A FEW UCONN QUESTIONS FROM A GUEST

[Bestiarius]

Great, concise recap, Alex!

Yes Alex A++. Fantastic piece of writing. If I was editor of Sports Illustrated, I'd be offering you a job!

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Krista Gross is one of the few players in recent years to turn down Stanford (players have to be admitted to the school academically before an official basketball scholarship offer can be extended).

The other was Skylar Diggins.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Krista Gross is one of the few players in recent years to turn down Stanford (players have to be admitted to the school academically before an official basketball scholarship offer can be extended).

The other was Skylar Diggins.

If recent is an operative word, then Sue Bird id not on this list, but she definitley got accepted to Stanford.

 

[Kibitzer]

If recent is an operative word, then Sue Bird id not on this list, but she definitley got accepted to Stanford.

I guess being a Bird is one thing, becoming a Cardinal is another.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

If recent is an operative word, then Sue Bird id not on this list, but she definitley got accepted to Stanford.

I was thinking 2008 onward when I said "recent."

Was not aware that Bird was admitted to Stanford. As I recall, Kara Lawson admitted as well, so that would have been another player to turn down the Cardinal from yesteryear.

 

[EricLA]

The incident was in 2005 and involved Geno and Cappie although backstory really involved Rutgers player Matee Ajavon. The game was at the XL center and Ajavon was talking trash the entire game. Most of Ajavon's words were directed at Ann Strother and involved the unfortunate Rick Lopez situation. With just under 4 mins left in the game (UConn was up double digits) Charde Houston was shooting FTs and Ajavon was running her mouth at Charde. By then Geno had enough and told referee Dennis DeMayo "you need to tell her [Ajavon] to shut the hell up." That's all he said as quoted by the BE's Barb Jacobs who was courtside. Cappie thought Geno was talking to her or about her and proceeded to flip Geno the bird. Geno responded by pointing to the scoreboard. At the end of the game in the handshake line Cappie pointed her finger in Geno's chest and said something that stunned Geno. Stringer, clueless to what happened by her own admission and no stranger to hyperbole, chose to throw gasoline on the fire by accusing Geno of saying something that was ``unbecoming a coach to any player, at any time, anywhere.'' It was later reported that Rutgers AD Mulcahy told Stringer that Geno used profane language which in this case was "hell." The BE investigated, Geno was exonerated, Mulcahy apologized, Geno and Cappie are fine and Geno and CViv are fine.

I did not know that entire story Cat. Thanks for summarizing it. I had no idea Matee was such a thug. To be riding Ann for the disgusting actions of Lopez was completely classless and bush league. I can see, in the heat of the game, where Cappie would get all fired up thinking Geno was talking about her to the ref. Makes me lose a lot of respect for Matee.

 

[pinotbear]

..and, C Viv gets riled up about what Geno didn't say to Cappie, and says nothing about what Ajavon did say to Strother. And, does so to the media: and, doesn't apologize about it when she was completely wrong. This is why I wasn't gonna write a tuition check to Rutgers.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

..and, C Viv gets riled up about what Geno didn't say to Cappie, and says nothing about what Ajavon did say to Strother. And, does so to the media: and, doesn't apologize about it when she was completely wrong. This is why I wasn't gonna write a tuition check to Rutgers.

To the best of my knowledge, it was always Charde that Ajavon was riding. I got this from someone who ought to know, apparently she was riding the "your mother wears army boots" in whatever way this is said nowadays. Charde took it personally, got upset and it affected her game. Whether any of it was intended personally, I have no idea.

Matee was a serious trash talker and my least favorite RU "star". OTH, I always heard her trash talking was star quality stuff, but never personal. Perhaps she screwed up this time.

 

[UConnCat]

..and, C Viv gets riled up about what Geno didn't say to Cappie, and says nothing about what Ajavon did say to Strother. And, does so to the media: and, doesn't apologize about it when she was completely wrong. This is why I wasn't gonna write a tuition check to Rutgers.

