A thought regarding choices by top recruits.

[mhshuskies]

Do you think there may actually be less stress on a top recruit at UCONN vs. other schools? Does a top recruit feel she has to be the savior of a program at other schools? A top recruit may feel they have to carry more of a team load somewhere else. Would Cox have a sense of less of a load to carry at UCONN that would allow her to just be the player she can be?

 

[Buzzyboy]

Do you think there may actually be less stress on a top recruit at UCONN vs. other schools? Does a top recruit feel she has to be the savior of a program at other schools? A top recruit may feel they have to carry more of a team load somewhere else. Would Cox have a sense of less of a load to carry at UCONN that would allow her to just be the player she can be?

That's a good perspective!

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I am not sure that - for a player at UConn - it really matters. The expectations at UConn are about playing your best, living up to the team's standards, etc.

For other teams, I think that any coach who asks a new player to be the savior of the program - when they arrive, immediately - is unfair and unrealistic. I believe CVS spoke against this concept in one of her talks, possibly responding to a fan question. It may be that a recruit may be expected to contribute and may be expected to grow into a team leader, but putting that kind of burden on them when they arrive is just wrong.

 

[hjoerring]

I don't think its Uconn vs all the others, as your statement could be read. Obviously, if you are ranked #1 in your class and you are headed to a program where all the others are 60 and below, you may feel a certain burden. If Uconn is without a real PG and it was the difference between a NC and 2nd place, the incoming PG will feel a lot of pressure. I'm sure that Geno and McGraw are willing to stroke the ego of a #1 recruit by saying 'we just won the NC, etc.' There will always be pressure on a top 10 recruit to live up to their ranking and quiet the 'I told you so ...'

 

[NickyNewark]

I'm just amazed teenage girls or guys would turn something meant to be fun into stress....this ain't exactly the Marine Corps during wartime. I think us fans are the ones suffering from the stress.

 

[billnaples]

I'm just amazed teenage girls or guys would turn something meant to be fun into stress....this ain't exactly the Marine Corps during wartime. I think us fans are the ones suffering from the stress.

To a 17-18 year old kid for whom basketball will provide a free education and for a select few may provide an opportunity beyond college for more significant income (certainly a lot more for the guys) this is a stressful time. Is it life and death? Not in the true sense of course. But what that education, experience, and post college potential is worth so much to so many of these kids if you ain't been there you can't know what they go through.

 

[Wbbfan1]

I think many of the Top Recruits end up being disappointed on how UConn recruits them compared to other programs. With Geno/CD and the other coaches its Yes we're interested in you(player) joining our program and we'll make you the best player you can be. Now its up to you to decide if you want to join our program. Our accomplishments speak for themselves and if you don't join our program, we'll be okay because another player will.

No over the top recruiting praising players and going out of the way to make the player feel indispensable and will be the future of the program. Recruits and families aren't catered to. I suspect while other schools are in constant contact with recruits, UConn's approach is we're here and call us any time you want. Not saying UConn is not calling recruits, just that the number of calls initiated by the coaching staff is fewer then many other schools.

I've talked to a number of the families of UConn players and they all say the same. UConn's method of recruiting is different then other schools and they can get away with it because of who they are.

 

[NickyNewark]

To a 17-18 year old kid for whom basketball will provide a free education and for a select few may provide an opportunity beyond college for more significant income (certainly a lot more for the guys) this is a stressful time. Is it life and death? Not in the true sense of course. But what that education, experience, and post college potential is worth so much to so many of these kids if you ain't been there you can't know what they go through.

I had to pay to send my kids to college....i wished i had to only stress about where...to most thats stress.

 

[billnaples]

I had to pay to send my kids to college....i wished i had to only stress about where...to most thats stress.

So let me understand this. Sounds like you are claiming stress because you choose to pony up the funds for your kids to attend college. Maybe they could have gone the community college route. Maybe they could have worked their way thru school. Maybe student loans. So you're mad because these kids have the skills to generate interest in them from the coach at one or more schools who will then throw a free ride at them to come play a game, Stress or envy?

