Andra Espinoza-Hunter to Mississippi State

[Ellie]

Reruns of The Twilight Zone now available on The Boneyard with this thread submitted for your consideration ...

 

[jimazee]

I hope she is very happy in Starkvegas. Trust me, it's not for everyone but it isn't a bad town at all. I look forward to seeing what she brings to the table.

Few will be disappointed in her skills. She has them.

I ponder the contrast in cultures among Westchester County New York, Storrs, CT and Starkvegas. I drove through it once.

Life can be an adventure...

 

[HuskylnSC]

As a Connecticut boy who went to college in Alabama, the culture shock is real. But also is learning to love The South.

Also Starkville is where Johnny Cash got arrested for picking flowers.

 

[Charliebball]

As a Connecticut boy who went to college in Alabama, the culture shock is real. But also is learning to love The South.

Also Starkville is where Johnny Cash got arrested for picking flowers.

I have a feeling that was the nicest reason he ever got arrested.............

 

[BostonCanuck]

Congrats to Andra, I think it's a great move on her part. They're a great team in real need of a talent refresh since four seniors will graduate this year. And Vic get's my vote as the second-best head coach in the country. But as we see with the Williams/Holmes situation, he's not going to play anyone who doesn't perform on any given day, so I'm not sure the dynamic there is going to be all that different for her.

 

[HuskyNan]

Congrats to Andra, I think it's a great move on her part. They're a great team in real need of a talent refresh since four seniors will graduate this year. And Vic get's my vote as the second-best head coach in the country. But as we see with the Williams/Holmes situation, he's not going to play anyone who doesn't perform on any given day, so I'm not sure the dynamic there is going to be all that different for her.

I’ve seen similar statements about Schafer here but IMO Muffet is the second best coach in the country. Having a 6-7 player and Victoria Vivians would make many coaches look great. MSU players had the game of their lives last year, and congrats to them for their excellent effort, but I think people are getting a little carried away with the Schafer praise.

 

[BostonCanuck]

You bet your Sweet Bippy I am!

Don't you mean "Bibby"?

 

[BostonCanuck]

I wonder if you would ever see a UCONN vs. Mississippi State regular season match up for the 2019-2020 season, which would pit AEH against her former freshman teammates at UCONN? Do you think Geno and Schaefer would ever agree to a series of game?

Agreed, Geno and Vic really need to get an an ongoing out-0f-conference series on the calendar for their teams. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that happen after we beat them in this year's tournament.

 

[Dillon77]

I was thinking maybe ND but regardless.....why would she want to transfer to another program with a fiery head coach who doesn't put up with any nonsense when she just left one?

Interesting choice of words. ND's Koko Nelson was just interviewed by Andy Katz and he asked her for a one-word description of Muffet and she said: "Fierce."

I never bit on A E-H for the Irish, primarily for personnel reasons (not, not personal). The Irish have two guards coming in this year (Gilbert, Prohaska), and a point guard in 2019, when A E-H will be eligible. And that PG -- Anaya Peoples -- said she'd play any position for ND. Based on very recent clips of her, I think Peoples can easily move to the off-guard position. And there are a slew of 2020 guards that ND has shown interest in (and visa versa). So, didn't see a fit there.

Two thoughts:

- Wish more than one place had been seen.

- Especially when that place is in a different neck of the woods, so to speak. I spent two years in Jackson, Mississippi, following graduation from Notre Dame. Jackson took some serious getting used to for a Long Islander,but I ultimately liked the experience. Starkville, however, was a trip into "deep country" back in the late 70s (it was the agricultural school at it's inception). The school and area had grown quite a bit during my last trip in the late 1990s, but this is -- as some said -- a far cry from the Hudson Valley.

 

[HoopsFan21]

So does this mean that AEH's parents won't be able to go to games or watch on TV?