Geno and the program really didn't want to go down the road of what Ajavon said and to whom and I'm sure didn't want Stringer to go there publicly either. Geno never mentioned Ajavon by name, saying only that Stringer knew "zero" about what happened and that it involved "one of her other players" and not Cappie. The UConn program circled the wagons around Annie during this difficult time and never mentioned one word about the Lopez situation. Ajavon was (is?) a known trash-talker but that night she took it to a new low.

 

[UConnCat]

To the best of my knowledge, it was always Charde that Ajavon was riding. I got this from someone who ought to know, apparently she was riding the "your mother wears army boots" in whatever way this is said nowadays. Charde took it personally, got upset and it affected her game. Whether any of it was intended personally, I have no idea.

Matee was a serious trash talker and my least favorite RU "star". OTH, I always heard her trash talking was star quality stuff, but never personal. Perhaps she screwed up this time.

Charde was definitely on the receiving end that night, including at the end of the game when Geno asked DeMayo to step in. But comments were also directed at Strother as well.

 

[alexrgct]

As recruiting has started earlier and earlier in the process, there are also kids who have the academic credential to get into Stanford but don't try because theyve decided to go another direction beforehand. I believe that Courtney Ekmark received interest from Stanford, and am confident she would have been admitted, but she bought into the UConn value proposition early and decided to go with it.

 

[cabbie191]

3) Do you guys get tired of winning the Big East every year, and get tired of going to the Final Four about every year?

It never gets tiring but for the good of WCBB overall and the Big East in particular, I am glad when other teams can challenge us.

5) Do you love the UCONN men and women equally.... or are you more of a fan of the women's team?[/quote]

Love the women, like and respect the men.

I'm one of the few on this board who doesn't hold animosity towards Tennessee. I really enjoyed the rivalry and wish Summitt had chosen to continue the games. That said, I would root for Rutgers over Tennessee and BC - first loyalty to the Huskies, second to the conference. I know it isn't the students' fault but I still view BC as a traitor - not that they left, but how they left.

I live in Wisconsin - the only time I've been to see games at Storrs has been when visiting my brother in Hartford for Thanksgiving when going to the tournament. It isn't that bad a drive but then again school is out, etc. On the other hand, I went to the NCAA tournament games at URI last spring and that was the worst example of traffic management I've ever experienced!

 

[Bestiarius]

As recruiting has started earlier and earlier in the process, there are also kids who have the academic credential to get into Stanford but don't try because theyve decided to go another direction beforehand. I believe that Courtney Ekmark received interest from Stanford, and am confident she would have been admitted, but she bought into the UConn value proposition early and decided to go with it.

I consider going to Stanford when having an offer from Uconn a Cardinal sin.

 

[Fightin Choke]

I have not liked Notre Dame since they went for the tie back in 1966. Otherwise, I have no hatred for any player, coach, or team.

Wow, that really goes back. You sure do hold a grudge. That also makes you odler than me! From what I have read, there was little time left (70 seconds) and Notre Dame had suffered several injuries that day, losing their starting quarterback, running back, and center. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Notre Dame destroyed USC the next week and were voted National Champions.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Wow, that really goes back. You sure do hold a grudge. That also makes you odler than me! From what I have read, there was little time left (70 seconds) and Notre Dame had suffered several injuries that day, losing their starting quarterback, running back, and center. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Notre Dame destroyed USC the next week and were voted National Champions.

Neither a competitive team nor a competitor plays for a tie. It just goes against everything that competition is supposed to comprise. Notre Dame walked off the field quite happy with a tie. Fans, like myself, wonder how a team is then awarded the number one ranking based on settling for a tie. If you are the number one team, you are supposed to beat your nearest competitor. A tie, theoretically means that the two teams are equally good.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I did not know that entire story Cat. Thanks for summarizing it. I had no idea Matee was such a thug. To be riding Ann for the disgusting actions of Lopez was completely classless and bush league. I can see, in the heat of the game, where Cappie would get all fired up thinking Geno was talking about her to the ref. Makes me lose a lot of respect for Matee.