 

[UcMiami]

Webfan1 - agree that Uconn tends to have a different approach than most other colleges - and it starts with desperation for the others - but I am pretty sure there is constant contact from Uconn for the Maya's and Breanna's of the world - they make sure they are in the stands at lots of games, even for those that have already committed. Now they probably aren't sending 14 letters a week to recruits, but that also comes just from prominence of the program - Uconn's presence in a gym is noted by local sports writers and everyone in the gym points them out, college needs more push to get noticed at all.
The sugar coating is where the largest contrast comes in - and it depends on the personality of the family members if that is seen as a negative or a positive. I don't get the sense that most elite players Uconn recruits are disappointed by Uconn's approach, and it seems every player takes Uconn's interest as a positive affirmation of their worth.

 

[CocoHusky]

Do you think there may actually be less stress on a top recruit at UCONN vs. other schools? Does a top recruit feel she has to be the savior of a program at other schools? A top recruit may feel they have to carry more of a team load somewhere else. Would Cox have a sense of less of a load to carry at UCONN that would allow her to just be the player she can be?

Good question.
I think there is more stress if a top recruit chooses to go elsewhere because regardless of where you go as Muffett said “To win a national championship you have to go through UCONN”.

 

[CocoHusky]

I think many of the Top Recruits end up being disappointed on how UConn recruits them compared to other programs. With Geno/CD and the other coaches its Yes we're interested in you(player) joining our program and we'll make you the best player you can be. Now its up to you to decide if you want to join our program. Our accomplishments speak for themselves and if you don't join our program, we'll be okay because another player will.

No over the top recruiting praising players and going out of the way to make the player feel indispensable and will be the future of the program. Recruits and families aren't catered to. I suspect while other schools are in constant contact with recruits, UConn's approach is we're here and call us any time you want. Not saying UConn is not calling recruits, just that the number of calls initiated by the coaching staff is fewer then many other schools.

I've talked to a number of the families of UConn players and they all say the same. UConn's method of recruiting is different then other schools and they can get away with it because of who they are.

You had me in complete agreement up until that little bolded phrase. UCONN is not getting away with anything. Geno has build the program to the level of prosperity and earned the right to apply this recruiting method to sustain the program. Yes, some players and parents will be turned off by this method but it works for UCONN and UCONN only. On the men's side coach K uses the exact same philosophy-Works for Duke men also.

 

[alexrgct]

I think many of the Top Recruits end up being disappointed on how UConn recruits them compared to other programs. With Geno/CD and the other coaches its Yes we're interested in you(player) joining our program and we'll make you the best player you can be. Now its up to you to decide if you want to join our program. Our accomplishments speak for themselves and if you don't join our program, we'll be okay because another player will.

No over the top recruiting praising players and going out of the way to make the player feel indispensable and will be the future of the program. Recruits and families aren't catered to. I suspect while other schools are in constant contact with recruits, UConn's approach is we're here and call us any time you want. Not saying UConn is not calling recruits, just that the number of calls initiated by the coaching staff is fewer then many other schools.

I've talked to a number of the families of UConn players and they all say the same. UConn's method of recruiting is different then other schools and they can get away with it because of who they are.

I won't disagree with you word-for-word here, but did you ever speak to Kerry Bascom, Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Shea Ralph, Tamika Williams, Diana Taurasi, Annie Strother, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, or Katie Lou Samuelson? I ask because those names represent a very large sample size of watershed recruits who signed up for UConn as a result of recruiting approaches you may be criticizing unfairly.

 

[iamcbs]

I believe choosinig a school for a top college recruit in any sport isn't much different from a non-athlete choosing a school. For any 17-19-year-old young person. It comes down to a few things; do I really feel comfortable here, how good is the course of study I want to pursue, what's the off-campus life like, can I see myself being successful here for the next 4 years of my life, what will my job prospects be when I graduate? For an athlete there are a few more considerations such as Coaching Staff, does the program fit my talents, how well do I get along with teammates, can my family get to games on regular basis, what is the 4-year trajectory of the program and me as a indvidual. It's a really tough decision in either case. I remember having to make it as a teenager, I chose the Army, lol. For me that was the best decision, I did attend college after I got out and earned multiple degrees. I have a lot of empathy for top recruits, for them it's definitely harder, with people pulling you in so many different directions and a plethora blowing smoke up your ass, everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should do with your life, while they bear none of the consequences of the decision that you have to make. I don't envy them or their parents.

