Felisha Legette-Jack merged thread

[cullaville]

In her pre-game press conference, Felisha Legette-Jack made a statement that I thought was interesting.
Overall, she was very positive towards Geno and UConn.
Then she said that the UConn players were not special, and that playing for UConn in their system made them special.
Huh?
Most people who know women's basketball understand that the players on our team would start and be stars wherever they played.
Even our bench players would be starters.
I think they all are special.

It is not where you end up playing as a 9 seed. The gap between the top 4 to 8 and everyone else is as wide as the Grand Canyon.

This was the 1st year I remember seeing pt spreads for the women's tourney. There were at least 3 1st round games with spreads over 50 points, several over 40, the majority over 30. The lower teams are overmatched.

Until the gap lessens a lot of the early round games are going to be substantial blowouts no matter where the game is played. Syracuse as a nine seed would probably have been blown out no matter who/where they played.

The women's 1st and 2nd round games cannot be played at neutral sites. I believe that the home crowds and the fans that are within reasonable travelling distance creates a good crowd for the first and second rounds. I think the the attendance at neutral sites would be abysmal.

I am not sure what the solution is that the gap needs to lessen between the top teams and the rest of the teams

 

[UConnTrumbull]

It’s actually downright disrespectful to suggest that Syracuse would’ve had a better chance at UCLA or at Texas or at South Carolina. They would’ve been hammered by 30 minimum by each team. She might as well have said “we’re not good, might as well get a mini-vacation out of it!”

 

[CL82]

Maybe not. I sometimes wonder how after UConn thoroughly destroyed a good team, in this instance, with what Geno referred to as, “The best 20 minutes of basketball he’s seen in a long time,” that the BY can still find things to complain about.

It’s like I don’t understand you guys at all…..🤯

Disliking other schools and their fan bases is part and parcel of the college basketball experience. It's all in good fun.

I'm not sure that anybody's really complaining about that, but even if they are, a little complaining isn't worrisome. It's only troubling if you start complaining about other people complaining because then you're officially becoming crotchety.😉

 

[CL82]

It’s actually downright disrespectful to suggest that Syracuse would’ve had a better chance at UCLA or at Texas or at South Carolina. They would’ve been hammered by 30 minimum by each time. She might as well have said “we’re not good, might as well get a mini-vacation out of it!”

Honestly, I do feel like we're capable of putting a bigger beat down on people than some of the other one seeds. Geno tradition traditionally takes his foot off the gas in the second half of blowouts.

I get where she's coming from though. I think she could have said the same thing more diplomatically. Honestly though it's not the Hogwarts sorting hat. Teams don't get to indicate which house they get sorted into.

 

[Cornell Lt]

It might just be karma or maybe it's the jinx of the Breanna Stewart home game snub

 

[GoCardinal]

It’s actually downright disrespectful to suggest that Syracuse would’ve had a better chance at UCLA or at Texas or at South Carolina. They would’ve been hammered by 30 minimum by each team. She might as well have said “we’re not good, might as well get a mini-vacation out of it!”

Is it? Oklahoma State wasn’t even beaten by 30 against UCLA, and they have effectively no size on that roster. OSU actually won Q3. Geno called off the gas after halftime and Cuse was still overmatched and demoralized at that point. I don’t think it’s out the realm of possibilities to suggest they would’ve competed better against UCLA. I certainly don’t think the Bruins would’ve had them down 70-14 at any point.

 

[cancontent]

1) I don't know why a Canadian team is playing American college basketball.

2) They are traitors who helped tank the old big east, possibly the best college basketball conference of all time, at least on the men's side.

3) Men's basketball has a healthy rivalry with them.

4) A lot of us remember when they wouldn't give Stewie a home game. Kind of a crappy thing to do
.

Sorry, but this comment has me confused. How exactly is Syracuse considered a Canadian team?

 

[CL82]

Sorry, but this comment has me confused. How exactly is Syracuse considered a Canadian team?

Because they're in Canada?

