Syracuse The Last Hurdle Left For UConn?

UConn celebrates win over Oregon State (Photo: Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports)

After a 32 game regular season and a 64 team tournament, the 2015-2016 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship comes down to one game. One game that will be a first ever championship in school history for the Syracuse Orange or a historic 4th in a row for the University of Connecticut Huskies. Many people believe that the Huskies have already been crowned, however in sports, anything is possible. Usually as a society, we love the underdog story, this may be one time that even the casual fan is rooting for the heavily favored Huskies. Tuesday night will be historic one way or the other and Coach Hillsman and the Orange are hoping they can be the ones writing in the history books in Indianapolis.

How Can Syracuse Win

Syracuse has been using the 3 pointer to their advantage during the tournament. Coach Hillsman said “Our goal is to make 10 3s a game. That’s our goal. If it takes 40 to make 10, it’s 40. If it takes 50, it’s 50.” The Orange have been great from 3 point land, hitting 42% from beyond the arc has been the x factor, especially in their wins over South Carolina and Tennessee. Syracuse will have to out shoot UConn from the 3 point line.

The Orange rely on their guards offensively, but Alexis Peterson and Brittney Sykes will have to play great defense on the Huskies around the perimeter. Easier said than done against a team who creates space and finds the open shooter with ease. Turnovers helped Syracuse beat Washington in the Final Four and they need to be careful not to beat themselves with turnovers against UConn. Syracuse will need to use their speed to keep UConn from setting up the nation’s number 1 defense. You might think you want to slow down UConn to try to keep scoring down, but Syracuse does not want to face the Huskies half-court defense.

Syracuse celebrates win vs. Washington in Final Four (Photo: John Sommers II/UPI)

How Can UConn Win

UConn needs to do what they have done all year; play great defense and force turnovers, attack the mismatch (down low against Syracuse) on offense, and stay out of foul trouble. UConn has controlled every game this year from the tipoff, except for the Tulane game. In that game, it was a poor shooting on the Huskies part, more than a defense that had figured out the formula against the Huskies. The Huskies still went on to win by 40 and has beaten every team this season by 10 points or more, including #2 South Carolina and #3 Notre Dame.

UConn will be without Katie Lou Samuelson who broke a foot late in the game against Oregon State. However, UConn should be able to attack the hoop against Syracuse with Brianna Stewart, Morgan Tuck, and Napheesa Collier. A down low, 2 point attack from UConn could make them vulnerable to the Orange 3 pointers, so the Huskies will have to shoot a high percentage, which they have averaged 56% during the tournament so far.

Who will win

The UConn Huskies will win. Syracuse would have to shoot a very high percentage from three point land and double team Stewart down low to win. Unfortunately, Gabby Williams and Moriah Jefferson will slow the Syracuse 3 point attack and if Syracuse tries to double Stewart, UConn will make the Orange pay from the solid perimeter shooting. UConn has a date with history and Coach Geno Auriemma and the Huskies will not make the NCAA Women’s Basketball world wait. Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson will make history tonight and hoist the championship trophy in Indianapolis.

Follow Kyle Wescott on Twitter @MHSWescott