I am so upset with the way Geno is handling Megan Walker | Page 3 | The Boneyard

I am so upset with the way Geno is handling Megan Walker

Sluconn Husky said:
I'd say disappointed.

For all the talk of incredible depth coming into the year, this is basically a 6-player team right now. Same as last season.
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And this blog created "all the talk".....we have a tendency to talk ourselves into something and then be disappointed when it doesn't turn out that way. Need to relax and let the coaches coach.
 
Zanzman said:
Bird was only on campus for a month so he never played for knight
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Wasn’t Knight the same coach that left Charles Barkley off the Olympic team, after he lead the team in rebounds (and couldn’t be stopped on offense) during the selection process?
 
Fairfield Fan said:
I would say that I'm concerned. I can't recall another #1-ranked HS AA coming into UConn and not making a big impact her freshman year. Certainly they can have difficulties. But half-way through the season being benched in a blow-out while the rest of the bench plays? Wow!!! I've never seen that from a #1 at UConn.

I think Coach Geno is concerned as well. We all come up with the cliche that "UConn is not for everyone." But it seems that we do lose some very good players, and not always for the right reasons. AEH is gone, and she seemed to show signs of real brilliance! Indeed, she was named New York's top player last year.

The lack of development of the freshmen has been a concern to Geno, and he hasn't been kidding. And Walker is not excluded.

Really hope she isn't deeply disillusioned. Need her to really come through as a star for the team. But it's not showing up so far. Indeed, she appears to be in a funk.

Fingers crossed!!!
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I agree re a #1 at this point freshman year. I think the way she looked on the court today is worrisome. She is not just another freshman. This is last year's best high school player, looking not very engaged today. Lack of confidence, frustration ? Certainly a positive is that she has looked very good at times, against good teams. Seems like you might let her play thru her funk. Yikes!! my apology for saying that.
 
FlyRyGuy said:
I love the UConn Women and I have been a huge fan since ‘92 (when I was 10) but geez - the #1 recruit in the country is only getting garbage time minutes! I’m sure this is not what she envisioned when she decided to come to UConn.

Anybody else upset about this?
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Nah.

After 33 years, 11 national titles, Olympic and world championships, dozens of all-Americans and a dazzling array of elite WNBA performers, the evidence seems clear that Coach Auriemma knows both how to win and how to develop talent.

From "the worst pivot" in women's basketball to the current point guard, whose "first two shots were a 50-footer and an air ball," Geno has poked and prodded his players to reach for their potential. Most of them wind up grateful for the experience--see Rebecca Lobo Hall of Fame induction speech--and form a bond with him that lasts a lifetime.

Trust in the process, Fly Guy.
 
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Two Points ( from 2 cents):
Houston had a record of 14-4 going into todays game. How did they look playing against our starting line-up? Pretty ugly. If the starters remained in, they may have won by 80 points, in an away game! So, in practice, why would we expect our freshman to "Shine", when really good teams can't even do it. Practice performance to get playing time may be a bit discouraging.
All our opinions are uneducated ( unless you are part of the program), so our opinions are just that, one opinion. Its not like we can discuss why we lost a game? Solar elipses happen more often
 
Remember that this is UConn and not almost anywhere else. A top ranked incoming freshman has a lot more to learn at UConn than the equivalent freshman has to learn elsewhere.If it were any other coach, I might be inclined to think that maybe Geno should cut her some clack and let us all see when she can do. But this is Geno , and in this case, I think we should not be worried about his stellar w-l record, but his record developing talent, and the answer is simple: He's the best. Let's see what develops with Walker (who, I agree, shows a lot of talent).
 
Don't love to see her (or anyone else) drop in the rotation from where they were earlier in the season.

But on the other hand, I didn't love her indifferent play for the minutes that she was on the court today.

I'd like to see her get up to spec again; not comfortable with a team that is essentially 6 players against good competition. 7 is the minimum comfortable number, IMO.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
I'd say disappointed.

For all the talk of incredible depth coming into the year, this is basically a 6-player team right now. Same as last season.
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Ok, but this Bench wins the 4th qtr. Last year's bench won nothing. That speaks well for next year.
 
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NewCorn said:
Ok, but this Bench wins the 4th qtr. Last year's bench won nothing. That speaks well for next year.
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we have this discussion almost every year regarding poorly performing freshmen in the fourth quarter yet somehow most of these freshmen play to a much higher level as sophomores and again as juniors................if they keep working and don't lose faith these kids will figure it out...................
 
The camera showed Meg on the bench sweating profusely - tells me she played hard - C.D. was sitting next to her "coaching her up" (good sign). If Meg "fits in" on this team the other players will "have her back" and all will be good in time.
 
hoophuskee said:
No.
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Yes. We're all going to be upset in two years if these two classes(frosh, soph) cannot perform up to Genos standards. It's not out of the question we take a temporary step backwards. Right now I'm kinda worried for next year and very worried for the year after. Let's hope CW or ONO are impact players or we Land some BB type talent soon.
 
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If Z does not declare for the WNBA, UCONN should be in good shape.
 
I'm puzzled as to why people think she's struggling. Because Eric and Meg said so? Because she didn't hit three threes in five minutes?

Because Mikayla was first freshman in today? I seem to recall several posters thinking MC would be the first freshman off the bench because of her (perceived) defensive ability.

Because she didn't play that many minutes in a 60-point blowout? Lexi and Molly and Touly are on scholarship, too.

