Did Geno throw the team under a bus ?

[Martin]

He at times over the years like most coaches sound like they are not accepting responsibility. Geno over the years likes to say “I told them” or “I try to tell them...” so it does sound like distance but he did mention the coaches as well. He was classy in defeat because he’s won enough and lost enough to learn how to be that.

From the cheap seats it does appear to me that over the years that when Uconn loses this way, bigs struggle, the team isn’t scoring, lately it’s coincided with a short bench.

 

[hoophuskee]

Geno really didn't make any meaningful adjustments last night when it became clear his bigs were not finishing. He just kept subbing Ono and Edwards and in and out for one another. Criticism of the head coach is also warranted for not cultivating over the course of the season the kind of play that was his plan A last night. You can't suddenly change from a guard-centric scoring approach to an inside game at the flip of a coin in a big game like this and expect success. In the two games we lost this season, the team demonstrated little awareness of how to seize upon a height and size advantage on the inside when these are the only real matchups in your favor, as the continual and misguided high-post action last night indicates.

Not that it matters but not sure what you want here. So I am not arguing this point -- You didn't want both in? Or you wanted them both in as double posts?

Secondly, can you explain why you think having arguably the best player in WCBB, along with CWill who has been playing very well as of late, along with a WNBA prospect in Evina would draw one to the conclusion that this guard matchup is not one that UCONN should consider it to be in their favor?

Third- cultivating what exactly? UCONN lost two games all year. They got tot the Final Four and you are ripping him for not cultivating?

Spoiled fan.

 

[hoophuskee]

He at times over the years like most coaches sound like they are not accepting responsibility. Geno over the years likes to say “I told them” or “I try to tell them...” so it does sound like distance but he did mention the coaches as well. He was classy in defeat because he’s won enough and lost enough to learn how to be that.

From the cheap seats it does appear to me that over the years that when Uconn loses this way, bigs struggle, the team isn’t scoring, lately it’s coincided with a short bench.

What about all the teams that lost with a deep bench? I being facetious here. But would their coaches get blamed because they didn't shorten their bench?

If UCONN loses any game you can blame it on a short bench, can't you? Because it would mean one or two players didn't perform, right? All the wins the short bench doesn't matter. All the final fours the short bench doesn't matter but when they lose "it must be the short bench?"

How about UCONN hits their layups and the short bench wouldn't have mattered?

 

[Performance]

Thank you for your interest in Connecticut basketball.

I would not call it out coached just a very young team, no disrespect to Arizona players or coaches they are a really good team and deserve respect!!

 

[Performance]

I love the Boneyard and UConn fans, but some of these threads are preposterous. This team and its HOF coach had a great season. Arizona just outplayed our team. We are all disappointed, but there is next season.

Thank You!!!

 

[tchalla1]

Haters are gonna hate. It seems to go on and on...

It's not necessarily hating to constructively critique. I myself do not feel there were adequate adjustments made to counter Arizona's defense. However, that being said, the thing that sunk our ship most was missing 15 point blank often uncontested layups--especially Liv when several times she throws the balls (not shoots) to the other side of the basket. Of course this was nerves, but at some point in a player's career, consistency has to be a chief component of her overall contribution and sadly as Geno has pointed out, although she is one of my fave players, Liv still struggles with consistency... She effectively battled with a much more talented and bigger Baylor front court and then inexplicably against Arizona with much smaller, less talented players, Liv gives probably her worst performance ever...

 

[STLCardinal]

I hope he assigned some blame to himself & admitted he was outcoached...because he was.

I'm sure all of you "coaches" on this site have applied at all of the schools with openings. "Geno was outcoached." "Should have done this, should have done that." Bull. First, you have no idea what the game plan was and whether or not players are doing what they're told. Second, if you have coached, stop blaming the coaching because you know you've had players do something other than what you told them to do. And if you have not coached, stop blaming the coaching. Period. You haven't been there.

 

[Martin]

What about all the teams that lost with a deep bench? I being facetious here. But would their coaches get blamed because they didn't shorten their bench?

If UCONN loses any game you can blame it on a short bench, can't you? Because it would mean one or two players didn't perform, right? All the wins the short bench doesn't matter. All the final fours the short bench doesn't matter but when they lose "it must be the short bench?"

How about UCONN hits their layups and the short bench wouldn't have mattered?

