Christyn Williams's Final 2: UConn and SC

[sharris952]

Yep, which is why the whole "you backed into your title" argument is offensive. Both teams, UConn in 2013 and South Carolina in 2017, won the games they were supposed to win. It's not their fault teams that were "supposedly" better didn't win the games they were supposed to win. Its the tournament, upsets happen and that's what makes it exciting.

This was my sentiments exactly. I never begrudged UConn's win in 2013 because I felt that it was Mulkey's job to get her team with all of that talent ready to beat Louisville and they were not emotionally prepared to play the defensively awkward and fired up schoni schimmel team. Uconn fans may have underestimated the embarasssment that Miss St had after that 60pt loss and sports is still about pride and emotion sometimes. That being said, many SC fans find it degrading that so many UConn fans try to discredit SC championship. They both played the final team that was before them to win. If South Carolina uses it's championship in this way to find half as much success as UConn found after their 2013 championship, I will be happy. This happens many times in Men's basketball because talent is more evenly spread among many elite teams. While UConn still has a great advantage in Coaching (respect given to Geno), the talent is going more places now in wbb, just like the men and there is a lot more elite talent, thus there will be some that take the mantle to challenge UConn. Frankly, you get more respect from having real competition than thinking that everyone wants one team to have all the talent and brag about beating teams that are significantly challenged from a skill perspective.

 

[Golden Husky]

Meg and Christyn. I think the word is “unstoppable.” And Christyn knows it.

Does CW's game remind anyone of a UConn player of recent vintage?

 

[Paesano]

I don't care what people want to call it and I don't care who is offended by it. If things had gone as they should have, UConn would PROBABLY have the same number of championships and South Carolina would have NONE!

 

[Alydar]

This was my sentiments exactly. I never begrudged UConn's win in 2013 because I felt that it was Mulkey's job to get her team with all of that talent ready to beat Louisville and they were not emotionally prepared to play the defensively awkward and fired up schoni schimmel team. Uconn fans may have underestimated the embarasssment that Miss St had after that 60pt loss and sports is still about pride and emotion sometimes. That being said, many SC fans find it degrading that so many UConn fans try to discredit SC championship. They both played the final team that was before them to win. If South Carolina uses it's championship in this way to find half as much success as UConn found after their 2013 championship, I will be happy. This happens many times in Men's basketball because talent is more evenly spread among many elite teams. While UConn still has a great advantage in Coaching (respect given to Geno), the talent is going more places now in wbb, just like the men and there is a lot more elite talent, thus there will be some that take the mantle to challenge UConn. Frankly, you get more respect from having real competition than thinking that everyone wants one team to have all the talent and brag about beating teams that are significantly challenged from a skill perspective.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying but not this:

If South Carolina uses it's championship in this way to find half as much success as UConn found after their 2013 championship, I will be happy. This happens many times in Men's basketball because talent is more evenly spread among many elite teams.

Unlike SC, UConn had won 5 titles prior to 2013 while SC was at their second FF last year. And the talent in men's BB isn't spread more evenly. There are 4 or 5 teams that consistently sign most of the top ranked players. The difference is that the talent pool compared to wcbb is like comparing a lily pond to the Atlantic ocean. Top players go to top coaching.

And why do fans of other programs love to talk about how UConn gets all the top players. Is there some rule I don't know about that says Geno gets to pick first and that the recruits have no choice? Last time I looked it was the recruits who picked their school. If more of them pick UConn maybe there's something about UConn they like. Try asking your own coaches what that is. Or maybe, like the fans at Tenn you can make up a load of BS about free houses and homophobic fear-mongering to explain why UConn is more attractive than other schools that offer better climates, academics with gilded reputations or post-grad employment networks.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

But the comparison to UConn getting to play Louisville instead of Baylor is not ill-taken. It was a gift to UConn as was SC getting to play MSU.

We need to dispense with this nonsense. Again, Baylor barely squeaked by UConn in Hartford during the season while Stewie was in walkabout mode and Jefferson a non-factor. You might recall UConn played the same Louisville team that beat Baylor and crushed them.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Frankly, you get more respect from having real competition than thinking that everyone wants one team to have all the talent and brag about beating teams that are significantly challenged from a skill perspective.

Sure, but one team has never had all the talent. This is a widely spread misnomer. Just some of the top-2 rated players UConn didn't get in the last four years:

Durr, Deshields, Cox, Holmes, Turner, Mitchell, Wilson, Russell.

And I don't think anyone is bragging about beating the Tulsas of the world. But UConn is not short on big victories over top-5 teams.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Does CW's game remind anyone of a UConn player of recent vintage?

When I watch Christyn, I see a strong left-handed player with a good handle who is willing and able to make tough shots. I still see elements of the same 3 players I saw a year ago: Asia Durr, left-handed shooter; Arike Ogunbowale, a little stocky, strong, and aggressive; and Diana Taurasi, confident player who can carry a team.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Seriously? You mean to tell me some SC fans actually walked away from the game at UCONN saying "can't wait until we get UCONN on a neutral floor".
I think Roscoe ( A'ja's father) said something similar first time SC came to Storrs: "Can't wait until next year when UCONN has to come to Columbia". Be careful what you wish for!

I think a lot of Carolina fans saw the game as more competitive later than many of the prior games and did indeed hope that a second matchup on a neutral floor might yield a different result. I'm not sure it occurred to many Carolina fans that UConn wouldn't be an issue in the Tournament. As late as the Final Four it never occurred to me that UConn would lose to Miss State.

