Boston to South Carolina

[UConn2SF]

This recruiting cycle is such a deviation from norm and unusual. Im trying not to jump to any conclusions but Why is UConn struggling so much this recruiting cycle?

 

[DaBball]

Well in the past two years, Dawn has proven to be very good at preparing her players for the WNBA, as both Allisha Gray and A’ja Wilson were the ROTY. Dawn’s 2017 team had immense talent. A’ja Wilson was a former #1, Kaela Davis a #2, Allisha Gray top-10, Coates had developed into a top-10 talent (in the eyes of WNBA coaches), and Cuevas-Moore was a more than adequate PG. To have that talent on the wing and in the post, in a year when UConn just lost Stewie, MoJeff, and Tuck, I thought it was a recipe for UConn’s disaster. But we beat them pretty handily. Had those two stuck around another year, they may have won a second.

Also, if Vic Schaefer can make a national championship starting two ranked players, then three ranked players, I have no doubts Geno should be able to do it with the talent he has. A lot of teams would love the idea of Dangerfield, Williams, Walker, and ONO has 4/5 of the starting lineup. Walker and ONO are both very high ceiling prospects, they will come closer to reaching those ceilings next year. By their juniors years, Coombs and Gordon should be able to come off the bench and give solid minutes and Coombs should be ready to start. Touly should be better too, I hope.

Currently the roster sits at 9 for 2019-20. Maybe a top player decides to grad-transfer and Geno goes after them after this season. I just hope to see him cast a larger net next year, because Hannah Gusters cannot be our only target in the post. Going to be tough to take her from Texas or Baylor. Dalayah Daniels may also be hard to get from PNW. Not sure if we will shortly hear about a few more 2020 targets.

 

[ReadR00ster]

SC's offensive struggles is because of their lack of elite outside shooters that many top level teams have. It's still going to be an issue for them.

 

[Charliebball]

This is what Boston said:

“I wanted to go pro. I just have a lot of goals,” Boston said, explaining her reasoning for choosing the Gamecocks. “I just felt like that is where it was at.”

I don't know what to say other than ask whether she's been paying attention to the WNBA or Team USA. Dawn was sure glad to have all those former Huskies in Tenerife and probably wished another (Maya) were there.

nothing new here................ there are always going to be players that realize that there are other coaches capable of preparing them for pro ball, maybe not quite as well as Geno but without all of the trials and tribulations that come along with being part of the UConn program.............I've had a bad feeling about this 2019 class for quite a while now as evidenced by my gloomy posts.................hopefully 2020 will be much more rewarding.......

 

[hjoerring]

It is possible that Uconn; 1) knew she wasn't coming; 2) gave(?) her tickets nonetheless; 3) she like bb and Uconn was the best in the business in New Engl. Obviously, she saw more of US than THEM and chose the latter. Should we blame players for not choosing Uconn? Our discussion should not be about recruits/players and why some go elsewhere (this is what we have been waiting on- a level playing field), but how we will play (and maybe recruit) in this new environment.

 

[Plebe]

I opened this thread thinking it was for long-distance Thanksgiving traveling advice.

Lol a much-needed injection of humor.

 

[Kevin G]

Jones is not coming to UCONN!!! Accept it now!!!!!! Geno made a big mistake!! Being to dam selective!!!! No back up plan!! Jones to
South Carolina Stanford or Oregon!!! UCONN is done!!! Hate to be negative but if Geno lost a recruit who basically sat behind uconns bench the past 2 years and she goes to USC come on people .. writing is on the wall UCONN is over. I see Geno coaching no more then 4 years. Kids don’t want to play for demanding coaches and programs and people are sick of uconns dominance and sadly all good things come to a end.

WHO IS THIS CLOWN?! Take a xanax please. I thought trolls were not allowed here

 

[HuskylnSC]

Really looking forward to the next few years. I have a feeling we are going to see something akin to the showtime LA Lakers. Who except for one old slow guy in the middle were all fast slash and dash with in your face defense. Just roll the ball out and let the players play UConn ball. Geno once said what he has missed the most these last few years was winning games they were not supposed to win. Do you remember those days? UConn fought to the end and triumphed more often than not. If I know Geno (and I really don't), nothing gets his fire going like playing a higher ranked team. I am so expecting a return and Geno, CD, Shea, Jaz put their mark down as the greatest coaches of all time. Sign me up as a believer

 

[Centerstream]

Geno's style is no longer working with today's players. Without naming names, it was pretty clear that some players left here unhappy in the past few years. Reading Boston's comments on why she picked SC, its pretty clear that Geno needs to change if he is going to connect with current players.

