Can’t afford another poor recruiting class!

[BostonFan]

Getting Boston is paramount. UConn is undersized as is. Personally, I think Geno was caught surprised by Azura Stevens decision to leave. Then, losing KLS & Collier (only talented "bigs" on the team) after this year?!? Talk about undersized for next year. When your best big will be ONO, who has not impressed in any way so far, this team will be in trouble.

I'm very perplexed by Geno's recruiting strategy the past few years. he has consistently recruited undersized guards/forwards & has almost neglected "bigs".

Jones & Boston would be great. Boston is a MUST.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Getting Boston is paramount. UConn is undersized as is. Personally, I think Geno was caught surprised by Azura Stevens decision to leave. Then, losing KLS & Collier (only talented "bigs" on the team) after this year?!? Talk about undersized for next year. When your best big will be ONO, who has not impressed in any way so far, this team will be in trouble.

I'm very perplexed by Geno's recruiting strategy the past few years. he has consistently recruited undersized guards/forwards & has almost neglected "bigs".

Jones & Boston would be great. Boston is a MUST.

Geno went after Lauren Cox and didn't get her. He got a verbal from Charli Collier, but she changed her mind. I don't think he overlooked bigs. He's now looking at Hannah Gusters and Amari Deberry (at least).

 

[EricLA]

When your best big will be ONO, who has not impressed in any way so far, this team will be in trouble.

I'm perplexed by your comment. How's about giving the kid a chance instead of forming such a strong opinion after 2 preseason and 2 regular season games. Per minute played, she is actually averaging the same PPG as Williams.

I do agree that he was caught by surprise by Stevens leaving, but as @MilfordHusky pointed out, he's swung and missed on several high profile bigs the past several years. When the last 2 recruits announce their choices, people will stop worrying about the recruiting, at least until next year.

 

[donalddoowop]

There was also Williams and Nurse on that team and Jones is not going to UConn.

Williams was an unproven player just as Walker is this season and Nurse was not as good an offensive player as Dangerfield and yet they still won. I believe they will win next season also.

 

[Sonny44]

Give Morgan William some credit. She made a great play.

When you're ahead in the final fours as per ND, Louisville and others you don't have to worry about a last minute jumper, do you?
Again, I interpret the intent of this thread addresses NCs. Otherwise, yea, to use an ugly phrase, "we'll be fine" with poor recruiting classes, ugh.

 

[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.....

 

[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]

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.