Boston to South Carolina

[nwhoopfan]

Possibly Oregon State

Only possibly? They'll miss McWilliams but they've had bigger losses and not missed a beat. Losing Grymek should be a non-factor. A year under the belt for this year's Freshmen and two more touted post prospects coming in next year. Veteran group of guards/wings returning.

 

[MilfordHusky]

She’s from there why can’t she do it where she is from? She doesn’t have to appease any fanbase.

It has nothing to do with the fan base. I think it's highly insensitive to announce when one of the affected coaches is in the same place. It's a question of common courtesy. If she decided on Monday, she should have announced on Monday, to separate that from the first UConn game by more time. Aliyah is young, but she should have been looking ahead and thinking about this.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Duke, Baylor, Stanford, NoCar, TX

Stanford really doesn't belong in this grouping. 7 Final 4's and 2 runner up finishes in the last 11 seasons is a heck of a lot better than Duke, UNC and Texas. Baylor has 1 Championship but otherwise only 1 other Final 4 during that stretch.

 

[IrishTiger]

It has nothing to do with the fan base. I think it's highly insensitive to announce when one of the affected coaches is in the same place. It's a question of common courtesy. If she decided on Monday, she should have announced on Monday, to separate that from the first UConn game by more time. Aliyah is young, but she should have been looking ahead and thinking about this.

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.

 

[caramel]

If u want to compete for national titles yes u need to change!!! 10 player roster next year with a starting 5 of who? Really people come on.. one post player?? Olivia ... people need to face reality .. UCONN is one injury away this season for disaster next year just forget it... Haley Jones is 100% not going to UCONN!!! South Carolina or Stanford!! My guess South Carolina will land jones!!!!

Well, I guess I better get back to work on the underground shelter, since you make this sound like the world is coming to an end, as we know it.
Funny how Connecticut always comes back year after year and does extremely well. Guess this is why I never seem to get motivated to actually finish that shelter as time passes.

 

[caramel]

Hmmm-----I have read that Geno has no backup plan for this class. Since I cannot see what is completely going on in the coach's office, since I cannot tell who may still be on Geno's radar for this class, could one of the people who use that nifty crystal ball lend it to me for a day or two? TY

 

[TitleTown]

I thought Boston was more of a defensive specialist with an evolving offensive game. A very good post player, but not generational. I think Gusters would be a good alternative.

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

 

[TitleTown]

Hmmm-----I have read that Geno has no backup plan for this class. Since I cannot see what is completely going on in the coach's office, since I cannot tell who may still be on Geno's radar for this class, could one of the people who use that nifty crystal ball lend it to me for a day or two? TY

There is NOBODY left.

 

[Zanzman]

It has nothing to do with the fan base. I think it's highly insensitive to announce when one of the affected coaches is in the same place. It's a question of common courtesy. If she decided on Monday, she should have announced on Monday, to separate that from the first UConn game by more time. Aliyah is young, but she should have been looking ahead and thinking about this.

Couldn’t disagree more with everything you have said

 

[mbr33ct]

Hmmm-----I have read that Geno has no backup plan for this class. Since I cannot see what is completely going on in the coach's office, since I cannot tell who may still be on Geno's radar for this class, could one of the people who use that nifty crystal ball lend it to me for a day or two? TY

You mean that nifty crystal ball that had Boston was a lock?

 

[JustinesGuy]

Skilled size is still an important ingredient of a championship team. Look at the last two National Champions. ND had Shepard and SCar had Wilson. And the beaten finalists in each case were McCowan and Miss. St.

I think size for size's sake is overrated but Boston is not only big but highly skilled.

I think it’s great to have skilled players and clearly ones that can rebound is important too. That being said Wilson was overrated for me. She could not impact the game like a guard. We wanted her soooo bad and it was not impressed we we played against her. I’m sure her stats were impressive but whatever.
Don’t lose sleep over Boston. If u want to lose sleep lose sleep over Geno striking on on recruits he was all in for, and lose a weeks worth of sleep the day lou and pheese leave.