(You and I have actually discussed this at least once before. It is, essentially, a men's board running joke derived from when Syracuse had a ad campaign claiming to be NYC's team. At that time it was pointed out that Syracuse is far closer to Canada than they are to NYC. Eventually, that evolved to just calling them the Canadian team. There's a lot of variations on it, including saying they are like the "8th best team in Canada" etc..

Fun fact: Storrs is closer to NYC, than Syracuse.)

 

[AmeriConn]

Wrong place and time. Take it up with the NCAA. It’s not a good look for the coach or the school

 

[OldSchooler]

Regarding Felisha's sour grapes at the post-game presser, she has to make a decision. Does she want her team invited to the big dance at all (and be satisfied with their bracket placement), or does she want to stay home and avoid the embarrassment? Most small newbies relish the opportunity to go, even if it means early elimination. On the other hand, the also-rans who have been there and faced early exits may not feel that way, especially if they never have a chance of getting to the SS.

For the latter group, the only solution, as I see it, is not to keep expanding the field, but to REDUCE the field to include only the country's best and most competitive programs. Maybe reducing the field to 32 would avoid many of the early-round blowouts. Schools below 32 could go to the NIT, which would again raise the level of competition in that once-great tournament.

I have a feeling the attraction of the color green dooms my suggestion.

 

[cancontent]

Because they're in Canada?

(You and I have actually discussed this at least once before. It is, essentially a men's board running joke derived from when Syracuse had a ad campaign claiming to be NYC's team. At that time it was pointed out that Syracuse is far closer to Canada than they are to NYC. Eventually, that involved to just calling them the Canadian team. There's a lot of variations on it, including saying they are like the "8th best team in Canada" etc..

Here's a fun fact: Storrs is closer to NYC, than Syracuse.)

Genuinely forgot and I apologize. Guess it's like the Bills Mafia when they hear people reference the Giants and Jets as New York State teams.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Loss to Michigan by 26, lost twice to Louisville by 19 and 26, VA Tech and Duke 20 each and two other double-digit losses. Beats the NIT?

 

[arch]

Everyone is commenting on her comments instead of her team’s abysmal performance. She wins.

 

[HuskyNan]

Regarding Felisha's sour grapes at the post-game presser, she has to make a decision. Does she want her team invited to the big dance at all (and be satisfied with their bracket placement), or does she want to stay home and avoid the embarrassment? Most small newbies relish the opportunity to go, even if it means early elimination. On the other hand, the also-rans who have been there and faced early exits may not feel that way, especially if they never have a chance of getting to the SS.

For the latter group, the only solution, as I see it, is not to keep expanding the field, but to REDUCE the field to include only the country's best and most competitive programs. Maybe reducing the field to 32 would avoid many of the early-round blowouts. Schools below 32 could go to the NIT, which would again raise the level of competition in that once-great tournament.

I have a feeling the attraction of the color green dooms my suggestion.

Syracuse isn’t a small newbie. They were in the National Championship game 8 years ago and Legette-Jack is trying to get them back there.

SU and UConn have been in the same bracket 5 of the last 7 years. I’d be tired of it too

 

[cancontent]

Everyone is commenting on her comments instead of her team’s abysmal performance. She wins.

Maybe not in this thread or the board, but it's being noted in other forms of social media from what I've seen today.

 

[FanSince17]

Because they're in Canada?

(You and I have actually discussed this at least once before. It is, essentially a men's board running joke derived from when Syracuse had a ad campaign claiming to be NYC's team. At that time it was pointed out that Syracuse is far closer to Canada than they are to NYC. Eventually, that involved to just calling them the Canadian team. There's a lot of variations on it, including saying they are like the "8th best team in Canada" etc..

Here's a fun fact: Storrs is closer to NYC, than Syracuse.)