Well if he had a deep bench, used the bench because the ball wouldn’t go in the bucket and lost, he’s done all he could. Choosing to not use the deep bench would open one to criticism.
You have to prepare for games when you are in foul trouble, missing shots, up against a motivated, tenacious defense. This Uconn team wasn’t built to beat that Arizona team in that type of game they just played. There will always be games when talented Uconn teams with highly ranked players, potential AAs even, just can’t score. It would be nice to have some bench players with game experience to lean on. Where were they? You don’t believe that Geno ever thought he would have to rely on Kyla and Molly, do you?

 

[the Q]

Geno ranted after the game about his very immature and pouty team , feeling sorry for themselves when things don't go their way. They certainly are a young team, with 3 frosh on the floor a lot of the second half. And maybe the veterans do get down on themselves at times. But seems like something all coaches have to deal with at times, and you'd think( well, I think) a hall of fame coach might find a way to shake them up during the course of a game. It took a player, Anna, to step forward and say something during the Baylor game.

No. Just being honest.

Although weird since they came back from more adversity against a much better team just a few days prior.

Part of that has to be on him.

But he’s also needling this team, which he does, because he knows how special this group could’ve been and still can be.

 

[hoophuskee]

Well if he had a deep bench, used the bench because the ball wouldn’t go in the bucket and lost, he’s done all he could. Choosing to not use the deep bench would open one to criticism.
You have to prepare for games when you are in foul trouble, missing shots, up against a motivated, tenacious defense. This Uconn team wasn’t built to beat that Arizona team in that type of game they just played. There will always be games when talented Uconn teams with highly ranked players, potential AAs even, just can’t score. It would be nice to have some bench players with game experience to lean on. Where were they? You don’t believe that Geno ever thought he would have to rely on Kyla and Molly, do you?

I don't agree. Implying in any manner that Geno should have anticipated that his team would miss as many layups as they did. To me this sounds like you are hell bent on you want a deeper bench and any loss you're going to blame on the coach / team because it doesn't fit what you want to personally see; and for any loss you're just going to say "they were unprepared." . Otherwise what you just said-- why can't your reasoning be used on every single team that has lost?

In a one point game - one more minute of one more player could have been the difference. So using your logic why shouldn't it mean that we shouldn't hammer every single coach for "not being prepared" if you're suggesting Geno should have anticipated blown layups? As a result, why couldn't every other coach that lost anticipated other aspects of the game too?

We get to the final four-- - and we've been to how many consecutive final fours - and with a style predominantly of a short bench- yet some UCONN fans are complaining with this type of success?

IMO the answer is simple for some fans - not all - but maybe some fans have completely lost all perspective and are just spoiled fans just looking to vent? Not saying you - because I don't know how you felt other seasons.

Anyhow back to "not being prepared" - Just think if I were to use your logic-- if Dawn "was more prepared" that if/when Boston was going to eventually get into foul trouble then they should've beaten Stanford. And I could say the same thing about Arizona- if the coach was "more prepared" then they wouldn't have had to rely so much on McDonald when she shoots 5-21? Or if Arizona was "more prepared" then maybe she would've played Shaina Pellington more in the Stanford game. She was the 2nd best player offensively vs Stanford it appears yet she only averaged 15.5 minutes per game for the season.

Hey this is easy-- I like this. Every loss - I can just say the team lost because "they weren't prepared." I'm looking at Baylor and yes even Iowa too.

 

[BBallF]

Once again, the coach doesn't shoot the lay ups but it was clear early in the game that 2 things were happening. First, we were not mentally focused sufficiently and to me the missed lay ups are a manifestation of that. Second, the high post offense where the ball gets passed to Liv with her back to the basket was dead on arrival. They overplayed the first pass, causing the offense to move farther out and then overplayed the next pass to the wing. There was no alternative offensive set.

If you watched the men's final you saw Baylor run three different sets, a horns high, a horns low and mostly a 3-2 perimeter dribble drive set. Our strength this year and next and next is in our guards and that 3-2 opens the lane for drives. We had our best rebounder in Liv away from the glass and it forced her to make offensive passing decisions which, as a nervous player in big games, was a problem. AZ had a much better game plan, and it shows plainly to me that we need an alternative set next year. There were no major adjustments from Geno during the game which I was quite frankly stunned by. For the Baylor men, there are high post picks from the 3-2 but not passes there and the picker quickly rolls to and away from the basket and the middle stays open or the wings get a clear out because the low post player on that side clears out. We will have 4 players who can take their man on demand next year in CW, Paige, Azzi and Evina and we need a new offense for that. I don't see any harm in trying it and I would be surprised if it doesn't happen.