Will this discussion change if she has a strong game against Texas? Will be interesting to see.
 
my2cents said:
Two Points ( from 2 cents):
Houston had a record of 14-4 going into todays game. How did they look playing against our starting line-up? Pretty ugly. If the starters remained in, they may have won by 80 points, in an away game! So, in practice, why would we expect our freshman to "Shine", when really good teams can't even do it. Practice performance to get playing time may be a bit discouraging.
All our opinions are uneducated ( unless you are part of the program), so our opinions are just that, one opinion. Its not like we can discuss why we lost a game? Solar elipses happen more often
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It's all about player development. His record in this area is unmatched. You hone steel against steel. That has always been Geno's way and I personally don't argue with success, especially when it's unprecedented.
 
JustinesGuy said:
Yes. We're all going to be upset in two years if these two classes(frosh, soph) cannot perform up to Genos standards. It's not out of the question we take a temporary step backwards. Right now I'm kinda worried for next year and very worried for the year after. Let's hope CW or ONO are impact players or we Land some BB type talent soon.
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Really! Are you serious? Land some BB type talent soon. I could not disagree more with your post.
 
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JustinesGuy said:
Yes. We're all going to be upset in two years if these two classes(frosh, soph) cannot perform up to Genos standards. It's not out of the question we take a temporary step backwards. Right now I'm kinda worried for next year and very worried for the year after. Let's hope CW or ONO are impact players or we Land some BB type talent soon.
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We can agree to disagree. By the way can I start off with I just read an odd post on another thread from a poster that I disagree a lot with on many basketball subjects. Whether he is mad at me or not is irrelevant. But I get the feeling there are some that believe that you can't post to another poster and disagree with their opinion? The reason I bring this up is that we've disagreed quite a bit -- but you're okay with that. aren't you? I mean isn't this board also up so posters can share differences of opinions? If the opinions are different it means someone must be right and someone must be wrong for some opinions (some opinions can never be right or wrong). What I'm getting at is -- I hope even though I disagree with you-- and have in the past -- "we're good," right?

With that said I'll add you and milfordhusky and many others were right with Danger calling her preseason she would be the starter. I was wrong. While Danger is among my fav players, I never thought last year to this year that her defense would be good enough to start over AZ. What a game she played today. Numbers don't show it totally but I thought her defense was special today.

Now pertaining to this Meg Walker issue- you are using the word "if." (and also addressing other players over-and-above the thread created discussing Meg)). So for more than just talking about Meg - IMO Barring injuries or transfers Danger is a lock to be elite. The sophomores of Kyla or Molly are/ and imo never have been as “critical" to the program. They are insurance. And right now Kyla seems to be moving ahead and seems like she'll be fine with a natural progression. She appears to be a bonus and evolving. But even if she plateaus as not able to play vs the elites - for me Meg Walker has already made her bones. Her games vs ND and UCLA showed what she is. IMo we can just sit back and watch and enjoy. And marvel how Geno will push the right buttons. As he has done over-and-over with players that have many elite multiple attributes.

Walker is a lock to be a terrific player. Heck-- what was Gabby or Stewie doing vs the elite team such as ND early on in their frosh year? Yet we're supposed to hold Walker to a higher standard than them? Stewie couldn't compete well at all vs the elite teams early on. As long as AZ comes back next year and I expect Batouly to get better each year-- right now without any other transfers and just looking at the 2018 class UCONN will have at least sr Dangerfield, upper-class juniors Coombs and Meg Walker and get the soph jump from CWill -- our 1/2/3 positions (or maybe Meg can play the 4) will be the best or 2nd best in the nation. And this doesn't include the player you have mentioned quite a bit- Lexi Gordon who imo looks good. Damn glad to have her. This stuff about the freshmen is just noise from the coach who demands perfection.

This year we also heard a lot of noise about this team will have a huge problem that could affect team chemistry because the players wouldn't be happy about minute distribution. Which imo was always a silly thing to worry about. Next year we'll hear noise as to "who will be the leaders." The year after we'll hear noise about our frontcourt. Then somewhere in there - the minute distribution noise will reappear. It's all noise. As long as Geno is getting elite recruiting classes UCONN will be fine. You probably won't see 111-0 etc. But the team will be fine. Ignore the noise and enjoy watching many of the players continue to grow. Bottom-line is that there is a reason why Meg Walker was recruited by UCONN and played well vs ND and UCLA. She is a physically gifted player who will be coached by one of the best if not the best coach ever. Ignore the day-today to noise.
 
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hoophuskee said:
Heck-- what was Gabby or Stewie doing vs the elite team such as ND early on in their frosh year? Yet we're supposed to hold Walker to a higher standard than them?
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Gabby was extremely productive early on against non top-25 teams. I think we'd all like to see Megan play at a similar level against such competition.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
Gabby was extremely productive early on against non top-25 teams. I think we'd all like to see Megan play at a similar level against such competition.
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Yes. But we could go back and forth on this all day, right? I think we would have liked to see for example Stewie or Gabby help UCONN more in the games they got beat than they did early on in their careers too.
 
hoophuskee said:
Yes. But we could go back and forth on this all day, right? I think we would have liked to see for example Stewie or Gabby help UCONN more in the games they got beat than they did early on in their careers too.
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Sure. Stewart struggled again a top-3 Notre Dame team and Williams didn't play against Stanford. In this case it's disconcerting that Geno's bothered enough by her effort in either practice or games that he's barely putting her on the floor now.
 
I've noticed the way she runs. Probably not in Uconn shape yet. Also seems like she probably needs the ball to see her go to work. Right now she's learning to contribute other ways and she's struggling. Nothing that unusual. I also in my opinion believe that the way her game is structured now, she isn't the usual type of players we get. The only other player I felt this way about was Charde Houston. Give her the ball in a half court setting and she probably embarrasses you, but the full court up and down just isn't her. Hopefully Geno works his magic. She's a big strong guard with an offensive skill set, but running isn't her greatest attribute. She'll figure it out.
 
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