Geno Auriemma on Morgan Tuck: 'She's pretty special'

[Kaizen]

This is Tuck's fourth year at UConn, so she would be eligible for the 2016 draft, just like Stewart and Jefferson. But she expects to be at UConn in 2016-17, too.

"My plan is to stay, definitely," Tuck said. "I know basketball isn't going to last forever, and I could get my master's in a year by being on scholarship. And that's looking really appealing.

"It allows me to be in that leadership role for another year, and get my game where I really want it to be. Being here, they make you better. They hold you very accountable and put you in the best position possible for the next step."

http://sports.espn.go.com/womens-co...9/morgan-tuck-all-figured-connecticut-huskies

 

[EricLA]

This is Tuck's fourth year at UConn, so she would be eligible for the 2016 draft, just like Stewart and Jefferson. But she expects to be at UConn in 2016-17, too.

"My plan is to stay, definitely," Tuck said. "I know basketball isn't going to last forever, and I could get my master's in a year by being on scholarship. And that's looking really appealing.

"It allows me to be in that leadership role for another year, and get my game where I really want it to be. Being here, they make you better. They hold you very accountable and put you in the best position possible for the next step."

http://sports.espn.go.com/womens-co...9/morgan-tuck-all-figured-connecticut-huskies

Thank you for posting that and putting to bed the "Morgan will leave after this year with Stewie and Mo" comments. From her own mouth - she's planning to stay, definitely. If something happens and she changes her mind down the road, that's possible, but let's stop with the "Morgan will be gone after this season" stuff...

And yeah, coach Geno, she IS pretty special!!

 

[DaddyChoc]

this should also be linked in the other thread so they won't miss it. "save the date"

 

[Kaizen]

this should also be linked in the other thread so they won't miss it. "save the date"

Yes, now we will have a very promising 2016-2017 year. Thanks Ms. Tuck ....

 

[VAMike23]

 

[JimGunther]

but...but....but... Doris said.....

 

[MilfordHusky]

Morgan can become legendary. She's well on her way.

 

[HGN]

Having Tuck around is going to be awfully sweet , and comforting , with Stewie and Mo graduating. One would have to wonder where would the vocal leadership come from if all 3 left. Having the most vocal of the leaders in Tuck coming back should make Geno feel pretty good about next years team.

Thanks Morgan. We glad to have you.

 

[HGN]

but...but....but... Doris said.....

Jim , I heard her say just that too. Wonder where she got her info ? Certainly not from Morgan or Geno.

 

[JoePgh]

It is encouraging, but not definitive. She has 4-5 more months to change her mind. But I would say this increases the probability that she will stay to the 80%+ range.

 

[sarals24]

Her plan is to stay. But that could all go out the window if she has an amazing tournament, wins her fourth NC, and is predicted to be a lottery pick in the draft.

 

[HoopsFan21]

It is encouraging, but not definitive. She has 4-5 more months to change her mind. But I would say this increases the probability that she will stay to the 80%+ range.

That quote I believe was taken at the end of last season. She was asked the question again at AAC Media Days I believe and made a comment that she was still considering leaving at the end of the year to begin her professional career, so I would say there are no certainties. Just look at Jewell Loyd who assured her coach she was coming back for her final season until she decided before the final game of the season that she wasn't.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Her plan is to stay. But that could all go out the window if she has an amazing tournament, wins her fourth NC, and is predicted to be a lottery pick in the draft.

Howdy sarals24 - It seems like you are missing the point. It is assumed and expected that she will have an amazing tournament, win a 4th NC and would be a first round pick. Those things would not be a major surprise.
Morgan is a natural leader and relishes the role of being THE leader next year. She also knows that the experience would add to her resume--in conjunction with a MASTERS degree. In addition, after a 5th season, she would be a very high first round pick anyway. God forbid, if the knee does not hold up during the next two UConn seasons--then her plan of getting a Masters degree would be her ace. Just as she stated!!

