Dawn says: championship or bust!

[Blakeon18]

She was asked yesterday if those were the only outcomes for South Carolina this year....and she said 'yes'.
My guess is that the same limited choices would exist for only UConn and ND. I would normally include LadyVol here but I suspect that if they make the final 4....for the first time in 8 years [yikes!]...it would be considered not a bust but finally a step in the right direction with 2017 morphing into 'ring or bust'.

 

[jdubct]

She was asked yesterday if those were the only outcomes for South Carolina this year....and she said 'yes'.
My guess is that the same limited choices would exist for only UConn and ND. I would normally include LadyVol here but I suspect that if they make the final 4....for the first time in 8 years [yikes!]...it would be considered not a bust but finally a step in the right direction with 2017 morphing into 'ring or bust'.

With the team she has, that should be her goal for the year. But she's setting herself up for failure.

 

[Tonyc]

A pretty bold statement by Dawn, however I can understand how she wants her team to think. Reality will hit when SC plays UConn and its another blowout. Hey UConn has been blowing out teams for how many years? UConn is in their own league. There is no competition this season barring injuries or a fluke. There are opponents who are loaded with HS AAs. At UConn their loaded with college AAs and future WNBA players. Huge difference.

Its good for teams who have coaches drilling into their players heads a NC but the reality is when you talk about a team coached by Geno with the players he has this season well it aint happein unless their are injuries.

 

[Huskies Rule]

 

[Sonny44]

A pretty bold statement by Dawn, however I can understand how she wants her team to think. Reality will hit when SC plays UConn and its another blowout. Hey UConn has been blowing out teams for how many years? UConn is in their own league. There is no competition this season barring injuries or a fluke. There are opponents who are loaded with HS AAs. At UConn their loaded with college AAs and future WNBA players. Huge difference.

Its good for teams who have coaches drilling into their players heads a NC but the reality is when you talk about a team coached by Geno with the players he has this season well it aint happein unless their are injuries.

Amen Tonyc.

 

[easttexastrash]

Mulkey made the same statement when Baylor won in 2012. She didn't hide from the pressure, she embraced it, much like every player that commits to UCONN embraces the pressure of being expected to win a championship. You have to have that mentality and believe in what you are capable of.

So I applaud Staley but I hope she does not win a championship. She is a major competitor for quite a few guards from Texas in the 2017 class so Baylor needs to outperform SC this year to make Baylor more attractive than SC.

 

[Outside Shot]

How many teams that lack an elite point guard have won championships?

 

[easttexastrash]

A pretty bold statement by Dawn, however I can understand how she wants her team to think. Reality will hit when SC plays UConn and its another blowout. Hey UConn has been blowing out teams for how many years? UConn is in their own league. There is no competition this season barring injuries or a fluke. There are opponents who are loaded with HS AAs. At UConn their loaded with college AAs and future WNBA players. Huge difference.

Its good for teams who have coaches drilling into their players heads a NC but the reality is when you talk about a team coached by Geno with the players he has this season well it aint happein unless their are injuries.

Is that what you would say if you were Staley? Hey team, let's shoot for the runner-up trophy.

Eventually, as is the case in every sport, there will be a changing of the guard so why not shoot for now?

 

[EricLA]

Is that what you would say if you were Staley? Hey team, let's shoot for the runner-up trophy.

Eventually, as is the case in every sport, there will be a changing of the guard so why not shoot for now?

I suspect it has to do with semantics. UCONN's goal every year is to win the NC. Some years we do it, others we do not, but given the history, it's expected that every year UCONN teams will be in the running for it.

I would think that of the teams who realistically have a shot to win it all (UCONN, ND, SC, and maybe Baylor), all of them would say the goal is to win the NC. BUT... to say (or imply) that the season would be a "bust" if you did not win the NC - I think that's going too far. If that's what Dawn did indeed say then I think they will be sorely disappointed and even more so because of the heavy expectations and "all or none" attitude Dawn has...

 

[ReadR00ster]

UConn is not the only team that is allowed to set the bar that high. It seems some have some kind of a issue with it though. You have to understand that this is an important measure against complacency. The players are going to be told over and over again how good they are and it could get to their heads if they don't guard against it. This is part of the process of beginning to have a championship mentality. They have to start thinking like this every year.

 

[FairView]

Shame on any coach for not giving his or her players a high goal to shoot for.
If I am coaching a top-20 team, I'm telling my players we're in it to win it.
If I am coaching a mid-major, I've got my kids shooting for the league title.
If I am with a team with little school support or success, I've got my kids striving to surprise everyone, etc.
I hope every team that makes the poll has a Final Four and National Championship is its sights. That makes it a lot more fun for everyone.

 

[easttexastrash]

UConn is not the only team that is allowed to set the bar that high. It seems some have some kind of a issue with it though. You have to understand that this is an important measure against complacency. The players are going to be told over and over again how good they are and it could get to their heads if they don't guard against it. This is part of the process of beginning to have a championship mentality. They have to start thinking like this every year.

This is what Geno has said, that the competition needs to step up and do better. That is what Staley is trying to do with SC. And I guarantee you that Mulkey is thinking championship this year.

 

[HGN]

A pretty bold statement by Dawn, however I can understand how she wants her team to think. Reality will hit when SC plays UConn and its another blowout. Hey UConn has been blowing out teams for how many years? UConn is in their own league. There is no competition this season barring injuries or a fluke. There are opponents who are loaded with HS AAs. At UConn their loaded with college AAs and future WNBA players. Huge difference.
Its good for teams who have coaches drilling into their players heads a NC but the reality is when you talk about a team coached by Geno with the players he has this season well it aint happein unless their are injuries.

