Geno Tough! Muffet Not!

[oldude]

After 17 years of watching MM, I have never seen her so depressed and distraught. Anyone who has coached usually understands that sometimes you get beat and other times you beat yourself. With her starters from last year, her new elite players, and her winning record---plus what UConn lost---she believed strongly that this was the game to turn the tide. Her players did let her down. They did not put up a courageous fight. They made poor decisions. IMHO, MM felt they folded under pressure. She was deeply disappointed and could not even raise her head after giving short answers. She did give Gabby props. However, I can see how her team performed so poorly that they gave it away without a real fight. I understand how she felt. It was a terrible punch in the gut. (Two years ago MM took the NC loss much easier since she felt like the underdog.)
However, I am very happy with the UConn win and not sad that ND lost.
Geno was another story. The man was on the verge of tears. Tears of joy and pride in his team. He saw the fight and has more trust in his players. Final thought-- Geno gave a "WOW Hug" to Gabby. Gabby & Geno knew that Gabby fulfilled her goal for this year to be a force on the floor--all over the place. Danger got that Hug. I think Kia did too. Lou and Pheese have received overwhelming praise also. That's 5 players who could and have controlled a game this year. How can one be more impressed with what Geno & staff have done? WOW.

I also sensed that Geno was a little emotional after the game. I think the effort of these young ladies last night overwhelmed him, as it did all of us.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

However, I can see how her team performed so poorly that they gave it away without a real fight

I can go with everything you said, other than an emotion over-read on Muffet and THIS. That grossly undervalues what UConn threw at ND. They didn't fight, they lose by 40.

Muffet has to take a big piece of the humble pie for this affair. It's her job to have them ready to execute the game plan, stick to it, and adjust on the fly. What wasn't she asked? What in game adjustments did you call for? How did you address the team's starting to play one-on-one when that wasn't the plan? In hindsight would a tougher schedule leading up to this game have served your team better? Look in the mirror Muffet.

 

[EricLA]

I had no issue with Muffet. She's not my favorite person, but I think she's right up there as one of the very best in the business, and that includes both recruiting and coaching (something almost nonexistent in the industry - some are great recruiters, but average coaches, or vice versa).

As much as UCONN has had to often develop a strategy to deal with the other team (they are big, or they are athletic, or they shoot the 3 ball exceptionally well, etc), this was a game where ND needed to develop a strategy to stop UCONN at what we do so well - and that's run crisp offense to get defenses out of position so we can get an open shot. Geno and UCONN just did it better this game than Muffet and ND.

I think the other reason she was surly is because teams really do know that this is the only year to get UCONN for the foreseeable future. I'm not saying UCONN will go undefeated next season for 2-3 years after that, but you gotta like our chances with what we add (Stevens, Camara, Walker and the rest of the terrif 2017 class) and we only lose Saniya and Tierney. If we really are this good this season, we will be light years better next season with the sophomore leap of Danger, NPOY candidate Stevens, and the best player in her class Megatron.

If no one can beat us this season, I don't see how it happens next season. Geno is setting the team up for an unprecedented run of excellence - it may end up rivaling the incredible UCLA run during the Wooden era from 1964 thru 1975. They won 10 NC's over a 12 year stretch losing only in 1966, and 1974. Their best streak was 1967-1973 where they won 6 in a row. If we win the NC this year, we will certainly challenge that streak next season, and the following year at least...

 

[Intpseeker]

She's suppose to bow down and kiss Geno's Converse... smh these posters!

No, actually, DaddyChoc, she doesn't have to kiss anything of Geno's.

What she should be modeling for her team, fans, the university, and most importantly, herself, is personal responsibility. She's the freaking head coach, and a pretty fair one, at that!

I understand how the human animal works. We all have pictures of how the world should be, and if the external 'reality' matches our pictures , we are happy. That is why a game, where the 'reality is a given, everyone agrees it was 72-61, produces joy, nay, euphoria, in UConn fans, but pain and distress in ND fans. Same score, different pictures, different reactions, determined by the individual's internal pictures of how the world should be.

If the picture doesn't match, then, to the degree that the picture is important, we will see strong negative emotions, whose sole purpose is to get the world to be the way we want it. That is what we saw last night with Muffet. She thought she would win. Really, really thought she would win, and the gap between how it was and how she wanted it was too big for her to behave like the intelligent, competent individual that she is.

And so she whined a bit because the world shouldn't be how it is.

But she is better than that, and I'm sorry to see her react the way she did. Not because beating UConn isn't important, but because I think she knows there is way more important snow out there right now than WcBB.

 

[bags27]

Yup, Intpseekee!