 

[alexrgct]

To address the OP, it's complicated. Rebecca Lobo has stated ex post facto she specifically wanted to join an up-and-coming program and push it over the top. Thus, there wasn't as much pressure for her in all likelihood. Nowadays, someone like Breanna Stewart embraced the expectations of the UConn program and said before she played a minute of WCBB that she wanted to win four NCs at UConn. Courtney Ekmark said the same thing.

So it depends. I can't speak for Lauren Cox, but winning NCs happens to almost every Uconn recruiting class from 1991 on (excluding 1995 and 2004...and 2004 was close in 2008). Given that, there can't be THAT much pressure...unless Charde Houston or Ketia Swanier felt any, especially with Mel and Kalana on the bench watching UConn lose a game to a team it defeated handily at full strength earlier in the season...

 

[hjoerring]

I think many of the Top Recruits end up being disappointed on how UConn recruits them compared to other programs. With Geno/CD and the other coaches its Yes we're interested in you(player) joining our program and we'll make you the best player you can be. Now its up to you to decide if you want to join our program. Our accomplishments speak for themselves and if you don't join our program, we'll be okay because another player will.

No over the top recruiting praising players and going out of the way to make the player feel indispensable and will be the future of the program. Recruits and families aren't catered to. I suspect while other schools are in constant contact with recruits, UConn's approach is we're here and call us any time you want. Not saying UConn is not calling recruits, just that the number of calls initiated by the coaching staff is fewer then many other schools.

I've talked to a number of the families of UConn players and they all say the same. UConn's method of recruiting is different then other schools and they can get away with it because of who they are.

I have never spoken to a player- much less a lot of them but, I think for the top players Geno has been willing to drive/fly as many times as necessary to get a positive answer, if he has a positive feel. Of course if you are George Washington U and you have the possibility of getting a local girl out of the hands of the big schools you are likely to try everything including dancing (we now have info that a men's bb school hired young women to entertain recruits). Where Uconn, ND, Duke and the other Bigs separate themselves is the feeding below the belt. There the players come begging. I think it's crazy to think, today, that it is enough to dangle NC banners and a top recruit will come running.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I think many of the Top Recruits end up being disappointed on how UConn recruits them compared to other programs. With Geno/CD and the other coaches its Yes we're interested in you(player) joining our program and we'll make you the best player you can be. Now its up to you to decide if you want to join our program. Our accomplishments speak for themselves and if you don't join our program, we'll be okay because another player will.

No over the top recruiting praising players and going out of the way to make the player feel indispensable and will be the future of the program. Recruits and families aren't catered to. I suspect while other schools are in constant contact with recruits, UConn's approach is we're here and call us any time you want. Not saying UConn is not calling recruits, just that the number of calls initiated by the coaching staff is fewer then many other schools.

I've talked to a number of the families of UConn players and they all say the same. UConn's method of recruiting is different then other schools and they can get away with it because of who they are.

What's ironic is that I think that's the way UConn recruited from day 1 of Geno's career in Storrs, even when to many, it was UConn WHO??? Before they established themselves as a truly special place for top recruits to end up. Somehow it worked out really well, didn't it????

 

[MJL243]

Shea Ralph on recruiting:

Ralph called Geno Auriemma, the Connecticut coach, to ask what kind of role he envisioned for her at UConn. It is not uncommon for coaches to promise starting positions and a minimum number of minutes playing time for highly promising recruits. However, Auriemma responded, "I don't know. If you are really, really good, then you'll have a chance to play a lot. But if you suck, you won't play at all." Shortly thereafter, she made a recruiting visit to UConn, and told the coach she was ready to commit to Connecticut.
"Coach Auriemma was the only coach that told me if I was really good I'd play a lot, and if I sucked I wasn't playing." Auriemma read the quote in the paper and "almost [fell] off his chair". He called her to say, "Geez, Shea. Did you have to say that in the paper?"

