Dont worry about what recruits we get

[Tonyc]

You know what? We got Geno and Im really not worried. A few months ago I was reading about we have no height we arent getting any tall players what will we do. In fact Ive been reading this for some time. Then we got Butler and now Camara and Stevens. Now we're talking more and NCs. The secret to BB is team. Geno has his priorities in order. Attitude and discipline for recruits and parents, Defense, Offense and winning. Thats it. His record is a reward for his tuffness and if you have any questions just look at his record of NC, AAs Olympians and Olympic metals, WNBA players and POY. There arent 2 coaches in WCBB that have combined his records. So if we dont get every recruit so what. We will continue to win NCs while they watch and think what couldve been. See being a couldve been imo is how we got Butler Camara and Stevens. They were tired of being couldve beens. Theyre here for one reason. To win a NC and you know what...they will.

 

[bags27]

clap. clap. clap.

 

[Wally East]

Yeah, but those Olympians? Four of the five this year were #1 rated recruits ...

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I agree Tonyc, as long as the staff keep recruiting the same selfless, desire, hard-working, loyal, coachable young ladies they've been recruiting for the past 30 years they'll do great things!
In an article on the type of player UCONN coaches recruit leads to success has a comment from Shea Ralph, "Talent is the last thing we look at when we recruit at CT!"
Seeing the type of players Kelly Faris, Carolyn Doty, Jessica Moore, Ashley Battle, Maria Conlon, Tiffany Hayes, Stef Dolson, Jamelle Elliot, Carla Berube, Kalana Greene, Kara Woltors, Kelly Schumacher, and many others turned into keeps Geno & the Huskies going for the top rung on the ladder every season!
Of course they get great players but they get GREAT SOLID PEOPLE that work with the stars to make GREAT TEAMS!

 

[Wally East]

You named 12 players; eight of them were high school All-Americans and one was All-Canadian. But, despite your list of players being stacked, Carla, Kara, and Jamelle didn't win a title without Rebecca; Kelly Faris, Kalana Greene, Tiffany Hayes, and Caroline Doty didn't win a title without Maya and Tina, and Stefanie Dolson didn't win a title without Stewie and KML.

Here's the important part:

UConn wins championships when they have the best player in the country, who is often the best high school recruit in her class. Often, there's more than one #1 recruit on a team -- like all of the title teams starting in 2000.

2000 -- Shea and Tamika
2002 -- Diana and Tamika
2003 -- Diana and Ann
2004 -- Same
2009 -- Tina and Maya
2010 -- Same
2013 -- Stewie and KML
2014 -- Same
2015 -- Same
2016 -- Stewie and KLS

Years where we had multiple #1s and didn't win a title

2001 -- Shea, Tamika, and Diana
2008 -- Tina and Maya

So, yes, getting a #1 player is important. Getting multiple #1s across years is very important.

 

[pvdoggy]

People who think UConn can win championships without top notch recruits are delusional fan.

 

[Charliebball]

Let's put it this way................Geno can do more with less the any coach in the country..................he can also do more with MORE then any coach in the country....................give me some MORE please!!!!!!!!!!

 

[iamcbs]

You know what? We got Geno and Im really not worried. A few months ago I was reading about we have no height we arent getting any tall players what will we do. In fact Ive been reading this for some time. Then we got Butler and now Camara and Stevens. Now we're talking more and NCs. The secret to BB is team. Geno has his priorities in order. Attitude and discipline for recruits and parents, Defense, Offense and winning. Thats it. His record is a reward for his tuffness and if you have any questions just look at his record of NC, AAs Olympians and Olympic metals, WNBA players and POY. There arent 2 coaches in WCBB that have combined his records. So if we dont get every recruit so what. We will continue to win NCs while they watch and think what couldve been. See being a couldve been imo is how we got Butler Camara and Stevens. They were tired of being couldve beens. Theyre here for one reason. To win a NC and you know what...they will.

Great players make great coaches, that's not me. John Madden said that...

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

You named 12 players; eight of them were high school All-Americans and one was All-Canadian. But, despite your list of players being stacked, Carla, Kara, and Jamelle didn't win a title without Rebecca; Kelly Faris, Kalana Greene, Tiffany Hayes, and Caroline Doty didn't win a title without Maya and Tina, and Stefanie Dolson didn't win a title without Stewie and KML.

