The Huskies come in as an underdog. No question. Notre Dame is home, the defending champ and has more experience. Including the "Queen of the Buzzer Beaters" in All American Arike Ogunbowale. 25ppg right now. Seven straight 20+ point games to open the season in addition to getting 3-point threat Marina Mabrey back in the lineup after dealing with a quad injury.
Then there is post player Brianna Turner who is back after missing all of last season with a knee injury. She makes the post with Jessica Sheppard that much better. Both are double-double machines and will be problematic for the Huskies. And let's not forget what Jackie Young did to UConn in the Final Four with 32 points.
Having said that, the Huskies Senior Duo of Katie Lou Samuelson and Naphessa Collier, along with Crystal Dangerfield are as good a threesome as there is in the country. The question is what will UConn get from the other two starters and do they get anything from the bench today ? Megan Walker played a role in the comeback win v ND last December with 6 big boards in the 2nd half. But did not play in the Final Four. Williams was a senior in Little Rock, Arkansas last year. Do either play a role today ??
Look, the rivalry is exciting and we've seen our share of drama. I'd expect nothing less today. UConn last lost a regular season game 1,476 days ago and just two since then in identical fashion in the Final Four. Give the edge to the Irish, but that's why the games are played. Stay tuned :)