Does Geno Still Have it?

[cohenzone]

I think since you laid it out there, I will be brutally honest too. I mean no disrespect to anyone when I say this but I do believe it to be manifestly true. I think it’s fair to say that, while Geno is obviously a great coach, he also won most of the 11 titles because he had three transcendent players. Dee, Maya, and Stewie! Now he would have won some even without those three but they were the prime force for probably 9 of them. You mentioned that he has recruited many other top five players as well. This is true and a number of those were #1 ranked players. The brutal reality though is that (again, no disrespect intended) none of those other #1s were at the level of the three I just mentioned. They were not the kind of player who picked the entire team up and carried them to the title. They ranged from very good to great but they simply did not have what the Three had. To be fair, Dee had Sue and other very good players for her first, and then showed with her final two titles, why she is generally acknowledged as the GOAT. Maya had Tina and other greats as well. Stewie had Mo and Morgan.
The truth is that since Stewie, Paige has been the only truly transcendent player he’s been able to get. All others #1s - 5s have been good enough to keep us at a high level but not good enough to break down the gate and take the castle. There were a couple of teams, 2017 & 2018 that could have won but were derailed (not by bad luck but perhaps by a lack of good luck at a crucial moment) at the Final Four. This is not to say we should have won but only that we could have. Even two years ago, does anyone doubt that we could possibly have beaten SC in the title game had we been completely healthy Or that we would likely have beaten Stanford had we not had a letdown against Arizona? (Still one of the most disappointing losses ever!)
in the last three years we have faced Covid and the most brutal series of injuries I have ever witnessed. Injuries that are still affecting us, I believe, in more ways than just the injuries themselves. Meanwhile, not only has a new, very formidable power risen in the women’s game, but the talent level throughout the country has gone off the charts. Now, that power has been joined by another one featuring a long time coaching foe in a new location. Additionally, we are seeing more and more great players going to schools that five or ten years ago, would not even have recruited them. This results in games like our last one where a very talented player goes off at the same time that her team happens to play their game of the year! This will, I believe, happen more and more often!
I do believe Geno has lost a step but he’s still plenty good enough to win! The problem is that we are no longer head & shoulders above everyone. Those days are simply over! We still have a lot of talent (as much or more than anyone) and most importantly we still have that one transcendent player! However, she needs some others to step up.
Can Geno reach back into the past and get this team to box out, to rebound, to play tough, hard nosed defense, and to recapture the will to win that has characterized so many of our great teams in the past? Can Azzi find some consistency in her shot? Can Caroline play like she did before she was so cruelly injured? Can Ice play like we all hope she can? Can Aaliyah and the rest of the team rise to the occasion? The simple answer is, I don’t know, but what I do know for sure, is that we have the talent, we have the superstar leader, and we still have a great coach in Geno! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried but all we can do is hope that we see a completely different team on Thursday! Go Huskies!❤️

Geno always says he had the players. The difference recently has been that Boston went to SC, which surprised most. The difference seems to be that Geno maximizes the number of NCs when he has a generational player which Staley did not do with Boston and Mulkey did not do with Griner Beyond that, the talent and coaching is much deeper around the sport than ever. And UConn seems to have really swung and missed with DeBerry.

Maryland will be interesting. No back to back losses for Geno since the dinosaur era.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Geno always says he had the players. The difference recently has been that Boston went to SC, which surprised most. The difference seems to be that Geno maximizes the number of NCs when he has a generational player which Staley did not do with Boston and Mulkey did not do with Griner Beyond that, the talent and coaching is much deeper around the sport than ever. And UConn seems to have really swung and missed with DeBerry.

Maryland will be interesting. No back to back losses for Geno since the dinosaur era.

We had back to back losses last year South Carolina and I believe Marquette.

 

[oldhusky]

This is a real issue that at some point might affect someone's ability to coach, but it becomes more relevant as a recruiting issue sooner than that. Do I think Geno has slipped in his coaching ability? No, but that certainly could happen as he ages. The issue that could be affecting him right now is something else.

Because of his age there is a significant risk that he might not be coaching players he is currently recruiting for their whole college career. Some chance of death, or illness that makes retirement an obvious choice, or mental decline, or he gets bored or frustrated with it, or just wants to enjoy retirement and do other things.