Here's the important part:

UConn wins championships when they have the best player in the country, who is often the best high school recruit in her class. Often, there's more than one #1 recruit on a team -- like all of the title teams starting in 2000.

2000 -- Shea and Tamika
2002 -- Diana and Tamika
2003 -- Diana and Ann
2004 -- Same
2009 -- Tina and Maya
2010 -- Same
2013 -- Stewie and KML
2014 -- Same
2015 -- Same
2016 -- Stewie and KLS

Years where we had multiple #1s and didn't win a title

2001 -- Shea, Tamika, and Diana
2008 -- Tina and Maya

So, yes, getting a #1 player is important. Getting multiple #1s across years is very important.

Wally East- - -Obviously your right that having the superstar gave Geno & UCONN an edge! My point even though 9 of the 12 I listed were well regarded they weren't superstars coming in, and Maya & Tina for example weren't going to win a NC even as great as they are without the right pieces on the court with them.
None of the ones I listed were going to be "the straw that stirred the drink" even as HS AA's! As stated above Geno does "more with more and more with less" then any other HC in Division I! Being a HS AA IMO is over-rated! There are a lot of HS AA that did nothing in college! No guarantee you'll be a college AA!
Stef Dolson may have been a HS AA but until she decided to lose 30+lbs. and work on her conditioning and footwork did she turn into "the straw" that was a powerhouse her junior & senior seasons!
Even as great as Shea, Tina, Maya, DT, Stewie, etc were, my 12 made them better, and Geno & staff made them all legendary!
As great as Baylor's Brittany Griner and Odyssey Sims were they only have 1 NC to their credit!
In 2003 & 2004 DT, "the greatest WINNER in WBB history" according to Geno, wasn't going to win NC's #2 & #3 without Maria Conlon playing a major role at PG, Barb Turner at PF, Jessica Moore at C, Ann Strother (Ann was over-rated as a #1HS AA IMO) at SF, Ashley Battle at G & Willnett Crockett at F/C coming off the bench!
No matter what team sport you choose, there has to be role players to add to the mix and win Championships!

 

[mdakota]

People who think UConn can win championships without top notch recruits are delusional fan.

People who think top notch recruits can win championships without top notch coaches are delusional.. lol

 

[Wally East]

Of course you need role players. But, the higher quality those role players are, the better. How amazing was it that Kiah Stokes was a role player? To have a high school All-American just fill in as a defensive and rebounding specialist? That's a luxury that UConn had because she didn't have to play a larger role because there was another high school All-American in front of her. (Of course, this does raise the question of how much could she have contributed in a larger role? But, then, you do have to trust Geno that he would've played her more if it was warranted or necessary.) (Yes, of course not all players rated #1 are equal. Some are Maya Moore. Some are Ann Strother.) (And, yes, of course credit to both Geno and to Stef herself for the way she developed.)

So, when you stock your team with high school All-Americans in roles that support your stars, you're setting up your stars and your team for success.

But you need (multiple) stars/top-rated recruits. Look at the recent years UConn hasn't won a title.

2005 -- Just Ann, no title
2006 -- Just Ann, no title
2007 -- Just Tina, no title
2008 -- Tina and Maya, as mentioned above
2011 -- Just Maya, no title
2012 -- Just Kaleena, no title

One #1 recruit equals no title for UConn. On the other hand, two #1 recruits equals winning a title 10 times out of 12. It's not a coincidence.

I think one could best argue that in the last 20 years, Geno has done more with more. He's brought remarkable talent to UConn and then produced remarkable results that reflect that talent. And that in no way dismisses or diminishes Geno's ability as a coach.

 

[Alydar]

Of course you need role players. But, the higher quality those role players are, the better. How amazing was it that Kiah Stokes was a role player? To have a high school All-American just fill in as a defensive and rebounding specialist? That's a luxury that UConn had because she didn't have to play a larger role because there was another high school All-American in front of her. (Of course, this does raise the question of how much could she have contributed in a larger role? But, then, you do have to trust Geno that he would've played her more if it was warranted or necessary.) (Yes, of course not all players rated #1 are equal. Some are Maya Moore. Some are Ann Strother.) (And, yes, of course credit to both Geno and to Stef herself for the way she developed.)