 

[vtcwbuff]

I'm just amazed teenage girls or guys would turn something meant to be fun into stress....this ain't exactly the Marine Corps during wartime. I think us fans are the ones suffering from the stress.

There is probably more stress when they learn that they would have to give up their "media devices" during the season. I sat in the stands near the Tulane and USF teams during the conference tournament last year and 90% of the players were texting during the game. They were probably texting a team mate sitting next to them. Most had ear buds. Few were paying attention to the game.

 

[BroadwayVa]

To a 17-18 year old kid for whom basketball will provide a free education and for a select few may provide an opportunity beyond college for more significant income (certainly a lot more for the guys) this is a stressful time. Is it life and death? Not in the true sense of course. But what that education, experience, and post college potential is worth so much to so many of these kids if you ain't been there you can't know what they go through.

I like your posting Bill---no one except the kid in that position will ever know.
My take, just pure fabrication, is that Geno expects ALL players/recruits to play at their potential and will push those that accept it to the limit. If you are in an environment where everyone is held to high standards --that becomes the standard.
Geno has in the past allowed exceptional player to sit on the bench and not start and to feel the flow of the game. Few have had the demands to "perform" as freshmen, only one I can think of was (IMO) even thought to be the "savior" of the team and that came in her Soph, Jr, Sr years We have XXX and they don't..
Christine Dailey I believe tries to blunt heavy expectations for underclassmen.

 

[BroadwayVa]

There is probably more stress when they learn that they would have to give up their "media devices" during the season. I sat in the stands near the Tulane and USF teams during the conference tournament last year and 90% of the players were texting during the game. They were probably texting a team mate sitting next to them. Most had ear buds. Few were paying attention to the game.

Just think how far that would fly with Geno/Christine~~!!! My opinion? Stupid Coach!

 

[BroadwayVa]

I won't disagree with you word-for-word here, but did you ever speak to Kerry Bascom, Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Shea Ralph, Tamika Williams, Diana Taurasi, Annie Strother, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, or Katie Lou Samuelson? I ask because those names represent a very large sample size of watershed recruits who signed up for UConn as a result of recruiting approaches you may be criticizing unfairly.

If I offend I apologize in advance--But I didn't read WBBFan1 as you did. I saw nothing I determined to be criticizing fairly or unfairly. For the most part that's pretty much what has been posted as what Shea Ralph said and Geno "almost fell off his chair " reading . From all I've read Geno only offers the potential to reach your potential and maybe an NC.

 

[Wbbfan1]

I was not criticizing Geno's approach to recruiting in my two paragraphs. I was stating what Geno/CD's approach to recruiting is. Yes, I have spoken to some of the families of the players you identified. For the most part the ones I have spoken to agree with my generalization previously written. All have said UConn doesn't recruit like other schools do. Generally UConn makes their pitch on what they can offer to a recruit and use their history of accomplishments to get the point across. Then its up to the recruit, if the recruit/family doesn't show a high level of interest in UConn, Geno and the coaching staff tend to move on. They don't continue to recruit/contact players while many other schools will continue to pursue players even after they have given verbals to other schools in hopes of changing the recruits mind.


QUOTE="alexrgct, post: 1450670, member: 198"]I won't disagree with you word-for-word here, but did you ever speak to Kerry Bascom, Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Shea Ralph, Tamika Williams, Diana Taurasi, Annie Strother, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, or Katie Lou Samuelson? I ask because those names represent a very large sample size of watershed recruits who signed up for UConn as a result of recruiting approaches you may be criticizing unfairly.[/QUOTE]

 

[vtcwbuff]

Some posters zeroed in on that one phrase "they can get away with it" and automatically interpreted it as a negative or critical comment when in fact it is just the opposite.

Context is important when reading too.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Do you think there may actually be less stress on a top recruit at UCONN vs. other schools? Does a top recruit feel she has to be the savior of a program at other schools? A top recruit may feel they have to carry more of a team load somewhere else. Would Cox have a sense of less of a load to carry at UCONN that would allow her to just be the player she can be?

Only if they haven't been paying attention. Enigmatic, no?