Collectively the many factors that might take the coach recruiting you out of the picture for part of your career, has to be at least somewhat of a factor in recruiting. He is recruiting players that would finish their collegiate careers maybe 7 years from now. Whatever the odds are that Geno will still be coaching then, they are significantly lower than for a very successful middle aged coach at an established top level program. That would obviously apply to a coach like Tara as well, their age becomes a disadvantage on the recruiting front, that only gets worse with each extra year.

This is not a knock on Geno, even if potential players think he is as good as ever, the risk that he may not be there for all of their career is a real factor. It is what it is, every successful coach that reaches Geno's age will face similar issues with targeted recruits. For many it might not make any difference to them, but for some it will IMO.

 

[uconnfan68]

Simple answer to the question - YES!!!!!!!!!!

We lost to a team we should have defeated. It happens. Geno will figure it out and get the team on track.

Should have defeated? Did you watch the game? Geno did, and told you what happened.

 

[uconnfan68]

This is a real issue that at some point might affect someone's ability to coach, but it becomes more relevant as a recruiting issue sooner than that. Do I think Geno has slipped in his coaching ability? No, but that certainly could happen as he ages. The issue that could be affecting him right now is something else.

Because of his age there is a significant risk that he might not be coaching players he is currently recruiting for their whole college career. Some chance of death, or illness that makes retirement an obvious choice, or mental decline, or he gets bored or frustrated with it, or just wants to enjoy retirement and do other things.

Collectively the many factors that might take the coach recruiting you out of the picture for part of your career, has to be at least somewhat of a factor in recruiting. He is recruiting players that would finish their collegiate careers maybe 7 years from now. Whatever the odds are that Geno will still be coaching then, they are significantly lower than for a very successful middle aged coach at an established top level program. That would obviously apply to a coach like Tara as well, their age becomes a disadvantage on the recruiting front, that only gets worse with each extra year.

This is not a knock on Geno, even if potential players think he is as good as ever, the risk that he may not be there for all of their career is a real factor. It is what it is, every successful coach that reaches Geno's age will face similar issues with targeted recruits. For many it might not make any difference to them, but for some it will IMO.

And I’m sure it’s used against him by every other coaching staff.

 

[maple]

I can remember when championships was the goal not final fours. The Human mind can rationalize anything

No one said the goal was Final Fours, but it’s still nothing to sniff at to consistently make them. We are the only team in WBB & MBB who can complain about “only” making the FF years and years in a row.

 

[ochoopsfan]

National Championship Geno wore suits or a sports coat and slacks to coach the games.
The current Geno wears UConn warm up jackets to coach the games.
Surely this has some affect on his coaching abilities.

 

[Martin]

Or the son or daughter of a Hollywood legend.

 

[Mandoo]

tl/dr

I do question how hot the fire burns, tho.

Things go well for teams when recruiting is successful. When you recruit people that have "hidden" illnesses or injuries, you are sowing the seeds of mediocrity. Then again, when you recruit you spend time and money crossing the country to watch game after game of players you might want to recruit. Recruiters and Geno can easily be wrong with their choices of players. Who recruits better than Staley? What are her advantages? She's a badass, so to speak, and her players identify with that and choose to go to SC. But, she's a complete coach, her players put out the effort to win. Mulkey is likewise a great judge of talent and has a personality structure that attracts players that have some punchiness in them like van Lith. Looking at Geno's players, clearly there are some who Geno and his coaches were dead wrong about. And, as a result, they've bombed when on his teams. The NC State game showed the lack of fire that exists on that team. Yet, it's too easy to criticize and denigrate this team for many and sundry defects. Sit Fudd and Nika, start Samuels and KK. Starting Fudd then yanking her does more damage to her psyche than benching her in lieu of KK. Just sayin',

 

[CL82]

A good question for sure..

 

[Fairfield Fan]

UConn hasn't recruited a top post player since 2012 when it was Breanna Stewart. Stewart also had a great supporting front court, including Kiah Stokes.

But since then, Connecticut has failed to recruit any great post players. They've gone to South Carolina mostly, or transferred to South Carolina. We've missed out on great bigs year after year. Yes, we had a Ohio State transfer, but that was it, and she wasn't an All American. Yes, Coach Geno reached all the way across the Atlantic and Mediterranean for Al Alfie. But we have to admit that our failure to land great bigs has cost us a great deal. Last NC in 2016, which was the last year we had a superstar big.

Don't know why they aren't coming here, though we know that Dawn Staley is now a premier, if not the premier, recruiter in the nation.

