Asia Durr Narrows list; topic morph circa p. 4 to Tennessee's status/outlook

[Tonyc]

She,most likely,will become an outstanding college player,barring injury.
However,I,for one,could not be much more thrilled than who Connecticut has arriving or, giving their verbal,to the team.In my opinion,no matter who anyone else gets,from here on in,Connecticut will be very hard to beat the next few years.Teams will need their AA++ games to do so.

I have to agree. UConn understands "Why" they do what they do. They make a total commitment to the TEAM and Geno and his coaching staff because they know what the "Why" is. If they dont they get yanked out of a game or practice. This makes you tuff, and determined. When you look at the development of Genos players over the years you have to wonder how many more kids could be better if they were to play for Geno. When you think about it and look at his former players and what they were when the arrived at UConn and where they are when they graduate and what theyve become on the court it makes me wonder why every kid wouldnt come to UConn. I do understand playtime is important and at UConn you have to earn playtime. However by being forced to do what you may not want to do and at the level you have to do it may turn off some kids, its that that makes them even better. This is why UConn is not for everybody. However when you look at Lawlor and Polito you understand what it means to be part of something special. For them its not about playtime. Its about everything else.

Yes I do understand that many great players want the spotlight. They want to be the go to player, the leader, the front page headlines and they will get that at other schools. At UConn its about the team getting headlines. Its about game situations and who can score. For example when Stef has a freshman guarding her who is inches shorter she can score almost at will with Breanna feeding her and visa versa. However with someone bigger like the girl in the Regionals at 6'7 she didnt. This is why UConn wins by so many points, they dont depend on one player they depend on team execution and opponets opponents depend on their star scorer to win games and UConn can shut that player down forcing opponents into mistakes.

The next 4 seasons could be UConns greatest, because they will show the WCBB world they can win even without some of the other top players they were recruiting. They will also show WCBB how much better the players coming in are compared to their previous season.

 

[msf22b]

The next 4 seasons could be UConns greatest, because they will show the WCBB world they can win even without some of the other top players they were recruiting. They will also show WCBB how much better the players coming in are compared to their previous season.

Tony.true enough,but there is a lot of talent out there and UConn has just recruited more than enough more the next several years.
I don't begrudge Asia D's decision to go elsewhere, it's pretty crowded at guard.
We can't get absolutely all the best players.
The team has (much) more than enough to dominate.

 

[EricSD]

I actually tend to disagree with Tony on this account. I do totally agree that the UCONN coaching staff is the best in the country. However, look at all the non-UCONN stars in the WNBA. Were they simply not developed in college? Angel is one of the best in the world (probably top 10 or 15). She was developed by Walz in college (yeah he had her for only 2 years or so after Collen left L'ville). Did she suddenly become great in the pros after she graduated?

Odyssey Sims and Chiney Ogwumike were pretty much all everything in college. They were both developed by Mulkey and Tara respectively. Both picked up in the pros right where they left off in college. Kayla McBride is another example. Even Diggins, for all her struggles last year, I don't believe that can be blamed on Muffet's "development". Schimmel is another example coming out of L'ville.

Now, do I agree that Geno and co. are likely to push all their players a wee bit more than other coaches, to get them to play and develop outside their comfort zones a bit more than other coaches, etc etc? Sure. But to say that kids aren't developed at other schools is an urban legend.

Now when it comes to running offense, thinking on the court, and developing the team concept, I do agree UCONN is the best. But again, you can't overlook schools like ND or Stanford, who both run a terrific motion and/or Princeton offense and certainly teach their players tho think on the court. People can say "well, look at Stanford - they had Chiney and she took all the shots". Well when KML was injured, didn't Breanna take most of the shots? Didn't we hear at times Geno tell the team "just get the ball to Breanna"?

UCONN is a great team and a great program. It's hands down the best in the nation and the team everyone else wants to emulate. We are fortunate that we continue to land players in the top 5 in the nation. Without those players ("just" kids in the top 10 or top 15), I don't believe UCONN would continue to win NC's. Take Stewie and KML out of the picture and replace them with Krystle Forthan and Betnijah Laney - a forward and a wing, both in the top 10. Do you think UCONN would still be winning all those NC's?

 

[oneresult]

Ericsandiego:

You talk about talented players to begin with ; would they be much better under Gino???
My view, Yes much better
Most where great when they got there, not much coaching needed.
Like I say , did they improve by coaching or just a lot of talent?????