Check out this TN fan's blog on Geno . . .

[Justavisitor]

CP turned the wrong way and made a GREAT play to catch the pass.

It was miscommunication between the 2 players. This is the disadvantage of Team USA. They don't get much time to prepare together and build a chemistry with each other. Sue and Candace have really good chemistry together, but they play together overseas. This upcoming season, DT will be joining them on the same team. By the time the next Olympics rolls around, those 2 will be very good together. This chemistry could also be seen with Whelan, Maya, and Seimone. There was one game where the team was struggling and those 3 were on the court together when the team made a run. Tina and Asjha also have good chemistry together and their trust factor with each other on defense aided them in defending Australia. A large part of defense is trust that built between the teammates.

 

[Waquoit]

Bottom line, Geno was masterful throughout the entire process. To say otherwise is to admit you don't much about basketball.

 

[doggydaddy]

It was miscommunication between the 2 players. This is the disadvantage of Team USA. They don't get much time to prepare together and build a chemistry with each other. Sue and Candace have really good chemistry together, but they play together overseas. This upcoming season, DT will be joining them on the same team. By the time the next Olympics rolls around, those 2 will be very good together. This chemistry could also be seen with Whelan, Maya, and Seimone. There was one game where the team was struggling and those 3 were on the court together when the team made a run. Tina and Asjha also have good chemistry together and their trust factor with each other on defense aided them in defending Australia. A large part of defense is trust that built between the teammates.

I am not being insulting here, so don't be so defensive. Parker turned TOWARDS the defender. Taurasi led her away. But Parker made an amazing recovery and fantastic atheltic play to catch the pass and make a layup.

 

[EricSD]

Ummm NO. What were you watching?

She scored 21 points because she busted her butt on the boards, running the floor, made great cuts, set picks for pick and rolls. She played outstanding "team" basketball in the Gold medal game.

Some of yuse guys are as bad as the checkerboarders. Geez.

Ummmm YES. That was my observation of her before she got benched, and in parts during the last game. She's a great athlete and can do wonderful things with the ball. but she was not playing team ball. she's the only player on the team who did not instantly pass the ball to a PG on her way up the court.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Ummmm YES. That was my observation of her before she got benched, and in parts during the last game. She's a great athlete and can do wonderful things with the ball. but she was not playing team ball. she's the only player on the team who did not instantly pass the ball to a PG on her way up the court.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. You may be right, but I doubt it. It goes against what Geno and 4 UConn players on team USA said, when asked about Candace. One player spoke about the great adavantage she gave the team because she could bring the ball up! Geno had 2 complaints - that he didn't feel she always brings it, and she doesn't play as much in the post as he would like (that said, he also downplayed that in a quote I read).

Candace's style would never have fit in at UConn. I don't think it would work with a Rutgers style. It is ideal for the pros. I disliked her as a college player, but never because I thought she was a selfish player. It was more a 'tude thing, and she doesn't seem to have it anymore.

 

[Icebear]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. You may be right, but I doubt it. It goes against what Geno and 4 UConn players on team USA said, when asked about Candace. One player spoke about the great adavantage she gave the team because she could bring the ball up! Geno had 2 complaints - that he didn't feel she always brings it, and she doesn't play as much in the post as he would like (that said, he also downplayed that in a quote I read).

Candace's style would never have fit in at UConn. I don't think it would work with a Rutgers style. It is ideal for the pros. I disliked her as a college player, but never because I thought she was a selfish player. It was more a 'tude thing, and she doesn't seem to have it anymore.

Well said, and despite the misunderstanding of some the slight criticism of CP3 I have made it is about how much more she can be, not about how weak or poor that she is. She isn't. She is a great athlete I just see areas for growth still. Most of it is in willingness to do whatever is asked or needed defensively for the team.

 

[meyers7]

Ummmm YES. That was my observation of her before she got benched, and in parts during the last game. She's a great athlete and can do wonderful things with the ball. but she was not playing team ball. she's the only player on the team who did not instantly pass the ball to a PG on her way up the court.

