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As usual great posting, nice analysis and good thought processes. Having said that I disagree with the premise that this will be Geno's toughest coaching season . Remember the Charde Frosh year, Soph year, Jr year, etc. Frustrations after frustrations. Along the way to the 12 FF/ The NC/ The winning seasons he had some really poor seasons , that is for Geno eta al.View attachment 45291
In 1985, Geno's first year at UConn, the Huskies went 12-15 and finished 7th in the Big East. That was Geno's only losing season. What followed was 1,050 more victories, 11 National Championships and more recently, 12 consecutive trips to the Final Four. What could possibly make this upcoming season Geno's best, given 9 AP Coach of the Year awards, membership in both the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and an overall winning percentage of 88.4 % at UConn?
First, a housekeeping note. Any reference to Geno carries the implied inclusion of CD and the rest of the fine UConn staff over the years. Geno gives them tons of credit for his record and championships.
Second, before explaining why this might be Geno's toughest coaching job in years, let's eliminate the excuse that the two best players graduated. Yes, Napheesa and Lou are gone and took with them 45.2% of Uconn's scoring (1,422 points), 40% of UConn's rebounds (626) and 35.5% of UConn's assists (266) from last season. But that happens all the time. When Kia, Gabby and Z left a year ago, 43.7% of the scoring graduated. When Stewie, MoJeff and Tuck graduated, it was worse at 48.8% of the total points. Someone always steps up and fills the void. In 2012-13 the Huskies averaged 82.5 pts per game. Last season, it was 82.8. In between, it has been as high as 89 and as low as 82. Not an issue...
Three factors that could make this Geno's most challenging coaching year, in a long time, are the number of new players, the killer schedule and the pressure of 12 straight Final Fours & being every opponent's biggest game. It is not just that 4 players are new and replacing the 2 that graduated. A case can be made for any of them emerging as a starter with the Core Four (Crystal, Megan, Christyn and Olivia). Geno has a freshman who is probably the most athletic player since Gabby, two transfers who led their previous COLLEGE teams in scoring and a 19-year-old with 2 years of playing pro basketball in Europe. Add in the unknown of whether 1 of the transfers can even play this season and you have the Rubik's Cube of personnel decisions. Figuring out who starts and when subs come in will be harder for Geno than it has been in a long time.
The schedule is ridiculously hard, just the way Geno likes it. UConn will host the other 3 teams from last year's Final Four. Yes, Oregon, Notre Dame and Baylor all play the Huskies this year. When was the last time that happened? Throw in tough games with South Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma along with Tennessee and California. The final year of AAC opponents may not be particularly hard, but the travel is brutal with trips to Florida (2), Texas (2), Ohio, Tennessee and North Carolina. Geno will have plenty of "teachable moments" to get ready for April.
On a team with one probable Senior starter and 4 fresh faces, the pressure to win will take a toll. UConn's record since Stewie's sophomore year is an incredible 223-6. Last season's 3 losses equaled the previous five seasons. Geno doesn't feel pressure, but his challenge will be keeping the young Huskies from being distracted by all the banners on the wall & possible missteps along the way to Final Four #13.
In summary, blending in 4 new talented players, navigating the hardest schedule in decades and keeping the pressure from impacting play on the court will make 2019-20 the hardest coaching job for Geno in quite a long time. Reaching another Final Four and possibly winning NC #12 might make the case for Geno's best coaching job. Or maybe not...
Thoughts??
Go Huskies..!!
I look at this season with some roses in my glasses that may be true. But the talent that arrived this year, albeit no true Center except a Center in Training ONO, Westbrook is Division one burned in. Ania is high level WBB as a Pro experienced, that to me trumps solid HS play. Evelyn, Touly, are really needed and big questions marks. Aubrey Griffin is a TRUE freshman however talented and leaping she may be--but potential galore.
Compared to his terrible teams of the past this is a great year. Having said that if you look back over the last 3 or 4 years they were his best coaching--true there was Napheesa, Gabby, KLS but this team has their equivalent in CW, Megan, Aubrey, Ania Remember Gabby, KLS, Collier weren't themselves until their Jr years. Also, I'm a believer that cream rises and kids will do what must be done if the right motivator --motivates.
Geno will, in my less than humble opinion, lose at least 3 games and still make the FF. The truly question mark for this team is how well will it play against BIG teams. Average teams will be out hustled, out played, out coached, out lasted.
Geno will do a great job, as usual, he will enjoy the season beginning for start to finish assuring another 5 or 10 years possible 20. It will be an excellent coaching year that's true, but he has done equal or better.
This corollary allows one to ignore much of what is said!