So, when you stock your team with high school All-Americans in roles that support your stars, you're setting up your stars and your team for success.

But you need (multiple) stars/top-rated recruits. Look at the recent years UConn hasn't won a title.

2005 -- Just Ann, no title
2006 -- Just Ann, no title
2007 -- Just Tina, no title
2008 -- Tina and Maya, as mentioned above
2011 -- Just Maya, no title
2012 -- Just Kaleena, no title

One #1 recruit equals no title for UConn. On the other hand, two #1 recruits equals winning a title 10 times out of 12. It's not a coincidence.

I think one could best argue that in the last 20 years, Geno has done more with more. He's brought remarkable talent to UConn and then produced remarkable results that reflect that talent. And that in no way dismisses or diminishes Geno's ability as a coach.

If having a lot of HS AA's were the biggest factor then how do you explain Tenn? There's a program that has, up till last year, signed a lot of McD AA's and yet hasn't even gotten to a FF in 8 years. Last year they had a No 1 and a No 1a (DD) and lost double digit games. Notre Dame is another team that is loaded with AA's and a No 1. At least they have played in nearly as many championships as UConn in recent years. And finally, my best example, Duke. In how many FF's did No 1 E Williams play?

Certainly, you can's build a wall without bricks, but you can have the finest bricks and without a skilled bricklayer your wall will collapse.

I'm not saying Geno would win a title without a load of talent but there is no need to focus in on any one recruit and say she is a "must sign".

 

[Wally East]

If having a lot of HS AA's were the biggest factor then how do you explain Tenn?

As I mentioned above:

"I think one could best argue that in the last 20 years, Geno has done more with more. He's brought remarkable talent to UConn and then produced remarkable results that reflect that talent. And that in no way dismisses or diminishes Geno's ability as a coach."



I never said anything about other schools, just UConn. Getting multiple #1 recruits is just about a guarantee of a title. Additionally, I was talking specifically about #1 recruits.

Yes, you can absolutely start with the finest marble but if you don't have a skilled sculptor, you can still end with a mess.

But, working with marble is still preferable to working with, say, granite. Granite can make a fine sculpture but marble will be finer.

 

[Orangutan]

Every time this argument comes up I feel compelled to post this: Women’s College Basketball Is Better Than Men’s

"While there’s no doubt that UConn has been the best recruiter among women’s teams over the past few years, it’s not any better at recruiting than we would expect the best recruiting team to be (unlike, say, their per-possession advantage, which is way higher than we would expect the highest per-possession advantage to be)." (emphasis mine)

UConn recruits the best and then plays even better than that recruiting advantage implies they should. Everyone is right! Recruiting matters and coaching matters. To often it gets made into a false dichotomy where either recruiting wins games or coaching wins games. You need both.

 

[EricLA]

You named 12 players; eight of them were high school All-Americans and one was All-Canadian. But, despite your list of players being stacked, Carla, Kara, and Jamelle didn't win a title without Rebecca; Kelly Faris, Kalana Greene, Tiffany Hayes, and Caroline Doty didn't win a title without Maya and Tina, and Stefanie Dolson didn't win a title without Stewie and KML.

Here's the important part:

UConn wins championships when they have the best player in the country, who is often the best high school recruit in her class. Often, there's more than one #1 recruit on a team -- like all of the title teams starting in 2000.

2000 -- Shea and Tamika
2002 -- Diana and Tamika
2003 -- Diana and Ann
2004 -- Same
2009 -- Tina and Maya
2010 -- Same
2013 -- Stewie and KML
2014 -- Same
2015 -- Same
2016 -- Stewie and KLS

Years where we had multiple #1s and didn't win a title

2001 -- Shea, Tamika, and Diana
2008 -- Tina and Maya

So, yes, getting a #1 player is important. Getting multiple #1s across years is very important.

I would also like to point out that Moriah should have been a co #1. Also keep in mind that several of the players were not #1 on everyone's list. I believe KML was #2 on at least a list or 2 to Liz Williams. Maya was #2 to Angie Bjorkland on at least 1 list. Dee was #2 from at least 1 service to that post player who went to Tennessee (forget her name). So while we have KLS, I think it's not unfair to add Dangerfield.

