45:07 is what excites me about the coming year

[HuskylnSC]

The early message from the players was that they will keep in the front of the minds the disaster that was the final 45:07 of our last season. The time when we quit playing UConn ball and shattered dreams. CW, EW, and Ono all spoke about having the attitude of never taking a play off, of never quitting but continually striving. The attitude of not being satisfied with a win but of playing the game the right way for every minute. It has been a while since I have seen the killer attitude and am ready to see the entire team play hard the entire year. I want to see the mental toughness that bends every team to our will. #45:07

 

[eebmg]

I thought this was going to be a biblical verse.

 

[oldude]

I’m not sure I understand the 45:07 reference?

 

[hoopsfan22]

I’m not sure I understand the 45:07 reference?

Presumably there is a missing video link.

 

[eebmg]

I’m not sure I understand the 45:07 reference?

My guess is he is adding the 40 minutes of the Arizona Game + last 5+ minutes of Baylor game when we did not play well down the stretch and came within a ref call of losing.

 

[oldude]

My guess is he is adding the 40 minutes of the Arizona Game + last 5+ minutes of Baylor game when we did not play well down the stretch and came within a ref call of losing.

Maybe they should add in the last qtr of the Arkansas game and make it 55:07……..

 

[huskiemaniac]

Talk, schmalk.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[Jim R]

Talk, schmalk.

Or, in plain English....."talk is cheap"

 

[McFly]

Or, in plain English....."talk is cheap"

Not necessarily: an ex US president was once paid half a million dollars for a ninety minute speech. $5555.56 a minute is hardly cheap. I can recall a time when I didn't make $5000. in a year.

 

[CL82]

45:07 was the slogan for the men's team summer workouts. It was on the clock and Hurley had tee shirts made up. It refers to the last 5 minutes and 7 seconds of the Big East Championship after RJ Cole our starting point guard went out and the NCAA game against Maryland. The notion was that the team didn't compete at the levels it expects for those 45 minutes. It isn't applicable to the women's team.

 

[LoboDays]

Although, I believe that people are in charge of their attitude, they are also hostages to who they really are. After losing in the semis for the past few years, one would think the killer attitude would have been there last season. It’s also difficult to to just flick a switch and wham..a killer attitude. Especially when a team ends their regular season with 10 games against teams they could beat if they had an “ I may not get out of bed today” attitude.

 

[CL82]

Presumably there is a missing video link.

Or a video of the missing link. That would be interesting.

 

[Bama fan]

Although, I believe that people are in charge of their attitude, they are also hostages to who they really are. After losing in the semis for the past few years, one would think the killer attitude would have been there last season. It’s also difficult to to just flick a switch and wham..a killer attitude. Especially when a team ends their regular season with 10 games against teams they could beat if they had an “ I may not get out of bed today” attitude.

 

[tchalla1]

The early message from the players was that they will keep in the front of the minds the disaster that was the final 45:07 of our last season. The time when we quit playing UConn ball and shattered dreams. CW, EW, and Ono all spoke about having the attitude of never taking a play off, of never quitting but continually striving. The attitude of not being satisfied with a win but of playing the game the right way for every minute. It has been a while since I have seen the killer attitude and am ready to see the entire team play hard the entire year. I want to see the mental toughness that bends every team to our will. #45:07

So you've been in the preeminent basketball program in all the country for three years now, coached by two hall of fame coaches , supposedly the caretakers of a national championship-winning tradition and it takes you to your senior year to realize that you can't take plays off and you must develop a "never quit" attitude? Interesting.
I would think these would be absolute and engrained tenets by your third practice at UConn.

 

[ccwarrior]

So you've been in the preeminent basketball program in all the country for three years now, coached by two hall of fame coaches , supposedly the caretakers of a national championship-winning tradition and it takes you to your senior year to realize that you can't take plays off and you must develop a "never quit" attitude? Interesting.
I would think these would be absolute and engrained tenets by your third practice at UConn.

Bingo!

 

[Littlemin]

Although, I believe that people are in charge of their attitude, they are also hostages to who they really are. After losing in the semis for the past few years, one would think the killer attitude would have been there last season. It’s also difficult to to just flick a switch and wham..a killer attitude. Especially when a team ends their regular season with 10 games against teams they could beat if they had an “ I may not get out of bed today” attitude.

I agree with everything you wrote except the reference to the schedule which really contradicts your earlier point. You don’t develop a killer attitude by anything other than what is inside you; Uconn had close, challenging games leading up to the Arizona loss, probably as many as in many of their championship years. They still chose to take Arizona lightly, to me that is more dictated by “DNA” than schedule. One competes because a score is being kept, every time, that attitude doesn’t guarantee winning, but it does guarantee you never lose because you approached a game taking an opponent lightly.
Statistics be damned, I have posted before and will always feel the biggest, while far from the only, factor in the loss was not starting Muhl. it is (and always was) hindsight for sure but that doesn’t make it any less true.

