Like CEOs in a fortune 500 company, coaches have a million responsibilities. We all know what Geno has done at UConn is legendary. Why wouldn't we rank his exploits with the likes of Lombardi, Shula, Landry, Summit, Noll, the top 10 of all-time. The program is pure perfection. That's why I go to Philly every year to see them play Temple and I get there early so I can see everything including pre-game warmups.
Now, I left a couple of names off the list, like Knight, Coach K, Belichick, and Wooden. They also built stately programs, but I think they won/win under different situations, with varying strategies and types of personnel. You could deal these folks any hand in cards and they would figure out how to beat you.
I'm excited to see if Geno has a response to what is transpiring with this year's team.
Couple of musings from the peanut gallery. We didn't lose because of our shooting. We shot all game under duress. The offense IMO did not create open looks. We got nothing in transition. You have to rebound and get stops in order to run. Why is Collier at the high post well beyond shooting range handing the ball off to a teammate. That offense works when her defender follows her. Baylor's center was 20 feet off of her having a cup of coffee. Then when she cut off of it, the big girl picked her up. Silly stuff. We have to dribble drive and pitch, like teams have been doing since they pinned up the 1st peach basket. Crystal, Krystin, and even Pheesa can penetrate off the dribble and pitch to an open shooter. If nobody picks them up, they finish. Watch any NBA game. That's what they do. That's what Katie Lou can do. She cannot create her own shot! Stop thinking that she can!! (BTW Pheesa's J looks rough. Got to smooth out all those hitches. No time better than now. It can't get worse. Even missing FTs now. ) Geno's offense is predicated on cutting and screening, not so much dribble penetration. If the defense just packs it in and plays behind you with their size advantage, that offense doesn't work. I'm not sure Lou had an open look all night. I though she might start hoisting half-court shots.
Defensively, we are going to play a half-court game with a team that has us by 5 inches at the post positions. Do the math- a 6'2" defender cannot play behind a 6'7" post at the block. Seriously!! We have to make that entry pass more difficult. Bobby Knight, Coach K stuff- pressure the ball!!! Crystal can do that! Deny the wings!!!! The best players in the country can do that!! Front the post!!! Make them throw over top of you. (that pass is tough if you pressure the ball and deny the wings) Then slide the help over from the weak side. I saw Coach K beat Wake with Tim Duncan like that with some of his worst teams. I think Geno is stuck in the mindset that his players aren't quick enough to do this stuff. They're long at the very least. They can get in these passing lanes.
This is stuff of coaching legacy. Mt Rushmore stuff. Can UConn win with a solid team with grit, guile, tenacity.
John Wooden won with Keith Erickson (6'5") at the back of his legendary press when he won his first title. He won with Sidney Wicks (6'8") as his post against 7'3" Artis Gilmore. Knight won with Keith Smart and Steve Alford. Famously, Morgan Wooten's DeMatha team beat Power Memorial with Lew Alcindor.
Can't wait to see Geno's rebuttal!!! I want so bad to carve his face in my Mt Rushmore of coaches!
Now, I left a couple of names off the list, like Knight, Coach K, Belichick, and Wooden. They also built stately programs, but I think they won/win under different situations, with varying strategies and types of personnel. You could deal these folks any hand in cards and they would figure out how to beat you.
I'm excited to see if Geno has a response to what is transpiring with this year's team.
Couple of musings from the peanut gallery. We didn't lose because of our shooting. We shot all game under duress. The offense IMO did not create open looks. We got nothing in transition. You have to rebound and get stops in order to run. Why is Collier at the high post well beyond shooting range handing the ball off to a teammate. That offense works when her defender follows her. Baylor's center was 20 feet off of her having a cup of coffee. Then when she cut off of it, the big girl picked her up. Silly stuff. We have to dribble drive and pitch, like teams have been doing since they pinned up the 1st peach basket. Crystal, Krystin, and even Pheesa can penetrate off the dribble and pitch to an open shooter. If nobody picks them up, they finish. Watch any NBA game. That's what they do. That's what Katie Lou can do. She cannot create her own shot! Stop thinking that she can!! (BTW Pheesa's J looks rough. Got to smooth out all those hitches. No time better than now. It can't get worse. Even missing FTs now. ) Geno's offense is predicated on cutting and screening, not so much dribble penetration. If the defense just packs it in and plays behind you with their size advantage, that offense doesn't work. I'm not sure Lou had an open look all night. I though she might start hoisting half-court shots.
Defensively, we are going to play a half-court game with a team that has us by 5 inches at the post positions. Do the math- a 6'2" defender cannot play behind a 6'7" post at the block. Seriously!! We have to make that entry pass more difficult. Bobby Knight, Coach K stuff- pressure the ball!!! Crystal can do that! Deny the wings!!!! The best players in the country can do that!! Front the post!!! Make them throw over top of you. (that pass is tough if you pressure the ball and deny the wings) Then slide the help over from the weak side. I saw Coach K beat Wake with Tim Duncan like that with some of his worst teams. I think Geno is stuck in the mindset that his players aren't quick enough to do this stuff. They're long at the very least. They can get in these passing lanes.
This is stuff of coaching legacy. Mt Rushmore stuff. Can UConn win with a solid team with grit, guile, tenacity.
John Wooden won with Keith Erickson (6'5") at the back of his legendary press when he won his first title. He won with Sidney Wicks (6'8") as his post against 7'3" Artis Gilmore. Knight won with Keith Smart and Steve Alford. Famously, Morgan Wooten's DeMatha team beat Power Memorial with Lew Alcindor.
Can't wait to see Geno's rebuttal!!! I want so bad to carve his face in my Mt Rushmore of coaches!