You absolutely have to say it: you look straight into the camera and get it over with right away: they (not a particular player, but they = the other team, the other coaching staff) outplayed us and outcoached us. We could have played better. I could have coached better. (This is what Belichick always says after a rare loss-and they're rare somewhat because of this.)

It's not about your feeling sorry for yourself or even for your team. It's about teaching your team--the young women entrusted in your care--that there are certain expectations for behavior and certain expectations for personal responsibility. You model this for them and expect that from them in return.

And then you can analyze/spin it any way you want.

Just for the record, MM is easily my 2nd favorite coach in WCBB and ND is easily my 2nd favorite team (though I fear them so much I can never root for them).

 

[cabbie191]

She needs to get off her tuffet and coach. Lots of time for change, season is early.

We know these stats because ESPN keeps throwing it up on the screen, but good gracious, in the last five full seasons Notre Dame is 176 - 5 against teams not named UConn.

Me thinks Muffet has generally been off her tuffet and has coached remarkably well. And if Geno wasn't around, she might be considered far and away the best coach of the past decade.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Muffet is a great coach. She is not Geno, though. Nobody is. ND does not seem to be as ready for these games as UConn (see: 2011 title game, which ND should have won. The 2012, 14 and 15 ND teams were just clearly overmatched in the title games).

Geno is Wooden, Muffet is Izzo. Tom Izzo is a HOF coach. That he only has one title does not mean he is not a great coach.

I actually had to look that up. I found it hard to believe that Izzo only has one, but...that's a fact. He's taken them to the Final Four seven times and made it through once. Such a good, successful coach, but that is his record.

Interesting...same record as Muffet; seven trips, one title.

Kinda makes you REALLY appreciate UConn's records: The Men, 5 trips to the final four, four titles; the Women, 17 trips, 11 titles. Overall 15-0 in championship games.

What a time to be a UConn fan!

 

[DaddyChoc]

Ugh - another thread on the same sort of topic.
Geno has two things going for him that no other coach has:

1. He has a very winning public persona, he has a very good sense of humor, and is very witty, and he has a great ability to modulate it to the audience, so he can be biting and sarcastic, and get in very subtle digs, and have the whole room laughing with him. He is a master at it. (There al a fair number of coaches that are good in these ways, but a whole lot who are not. And there remains a certain level of sexism involved in how people react to some of those qualities, especially the people who report them to the broader world.)

2. Being gracious in victory is pretty easy, and he has to be gracious in defeat a lot less frequently than pretty much any other coach in the world. And the questions you get in press conferences after victories are a bunch of softballs compared to the ones after losses so that makes it even easier to be 'charming' instead of 'defensive' or whatever other descriptors you want to apply. (He is unique in this - he has lost once in the last 3 years, 18 times or something in the last decade - that is just ridiculous!)

With so few losses, and even fewer 'important' losses to deal with, I think Geno probably enjoys the novel sensation rather than getting overly upset. I think he might have been a little more testy in the 2005-2008 era when they came more frequently, and when he was not quite as assured of his own legacy.

I think we should try being a little more gracious in victory, and leave off parsing and taking offense at everything a losing coach says in the aftermath of that loss. if you take it at face value - Muffet said nothing negative about Uconn or Geno, and complaining that she didn't heap praise on our team ... really? Do we need her approval to celebrate our victory? Seems a little petty.

https://i..com/portrait/9923439_300x300

 

[DaddyChoc]

No, actually, DaddyChoc, she doesn't have to kiss anything of Geno's.

What she should be modeling for her team, fans, the university, and most importantly, herself, is personal responsibility. She's the freaking head coach, and a pretty fair one, at that!

I understand how the human animal works. We all have pictures of how the world should be, and if the external 'reality' matches our pictures , we are happy. That is why a game, where the 'reality is a given, everyone agrees it was 72-61, produces joy, nay, euphoria, in UConn fans, but pain and distress in ND fans. Same score, different pictures, different reactions, determined by the individual's internal pictures of how the world should be.

If the picture doesn't match, then, to the degree that the picture is important, we will see strong negative emotions, whose sole purpose is to get the world to be the way we want it. That is what we saw last night with Muffet. She thought she would win. Really, really thought she would win, and the gap between how it was and how she wanted it was too big for her to behave like the intelligent, competent individual that she is.

And so she whined a bit because the world shouldn't be how it is.