 

[Bald Husky]

I think the team took these F4 teams lightly, and don't get crazy on me, but I think the coaches took the teams lightly. Maybe not lightly, but we have seen other coaches like Brenda and Jeff in their locker rooms before games. Their demeaner is usually very intense, as when ever we see Geno he talks to them like it was practice. Maybe he needs to get funky, take a lesson from Calhoun, get these girls worked up. He has to motivate them higher than when they play DePaul, etc. I can't ever forget what he has done here, but if he wants more NC than he has to do something different. You can't tell me that being in a lousy conference doesn't put them at a disadvantage when playing a team like Arizona, a team that has been battle tested all year in the PAC12.

 

[oldude]

I think the team took these F4 teams lightly, and don't get crazy on me, but I think the coaches took the teams lightly. Maybe not lightly, but we have seen other coaches like Brenda and Jeff in their locker rooms before games. Their demeaner is usually very intense, as when ever we see Geno he talks to them like it was practice. Maybe he needs to get funky, take a lesson from Calhoun, get these girls worked up. He has to motivate them higher than when they play DePaul, etc. I can't ever forget what he has done here, but if he wants more NC than he has to do something different. You can't tell me that being in a lousy conference doesn't put them at a disadvantage when playing a team like Arizona, a team that has been battle tested all year in the PAC12.

So you’re suggesting that the guy who’s won 11 national championships has a problem motivating his team for the national semifinals?

That’s a novel thought……….

 

[eebmg]

I think the team took these F4 teams lightly, and don't get crazy on me, but I think the coaches took the teams lightly. Maybe not lightly, but we have seen other coaches like Brenda and Jeff in their locker rooms before games. Their demeaner is usually very intense, as when ever we see Geno he talks to them like it was practice. Maybe he needs to get funky, take a lesson from Calhoun, get these girls worked up. He has to motivate them higher than when they play DePaul, etc. I can't ever forget what he has done here, but if he wants more NC than he has to do something different. You can't tell me that being in a lousy conference doesn't put them at a disadvantage when playing a team like Arizona, a team that has been battle tested all year in the PAC12.

Arizona and in particular Aari used the disrespect card beautifully. That can be very very powerful and at the same time, you cant blame such a young team from being so giddy and perhaps a bit to "full of themselves". And when reality hit in Q1, did not have the experience to recover.

 

[Bald Husky]

So you’re suggesting that the guy who’s won 11 national championships has a problem motivating his team for the national semifinals?

That’s a novel thought……….

Of course not, just saying that after 4 losses in a row someone has to stand up and rock the house. Maybe the captains, because hearing CW say they took the team lightly, well, that shouldn't happen, especially in a final 4. No disrespect for Geno, I love the guy. By the way, trying to remember, I believe they have been in 21 final fours, which means they lost 10 times in the semis'.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Of course not, just saying that after 4 losses in a row someone has to stand up and rock the house. Maybe the captains, because hearing CW say they took the team lightly, well, that shouldn't happen, especially in a final 4. No disrespect for Geno, I love the guy. By the way, trying to remember, I believe they have been in 21 final fours, which means they lost 10 times in the semis'.

However, they won all 11 Championship games (more than half-full). I'm pretty sure that makes Geno & CD the best "two day" turnaround coaches in the history of the college game.

Hopefully, the "good enough, we won didn't we?" attitude is a thing of the past, and they learn what Geno is trying to fine tune at the end of games sinks into each of their consciences early, and they learn to put away the games by halftime, and keep their "feet on the accelerator" through the rest of the game, so the non-starters and third string can learn the same thing. That way they can "keep it learned" as a program like in the days of Mo Jeff, Tuck, and Stewie....

 

[LoboDays]

So you’re suggesting that the guy who’s won 11 national championships has a problem motivating his team for the national semifinals?

That’s a novel thought……….

If you agree with the starter of this thread, there is a problem at the coaching level. In the past, recruiting and practice was all that was needed. They were superior to any team out there. Motivation was not that important. Now, in order to win the NC, they must play teams with enough talent to compete with them. So, what separates the winners and the losers. It’s a mindset that the coach must instill in his/her players. A refuse to lose- drag me bloody off the court- you are not beating me tonight attitude. That’s motivation. And, that’s what is missing…..and that’s the coach.

