Can’t afford another poor recruiting class!

[HuskyNan]

There is a difference between pessimist and realist. The recruiting class of only Chong cost us at least one NC and probably two. The perennial response of "We'll be fine" makes me nauseous. Sure, we'll be fine if that means winning seasons and final fours, but here we're talking about NCs, nothing less.

I’m sorry, but your expectations are unreasonable. UConn is supposed to win the championship every single year? The Huskies have won 11 championships in 24 years, 46% of the NCs since 1995, a breathtaking achievement, and people are disappointed? The mind boggles.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Geno has proven he can get the highly ranked recruit (the no-brainer recruit). He probably has more success then most other coaches, especially considering all recruits leave their local area. What Geno and the Staff have failed to do over the last few years is to recruit Role Players to fill out the bench. I'm not talking about the no-brainer recruit that needs a year of seasoning or an All-American needs to graduate before the recruit assumes the starting role, but the player that can come off the bench for most of their career and have significant contribution. I thought he might have success with the recruitment of Mikayla Coombs and Lexi Gordon, but so far they have been a disappointment. I don't understand why Geno hasn't been able to recruit players that enable him to have a 7-8 player rotation. Is it the recruits or the system Geno Runs that limit the impact the role players have coming off the bench? Could have won the last two National Championships if players coming off the bench would have had significant contribution.

 

[meyers7]

The present junior class has produced one starter: safe to say that it was a poor recruiting class. This next recruiting class is critical for Geno’s program... he needs size and potential freshman starters. Losing KLS and NC will be devastating, unless he can make it up with new recruits.

Couple things.
1) It wasn't a "weak" class. It was rated #11 by PN, #14 by Hoopgurlz, and #10 by Bluestar. Granted not as highly rated as other classes, but
2) You're not gonna get a banger class every year. Especially after very good classes, there's always a year where it's not as good. Those usually followed by some real good ones. For instance Stewart/Jefferson/Tuck followed by Chong, followed by Williams/Nurse/Ekmark/Edwards. OR EDD/Hayes/Doty/Buck followed by Faris followed by Dolson/Hartley/Johnson/Engeln/Walker.
and 3) the 2016 class wasn't "all that and a bag of chips". You have Dangerfield, Cox, Ionescu, Young doing real well. Then maybe Holmes, Boley, Slocum and ummm??? Not a real deep class anyway.

Look at it this way, if you get 1 starter from each class, you're 4/5ths of the way there.

 

[donalddoowop]

Geno has proven he can get the highly ranked recruit (the no-brainer recruit). He probably has more success then most other coaches, especially considering all recruits leave their local area. What Geno and the Staff have failed to do over the last few years is to recruit Role Players to fill out the bench. I'm not talking about the no-brainer recruit that needs a year of seasoning or an All-American needs to graduate before the recruit assumes the starting role, but the player that can come off the bench for most of their career and have significant contribution. I thought he might have success with the recruitment of Mikayla Coombs and Lexi Gordon, but so far they have been a disappointment. I don't understand why Geno hasn't been able to recruit players that enable him to have a 7-8 player rotation. Is it the recruits or the system Geno Runs that limit the impact the role players have coming off the bench? Could have won the last two National Championships if players coming off the bench would have had significant contribution.

At this point in their careers Gordon may be a disappointment, but have you watched Coombs so far this season? A physical problem hindered her progress last season. It is apparent she has high major D1 talent. She does not have to be a big time scorer to help UConn succeed. How much more did Gabby show after two games in her sophomore season? If Coombs is over her physical problems she will be a big contributor to UConn basketball, imo. Also, I believe in time Gordon will find her way. Geno would have to ease up off his high demands to get the kind of results from the bench many of us want.

 

[boontonbomber]

At this point in their careers Gordon may be a disappointment, but have you watched Coombs so far this season? A physical problem hindered her progress last season. It is apparent she has high major D1 talent. She does not have to be a big time scorer to help UConn succeed. How much more did Gabby show after two games in her sophomore season? If Coombs is over her physical problems she will be a big contributor to UConn basketball, imo. Also, I believe in time Gordon will find her way. Geno would have to ease up off his high demands to get the kind of results from the bench many of us want.

Yes, I see the Coombs that you see. I , too, wonder if people are watching her closely this season. Slow start to her career, but I think she will be really, really good, given the minutes. She just looks like a player who understands the game well. I love watching the little things she does.