 

[CTrefugee]

Geno ranted after the game about his very immature and pouty team , feeling sorry for themselves when things don't go their way. They certainly are a young team, with 3 frosh on the floor a lot of the second half. And maybe the veterans do get down on themselves at times. But seems like something all coaches have to deal with at times, and you'd think( well, I think) a hall of fame coach might find a way to shake them up during the course of a game. It took a player, Anna, to step forward and say something during the Baylor game.

You must have a special TV. He wasn't very negative on the presser I saw. He gave them all credit.

 

[meyers7]

Think for a second, UCONN lost their only 2 games this year to teams who's best player was a red shirted, 23 yr old senior!
Arkansas and Arizona!
Thinking that should be up for discussion at the NCAA, 23 yr olds playing against 18 yr olds!

Let's hope they don't have a problem. Cause that's gonna be UCONN next year.

 

[boontonbomber]

He didn't rant about anything.

Rant
verb, intr.

to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave: The demagogue ranted for hours.

His statements were calm, his voice modulated. Just because you disagree with something he said, that doesn't give license to falsely characterize his presentation.

Perhaps rant was the wrong descriptor, but I don't for a second think that I falsely characterized the statement. If , as their coach, he is going to characterize their play that way, then , as their coach, he most certainly should admit that some of the blame should be on him. I didn't hear anything like that( if he did maybe someone can correct me). To me that's "throwing the team under the bus". We've heard plenty of times on this forum rants from posters regarding opposing coaches "TTTUTB". But, of course, Geno would never do that!?

 

[boontonbomber]

I was shocked how calm Geno was in that presser- and I guess, very shortly after a VERY SHOCKING upset of his team-
he was so professional, didn't complain about much, gave no middle fingers literal or figuratively... ....but you could tell he was disappointed.....
Overall, great stuff from El Maestro.....

he's gotten lots of practice the last 4 final fours.

 

[Twolf]

he's gotten lots of practice the last 4 final fours.

Just as aside, reaching 4 final fours in a row would be a career changing accomplishment for 99.9% of women’s D-1 coaches, let alone 13 in a row. Nothing wrong with having an opinion, but the majority of the best coaches I’ve been around were only concerned with the opinions of two groups of people: their players and their peers. JMO

 

[MSGRET]

This is a little off of the story line but why does ESPN almost always have the tag line of HOF Coach Tara Vanderveer, inducted in 2011. When it comes to Geno they usually just state Coach Geno Auriemma, inducted in 2006.

 

[hoophuskee]

Once again, the coach doesn't shoot the lay ups but it was clear early in the game that 2 things were happening. First, we were not mentally focused sufficiently and to me the missed lay ups are a manifestation of that. Second, the high post offense where the ball gets passed to Liv with her back to the basket was dead on arrival. They overplayed the first pass, causing the offense to move farther out and then overplayed the next pass to the wing. There was no alternative offensive set.

If you watched the men's final you saw Baylor run three different sets, a horns high, a horns low and mostly a 3-2 perimeter dribble drive set. Our strength this year and next and next is in our guards and that 3-2 opens the lane for drives. We had our best rebounder in Liv away from the glass and it forced her to make offensive passing decisions which, as a nervous player in big games, was a problem. AZ had a much better game plan, and it shows plainly to me that we need an alternative set next year. There were no major adjustments from Geno during the game which I was quite frankly stunned by. For the Baylor men, there are high post picks from the 3-2 but not passes there and the picker quickly rolls to and away from the basket and the middle stays open or the wings get a clear out because the low post player on that side clears out. We will have 4 players who can take their man on demand next year in CW, Paige, Azzi and Evina and we need a new offense for that. I don't see any harm in trying it and I would be surprised if it doesn't happen.

I don't agree. Not buying the excuses for missed layups. I don't have to watch the Baylor game to understand UCONN missed too many layups.

