Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2025-26

[Volfan2012]

This game between Oregon and UConn doesn't change my mind about anything. Oregon played great in this game and they may win the National Championship certainly not a certain thing to win it or even their league championship. At the moment the league is between them and Stanford both have lost one game. There are half a dozen teams that could win the National Championship and when your in a one game situation to decide it anything can happen.

 

[mike099]

I can still see UConn getting to the final 4. Starting next year they will ramp it up a bit. Is Dangerfield the only key player the only key player the lose?

 

[NewDog]

Oregon was great in this game and looked like the Pre-Season pick to win it all team. UConn is a flawed team that can win any game if they play well. They didn't play well in this game.

 

[VolBall09]

I can still see UConn getting to the final 4. Starting next year they will ramp it up a bit. Is Dangerfield the only key player the only key player the lose?

I just don’t seen them getting it done this year. I think they lose in the Elite 8 this season, maybe even the sweet 16.

In big games they aren’t getting enough from anyone but Dangerfield. They were fortunate Makurat came in and shot the ball well or it would have been a blood bath.

The second they meet a quality team with a great post player in the tournament, they are done. ONO can not compete inside at this point. She’s going to be a great player, but she isn’t there.

I suspect that’s why Geno benched her for most of the second half. She was getting scored on at will. The two or 3 minutes she did play she had some more pep in her step, but it’s still not enough.

Oregon had 44 points in the paint compared to 14 for UCONN.

 

[stlvolsfan]

That one stings for UCONN. Oregon played a heck of a ballgame. Especially on the defensive end.

UConn is a very thin team. If they play any team with depth they’re going to lose.

 

[stlvolsfan]

Oregon was great in this game and looked like the Pre-Season pick to win it all team. UConn is a flawed team that can win any game if they play well. They didn't play well in this game.

They’re very thin. If they play any team with depth, they’ll lose every time. Walker is inconsistent and if you’re going to rely on her, you’re going to be disappointed. They really coulda used Westbrook this year. They’d be a totally different team.

 

[NewDog]

They’re very thin. If they play any team with depth, they’ll lose every time. Walker is inconsistent and if you’re going to rely on her, you’re going to be disappointed. They really coulda used Westbrook this year. They’d be a totally different team.

It has nothing to do with depth. Oregon only went one deep off the bench.

 

[Amb3096]

This game between Oregon and UConn doesn't change my mind about anything. Oregon played great in this game and they may win the National Championship certainly not a certain thing to win it or even their league championship. At the moment the league is between them and Stanford both have lost one game. There are half a dozen teams that could win the National Championship and when your in a one game situation to decide it anything can happen.

I don't even think that Oregon played that great. Ruthie was great on both sides of the ball, Minyon played a great defensive game, and Satou took advantage of some matchups...but they didn't shoot that well from outside and Sabrina didn't have a good shooting game overall. UConn shot very well from outside (almost fluke-like), and without that they would have gotten hammered even though Oregon wasn't running on all cylinders.

 

[stlvolsfan]

It has nothing to do with depth. Oregon only went one deep off the bench.

But their starting 5 is head and shoulders better. If UConn has a deeper bench they could play with teams like Baylor and Oregon.

 

[Volfan2012]

I don't even think that Oregon played that great. Ruthie was great on both sides of the ball, Minyon played a great defensive game, and Satou took advantage of some matchups...but they didn't shoot that well from outside and Sabrina didn't have a good shooting game overall. UConn shot very well from outside (almost fluke-like), and without that they would have gotten hammered even though Oregon wasn't running on all cylinders.

Oregon is a far better team than UConn this year and so are a few other teams. I mean when UConn went to Vandy they only won by eleven. The number one players they recruited lately haven't been number one players on the court. If we could handle the ball and not make careless mistakes for an entire game we had a chance to win there as well. With all this being said I can agree that Oregon is the favorite to win the national title doesn't mean it will happen as in a one game situation you never know exactly especially when the opponent is going to be close in talent and ability. SC, Stanford, Baylor are all top players that could win this year.

 

[creekdipper]

Auriemma admitted that recruiting is the key. He said that back when they clobbered Oregon when Sabrina was a freshman, he knew they were going to be really good and just needed to add the missing pieces. He said that his team just had too many good players for them to overcome back then.

 

[Rooster1]

Auriemma admitted that recruiting is the key. He said that back when they clobbered Oregon when Sabrina was a freshman, he knew they were going to be really good and just needed to add the missing pieces. He said that his team just had too many good players for them to overcome back then.

It really is all about recruiting in the end....and not every top 25 type player will live up to their ranking. Even Geno cannot coach his way out of his roster deficiencies, caused by misses in recruiting and injuries/transfers. It can happen to any team. If a team lands a single top 10 talent for example, and 2-3 top 50 talents that all work out they will be able to compete at the highest level. If You miss on that top 10 talent and/or 1-2 of the top 50 types then you have a team that looks thin and overmatched often. Transfers are the great equalizer lately, it can be used like an eraser to cover up recruiting mistakes, but you cant live on that either.

 

[GoDucks349]

I thought Oregon played a "solid" game. They certainly needed to UConn is not a place to play anything less and expect to win. UConn will get more physical next time and that just might change the outcome. They are quite good. Let's see how they do against South Carolina.

 

[creekdipper]

But their starting 5 is head and shoulders better. If UConn has a deeper bench they could play with teams like Baylor and Oregon.

Thanks, Phil!

