Geno "We ain't winning this again the next few years"

[bschwartz]

Tried to embed the video but it didn't work. If you go to The White House's FB page, you can scroll and find it.

The video is of a phone call between POTUS and COTUCH (Coach of the UConn Huskies)

The two were discussing the correlation and possibly the causation of Obama being President and UConn being the NCAA Champs.

Then Geno let out this bomb..."We ain't winning this again the next few years."

Discuss.

 

[chrissaran]

Why would he say they are going to win when he just lost the three best players at their respective positions. Also, after winning their fourth straight champioship and another undefeated season, you don't want to put that kind of pressure on a young team. Kia Nurse is the only upper class player returning who's a starter. Katie Lou and Napheesa will only be sophomores, and Gabby, although a junior, has started many games in her career. The keys are defense and improvement from the mainstays and contributions from Crystal, Kyla and Molly, who will pass some of the players currently on the roster.

 

[Blue Huskie]

That's a "bomb"? Not to me. I think it's Geno expecting (And publicly stating) the worst scenario (But I'm sure hoping and striving for the best)

 

[Ctpaul0825]

So in other words Geno has started coaching the 2016-2017 class ?

 

[EricLA]

So in other words Geno has started coaching the 2016-2017 class ?

Bingo. I can see him next year. "You can't win the championship. We lost too much. The rest of you aren't ready to step up." Etc etc. If that isn't motivation for the team, I don't know what is. The chance to prove Geno wrong - brilliant!

 

[dtbtbtb]

Realistically making the Final 4 next season will be a great achievement but a Championship seems a bit far fetched due to the strength of other teams combined with what UConn lost in the magnificent 3. IMO the season after (2017-8), UConn will again be a strong candidate for a NC.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

This last season: "We're not defending anything. We're attacking the rest of WCBB." Next season: "We're not defending anything. I'm not sure what we're doing until you show me what is in you when you go out on that floor."

 

[GoUconn7961]

I'm surprised he was on the phone (but of course it was the President calling) he is not Hartford today for UCONN Day. CD is representing the team again. I hope Geno will be feeling better soon.

 

[Charliebball]

Personally I don't like it..........I would have much preferred something to the effect: ..........I think it will be really difficult to repeat next year............we've lost three great players..........not sure what kind of team we will be......time will tell but don't count us out............

 

[Tenspro2002]

Geno tends to have the pulse of his team. Maybe this one will do better with less overt pressure.

Maybe Geno himself wants to ratchet down the pressure after a perfection-or-bust campaign.

 

[mdakota]

So in other words Geno has started coaching the 2016-2017 class ?

You read my mind.... bet that didn't take you long

I completely agree with your statement... This will just light a fire for next years players to prove him wrong... So they'll be working extra hard this summer. He's playing puppet master already

 

[ochoopsfan]

For my 1,000th post on the BY.

Did Geno get Tony C's approval for that statement?

 

[JudgeSCR]

If Geno even hinted that the team might win it again next year it would create an avalanche of questions for each team member now, at the start and throughout next season. He is trying to avoid that pressure and constant speculation.

I would be stunned if he really believes they can't win next year much less than in the next few years. While they are probably not the favorites at the start of the season it is not hard to imagine them progressing and becoming a team to recon with at the Final Four. He has thrown down the gauntlet to his team: "Prove me wrong."

 

[Blue Huskie]

If Geno even hinted that the team might win it again next year it would create an avalanche of questions for each team member now, at the start and throughout next season. He is trying to avoid that pressure and constant speculation.

I would be stunned if he really believes they can't win next year much less than in the next few years. While they are probably not the favorites at the start of the season it is not hard to imagine them progressing and becoming a team to recon with at the Final Four. He has thrown down the gauntlet to his team: "Prove me wrong."

Well said but I wouldn't be stunned. I mean come on, they just three of the best players they ever had at the same time. Realistically he knows it's a long uphill battle. You know he will push them to acheive as much as they can but this is a rebuild for sure.