But no AA big, no NC.

 

[willtalk]

Interesting! I was planning on starting a thread on this very same subject.

Above all Geno is a systems coach. The system is not as effective as it once was due to the change of the WCBB dynamic. Some years ago there was a thread on a simular subject. At that time I interjected the issue of the change in the players coming out high school both in attitude and skill level. Geno was a disciple of John Wooden and it was Wooden who made the statement some years after he retired that he would no longer be able to coach the players that entered college out of high school. He saw the handwriting on the wall. Now he could still have coached, but not the way he wanted to which would have resulted in lesser results.

I truly believe that that Geno recognized that the same issues were manifesting themselves in
WCBB when Stevens threw him a curve ball by entering the draft earlier than he expected. That would have never happened to him before. Geno is a strict disciplinarian which allowed him to run his system to perfection. It was that which made the players better. Players accepted the system because they knew it was for their ultimate long term benefit.

Stevens was more representative of the new type of layers coming out of high school. Its not that they are lazy or less dedicated, but rather they have been in a ridgid developmental system for much longer than previously before. Some players still retain enough desire, but the majority no longer want to focus on development so they are less amenable to an intense system like Geno ran. It's not that his system could not still work. Its that the new type of player will not commit to it.

I thought that Geno might have been ready to pack it in after the Stevens affair, but he chose to keep giving it a go and what we see is a partial result of that. His most important aspect in coaching (intensity) can no longer be utilized or rather is no longer accepted or tolerated by most players.

All of the issues brought up by the originator of this post and many of the responders are valid. I just thought I might add a different aspect to the mix.

In respect to recuiting, what used to work for Geno and allowed him to have his pick of the crop was reputation. He was thus able to pick and chose players who would fit into his system. That is something that he no longer had the benefit of for some time. That effects results which will effect recruitng over time. Also the number of successful UConn grads excelling in the WNBA, while still having an effect of the draft, is diminishing over time. WNBA teams really have no scouting dept and they rely mostly on reputation so the UConn name still has influence.

While Geno could still be a successful coach, I would like to see him hang it up now to protect his long term legacy. Perhaps once Paige is gone. He probably should have done what Wooden did and quit while he was on top.

 

[Nolefan]

No his better years are behind him and he chooses not to evolve to the modern game .. UConn will always be good because of recruiting ..

 

[asuwish]

A good question for sure..
No one can argue with what he has accomplished up until last year even, with the ridiculous street of consecutive Final Four appearances. and the 11 National Championships etc

But let's look a little deeper to see if he still has it or not..
There was once a time when you could say if you gave coach the best player(s) in the country coming out of HS you are pretty much sure there will be a national championship or two, or three or four. in their college career. We have recruited a number of #1, thru #5 recruits who have not reached that goal as of late, Megan, Paige, Azzi, Christyn, Olivia, and Crystal.. to name a few. Of course, some will argue... that is just a matter of more talent being distributed throughout.. However, if you start with the projected best players and you are considered the best Coach at the best program, then you have to ask does he still has it. Especially if the players did not have any significant injury such as in the case of Megan, Christyn, Olivia, Crystal, etc. For now, we will give him a pass on Paige and Azzi due to their injuries...

Let's Look at another factor of importance, the development of players throughout their careers at UCONN.
I have heard this stated several times on these boards, Geno knows how to develop players. I for one believe he is a great teacher of the game, on how to play cohesively as a team, how to prepare for an opponent, how to hide your weaknesses and play to your strengths, proper spacing, etc. He is also known as a great motivator... that comes from his players.

My eye test on being a "great" Developer is a little different however, What did Megan leave Storrs with that she didn't already have, from a skillset point of view? I can ask this question for almost every highly-rated player we have ever had. yes, we'll find one or two who drastically improved, but quite a few had marginal gains or remained inconsistent throughout their 4 years at Storrs.
Did Breanna or Katie Lou become a significantly better shooter/scorer, or was that skillset already there from the beginning? Same for Paige and Azzi, Maya, Diana, and on an on.. Don't get me wrong, as I said earlier, those players learning how to read and react in Geno's system made them more valuable at the next level no doubt. as with all the players that go through this program... but I'm more specifically looking at individual skillset such as, how to create separation or draw a foul on your opponents, how to use your left hand instead of your right, how to become better ball handlers etc. The trend is that most of the players are going to skill coaches outside of UCONN to acquire some of these individual developments to their games, as did Megan, Collier, Azzi, Paige etc. Perhaps from a defensive standpoint, I will give the UCONN coaches an edge in improving their players over the 4-year term.. What worries me though is when I hear a coach saying to their players, you figure it out...

