- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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We marvel at the championships (10 and counting). We revel in the first team All-Americans (more than a dozen and counting). We love the basketball history that has been created in Storrs (unparalleled and growing).
But perhaps Geno and CD's most amazing creation is the way the UConn women revel in the accomplishments and talent of their teammates. The current stars Moriah and Stewie talk of the other's talent without a hint of jealously or frustration. The starters cheer as hard for the walk-ons as the subs do for the starters. Hitting an open three gets a nod of approval but the great pass to the cutting teammate generates smiles and the congratulatory finger point of recognition to the passer. They have made a program where each junior and senior feels responsible not only for their own performance but for the program and those that come behind them.
UConn's dynamic duo has managed to create a team where the players are student and teacher. A program where the nobel laureate (Maya) passes her wisdom to the star student (Stewie) who passes her knowledge to the freshman (KLS). Where the legends (Diana, Sue, Jen, Swin, Tina, Lobo, Walters ... and on and on) consistently refer back to the love and lessons learned here and feel a responsibility to the program.
It is not easy creating that environment. Look across the country and count the number of programs where such unselfish play and loyalty and love and teaching expands so many generations of players. Not only the stars but their teammates, not only the current team but those spanning decades, in fact most who played and learned and grew in the basketball cauldron at UConn recognize and appreciate what Geno and CD have engineered. It is a most amazing creation.
But perhaps Geno and CD's most amazing creation is the way the UConn women revel in the accomplishments and talent of their teammates. The current stars Moriah and Stewie talk of the other's talent without a hint of jealously or frustration. The starters cheer as hard for the walk-ons as the subs do for the starters. Hitting an open three gets a nod of approval but the great pass to the cutting teammate generates smiles and the congratulatory finger point of recognition to the passer. They have made a program where each junior and senior feels responsible not only for their own performance but for the program and those that come behind them.
UConn's dynamic duo has managed to create a team where the players are student and teacher. A program where the nobel laureate (Maya) passes her wisdom to the star student (Stewie) who passes her knowledge to the freshman (KLS). Where the legends (Diana, Sue, Jen, Swin, Tina, Lobo, Walters ... and on and on) consistently refer back to the love and lessons learned here and feel a responsibility to the program.
It is not easy creating that environment. Look across the country and count the number of programs where such unselfish play and loyalty and love and teaching expands so many generations of players. Not only the stars but their teammates, not only the current team but those spanning decades, in fact most who played and learned and grew in the basketball cauldron at UConn recognize and appreciate what Geno and CD have engineered. It is a most amazing creation.