Is this mini-thread about Syracuse's geography or about the fact that Syracuse's roster in the mid-80's (glory years of the original Big East) was New York dominated, including the iconic point guard, Pearl Washington from Brooklyn. It was a few years before Boeheim started getting a more diverse roster. They got Sherman Douglas from Spingarn HS in DC and he started tapping Baltimore City.
Super funny idea about Canada, but my hypothesis about this is that Boeheim wanted a special relationship with NY and NYC to continue for recruiting. (I'm assigning this to my MS SS class to research primary sources)

 

[husky98]

1) I don't know why a Canadian team is playing American college basketball.

2) They are traitors who helped tank the old big east, possibly the best college basketball conference of all time, at least on the men's side.

3) Men's basketball has a healthy rivalry with them.

4) A lot of us remember when they wouldn't give Stewie a home game. Kind of a crappy thing to do
.

I had nothing against Syracuse until you reminded me of this. Mostly point 2.

 

[husky98]

And they're ......orange.

oh yeah, and the orange thing. which reminds me, i forgot my annual tradition of playing rocky top when tennessee gets knocked out.

 

[AnonChoice]

Minimizing travel distance is more important to the committee than the S curve.

Yes. and if Syracuse had had to fly to UCLA, SC or TX for their first/second round games, she'd likely be complaining about that, stressing that there was a closer site they could have been assigned to. As Geno has always said, you have to play who's in front of you.
"Not fair" to have to play UConn? "Disrespected" when you have to play the best? Please. Would they have felt it was more "fair" to have had to fly to CA to play UCLA??

The only thing that could be done to eliminate first-second-round home games for teams like UConn -- which is part (but only part) of their perceived advantage -- is for the committee to change the tournament structure to make it like the men's. No first four seeds getting potentially two home games to start the tournament. Four regions, all games on neutral sites for everybody. The 8/9 seeds would still have to play the top seeds early, but just not on those top teams' home floors.

 

[BRS24]

oh yeah, and the orange thing. which reminds me, i forgot my annual tradition of playing rocky top when tennessee gets knocked out.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Forgetting the noise about UConn, this has stuck in Legette-Jack's craw for a long time and she has clearly had more than enough of the Committee's handwork. She rightly points out the Committee makes adjustments when they want to and have the discretion to do what's right and sometimes to do wrong for friends. Heck, they flat out spin tales when it suits them. So I say good for you Legette-Jack.

 

[Kat]

She probably felt that she was going to be fired after such a lopsided loss.

 

[cullaville]

Yes. and if Syracuse had had to fly to UCLA, SC or TX for their first/second round games, she'd likely be complaining about that, stressing that there was a closer site they could have been assigned to. As Geno has always said, you have to play who's in front of you.
"Not fair" to have to play UConn? "Disrespected" when you have to play the best? Please. Would they have felt it was more "fair" to have had to fly to CA to play UCLA??

The only thing that could be done to eliminate first-second-round home games for teams like UConn -- which is part (but only part) of their perceived advantage -- is for the committee to change the tournament structure to make it like the men's. No first four seeds getting potentially two home games to start the tournament. Four regions, all games on neutral sites for everybody. The 8/9 seeds would still have to play the top seeds early, but just not on those top teams' home floors.

The men's tournament at neutral still draws I think 1st & 2nd round women's games at neutral sites would not draw well

I am assuming the cost of neutral sites plus decreased revenue are factors in the current set up to play 2 rounds on home courts

The issue is the gap between the top 4-8 teams and the rest of women's basketball Most !st,2nd round games would probably be blowouts wherever they were played. Syracuse would most likely have been blown out last night even if the game was at Syracuse.

 

[GoCardinal]

I think a lot of what she’s said is getting misunderstood. I think the overall basis of her argument is the committee has rules in place that create substantial disadvantages and some of these rules have to be changed with how the landscape has changed. Take UConn’s bracket out of it, the rules she’s alluding to created unevenness across the board.

UCLA was the #2 overall number one seed and have LSU and Duke as their 2 and 3 seeds in a region. South Carolina was the weakest #1 seed and had Iowa and TCU as theirs. This itself is unfair to UCLA, but because the SEC was seeded a certain way, there was no way to avoid that. Iowa probably was the weakest 2 seed, and should’ve gotten the UConn placement instead. But the rules prevented that.

