I just want to get through this season unscathed! We have a brutal schedule coming up. Tenn is red-hot and getting better. And we end the season playing Texas A&M. That doesn't even count in the rematches against Kentucky and LSU (the first contest was a close game IMO). Those are the current #2-5 teams in the conference. Plus we play UCONN!
This upcoming end of regular season stretch is going to challenge our team's endurance and capability to perform at a high level through repeated challenges. IMO, starting with UCONN, we're going to find out if this team has what it takes to win a championship. The true test begins soon!
I agree with your concerns. The good thing with the Kentucky and LSU games, is those wins against both earlier this season were on their home courts, so the rematches will be in CLA, and that makes me feel better. The CT game is at their place and the "UConn Factor" with the referees is still in play. I think Boston has Nelson-Ododa's number, and Nelson-Ododa hasn't impressed me much against other top opponents (see the Tennessee and Arkansas games), but CT now has a freshman post in Edwards that has been starting to get more playing time and has done some good things. Both Nelson-Ododa and Edwards have been foul-prone, but I could see them being deployed as a tag-team to wear down Aliyah, who has been a bit foul-prone herself this season. Beuckers has also been exceptional offensively as a freshman, but hopefully our more experienced guards and Brea can make her freshman tendencies come out in our game with them.
As for our opponent tonight, I think we may be in store for an offensive outburst by the team, but it is another road game. About the only really good thing Auburn has going for them is their post Unique Thompson - she's easily their top player and has the argument of being the top post in the SEC this season. She's out-scoring and out-rebounding Boston (she leads the nation in rebounds per game), so she will be a force for Aliyah to deal with tonight.
After Thompson, it thins out substantially. Auburn is a good stealing team (leads the SEC) and due to that they are strong in forced turnovers stats, but they themselves are poor at ball security (not by having the ball stolen as much as turning it over from traveling, throwing it away, charges, etc.), and USC is at the top of the league in turnovers per game, so perhaps that all will cancel each other out.
Auburn is a strong offensive rebounding team (thanks to Thompson), and a decent overall rebounding team (again, thanks to Thompson). After that - woof! They are outside the top 200 rankings in most other defensive stats - blocks per game, Score Defense, FG % Defense, 3-pt FG % Defense. And they are ALSO outside the top 200 in a lot of offensive stats too - Total FG %, 3-pt FG % (outside the top 300 in that). They are inside the top 200 in Scoring Offense - they are 175th.
About what you'd expect from a team that's win-less in conference play. Hopefully the team jumps out on the Tigers, stays on them, and then allows the reserves to get a LOT of court time with a huge point cushion. Don't look past Auburn to CT - they'll still be there, afterwards. Connecticut played last Sunday like the Gamecocks did, but then they played yesterday against lowly St. Johns, who they slaughtered. But they had 2-3 players sit out to rest up from dings and dents, such as starter Christyn Williams. Then they play tomorrow at Marquette who along with DePaul are the next-toughest teams after CT in the Big East this season.
I still expect CT to slaughter them as well, but the Huskies getting to play two opponents this week to our just playing one may tire them out a bit for our game on Monday night. At least that's what I'm hoping for.....