Lastly, the code to beating UCONN has pretty much been out there for a few years now, my concern is that we don't turn into Tennessee. If you remember in Geno's ascension to greatness, he then figured out how to use Tennessee's trademark aggressive defense against them by going back door on them, for easy layups, over and over again... we then became the Tennessee killers. We are still recruiting the same type of kids, you know the skilled but way too (Nice Ones)... who operate on rhythm and freedom of movement. I think we need to recruit a few Bam Bams to enforce against some of the bully ball we face today and a few more players like Swin Cash, aggressive as France and quick to the ball for rebounding... I want to see us get to the point when we run teams out the gym again, and run plays only when we have to.. actually, that is what the teams who are having success against us are currently doing, attack, attack, attack, attack... gone are the days when we were the fittest team in college, Geno only playing a few players in games have taken it's toll on his players, let's give them some rest and learn to trust a few more players each game Geno..

Anyway, to answer my own question, I do believe Coach still has it in him, he's just a little too stubborn that's all..

We lose a game and the sky is falling! Every coach recruits kids they think will form a great team. 14 final fours says he has constructed great teams. 6 different teams have won the last 6 titles. Nobody is going to run through the season easily. This team, outside of a true big has lots of talent and depth. Now the question is can they find the right combinations. I won't be surprised if they get stopped at the elite 8 again, or win it all.

 

[wingsfan055]

Yes, Geno had DT, Maya, and Stewart. But, Geno helped make those players who they eventually became - generational players who knew what it took to win Titles. That's coaching.

 

[uconnfan68]

Interesting! I was planning on starting a thread on this very same subject.

Above all Geno is a systems coach. The system is not as effective as it once was due to the change of the WCBB dynamic. Some years ago there was a thread on a simular subject. At that time I interjected the issue of the change in the players coming out high school both in attitude and skill level. Geno was a disciple of John Wooden and it was Wooden who made the statement some years after he retired that he would no longer be able to coach the players that entered college out of high school. He saw the handwriting on the wall. Now he could still have coached, but not the way he wanted to which would have resulted in lesser results.

I truly believe that that Geno recognized that the same issues were manifesting themselves in
WCBB when Stevens threw him a curve ball by entering the draft earlier than he expected. That would have never happened to him before. Geno is a strict disciplinarian which allowed him to run his system to perfection. It was that which made the players better. Players accepted the system because they knew it was for their ultimate long term benefit.

Stevens was more representative of the new type of layers coming out of high school. Its not that they are lazy or less dedicated, but rather they have been in a ridgid developmental system for much longer than previously before. Some players still retain enough desire, but the majority no longer want to focus on development so they are less amenable to an intense system like Geno ran. It's not that his system could not still work. Its that the new type of player will not commit to it.

I thought that Geno might have been ready to pack it in after the Stevens affair, but he chose to keep giving it a go and what we see is a partial result of that. His most important aspect in coaching (intensity) can no longer be utilized or rather is no longer accepted or tolerated by most players.

All of the issues brought up by the originator of this post and many of the responders are valid. I just thought I might add a different aspect to the mix.

In respect to recuiting, what used to work for Geno and allowed him to have his pick of the crop was reputation. He was thus able to pick and chose players who would fit into his system. That is something that he no longer had the benefit of for some time. That effects results which will effect recruitng over time. Also the number of successful UConn grads excelling in the WNBA, while still having an effect of the draft, is diminishing over time. WNBA teams really have no scouting dept and they rely mostly on reputation so the UConn name still has influence.

While Geno could still be a successful coach, I would like to see him hang it up now to protect his long term legacy. Perhaps once Paige is gone. He probably should have done what Wooden did and quit while he was on top.

I sure hope no one tells him you know his secrets.

 

[blandnick]

This is a real issue that at some point might affect someone's ability to coach, but it becomes more relevant as a recruiting issue sooner than that. Do I think Geno has slipped in his coaching ability? No, but that certainly could happen as he ages. The issue that could be affecting him right now is something else.

Because of his age there is a significant risk that he might not be coaching players he is currently recruiting for their whole college career. Some chance of death, or illness that makes retirement an obvious choice, or mental decline, or he gets bored or frustrated with it, or just wants to enjoy retirement and do other things.

