Afraid of Competition? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Afraid of Competition?

I really was stunned by the way this team wasn't ready for the challenge of the Final Four this year. Let's hope they learned from the loss and get the new players up to speed in a hurry. The OP is correct, many fans out there disappointed that the NC isn't just being dropped in the Husky's laps. The one that got me the one that said Cardoso not coming to UConn is "on Geno."
The expectation is not that a championship should be dropped into our laps, the expectation is that the UCONN players (who are very capable) will rise to the occasion and secure another championship. Nearly all the players have stated this as part of their expectation for coming to UCONN-to play in big games and win championships.
 
I really was stunned by the way this team wasn't ready for the challenge of the Final Four this year. Let's hope they learned from the loss and get the new players up to speed in a hurry. The OP is correct, many fans out there disappointed that the NC isn't just being dropped in the Husky's laps. The one that got me the one that said Cardoso not coming to UConn is "on Geno."
Very, very young team last season.
I expect them to be much more “seasoned” this coming trip.
 
At the time, I thought Brenda was wise to take a team of offensively minded players and run with it. Now I'm not so sure, and I think she should listen to something Geno's said many times: If we play great defense the offense will take care of itself.

I'm with all the others who have said, we've been clamoring for parity, and I'm glad there are so many good teams out there. I still think it's UConn, then a few teams, then everyone else. But not by so much as it was a week or two ago.
Geno has said that many times but he also teaches great offense, he teaches movement without the ball, he values players that can pass, especially a big from the high post. He recruits offensive players then gets them to buy into playing defense at this level to win NC's. That is why he is the MASTER
 
Hey UConn is loaded. Really loaded. Who would your rather have Cardoso or Fudd.
If I was forced to choose just 1, I would much rather have Cardoso - she would give UConn better odds to win a Title. Can't teach an athletic 6'7" who already is great defensively & can score 15+ a night. She would have the greatest "impact" - even though Azzi might have comparable or better stats.
 
Hey UConn is loaded. Really loaded. Who would your rather have Cardoso or Fudd. I'll take Fudd. We have the best backcourt in WCBB with depth we have 6'5 6'5 6'5 6'4 and we have depth at every position and lets not forget Dorka and Edwards to bigs down low that are stong . Yeah we're really good. Where does all the scoring come from? The perimeter not down low. Bigs tend to get in foul trouble more then perimeter players. I dont think some of you who are abscessed with height see that. UConn is really really good. Top teams are gonna have a tuff time stopping UConns scoring. All the great UConn teams were led by great guards. UConn is there again.

This post seems rather rose colored. Why is the comparison Cardoso vs Fudd? Fudd is an unproven freshman coming off a major injury. Who knows what she will do? If you want to compare rosters and incoming roster changes make it apples to apples. Compare incoming freshmen to incoming freshmen. Compare transfers to transfers. You have three teams that are really close if it was me 1. Stanford 2. SC 3. Uconn. Really the teams are not separate by much, but none is heads and shoulder better than the other.
 
This post seems rather rose colored. Why is the comparison Cardoso vs Fudd? Fudd is an unproven freshman coming off a major injury. Who knows what she will do? If you want to compare rosters and incoming roster changes make it apples to apples. Compare incoming freshmen to incoming freshmen. Compare transfers to transfers. You have three teams that are really close if it was me 1. Stanford 2. SC 3. Uconn. Really the teams are not separate by much, but none is heads and shoulder better than the other.
Stanford/SC/Uconn are clearly 1..2..3.. the order is irrelevant..Pencil all three in the final 4 in 2022...and maybe NCST...and let em fight it out!
 
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Very, very young team last season.
I expect them to be much more “seasoned” this coming trip.
So do I. But it's not a given. Not too many Husky teams were punched in the mouth like they were in that last game. We need to see how they respond.
 
