As UConn men, women arrive for AAC media day, here are some conference storylines | The Boneyard

As UConn men, women arrive for AAC media day, here are some conference storylines

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UConn basketball’s farewell tour of the American Athletic Conference begins Monday with media day, the annual chat fest for the league’s coaches.

www.courant.com

As UConn men, women arrive for AAC media day, here are some conference storylines

UConn basketball’s farewell tour of the American Athletic Conference begins Monday with media day, the annual chat fest for the league’s coaches. The Huskies were one of the hot topics …
www.courant.com www.courant.com
 
The Courant thinks Squeaks will be the conference pre-season POY.

For FOY, Anna, Aubrey, or someone else?
 
Maybe after the they return from Conference Media Day, we can get some “team” story lines. Official practice began last Monday.

A report or two about the goings on in practice would be welcomed. We’re all curious about how the new players are doing, player health (injuries) and Geno’s assessment of the first five practice sessions and any players that may be standing out thus far.
 
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The events will be streaming on the AAC Facebook page at 11:30 for women.
 
With UConn leaving, the AAC will not longer care about the Northeast, not that they did anyway. Its now a southern/ mid westerner conference. Temple doesn't count as northeast.
 
MilfordHusky said:
The Courant thinks Squeaks will be the conference pre-season POY.

For FOY, Anna, Aubrey, or someone else?
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Alvarez from USF can really fill it up. If Westbrook is eligible, I think it may be Alvarez simply because I'm not sure Anna or Aubrey would get the stats to win it.
 
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It wouldn't surprise me if Kay Kay Wright of UCF gets some votes for preseason POY, if nothing else out of spite for the defectors.
 
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Coaches Roundtable discussing strength of schedules and at the 19 minute mark:

Q: Geno, why did you want to bring back the Tennessee rivalry?
Geno: (after pause) I didn't!



​
 
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Alydar said:
looking at all the picks it looks like seniority was involved.
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There's generally a seniority bias in awards, and it's especially acute in preseason awards.

I'm not too surprised they selected Crystal, but I am somewhat surprised that they put Megan on 1st team ahead of Christyn.
 
Plebe said:
There's generally a seniority bias in awards, and it's especially acute in preseason awards.

I'm not too surprised they selected Crystal, but I am somewhat surprised that they put Megan on 1st team ahead of Christyn.
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Can you remember the preseason AA's from the last 2 years? Me neither. And I've yet to see a bio or resume mention "was pre-season all conference in 20xx"
 
Alydar said:
Can you remember the preseason AA's from the last 2 years? Me neither. And I've yet to see a bio or resume mention "was pre-season all conference in 20xx"
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I still don’t get preseason “awards”. Is there a ceremony anywhere? I wish they’d say who voted for each player, then have a postseason award for the reporter who got it right and a dunking seat for the biggest doofus, where the real player of the year could throw basketballs to dunk him/her or just at his/her head, which is full of rocks anyway, so certainly won’t sustain any damage.
 
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Bigboote said:
I still don’t get preseason “awards”. Is there a ceremony anywhere? I wish they’d say who voted for each player, then have a postseason award for the reporter who got it right and a dunking seat for the biggest doofus, where the real player of the year could throw basketballs to dunk him/her or just at his/her head, which is full of rocks anyway, so certainly won’t sustain any damage.
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LOL
I think that during the week between the E8 and FF ESPN should get their half dozen wcbb "analysts" together and look back at their preseason picks. Get some outsider to present awards for the top 10 worst predictions of the season. But it seems as if there is an unwritten rule in sports journalism that says that past comments are off-limits, (unless they were correct).

They could call it the "Eat Crow Show".
 
Dangerfield spent the summer recovering from a late May hip surgery, and though she is back practicing, she is still experiencing some pain. Dangerfield says she is making sure to listen to her body and to not overdo it, but that she is on track to be good to go by the start of the season.

...

A final piece of the team’s puzzle, however, may not be resolved until right before game day: The program is still waiting to hear about the waiver status for Evina Westbrook, a transfer from Tennessee. While her eligibility is in question, she has also been working to come back from offseason knee surgery and has been limited in practice. As such, Auriemma is trying to incorporate her into practices enough so that she can be properly prepared if she’s deemed eligible, but not too much to the point where the team relies upon her presence in the rotation.


www.courant.com

‘Everything’s in a state of flux:’ Geno Auriemma talks difficulty of replacing Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson as UConn picked No. 1 in AAC preseason poll

UConn has graduated its share of exceptional talent over the years, but this past season’s losses of Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson hit a little harder than most. Collier and Samuel…
www.courant.com www.courant.com

 
JavaMan said:
Coaches Roundtable discussing strength of schedules and at the 19 minute mark:

Q: Geno, why did you want to bring back the Tennessee rivalry?
Geno: (after pause) I didn't!



