Women’s basketball AP poll, takeaways: Who’s on the ‘nice’ list this holiday season?

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HARTFORD, Conn. — Geno Auriemma thought he’d know more about his Connecticut Huskies team by the holiday break.

“I lied,” Auriemma bantered in the bowels of XL Center late on Saturday night. “I don’t know any more now than I did when I told you that I would know before Christmas. But obviously certain things are evident, right?”

The Huskies (10-2) closed out the meat of their non-conference schedule playing four ranked or previously ranked teams in the span of 15 days. They went 3-2 over the stretch with wins against Louisville, Georgetown and Iowa State. But in the largest games, they took the ‘L.’ First on Dec. 12, they lost in South Bend to former Big East rival Notre Dame, then ranked eighth. And on Saturday, it was the program’s first loss to the resurging Southern Cal, then ranked seventh.

It is evident the Huskies need a consistent third option offensively. Paige Bueckers can and should be the No. 1. But besides her and Sarah Strong, they don’t have anyone available who can confidently step up into the role in big moments throughout the game. That person should be Azzi Fudd, but until she’s fully healthy and ready to go, someone needs to step up.

As UConn and the rest of the women’s basketball world begins its week-long game hiatus over the Christmas holiday, let’s take stock of how the biggest preseason quandaries are playing out so far.

Paige Buckers will need some help if UConn is going to make a run to the title this season. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

UConn came into the season high on voters’ lists because the Huskies have one of the nation’s best players, were supposed to be healthy and would have incredible depth. That hasn’t been the case.

Auriemma wants more contributions from the bigs and his younger players to be patient when the first shots don’t fall. Those need to happen early and ideally from beyond the arc. They missed all seven 3-point attempts in the first half against Notre Dame and were…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-basketball-ap-poll-takeaways-whos-on-the-nice-list-this-holiday-season-174017437.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-23 17:40:00

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