Husky’s Team Roster Poll

[oldude]

Thank you much.
Your last point is, I believe, the strongest one.
One should not think for a minute that the parents of a recruit do not wield major “input” as to the final decision.

Not sure parents have a say in whether or not a coach accepts a transfer, but they certainly have a say in whether or not their little girl decides to go somewhere else.

 

[Stymie]

Not sure parents have a say in whether or not a coach accepts a transfer, but they certainly have a say in whether or not their little girl decides to go somewhere else.

Referring to the decision as to where to enroll for their freshman year.

 

[CocoHusky]

I don’t know if UConn is pursuing Cardoso and don’t really care if they do, but time will tell. Having said that, there are two continuing themes from those that strongly advocate for the addition of Cardoso to UConn’s roster.

The first theme is that Cardoso will be a star player, helping to secure multiple national championships for UConn. Some may have a crystal ball. I don’t. Syracuse lost 9 games this past year. They were one of the last teams selected to the Big Dance, struggling with NDSt for 3 qtrs before finally pulling away in the 4th and then getting hammered by UConn.

More to the point, Cardoso played only 23 minutes against the Huskies, scoring 8 of the Cuse’s first 10 pts, then becoming mostly a non-factor. I have said that Cardoso has a lot of potential, but she still has a long way to go to achieve that potential.

The second theme is to compare adding players (free agents) to a college team like it’s a pro team, as if student-athletes are exactly the same as professional athletes and winning is the only thing that matters in college sports. For many reasons I disagree with that assessment.

More importantly, Geno has made clear on multiple occasions that the worst thing he could conceive of as a CBB coach would be the failure to help a player reach their potential at UConn. I’m not quite sure how recruiting a bunch of transfers over kids you recruited out of HS keeps the commitment a coach made to the HS kid and their family to help them reach their potential.

It is quite simple really, it is not "over" it is "in addition to". It is also not a "bunch" it is a few. Not all the players Geno has recruited out of high school have keep their commitments. As a result the UCONN roster has not been without a transfer (in) and or walk on player since 2014 out of necessity. Autumn for example was a walk on to get the roster size to 11. With the exception of Stanford the last 3 NCAA WBB champions have had major impact players (starters) that were transfers. Aari McDonald was a transfer to Arizona.
Transfers are a reality don't expect Geno to sit on the sidelines and watch- he's way too competitive for that.

 

[huskiemaniac]

The Cardoso upside is too great to pass on, imo.

 

[oldude]

It is quite simple really, it not "over" it is "in addition to". It is also not a "bunch" it is a few. Not all the players Geno has recruited out of high school have keep their commitments. As a result the UCONN roster has not been without a transfer (in) and or walk on player since 2014 out of necessity. Autumn for example was a walk on to get the roster size to 11. With the exception of Stanford the last 3 NCAA WBB champions have had major impact players (starters) that were transfers. Aari McDonald was a transfer to Arizona.
Transfers are a reality don't expect Geno to sit on the sidelines and watch- he's way too competitive for that.

I generally agree with your assessment. But after bringing in Dorka to shore up the frontcourt and likely push Liv to reach another level of play, assuming a one and done? for the tOSU transfer, Geno would have to tread carefully in bringing in a 2nd BIG who could be around for 3-4 seasons.

Of course PT becomes a greater challenge, but my bigger concern is the impact on players not yet here. When Amari signed, she looked at a landscape at UConn that had her playing behind Liv for 1 season and competing with Piath for 3. Likely that she would earn some PT off the bench as a frosh and then have a realistic opportunity to earn the starting center spot as a Soph.

Subsequently Geno signs Dorka, and that likely cuts into Amari’s freshman PT, but hopefully for her sake, Dorka is 1 and done at UConn. If you bring in Cardoso on top of Dorka, I have to believe Amari as well as her parents are wondering what’s going on here, to say nothing of how the decision impacts Ice and Ayanna, who won’t be official until the fall and recruits like Del Rosario who are still weighing their options.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that Geno shouldn’t bring in Cardoso. I’m simply suggesting that there is a lot more to consider than whether or not to add one more player to the roster.

 

[PacoSwede]

'talent' is not the sole factor in wins. geno knows that and has to blend the many ingredients. it's a complex recipe that no one has mastered better than he.

because i don't know what he knows about what already is in the current mixture, and what spices he thinks would enhance or spoil it, i can't answer this poll.

i'd be fascinated to learn geno's take on the + & - of a cardoso transfer to uconn, however. it would be delightful to compare his with BYers' assessments. sadly, of course, we shall never have the chance.

