Angel Reese Narrows List to 5

[CocoHusky]

I'm no fan of Frese, but if what her assistant coach did was worthy of a sanction then I just about throw up my hands at the NCAA.

You are very kind. Ridiculous is much less offensive than any word(s) that come to my mind.

While I agree with both of you this particular sanction was offered up by MD and approved by the NCAA. If I were Maryland I would have punished myself by skipping that second entree for dinner and sent the coach in question off to the library for an hour to lookup the rules. If the NCAA didn't approve that I would offer the same for two meals and two hours in the library. No way I'm offering to give up official visits because those are like gold and probably more valuable than a scholarship because most WCBB teams aren't at the limit anyway.

 

[Go/huskies]

Same height as KLS. Was Katie Lou a big? Reese calls herself a guard, and says that she wants to play at a school that lets her play her preferred position. Your post is, to put it kindly, uninformed.

Aja Wilson also called herself a guard coming out of high school, and now she’s one of the best young post players in the world. Reese can be a monster on the glass at times and any couch will probably look to take advantage of her rebounding, she has potential to be a match up nightmare if she’s played at the four, I think she could have been a starter for UConn by her sophomore year.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Thanks for sending this.
Couple of thoughts:
Relatively minor compared to wads of cash that is being exchanged in some recruiting circles and for which people are rightfully ending up in jail on the men's side. Brenda has been around long enough to understand how petty the NCAA can be- maybe not though. I believe the NCAA rule is that you can't personalize anything for an "unofficial" visit but a poster like the one they had in Mimi Collins hotel room was permissible because she was on an official visit.
I guess I'm further out of touch than I though with this generation of kids. Are recruits really impressed by a personalized recruiting brochure?

Wonder what they would think of an orange blimp?

 

[HuskyNan]

Wonder what they would think of an orange blimp?

Hence the NCAA rule with the nickname the “Pat Summitt rule”.

 

[HopJim]

Swin Cash played the wing in college and never attempted a three while at UConn

There are always players with exceptional physical skills or grit/tenacity. UConn has been blessed with players who overcome the norm such as Swin or 5'11" players like Gabby who could play center. Does Reese fall in this category?

 

[CocoHusky]

Wonder what they would think of an orange blimp?

Hence the NCAA rule with the nickname the “Pat Summitt rule”.

I feel like the masses of the BY are missing out on these references and the back story.
Can either of you please elaborate?

 

[j66kicker]

I feel like the masses of the BY are missing out on these references and the back story.
Can either of you please elaborate?

If a pink flamingo didn't do it for Ann Strother, an orange blimp wasn't gonna do it...

Former UConn Great Ann Strother Still Has The Moves

DENVER – It has been a decade since Georgia coach Andy Landers planted that pink flamingo in her family’s Castle Rock, Colo., lawn. A decade since Notre Dame made a compact disc of her …

www.courant.com

"DENVER — It has been a decade since Georgia coach Andy Landers planted that pink flamingo in her family's Castle Rock, Colo., lawn. A decade since Notre Dame made a compact disc of her playing in a key game situation with the Fighting Irish.

The recruiting was fierce and, yes, it has been a full decade since the Tennessee coaches and players greeted her wearing T-shirts with her baby picture on them. She ran into Thompson-Boling Arena that day with fireworks going off, her name blaring and a remote-controlled, mini-blimp dropping a national letter of intent."

 

[HuskyNan]

I feel like the masses of the BY are missing out on these references and the back story.
Can either of you please elaborate?

Years ago, Pat Summitt would personalize decorations and have made sports memorabilia - all in creamsicle orange - with recruits’ names and images. Shea Ralph, who was recruited by Tenn, said “It looked like Orange Man came in and threw up everywhere “. The blimp mentioned above refers to PHS’s gimmick of taking a recruit to center court in Thompson Boling Arena and havin an orange blimp descend with an LOI all ready to sign.

At that time, that stuff was NOT any kind of violation however other coaches with much smaller recruiting budgets complained that Tennessee had an unfair recruiting advantage so the NCAA outlawed such practices.

