There's been little implication that I've seen that the means to get the players were nefarious, just as there's been little to no implication whatsoever that anyone would trade UNC's 2013 for UConn's 2012 class. The issues are:
- 19>15, and how is UNC going to get the number down to 15? Again, this is a common issue in CFB, and the ways CFB programs have gotten the numbers to work (even the permissable ones such as "encouraging" kids to transfer and "voluntary" grayshirting) are not something I want to see make their way to WCBB. So yes, it absolutely is everyone's business and warrants close observation.
- In general, if it's more frequent that kids are banding together, using social media or other means to coordinate where they commit to, or however else it went down, that's something that's important for Geno and CD to understand and adjust in their own recruiting. They've have to respond to other changes over the years, and this is another one.
Yes - well stated. I have no problem with the way any of this went down, whether coordinated or random by the players. I am happy with Uconn's team. I am not overly concerned with 2013 recruiting for Uconn. I would have liked DD, but I would not have been interested in any package deal and doubt Uconn would have been interested either.
As you state, my concern is with the 'over-commitment' of scholarships. This is a practice in MBB and D1FB but those two sports are very different at the college level than WCBB. You can count on one hand the number of WCBB players that have left college early for professional careers and still have a few fingers free. When a women commits it is seen as a four year commitment from both the player and the team - yes their are a few transfers every year, but these are the exception and not the rule. And there are a few women who make a verbal commitment and then change their mind but this is also an exception and not a frequent occurance.
In D1FB first of all you are dealing with a much larger team with a higher attrition rate to academic issues, injuries, and drop outs. And during the recruiting process you never know how many players will turn pro at the end of the season leaving gaps in your talent pool. There is also a much higher incidence of reneging on oral commitments and transfers. And finally - no college sports program should try to emulate the D1FB recruiting model with its many layers of sleeze and major rules violations.
In MCBB - the number of starters that turn pro after one, two, or three years is staggering at the top programs (one of the reasons for all that 'parity' that people praise so much.) A men's coach cannot assume a scholarship is anything more than a single year commitment by a player so a little over recruiting or miscalculation in the number of openings is quite understandable.
We all hope for continued growth in the women's game, but I think no one wants it at the expense of what could be called 'our innocences.' There have been a few 'flare-ups' regarding recruiting in the past, and I hope this is a similar isolated instance and not some trend. I am a little surprised that there has been no national press comments on the situation because it is an exceptional situation in WCBB and I think is worthy of comment.