 

[diggerfoot]

None of us can be assured of the outcome from adding Cardoso to the roster. We would have been favorites to win the NC in Collier's/Samuelson's junior years, a team that also featured Williams, Nurse and Dangerfield, even without Stevens transferring in. When Stevens transferred in we became heavy favorites ... and we failed to win a NC.

Those in favor of Cardoso transferring in believe in a reductionist principle. She's one of the tallest players in the country with good skills and athleticism for her size. That makes her a good "part" and, in a reductionist approach, when you get the best "parts" you can that should produce a better team than one with fewer best "parts." Recent success with transfers into other programs provides fuel for this principle.

Those not in favor of Cardoso believe in a holistic principle. You want the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts, indeed, sometimes the whole can be less than the sum of the parts. What happened with Stevens and our own specific program provides fuel for this principle.

Let's first address how special the "part" is. Cambage is one of the two most intimidating post presences in the world. She has won precious little in terms of renowned championships. Ah, but this is a matter of not playing with other good parts you might say.

That leads us to the other most intimidating post presence, Griner. She has won one NCAA title, one WNBA title. Certainly by the time she was a junior in college she played with very good "parts," some might say by the time she was a sophomore. In the pros her teammate was Taurasi. Let's get back to that in a moment. Ah, but she was not playing for a coach like Auriemma. Considering Mulkey as won titles with three completely different rosters, the first one not heralded at all, undermines this aspersion, though there are still those that still cast it.

Well then, we certainly consider Auriemma a worthy coach. Wolters is the player in our history with the size of Cardoso. She even became a NPOY, but won only one title. In her freshman year she played with two other players who would become NPOYs; in her sophomore season she won the title playing with those two candidates plus a runner-up in Sales; in her junior year she played with Rizzotti and Sales; in her senior year she played with Sales and a precocious Ralph until she was injured in the tournament.

Looking back at Taurasi, the only year she did not win a NC was the year she played with a very accomplished and tall big, the 6'5" Schumacher who the year previous set a block record for a championship team. Four other of Taurasi's teammates as a freshman also played significant roles in a championship the year prior. The three years Taurasi won an NC was with 6'2" and 6'3" centers. While she has won 3 WNBA titles only one is with one of the two most imposing centers of the world.

As a special "part," an imposing big is not as special as everyone makes them out to be. The actual evidence makes that very clear. Ironically, if Cardoso is to make our team it will be due to the holistic principle, not the reductionist. She will have to fit in a way that enhances the team. Perhaps that will be true but: 1) there are some signs it may not be and 2) as I understand it we very much want Del Rosario to come and keep the "big" gravy train rolling. Maybe we can get both Cardoso and Del Rosario, but I'm betting the UConn program will prioritize the latter if it comes to a choice.

 

[EricSD]

He has done everything he could it's called recruiting, and he has two very good recruiting classes coming in. Your choice of words was an overstatement and I stand by that.

The only BIG that has been a "game changer" in recent years was Stewart and that's because she had a expansive skill set and not a prototypical big. Cardoso is a prototypical big who without talented guards around her can be neutralized.

Well then we will just have to agree to disagree. But again, be sure to read people's posts before you reply. Reading comprehension totally helps!! And I stand by my comments. And Geno agrees - he wouldn't have gotten Juhasz nor would he be after Cardoso if he didn't.

 

[AYusef]

Well then we will just have to agree to disagree. But again, be sure to read people's posts before you reply. Reading comprehension totally helps!! And I stand by my comments. And Geno agrees - he wouldn't have gotten Juhasz nor would he be after Cardoso if he didn't.

I read your post and thought calling Geno "negligent" of his duty if he didn't go after Cardoso was actually absurd, I called it an "overstatement" to be nice. If you think this HOF coach would agree with you then your a fool.
Acquiring Juhasz and her skill set is a whole other ball game than Cardoso, but you knew that already.

 

[Drew8]

Geno generally makes good decisions with choosing recruits.

 

[AYusef]

Geno generally makes good decisions with choosing recruits.

He makes excellent decisions... he knows what kind of kids he wants and who will fit in his culture.

 

[EricSD]

I read your post and thought calling Geno "negligent" of his duty if he didn't go after Cardoso was actually absurd, I called it an "overstatement" to be nice. If you think this HOF coach would agree with you then your a fool.
Acquiring Juhasz and her skill set is a whole other ball game than Cardoso, but you knew that already.

Then clearly you have reading comprehension challenges. PLEASE stop embarrassing yourself and go back and read my post. AT NO POINT DID I CALL GENO NEGLIGENT IF HE FAILED TO RECRUIT CARDOSO.