 

[DaddyChoc]

It is encouraging, but not definitive. She has 4-5 more months to change her mind. But I would say this increases the probability that she will stay to the 80%+ range.

I agree... things do change! but for now we must take her for her word to end the most recent speculating

 

[DaddyChoc]

That quote I believe was taken at the end of last season. She was asked the question again at AAC Media Days I believe and made a comment that she was still considering leaving at the end of the year to begin her professional career, so I would say there are no certainties. Just look at Jewell Loyd who assured her coach she was coming back for her final season until she decided before the final game of the season that she wasn't.

Morgan isn't Jewel

 

[DaddyChoc]

That quote I believe was taken at the end of last season. She was asked the question again at AAC Media Days I believe and made a comment that she was still considering leaving at the end of the year to begin her professional career, so I would say there are no certainties. Just look at Jewell Loyd who assured her coach she was coming back for her final season until she decided before the final game of the season that she wasn't.

It's hard to say if she was quoting her from the past due to starting the article with her most recent performance against Notre Dame.
Are writers known for pulling this try of trickery?

 

[UcMiami]

That quote I believe was taken at the end of last season. She was asked the question again at AAC Media Days I believe and made a comment that she was still considering leaving at the end of the year to begin her professional career, so I would say there are no certainties. Just look at Jewell Loyd who assured her coach she was coming back for her final season until she decided before the final game of the season that she wasn't.

That is not a direct quote of the previous article, and the other quotes are more current as well, so I suspect Michelle is not just recycling, but actually has talked to players and coaches since the AAC media days (I think the specific quote you are thinking about dates back longer than that, by the way.) There is no guarantee of anything, until first:

Senior night - Uconn only allows one of those, though that would not be definitive as she could do her senior night and still choose not to enter the draft and return; or she could forgo the senior night and still decide to enter the draft. But it would be the first firm choice she would have to make.

Draft deadline - if she doesn't enter the draft, that would be a pretty firm indication, but again she could forgo the draft and still head overseas. No sure how the WNBA would handle her if she did that - could she actually sign with any team if she did not register for the draft?

 

[MilfordHusky]

It's hard to say if she was quoting her from the past due to starting the article with her most recent performance against Notre Dame.
Are writers known for pulling this try of trickery?

Yes, writers use old quotes. I think that is close to what Morgan said last April. If it's a recent quote, I'm encouraged.

 

[Kaizen]

Morgan isn't Jewel

Completely agree ....

 

[EricLA]

Yes, writers use old quotes. I think that is close to what Morgan said last April. If it's a recent quote, I'm encouraged.

Even if it's not recent I'm encouraged.

I'm going to be blunt - it's stupid (yes I used that word to refer to BY'ers) to continue to talk about Morgan "possibly or potentially" leaving early. Yeah, I'm a bit tired of it. When even one of those posters can point to a single quote where Morgan says she's considering jumping early, then I will agree it's a possibility. But this constant chatter about it is simply stupid. Let me try putting it in a way that people will understand...

FROM MORGAN'S OWN LIPS, AND WE'VE SEEN NOTHING TO CONTRADICT IT SINCE, SHE'S NOT LEAVING EARLY.

People who continue with this line of posting are basically calling Morgan a liar. I don't believe she is for a second. Do you?

 

[Carnac]

This is Tuck's fourth year at UConn, so she would be eligible for the 2016 draft, just like Stewart and Jefferson. But she expects to be at UConn in 2016-17, too.

"My plan is to stay, definitely," Tuck said. "I know basketball isn't going to last forever, and I could get my master's in a year by being on scholarship. And that's looking really appealing.