TonyC, I agree with most of your statement post. But the one part that I disagree with is that I don't think it will be a blowout between UConn and the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks have talent, and size , and something to prove and they don't want a repeat of last year....... They are revenge minded and they are at home. Realizing that the road to a NC may have to go thru UConn , I am sure Staley would want to make a payment on that toll now , and prove to her players that they can hang with the Huskies. So I don't believe it will be a blowout. But a tough , hard fought game.......Won by UConn by less than 12.

 

[UcMiami]

If Dawn had said specifically 'NC or bust' then the discussion makes sense, but she didn't - she was asked the question and unless she wanted to give a lengthy answer, the only other option was to say 'Yes'. Reporters create 'stories' by the questions they ask.
I have always loved the politician (LBJ I think) who first came up with the idea of leaking that his opponent was having a meaningful relationship with a sheep. An aide asked if it was true, and he replied, 'No, but I want to see him have to deny it.'

 

[Carnac]

TonyC, I agree with most of your statement post. But the one part that I disagree with is that I don't think it will be a blowout between UConn and the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks have talent, and size , and something to prove and they don't want a repeat of last year.. They are revenge minded and they are at home. Realizing that the road to a NC may have to go thru UConn , I am sure Staley would want to make a payment on that toll now , and prove to her players that they can hang with the Huskies. So I don't believe it will be a blowout. But a tough , hard fought game..Won by UConn by less than 12.

Good point. USCe circled this game on their calendar the day the schedule was announced. They were "embarrassed" and humbled on national TV last year (as it will be again this year), and stripped of their #1 ranking. You don't forget something like that. Oh yeah, they've got revenge on their minds.

Like the UConn faithful that filled Gampel to capacity last year, the SC fans will do the same when UConn comes to town and rings their door bell. The Colonial Life Arena by itself is not intimidating, but the 18,000 fans that will show up for the game could be. The Huskies will have to tune them out, and focus on the task at hand.

UConn will have their usual contingent of fans setting behind their bench. They will be seen, but not heard. 17,800 (give or take a few) fans will be cheering loud and fearlessly for the Lady Gamecocks. Large crowds can be intimidating....especially if they're not cheering for you.

UConn will have to take them out of the game early (like they did last year against ND) thereby forcing the home crowd to sit on their hands. The best way to silence a crowd is to put your foot on the neck of the home team.....and keep it there.

 

[dannykuconn]

BUST Great Attitude but Get REAL U C O N N

 

[SCGamecock]

If Dawn had said specifically 'NC or bust' then the discussion makes sense, but she didn't - she was asked the question and unless she wanted to give a lengthy answer, the only other option was to say 'Yes'. Reporters create 'stories' by the questions they ask.
I have always loved the politician (LBJ I think) who first came up with the idea of leaking that his opponent was having a meaningful relationship with a sheep. An aide asked if it was true, and he replied, 'No, but I want to see him have to deny it.'

Basically this. Thank you for saving me the hassle.

 

[Tonyc]

SC can not match up with UConn. All the hype all the sensationism will not stop UConn. Why? Because mentally UConn is so strong. Remember UConn has Mojeff and Stewie first team AAs. They have Tuck and Nurse who will be first or second team AAs. What does SC have to compete with that? SC lost by 25 last season. How much better is SC this season ? How much better is UConn this season ? UConn barring injuries will win every game this season by double digits and most games by 20+. Imo is SC starts like a lion that good. IF they start like a lamb turn out the lights. This season is a big big deal for UConn, because its a record season beginning with 4 NCs. UConn has 2 superstars in Mojeff and Stewie and they wont let not reaching that goal be an option. Another point they are both game changers. No other team has that, SC doesn't have that. SC is a very very good team however UConn is in a league of their own this season. This season is UConns barring major injuries. There is only One number One and that's UConn.

 

[ctfjr]

I have one question for Dawn, "Whose bust?"

 

[Woof 101]

She was asked yesterday if those were the only outcomes for South Carolina this year....and she said 'yes'.
My guess is that the same limited choices would exist for only UConn and ND. I would normally include LadyVol here but I suspect that if they make the final 4....for the first time in 8 years [yikes!]...it would be considered not a bust but finally a step in the right direction with 2017 morphing into 'ring or bust'.

Geno says the same thing every year. It was only a matter of time before someone else "gets it". She having also worked along side Geno simply realized it was time to raise the bar.

 

[CocoHusky]

Can someone suggest an alternate way Dawn could have answered that question?
Keep in mind she is coaching a team that has been a #1 seed t last two years in a row and more importantly she is from Philly.

 

[Woof 101]

Can someone suggest an alternate way Dawn could have answered that question?
Keep in mind she is coaching a team that has been a #1 seed t last two years in a row and more importantly she is from Philly.

Yo..Yo.. she's from Philly...What mo ya gotta know ????? Back to my real age....I get it.

 

[cbraarj]

UConn by 20 and IMO Tennessee wins SEC.Deshields is the best player in that conf.

 

[ReadR00ster]

Uconn fans, you are making everything about UConn again. As much as you want to believe it Dawn doesn't obsess over beating Uconn 24 -7. It's just like 2 -7.

 

[CocoHusky]

Uconn fans, you are making everything about UConn again. As much as you want to believe it Dawn doesn't obsess over beating Uconn 24 -7. It's just like 2 -7.

Wow! You jump on a UCONN board to tell Uconn fans to stop making everything about UConn and that Dawn doesn't obcess over beating UCONN 24 X 7.
You gotta come stronger than that! Dawn couldn't possible be sweating UCONN 24 X 7 that would not leave enough time for her to sweat winning her own conference.