Enough about bad recruiting

[browns]

I've read so much about how Geno has to recruit better..4 out of the last 5 years Geno has recruited the #1 HS player in the nation..I mean that's ridiculous..there are other teams in the WCBB..yes Walker never lived up to expectations and CW too although she was pretty good for 4 years..Paige is generational and the jury is still out on Azzi..where it hurt was not getting Boston..who like Paige is generational..well sorry you can't get every # 1 recruit or that would "be bad for basketball"..If Boston had come to Uconn I think it's safe to say they would have won the NATY the last 2 years..but it didn't happen..next year Stanford gets the #1 in 6'7 Betts..Uconn fans should consider themselves lucky b/c DT said the other night her first choice was Stanford and how about KLS coming to Uconn instead of following her 2 sisters to Stanford..no Geno's recruiting has been terrific..people say he should recruit taller and longer players. there isn't a lot of them out there..this year he has Deberry we will have to see how that pans out..He missed out an A'ja cuz she wanted to play close to home..Collier had commited to Uconn then changed her mind when her mother got sick so went to Texas..things happen..I'm sure every coach in the nation would have liked to get the #1 player 4 out of the last 5 years

 

[hoophuskee]

I've read so much about how Geno has to recruit better..4 out of the last 5 years Geno has recruited the #1 HS player in the nation..I mean that's ridiculous..there are other teams in the WCBB..yes Walker never lived up to expectations and CW too although she was pretty good for 4 years..Paige is generational and the jury is still out on Azzi..where it hurt was not getting Boston..who like Paige is generational..well sorry you can't get every # 1 recruit or that would "be bad for basketball"..If Boston had come to Uconn I think it's safe to say they would have won the NATY the last 2 years..but it didn't happen..next year Stanford gets the #1 in 6'7 Betts..Uconn fans should consider themselves lucky b/c DT said the other night her first choice was Stanford and how about KLS coming to Uconn instead of following her 2 sisters to Stanford..no Geno's recruiting has been terrific..people say he should recruit taller and longer players. there isn't a lot of them out there..this year he has Deberry we will have to see how that pans out..He missed out an A'ja cuz she wanted to play close to home..Collier had commited to Uconn then changed her mind when her mother got sick so went to Texas..things happen..I'm sure every coach in the nation would have liked to get the #1 player 4 out of the last 5 years

Add in he had Stevens and she left early. He picked up Camara and she was hurt all the time.

It's been bad luck too.

 

[BRS24]

Agree. And it's not just about recruiting better, it's about recruiting players that will fit into the program/system, and that can both welcome and handle the pressure that's put on them, the expectations required to play, etc. There are fewer of these types of players than we may realize. The program will not recruit or add transfers just to get bodies on the roster, there are reasons, and sometimes it doesn't work out. Imagine if Brittany Hunter had been healthier, or her initial surgery had gone better? So many factors ...

 

[WiseOne]

If it were bad recruiting do y’all think we would’ve been in the finals??? Just asking for a me!!! The teams with bad recruiting didn’t make it to the sweet sixteen at least. Y’all please grow up…it just wasn’t our year. We overachieved if you ask me. All the adversity this year and still made it to the final game…COME ON GUYS…Get real! Great job Huskies!!!!

 

[tchalla1]

."Yes Walker never lived up to expectations and CW too although she was pretty good for 4 years..Paige is generational and the jury is still out on Azzi..where it hurt was not getting Boston..who like Paige is generational..well sorry you can't get every # 1 recruit or that would "be bad for basketball".

Wow you have harsh critique and rather high standards of expectation. Walker never lived up to expectation? She made first team All-American, that's pretty lofty accomplishment even at UConn.... The jury is still out on Azzi? In what way? She acquitted herself quite well in the tournament as a freshmen, she made clutch shots and clutch FTs and she didn't even play a full season...

 

[Performance]

If it were bad recruiting do y’all think we would’ve been in the finals??? Just asking for a me!!! The teams with bad recruiting didn’t make it to the sweet sixteen at least. Y’all please grow up…it just wasn’t our year. We overachieved if you ask me. All the adversity this year and still made it to the final game…COME ON GUYS…Get real! Great job Huskies!!!!

Nice to know some one feels the same as I do!!

 

[GoUconn7961]

I think we should appreciate the committed players that are coming. I've seen some video of Ayanna Patterson, and others. The incoming are nothing to sneeze at. They are good.

 

[Plebe]

"Recruiting" isn't just about who gets the #1 player each year. It's about getting the best players to fill positional needs.

