Geno Postgame | The Boneyard

Geno Postgame

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What was interesting to me wasn’t the narrative coming into the game that Marquette was really proud to hold UConn to a season low of 63 points last Monday and only lost by 10. Then Geno’s comment during this presser about Marquette players not thinking that this UConn team was tough. They proved how tough they are. Normally, Geno does. Tom mention something like that unless it really irks him. So I am curious if we can get Meg Duffy’s presser to hear her thoughts after this beat down where nothing worked.

I am also elated for Liv making the All-Tournament team (with CW and Paige as.MOP) and dominating Marquette defensively who happened to have the Co-defensive POY in Selena Lott who couldn’t stop Paige or CW! Point proven I say!
 
DefenseBB said:
What was interesting to me wasn’t the narrative coming into the game that Marquette was really proud to hold UConn to a season low of 63 points last Monday and only lost by 10. Then Geno’s comment during this presser about Marquette players not thinking that this UConn team was tough. They proved how tough they are. Normally, Geno does. Tom mention something like that unless it really irks him. So I am curious if we can get Meg Duffy’s presser to hear her thoughts after this beat down where nothing worked.

I am also elated for Liv making the All-Tournament team (with CW and Paige as.MOP) and dominating Marquette defensively who happened to have the Co-defensive POY in Selena Lott who couldn’t stop Paige or CW! Point proven I say!
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I found that comment about Marquette surprising since in that game, we out rebounded them by double digits.
 
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Here’s the full transcript of all 3 pressers so you can read the direct quotes.https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.si...ents/2021/3/8/0308_Game10.pdf&date=1615262565

I too, have regularly been impressed by Coach Duffy and I really hope that Marquette keeps increasing her pay to keep her the way all the Big East teams have for the Men’s Coaches. This league needs to keep these good coaches if they truly want to make inroads on the P5 and she’s young, smart, articulate and poised. Thankfully ND chose Ivey and we get Duffy!
 
I thought Geno’s presser was remarkable. He was choking up the whole time. He’s clearly moved by his freshmen (and their audacity: “Paige told me this morning, ‘I’m the best defensive player in the country’.” SMH). Says he has had to change his way of coaching - for the better.

You can tell Geno knows something’s up. Something we’re going to like. A lot.
 
Duffy is so impressive that I think she should be on the short list of candidates when Geno retires(but we won’t talk about that).
 
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UConnCat said:
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These quotes from Geno are just precious. These are the things that energize and motivate him; nothing is more rewarding to him than seeing the young women on his team grow and reap the rewards of hard work. He feeds off their joy and exuberance. It's a lesson we can all take.
 
I think he is really starting to use the "grandfather" card to his advantage to interact with his players and get them to listen.

It also appears he has managed to find players that have a similar sarcastic sense of humor like him so they can do a give and take without taking it personal. Paige touting her defensive skills and counting minutes is hilarious. Especially since I think CD counts the minutes...

I really haven't seen a team aspect of joy and regard for Geno since 2016.... I think certain players in the last few years had it but not the whole team.
 
Plebe said:
These quotes from Geno are just precious. These are the things that energize and motivate him; nothing is more rewarding to him than seeing the young women on his team grow and reap the rewards of hard work. He feeds off their joy and exuberance. It's a lesson we can all take.
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Thank you and well said. As a long-time poster here there is nothing more dispiriting than reading posts that, intentionally or not, diminish what these young players accomplished.

Like Geno, I found myself feeding off their joy and exuberance.
 
I think some of this is a bunker mentality brought on with the covid situation. It couldn't have happened for Uconn in a better year than having 6 freshmen and no seniors. Hard not to bond with your teammates. coaches, and support staff when that is all you have. And great for our two foreigners - hard to be homesick when you are completely surrounded by best buddies.

Not discounting the personalities and chemistry which I think would have been great regardless, but add in lock down and it either explodes or it thrives - and it is definitely thriving.
 
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UcMiami said:
I think some of this is a bunker mentality brought on with the covid situation. It couldn't have happened for Uconn in a better year than having 6 freshmen and no seniors. Hard not to bond with your teammates. coaches, and support staff when that is all you have. And great for our two foreigners - hard to be homesick when you are completely surrounded by best buddies.

Not discounting the personalities and chemistry which I think would have been great regardless, but add in lock down and it either explodes or it thrives - and it is definitely thriving.
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We do have a senior but she is a high school senior
 
ucbart said:
Duffy is so impressive that I think she should be on the short list of candidates when Geno retires(but we won’t talk about that).
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I like her too and given the fact Shea has not chosen to become a head coach anywhere else her credentials are better...
 
Geno has and is proving to be an outstanding educator and coach. His standard of excellence has not changed. But he has adapted his methods to achieve the same results.

An educator and a coach must always and continually self evaluate their methods. It goes with the territory. And as we age, we all have a tendency to mellow out.

You could hear it in his voice. He truly loves and enjoys this team and their energy.
 
This was one of Geno's greatest public appearences
and one of his greatest coaching jobs
An amazing experience for us, both

That part of the talk in the middle, where he spoke about not changing what they do
is false modesty, contradicted by what he said in an earlier conference:
that the team has begun to assimilate what the coaches are trying to demonstrate
with regard team defense and its nice to see the players executing what he and the staff
has been working on. (a paraphrase of his words)

And its getting more effective by the day; scary for other teams that have to watch film
Remember, it wasn't long ago that he characterized the team defense as poor...It ain't poor now.

And the transformation of individual players: amazing...Nika and Aayliyah are no longer foul machines
Christyn's head has been turned around 100%...better than any psychiatrist in that amount of time
And what a counter-intuitive approach: get her to focus on D by drawing the assignment of guarding the opponent's best scorer...who would have thunk it...that that was the key to relaxing her on offense.
(Did you see that snazzy behind the back drive...and not just showboating, opened the court).

And the incredulous progress of a group of 18 and 19 year olds; something he did't really believe in or trust. But there were no options; especially when Anna went down...It was the kids or zip.

And lastly, his essential honesty and openness to genuine human feelings...His description of his reaction to the celebration, which if it didn't bring tears to his eyes, brought them to mine..This guy has evolved into a grandfatherly figure; long past his youth, but able to relate and appreciate the joyfulness of youth.

A great moment, a great tourney, a great gentleman.
 
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The way Geno clearly loves this group of kids and who he has coming in for next years recruiting class as well, I cannot see him retiring within the next 4-5 years (health dependant)
 
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