 

[LoboDays]

I agree with everything you wrote except the reference to the schedule which really contradicts your earlier point. You don’t develop a killer attitude by anything other than what is inside you; Uconn had close, challenging games leading up to the Arizona loss, probably as many as in many of their championship years. They still chose to take Arizona lightly, to me that is more dictated by “DNA” than schedule. One competes because a score is being kept, every time, that attitude doesn’t guarantee winning, but it does guarantee you never lose because you approached a game taking an opponent lightly.
Statistics be damned, I have posted before and will always feel the biggest, while far from the only, factor in the loss was not starting Muhl. it is (and always was) hindsight for sure but that doesn’t make it any less true.

I agree with your point….it must be inside you.. but sometimes players need to be encouraged to bring it out. That’s been lacking.

 

[hoophuskee]

So you've been in the preeminent basketball program in all the country for three years now, coached by two hall of fame coaches , supposedly the caretakers of a national championship-winning tradition and it takes you to your senior year to realize that you can't take plays off and you must develop a "never quit" attitude? Interesting.
I would think these would be absolute and engrained tenets by your third practice at UConn.

I wouldn't take her comments too literal. Anytime a team gets beaten and it's considered a big upset - nearly all the time the players will say "We weren't ready to play." If you lose yet overall yet your team was considered quite a bit better and it didn't come down to a final shot or two - what are you supposed to say?

 

[jchusky]

So you've been in the preeminent basketball program in all the country for three years now, coached by two hall of fame coaches , supposedly the caretakers of a national championship-winning tradition and it takes you to your senior year to realize that you can't take plays off and you must develop a "never quit" attitude? Interesting.
I would think these would be absolute and engrained tenets by your third practice at UConn.

agreed, I hate this sour grapes attitude. "We weren't ready to play" It's a final 4 game, if you can't get up for that I'd be concerned

 

[cohenzone]

I wouldn't take her comments too literal. Anytime a team gets beaten and it's considered a big upset - nearly all the time the players will say "We weren't ready to play." If you lose yet overall yet your team was considered quite a bit better and it didn't come down to a final shot or two - what are you supposed to say?

I agree. Was going to post something similar.

 

[#12in21]

I would agree with the sentiment of Littlemin's post. Unfortunately Nika was still not recovered from the ankle injury for the Arizona game, that was obvious by how she moved. I truly believe that had she been she would have started and it would have been a different game. I think Geno believed that as well. She was out there playing, in the limited way she could and obviously not yet recovered, not because she was fully back but to motive her teammates. Geno said during the season that it was a different team with her on the floor, and that it was a better team. She was the fire, an unquenchable energy - a player that could play angry. Ari may have gotten around her a number of times but help may have been there more, double teams harassing her more - the huskies may have adjusted early in the game to play 'angrier' and fought harder with more indignation if the pre injury Muhl showed up for that game.

Nika repeatedly in various interviews during the season said what she brought to the team was 'being that energy guy'. Geno commented that Nika's exuberance at setting a great pick was like she had hit a three to win the NC. At any huddle on the court you could see her arms around her teammates and her lips moving. Remember the game, during the last few seconds when the opposing player was actually trying to steal the ball when she was dribbling down the clock - post game at his interview Geno was cracking up saying Nika was really pissed. Geno has said that no one took the Arizona loss harder than Nika and she has said she never wants to feel that way again. She is intensity personified, and in my opinion we badly needed that in the Arizona game. Maybe we still lose that game -not downplaying Arizona's game - but it would have been a different game with a healthy Nika Muhl.

 

[FormerCTrez]

If you agree with the starter of this thread, there is a problem at the coaching level. In the past, recruiting and practice was all that was needed. They were superior to any team out there. Motivation was not that important. Now, in order to win the NC, they must play teams with enough talent to compete with them. So, what separates the winners and the losers. It’s a mindset that the coach must instill in his/her players. A refuse to lose- drag me bloody off the court- you are not beating me tonight attitude. That’s motivation. And, that’s what is missing…..and that’s the coach.

I respect your opinion, but disagree that the team lacks motivation, especially from the coaches. I believe what was missing was the efficiency, or a lack of efficiency in shooting. I am not going to name players, but there were numerous times when the ball didn’t make it inside the basket, even when the player(s) was/were next to it. Hopefully the team remains healthy, and everyone comes plays with determination and grit.

PS: Like most fans, I’m anxiously awaiting the start of the season

 

[fan4eva]

Although, I believe that people are in charge of their attitude, they are also hostages to who they really are. After losing in the semis for the past few years, one would think the killer attitude would have been there last season. It’s also difficult to to just flick a switch and wham..a killer attitude. Especially when a team ends their regular season with 10 games against teams they could beat if they had an “ I may not get out of bed today” you're absolutely correct Ono and CW were there before when they played Phessa and Crystal and they both played the same way they played last year especially Ono who really hasn't developed into the dominant big we thought she'd be in the end talent wins out and they had better talent last year which is what new got them to the finals with the infusion of talent they should go further if the new talent plays up to it's potential