But as you say - I'll watch what their offense was - but you put two players in the post - I can't believe you've opened up anything for guards that aren't so hot at creating on their own. For example, Paige isn't a great isolation player. Our guards need picks. And if our bigs missed layups in a high post then why would we consider that they wouldn't miss layups in a 3-2 set? And if it was more of the guards missing layups then the same blown layups applies in a 3-2 set.

As a result, I'm skeptical about your point that we need a different set. Again UCONN went to the Final Four which is tremendous. In one of their two losses they scored 87 points. Losing one game because of your offense is not a reason to tear the system down.

Bottomline is that if your offense is run well enough to get layups then it should be good enough to win. The "we weren't prepared" imo is an excuse that any player/team/fan can say for any loss if you want to stretch it hard enough.

And while I'm skeptical of any different offense - with Azzi - who knows - I expect anything can work. Whatever 3-2 or whatever.

 

[BBallF]

I don't agree. Not buying the excuses for missed layups. I don't have to watch the Baylor game to understand UCONN missed too many layups.

But as you say - I'll watch what their offense was - but you put two players in the post - I can't believe you've opened up anything for guards that aren't so hot at creating on their own. For example, Paige isn't a great isolation player. Our guards need picks. And if our bigs missed layups in a high post then why would we consider that they wouldn't miss layups in a 3-2 set? And if it was more of the guards missing layups then the same blown layups applies in a 3-2 set.

As a result, I'm skeptical about your point that we need a different set. Again UCONN went to the Final Four which is tremendous. In one of their two losses they scored 87 points. Losing one game because of your offense is not a reason to tear the system down.

Bottomline is that if your offense is run well enough to get layups then it should be good enough to win. The "we weren't prepared" imo is an excuse that any player/team/fan can say for any loss if you want to stretch it hard enough.

And while I'm skeptical of any different offense - with Azzi - who knows - I expect anything can work. Whatever 3-2 or whatever.

Please watch and then comment. They don't put 2 players on the post, they put two players on the blocks extended. When the middle player on the 3 has the ball one of the bigs comes up and screens and then immediately rolls. He does not receive the ball with his back to the basket. The middle stays open but the ball doesn't go to the dead zone on the foul line or 3 point line to a big. If the ball goes to the wing, the big on the block extended goes to the block and looks for the ball. If he doesn't get it he crosses the lane to the other side leaving the entire side open for an angle drive or one on one pull up. Paige scored a lot of points this year on one on one pull ups, usually towards the baseline so I have no idea what you are talking about. CW is one of the best one on one drivers in the country and who is going to stop Azzi? Plus, Evina can score also. I would not have Liv making an offensive decision in the set, she is not a Stef Dolson.

Now, back to this dialogue about why we lost. They were much more intense, more focused and shut down our offense by defending and overplaying the first and second passes. I don't think our coaching was deficient in preparation, I think our players were not mentally ready and hence not prepared in that sense, not the Xs and Os sense. They were tight, not loose and that is a reason why you miss layups. We made no adjustments in the game, none. You don't tear the system down but when it is not working you adjust in game.

That's 4 Semis in a row where we have been less than fully engaged mentally and physically or to keep it superficial, where we have not played a great game as a team. It's not a coincidence, it's a trend. Do you really think it was just a confluence of bad luck in our layups? On one of them, Liv missed the rim from point blank range off the back board. It was everyone. That is the classic sign of a tight, nervous team. In that respect, the lack of experience and maturity was also a factor.

We will have more guard offensive firepower next year than ever before. The offense should be based on that and not on tradition or even what worked in the past. With Azzi, Paige, CW, and EW on the floor a lot together and CD and Saylor shooting at times also, the offense has to be accommodative. Keep the middle open except for picks, dribble drive the ball, dish for the 3, and also get the ball under when the big is in a position of advantage.

I respect your opinion as you know, but you are not explaining or analyzing why we played the way we did, you are merely describing it. If CW was right and they underestimated Az as a team, I am sure it didn't come from the coaching staff. I just don't understand how you do that in the FF. As Kara Wolters pointed out, if that was true, it is an act of immaturity. Either Culmo or Wolters also quickly added that it is also infuriating to the coaches.

 

[DICKG]

Geno ranted after the game about his very immature and pouty team , feeling sorry for themselves when things don't go their way. They certainly are a young team, with 3 frosh on the floor a lot of the second half. And maybe the veterans do get down on themselves at times. But seems like something all coaches have to deal with at times, and you'd think( well, I think) a hall of fame coach might find a way to shake them up during the course of a game. It took a player, Anna, to step forward and say something during the Baylor game.