Yup Geno needs to change and recruit players that want to take the easiest paths to the WNBA and then they can find out how tough it will be to stay in the WNBA, when they will be facing Elite competition every game instead of being use to giving 110% in every practice and game.

 

[DaBball]

ESPNW: “You need to turn the clock back to 2012 to find a class that could rival Staley's 2019 bunch in overall talent. That's when UConn landed No. 1 Breanna Stewart, No. 2 Moriah Jefferson and No. 6 Morgan Tuck. Those three won four straight NCAA titles with the Huskies.”

 

[CL82]

So a couple of thoughts;

1) For those who think that Boston wanted an easier path to the pros, I think that you underestimate Staley. She is every bit as demanding as Geno.

2) I think we may be seeing the "Geno will be retiring soon - he won't be your coach all four years" negative recruiting. It was inevitable.

3) This is what happens when we let other schools win national championships. We should stop doing that.

4) I do feel like a shift is happening in the way WCBB works. Geno will adjust. He always does.

 

[DaBball]

Another thing that I was thinking about, that was briefly mentioned in earlier posts is the question: “What is actually home for Boston?”

She moved to Massachusetts from USVI when she was 12, alongside her older sister, to pursue her hoop dreams. She moved in with her aunt. It isn’t like MA has been home for forever to her. Perhaps she was just tired of these brutal winters, although she said they don’t faze her anymore. But it is often that students who come to the US from other countries want to explore more of the US. The NE isn’t for everyone! Maybe the whole being in her backyard thing wasn’t as big a deal as we thought.

I know it was compared to if SC lost A’ja or if ND lost Skylar, but I’m just not sure its the same. I just never viewed it the same way. Maybe because MA isn’t CT, or maybe because she isn’t home-bred. We will survive.

 

[MilfordHusky]

It’s not any worse then a HS football player picking up one schools hat then tossing it aside and putting on another schools hat to announce where He’s going. I guess I see no issue with it.

If the rejected school is in his home town and has a game in the next day or two, it would be more comparable.

 

[MilfordHusky]

She would be, but she is not leaving Texas, IMHO.

That could be. We saw how that worked with Cox and Collier. But Geno should pursue her and others, in my opinion. He got MoJeff out of Texas.

 

[MilfordHusky]

This is what Boston said:

“I wanted to go pro. I just have a lot of goals,” Boston said, explaining her reasoning for choosing the Gamecocks. “I just felt like that is where it was at.”

I don't know what to say other than ask whether she's been paying attention to the WNBA or Team USA. Dawn was sure glad to have all those former Huskies in Tenerife and probably wished another (Maya) were there.

So much for the Brunelle effect. Once again, that stuff rarely matters when it's time to make these decisions.

The USA won in Tenerife because of Diana, Sue, Tina, Stewie, and Brit, not because of Dawn.

 

[BroadwayVa]

nothing new here...... there are always going to be players that realize that there are other coaches capable of preparing them for pro ball, maybe not quite as well as Geno but without all of the trials and tribulations that come along with being part of the UConn program...I've had a bad feeling about this 2019 class for quite a while now as evidenced by my gloomy posts.......hopefully 2020 will be much more rewarding..

You mentioned one probability; the trials and tribulations that were very visible with the Uconn Bench and AEH. Kids aren't dumb and read the web, probably many read the BY last year over AEH and said that isn't for me. Then seeing Walker on the bench, a number one ranked player benched? Who knows what impact that had on any choice?? OPTICS as all people in the public eye knows now; keep Optics positive.
Then too I wonder how much the R word has been bantered about in regards to Geno's longeviety at Uconn?
Yet, we have seen lean years in the past followed by a Maya, Stewie. Also, Walker, Okey Dokey led those classes.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think we'll learn if there really is such a thing as the Brunelle effect next year with the recruit from Minnesota and the following year from the recruit in Virgina....

