Nice post David - but you leave out all the positives from the equation. They get to travel all over the country and be fated, experience Geno's restaurant selections, hang out with a fabulous group of people (players/coaches/and staff), and experience the camaraderie of being a member of a great team and hopefully a national championship team. They may not play a minute at the final four but if the team wins they will be on the Gampel wall with Sue and DT and Maya, and all the other great players that have been through the Uconn program. And they are not the only kids sacrificing for the experience of being connected to the team, just the ones that will get the most recognition - the team managers and male practice players may have a little less time commitment, but a lot less 'glory'.
Aside - I gather from a posted tweet that the team honored the male practice players during the last game - wish someone from the hoard would have written a little more about that.
UcM....the OP was about Geno complaining, or at least being "annoyed', about fans wanting the "walk-ons" to play more. It also reported he said they will not see time in tournament games.
I replied to that reality and acknowledged their efforts and contribution. If you want to talk positives, I will be the first to admit I'd give anything to be on the team for a week, much less for a whole season. BUT, and it is a big but, 18 year old kids don't look at the world the way you, me and ice do. Travel is a grind when you have homework assignments due the next day. Hustling in practice every day is a grind when you may not see any playing time. You and I look at winning an NC, getting on the wall, all the great experiences, etc... and know it would all be (will all be) worth it. Most 18 year-olds tend to live in the here and now. They don't see the world the same way.
TLAW and Pulido also live in the "in between" world of being "on the team", but also viewed by some as "walk-ons", somehow not really true team members. Their friends may question why they didn't play in a blow out game or why they put out so much effort for small amounts of playing time. I coach 18 year-olds and see the pressure they get from many directions. If grades suffer in any way, it is because of basketball. The loss of much of their social life is a steep price for kids that age to pay.
Of course the male practice players sacrifice too. But this OP was not about their "playing time" was it? Their role is very defined and completely predictable. Yes, their contribution is important and should be recognized more. I get it, but Geno just didn't announce on his TV show that they won't be seeing any playing time.
Go Huskies..!! Go TLAW and Pulido..!!