"It allows me to be in that leadership role for another year, and get my game where I really want it to be. Being here, they make you better. They hold you very accountable and put you in the best position possible for the next step."

http://sports.espn.go.com/womens-co...9/morgan-tuck-all-figured-connecticut-huskies

I remember Tuck saying this past summer that she was going to stay that extra year and get her master's degree. To hear her confirm that again is the best news I've heard coming out of Storrs since the season began. Having Morgan one more year gives Geno a little "wiggle room". He has that experienced floor leader, he also gets an experienced presence under the basket that can finish, and he's got a senior that can tutor the underclassmen. Having a coach on the floor that "gets it", and understands completely what Geno wants at any given moment is priceless.

Tuck, though, describes her freshman self of 2012-13 as essentially clueless, asking then-junior center Stefanie Dolson questions "every two seconds."
"She was always very willing to answer and help me out as much as possible," Tuck said. "And I feel like I need to do the same now for the underclassmen.

UConn is fortunate and blessed to have Morgan Tuck in the fold one more year.

 

[j66kicker]

FROM MORGAN'S OWN LIPS, AND WE'VE SEEN NOTHING TO CONTRADICT IT SINCE, SHE'S NOT LEAVING EARLY.

People who continue with this line of posting are basically calling Morgan a liar. I don't believe she is for a second. Do you?

IMO this is WAY twisting Morgan's words to what we want to hear. In this most recent quote, as before, she says she is PLANNING to stay. This is not a definitive promise to stay. It is a statement of her current plan, and a hedge for the possibility she could change her mind. And she is smart to hedge, as she doesn't have to 'definitively' make up her mind until April. I want her to stay but, if she doesn't, she will not have lied to anybody.

 

[EricLA]

IMO this is WAY twisting Morgan's words to what we want to hear. In this most recent quote, as before, she says she is PLANNING to stay. This is not a definitive promise to stay. It is a statement of her current plan, and a hedge for the possibility she could change her mind. And she is smart to hedge, as she doesn't have to 'definitively' make up her mind until April. I want her to stay but, if she doesn't, she will not have lied to anybody.

First, she said "My plan is to stay. Definitely.". So what words am I twisting??

I never said she couldn't possibly change her mind. In fact, I said that exact thing (it's possible she could change her mind". But as of this moment, she is telling us she's planning to stay. So anyone who says otherwise is flat out wrong. Could she change her mind? Of course. But this constant chatter about her leaving early is just stupid, especially coming from UCON fans who should know better.

And yeah, I'm even referring to the people who have said "well, if she has a killer tourney and is projected to go #3 then she will likely jump". Really? Sorry but they are flat out wrong. It's so black and white that it mystifies me as to why it's even being discussed.

Morgan has said she PLANS on coming back for her 5th year, "definitely". So why not leave it at that unless she tells us otherwise? Anyway that was my point...

 

[Buzzyboy]

Even if it's not recent I'm encouraged.

I'm going to be blunt - it's stupid (yes I used that word to refer to BY'ers) to continue to talk about Morgan "possibly or potentially" leaving early. Yeah, I'm a bit tired of it. When even one of those posters can point to a single quote where Morgan says she's considering jumping early, then I will agree it's a possibility. But this constant chatter about it is simply stupid. Let me try putting it in a way that people will understand...

FROM MORGAN'S OWN LIPS, AND WE'VE SEEN NOTHING TO CONTRADICT IT SINCE, SHE'S NOT LEAVING EARLY.

People who continue with this line of posting are basically calling Morgan a liar. I don't believe she is for a second. Do you?

I agree that it's totally amazing that regardless of what's been said "by Morgan" that numerous people here still feel the need to talk about how kids change their mind, how it may be an old statement, how others have changed their stories, etc, etc, etc, to continue to feed the fire. There is absolutely nothing more to say and this topic should be closed unless there is DEFINITIVE remarks straight from her mouth that she has changed her mind or starting to have second thoughts. I'm inclined to think that will not happen but I'm also inclined to think that there are those here that will continue to beat this dead horse ad infinitum. Just the nature of the beast, I guess! Totally sad!

 

[Huskies Rule]

"I'M STAYING."