And the Worst Fans in America are....

[Icebear]

And the boards only acceptible response is to make only positive comments, pat the girls on their back and joyfully send them on their merry way?

Not at all, but like criticism be real critique with understanding not just moaning and groaning.

Noting errors is a critical part of the process of making corrections. Too often I see too little of that here. I posted earlier a criticism of the defense played against ND and McBride in the last regular season game. Folks suggested that all sorts of ways to extend the blame onto individuals including KML, Geno, etc. I think that a week after the game today I was the only one to make a suggestion as to how the defense needed to be set and why. Seeing what failed is easy, understanding and teaching clearly how to prevent it is what changes the future.

So I pose to you and everyone this question what happened at the end of the game and why and what should be done next time to avoid it. There are at 4-6 things to be addressed.

 

[vtcwbuff]

My personal rule about posting remains the same: Never post a thought about a player or person that I would not express face-to-face to that person.

That said I believe that in those critical waning seconds of the game, UConn (five players on the court) did not adhere to guidance on the wall of their locker room -- they did not "play smart." The passing, the movement (or lack thereof) and the failure to call "time out" were not smart.

The failure ot the officials to call a foul (closing seconds) when Kelly did everything but mug Diggins was inexcusble.

As for the game? A brutally disappointing result. ND exploited the weakness in our guard play and we were unable to take advantage of our taller lineup.

We have more individual talent than ND but our pieces don't quite mesh, particularly because we simply do not have a "quarterback" type point guard (like Jen or Sue or Renee were). Moriah? Not just yet. Kelly or Bria? Not their role.

I have heard Geno say, "Every time we had the best point guard in the country, we won a national championship." Look at the (only) two teams ahead of us. Baylor has Sims and ND has Diggins. I believe that is the difference.

Kibitzer - Sometimes its all about choice of words that fires people up. Your "they did not play smart" could be a less tactful poster's "they played dumb." Or "ND exploited the weakness in our guard play" could be "Hartley and Faris really stunk on defense" in somebody else's vocabulary.

My recollection of the Geno quote is a bit different, but I have heard him say that on a couple of occasions.

 

[Kibitzer]

Kibitzer - Sometimes its all about choice of words that fires people up. Your "they did not play smart" could be a less tactful poster's "they played dumb." Or "ND exploited the weakness in our guard play" could be "Hartley and Faris really stunk on defense" in somebody else's vocabulary.

My recollection of the Geno quote is a bit different, but I have heard him say that on a couple of occasions.

I was careful to NOT say that they played "dumb" or that they "stunk." I understand that the sign in the locker room urges them to "Play Hard. Play Smart." Something like that. I thought it fair to refer to that. As for the Geno quote, perhaps I should have added the customary, ". . . or words to that effect."

My comments were not mean-spirited or personal. I believe they accurately reflected how we went from "last shot to win" to crushing turnover that led to ND winning very late. I tried to focus on Why That Happened. Just an old fan's perspective.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Please under

I was careful to NOT say that they played "dumb" or that they "stunk." I understand that the sign in the locker room urges them to "Play Hard. Play Smart." Something like that. I thought it fair to refer to that. As for the Geno quote, perhaps I should have added the customary, ". . . or words to that effect."

My comments were not mean-spirited or personal. I believe they accurately reflected how we went from "last shot to win" to crushing turnover that led to ND winning very late. I tried to focus on Why That Happened. Just an old fan's perspective.

Please understand, I did not disagree with a single thing you said. My intent was to point out that not everyone has the same vocabulary. Other's see absolutely nothing wrong with the use of dumb instead of not smart or stunk instead of weakness. That's what generates a lot of the back and forth between posters.

.

 

[Forty_four]

Not at all, but like criticism be real critique with understanding not just moaning and groaning.

Noting errors is a critical part of the process of making corrections. Too often I see too little of that here. I posted earlier a criticism of the defense played against ND and McBride in the last regular season game. Folks suggested that all sorts of ways to extend the blame onto individuals including KML, Geno, etc. I think that a week after the game today I was the only one to make a suggestion as to how the defense needed to be set and why. Seeing what failed is easy, understanding and teaching clearly how to prevent it is what changes the future.

So I pose to you and everyone this question what happened at the end of the game and why and what should be done next time to avoid it. There are at 4-6 things to be addressed.

Your viewpoint is well stated and commendable. But purely from a fans perspective, very few posters watch the game through a "coachs eye". Most posters comment on what they saw, not what can be done about correcting it, correcting it, teaching for the next occassion is Geno's and his staff job.

Most posters on a forum like this only want to state what they saw and directly state the obvious, they are not attempting to eloquently make their comments. Most statements are reactions to the disappointing loss in the heat of the moment. Hours and days later most of the negative comments vanish or are very few, and less harsh in their tone.

Fans/posters making negative comments does not make them disloyal or less passionate about this team. They will probably watch/attend the next game and root just as hard for a victory. We all know that games are not won or lost in the last 18.4 seconds but it is the final moments that become etched in peoples minds and when mistakes are made, comments will be made by fans. Geno has stated that this team is not smart enough to win these games yet, and he can include himself in this particular loss when he did not call one of his 2 remaining time outs when things were breaking down.

As much as I wanted to win this game, for a title and the players peace of mind and confidence that they can win this type of game, I still believe we can beat ND and we are the only team capable of beating Baylor!

 

[ed4ourgirls]

Like all fans, I am disappointed that our kids were unable to win
these very winnable games against Notre Dame.

But I feel certain that my disappointment is as nothing compared
to the disappointment felt by the team and the coaches.

Clearly, any carping by me as to what might have been done differently
or done better isn't going to benefit the team, and (for me at least) it
won't fill any psychic need or otherwise benefit me.

So I'll just state my belief that our kids will get to the final four and
get there rather easily. Once there, I think we have a better chance
of beating Baylor than ND has. I do not believe that our team has
no chance against either of those teams. Anything can happen.

Bottom line: Win or lose I love our girls, and I appreciate all the hard
work they have done in providing us with such an entertaining season.

 

[CTBasketball]

Is this the first season that this behavior has happened? I'm guessing you weren't around the men's board last season...

 

[hoopsdiva]

Like all fans, I am disappointed that our kids were unable to win
these very winnable games against Notre Dame.

But I feel certain that my disappointment is as nothing compared
to the disappointment felt by the team and the coaches.

Clearly, any carping by me as to what might have been done differently
or done better isn't going to benefit the team, and (for me at least) it
won't fill any psychic need or otherwise benefit me.

So I'll just state my belief that our kids will get to the final four and
get there rather easily. Once there, I think we have a better chance
of beating Baylor than ND has. I do not believe that our team has
no chance against either of those teams. Anything can happen.

Bottom line: Win or lose I love our girls, and I appreciate all the hard
work they have done in providing us with such an entertaining season.

+1

Great post.