Sorry eric, your observation in this game is just out to lunch. Parker was MVP/MOTM/POG (whatever you want to call it) for this game. Just a tremendous game for her and the team. I highly doubt Geno or her teammates thought she was not being a "team player".

 

[Replicant]

What does this blogger know, that I don't know?

Team USA won an Olympic gold medal. Their record was a perfect 8-0. They won games by the largest margin of victory of any prior Team USA dream team at 34.4 ppg. Yet Geno mismanaged personnel?

Was Geno supposed to start Parker over Catchings?

 

[SWHuskyFan]

Put me in the camp that thinks Candace played a great game yesterday. She busted her butt on the boards and also made a lot of nice cuts. She may have taken an extra shot or two, but that's what a coach wants a 'hot' player to do. I highly doubt Geno had any complaints.

As for the whole body of work it was good - very good. She fit in well on the team and said all the right things.

The fact that Geno had a few quotes about her is more positive than anything. He's made similar quotes about all our best players. It shows he thinks she's great and he's trying to get a little more out of her. Just Geno being Geno.
It's easy to see why that would tweak the Vol fans. It would tweak us if Pat Summitt had a negative quote on a UConn player, if she had been coach. To Parker's credit, she didn't lash out about it.

 

[Waquoit]

Put me in the camp that thinks Candace played a great game yesterday. She busted her butt on the boards and also made a lot of nice cuts. She may have taken an extra shot or two, but that's what a coach wants a 'hot' player to do. I highly doubt Geno had any complaints.

Isn't her performance in the final game been just one more example Geno's top-notch coaching. Taking an elite player to another level.

 

[Husky Luv]

I was thinking..If Geno doesn't Coach in 2016, who will you guys pick to replace him? My vote is Mrs McGraw, she has done great things so far.

 

[sarals24]

I wish GA would coach again, the men's side seems to have benefited from the continuity. He may not want it, though. It's a big time commitment.

they talked about who would be the next coach, and Dawn Staley's name came up a lot. I don't know if I see it, though. So did Mulkey's.

 

[Husky Luv]

It would awesome if Geno can do it again, but like you said, its a big commitment. I can see Mulkey before Dawn

 

[Bestiarius]

Actually, I thought that CP bailed out DT on this play with her athleticism...

DT3 to CP3

I see this play differently. When Candace made her cut down the lane, there were no defenders within 3 feet of her so there was no doube in either player's mind that the ball would be coming. CP glanced back mid cut and saw where the ball was thrown. For a player of her physical gifts, the spin move, catch and score was an easy thing. To the crowd, the play looked spectacular, but to the two players involved, it was a layup drill.

 

[Bestiarius]

The real reason Sue and D are nice to lailaa is becouse they want to convince her to go to UConn

With her genes, that would be good long-term planning.

 

[Replicant]

I was thinking..If Geno doesn't Coach in 2016, who will you guys pick to replace him? My vote is Mrs McGraw, she has done great things so far.

Geno is irreplaceable! Why would USA Basketball want anything less than the best basketball coach on the planet to continue guiding Team USA?

 

[Bestiarius]

Just for a hoot I dropped in on the orange asylum after the game. I don't subscribe but I could read the thread titles.

On the other hand we have the "all class" Tamika Catchings. During the post game interview the reporter asked her if there was a bit of UTenn/UConn rivalry on Team USA and she replied "No, we all grew up."

Seems like many Lady Vol fans have migrated to this free site since the Summitt went pay. http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennessee-lady-vols/ While there is still a lot of Uconn bashing and outrageous comments about Geno, (see the threads on the Geno lawsuit and the Can you cheer for USA womens basketball this year) it may be a tad more reasonable overall.

 

[JSB60]

I thought CP was great in the final, instead of taking the ball at the basket on her own, she passed and cut and scored on the return pass. Probably because she wanted to stay in the game.

 

[Phil]

I'm late to the party, so many of my points have already been made, but why should I let that stop me

First, thanks Biff, for both those clips. I remember both plays well. I agree that CP is very athletic and that helped her turn the second play into a spectacular one.