Plus you have kids who are flat out wrongly rated. Back in the day there were only 1 or 2 services. Everyone apparently knew Sue Bird was one of the top players in the class, but the guy who was in charge of Blue Star put her at about 15 or 20 because she chose not to play on his AAU team (Mike Flynn?).

 

[BroadwayVa]

You know what? We got Geno and Im really not worried. A few months ago I was reading about we have no height we arent getting any tall players what will we do. In fact Ive been reading this for some time. Then we got Butler and now Camara and Stevens. Now we're talking more and NCs. The secret to BB is team. Geno has his priorities in order. Attitude and discipline for recruits and parents, Defense, Offense and winning. Thats it. His record is a reward for his tuffness and if you have any questions just look at his record of NC, AAs Olympians and Olympic metals, WNBA players and POY. There arent 2 coaches in WCBB that have combined his records. So if we dont get every recruit so what. We will continue to win NCs while they watch and think what couldve been. See being a couldve been imo is how we got Butler Camara and Stevens. They were tired of being couldve beens. Theyre here for one reason. To win a NC and you know what...they will.

Tony--Kudo's Good stuff.

Basketball is about TEAM, but as we have seen since 2001, a really top level player (DT, MAya Stew) is close to being necessary--if not actually necessary.
In all of Geno's "off years (less than 35 wins) some fans have ranted on "why isn't he recruiting more, PG's, Fowards, Posts ??
The answer is simple--he'd take a Uconn type kid who filled those spots --if they would choose to go to Uconn. Stevens and Camara are huge plusses and blunt some negative comments. But is common--if you review postings over the last 10 or so years (Courant and other CT papers, and Boneyard) in OFF years Geno takes a lot of heat--then Stew comes along and for 4 years--he's a genus, master, un paralled as a coach--if we lived in the jungle (no not NY) we'd make him a god--although I've seen signs saying he is one--or at least nominated for the position.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Every time this argument comes up I feel compelled to post this: Women’s College Basketball Is Better Than Men’s

"While there’s no doubt that UConn has been the best recruiter among women’s teams over the past few years, it’s not any better at recruiting than we would expect the best recruiting team to be (unlike, say, their per-possession advantage, which is way higher than we would expect the highest per-possession advantage to be)." (emphasis mine)

UConn recruits the best and then plays even better than that recruiting advantage implies they should. Everyone is right! Recruiting matters and coaching matters. To often it gets made into a false dichotomy where either recruiting wins games or coaching wins games. You need both.

To beat Geno with his own words---Great players make good coaches look Great--Recruiting well, Geno has said was his "secret"--we both know that's only partially true. His REAL secret is to take good players and make them better along with practice, practice practice and fundamentals to the Nth degree, add in absolute top level (Marine) conditioning kids that can run for 60 minutes, and add more practice practice of COACHABLE TALENT--(TALENT). Average need not apply..

 

[RockyMTblue2]

"He developes them to the fullest."

 

[BroadwayVa]

I agree with most of what you say--but

Of course you need role players. But, the higher quality those role players are, the better. How amazing was it that Kiah Stokes was a role player? To have a high school All-American just fill in as a defensive and rebounding specialist? That's a luxury that UConn had because she didn't have to play a larger role because there was another high school All-American in front of her. (Of course, this does raise the question of how much could she have contributed in a larger role? But, then, you do have to trust Geno that he would've played her more if it was warranted or necessary.) (Yes, of course not all players rated #1 are equal. Some are Maya Moore. Some are Ann Strother.) (And, yes, of course credit to both Geno and to Stef herself for the way she developed.)

So, when you stock your team with high school All-Americans in roles that support your stars, you're setting up your stars and your team for success.

But you need (multiple) stars/top-rated recruits. Look at the recent years UConn hasn't won a title.

2005 -- Just Ann, no title
2006 -- Just Ann, no title
2007 -- Just Tina, no title
2008 -- Tina and Maya, as mentioned above
2011 -- Just Maya, no title
2012 -- Just Kaleena, no title

One #1 recruit equals no title for UConn. On the other hand, two #1 recruits equals winning a title 10 times out of 12. It's not a coincidence.