 

[CL82]

The men's tournament at neutral still draws I think 1st & 2nd round women's games at neutral sites would not draw well

I am assuming the cost of neutral sites plus decreased revenue are factors in the current set up to play 2 rounds on home courts

The issue is the gap between the top 4-8 teams and the rest of women's basketball Most !st,2nd round games would probably be blowouts wherever they were played. Syracuse would most likely have been blown out last night even if the game was at Syracuse.

Geno said as much regarding neutral sites.

I think Coach Jack's complaint was less about geography and more about the opponent. She doesn't love having to play Connecticut.

Look, you don't get to be a D1 coach without being competitive. I think some of what we heard last night was her blowing off steam about the pretty epic beat down Syracuse received. I'll be curious to see if she walks it back a bit in a day or two.

 

[maple]

I get not liking SC, ND and other schools that have beaten UConn a few times in the recent past. But what exactly is your issue with poor little Syracuse, a team that hasn’t beaten UConn in 30 years?

People are still mad that Coach Q refused to play during Stewart’s years (which was their loss, frankly), among other things, like the dislike that stemmed from them being BE opponents.

I live in Syracuse so I attend the WBB games and support them as a general fan of women’s basketball (a rising tide lifts all ships etc.), but they’re nothing compared to UConn. I mean that in the nicest but plainest way possible. Their biggest claim to fame in the modern age of 21st century basketball is that they made it to the finals in 2016 to get smoked by UConn. They’re not worth the energy to hate.

 

[DemonDeac22]

Syracuse isn’t a small newbie. They were in the National Championship game 8 years ago and Legette-Jack is trying to get them back there.

SU and UConn have been in the same bracket 5 of the last 7 years. I’d be tired of it too

One would think that the committee would consider that fact - that Syracuse had been in UConn’s bracket in 4 of the last 6 years going into the 2026 tournament - before they placed them in a bracket. But I have the feeling that they are more focused on the upcoming potential matchups like mentor (Geno) vs mentee (Shea) than that.

 

[CL82]

One would think that the committee would consider that fact - that Syracuse had been in UConn’s bracket in 4 of the last 6 years going into the 2026 tournament - before they placed them in a bracket. But I have the feeling that they are more focused on the upcoming potential matchups like mentor (Geno) vs mentee (Shea) than that.

Honestly, I'm pretty sure they're working off a list of, I won't call them "rules", let's call them "goals" instead, one of which is trying to put people in regions, closest to their home arena. I'm pretty sure the committee is just following the template and doesn't bear any particular ill will to Syracuse or their coach.

 

[FanSince17]

I’m ok with her complaints, but not how she went about it. Something not mentioned here, I believe, is the effect of her comments on the winning team. Getting to the Sweet 16 by any team is an accomplishment and the loser needs to get out of the way and allow the victors their spotlight and celebration. She became the news. Heck, Stephen A Smith had a segment on First Take this morning. That slot should have been about the winning teams in the Tourney.
The century old rebuttal to this crap is, “play better”. Some of us want UConn to get into a power conference, maybe Coach Jack can lobby her university to actually move out of the northeast, so her 9-seed self can play somewhere else.
Is it possible that her behavior can actually make UConn feel bad about their performance? UConn like a bully? Johnny Miller used to win golf tournaments by double-digits. People perceived him as cocky and brash. Truth is he was afraid of choking in a close match. Coach Jack, write a damn letter to the NCAA with the backing of your institution. Wrong time, wrong place.

 

[hrmancst]

I did feel sorry for her and her players while I was watching the game, but this is a typical much ado about very little issue.

I do think the real problem is that WCBB depth is still not deep enough to have a competitive 64 team tournament without all the boring (unless you are a fan of the winning team) blowouts we have seen this year. Hopefully that changes over the next decade.