 

[Plebe]

Years ago, Pat Summitt would personalize decorations and have made sports memorabilia - all in creamsicle orange - with recruits’ names and images. Shea Ralph, who was recruited by Tenn, said “It looked like Orange Man came in and threw up everywhere “. The blimp mentioned above refers to PHS’s gimmick of taking a recruit to center court in Thompson Boling Arena and havin an orange blimp descend with an LOI all ready to sign.

At that time, that stuff was NOT any kind of violation however other coaches with much smaller recruiting budgets complained that Tennessee had an unfair recruiting advantage so the NCAA outlawed such practices.

Good lord. Pat was of course a great coach, but she might have been an even better used-car salesperson.

This is why I'm very wary of the currently floated proposals to pay college athletes. If the full-blown Martha Stewart decorations and memorabilia onslaught was deemed unfair to less-budgeted teams, imagine the landscape once athlete payments are legalized.

 

[Ozimoto]

That will be the end of college sports. You will have essentially another professional league of maybe a dozen schools with deep pocket boosters and the rest of the colleges will either drop sports altogether or will compete on the current "club" level.

I had an English professor in college around 1980 that said of college football that why wast the money? Just have a professional team on campus as the "football team in residence." Seems like he may have been prescient.

The "revenue" sports at major "sports mad" universities are essentially serving as the minor league system for the NFL and the NBA/WNBA. To some extent college baseball is becoming another level of the minor leagues for MLB.

I think if the decision to pay players is made, college sports as we now know them will be unsustainable and we will be treated to a "club" system similar to the European model of player development for major sports. While as fans this may be painful, it may be better in the long run. Colleges and universities will stop throwing money at the holy grail of sports and may actually concentrate on their reason for being in the first place.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I just checked in to see who could possibly be talking about Ms Reese on page 4. Turns out ... no one. Carry on.

 

[Undercovervol]

Completely different era now though. For this decade about 1/3 of UCONN's shot attempts have come from beyond the arc from all positions even from players like Kiah Stokes. The 3 ball in transition has become one of UCONN's most lethal weapons. Back in Swin's day typically 1/4 ( at most) of the shot attempts came from beyond the arc and the bulk of those came from a few players mostly guards ( Sue, Maria Conlon & DT). Today's UCONN forwards and post players have got to be able to shoot the 3 ball. BTW Swin did attempt 1 3PT shot while at UCONN, it came during her senior year.

The three is overrated. This year Baylor showed that strong defense combined with purposeful inside offense can still win championships.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

The three is overrated. This year Baylor showed that strong defense combined with purposeful inside offense can still win championships.

Baylor is a rarity. How many teams have multiple elite players that are 6-4 and 6-7?

And while it may not have been threes, does Baylor win the title without Chloe Jackson's shot-making? Not likely.

 

[CocoHusky]

The three is overrated. This year Baylor showed that strong defense combined with purposeful inside offense can still win championships.

Why am I not surprised that a Lady Vols fan would think the 3 ball is overrated.
That purposeful inside offense and strong defense sounds like it is straight from the Pat play book and a philosophy which Holly found little success in executing.
You can certainly win a NC without heavy reliance on 3 ball as South Carolina and Baylor did.
Last 3 NCAA Champions:
Baylor 3ptFGA 314 of 2464 FGA =(12.7%)
ND 3ptFGA 502 of 2487 FGA = (20%)
South Carolina 3ptFGA 549 of 2155 FGA (25.5%)
So yes Baylor was quite the anomaly. Specific to UCONN the philosophy of spreading the floor and recruiting players that can actually shoot the 3 ball makes that inside offense more potent not less and a strong defense more necessary=best of both worlds=Championships=aka modern basketball.

 

[Undercovervol]

Why am I not surprised that a Lady Vols fan would think the 3 ball is overrated.
That purposeful inside offense and strong defense sounds like it is straight from the Pat play book and a philosophy which Holly found little success in executing.
You can certainly win a NC without heavy reliance on 3 ball as South Carolina and Baylor did.
Last 3 NCAA Champions:
Baylor 3ptFGA 314 of 2464 FGA =(12.7%)
ND 3ptFGA 502 of 2487 FGA = (20%)
South Carolina 3ptFGA 549 of 2155 FGA (25.5%)
So yes Baylor was quite the anomaly. Specific to UCONN the philosophy of spreading the floor and recruiting players that can actually shoot the 3 ball makes that inside offense more potent not less and a strong defense more necessary=best of both worlds=Championships=aka modern basketball.

