The truth of UConn’s run to the final of this year’s NCAA WBB Tournament is that, while UConn did overcome tremendous “adversity” in the form of serious injuries to key players to reach this game, this achievement by UConn is not “miraculous” in the way the USA’s 1980 Miracle on Ice was “miraculous” because UConn’s players when healthy clearly possess the requisite talent to compete with any other team in the country.
That said, Mechelle Voepel really does seem to have a problem with giving any credit to UConn generally and Geno specifically. For example, Voepel essentially dismisses Genco’s contention that UConn has experienced and overcome more adversity this year than in any other on the ground that “dealing with injuries to key performers, uncharacteristic missed shots, poor execution [is] stuff almost every coach faces at some point every season.” Yet, I (and likely many others) suspect Voepel would be lauding Dawn Staley and South Carolina’s strength of character had South Carolina reached the final after Aliyah Boston suffering an injury as severe (and missing as many games) as Paige Bueckers, let alone after Destanni Henderson or Zia Cooke being hindered or out for as long as Azzi Fudd.
Voepel also gives little credit to UConn and Auriemma for reaching the championship game because, in her words, “let's remember
Christyn Williams,
Paige Bueckers and Fudd were all No. 1 recruits in their class. The Huskies have a great deal of talent that got healthy -- or healthy enough -- at the right time, and have one of the most successful coaching staffs in any collegiate sport ever.” This contention is particularly rich given that Voepel picked Indiana to beat UConn in the Sweet Sixteen, then NC State to triumph over UConn in the Elite Eight, and next Stanford to knock out UConn in the Final Four. If UConn I had so much raw talent and its coaching staff is so “successful,” why has Voepel picked against UConn so consistently in this tournament.
Reading Voepel, I can’t escape the sense she dislikes Geno and recoils against UConn’s unprecedented and unequaled record of consistent and constant excellence over the last quarter century. I find it impossible to escape this sense because of Voepel’s own words in seeking to explain to explain why UConn beat Stanford:
“If Stanford's starting guards had just a slightly better performance in the semifinals, the Cardinal would be in the final. Haley Jones had 20 points and 11 rebounds, but Lexie Hull, Lacie Hull and Anna Williams were a combined 3-of-17 from the field for eight points. The Cardinal had so many frustrating possessions in that loss.”
I find it striking and clear that, in lamenting the Stanford guards’ performance, Voepel does not, cannot and is unwilling to give UConn any credit for its victory. In my view, given Voepel’s unwillingness and inability to credit UConn, it is impossible (at least for me) to credit Voepel as balanced, unbiased, even-handed and fair when it comes to UConn.
Get out of here with that stuff. Unless Paige has 10,000 people in her family, maybe it’s the UConn fans that travel cheering for the team.
. I can't believe a fairly knowledgeable BB fan actually came out with something this lame.