What is absurd is that you cannot comprehend a simple post, and try to twist it and attribute incorrect statements to me.

 

[AYusef]

Then clearly you have reading comprehension challenges. PLEASE stop embarrassing yourself and go back and read my post. AT NO POINT DID I CALL GENO NEGLIGENT IF HE FAILED TO RECRUIT CARDOSO.

What is absurd is that you cannot comprehend a simple post, and try to twist it and attribute incorrect statements to me.

You said that Geno would be negligent if he did not go out and acquire as much talent as possible in reference to Cardoso. You can backtrack now all you want your still stepping in poo!!

 

[EricSD]

You said that Geno would be negligent if he did not go out and acquire as much talent as possible in reference to Cardoso. You can backtrack now all you want your still stepping in poo!!

Wrong again. I was referencing Juhusz, Cardoso, and anyone else he feels he needs to put together as much talent to surround our guard tandem as possible. Again, if it makes you feel better to try to twist my words, that's on you. I'm not sure why you are persisting with this. If you can't see the difference, then I can't help you.

 

[AYusef]

Wrong again. I was referencing Juhusz, Cardoso, and anyone else he feels he needs to put together as much talent to surround our guard tandem as possible. Again, if it makes you feel better to try to twist my words, that's on you. I'm not sure why you are persisting with this.

Still in retreat? this is a thread on Cardoso, Dorka was not in this conversation. You're adding her to save face.
So if Geno thought that Cardoso wasn't a good fit for this tight-knit team and his culture and therefore didn't pursue her than that would make him negligent of his duty? just trying to understand your logic..

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I generally agree with your assessment. But after bringing in Dorka to shore up the frontcourt and likely push Liv to reach another level of play, assuming a one and done? for the tOSU transfer, Geno would have to tread carefully in bringing in a 2nd BIG who could be around for 3-4 seasons.

If you bring in Cardoso on top of Dorka, I have to believe Amari as well as her parents are wondering what’s going on here, to say nothing of how the decision impacts Ice and Ayanna, who won’t be official until the fall and recruits like Del Rosario who are still weighing their options.

Have a hard time believing Cardoso would play anywhere for four more seasons, and even three is pushing it since she will be WNBA eligible after two.

Patterson's a different position and wouldn't be affected. Brady maybe, slightly, sorta. But then, again, Cardoso would only be around 1-2 years at the same time Brady is.

Del Rosario shouldn't be a consideration. If you have the option to get a player as talented as Cardoso you don't turn that down over the prospect of a player you may never get. You don't say, "nah, we won't take you Kamilla because ADR is considering us among numerous other schools."

 

[EricSD]

Still in retreat? this is a thread on Cardoso, Dorka was not in this conversation. You're adding her to save face.
So if Geno thought that Cardoso wasn't a good fit for this tight-knit team and his culture and therefore didn't pursue her than that would make him negligent of his duty? just trying to understand your logic..

Nope not in retreat at all. Just can't figure out why you don't comprehend English and keep trying to twist what I wrote and make it something it's not. But if that makes you feel better, have at it.

You have hijacked the thread to try to make my post into something it's not and simply will not let it go. It's mystifying. Oh well. I would suggest if you are still confused, to send me a PM and we can hash it out there.

 

[oldude]

Have a hard time believing Cardoso would play anywhere for four more seasons, and even three is pushing it since she will be WNBA eligible after two.

Patterson's a different position and wouldn't be affected. Brady maybe, slightly, sorta. But then, again, Cardoso would only be around 1-2 years at the same time Brady is.

Del Rosario shouldn't be a consideration. If you have the option to get a player as talented as Cardoso you don't turn that down over the prospect of a player you may never get. You don't say, "nah, we won't take you Kamilla because ADR is considering us among numerous other schools."

So we don’t know what Cardoso’s plans are, and maybe she doesn’t know either. But here’s what we can expect. If Geno is in fact pursuing Cardoso, and she announces she is coming to Storrs, HC’s will be all over Ice, Del Rosario and every other Big who might be considering UConn over the next few years making the case to them that with Aaliyah, Amari and Cardoso over the next 3-4 years, you’ll be lucky to earn PT at UConn. Come to (fill in the blank) University and we guarantee that you’ll be starting as a freshman.

 

[CocoHusky]

So we don’t know what Cardoso’s plans are, and maybe she doesn’t know either. But here’s what we can expect. If Geno is in fact pursuing Cardoso, and she announces she is coming to Storrs, HC’s will be all over Ice, Del Rosario and every other Big who might be considering UConn over the next few years making the case to them that with Aaliyah, Amari and Cardoso over the next 3-4 years, you’ll be lucky to earn PT at UConn. Come to (fill in the blank) University and we guarantee that you’ll be starting as a freshman.