You're not wrong; I'm just claiming that you don't have to shoot the three to win. I loved watching the high low game of Baylor, something that has nearly disappeared from basketball until this year (along with Notre Dame). And yes, If Chloe Jackson didn't hit the many midrange shots she made, Baylor would not have even made the championship game.
Also, the idea that Summitt didn't emphasize the three is straight up wrong. Shannon Bobbit was an excellent 3 point shooter. Stricklen readily shot the three during her time at UT. Simmons readily shot the three. Summitt began to emphasize the three around the same time that everyone else started to emphasize the three. Go back and watch older games...UConn wasn't shooting more threes than others before it became popular.
I'm also biased because I'm an inside player and can't shoot threes when I play, lol.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I'm also biased because I'm an inside player and can't shoot threes when I play, lol.

any eligibility left, UConn has space for a BIG

 

[Go/huskies]

Reese looked pretty unique in the game posted in the Mir to UConn thread. Not often do you see a player running the point on one end, and defending the center on the other end, Candace Parker and Ben Simmons are the only players I can think of. I also noticed that she seemed to be excited when a teammate made a play, I wonder what it is about her that her game during the AAU season and the high school season are so different, maybe it’s because she has to play center for her high school team.

 

[JordyG]

Reese looked pretty unique in the game posted in the Mir to UConn thread. Not often do you see a player running the point on one end, and defending the center on the other end, Candace Parker and Ben Simmons are the only players I can think of. I also noticed that she seemed to be excited when a teammate made a play, I wonder what it is about her that her game during the AAU season and the high school season are so different, maybe it’s because she has to play center for her high school team.

The problem Reese will face is similar to the problem the Greek Freak faced in the playoffs. That being defenders of size willl play off you daring you to drive into size or give up the ball. It also hurts your offensive rebounding if your big is always on the perimeter. Some teams will sacrifice size against her for quickness, which will slow her handle. If she can't shoot from the arc, hit a pull up, or pass well off of double teams the offense will suffer while her teammates will be shooting with little left on the clock. There's a reason why there's only one Durant, one LeBron and one Leonard. I can't wait for the first "coach wants to change my game" complaint.

 

[Go/huskies]

The problem Reese will face is similar to the problem the Greek Freak faced in the playoffs. That being defenders of size willl play off you daring you to drive into size or give up the ball. It also hurts your offensive rebounding if your big is always on the perimeter. Some teams will sacrifice size against her for quickness, which will slow her handle. If she can't shoot from the arc, hit a pull up, or pass well off of double teams the offense will suffer while her teammates will be shooting with little left on the clock. There's a reason why there's only one Durant, one LeBron and one Leonard. I can't wait for the first "coach wants to change my game" complaint.

You know Wilson who wanted to be a guard at one time, but ended up playing the four in college never had a “change my game complaint”, so it’s possible Reese won’t complain. For a top 2 kid who had some type of interest in and from UConn at one time, I don’t just understand all the negativity Reese gets from this board from time to time.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

All you have to do is watch the Connecticut Sun and Alyssa Thomas. Alyssa can not shoot the three ball but she has the talent to bring the ball up and initiate the offense. She did that often at Maryland. Angel Reese is forced to do all those things in high school because she is the best ball handler, best rebounder and best interior defender. I don't know how much she will want to bring the ball up in college but most of the teams she is considering have multiple PG options. Especially Maryland.

 

[oldude]

I think some who viewed her video clips saw a somewhat sloppy, less sophisticated offensive player then UConn usually recruits combined with a bit of an attitude about what position she wanted to play.......interestingly McLean also seems to have a less then "finished" offensive game at the moment.....

I note that Mir and Reese know each other well. Both are from MD. They play against each other in HS and together in AAU ball. I would not be surprised if they talk and text to each other.

I find it curious that right about the time Mir announces her commitment to UConn, Reese announces she is no longer interested in UConn. We all know that Geno wants to bring in talented, hard working, team oriented recruits. Did UConn’s offer to Mir trigger Reese’s response? Kids are funny....