But she is better than that, and I'm sorry to see her react the way she did. Not because beating UConn isn't important, but because I think she knows there is way more important snow out there right now than WcBB.

and that's why I don't understand the big deal of her not kissing UConn's a** during a press conference for a game ND just lost at home. She did what she did, she will not be the first or the last coach to perform the way some didn't like (shrugs)

 

[UConnNick]

Much of what you say has merit!! BUT!
Coaches are HUMAN and cannot all put on the face of the clown when losing or having just lost!! Some politicians have that down pat (no pun intended)--Smile and wish the winner success (all the time they are thinking; jerk, idiot, how could the voter be so stupid)
Muffet is so not well versed in being two faced--nor is GENO.
Notre Dame--believed, as many Uconn fans, that this team was just waiting to be beaten--and with glee opened up their facilities to uCONN--AND Surprise--surprise-=-ND lost!! Should she smile and say--success uconn. That's a good loser--and you know what they say about them. Muffet isn't a good loser!!

Well, then she's not a good learner either. You'd think she might learn how to be a good loser after 35 losses to UConn in 46 games. She's got plenty of experience!

 

[BroadwayVa]

Well, then she's not a good learner either. You'd think she might learn how to be a good loser after 35 losses to UConn in 46 games. She's got plenty of experience!

You can't get to be a top 10 coach thinking about losing. Lombardi (I think said it best (when told he was a bad loser): Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser!!! Intense coaches --take loses personally.
However UCNick--I get your point. I like Muffet. Note: Muffet when in a tight situation always goes for the Freshmen--Geno pulled Dangerfield the first time that happened. Geno learned from KML and Moriah in losses to ND.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Hey gang. Muffet did single out Gabby for a performance well done (much as Lloyd Bridges and I did on another thread ).
And, unlike Coach P, she didn't mention her by number but by name and went over exactly what caught her attention.
Kudos were given.

MM didn't go into a full-scale love blitz because she was too busy going over what she was frustrated/disappointed with her team.... and for Irish faithful and b-ball watchers like myself, I was glad to see she was in sync with things I was yelling at the screen(one more pass, drive..and dish, "so how many times will we be like Tim Tebow and throw an entry pass into the next county?). And, while she didn't bring up names, she was none too pleased with the one-on-one antics of "our wings,"which is probably one reason why Ogunbowale and Mabrey were both out in the third quarter, a "teaching/disciplinary" move that ND almost got away with until you sealed the deal in the last minute of the third.

As MM said, if this was a one-point loss and a well-played game (on both ends), she would've been fine with it. But, in her estimation, it wasn't. UConn had a lot to do with it. The Irish didn't help their cause either. I've got to hope that we'll give a better performance next time out -- otherwise why do we care?

I liked Geno's post-game comments...they were measured, but he smiled at the end, as well he should.

@UcMiami said it BEST----In victory it is easy to be a good winner!
MUFFET---IN THE minds of many is the #2 coach in WBB--this was her chance to REAlly be #1 --at home--it slipped through her hands --players who should have executed DIDN"T (for ND)--players who shouldn't (for Uconn) DID.
AS a fan of ND--or --UConn, you/we should always care or stop being a fan!!!

 

[cbraarj]

I think it is not unreasonable for a coach to talk about their team in front of their media after a big game in their home arena

I guess she feels they got homed at home!

 

[CBear01]

 

[trb123]

Boneyarders, please cut Muffet some slack.
She is tired of playing Susan sarandon to Geno's Meryl Streep.
Perhaps a little jealous too. That's only natural.

 

[HuskyNan]

There are some threads that could have been lifted from the Summitt, circa 2008, only substitute Geno for Muffet and Pat for Geno. This is one of them.

 

[BobbyJ]

I can go with everything you said, other than an emotion over-read on Muffet and THIS. That grossly undervalues what UConn threw at ND. They didn't fight, they lose by 40.

Muffet has to take a big piece of the humble pie for this affair. It's her job to have them ready to execute the game plan, stick to it, and adjust on the fly. What wasn't she asked? What in game adjustments did you call for? How did you address the team's starting to play one-on-one when that wasn't the plan? In hindsight would a tougher schedule leading up to this game have served your team better? Look in the mirror Muffet.

I believe the reason she wasn't asked is because the local media never asks the tough questions. They toss the fluff balls to the coaches because they want to stay on the good side in case they want to do an in depth story or interview sometime in the future and will need cooperation. I can't remember a time when I've heard the UConn media ask Auriemma something like "Why didn't you do this"?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I believe the reason she wasn't asked is because the local media never asks the tough questions. They toss the fluff balls to the coaches because they want to stay on the good side in case they want to do an in depth story or interview sometime in the future and will need cooperation. I can't remember a time when I've heard the UConn media ask Auriemma something like "Why didn't you do this"?

I agree, but it is an unfortunate tendency. As far as Geno goes ... when was the last time he lost? But, seriously, the 4th Estate could do these cocooned coaches a service by not letting stuff slide. Going to happen, not much.