Life is good.
Sarah Strong is on the mend. Azzi Fudd has broken out of her slump and is playing some of the best basketball of her career. Allie Ziebell has emerged, in fiery freshman Blanca Quiñonez’s absence, as a consistent scorer off the bench in a tightening rotation.
The top-ranked UConn women’s basketball team is 26-0 and only five games away from its 11th undefeated regular season in program history. The team has won 42 games in a row dating back to last year and have crushed its 26 opponents this season by an average of 40 points.
But Geno Auriemma isn’t (fully) happy.
“My job between now and the end of the season is to try to fix the things that I can and hide the things that I can’t fix and hope they don’t cause us to lose,” Auriemma admitted after Wednesday’s 50-point win over Creighton. “There are some things I can’t fix.”
The world is curious as to what those things are.
Perhaps one of them is health; the Huskies have been smattered with injuries since December. Four players missed Wednesday’s game, including Quiñonez, who missed her fifth straight.
But Strong, who sat out last Saturday with general tightness, came back at least, even if it came with a mid-game trip to the tunnel to throw up in a trash can.
Whatever these “things” are, Saturday’s trip to Milwaukee to take on Marquette (16-9, 10-6) is a chance to fix them.
Get to know the Golden Eagles.
Opponent Profile: Marquette Golden Eagles (16-9, 10-6 Big East)
The Golden Eagles’ scoring trio of Skylar Forbes, Halle Vice and Lee Volker has evolved into one of the conference’s best this season, combining for over 59% of Marquette’s 69.8 points per night.
Forbes has developed into an All-Big East caliber player down low, leading the conference in blocks per game (1.9) while serving as the offensive anchor of Marquette’s halfcourt-centric offense.
But Cara Consuegra’s squad lacks depth; while nine players average double figure minutes, six soak up over 21 a piece, and only one player off the bench (Jordan Meulemans) averages over four points per game.
Marquette’s 16-9 start (and 10-6 conference record) lands it squarely in fourth place in the Big East standings – which wouldn’t be the most optimal placement for a deep run-in next month’s Big East Tournament at Mohegan Sun. The Golden Eagles were picked second in the conference preseason poll but have yet to assert themselves as the clear No. 2, battling with Seton Hall and St. John’s for third while Villanova runs away with second place.
Cara Consuegra’s second Marquette team is experienced and laden with veteran leadership. They play to their style – slow, methodical sets that usually result in open jumpers and lay-ins – and rank inside the top 70 nationally in offensive rating (102.3).