I also agree that some of the best athlete make it look easy. It's true in ballet, it's true in rock-climbing, that athlete work hard to make it look easy. Maya is also in the category of players who are so smooth, you think they are loping, until you realize they are outrunning the speedster on the other team.

As for the controversy, if I didn't know who CP was, and you told me she was a contender for the WNBA MVP, I wouldn't have believed it based upon the three games she started. OK performance, but nothing spectacular, and not as good as several of the bench players.

If you want to start CP, who do you sit?
Bird? I know, I know, CP can play any position, but point guard isn't her natural position, and if you don't have a point guard, you can use her, but when you have the best point guard in the world, why would you sit the best?

DT? Pretty much exactly the same analysis. DT may or may not be the absolute best player in the world. She had some stretches where she wasn't but she had some stretches where she was. But even if DT isn't the absolute best player in the world, she's a better guard than CP.

Tina? Yes, CP can play the post, and did when up against so-so and even decent college competition. But the reports were she didn't want to play the post. If you have a choice between one oft he best post players in the world, and someone who doesn't want to play the post and isn't as good at it, who would you pick?

That leaves Catch. If some orange fan wants to make an argument to sit Catch in favor of CP, bring it on. But I watched the first three games. Catch outplayed CP in those games.

I agree CP had some spectacular playing later on, (and I am not on board with the selfish comment), but her subsequent play isn't an argument against Geno, it supports Geno.

Maybe the orange process logical statements differently:

1. Three games starting - mediocre performance
2. Three games off the bench - excellent performance
3. Blue conclusion - off the bench gives better result
4. Orange conclusion - she should start more

(And, BTW, don't get your panties in a twist, "mediocre" relative to the best players in the world, which is pretty darn good)

 

[UConnCat]

Speaking of connecting on passes, that pass from Sue Bird to a streaking Maya Moore in the 2nd half of the game against France was a thing of beauty. The play begins at the 2:10 mark of the linked video:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/basketball/highlights-u-s-women-win-5th-consecutive-gold.html

 

[UcMiami]

Speaking of connecting on passes, that pass from Sue Bird to a streaking Maya Moore in the 2nd half of the game against France was a thing of beauty. The play begins at the 2:10 mark of the linked video:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/basketball/highlights-u-s-women-win-5th-consecutive-gold.html[/quote]
Yes - just spectacular. The first time I saw the pass I thought Sue had screwed the pooch in throwing the ball away because I though Maya wouldn't be able to get there. And then in floats Maya for the spectacular finish.
This play, and the one from I think Whalen in an earlier game were probably the most spectacular individual plays for USA. The Diana to CP3 was the third, and CP3's finger roll in the final was fourth.

 

[wasolddog]

I'm late to the party, so many of my points have already been made, but why should I let that stop me

First, thanks Biff, for both those clips. I remember both plays well. I agree that CP is very athletic and that helped her turn the second play into a spectacular one.

I also agree that some of the best athlete make it look easy. It's true in ballet, it's true in rock-climbing, that athlete work hard to make it look easy. Maya is also in the category of players who are so smooth, you think they are loping, until you realize they are outrunning the speedster on the other team.

As for the controversy, if I didn't know who CP was, and you told me she was a contender for the WNBA MVP, I wouldn't have believed it based upon the three games she started. OK performance, but nothing spectacular, and not as good as several of the bench players.

If you want to start CP, who do you sit?
Bird? I know, I know, CP can play any position, but point guard isn't her natural position, and if you don't have a point guard, you can use her, but when you have the best point guard in the world, why would you sit the best?

DT? Pretty much exactly the same analysis. DT may or may not be the absolute best player in the world. She had some stretches where she wasn't but she had some stretches where she was. But even if DT isn't the absolute best player in the world, she's a better guard than CP.

Tina? Yes, CP can play the post, and did when up against so-so and even decent college competition. But the reports were she didn't want to play the post. If you have a choice between one oft he best post players in the world, and someone who doesn't want to play the post and isn't as good at it, who would you pick?