If there is a Brunelle effect, what is it? Go to N.D.? Don't got to UConn? If it's that latter, kids are probably unknowingly limiting their development.

 

[BroadwayVa]

The USA won in Tenerife because of Diana, Sue, Tina, Stewie, and Brit, not because of Dawn.

Those you mentioned would have won with ME being their coach if I didn't coach!

 

[BroadwayVa]

If there is a Brunelle effect, what is it? Go to N.D.? Don't got to UConn? If it's that latter, kids are probably unknowingly limiting their development.

How many teenagers "unknowingly limit some aspect of their lives? All?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Well in the past two years, Dawn has proven to be very good at preparing her players for the WNBA, as both Allisha Gray and A’ja Wilson were the ROTY. Dawn’s 2017 team had immense talent. A’ja Wilson was a former #1, Kaela Davis a #2, Allisha Gray top-10, Coates had developed into a top-10 talent (in the eyes of WNBA coaches), and Cuevas-Moore was a more than adequate PG. To have that talent on the wing and in the post, in a year when UConn just lost Stewie, MoJeff, and Tuck, I thought it was a recipe for UConn’s disaster. But we beat them pretty handily. Had those two stuck around another year, they may have won a second.

Also, if Vic Schaefer can make a national championship starting two ranked players, then three ranked players, I have no doubts Geno should be able to do it with the talent he has. A lot of teams would love the idea of Dangerfield, Williams, Walker, and ONO has 4/5 of the starting lineup. Walker and ONO are both very high ceiling prospects, they will come closer to reaching those ceilings next year. By their juniors years, Coombs and Gordon should be able to come off the bench and give solid minutes and Coombs should be ready to start. Touly should be better too, I hope.

Currently the roster sits at 9 for 2019-20. Maybe a top player decides to grad-transfer and Geno goes after them after this season. I just hope to see him cast a larger net next year, because Hannah Gusters cannot be our only target in the post. Going to be tough to take her from Texas or Baylor. Dalayah Daniels may also be hard to get from PNW. Not sure if we will shortly hear about a few more 2020 targets.

I think Gray's ROTY was a bit of an anomaly. That was a weak draft, and the #1 pick, Plum, took a while to develop. Gray took advantage of her playing time and did well, but I think she regressed this past season. She doesn't compare to Parker, Tina, Maya, Stewie, Elena, or maybe not even Jewell.

 

[MilfordHusky]

How many teenagers "unknowingly limit some aspect of their lives? All?

But if several do it for the same, highly-specific reason, that would be a shame.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Those you mentioned would have won with ME being their coach if I didn't coach!

So we give Dawn credit for winning Gold?

 

[HuskyMJ]

Well in the past two years, Dawn has proven to be very good at preparing her players for the WNBA, as both Allisha Gray and A’ja Wilson were the ROTY. Dawn’s 2017 team had immense talent. A’ja Wilson was a former #1, Kaela Davis a #2, Allisha Gray top-10, Coates had developed into a top-10 talent (in the eyes of WNBA coaches), and Cuevas-Moore was a more than adequate PG. To have that talent on the wing and in the post, in a year when UConn just lost Stewie, MoJeff, and Tuck, I thought it was a recipe for UConn’s disaster. But we beat them pretty handily. Had those two stuck around another year, they may have won a second.

Davis and Gray played what, one season each at South Carolina? Why are we attributing all success to Staley when they were already top players at their old schools? Are we implying they would not be in the W if it was not for South Carolina?

 

[buddy]

Don't blame Geno! I read that she chose South Carolina for their academics! LOL! Listen people. You need players who want, truly want, to be at a UConn. That is the only way they are you all will succeed. Remember Elena Della Donne!. Everyone was going crazy that she chose UConn. She was not happy. She is a great player and nice person, but did not fit into UConn, for whatever reason. Same here. The only silly thing that I read in the newspaper was the academic part. UConn is far superior to South Carolina there.

 

[BroadwayVa]

So we give Dawn credit for winning Gold?

You can give her as much credit as you would have given me had I coached.