DePaul University Athletics
Wednesday, January 26
Chicago, Ill.
7:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
vs
Connecticut
Blue Demons vs. No. 10/9 Connecticut: Going Against the Best
1/25/2022 5:25:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Wintrust Arena tipoff 7 p.m. Wednesday for BIG EAST first-place battle on SNY-TV
CHICAGO – Welcome to the showdown that gets circled on everyone's calendar pretty much from the moment it's announced.
A veteran-laded DePaul team that is receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll confronts No. 10/9 Connecticut whose NCAA basketball legacy includes 11 national championships.
UConn (11-4) sits atop the BIG EAST with a perfect 6-0 record. DePaul (16-4) is right behind in second place at 8-1.
The 7 p.m. tipoff at Wintrust Arena will be televised on SNY with Allen Bestwick on play-by-play, Meghan Culmo as the analyst and sideline reporter Maria Marino.
Out-of-market fans are able to stream the SNY game at no additional cost to authenticated subscribers. Users will need to sign in with their TV provider credentials at https://www.foxsports.com/ or in the FOX Sports app.
Even better, come see it in person. UConn is the mountaintop of college basketball and the greatest challenge for each and every one of its opponents.
It's not surprising down through the years that Blue Demons have cited a major reason they came to DePaul was a chance to play the best.
The Huskies are often the primary target on everyone's radar. Not surprisingly, players are motivated to the max when UConn comes to town.
No one is more aware of this storyline than legendary coach Geno Auriemma, who has built perhaps the most iconic program regardless of gender. Old-school fans always bring up another legend, John Wooden, and his UCLA dynasty of 1964-75 when the Bruins won 10 titles in 12 years.
That's pretty heady company to keep. Living up to such a prestigious reputation and sustaining your dominance requires masterful coaching along with a stable of high school All-Americans.
Auriemma has both, including the No. 1 recruit in the nation for the last two years---the incomparable Paige Bueckers and current Huskie freshman Azzi Fudd.
Fortunately for DePaul fans, neither is expected to take the Wintrust Arena court on Wednesday night.
Coach Doug Bruno and his staff are laser-focused on figuring out ways to maximize their personnel while neutralizing Connecticut's most dangerous threats. That isn't easy when the Huskies' roster is loaded with a number of likely WNBA draft picks.
In past seasons, UConn's suffocating defense built around lengthy and aggressive ball-hawkers have created problems for the Blue Demons' perimeter shooters. They don't get as many open looks when the taller, long-armed Huskies are running them off the three-point arc.
This time could be a little different with the emergence of 6-foot, 1-inch freshman Aneesah Morrow who leads the nation in double-doubles and offensive rebounds per game, is second in field goals and total rebounds, fourth in points, sixth in steals and ninth in blocks.
The extremely athletic, high-motor former All-Stater from Simeon provides Bruno with a potent force inside---a luxury not seen around Lincoln Park or the South Loop in recent years.
And while Morrow (20.3 points, 12.5 rebounds a game) works hard to develop her inside game, what will sustain her in the here and now is a propensity to attack the offensive boards and turn teammates' missed shots into power put-backs.
The more effective Morrow is in the blocks, the more space frees up for dangerous outside shooters Sonya Morris (18 points a game, third in the nation in field goals), Lexi Held (13.9 points a game, No. 8 in the country in assists), Deja Church (13.8 points) and Darrione Rogers (10.5 points).
Morrow will face a big (literally and figuratively) test with Connecticut's bigs fronted by 6-5 Olivia Nelson-Ododa who is averaging 10.1 points and a team-leading 8.5 rebounds. To give you an idea of her versatility and athleticism, the Huskie center had 18 rebounds and 10 assists in last Sunday's 75-57 victory over St. John's.
Auriemma has more inside strength with 6-3 Aaliyah Edwards, 6-5 Ohio State transfer Dorka Juhasz and 6-5 sophomore Piath Gabriel. And be forewarned Blue Demon Nation---Auriemma is a master at taking out an opponent's best weapon.