Oh, so trash talking makes a player a thug? Did you honestly have any respect for Ms Ajavon prior to UConn Cat's post?

I have read and heard so many different variations of what went on that game, I do not believe anyone here really knows exactly what happened. Just bits and pieces of the truth sprinkled with fallacy: Believable, in large part, because of perceptions.

 

[EricLA]

Oh, so trash talking makes a player a thug? Did you honestly have any respect for Ms Ajavon prior to UConn Cat's post?

I have read and heard so many different variations of what went on that game, I do not believe anyone here really knows exactly what happened. Just bits and pieces of the truth sprinkled with fallacy: Believable, in large part, because of perceptions.

um, making snide comments to a player regarding predatory sexual molestation that took place in their life makes them much worse than a thug, but other words i used were blacked out by the Boneyard program. Frankly I'm not sure why you are even questioning my post except to look for some kind of argument with regards to how I phrased it.

But to answer your question, I generally "like", or "root for", or "respect" players that graduated from the BE or other programs i like as well (Stanford, Duke, etc). But when I hear something like that about one of those players, it makes me "dislike", "not root for", or "lose respect" for that player.

 

[Waquoit]

8) Yes UCONN is hard to get to. it's all surface streets for about a half hour to the campus. not right off any freeways...

Huh? It's a straight 7 miles from a 3-lane highway. No turns, no nothing. That's hard?

 

[UcMiami]

Huh? It's a straight 7 miles from a 3-lane highway. No turns, no nothing. That's hard?

Hey, there are like three lights, a couple of tricky intersections, some farms with cows (if you get my meaning, phew!) and some sections don't even have street lights!!! Maybe it isn't exactly Manhattan at rush hour, but there can be a few extra cars on the road! It may only be seven miles but ...

 

[Icebear]

Hey, there are like three lights, a couple of tricky intersections, some farms with cows (if you get my meaning, phew!) and some sections don't even have street lights!!! Maybe it isn't exactly Manhattan at rush hour, but there can be a few extra cars on the road! It may only be seven miles but ...

The city folk need to be exposed to that fresh air to understand what we country folk endure to bring them milk, burgers, pork chops and fried chicken.

 

[pinotbear]

Hey, there are like three lights, a couple of tricky intersections, some farms with cows (if you get my meaning, phew!)

For many years, the high school softball team I helped coach would have a road game at Woodstock Academy, in Woodstock, CT. We'd have to drive past a dairy farm or two, and some of the players would make loud complaints about the "dairy air". I'd inhale deeply, and make a pronounced satisfied sigh. In moderation, it's an aroma that brings back some fond memories of my childhood, growing up near such farms, and working one summer on a small cattle farm.

Having said that, when I visit my older daughter, south of Phoenix, I sometimes drive past cattle feed lots. There are thousands of head of cattle, and their efluvia has to be removed, and piled..i.e., concentrated. That'll make yer eyes burn.

 

[Bestiarius]

The city folk need to be exposed to that fresh air to understand what we country folk endure to bring them milk, burgers, pork chops and fried chicken.

City folk don't trust air they can't see.

 

[alexrgct]

Parts of the seven mile stretch of 195 from I-84 can be jammed up before a game, though if arrive an hour or so early, you won't hit much traffic and you can grab a bite.

It's not hard to find, just not near any of the state's population centers.

 

[UcMiami]

Parts of the seven mile stretch of 195 from I-84 can be jammed up before a game, though if arrive an hour or so early, you won't hit much traffic and you can grab a bite.

It's not hard to find, just not near any of the state's population centers.

The other side of this is for those of us that live close to campus. Uconn has proceeded to make it almost impossible to drive through campus so my sleepy little winding road has turned into the fast track to circumnavigate. On men's or women's game nights the road is impassable and I have to schedule trips from home based on start/finish times of the games. I was very happy football was moved off campus!!!

 

[EricLA]

Huh? It's a straight 7 miles from a 3-lane highway. No turns, no nothing. That's hard?

My point was it's in the middle of nowhere. It's not like it's close to major cities or interesting places. It's called "Snorrz" for a reason.