Collectively the many factors that might take the coach recruiting you out of the picture for part of your career, has to be at least somewhat of a factor in recruiting. He is recruiting players that would finish their collegiate careers maybe 7 years from now. Whatever the odds are that Geno will still be coaching then, they are significantly lower than for a very successful middle aged coach at an established top level program. That would obviously apply to a coach like Tara as well, their age becomes a disadvantage on the recruiting front, that only gets worse with each extra year.

This is not a knock on Geno, even if potential players think he is as good as ever, the risk that he may not be there for all of their career is a real factor. It is what it is, every successful coach that reaches Geno's age will face similar issues with targeted recruits. For many it might not make any difference to them, but for some it will IMO.

The portal takes this almost completely away. You are not stuck with the school and a new coach like you were used to. Now, you take 1-3 years with Geno and if he retires, you can still go to your second choice...

 

[maple]

Yes, Geno had DT, Maya, and Stewart. But, Geno helped make those players who they eventually became - generational players who knew what it took to win Titles. That's coaching.

Exactly, it's not like Stewie could have just gone to any program and won 4 straight. Hell, there's a lot of programs she could have gone to (cough cough SYRACUSE cough cough) and not have even sniffed any Final Fours. Also everyone forgets her struggles in freshman year. She didn't come to UConn as an already perfect player.

 

[Waquoit]

I can remember when championships was the goal not final fours. The Human mind can rationalize anything

I hate this sense of entitlement. Especially from someone just sitting on the couch eating bon-bons.

 

[huskiemaniac]

Slim to no chance they coach.,,

 

[cohenzone]

This is a real issue that at some point might affect someone's ability to coach, but it becomes more relevant as a recruiting issue sooner than that. Do I think Geno has slipped in his coaching ability? No, but that certainly could happen as he ages. The issue that could be affecting him right now is something else.

Because of his age there is a significant risk that he might not be coaching players he is currently recruiting for their whole college career. Some chance of death, or illness that makes retirement an obvious choice, or mental decline, or he gets bored or frustrated with it, or just wants to enjoy retirement and do other things.

Collectively the many factors that might take the coach recruiting you out of the picture for part of your career, has to be at least somewhat of a factor in recruiting. He is recruiting players that would finish their collegiate careers maybe 7 years from now. Whatever the odds are that Geno will still be coaching then, they are significantly lower than for a very successful middle aged coach at an established top level program. That would obviously apply to a coach like Tara as well, their age becomes a disadvantage on the recruiting front, that only gets worse with each extra year.

This is not a knock on Geno, even if potential players think he is as good as ever, the risk that he may not be there for all of their career is a real factor. It is what it is, every successful coach that reaches Geno's age will face similar issues with targeted recruits. For many it might not make any difference to them, but for some it will IMO.

Obviously most of that is true. The death part could happen to any coach (tragedy of Tasha Butts). but age does have its way and I have Geno by quite a bit (gulp). I will say that I think Geno looks great and vital right now

 

[Longtime fan]

Geno always says he had the players. The difference recently has been that Boston went to SC, which surprised most. The difference seems to be that Geno maximizes the number of NCs when he has a generational player which Staley did not do with Boston and Mulkey did not do with Griner Beyond that, the talent and coaching is much deeper around the sport than ever. And UConn seems to have really swung and missed with DeBerry.

Maryland will be interesting. No back to back losses for Geno since the dinosaur era.

And the 2024 #2 recruit ( Edwards ) just committed to South Carolina, giving them three five stars recruits in that class, so far. They have a guard, a wing and a post player. We have two more guards.

Staley may nor have won with Boston but she did win NC's with Aja Wilson. And she is young , approaching her peak years. Geno's peak was a few years ago. How many years now in the string where we have not won a NC? Geno is still a great coach and has wonderful curb appeal. But our recruiting success is fading. Two of our stars from last season were acquired through the portal. Muhl is from Croatia. And Inez is from Portugal and Jana from Egypt. We are now building our team like South Florida. Nothing wrong with that, but the great US players aren't lusting for UCONN anymore.

Staley's South Carolina team already looks at full speed ( beating Maryland 114-67 ) and we looked like we were treading water in our loss to NC State ( where we gave up 90 points ). Sure it is early.

It is also starting to feel a bit late.