 

[JustinesGuy]

I'm going to remind you of that post when teams try to overwhelm poor ONO on the boards next year....you don't necessarily need a physical 6'5" 250 lb. post when you have a 6'2" jumping jack with long arms but that train is leaving the station

I rather have ONO than Boston.
Ono also wants to be here.

 

[paisan]

Just another recruiting failure, one of many for the past few years.

 

[lebronfan23]

We’ll be ok without her. She probably felt competition from Olivia. But I must say they way Geno always spoke negative about the freshmen last season may have taken effect on some of these recruits. Glad he changed his tone within Williams and Olivia

 

[Sifaka]

Ms. Boston has made a decision: Play for a good coach at a place that feels right for her. She announced this at her home base. I wish her well.

A few folks posting here have made some assertions that leave me no choice. I simply must accept that some Great Diety has unscrewed the celestial lag bolts, and the sky has fallen. Fire, famine, war, pestilence and the like are all that remain.
We are forever vanquished. All that remains is...

A realy good college basketball program, a superb coaching staff, some fine young women with exceptional skills and character. In short, the ashes of an empire.

To those who are in agony because it is their birthright to win a national championship each and every year, to be victorious in every recruiting joust...
take deep breaths, appreciate the good, hug somebody you care for.

 

[connboy77]

Guy's it is not the end of the world, but after last years two player class and this years probable one player class, UCONN needs to sign at least four or five quality players for 2020. Hopefully two or three top ten. UCONN will be back, but it must start with the 2020 class.

 

[Bigpetunia]

Happy Thanksgiving to all, even to those sorry souls contemplating a leap off of the edge of the cliff!

I am an ardent fan of UConn women's basketball. Like most fans of this program, I am outrageously spoiled, given the unprecedented dynasty that Geno has built here. Many...far too many...of the comments that I have read on this thread betray a level of ignorance that can only be characterized as breathtaking! The coach's methods are no longer "relevant," His disciplinary style is not right for "today's players." It's time for him to "move on." Some room temperature IQ's at work here! No dynasty in history lasted forever. I cannot say if this one is now ending or not, though that day must inevitably come. But what I know and appreciate with certainty are those elements that Geno brought to the program that led to eleven national championships, 100+ game winning streaks, and the greatest record in the history of the sport, one that will NEVER be equaled by any other. I'm going to be an ardent fan whether this run continues a while longer or if it doesn't, though it's certainly in its twilight years. But, in the time that Geno has left, and, I certainly hope, in the coaching philosophy of his eventual successor, no significant deviation from the fundamental approach that he has established will be evident, irrespective of the inevitable vicissitudes of individual recruiting class efforts. If one expects or requires national championships to be delivered on an annual basis, one must question the nature of one's fandom, to say nothing of one's intelligence!

 

[UConnCat]

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.

 

[meyers7]

Though we had successfully disputed this notion. Boston is and will be a very good player, she is not a generational type player. Generational type players reach consensus #1 in the class.

At least. There have been some consensus #1's who weren't generational.

It's disappointing she didn't pick UCONN. Especially being from MA. But hey, we move on. You know maybe (maybe) watching ONO the other night, she thought she may not see as much playing time the next 3 years. OR maybe she just really liked S. Carolina.

We have a really good team this year. Enjoy it. Worry about next year, next year.

 

[augustaTC]

They preceding 8+ pages generally gives me a headache, but in response I'd like to make a few small points (most, if not all, have been made endlessly on this blog over the years!):

I really doubt Geno's age has much to do with any kid's decision (MM at Notre Dame, TV at Stanford HW at Tennessee and VS at Miss State are hardly spring chickens). I'm sure when he recruits a kid he tells them that, God willing, he'll be there for the next four years. His coaching style is what it is, but you can hardly argue with the results.

This whole "we gotta win a NC or the program has gone to hell in a hand basket" idea is silly. With the number of good teams growing every year, it's just plain harder to go all the way. And in UConn's case, a total of FOUR points busted up their run the last two years. You simply can't win a NC, Every. Single. Year. Not gonna happen.

Yes, the league they're in is pretty dismal, but show me a program that plays a tougher non-conference schedule. If you want to play against the best, you want to play for UConn.