If I was forced to choose just 1, I would much rather have Cardoso - she would give UConn better odds to win a Title. Can't teach an athletic 6'7" who already is great defensively & can score 15+ a night. She would have the greatest "impact" - even though Azzi might have comparable or better stats.
Is this for next season or college career? for college career I would take Azzi and feel pretty confident with that.
 
So do I. But it's not a given. Not too many Husky teams were punched in the mouth like they were in that last game. We need to see how they respond.

What is ever a given?

It's amazing when you lose to a team that you are better than we can use the expression "Not too many Husky teams were punched in the mouth like they were in that last game," but yet after every loss vs an inferior team that isn't elite- isn't this what exactly has happened?

For example, the game vs Ark - UCONN got punched in the mouth too.

But that's the point of having a young team vs a team experienced with multiple A/A's. Those teams with multiple A/A's don't allow lesser teams to punch them in the mouth. That's why all the Final Fours are so amazing.

And without multiple A/A's UCONN is more apt to get punched in the mouth especially if their superstar is a frosh. And that's why it's lunacy for anyone to be go nuts that they haven't won titles in the last 2-3 years because they haven't had the m7ultilpe All-American support that they had prior years. Three years ago they had 2 - but imo KLS was no longer the efficient scorer that she was in prior years among the flaws also of being too small and no all-american guard play.

That's on Geno for his lack of success recruiting for several years.

**Though to be fair UCONN's fate might be completely different if Stevens stayed or if Camara was healthy in 18-19, or if a devastating hurricane didn't pound Texas in which in essence UCONN "traded" Collier for Liv for 19-20 and 20-21. We'd have probably been more successful this year if the overall number 1 WNBA pick had bene able to keep her verbal at UCONN, right? Though I don't blame her one iota (or any kid for that matter) for it. OS we lose the number 1 post player but automatically we're supposed ot be invincible anyways? And let's throw in Meg Walker leaving too. I know on here some don't like her which to me is mind-boggling but that is for another day.

We would've been "punched in the mouth" a lot less under the above circumstances. But anyhow, young teams with only a frosh leading them as the sole A/A - are probably going to get punched in the mouth. Talk tough all you want but it won't change that reality.
 
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So do I. But it's not a given. Not too many Husky teams were punched in the mouth like they were in that last game. We need to see how they respond.
That’s because losses are few and far between.
New experience for major players- and one starter out due to injury.
Lost by 10 points.
I will not get in to particular performances.
A loss , no doubt.
But hardly a shellacking.
Winners rebound (pun intended).
I believe they are winners and will come back with a vengeance.
 
I'm not arguing but I'm not so certain about the part above in bold vs comparing the past.

Looking at the past - with UCONN's 11 championships were led by Lobo/Rizz/Wolters, Bird/Sveta/Shea, Bird/DT/Swin, DT with JM among others (but still an upper-class player in DT), Maya/Monty/Tina, then Stewie with her great teammates. What team in the past 3 has been at this level?

Is it that the others "caught up" or is that UCONN hasn't been as loaded?

Because looking back other than the latter DT years from top to bottom these championship teams were far superior to this year's team and the past 2. And all but the 2 DT years, the titles teams were just better than the teams of 4 and 5 years ago (16-17 and 17-18), and nearly all the title teams had some tough game(s) in order to get by too.
I agree with this. This is why I continue to say that Geno is the master of this sport, and the sport still revolves around his program for the most part.
Here we are 26yrs after his first NC title and he is coming off his 13th straight FF which is a record that will live for decades, if ever broken. He is going into another season as a favorite to win his 12th NC but certainly a 14th straight year in the FF. There are only 2 other teams in the country constructed to stop this from happening.
He has elite recruiting classes coming in the next two years to keep this ball rolling. He is outlasted some bitter rivals(Tenn-Rutgers-Notre Dame) he pushed back against a new wave of competitors(Louisville-Baylor) He now has to contend with a new power challenger in So Carolina... what about Stanford? who knows? Geno ran past Tara many years ago, she is forever in the rear view mirror, to go 29yrs in between titles says something.