 

[TheGOAT23]

I wonder...how many practices will Geno say, "Stewie, Mo & Morgan are not going to walk through those doors and if they did they will not be able to play for you!!"

The team will have growing pains, but I see them being in the top 5 at the end of next season.

 

[jcoton56]

Geno is a sly old Husky, he's dusting off his old underdog costume. I think our kids will compete. If they learn to play together and execute, then they will be fun to watch!

 

[HoopsFan21]

Well KLS has said she wants to prove that they can "keep it going" even after the big three depart, and I believe she was talking about margin of victory, never mind wins. I like her confidence, but she and the rest of her teammates will soon realize how much the big three did in practice, off the court, during games, etc. while making it look effortless.

 

[CocoHusky]

Posturing by Geno & everyone should recognize that. He's too competitive to concede even one hand of cards much less a couple seasons of basketball. He's taking pressure of the team and also potential recruits like Megan Walker who will be on campus shortly. The expectation at UCONN under Geno is win a national championship- not a darn thing going to change.

 

[EricLA]

Also, to expand on what @JudgeSCR said - there are some seasons where UCONN is the overwhelming favorite and anything short of a NC would have been a big surprise and disappointment. There are other seasons where UCONN had losses during the season, and questions leading into the NCAA's. We weren't the favorite and ended up winning. In those seasons, there are many more things that need to go right for UCONN, and things that need to wrong for other teams. UCONN might need to play their A game vs a B game from another team.

I wouldn't count UCONN out come March/April, but IMHO we won't be on anyone's list to cut down the nets...

 

[mdakota]

I thought that KLS made vast improvements from the beginning to the end of the year. She mixed it up more on offense. She hustled a lot more on defense and became a much better defender. Just her overall demeanor was different and she gained tons of confidence. I think KLS and Nurse will be the driving force next year.

 

[UcMiami]

Uconn - The White House Search Results
Try that as a link - first story listed

Oops - nope - no story, just the fact the call took place.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Also, to expand on what @JudgeSCR said - there are some seasons where UCONN is the overwhelming favorite and anything short of a NC would have been a big surprise and disappointment. There are other seasons where UCONN had losses during the season, and questions leading into the NCAA's. We weren't the favorite and ended up winning. In those seasons, there are many more things that need to go right for UCONN, and things that need to wrong for other teams. UCONN might need to play their A game vs a B game from another team.

I wouldn't count UCONN out come March/April, but IMHO we won't be on anyone's list to cut down the nets...

Maybe it was New Orleans 2004 and in one of those set ESPN intro pieces Geno is sitting, high, wide and handsome on a coach saying something like this: "No one expected us to be here, but now that we're here, I'd just like to tell you: (Impish Grin) I think we can win it all." Man, I'd like to have that snippet in my Favorites.

 

[malevocalist#]

Geno may say that, but he won't coach Like what his lips uttered.

He will coach the same as if he is prepared to win another championship.

No matter who left...And yes he knows it will be much different this season. He will coach the same. He will have FAITH in his players and hope to install confidence in them regarding his abilities to put them in the best position to return beyond the final four. Win or lose.

 

[EricLA]

One thing that I'm not sure if most fans realize (I know had core fans know this) is that Geno spends most of the regular season being critical of the players - pushing them, teaching them, pointing out ALL the things they do wrong in trying to get them to be the very best players and team then can be come post season.

BUT... once the NCAA's roll around, he flips a switch. It's all about praising and encouraging and positive reinforcement. I think it was in an interview but he something like ... At that time of the season, there's nothing new we want to teach. We just want them to be as confident as possible and know that we as coaches have done everything we could to prepare them for the big moments.

I think I remember also reading players echo the same things and how odd it was at first to see the different Coach when the NCAA's started...

 

[Gus Mahler]

I would be stunned if he really believes they can't win next year much less than in the next few years. While they are probably not the favorites at the start of the season it is not hard to imagine them progressing and becoming a team to recon with at the Final Four. He has thrown down the gauntlet to his team: "Prove me wrong."

I agree with you. I can see his talk before the first practice next year: "We're not conceding anything. This is Connecticut. We play for national championships."