That leaves Catch. If some orange fan wants to make an argument to sit Catch in favor of CP, bring it on. But I watched the first three games. Catch outplayed CP in those games.

I agree CP had some spectacular playing later on, (and I am not on board with the selfish comment), but her subsequent play isn't an argument against Geno, it supports Geno.

Maybe the orange process logical statements differently:

1. Three games starting - mediocre performance
2. Three games off the bench - excellent performance
3. Blue conclusion - off the bench gives better result
4. Orange conclusion - she should start more

(And, BTW, don't get your panties in a twist, "mediocre" relative to the best players in the world, which is pretty darn good)

 

[wasolddog]

Maybe the orange process logical statements differently

Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner!

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

After starting to read a few pages of this thread, why do any of you care? Seriously, why? It is the opinion of a Tennessee fan. Is this person a credentialed member of the media? Does this person have a journalism degree? Is this person part of any national press groups? Has she/he been interviewed as an expert on television? Is this person employed by a sports media outlet?

It seems as if the word "no" answers each and every of the questions listed above.

There will be Tennessee fans who irrationally hate all things UConn. There will be UConn fans who are completely biased against any other school. Why is this a surprise?

And does it change the fact that Geno just lead Team USA to the gold medal, destroying countries by 34 points per game? The answer to that question, dear Yarders, is also "no."

 

[Phil]

Seriously, why? It is the opinion of a Tennessee fan. Is this person a credentialed member of the media?

I don't particularly hold the credentialed members of the media in all that much regard. Some more than others, but I can think of bloggers whose opinion I respect more than almost all media reporters.


Does this person have a journalism degree?

I have no idea, but I don't know how strong the correlation is between having a journalism degree and having a clue.

Is this person part of any national press groups? Has she/he been interviewed as an expert on television? Is this person employed by a sports media outlet?

I don't think you are in that category, but I hold your opinion in more esteem than most "experts".

Frankly, it is mostly a source of amusement. I know there are some casual fans who post at the Boneyard who come out with some, uh, eyebrow rasing comments.

But it is a source of amusement that someone can spend as much time as this person does watching the sport, and still have such a biased view.

I also think there's a sociological phenomenon going on— what can happen in anecho chamber which doesn't alolow outside challenges. If someone posts something inane at the Boneyard, some is likely to call them on it. I'm not pretending that such posts are always caught, I'm not pretending there isn't a UConn bias to many posts here, but no one would get away with the type of posting that is accepted, even encouraged at some other sites. It arises because they've shut out the rest of the world.

There was a time when a little bit of debate was allowed, but mewling masses didn't brook much dissent from the party line. And many oft he mods were part of it.

I used to post there, but eventually learned that if you were to say anything not approved by the party line, you were eventually going to get banned. You of all people should know this - I've seen very neutral posts by you get skewered because they were orange enough.

They were successful in driving out anyone who dared to disagree, but they couldn't stop people from laughing at their excess in other places, so they took the only logical step - they walled themselves off from the rest of the world. Now, not only will no one tell them they have no clothes, but they won't have to worry about accidentally seeing orange koolaid exposed in other forums.

Interestingly, this means they will probably ratchet up the weirdness, and we may see UConn blamed for the decline of Western civilization. Just wait.

 

[UcMiami]

After starting to read a few pages of this thread, why do any of you care? Seriously, why? It is the opinion of a Tennessee fan. Is this person a credentialed member of the media? Does this person have a journalism degree? Is this person part of any national press groups? Has she/he been interviewed as an expert on television? Is this person employed by a sports media outlet?

It seems as if the word "no" answers each and every of the questions listed above.

There will be Tennessee fans who irrationally hate all things UConn. There will be UConn fans who are completely biased against any other school. Why is this a surprise?

And does it change the fact that Geno just lead Team USA to the gold medal, destroying countries by 34 points per game? The answer to that question, dear Yarders, is also "no."

Simple answer - because it is fun to get our knickers in a twist!
Second answer - because with the Olympics over we are desperate to fill time between now and start of the college season (or at least practices)