​
Expand ...


Thank you for posting this Java. I haven't looked at the video yet. I ALWAYS thought it WAS NOT his idea to resume the series with Tennessee because of statements he made years ago setting the parameters of resuming the series. It was reported here in the yard some years ago that Holly Warlick approached Geno and asked him about resuming the series. He asked her if she was prepared to offer an apology to Maya, her mother and the University for things that was said/implied and accusations made by Tennessee back in 2007, she said no, she couldn't do that.

Fast forward to 2018 - Regardless of what was reported, I always believed he was "coerced" into going along with the resumption and publicly giving it his blessing. I understand that some decisions of this magnitude are out of a coach's hands. Obviously this is one of them.
 
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Alydar said:
LOL
I think that during the week between the E8 and FF ESPN should get their half dozen wcbb "analysts" together and look back at their preseason picks. Get some outsider to present awards for the top 10 worst predictions of the season. But it seems as if there is an unwritten rule in sports journalism that says that past comments are off-limits, (unless they were correct).

They could call it the "Eat Crow Show".
Expand ...

Yeah, and I think I could host it since I've had to eat my share lately with some "misguided" observations and predictions, like the Mystics in 3. :eek:
 
Carnac said:
Yeah, and I think I could host it since I've had to eat my share lately with some "misguided" observations and predictions, like the Mystics in 3. :eek:
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Maybe, but they are "professionals".
 
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One of the biggest "conference storyline"s imho is whether UConn can complete an unprecedented run of perfection. This is the American's 7th season, and UConn is 102-0 so far. Can it get to 118-0?
 
Carnac said:
Thank you for posting this Java. I haven't looked at the video yet. I ALWAYS thought it WAS NOT his idea to resume the series with Tennessee because of statements he made years ago setting the parameters of resuming the series. It was reported here in the yard some years ago that Holly Warlick approached Geno and asked him about resuming the series. He asked her if she was prepared to offer an apology to Maya, her mother and the University for things that was said/implied and accusations made by Tennessee back in 2007, she said no, she couldn't do that.

Fast forward to 2018 - Regardless of what was reported, I always believed he was "coerced" into going along with the resumption and publicly giving it his blessing. I understand that some decisions of this magnitude are out of a coach's hands. Obviously this is one of them.
Expand ...
Do you really think Geno could be “coerced” into doing something he didn’t want to? I don’t mean this in any way other that I’m curious what you are thinking.
 
Teacherdeb said:
Do you really think Geno could be “coerced” into doing something he didn’t want to? I don’t mean this in any way other that I’m curious what you are thinking.
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Well if someone asks you to do something for charity and you turn it down bc of bad blood, it's not the greatest look. So he may not have loved playing TN, but might have felt it wasn't worth the guff to turn it down.
 
Teacherdeb said:
Do you really think Geno could be “coerced” into doing something he didn’t want to? I don’t mean this in any way other that I’m curious what you are thinking.
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vowelguy said:
Well if someone asks you to do something for charity and you turn it down bc of bad blood, it's not the greatest look. So he may not have loved playing TN, but might have felt it wasn't worth the guff to turn it down.
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To add to what VG said, I imagine it went something like this:

ESPN to UCONN administration (AD or President) "We REALLY want the UCONN-Tennessee rivalry game to resume. Please make it happen. We want it to happen. We won't be happy if it doesn't happen. No telling what might happen to our relationship if it doesn't happen."

UCONN administration to Geno: "ESPN really wants the game to take place."
Geno: "I told them, our fans, and Maya's family I'd never play them again unless the apologized to Maya and her family"
UCONN AD: "I know, but the previous HC has since passed away and, ESPN REALLY wants the game to take place"
Geno: "I have no interest in playing them. It does nothing for us and helps them immeasurably"
UCONN AD: "I know but ESPN REALLY wants the game to take place".
Geno after a long pause "I get what you are saying between the lines. Fine, but I'm really pissed about it"...
 
EricLA said:
UCONN AD: "I know but ESPN REALLY wants the game to take place".
Geno after a long pause "I get what you are saying between the lines. Fine, but I'm really pissed about it"...
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Actually, I'm gonna disagree with this. I doubt Geno cares so much what ESPN wants. ESPN would be glad to have any UConn game so I'm not sure they have much bargaining power. And there are many who believe ESPN did not do UConn any favors in conference realignment.

ESPN begged PHS to not end the series, and she didn't care.
And I think ESPN has been trying to get this game for years. The only thing different now is the charity.
 
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