I think one could best argue that in the last 20 years, Geno has done more with more. He's brought remarkable talent to UConn and then produced remarkable results that reflect that talent. And that in no way dismisses or diminishes Geno's ability as a coach.

I don't like the term ROLE PLAYERS---it bring up visions of water carriers--most of the top 8-10 players are talented and ALL players do they job (ROLE) well. The ROLE of STEWIE, the ROLE of Moriah-of Tuck (were they not Role players?)--add to that KLS, Collier, at time Butlers--if they did not play at a high level- (High roles) what would the outcome have been in St Paul, ND, USC, USF had those role players not played well.

 

[Kaizen]

If EDD stayed, we will make the missing 2 years, 2011 and 2012 .....LOL

 

[Wally East]

I agree with most of what you say--but


I don't like the term ROLE PLAYERS---it bring up visions of water carriers--most of the top 8-10 players are talented and ALL players do they job (ROLE) well. The ROLE of STEWIE, the ROLE of Moriah-of Tuck (were they not Role players?)--add to that KLS, Collier, at time Butlers--if they did not play at a high level- (High roles) what would the outcome have been in St Paul, ND, USC, USF had those role players not played well.

The part in bold is part of my point. All of the players that come to UConn are really talented -- with a few exceptions, they're all high school All-Americans. So, you have a top 20 player playing a supporting role (is that better? ), which makes for a really, really talented team behind the necessary two super stars.

 

[Wally East]

If EDD stayed, we will make the missing 2 years, 2011 and 2012 .....LOL

Oh, I don't think anyone doubts that. Maya + EDD = an additional title. EDD + KLM = possibly a title.

 

[BroadwayVa]

The part in bold is part of my point. All of the players that come to UConn are really talented -- with a few exceptions, they're all high school All-Americans. So, you have a top 20 player playing a supporting role (is that better? ), which makes for a really, really talented team behind the necessary two super stars.

I humbly stand corrected---we are in agreement.
However EDD-with KML and Steph --TITLE. No way to validate it but I thought EDD with the kids on the team for her 4 years would produce 4 titles. that's why I didn't like her much for leaving. I think she's great now..

 

[BroadwayVa]

clap. clap. clap.

I'm sorry bags---I thought you went clap clap clap---I'm hard of hearing, i.e. deaf, it's hard to tell!!

Isn't it tough to be an American and know what is Right and ---then think--he has a right to do it!! Kills the whole thing--As bad a things may appear here--and I've been around the globe--I like our screwed up way of doing thing, even if I dont' like what someone is doing.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

If having a lot of HS AA's were the biggest factor then how do you explain Tenn? There's a program that has, up till last year, signed a lot of McD AA's and yet hasn't even gotten to a FF in 8 years. Last year they had a No 1 and a No 1a (DD) and lost double digit games. Notre Dame is another team that is loaded with AA's and a No 1. At least they have played in nearly as many championships as UConn in recent years. And finally, my best example, Duke. In how many FF's did No 1 E Williams play?

Alydar- - - -That's what I'm trying to say! Unless your Geno Auriemma, there's no guarantee that if other coaches have the studs that they'll win a NC! He's the closest thing to a sure thing that's out there!
It peeves me when Ms. Locker Room Talk, Brenda Frese, complains repeatedly that the "ONLY REASON GENO WINS IS HE GETS THE BEST PLAYERS!" When she has had year in and year out near the top recruiting classes in Div. I and this year does have the #1 class and lets see if she can win the NC with the best players in the next several years! I love it when UCONN beats them by 30 points and she's sputtering around the post-game press conference! Bet the ranch on UCONN beating MD this year when Brenda has the studs and UCONN is supposed to be down!
If Geno & staff was coaching the ND squad that beat UCONN, with Diggins, McBride, Novosel, etc, 7 out of 9 or whatever, he would have won several NC's! With Geno, Baylor would have won more than 1 with Sims & Griner!
Geno and his staffs through the years, CD, Jamelle, Tonya, Shea, Marisa are the final ingredient that make superstars and legends out of their players! More UCONN players have success post college than any other program in the WNBA or overseas!