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Amari in Transfer Portal

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The Courant article announcing DeBerry's transfer quoted Geno as follows: “There aren’t a whole lot of high-level players coming to play at Connecticut leaving for a better opportunity, so I’m kind of fortunate in that regard,” Auriemma said earlier this season. “We have pretty strong relationships with our best players." The former statement you probably can't argue with but the latter, that he/the coaches have strong relationships with their best players would make me pause if I were considering UConn. I was nowhere near the caliber of the players who go to UConn but I'd want my coaches to have strong relationships with all of the players on the team, not just the best. That statement makes it sound like a strictly transactional relationship.
Many comments can have many interpretations...... There are small contexts to consider and
BIGGER contexts..... GENO is "BIGGER".... IMHO
 
I’ve always been impressed with DeBerry as a high quality person who has much more than basketball going on for her. I’m sure she will make the best out of wherever she goes.

This brings up an interesting dilemma if I am not mistaken. Did we not have a couple other offers besides Strong to HS students? Meanwhile, there are a couple of portal candidates that might fit (Chen?). With fourteen already on the roster do you go HS or portal for the last available one?

In general I favor developing multiyear HS overall, but using the portal for particular one time needs. In particular for this squad I would not go after a portal guard with Bueckers, Fudd, Shade, Arnold and Ziebell already on the roster.
And Chelli.
 
Thought this deserved it's own thread.

I really wish her well. I was kinda surprised she didn't do this last year. Absolutely the best of luck to her, and I hope she can reach her potential wherever she lands!!!
 
I'm thinking Samari Walker at Kentucky and Sadie Edwards at USC who had decent college careers, but were not stars. I don't count Andrea Espinoza-Hunter (sp?). Who do you have in mind?
Walker was the only one that came to mind. I think she actually started for us.
 
Regarding Geno's quote. Because one thing is true doesn't mean two things aren't true. Because he says that the team has great relationships with the best players does not mean they don't have great relationships with all the players. What it means is the best players stay because of those relationships. What was unsaid wasnt how well they get along with the players at the end of the bench, what was unsaid it that the players at the end of the bench leaving really isnt as much of a concern to the program.
 
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I'm thinking Samari Walker at Kentucky and Sadie Edwards at USC who had decent college careers, but were not stars. I don't count Andrea Espinoza-Hunter (sp?). Who do you have in mind?
Although she never played in a UConn uniform, technically Delle Donne was a UConn transfer. Mir McClean was having a
very good season at Virginia when she injured her knee. The jury is out on Poffenbarger. Courtney Ekmark had a couple of good seasons at Arizona State as did Marci Glenney at Clemson.
 
The quote is taken out of context. The full quote is below. Auriemma was asked about high level players leaving and the reply was focused on those players. It was not in reference to the entire team.


“There aren’t a whole lot of high-level players coming to play at Connecticut leaving for a better opportunity, so I’m kind of fortunate in that regard,” Auriemma said. “We have pretty strong relationships with our best players. They didn’t come here for all the money. They didn’t come here for all the other stuff.”
It looks like it was taken in perfect context. It is literally what he said. He didn't say he had great relationships with "all" his players. Some people on here can't look at anything UConn without bias and when it comes to Geno that is particularly true. He is a great coach no doubt but that doesn't mean he relates well to all types of players. And I don't mean that as a knock on Geno's character, it is common in all leaders.
 
Although she never played in a UConn uniform, technically Delle Donne was a UConn transfer. Mir McClean was having a
very good season at Virginia when she injured her knee. The jury is out on Poffenbarger. Courtney Ekmark had a couple of good seasons at Arizona State as did Marci Glenney at Clemson.
Saylor had a terrific first year for the Razorbacks and was 10 points 11 rebounds in her second year, but she's back in the portal.
 
It looks like it was taken in perfect context. It is literally what he said. He didn't say he had great relationships with "all" his players. Some people on here can't look at anything UConn without bias and when it comes to Geno that is particularly true. He is a great coach no doubt but that doesn't mean he relates well to all types of players. And I don't mean that as a knock on Geno's character, it is common in all leaders.
The context is the question was specifically about how he retains his best players. Answering about those players specifically isn’t commentary on relationship with players who aren’t as good.
 
It looks like it was taken in perfect context. It is literally what he said. He didn't say he had great relationships with "all" his players. Some people on here can't look at anything UConn without bias and when it comes to Geno that is particularly true. He is a great coach no doubt but that doesn't mean he relates well to all types of players. And I don't mean that as a knock on Geno's character, it is common in all leaders.
Rowdy, I think that you missed the point that Puppy Love was making. Geno was specifically asked about his high level players and so he focused his response on them (and not on the entire team). So by using his quote to talk about mid or lower level players his quote is being taken out of context.
 
Regarding Geno's quote. Because one thing is true doesn't mean two things aren't true. Because he says that the team has great relationships with the best players does not mean they don't have great relationships with all the players. What it means is the best players stay because of those relationships. What was unsaid wasnt how well they get along with the players at the end of the bench, what was unsaid it that the players at the end of the bench leaving really isnt as much of a concern to the program.
I don't really understand why we are talking so much about these words. I supervise a lot of people and the reality is that my relationship with the best performing employees is different than my relationship with struggling or under performing employees. It's as simple as that.

I am positive that the coaching staff experiences the same thing with players.
 
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Amari is an intelligent young lady who was a popular teammate and whose wit always could be counted on to liven things off the court. Her on the court experience didn't work out as expected here but Amari has good basketball skills and IQ and will do just fine. It is hoped that she will come back to visit in Gampel because she will always be a Husky no matter what path she decides to take in the next chapter in her life.
 
The quote is taken out of context. The full quote is below. Auriemma was asked about high level players leaving and the reply was focused on those players. It was not in reference to the entire team.