In this case, all the #1 players that UConn recruited in the past 5 years have been guards and wings. Setting aside the fact that Walker and Williams seemed not to live up to such billing, I'm sure we can all agree that when folks here refer to "recruiting" as an area of need, it's specifically in reference to the front court.

 

[browns]

"Recruiting" isn't just about who gets the #1 player each year. It's about getting the best players to fill positional needs.

In this case, all the #1 players that UConn recruited in the past 5 years have been guards and wings. Setting aside the fact that Walker and Williams seemed not to live up to such billing, I'm sure we can all agree that when folks here refer to "recruiting" as an area of need, it's specifically in reference to the front court.

There isn't that many around..Uconn isn't entitled to get them

 

[Plebe]

There isn't that many around..Uconn isn't entitled to get them

Where did I imply that UConn is entitled to them?

 

[AgStatesman]

The fact that Geno hasn't brought in a post that can actually play (offensively or defensively) in the post is certainly fair game for scrutiny; intense, vigorous scrutiny.

I think we need to define what purpose the team is recruiting for. If winning the Big East and getting deep into the tournament is where the bar is set, UConn is doing a fantastic job recruiting. If the goal is to get to number 12, then Geno needs to do a better job.

 

[hoophuskee]

The fact that Geno hasn't brought in a post that can actually play (offensively or defensively) in the post is certainly fair game for scrutiny; intense, vigorous scrutiny.

How did they get to the Finals without their posts playing any offense or defense? You mean NC State and Stanford are that pathetic?

 

[oldude]

The fact that Geno hasn't brought in a post that can actually play (offensively or defensively) in the post is certainly fair game for scrutiny; intense, vigorous scrutiny.

Nonsense. Most teams would be thrilled to have posts like Z, Liv, Dorka, Amari or Piath, not to mention forwards like Gabby, Pheesa, Lou, Megan Walker, Aubrey, Aaliyah, Ice & Ayanna.

What you are criticizing is the recruiting battle for 3 top Bigs, where UConn ended up #2, when only #1 counts: A’ja Wilson, Lauren Cox & Aliyah Boston. Wilson & Cox stayed close to home. Boston’s decision came down to the wire and she chose SC. Had any of the 3 made UConn #1, the Huskies would be chasing banner #13 - #15.

Geno remains one of the very best recruiters in WBB. The expectation that he is going to get every top player is ridiculous.

 

[Linart]

My concern would also be the NUMBER of players actually signed. A few years UConn has brought on only two players. Did you see how many bench players SC had? They must have played 14 or 15. Considering that a few from every class will transfer/leave, I think we've got to bring on 4-5 players every year. Geno almost never uses up all his scholarships. He seems to want to bring on only the very very best and if that's only two players, so be it. But many times that is going to bite us in the ass. The perfect is the enemy of the good.

I wish he would recruit potential instead of solely stars. I keep thinking about Kara Wolters. Nobody recruited her and Geno transformed her into NPOY. There were a few outstanding stars in the BE tournament who weren't even top 100.

 

[browns]

Where did I imply that UConn is entitled to them?

Wasn't saying you but a lot of Uconn fans in general

 

[browns]

My concern would also be the NUMBER of players actually signed. A few years UConn has brought on only two players. Did you see how many bench players SC had? They must have played 14 or 15. Considering that a few from every class will transfer/leave, I think we've got to bring on 4-5 players every year. Geno almost never uses up all his scholarships. He seems to want to bring on only the very very best and if that's only two players, so be it. But many times that is going to bite us in the ass. The perfect is the enemy of the good.

I wish he would recruit potential instead of solely stars. I keep thinking about Kara Wolters. Nobody recruited her and Geno transformed her into NPOY. There were a few outstanding stars in the BE tournament who weren't even top 100.

I agree he's going to have to start doing that with so many kids going into the portal...Wolters is a good example but so is Steph Dolson of what your talking about

 

[veryolddog]

I heard that Geno has his eye on this 7' 2" center from Great Britain. Her/his name is Bonecrusher Jones. No one can compare to the skills that this 18 year old can bring to the table.

 

[AgStatesman]

Nonsense. Most teams would be thrilled to have posts like Z, Liv, Dorka, Amari or Piath, not to mention forwards like Gabby, Pheesa, Lou, Megan Walker, Aubrey, Aaliyah, Ice & Ayanna.