 

[Papa33]

I read the thread with frankly mixed emotion. Bravo to everyone who wishes her well, because, in the end, we want that for all our good young people. And we really aren't sure what went on at UConn, what motivated who to do what. all that is speculation that's not appropriate to put in writing and cast out for the world to see (and repeat as if it were fact). But I have to admit that I don't feel good about any of this, and in particular her quick decision. Can't and don't want to put words to thoughts, but just saying feelings are mixed.

A lot of that going around, and a too common approach on sports fan boards.

 

[Charliebball]

I’ve seen similar statements about Schafer here but IMO Muffet is the second best coach in the country. Having a 6-7 player and Victoria Vivians would make many coaches look great. MSU players had the game of their lives last year, and congrats to them for their excellent effort, but I think people are getting a little carried away with the Schafer praise.

There are certainly more successful coaches out there............I always thought that Schaefer (147-51 Wiki) and Gary Blair (331-141 Wiki) were in that second tier of solid coaches that have consistently fielded competitive teams through the years.......

 

[dogfan96]

I’ve seen similar statements about Schafer here but IMO Muffet is the second best coach in the country. Having a 6-7 player and Victoria Vivians would make many coaches look great. MSU players had the game of their lives last year, and congrats to them for their excellent effort, but I think people are getting a little carried away with the Schafer praise.

That 6'7 player was a project who is light years ahead of where she was 2 years ago.. that's coaching. And if you'd seen where their program was when he got there versus where it is now, that too is coaching... and Vivians is the only 5-star player he's signed. There are a few more waiting in the wings now though.

 

[mhshuskies]

I’ve seen similar statements about Schafer here but IMO Muffet is the second best coach in the country. Having a 6-7 player and Victoria Vivians would make many coaches look great. MSU players had the game of their lives last year, and congrats to them for their excellent effort, but I think people are getting a little carried away with the Schafer praise.

Don't you mean "Bibby"?

You just might get the flying fickle finger of fate for that one.

 

[Dillon77]

There are certainly more successful coaches out there..I always thought that Schaefer (147-51 Wiki) and Gary Blair (331-141 Wiki) were in that second tier of solid coaches that have consistently fielded competitive teams through the years..

Not surprising that you'd put those two in the same sentence, given that Schaefer was Blair's right-hand man at Texas A&M for nearly a decade, including that national championship win over ND . Still ouch.

Feel like I'm watching the same team from time to time, in everything from style of play to the same colors.

 

[GoUconn7961]

So? She had to go somewhere...
I never understand the reactions when a kid leaves. They leave, they move on, so should we.

 

[meyers7]

Best wishes, Andi. Beat the orange people.

THIS, is definitely what we should be concentrating on. Best of luck to her.

 

[sarals24]

That 6'7 player was a project who is light years ahead of where she was 2 years ago.. that's coaching. And if you'd seen where their program was when he got there versus where it is now, that too is coaching... and Vivians is the only 5-star player he's signed. There are a few more waiting in the wings now though.

Agreed. I think he's a great coach. What he did defensively with that A&M team, and what he did in just a few years at MSU is very impressive.

 

[#1florida]

Okay 1 thing:

"Mississippi State was the only school she had visited at the time of her commitment and subsequent signing with the Bulldogs. After Mississippi State’s win Monday night, and a postgame follow-up conversation with Schaefer and his staff, she decided there’d be no need to go anywhere else."

Connecticut transfer Espinoza-Hunter picks Mississippi State

Fool me once ....

I think she is only interested in a school, that she will get the most playing time. If you look at Mississippi guards, they are not great on the offensive end of the court. Andra will give them a guard that can score.

 

[Bronxjeff]

Heck... I dont even understand what goes on in 40 year old female's head and their decision making..... so Im the wrong person to ask about what a 19-20 year old female could be thinking

This probably isn’t the blog to discuss gender and age concerns. But I will offer that after 35 years I still have no idea what the hell is going on in Mrs. B’s head and pretty much everyday we have a belly laugh as to what we were each thinking.