 

[TitleTown]

At this point in their careers Gordon may be a disappointment, but have you watched Coombs so far this season? A physical problem hindered her progress last season. It is apparent she has high major D1 talent. She does not have to be a big time scorer to help UConn succeed. How much more did Gabby show after two games in her sophomore season? If Coombs is over her physical problems she will be a big contributor to UConn basketball, imo. Also, I believe in time Gordon will find her way. Geno would have to ease up off his high demands to get the kind of results from the bench many of us want.

What? Williams was a starter Day 1 in her sophomore year and in her 1st 2 games averaged 13pts,11.5rbs, 3.5stls, and 2 ast a game!

 

[donalddoowop]

What? Williams was a starter Day 1 in her sophomore year and in her 1st 2 games averaged 13pts,11.5rbs, 3.5stls, and 2 ast a game!

Her junior year. How long did she stay a starter her sophomore year?

 

[TitleTown]

Her junior year. How long did she stay a starter her sophomore year?

She started 12 games that season.

 

[Zinethar]

I keep seeing post which say Geno was surprised by Z leaving early and how disappointed he was. Are you sure? I think she was needed but not necessarily loved. She didn't start because she rarely did what he wanted her to do.Sure you can argue that what he wanted was not what she wanted. My point exactly. Her height will be missed. Not so sure that goes for the whole package.

 

[Sonny44]

I’m sorry, but your expectations are unreasonable. UConn is supposed to win the championship every single year? The Huskies have won 11 championships in 24 years, 46% of the NCs since 1995, a breathtaking achievement, and people are disappointed? The mind boggles.

I believe that's Geno's goal every year. And so I adopted it.
A loss in the FF is a disappointment. Are we supposed to be happy about that?
It doesn't mean that I don't like the team or that I'll stop following them. I just want the best for them and us.

 

[meyers7]

I believe that's Geno's goal every year. And so I adopted it.
A loss in the FF is a disappointment. Are we supposed to be happy about that?
It doesn't mean that I don't like the team or that I'll stop following them. I just want the best for them and us.

Sure it's a goal, but it's not gonna happen. Being "fine" is being able to compete for NC's, FF's, Conference Championships, NOT always winning them.

Your adoption is a little off kilter.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

The present junior class has produced one starter: safe to say that it was a poor recruiting class. This next recruiting class is critical for Geno’s program... he needs size and potential freshman starters. Losing KLS and NC will be devastating, unless he can make it up with new recruits.

I really do not know what to make of this thread. Who determines if the class is a poor recruiting class? Some person who sits behind a computer and makes statements or the coaching staff? You are not going to recruit 5 Maya Moores and Tina Charles each year. This team has 3 High School Players of the Year. I mean seriously... what a horrible job UCONN has done. Seriously.....

 

[CajunHusky]

I don't think it was a poor class. I think UConn got exactly what they expected from who they signed. Crystal is a starter. And Molly and Kyla has been great teammates and hard workers. Remember there are ways each and every player contributes (Polly and Tierney).

Kyla committed very early (sophmore in HS?) and Molly wasn't even recruited until the late signing period her senior year. I don't know who all were UConn's high priority targets for that year, Crystal may have been the only one they targeted.

Maybe the coaches failed for not planning ahead but how do you plan for losing three transfers?

 

[SVCBeercats]

Next year is far away in a certain way. We will return 3 starters (ND loses 4 starters). And ONO will be much better next year. If we get even one of the two high-school seniors we are after, we will be fine.

Soooooo two starters plus ONO and??????????? 3 players? UCONN better up its recruiting game.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Next year is far away in a certain way. We will return 3 starters (ND loses 4 starters). And ONO will be much better next year. If we get even one of the two high-school seniors we are after, we will be fine.

Disregarding Molly, Irwin, Touly--the potential of the others is high. POTENTIAL because they were significant players in HS and showing some promise now. Gordon is a bit of an enigma: she had good HS numbers, apparently could shoot, is tall, well built with a BB frame. She should be very useful under the boards. Should Geno get Boston only that would be sad.If he doesn't get Boston then, that is very sad. Transfers? Geno hasn't done well with transfers. B. Hunter, as super post gave all she could when she could that limited Geno's ability to use her effectively. Azura, a super forward, extremely talented and a scoring machine she gave Uconn lots of fire power when Uconn needed a strong post. If Geno gets none this year???

