Phelia and Angelica Velez both tried 3-pointers. They missed the mark entirely. Izoje began taking the ball up the court. Bet you’ve never seen that one before.
Sophie Burrows said that, despite the noise that comes with March Madness, it’s just another basketball game. But Monday certainly didn’t feel like “just another basketball game.” The Huskies forced 16 Syracuse turnovers in the first half and raced out to a 65-12 halftime lead.
In the second half, little changed. SU kept pace with UConn for the first few minutes, but it wasn’t enough. Phelia was Syracuse’s only capable scorer, turning in 10 points by the end of the third quarter. At that point, though, UConn was well on its way to victory. It forced 20 total turnovers, far too much for Syracuse to get back in the game.
1-sided 2nd quarter
As if the 33-8 first-quarter deficit wasn’t enough, Syracuse was nearly nonexistent in the second quarter. It didn’t score in the frame until just under three minutes remained. Its four total points in the frame came from Velez and Keira Scott. That should tell you just how stagnant SU was.
UConn kept its intensity on defense, pressing full-court with a 65-12 halftime lead. Legette-Jack spent most of the second quarter with a worrisome stare, while Auriemma sported a slight grin. Fudd was smiling all the way through, especially when the crowd roared after she hit a deep 3 just before the half.
Legette-Jack tried every combination she could, yet nothing worked. Camdyn Nelson entered the game, but turned the ball over almost immediately, adding to SU’s 16 first-half turnovers. The Huskies had just three.
Legette-Jack talked Sunday about punching first, playing “Syracuse women’s basketball” and just having fun out there. But no SU player had a smile on their face Monday. Its bench, all somber and dejected, may as well have been at a funeral.
Syracuse scored just four points, one of its lowest-scoring quarters of the season, and watched a bad blowout devolve into an absolute bloodbath.
‘Best player we’ve seen this year’
Auriemma had high praise for Izoje Monday. The Huskies had seen some of the top players in the country, but Auriemma wasn’t hesitant to call Izoje the best. It may have been a wake-up call for Strong and Serah Williams, who split time as Izoje’s primary defender. Either way, Izoje didn’t play to the caliber she normally does.
Izoje scored a lackluster 12 points and paired it with six rebounds. Despite a 15-plus-minute halftime break, Izoje — and Syracuse’s whole roster — looked exhausted in the second half. She was taking the ball up the court, something she hadn’t done all season, and with Dominique Darius out, her importance was intensified.
UConn is a different breed, so it’s not that Izoje didn’t play well. She just didn’t play well enough — or like the best player the Huskies had seen this season. All year, when Syracuse needed a lifeline, it turned to Izoje. The ACC Rookie of the Year had proven she could beat anyone.
But against the 6-foot-2 Strong and 6-foot-4 Williams, Izoje was doing a lot more shouting than scoring. After a quiet first half, she didn’t score until the fourth quarter. At that point, the best player in the world — or the best player the Huskies had seen all season — couldn’t save Syracuse. Its season was already over.