 

[FASTEDDY]

I think a lot of Carolina fans saw the game as more competitive later than many of the prior games and did indeed hope that a second matchup on a neutral floor might yield a different result. I'm not sure it occurred to many Carolina fans that UConn wouldn't be an issue in the Tournament. As late as the Final Four it never occurred to me that UConn would lose to Miss State.

I fully expect UCONN to rectify the situation with a Championship this year.

We could have and would have last year if not for a lucky shot by MSU.

 

[uconn34]

We didn't win last year. Get over it. I was incredibly proud of what they accomplished and the pride they bring every game to the University. SC won, they earned it. Respect it. Oh by the way we are bringing it home this year.

 

[Charliebball]

Christyn Williams Retweeted

 

[JordyG]

Back to the matter at hand.

Christyn Williams Retweeted

Very

Very

Nice.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Christyn Williams Retweeted

Will she pick #1 or #2?

 

[JordyG]

Will she pick #1 or #2?

The playing field ain't level until she retweets a photo of a Gamecock.

 

[Waquoit]

Are you seriously trying to figure out an 18 old?

Plenty of 18 year olds know what they are doing.

 

[FASTEDDY]

I don't care what people want to call it and I don't care who is offended by it. If things had gone as they should have, UConn would PROBABLY have the same number of championships and South Carolina would have NONE!

Preach Brother, Preach.

1000% Correct.

 

[Carnac]

Plenty of 18 year olds know what they are doing.

Very true, and a lot of them don't. That's why there's been an increase in the number of transfers the last few years. The numbers do not lie.

 

[Goodgood]

Very true, and a lot of them don't. That's why there's been an increase in the number of transfers the last few years. The numbers do not lie.

True, but it also works both ways. Both schools and recruits are responsible for this. Coaches can recruit over other recruits forcing them to look elsewhere for playing time. This is probably the reason for most transfers.

 

[Charliebball]

Plenty of 18 year olds know what they are doing.

ditto for 60 year olds..............

 

[oldude]

ditto for 60 year olds....

Yes, but 18 year olds don’t necessarily require a daily dose of fiber to think clearly.

 

[cbraarj]

Thanks for proving my point. With it being that you have no basis and your argument is strictly personal.

Ciao.

Proving what point, that Vic in 2 games has done something with a less talented team that Dawn hasnt been able to! If Coates did not get hurt, she wouldnt have sat her on her own! Again IMO, since Aja joined the team the middle was to congested for both. Wilson is by far the better player. South Carolinas offense opened up right after the injury for the better! Ciao will be properly used when the timer says 00 and it is another 20 point win for UCONN on Feb 1st!

 

[Go/huskies]

Does CW's game remind anyone of a UConn player of recent vintage?

Williams believes her game resembles Diana Taurasi.

 

[pacific 44]

Eighteen year olds don't avoid buying green bananas,they don't necessarily eat dessert first and they don't necessarily wake up in the morning saying,"Im alive,im aliiiive,yesss."

 

[trb123]

What is plan B for recruitment if Williams chooses SC?
Plan C if ONO goes elsewhere?

 

[oldude]

What is plan B for recruitment if Williams chooses SC?
Plan C if ONO goes elsewhere?

Go hard after Brunelle, Boston, et al in the Class of 2019.

 

[MilfordHusky]

What is plan B for recruitment if Williams chooses SC?
Plan C if ONO goes elsewhere?

And go after Ezi the Aussie.

 

[CocoHusky]

All of the above,
+ Keep an eye out for that next high impact transfer which has become a reality of WCBB.

 

[JordyG]

And go after Ezi the Aussie.

UConn should chase her no matter the outcome with Williams and ONO.

 

[Carnac]

What is plan B for recruitment if Williams chooses SC?
Plan C if ONO goes elsewhere?

What happens if ONO commits elsewhere? Oldude and Milford said: "Go hard after Brunelle, Boston, et al in the Class of 2019, and go after Ezi the Aussie". I concur. I also agree with Jordy said: "UConn should chase her (Ezi) no matter the outcome with Williams and ONO". No doubt Geno and staff do have a "Plan B" that I'm sure they hope they won't have to employ.

Charli Collier's sudden change of heart has heightened the need for UConn to sign a big. With Collier, UConn was set (that bird in the hand) at the post position through the 2021 season, as they continued to recruit other notable bigs. Now they have to scramble to find another post player(s) to fill the void they thought they had filled with her. UConn has no BIG (6'5"+) post players committed, or waiting to step up off the bench.

The key in how much time the staff has to secure a post player is Stevens. The length of her commitment to the UConn program. SHE is the wildcard in this poker game. I can't believe Geno would accept Stevens as a transfer for only one year, especially since his need for a post player is critical. No doubt the length of time she was willing to commit had to be the main topic of discussion during their talks concerning the plausibility of her joining the program. Her ability to fit in and handle the academics was a no brainer.

She's made a commitment, we just don't know what it is. Assuming it's for two years, gives Geno an extra year of leeway to find a post player as far down the road as the 2020 class. Don't dismiss the possibility of another BIG transferring in from another program.

UConn needs post players (plural). Entering a season without a post presence is something I doubt Geno wants to do again. He won't have Williams or Butler to turn to next time. Failure to secure a post player is not an option.

 

[JordyG]

"Failure to secure a good to adequate post player is not an option".

I just thought that bore repeating.