Geno is at best a mediocre coach in close games. In losses like this he always points his finger at the team and never, never takes any of the blame. He is an excellent recruiter so he isn't in this position too often because he gets really good players to come. I believe this is his forth semi-final loss in a row

 

[CL82]

Geno is at best a mediocre coach in close games

 

[Yukon]

Google: What is the definition of insanity?

 

[CocoHusky]

Google: What is the definition of insanity?

I did! This thread was cited as an example. When I clicked on the images several familiar BY avatars popped up.

 

[nutmegger]

Geno is at best a mediocre coach in close games. In losses like this he always points his finger at the team and never, never takes any of the blame. He is an excellent recruiter so he isn't in this position too often because he gets really good players to come. I believe this is his forth semi-final loss in a row

All of this is true.

 

[AYusef]

Geno ranted after the game about his very immature and pouty team , feeling sorry for themselves when things don't go their way. They certainly are a young team, with 3 frosh on the floor a lot of the second half. And maybe the veterans do get down on themselves at times. But seems like something all coaches have to deal with at times, and you'd think( well, I think) a hall of fame coach might find a way to shake them up during the course of a game. It took a player, Anna, to step forward and say something during the Baylor game.

This is a silly take... Geno is the best coach in the sport because he doesn't treat them like little girls

 

[AYusef]

All of this is true.

All of this is true.

If I were to fault Geno’s coaching in the game it was in not realizing in first quarter than the team was not meshing. I would have rushed Anna into the game, not just to add a three point shooter, but to add her passing and court vision which would have taken pressure off Paige and improved ball movement. When he didn’t, I pretty much figured we would lose.

If this was your answer to the issue I'm glad you're not coaching. If you think Anna Makarat was the answer when she didn't even play in the Elite 8 game, has a 3 pt shot that has been anything but reliable in her short UConn career and is a liabilty defensively you're uninformed and Geno has nothing to worry about...

 

[AYusef]

Geno is at best a mediocre coach in close games. In losses like this he always points his finger at the team and never, never takes any of the blame. He is an excellent recruiter so he isn't in this position too often because he gets really good players to come. I believe this is his forth semi-final loss in a row

What does that even mean? in blowout games he's great? Yes the coach that has won more NC than any coach has lost 4 FF in a row, two on last second shots. What a disgrace!
If you paid attention to that press conference he was asked about Christyn William's comment that the team might've taken Arizona lightly. Geno responded by saying that if that was the case then the coaching staff had failed and that his team was immature. Which is a spot on response by an adult, the assumption here is that you don't fall into that category.

 

[Twolf]

Geno is at best a mediocre coach in close games. In losses like this he always points his finger at the team and never, never takes any of the blame. He is an excellent recruiter so he isn't in this position too often because he gets really good players to come. I believe this is his forth semi-final loss in a row

Just a quick question, if you’re not just trolling. If you have a mediocre coach who also blames his team after close losses, how in the wide world of sports does this coach persuade some of very best talent in the country to be a part of his program? I take it that none of them did their homework on what they were getting into.
If your team for the past 13 years has been one of the four best teams out of the 354 D-1 programs with a mediocre coach, I’m just guessing the market for mediocre coaches is about to explode. BTW, in all the wins it took to achieve the above record, how many of these did the mediocre coach claim that the win was because he was the coach?

 

[QtrCrtPress]

Did you guys just start watching UConn this season? He’s always played his Jedi mind tricks after a loss in the post-season. These comments aren’t throwing anyone under the bus, he’s challenging the team to improve. And history has shown, anything he’s said in public he’s said in private a hundred times.

Agree. With more youth coming he is setting expectations for growth.

 

[AYusef]

Agree. With more youth coming he is setting expectations for growth.

It amazes me that there are UConn fans that still don't get Geno! after all of these years and all of this success. The reason that this program has been to 13 straight FF has more to do with him than anything else. The talent pool has spread out for the most part, UConn doesn't always get the best players or have the best recruiting class. The edge this team has is Geno, recruiting, teaching, motivating, everything that he excels at.

The success that his players have after they leave Storrs and the adoration they have for him tells you everything you need to know.