I don’t expect that at all. If some rogue coach were to be all over those players and the players were to respond positively to that then they are not the character players UCONN thought they were. All parties would be better off should they decide to play else where.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

So we don’t know what Cardoso’s plans are, and maybe she doesn’t know either. But here’s what we can expect. If Geno is in fact pursuing Cardoso, and she announces she is coming to Storrs, HC’s will be all over Ice, Del Rosario and every other Big who might be considering UConn over the next few years making the case to them that with Aaliyah, Amari and Cardoso over the next 3-4 years, you’ll be lucky to earn PT at UConn. Come to (fill in the blank) University and we guarantee that you’ll be starting as a freshman.

I really don't think Cardoso would negatively affect Brady. Ice is a top-5 player, arguably top-3 in her class. UConn isn't going to push her aside. DeBerry might be a different story, but the way things are going now with transfers you have to be as cutthroat as the players, to put it tersely.


Del Rosario is a '23. Cardoso might be in the pros before Del Rosario even gets on campus. At most they might play one year together. I don't know why that would affect ADR or why UConn shouldn't take Cardoso. This team has Bueckers, Fudd, and Edwards on it for years. You can't worry about what Del Rosario might do in 2024 or 2025. It's all about the next 3-4 seasons.

 

[DefenseBB]

As I started this thread to hear what all of our fine colleagues had to say, it has stabilized in the 64-65 range with a trend down to the 64 % in favor of Kamilla coming to UConn.

With finals occurring within the next 1 to weeks on both Syracuse and UConn campus' my own thought is Kamilla has made her decision but wants to wait until school is over to avoid any distractions. Whatever school she has chosen has likewise chosen to keep it hush to also avoid unnecessary distractions.

Side note on distractions: The Baylor players have been unwitting pawns in the whole Kim to LSU saga and continue to be bounced around in the coaches search so I do feel for them while this circus continues. But back to Cardoso-

I watched 8-10 of Syracuse's games this year and was intrigued by her as a Freshman post player who got inconsistent, at best, coaching. This is not like Cameron Brink or Aaliyah Edwards who you could see learn and blossom all year under Tara and Geno. To me, she did play hard and did improve. Just look at the numbers for a Freshman-24 games, 13.6 pts, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, just 1.8 turnovers per game, .7 assists per game, 2.5 fouls per game and all this in only 23.5 minutes per game! The biggest issue is the fouls-she never fouled out in a game but did have 5 games with 4 fouls and had 60 on the year. Given the lower minutes, she does have to improve that component. IF she were to choose UConn, we know that will get addressed as we have see it get better with many players.

Like I said in my original post, I do worry about chemistry given how close this team got and with all but one returning to the 4 newbies coming in, I want harmony but each year is different so who really knows.

As Tom Petty so famously wrote and sang, "The waiting is the hardest part" especially for such a fickle group as us BoneYarders. Thankfully we had the Kim Saga and now Baylorgate to keep us pre-occupied.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Del Rosario is a '23. Cardoso might be in the pros before Del Rosario even gets on campus. At most they might play one year together. I don't know why that would affect ADR or why UConn shouldn't take Cardoso. This team has Bueckers, Fudd, and Edwards on it for years. You can't worry about what Del Rosario might do in 2024 or 2025. It's all about the next 3-4 seasons.

BTW, even if you can assure me Cardoso will play four more years, I would take four years of her over the prospect of ADR in a heartbeat.

If you have Cardoso you don't need Del Rosario to put it bluntly.

 

[JS]

Still in retreat? this is a thread on Cardoso, Dorka was not in this conversation. You're adding her to save face.
So if Geno thought that Cardoso wasn't a good fit for this tight-knit team and his culture and therefore didn't pursue her than that would make him negligent of his duty? just trying to understand your logic..

Enough of the two-way spat, gentlemen. Give it a rest.

 

[oldude]

So we have a lot of speculation about a player who we have no actual knowledge whether UConn is interested in, and only secondhand information that appears to indicate she may be interested in UConn.

Since this is the off-season, speculation is what we do. I get it. As I understand it, Cardoso has until July 1 to let the world know where she’s headed.

I sure hope we don’t have to wait another 2 months. If so, I think a lot of heads will explode......

 

[Sluconn Husky]

To me, she did play hard and did improve. Just look at the numbers for a Freshman-24 games, 13.6 pts, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, just 1.8 turnovers per game, .7 assists per game, 2.5 fouls per game and all this in only 23.5 minutes per game!