The UConn backcourt features All-BIG EAST standout Christyn Williams (14.6 points a game), emerging 6-2 freshman Caroline Ducharme (12.1 points a game), Evina Westbrook and Nika Muhl.
A veteran-laded DePaul team that is receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll confronts No. 10/9 Connecticut whose NCAA basketball legacy includes 11 national championships.
UConn (11-4) sits atop the BIG EAST with a perfect 6-0 record. DePaul (16-4) is right behind in second place at 8-1.
The 7 p.m. tipoff at Wintrust Arena will be televised on SNY with Allen Bestwick on play-by-play, Meghan Culmo as the analyst and sideline reporter Maria Marino.
Out-of-market fans are able to stream the SNY game at no additional cost to authenticated subscribers. Users will need to sign in with their TV provider credentials at https://www.foxsports.com/ or in the FOX Sports app.
Even better, come see it in person. UConn is the mountaintop of college basketball and the greatest challenge for each and every one of its opponents.
It's not surprising down through the years that Blue Demons have cited a major reason they came to DePaul was a chance to play the best.
The Huskies are often the primary target on everyone's radar. Not surprisingly, players are motivated to the max when UConn comes to town.
No one is more aware of this storyline than legendary coach Geno Auriemma, who has built perhaps the most iconic program regardless of gender. Old-school fans always bring up another legend, John Wooden, and his UCLA dynasty of 1964-75 when the Bruins won 10 titles in 12 years.
That's pretty heady company to keep. Living up to such a prestigious reputation and sustaining your dominance requires masterful coaching along with a stable of high school All-Americans.
Auriemma has both, including the No. 1 recruit in the nation for the last two years---the incomparable Paige Bueckers and current Huskie freshman Azzi Fudd.
Fortunately for DePaul fans, neither is expected to take the Wintrust Arena court on Wednesday night.
Coach Doug Bruno and his staff are laser-focused on figuring out ways to maximize their personnel while neutralizing Connecticut's most dangerous threats. That isn't easy when the Huskies' roster is loaded with a number of likely WNBA draft picks.
In past seasons, UConn's suffocating defense built around lengthy and aggressive ball-hawkers have created problems for the Blue Demons' perimeter shooters. They don't get as many open looks when the taller, long-armed Huskies are running them off the three-point arc.
This time could be a little different with the emergence of 6-foot, 1-inch freshman Aneesah Morrow who leads the nation in double-doubles and offensive rebounds per game, is second in field goals and total rebounds, fourth in points, sixth in steals and ninth in blocks.
The extremely athletic, high-motor former All-Stater from Simeon provides Bruno with a potent force inside---a luxury not seen around Lincoln Park or the South Loop in recent years.
And while Morrow (20.3 points, 12.5 rebounds a game) works hard to develop her inside game, what will sustain her in the here and now is a propensity to attack the offensive boards and turn teammates' missed shots into power put-backs.
The more effective Morrow is in the blocks, the more space frees up for dangerous outside shooters Sonya Morris (18 points a game, third in the nation in field goals), Lexi Held (13.9 points a game, No. 8 in the country in assists), Deja Church (13.8 points) and Darrione Rogers (10.5 points).
Morrow will face a big (literally and figuratively) test with Connecticut's bigs fronted by 6-5 Olivia Nelson-Ododa who is averaging 10.1 points and a team-leading 8.5 rebounds. To give you an idea of her versatility and athleticism, the Huskie center had 18 rebounds and 10 assists in last Sunday's 75-57 victory over St. John's.
Auriemma has more inside strength with 6-3 Aaliyah Edwards, 6-5 Ohio State transfer Dorka Juhasz and 6-5 sophomore Piath Gabriel. And be forewarned Blue Demon Nation---Auriemma is a master at taking out an opponent's best weapon.
The UConn backcourt features All-BIG EAST standout Christyn Williams (14.6 points a game), emerging 6-2 freshman Caroline Ducharme (12.1 points a game), Evina Westbrook and Nika Muhl.
Players Mentioned
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