What you are criticizing is the recruiting battle for 3 top Bigs, where UConn ended up #2, when only #1 counts: A’ja Wilson, Lauren Cox & Aliyah Boston. Wilson & Cox stayed close to home. Boston’s decision came down to the wire and she chose SC. Had any of the 3 made UConn #1, the Huskies would be chasing banner #13 - #15.

Geno remains one of the very best recruiters in WBB. The expectation that he is going to get every top player is ridiculous.

I am not for one second lamenting about missing out on top rated posts. I feel there are posts out there that maybe cannot score at all but can defend and rebound and block some shots. He has never given a player like that a second look. He recruits scoring first and thinks the rest will take care of itself. Well that strategy is clearly outdated.

 

[temery]

It wasn't bad recruiting. It's Dogman's fault.

 

[hoophuskee]

I am not for one second lamenting about missing out on top rated posts. I feel there are posts out there that maybe cannot score at all but can defend and rebound and block some shots. He has never given a player like that a second look. He recruits scoring first and thinks the rest will take care of itself. Well that strategy is clearly outdated.

Yeah very outdated. He only goes to 14 consecutive final fours, go to the Finals this year. Beat Stanford without Dorka.

Yeah clearly "outdated."
Lose one game in the finals to boot and yeah okay the game has passed Geno by? Wow!

 

[browns]

I am not for one second lamenting about missing out on top rated posts. I feel there are posts out there that maybe cannot score at all but can defend and rebound and block some shots. He has never given a player like that a second look. He recruits scoring first and thinks the rest will take care of itself. Well that strategy is clearly outdated.

Geno said he recruits scoring first and then he can teach them to play defense and if not they won't play..also with this years team he said some of them aren't willing to put out the effort it takes to play defense..could this be the case with Amari ?

 

[oldude]

I am not for one second lamenting about missing out on top rated posts. I feel there are posts out there that maybe cannot score at all but can defend and rebound and block some shots. He has never given a player like that a second look. He recruits scoring first and thinks the rest will take care of itself. Well that strategy is clearly outdated.

I have two words for you: “Kiah Stokes.” I also believe that Piath has the potential to become the type of player you describe.

 

[Barkin Out]

My concern would also be the NUMBER of players actually signed. A few years UConn has brought on only two players. Did you see how many bench players SC had? They must have played 14 or 15. Considering that a few from every class will transfer/leave, I think we've got to bring on 4-5 players every year. Geno almost never uses up all his scholarships. He seems to want to bring on only the very very best and if that's only two players, so be it. But many times that is going to bite us in the ass. The perfect is the enemy of the good.

I wish he would recruit potential instead of solely stars. I keep thinking about Kara Wolters. Nobody recruited her and Geno transformed her into NPOY. There were a few outstanding stars in the BE tournament who weren't even top 100.

I think UConn is happy to take in a few kids that are great kids , have a lot of promise but need coaching. Piath comes to mind in the current group. Not everyone has to be a McDonald’s AA, but they will only take hardworking kids that help facilitate the culture of striving for excellence

 

[AgStatesman]

Yeah very outdated. He only goes to 14 consecutive final fours, go to the Finals this year. Beat Stanford without Dorka.

Yeah clearly "outdated."
Lose one game in the finals to boot and yeah okay the game has passed Geno by? Wow!

Where did I say "the game has passed Geno by? Don't put words in my mouth. I feel sorry for so many in the fan base that expectations for the program are so low. While many of focus on those behind UConn in the pecking order, I feel the focus should be what to do to catch the team/teams ahead of UConn. Status quo has lead to the longest title drought since the team won their first national championship.

 

[and one]

Our recruiting as been just fine. A roster that includes the likes of Paige, Azzi, AE, Dorka, Nika and CD is enough to win most games. The only significant weakness is not having a proven player that can dominate the paint like Boston can. There are few players that can match her combination of size, athleticism and agressiveness. Somehow some combination of Dorka, Piath, Amari, Ice and Patterson will have to at least keep her honest. Of that group only Dorka is a known entity. She is big enough, has good skills and a high rpm motor. She cannot handle a Boston without help. Piath is the only true center of the bunch and has as yet not shown she can be a steady rotation player much less challenge the best bigs out there. It would be great if Amari can be a good scoring distributer but she isn't a banger. Brady and Patterson are both highly regarded recruits, neither particularly tall but excellent athletes. How useful they will be next year is anyone's guess. A wild card is Griffin. Another non-banger who if she comes back 100% should be able to get her share of rebounds just by out jumping people. This group should be able to control the paint against most any team. Against the Boston's of this world all they have to do is limit the damage and use their own skill sets to create damage of their own.