Don't forget 58% from the field. I know Tiana M is an excellent passer, but think what Cardoso could do with a slew of excellent passers around her.

 

[Bigboote]

I spent a year or so developing a chai recipe. The most basic recipe that I found had five spices, and they went up from there. The one that I settled on was cardamom, cinnamon, (ginger OR cloves), and black pepper. Fewer ingredients in that case was better (for me).

Geno knows his food. I'd personally like to see him stick with fewer players, but trust his judgment. As others have pointed out and I've observed, Cardoso doesn't always appear to give 100% effort. Geno has said many times that at UConn they don't teach effort. She is very talented, but if it appears to him that she dogs it sometimes, she won't be at UConn next year.

 

[Bajan Best]

None of us can be assured of the outcome from adding Cardoso to the roster. We would have been favorites to win the NC in Collier's/Samuelson's junior years, a team that also featured Williams, Nurse and Dangerfield, even without Stevens transferring in. When Stevens transferred in we became heavy favorites ... and we failed to win a NC.

Those in favor of Cardoso transferring in believe in a reductionist principle. She's one of the tallest players in the country with good skills and athleticism for her size. That makes her a good "part" and, in a reductionist approach, when you get the best "parts" you can that should produce a better team than one with fewer best "parts." Recent success with transfers into other programs provides fuel for this principle.

Those not in favor of Cardoso believe in a holistic principle. You want the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts, indeed, sometimes the whole can be less than the sum of the parts. What happened with Stevens and our own specific program provides fuel for this principle.

Let's first address how special the "part" is. Cambage is one of the two most intimidating post presences in the world. She has won precious little in terms of renowned championships. Ah, but this is a matter of not playing with other good parts you might say.

That leads us to the other most intimidating post presence, Griner. She has won one NCAA title, one WNBA title. Certainly by the time she was a junior in college she played with very good "parts," some might say by the time she was a sophomore. In the pros her teammate was Taurasi. Let's get back to that in a moment. Ah, but she was not playing for a coach like Auriemma. Considering Mulkey as won titles with three completely different rosters, the first one not heralded at all, undermines this aspersion, though there are still those that still cast it.

Well then, we certainly consider Auriemma a worthy coach. Wolters is the player in our history with the size of Cardoso. She even became a NPOY, but won only one title. In her freshman year she played with two other players who would become NPOYs; in her sophomore season she won the title playing with those two candidates plus a runner-up in Sales; in her junior year she played with Rizzotti and Sales; in her senior year she played with Sales and a precocious Ralph until she was injured in the tournament.

Looking back at Taurasi, the only year she did not win a NC was the year she played with a very accomplished and tall big, the 6'5" Schumacher who the year previous set a block record for a championship team. Four other of Taurasi's teammates as a freshman also played significant roles in a championship the year prior. The three years Taurasi won an NC was with 6'2" and 6'3" centers. While she has won 3 WNBA titles only one is with one of the two most imposing centers of the world.

As a special "part," an imposing big is not as special as everyone makes them out to be. The actual evidence makes that very clear. Ironically, if Cardoso is to make our team it will be due to the holistic principle, not the reductionist. She will have to fit in a way that enhances the team. Perhaps that will be true but: 1) there are some signs it may not be and 2) as I understand it we very much want Del Rosario to come and keep the "big" gravy train rolling. Maybe we can get both Cardoso and Del Rosario, but I'm betting the UConn program will prioritize the latter if it comes to a choice.

I couldn't have said it any better....

 

[Zinethar]

I'll let Geno decide what he thinks he saw during the Syracuse/UConn game this year but remember - He saw what we saw. He was not on the bench where you get no close ups or replays. You can also judge what you think you saw and so can I. What is important is what Geno saw.

 

[Majic Hands]

Time to click ignore. Thread has run aground.

 

[diggerfoot]

I'll let Geno decide what he thinks he saw during the Syracuse/UConn game this year but remember - He saw what we saw. He was not on the bench where you get no close ups or replays. You can also judge what you think you saw and so can I. What is important is what Geno saw.

I’m in favor of that too, but what is Auriemma’s opinion? I know Cardoso is considering UConn and Auburn, but that’s all I know from two different tweets. I have not seen anything that confirms the interest is mutual. I understand how one would assume there must be mutual interest or Cordoso would not have made the tweet, but recruits have made false assumptions like that in the past.

If mutual interest has been confirmed, can you please provide me the source by which you and @EricLA know this? Serious request, I’m not claiming the source does not exist, I just haven’t seen the confirmation myself.

My own posts on this has been from the assumption of a “blank slate,” not knowing what “is’ in terms of Auriemma’s viewpoint, but what “might be.”