When UConn has top level talent, some of the best in the sport they win NC's and usually multiple titles. Could you fathom Geno going almost 30yrs without a title?
 
I know Azzi is coming in as a freshman but I can't imagine her being rated lower than Williams .... her shooting skills far, far exceed the soon to be senior and everything about her suggests that she's more consistent than is Christyn who has moments where she plays extraordinarily well and then more than a bit haphazardly .... something you wouldn't expect from a seasoned player
IMO William's advantage is at the defensive end. She has improved a lot on that end, which Geno loves. If Azzi doesnt start, I dont think its Christyn's spot that would be taken away, I think its Evina's.
 
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Stanford/SC/Uconn are clearly 1..2..3.. the order is irrelevant..Pencil all three in the final 4 in 2022...and maybe NCST...and let em fight it out!
The order is not irrelevant when it comes to winning a championship. The number 3 team would have to beat both the #2 and #1 team assuming the bracket hold up. In WCBB the brackets often do hold up.
 
That’s because losses are few and far between.
New experience for major players- and one starter out due to injury.
Lost by 10 points.
I will not get in to particular performances.
A loss , no doubt.
But hardly a shellacking.
Winners rebound (pun intended).
I believe they are winners and will come back with a vengeance.
Arizona led wire to wire and UCONN was favored to win by 13 points. It was a beat down complete with a middle finger and no apology from the Arizona coach to top it off. UCONN was supposed to comeback with a vengeance after Mississippi State also. BTW UCONN did not have a starter out. Nika played more than half the game.
 
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Christyn does have the ability to slash it to the hole, and takes it when she see’s it.
Keeps the opposition straight, and sometimes catches them lazy.
She’s a great tool on offense.
 
Oldude, I tried and failed to send you a PM to thank you for this and your other Boneyard threads, which my 93-year-old father unfailingly enjoys. (Nothing against the rest of you; I read vast portions of the board to him daily, and he marvels at the depth of the analysis.) I see you live in Moreau. I'm ten miles down the road and think your state park is a gem. Thanks again!
 
Oldude, I tried and failed to send you a PM to thank you for this and your other Boneyard threads, which my 93-year-old father unfailingly enjoys. (Nothing against the rest of you; I read vast portions of the board to him daily, and he marvels at the depth of the analysis.) I see you live in Moreau. I'm ten miles down the road and think your state park is a gem. Thanks again!
Many thanks to you and your father. My wife and I hike/snowshoe in the park frequently, particularly since we stopped going to the gym over a year ago due to the pandemic.
 
For me, a well played tough win over a good opponent (maybe even one picked to beat you) is much more satisfying than a blow out win over an overmatched team. The tough win is certainly affects the blood pressure, but the victory is that much sweeter. The blowout is fun to watch when the team is playing well and you get to see the kids on the end of the bench play (which is always enjoyable), but the result leaves you with a "they had it all the way" meh feeling at the end.
 
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For me, a well played tough win over a good opponent (maybe even one picked to beat you) is much more satisfying than a blow out win over an overmatched team. The tough win is certainly affects the blood pressure, but the victory is that much sweeter. The blowout is fun to watch when the team is playing well and you get to see the kids on the end of the bench play (which is always enjoyable), but the result leaves you with a "they had it all the way" meh feeling at the end.
The problem is, when UConn wins a tough game by a relatively close margin, there’s a crowd that thinks the lack of a blowout means UConn played horribly and will lose against other good teams, not win a championship, etc. The game vs Baylor is a good example. It was a high quality game by two terrific teams but some people still found players to blame.
 
Unfortunately, what you say is true. That kind of reaction takes some of the enjoyment out of participating in this forum. It seems like there was more of "the sky is falling" in the board this season. Blame it on Covid?
 