 

[Rb335]

What? Williams was a starter Day 1 in her sophomore year and in her 1st 2 games averaged 13pts,11.5rbs, 3.5stls, and 2 ast a game!

She definitely proved WAY more than Gordon has. But worth noting that she did lose that starting position to Napheesa and later KLS.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I don't think it was a poor class. I think UConn got exactly what they expected from who they signed. Crystal is a starter. And Molly and Kyla has been great teammates and hard workers. Remember there are ways each and every player contributes (Polly and Tierney).

Kyla committed very early (sophmore in HS?) and Molly wasn't even recruited until the late signing period her senior year. I don't know who all were UConn's high priority targets for that year, Crystal may have been the only one they targeted.

Maybe the coaches failed for not planning ahead but how do you plan for losing three transfers?

At one time I thought Geno FAILED when he didn't get what expected. Recruiting is worse than a crap shoot. Coaches are at the whims of the kids and parents being recruited. Geno holds hands unlike others he tells them the facts of life to play for Uconn--you have to Work Hard and no guarantees about minutes. With AAU's touting these kids highly some (not all) have and inflated view of their worth.

 

[TitleTown]

She definitely proved WAY more than Gordon has. But worth noting that she did lose that starting position to Napheesa and later KLS.

It was not so much that she lost the job, but that she was an amazing spark of the bench as a 6th man. The TEAM was just better with her coming off the bench!

 

[Charliebball]

I really do not know what to make of this thread. Who determines if the class is a poor recruiting class? Some person who sits behind a computer and makes statements or the coaching staff? You are not going to recruit 5 Maya Moores and Tina Charles each year. This team has 3 High School Players of the Year. I mean seriously... what a horrible job UCONN has done. Seriously.....

after studying this for a while I think that the 2016 class was not particularly strong or deep after Cox and Boley and Geno had very few choices as many of the top ranked players didn't fit the UConn model............I think it's fair to say that is why he chose a couple of less talented but high character recruits (Bent, Irwin) along with the one highly skilled recruit(CD) who fit the UConn player profile...........trying to play catch up now

 

[meyers7]

Soooooo two starters plus ONO and??????????? 3 players? UCONN better up its recruiting game.

Ummm, 3 Starters (Dangerfield, Walker, Williams) plus ONO. Makes ...4....players.

 

[Sonny44]

I really do not know what to make of this thread. Who determines if the class is a poor recruiting class? Some person who sits behind a computer and makes statements or the coaching staff? You are not going to recruit 5 Maya Moores and Tina Charles each year. This team has 3 High School Players of the Year. I mean seriously... what a horrible job UCONN has done. Seriously.....

Simple, it's determined by the results, not any person.

 

[Yorkeez4]

As I read all of the recruiting threads my mind is boggled. One would think that UConn was in a dismal slump - and to be honest many think losing in ot in the semi-finals 2 straight years is a slump.

Geno is waiting to hear the choices of two of the three top hs players this year (I'm sure he already knows the answer). If Boston or Jones chooses UConn it will be a very good recruiting year. If both choose UConn it will be a great recruiting year. If neither chooses UConn then Geno will have to reel in more players next year. But one should remember that of all collegiate sports basketball is the easiest to recover from a poor recruiting year.

Many have suggested that Geno needs to cast a wider net. And the same group suggests that Geno needs to play the subs more to develop them. I would argue that casting a wider net would mean bringing in players that don’t fit the profile Geno desires. This would likely result in more players seeing less playing time and could cause issues Geno does not want to deal with.

Geno appears to adapt to the players he has each year. This year he is playing subs more because he has to and by the end of the year I expect the team to compete for a final 4 spot.

Although he is not perfect - but he may be close - I venture to say that a coach with 11 National Championships and a current streak of 11 final fours may actually know what he is doing.

That said, these threads can be entertaining at times.

 

[j66kicker]

As I read all of the recruiting threads my mind is boggled. One would think that UConn was in a dismal slump - and to be honest many think losing in ot in the semi-finals 2 straight years is a slump.

It definitely is...

 

[Cornell Lt]

Sadly it doesn't appear that there will be a bar for the 2019-2020 season after the disastrous recruiting haul this year.