I'm sure many coaches operate this way and it's certainly their prerogative to do so. JMO but I doubt that Auriemma does or would. He is adamant that every kid he offers has to fit his criteria for his program. And a big part of that is attitude and work ethic. Looking at the current and past rosters it's clear that talent is not the dominant determinator. He builds a roster as best he can, not an all star team. And he'll pass on top talent if he doesn't think they'll fit, he just won't compromise. That's why I doubt that he offered Janiah Barker, who along with Mikaylah Williams is arguably the top talent in the 2023 class. It works pretty well and saves a lot of headaches that we're seeing at many programs.
You sound very much like @Charliebball circa 2018. UCONN has cast a wider net in the past few years and perhaps is evaluating prospects earlier that in the past. However, this conception of offering everyone and then rescinding offers is not the way UCONN WBB operates. Even with more UCONN offers coming out and perhaps earlier the evaluation process remains extremely selective. UCONN will never apply "pressure" to a recruit as long as Geno is at the helm because he is just too stubborn and prideful & I mean that in the most complementary way possible.
Guilty as charged but that was based on some less than stellar recruiting results........UConn has been on a hot streak in the past couple of classes so I'm not complaining.........yet........
Do you think we need post players because of what we currently have on the roster aren't enough to contend or is it more about battling against South Carolina.
I’ll admit it is mostly about beating South Carolina. Boston will graduate in a year but Cardoso might remain. I just think it is better to have that type of player on the roster vs not having one. Evina and Caroline trying to guard Cardoso and Boston in the post last night is not something we should be looking to EVER again. Ugly! Remember UCONN not having anyone to match up against Nylassa Smith the last few years also.
A big key for UCONN is ot not have as many injuires too.
Confirmed ACL injury cost her a PA state championship run. She is still holding a UCONN offer. Last visit was to UNC(?) and there might be other schools in the mix.
Thanks for helping understand and I would agree to with you to some degree. My only problem is Geno willing to highlight post players in his offense.
That's not the problem. We couldn't rebound. Defend well enough down there vs SC. Don't need to "highlight" a low post game. Just be decent.
Without a doubt! Think about all the UCONN post players that have been featured in the UCONN offense and have become NPOY. Lobo, Wolters, Tina, Maya, Stewie. The AAs Bascom, Dolson, Collier , Tuck, & Williams.
You have to have low post offense. It puts pressure on the Defense. Our problems against SC was defending bigs and then trying to play, help defense. That was the entire countries problem against SC.
But it doesn't have to be "a highlight." It wasn’t "A highlight" leading up to the Finals - so one team with extreme size while UCONN is banged up and we need to scrap everything that has happened over the past many years?
I strongly agree with you and stated this the day Napheesa Collier graduated. You need a balance of perimeter play and post play to return to championship level.
Somehow you got scrapping our offense from my comment. I Said no such thing. Using the post by no means says scrap the perimeter orientated offense. However attracting top post players will be difficult to get if we can't showcase them within our perimeter orientated offense.
But you said "highlight" the post offense, didn't you? That would be scrapping our current offense, wouldn’t it? I;m aksing - don't take offense to my question please. You are a great poster. If i'm wrong here in interpretation let me know. UCON is not going to highlight post play with the guards they have.
I'm with you 100%. I focused on your word "highlight." Yes 100% I'm with you !!!
As coco and you I htink both are sayign and I have said many times as well BALANCE is needed.
Can't argue when your right.
Agree in principle but:
Thank you and I appreciate your insight on topics too. Never arguing but simple pleasures of debate.
It is not entirely about shot making. The biggest hallmarks of a UCONN post is consistency, playing to your strengths, and growth.
There are certainly many options in Auriemma’s read and react motion offense for using the low post and he would love to be able to take advantage of a skilled, inside player or two. If he had one. The problem is that since Napheesa Collier, he hasn’t had an inside offensive threat with the hands, footwork, and variety of shots to make an impact and be able to attack the defense with any kind of consistency. There are very few of them out there to recruit who are ready made so you have to take a kid with size and some athleticism and hope for a fairly quick development. And the motivation for that development has to come mainly from the kid and recently that just hasn’t been there. You can lead a horse to water etc. etc. We’ll see if any of the current roster or incoming freshmen have that motivation in them during the offseason.