UConn has a few minor disadvantages in recruiting: It's a good, but not great, academic institution, if that's what floats your boat. Storrs, CT isn't exactly the most exciting place in the world and the winters generally suck, particularly if you're a kid from the West Coast (but somehow Dee, Kaleena, and Lou managed to see past that). And I'm sure there's other stuff that makes a difference to a 17 year old (which I'll probably never get), but at the end of the day, they come to UConn to play for the best coach, in the best program, that gives them the best chance to win NC's and improve their own performance. Period.

I watch UConn WBB to see the teams come together. Every year is different and I really enjoy watching the process as the players and team evolve. Yes, I get into a funk if they don't go all the way. For maybe a week.

Enough pontificating. If you're still awake, my apologies to those I've offended, bored, or otherwise upset.

 

[Rings R Us]

First time poster here...but I’ve been reading the Boneyard for awhile now...it’s great!

I too was very disappointed upon hearing the news yesterday..but I have a really good feeling about Haley Jones coming to UConn. My ‘inside source’ on this is my gut.

Dawn Staley has been an ok recruiter.. but I think what has put South Carolina over the top was bringing over Jolette Law from Tennessee this past year. She is known as an excellent recruiter and it looks like it has immediately paid off for Staley and company.

Let’s wait until Monday passes before we freak out...or like people said let’s just wait until next year and then start freaking out (a little bit) if we only get a 1 person class. Although..I think Aubrey Griffin will get an even higher ranking after her high school season wraps up. She will prove to be a valuable asset for us I believe. I think we will be in for a treat after the Jones announcement on Monday...and we will forget all about the Boston announcement...fingers crossed!

Let’s Go Huskies!

 

[cferraro04]

It was the end of the world for the Huskie Nation. Arch Rival Tennessee Volunteers and Geno Auriemma nemesis Pat Summit had just inked the best recruiting class in the nation. The “doom and gloom” hung like s funeral pyre over the UConn fan base. Pat Summit and her hated orange hordes had just guaranteed 4 consecutive championships and had all but relegated the UConn Huskies to plying bridesmaid to their most hated rival for the next 4 years. I mean just look at this amazing class of All American recruits: 1. Nkolita Anosiki 6’4” (15 pts / 14 RBs); 2. Sybil Dosty 6’3” (21 pts / 13 RBs); 3. Alexis Fuller 6’3” (18 pts / 9 RBs); 4. Alexis Hornbuckle 5’11” (21 pts / 10 RBs / 6 assists / 5 steals / 4 blocks); 5. Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood 5’9” (25 pts / 9 RBs / 10 assists / 5 steals); 6. Candace Parker 6’3” (24 pts / 14 RBs / 3.5 steals). Truly a remarkably historic class and certainly the end of the world for the UConn Huskies. We all know how these 6 All Americans turned out with transfers, lack of chemistry and under performances it certainly turned out a heck of a lot better for the Huskies than anyone expected.

 

[hjoerring]

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.

A false argument. It would be impolite if my 10yr. did so. This is not about what boys do but girls should not. But, we do not know what went on behind the curtains. It is possible that she got pissed over something?? It is possible that she felt more at home with SC players; their system of play suits her game; She wanted warmer weather and; Dawn can do for her what others cannot. I will echo one Poster who wrote that it is not (as a few are suggesting) the end of Uconn, nor are players dumb, if their do not march forward when Uconn blows the trumphet. There is a WNBA player whose name could not be mentioned on this Board bec she chose a low brow Div.1 school overt Uconn. She actually turned out to be a great player (my standards), paving the way, perhaps, for others. And so, we were unable to completely close the door. Now we have to show that we can win without top 10 players. Some failures ahead, but also delights.-

 

[bballnut90]

Only possibly? They'll miss McWilliams but they've had bigger losses and not missed a beat. Losing Grymek should be a non-factor. A year under the belt for this year's Freshmen and two more touted post prospects coming in next year. Veteran group of guards/wings returning.

Post play is a big question mark. I have faith in Rueck but wouldn't put them at the very top with the other teams until we have more of an idea of their post ability next season. I will not be surprised if they're in that top group though sooner than later.

 

[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.

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

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.........