 

[Dognusty]

Fact of the matter is X and O can win a few games, but Jimmy and Joe's win championships. You have to have the players. At one point UConn had the best of the best. Any mistakes made were overshadowed by how much better the players were vs the opponent. Those days are gone.

Now when teams are evenly matched, coaching and execution become the deciding factors.

 

[TCC Kid]

A good question for sure..
No one can argue with what he has accomplished up until last year even, with the ridiculous street of consecutive Final Four appearances. and the 11 National Championships etc

But let's look a little deeper to see if he still has it or not..
There was once a time when you could say if you gave coach the best player(s) in the country coming out of HS you are pretty much sure there will be a national championship or two, or three or four. in their college career. We have recruited a number of #1, thru #5 recruits who have not reached that goal as of late, Megan, Paige, Azzi, Christyn, Olivia, and Crystal.. to name a few. Of course, some will argue... that is just a matter of more talent being distributed throughout.. However, if you start with the projected best players and you are considered the best Coach at the best program, then you have to ask does he still has it. Especially if the players did not have any significant injury such as in the case of Megan, Christyn, Olivia, Crystal, etc. For now, we will give him a pass on Paige and Azzi due to their injuries...

Let's Look at another factor of importance, the development of players throughout their careers at UCONN.
I have heard this stated several times on these boards, Geno knows how to develop players. I for one believe he is a great teacher of the game, on how to play cohesively as a team, how to prepare for an opponent, how to hide your weaknesses and play to your strengths, proper spacing, etc. He is also known as a great motivator... that comes from his players.

My eye test on being a "great" Developer is a little different however, What did Megan leave Storrs with that she didn't already have, from a skillset point of view? I can ask this question for almost every highly-rated player we have ever had. yes, we'll find one or two who drastically improved, but quite a few had marginal gains or remained inconsistent throughout their 4 years at Storrs.
Did Breanna or Katie Lou become a significantly better shooter/scorer, or was that skillset already there from the beginning? Same for Paige and Azzi, Maya, Diana, and on an on.. Don't get me wrong, as I said earlier, those players learning how to read and react in Geno's system made them more valuable at the next level no doubt. as with all the players that go through this program... but I'm more specifically looking at individual skillset such as, how to create separation or draw a foul on your opponents, how to use your left hand instead of your right, how to become better ball handlers etc. The trend is that most of the players are going to skill coaches outside of UCONN to acquire some of these individual developments to their games, as did Megan, Collier, Azzi, Paige etc. Perhaps from a defensive standpoint, I will give the UCONN coaches an edge in improving their players over the 4-year term.. What worries me though is when I hear a coach saying to their players, you figure it out...

Lastly, the code to beating UCONN has pretty much been out there for a few years now, my concern is that we don't turn into Tennessee. If you remember in Geno's ascension to greatness, he then figured out how to use Tennessee's trademark aggressive defense against them by going back door on them, for easy layups, over and over again... we then became the Tennessee killers. We are still recruiting the same type of kids, you know the skilled but way too (Nice Ones)... who operate on rhythm and freedom of movement. I think we need to recruit a few Bam Bams to enforce against some of the bully ball we face today and a few more players like Swin Cash, aggressive as France and quick to the ball for rebounding... I want to see us get to the point when we run teams out the gym again, and run plays only when we have to.. actually, that is what the teams who are having success against us are currently doing, attack, attack, attack, attack... gone are the days when we were the fittest team in college, Geno only playing a few players in games have taken it's toll on his players, let's give them some rest and learn to trust a few more players each game Geno..

Anyway, to answer my own question, I do believe Coach still has it in him, he's just a little too stubborn that's all..

Stubborn??? Flexible--is GENO. Stuck in one place one view of Geno are the FAN's. Geno once said Great Players make a Great coach. Obviously, it is easier to win with top talent.
Back to the stubborn. Old people, that's me, tend to like the familiar because so much around them has changed. Geno--is OLD. Energy to cope with changing everything get harder. Coping with the psychological, cultural changes along with changes in the game get harder. Geno has done a fantastic job of rolling with these punches.
The GAME by all measures, is nearly the same. The quality, talent, abilities of the players has changed.
Geno has to cope with TRANSFERS. A coach that has accumulated the best money can buy--and she is very old, is a current issue. Dawn, everyone says (whose everyone--look around) is the NEW GENO. No where near. In 20 years, we'll speak on that.

Remember---ONE loss in November, rarely keeps a top team away from the NC in April.