 

[Magy Cannon]

Starkville is 100% a college town. Wherever in the US they're located, they're nice places to live. She'll like Starkville. And yes, it'll be different from NY, and the climate and speech will be different from Storrs. Both Storrs and Starkville are college towns with college town vibes and opportunities.

Two years of maturity; and two years from high school accolades and home with parents greatly affects anyone's attitude toward coaching and teamwork. It's good for all of us to go away from home and live in dorm or barracks. Truth of the matter is, we're not near as important to the rest of the world as we are at home. Good for us all to learn that. It's part of growing up. I bet she will do very well at Mississippi State.

 

[my2cents]

I wish AEH the best with her decision and future basketball endeavors. I have no opinion on her ability because I didn't see her play enough here. But her numbers in HS were more than impressive..36 points per game, just under 4000 points scored to be the highest in NY state history. With those numbers she could pretty much pick up the phone and play anywhere.
She obviously didn't enjoy playing here for Geno. I am one of the few BYers who think that basketball is a GAME and should be enjoyed for the brief time that a player plays it.
The Seal team BUDs training( aka Hell week) that seems to be what has become life for freshman here at Uconn is certainly an interesting strategy.

 

[HGN]

wait....you want all of us to move to Starkville Mississippi?

Hell no....Charlie you know what I meant.

 

[BostonCanuck]

I’ve seen similar statements about Schafer here but IMO Muffet is the second best coach in the country. Having a 6-7 player and Victoria Vivians would make many coaches look great. MSU players had the game of their lives last year, and congrats to them for their excellent effort, but I think people are getting a little carried away with the Schafer praise.

I respectfully disagree about Muffet. She used to be, but has been under-delivering for years now. After seeing the record-breaking crowd at the Hump on Monday, the toughness Vic's team showed to came back and win that game, the way he addressed the crowd post game, and the 23 minute post game presser with him and five of his players, I now believe that he is far and away the number two coach in the country. I actually thought so before this week, too, but all of that just reinforces my view.

 

[Bama fan]

not sure I understand your comment..I was making a reference to the poster's reference of a character from "Laugh In" a late 1960's TV comedy show.......

Sorry,Charlie. I was referencing a previous poster who made a joke of someone else saying that he was "dating himself ". Failed attempt at humor, obviously. I too well remember Arte Johnson and get your point.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Wow awfully quick . Hope she is sure. Surprised she didn't look around more as she has the time. Does she know anyone on the team ?

It is simple. AEH saw how Vivians gets to run and gun. AEH's style in high school was the same. She can be the star. Oh, yeah, she probably thinks she can win a NCAA Championship at Miss St while beating UCONN to boot.

 

[Centerstream]

Sorry,Charlie. I was referencing a previous poster who made a joke of someone else saying that he was "dating himself ". Failed attempt at humor, obviously. I too well remember Arte Johnson and get your point.

Bama fan - I too missed your point but completely understood Charliebb's reply to my original post. Might be my age....
Now, let's return to the OP and see how many pages this can go on for even tho I don't think the horse is gonna get up...

 

[SCspur]

Will she be eligible spring semester of next year? Or will she sit next year and return in 19-20?

 

[mudcat]

I respectfully disagree about Muffet. She used to be, but has been under-delivering for years now. After seeing the record-breaking crowd at the Hump on Monday, the toughness Vic's team showed to came back and win that game, the way he addressed the crowd post game, and the 23 minute post game presser with him and five of his players, I now believe that he is far and away the number two coach in the country. I actually thought so before this week, too, but all of that just reinforces my view.

"Far and away" has to be exaggeration. Muffet hasn't been underperforming: her team has a better record over the last five years than any team not named UCONN. Given personnel (and leaving out GA), I rank both Muffet and Rueck over Schaeffer (sp?) in terms of what they have done with their respective programs.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

She obviously didn't enjoy playing here for Geno.

Source? Per Geno she was happy to be there, but he did not want her there. I did not want to say another word on this subject, but one thing we do not need is the gradual development of some folk lure about this recruit.