“There aren’t a whole lot of high-level players coming to play at Connecticut leaving for a better opportunity, so I’m kind of fortunate in that regard,” Auriemma said. “We have pretty strong relationships with our best players. They didn’t come here for all the money. They didn’t come here for all the other stuff.”
In context, just not on for me.

This is college, not pros. These are kids, on full scholarship, sure, but straight out of high school on arrival, still in their teens. They arrive off unmitigated success in their lives, full of hopes and dreams, the intensity of which we forget as we age, but is indescribable in the moment. College basically sets in motion, the course (for the most part) for the rest of one's life.

Seems, at least in the women's game, comitted freshmen arriving on campus are thinking only of the next FOUR years. Transferring is not fun, it is at least an expectation, if not a dream broken, let alone severed friendships. It has to leave a mark, regardless of where they ultimately land. Can't imagine kids arrive at UConn thinking, "Well I'll give it a whirl, but if it doesn't work out I'll just transfer. All good."

Coach has unlimited runway to say whatever he wants, given his almost inconceivable record of success. But those quotes smack more of "Don't blame me if kids fail," than is appropriate.
 
I would just say that Chen would be good insurance for one year while we wait for Kelis. I wouldn't say she is needed since a healthy KK is what's needed. However, with all the injuries, I'm a proponent for a full 15 member roster to ensure we have enough bodies. I'm just saying that the last couple years should show that we need more insurance than we've had in the past.
That is a tricky issue. It is hard to argue with you, but it is also hard to think of a roster where people like Shade, Caroline , Aubrey or Cheli are all sitting on the bench wondering if they will ever play. With DeBerry and Ines gone from the team, we already have nothing but superstars and potential superstars on the team. Injuries can obviate the problem of "overabundance," but who wants to live with
that ( as have for the past three years )?

Adding two more players via the portal is exciting, in a way, but the challenge for the
coaches ( with the 13 players we are likely to have in uniform), is already huge. It fits the category of, " that's the kind of problem every coach wants to have." I suppose it is. But it will take some exceptional creativity to give maximum court time to the right players, in the right combinations, to win a championship.

At the moment, I think the following; Paige is a sure thing starter; Aubrey is a sure thing player off the bench to "rattle things up" , and ( I think) Sarah will force her way into the line-up pretty early on.

The rest is up to Geno. Actually, it all is. It should be lots of fun for the fans.
 
Geno does too. He’s saying the ones that leave aren’t really key players. And with maybe 1 exception, that’s been true.
And the one exception was for an exceptional reason. You are referring , I assume, to Donna Della Donne.
 
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I also agree that AMARI was probably ahead of the curve on getting all her curriculum credits completed!
Best wishes to Amari.
Hope she gets that degree on the way out the door and becomes a grad transfer.
 
And the one exception was for an exceptional reason. You are referring , I assume, to Donna Elena Della Donne.
There, I fixed it for you.

Good luck Amari in the next chapter of your life. I know that every time I hear your name, I smile for the joy you shared with your team mates and the NIL tv commercial you had.
 
Couple more thoughts. Does Amari have 2 more years? I ask because I think she may have trouble having the portal work for her and 1 versus 2 makes a difference. Then I had this thought today. If Amari goes to another program and has success, how am I going to think about that?
 
I hope that Amari transfers to a major program & is blessed with a huge NIL payday & finally gets the experience that she needs to succeed as an international pro in the future.
She's a good shot blocker & showed that she could be an asset like during the UCLA game.
I hope she can make a big splash somewhere & a earn ton of NIL money because it would make her & her fans extremely happy to see her finally enjoy a much brighter day.
Go girl & get it!
Wishing her all the best opportunities that life can provide!
 
Couple more thoughts. Does Amari have 2 more years? I ask because I think she may have trouble having the portal work for her and 1 versus 2 makes a difference. Then I had this thought today. If Amari goes to another program and has success, how am I going to think about that?
She will be a senior so she has 1 year of eligibility left
 
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Couple more thoughts. Does Amari have 2 more years? I ask because I think she may have trouble having the portal work for her and 1 versus 2 makes a difference. Then I had this thought today. If Amari goes to another program and has success, how am I going to think about that?
My thinking: Natalie Butler at George Mason.
Nothing but wonderful thoughts because she (they?) tried her best at both schools. :)
 
My thinking: Natalie Butler at George Mason.
Nothing but wonderful thoughts because she (they?) tried her best at both schools. :)
Oh I'd be happy for Amari. But I'd be puzzled at why it didn't come out at UConn and did it suggest there was something missing in player developement, which sounds preposterous. Leaving me thinking "how am I going to think about that?" Sometimes I have too much time on my hands.
 
It looks like it was taken in perfect context. It is literally what he said. He didn't say he had great relationships with "all" his players. Some people on here can't look at anything UConn without bias and when it comes to Geno that is particularly true. He is a great coach no doubt but that doesn't mean he relates well to all types of players. And I don't mean that as a knock on Geno's character, it is common in all leaders.
Please.... " context" means (to my understanding) outside the obvious.... the context beyond the immediate
impression. Another way of understanding this (again to my way of thinking) is = Context is what needs to
be considered (beyond the immediate experience) of a larger frame of reference. In mis-communications it may
be explained: "WHAT YOU HEARD IS NOT WHAT I MEAN, I'M SORRY" . This happens all the time in my happy
marriage!!!
 
Couple more thoughts. Does Amari have 2 more years? I ask because I think she may have trouble having the portal work for her and 1 versus 2 makes a difference. Then I had this thought today. If Amari goes to another program and has success, how am I going to think about that?

No. Amari has 1. She is a junior
 
We'll miss you, Amari! We hope that you have a great time with whatever team you choose next!
 
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