The problem is, when UConn wins a tough game by a relatively close margin, there’s a crowd that thinks the lack of a blowout means UConn played horribly and will lose against other good teams, not win a championship, etc. The game vs Baylor is a good example. It was a high quality game by two terrific teams but some people still found players to blame.
Some times we need a blowout some times we don't. While I look forward to every game I get worked up over what I feel will be a slobbernocker of a game so much more. A battle, a true war on the court, back and forth elbows, pushing, in your face shots, blocks and big stops. If all that from the team we love doesn't get your blood flowing and anticipation levels elevated I feel for you. Yes I love to watch the beauty of 5 passes without the ball touching the floor and all the attributes UCONN has brought to WCBB. That said, like Nan, I feel that after a close game or in the rare case of a loss there is no place in blaming players. We can bisect and analyze the game share our views without blame.
 
I wouldn't like to have my work performance dissected and examined under an electron microscope the way some of the forum participants look at the in game performance of these kids, that's for sure.
 
Unfortunately, what you say is true. That kind of reaction takes some of the enjoyment out of participating in this forum. It seems like there was more of "the sky is falling" in the board this season. Blame it on Covid?
It’s been going on for years now. Winning looked easy for a while and fans got spoiled. They had no idea how extremely difficult it was for players to maintain the high level of play - for a hundred games, years! It just looked so easy.
 
I wouldn't like to have my work performance dissected and examined under an electron microscope the way some of the forum participants look at the in game performance of these kids, that's for sure.
There has never been any meaningful dissection or examination of UCONN WBB that originated from the BY nor will there ever be. Here I'm defining meaningful to be of consequence to the players or coaches.
 
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It’s been going on for years now. Winning looked easy for a while and fans got spoiled. They had no idea how extremely difficult it was for players to maintain the high level of play - for a hundred games, years! It just looked so easy.
There’s a good exercise that all UConn fans should undertake every now and then. Try to watch a really good team like Stanford, SC, MD, Baylor, etc. in a close game like you watch UConn. What you will observe is the ball getting stuck on offense, bad turnovers, defensive breakdowns, silly fouls and my personal favorite, missed layups.

I know we were all down on Liv for her 0-7 vs Arizona. Imagine how we would all react as SC fans to Boston missing multiple point blank shots that would have beaten UConn and Stanford? Just sayin.
 
There’s a good exercise that all UConn fans should undertake every now and then. Try to watch a really good team like Stanford, SC, MD, Baylor, etc. in a close game like you watch UConn. What you will observe is the ball getting stuck on offense, bad turnovers, defensive breakdowns, silly fouls and my personal favorite, missed layups.

I know we were all down on Liv for her 0-7 vs Arizona. Imagine how we would all react as SC fans to Boston missing multiple point blank shots that would have beaten UConn and Stanford? Just sayin.
I probably would have reacted by saying Liv "should" have made some of those layups & Boston "should" have made those layups and SC "should" have beat UCONN & Stanford and UCONN "could" have beat Arizona. But that probably wouldn't be accepted here- just sayin!
 
There has never been any meaningful dissection or examination of UCONN WBB that originated from the BY nor will there ever be. Here I'm defining meaningful to be of consequence to the players or coaches.
Well, you do have a point there. :)
 
I probably would have reacted by saying Liv "should" have made some of those layups & Boston "should" have made those layups and SC "should" have beat UCONN & Stanford and UCONN "could" have beat Arizona. But that probably wouldn't be accepted here- just sayin!
Not really my point, but OK.
 
Is this for next season or college career? for college career I would take Azzi and feel pretty confident with that.
If I was forced to choose just 1, I would much rather have Cardoso - she would give UConn better odds to win a Title. Can't teach an athletic 6'7" who already is great defensively & can score 15+ a night. She would have the greatest "impact" - even though Azzi might have comparable or better stats.
Let’s see, a 6’7” center with one decent season behind her whose fitness level has been questioned (rightly or wrongly) by some or a guard that has been touted for two+years now as the greatest shooter to come out of high school in decades (some say, ever) and whose overall game is being favorably compared to the current national player of the year (who is herself the best player to come out since Breanna Stewart.) Nope! I’ll stick with door number two!
 
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