 

[Go/huskies]

I note that Mir and Reese know each other well. Both are from MD. They play against each other in HS and together in AAU ball. I would not be surprised if they talk and text to each other.

I find it curious that right about the time Mir announces her commitment to UConn, Reese announces she is no longer interested in UConn. We all know that Geno wants to bring in talented, hard working, team oriented recruits. Did UConn’s offer to Mir trigger Reese’s response? Kids are funny....

Or maybe UConn was only to take one and once Reese released her top 5, UConn put the full court press on Mir ?

 

[oldude]

Or maybe UConn was only to take one and once Reese released her top 5, UConn put the full court press on Mir ?

Could be. Note that Reese released her Top 5 on June 20, the same day Mir visited UConn. Coincidence?

 

[Justavisitor]

You're not wrong; I'm just claiming that you don't have to shoot the three to win. I loved watching the high low game of Baylor, something that has nearly disappeared from basketball until this year (along with Notre Dame). And yes, If Chloe Jackson didn't hit the many midrange shots she made, Baylor would not have even made the championship game.
Also, the idea that Summitt didn't emphasize the three is straight up wrong. Shannon Bobbit was an excellent 3 point shooter. Stricklen readily shot the three during her time at UT. Simmons readily shot the three. Summitt began to emphasize the three around the same time that everyone else started to emphasize the three. Go back and watch older games...UConn wasn't shooting more threes than others before it became popular.
I'm also biased because I'm an inside player and can't shoot threes when I play, lol.

The last of Summitt's titles, 2007 and 2008, there were 2 capable 3 point shooters in the starting line up. In 2007, it was Bobbitt and the Spencer, who struck like a Viper. UConn fans should remember her well. Then in 2008, it was Bobbitt and Bjorklund. Angie didn't start during the tourney, but she was still very much a part of that team and being on the court kept the defense spread out.

This theory from some that Pat didn't use the 3 ball is absolute garbage.

As for Holly, the biggest issues with her failures were injuries and transfers and off the court crap. Most coaches would have failed under those circumstances. Was Holly the greatest? Hell no! But the record alone does not tell the whole story.

Kellie will right the ship! And she has shooters and big bodies and wings players too.

 

[BroadwayVa]

The last of Summitt's titles, 2007 and 2008, there were 2 capable 3 point shooters in the starting line up. In 2007, it was Bobbitt and the Spencer, who struck like a Viper. UConn fans should remember her well. Then in 2008, it was Bobbitt and Bjorklund. Angie didn't start during the tourney, but she was still very much a part of that team and being on the court kept the defense spread out.

This theory from some that Pat didn't use the 3 ball is absolute garbage.

As for Holly, the biggest issues with her failures were injuries and transfers and off the court crap. Most coaches would have failed under those circumstances. Was Holly the greatest? Hell no! But the record alone does not tell the whole story.

Kellie will right the ship! And she has shooters and big bodies and wings players too.

I hope Jollie does well. She was one of my many favorite players on the Summit teams. Spencer sticks in the mind as does Zolman and of course Lawson as more than fair to midland 3 ball shooters.
You opinion is your opinion. Holly to me an others was failure of coaching. Here "in game" adjustment required the Vol Campus police t send out a dragnet looking for them. The talent Holly recruited were among the best in the country--she did well in her league with them but outside of SEC. Diamond was/is a talent. Often in losing game that was Holly's offense when she had a post and a wing most teams scream for. Even as a Uconn Fan it was frustrating watching what looked like bad coaching or no coaching at all. If the Vol fans were in love with Holly they may have overlooked the obvious but I think those older fans that knew Pat's game had to feel the frustration.

 

[Dokey]

She doesn’t want UConn so why keep talking about her. There are a lot of good, even great, players coming out of high school. UConn can’t get them all, nor should they. Move on.

 

[CocoHusky]

She doesn’t want UConn so why keep talking about her. There are a lot of good, even great, players coming out of high school. UConn can’t get them all, nor should they. Move on.

Ironic that you are the first to write about her in two days. Might be that many & perhaps most have move on.