The UConn women will open Sunday against Arkansas, which will be a pure revenge game against the only team that beat UConn regular season last year. Arkansas lost their best player to the WNBA draft but return a very good team with size. They already have 1 game under their belts, a win against Tarleton (a team I have never heard of), and in that game went 6'5", 6'2", and 6'1" across their frontline, meaning it's very likely that a 2 big lineup with 2 of Dorka, Olivia and Aaliyah will likely be necessary to match up with them (as I mentioned elsewhere I would start Dorka over Olivia based on what I saw in the exhibition against Fort Hays, but I do not think that will happen). Arkansas's top recruit is 6'5" McDonald's All American Jersey Wolfenbarger, who was the #7 national recruit. However, she is more of a wing than a 5, and is actually listed as a guard in the boxscore against Tarleton, a game in which she had 10 points and 5 boards. Arkansas was led in that game by starting guard Makayla Daniels with 15 points.
Arkansas plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff this afternoon and therefore will have 2 regular season games under their belts when they face UConn.
From what I saw of Arkansas last year, they were an aggressive offensive team that likes to push the ball up the Court and they were extremely aggressive with dribble drives. They beat UConn last year primarily due to an uncharacteristic poor defensive showing by UConn, which was continually beaten off the dribble and looked flat footed most of the game. Arkansas finished the season 19-8 overall and 9-6 in the SEC.
The SEC coaches have picked Arkansas to finish 7th in the 14 team SEC this season:
This game will be a good opening test for the UConn women against a quality upper echelon Division 1 team.
Arkansas plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff this afternoon and therefore will have 2 regular season games under their belts when they face UConn.
From what I saw of Arkansas last year, they were an aggressive offensive team that likes to push the ball up the Court and they were extremely aggressive with dribble drives. They beat UConn last year primarily due to an uncharacteristic poor defensive showing by UConn, which was continually beaten off the dribble and looked flat footed most of the game. Arkansas finished the season 19-8 overall and 9-6 in the SEC.
The SEC coaches have picked Arkansas to finish 7th in the 14 team SEC this season:
This game will be a good opening test for the UConn women against a quality upper echelon Division 1 team.