 

[Amb3096]

Oregon is a far better team than UConn this year and so are a few other teams. I mean when UConn went to Vandy they only won by eleven. The number one players they recruited lately haven't been number one players on the court. If we could handle the ball and not make careless mistakes for an entire game we had a chance to win there as well. With all this being said I can agree that Oregon is the favorite to win the national title doesn't mean it will happen as in a one game situation you never know exactly especially when the opponent is going to be close in talent and ability. SC, Stanford, Baylor are all top players that could win this year.

Oh don't get me wrong. Oregon is way better than UConn. My point was that they didn't even have to play their "A" game to win. Hebard was tearing up their interior defense, and they were all over UConn on defense...surprising for a team that has a reputation of playing soft defense (whether true or not).

Right now, I think Oregon, SC and Baylor are the cream of the crop, and everyone else is looking up. I'd be shocked if one of those three teams didn't win the NC.

 

[PointGuard]

Oregon was great in this game and looked like the Pre-Season pick to win it all team. UConn is a flawed team that can win any game if they play well. They didn't play well in this game.

This is just not the trademark UConn team. Not intended as snarky comment it’s just a fact. Really good crisp passing and 23 or so assists a game are not a feature of this team. Crystal Dangerfield seems the only one to show up night after night. As someone else posted here Oregon looked like UConn last night. Anna is improving for sure but Geno will earn his money if he brings Williams, Walker and Liv to the level they need to be for NCAAT

UConn played lockdown defense against us in the second half but that was not o in sight last night. Oregon had their way with UConn

I’m hoping we meet in the Tourney I still say this is the year we can take you

 

[gule]

how can you put sc as cream of the crop? the other two have beaten gee no. Staley's studs haven't come close, even when that had A'ja W.

 

[PointGuard]

I don't even think that Oregon played that great. Ruthie was great on both sides of the ball, Minyon played a great defensive game, and Satou took advantage of some matchups...but they didn't shoot that well from outside and Sabrina didn't have a good shooting game overall. UConn shot very well from outside (almost fluke-like), and without that they would have gotten hammered even though Oregon wasn't running on all cylinders.

in fact Inescu stated just that. She didn’t think she or the team played all that well. They put a beat down on UConn though

I’m looking for a rematch with UConn in the NCAAT

 

[Volfan2012]

You wonder who the number one seeds will be right now the number four would probably draw UConn as a two seed although UConn could still drop down below a five overall and get in another one seeds bracket. I guarantee the team that draws them as their two seed will be the unhappiest team in the tourney.

 

[Amb3096]

how can you put sc as cream of the crop? the other two have beaten gee no. Staley's studs haven't come close, even when that had A'ja W.

Because this isn't the same UConn team that A'ja had to play? They've taken quite a few steps back after losing 4 really good players the last two years, and their replacements have not come to close to filling that void. Staley will get her shot at Geno next week, and I'd be very surprised if they don't take care of business...assuming Boston is healthy.

 

[Amb3096]

You wonder who the number one seeds will be right now the number four would probably draw UConn as a two seed although UConn could still drop down below a five overall and get in another one seeds bracket. I guarantee the team that draws them as their two seed will be the unhappiest team in the tourney.

Likely to be Louisville. I don't see Baylor, SC or Oregon giving up their #1 seeding. UConn could sneak back to a #1 if they beat SC and the Gamecocks take a surprise SEC loss, but I'm not sure both scenarios come to fruition.

 

[Volfan2012]

Likely to be Louisville. I don't see Baylor, SC or Oregon giving up their #1 seeding. UConn could sneak back to a #1 if they beat SC and the Gamecocks take a surprise SEC loss, but I'm not sure both scenarios come to fruition.

I'm thinking Stanford and Oregon may both be number ones along with SC and Baylor if nothing dramatic happens like losing to someone. Still a lot to be decided I am sure UConn would love to be the number two to Louisville more than any of the others.

 

[Amb3096]

I'm thinking Stanford and Oregon may both be number ones along with SC and Baylor if nothing dramatic happens like losing to someone. Still a lot to be decided I am sure UConn would love to be the number two to Louisville more than any of the others.

I think Stanford might have a tough hurdle with Oregon, Oregon St., UCLA and ASU on the regular schedule...plus 1 or more of those teams again in the P12 tournament. I don't see anyone beating Louisville before the tournament.

 

[NewDog]

I don't even think that Oregon played that great. Ruthie was great on both sides of the ball, Minyon played a great defensive game, and Satou took advantage of some matchups...but they didn't shoot that well from outside and Sabrina didn't have a good shooting game overall. UConn shot very well from outside (almost fluke-like), and without that they would have gotten hammered even though Oregon wasn't running on all cylinders.

Oregon hasn't shot well outside all season and they were at 30% for this game. Not much below their average. Ionescu was 1 rebound and 1 assists away from a triple double.

Almost fluke-like for UConn? They shot 38.5% on threes in this game, a drop below their season average.

 

[Amb3096]

Oregon hasn't shot well outside all season and they were at 30% for this game. Not much below their average. Ionescu was 1 rebound and 1 assists away from a triple double.

Almost fluke-like for UConn? They shot 38.5% on threes in this game, a drop below their season average.

Oregon doesn't shoot the 3 well? They shoot 37% from deep for the season (including last night's game) and only shot 30% last night. That's a pretty damn big drop off a good clip. Satou and Sabrina are shooting the 3 worse this season than they did last season, and it's the same easy looks. Sabrina was 4-12 from the floor, and we all know she's better than that.

Crystal and Anna both hit some very difficult, tightly contested shots that would not be considered good shoots, but managed to find the bottom of the net. Crystal eventually cooled off, but her 2nd-4th made 3s were a ridiculously high difficulty level.