alexrgct
RIP, Alex
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 10,094
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Ding dong, the witch, er, the streak is dead. Some thought UConn's 90-game streak was in trouble. As it turned out, #2 (the Diana streak) was safe, and even the early 80s Lady Techsters' streak (which a young Kim Mulkey was a part of, incidentally) stays at #3.
And so now is a time to reflect on 90 once again.
Maya Moore and Tina Charles. Two high school #1s. Two game changers. An unbeatable pair of aces. Tina, strong, wiry, fast, athletic beyond belief, a young woman who, when the light fully came on, made post moves and went for rebounds with an electric, almost violent, crispness. Maya, smooth, effortless, brilliant, a young woman who could do basically anything on a basketball court. One New Yorker with a big personality befitting her home town, the other with the more subdued personality of a Midwestern/Southern hybrid. These two amazing players just went out and won. Most of the time, they won so easily that you almost took it for granted. Outsiders used it as ammunition to denigrate WBB rather than promote it. But I was there- if you couldn't appreciate what they were doing, why even care about basketball at all?
I don't say any of this to diminish the contributions of other players during the streak. Rene Montgomery, a steady hand at PG and an All-American in her own right. Tiffany Hayes, who played in all 90 games and started more than 70 of them. Caroline Doty, who hit some dagger shots late in the 2010 NC game, the only game through the first 79 of the 90 that was close. Kalana Greene, a tremendously talented glue player who made up for the disappointment of her season-ending injury in 2007-08 to finish her career with two NCs. Bria Hartley, playing in only her second game as a collegiate, whose late game heroics against Baylor in November 2010 allowed the streak to make it to 80. And many more, all of whom can and should be proud to have been a part of some or all of those games.
Make no mistake, though. Tina and Maya, Maya and Tina, were the 800 horsepower engine that didn't beat opponents so much as devour them.
And of course, someone had to drive the car. Geno Auriemma, the greatest coach in WCBB history, a man who lives to build juggernauts and did so. Injuries, fatigue, the delusions of invincibility, not doing the things that got you in position to accomplish great things to begin with, these are the sorts of issues that mere mortal coaches struggle with. To Geno, every team should be perfect every game, every possession, and he's got his trademark stare of utter incredulity for you if it isn't. From the fall of 2008 until December 2010, he coached a team that nearly executed that vision. Only Geno can rip into his team convincingly at halftime when they're up 25. Only he can do it without demoralizing his players.
Here's the great thing about Geno. Maya and Tina are long gone, but he still toils away, on the recruiting trail, in every practice, on the sidelines of every blowout, thinking of ways to create a team better than ones that have preceded the squads he has currently. Five national championships, including four in five years? Nine total Final Four berths? Not good enough. There was more to accomplish. Do you really think he's satisfied with 90? Are really going to bet against him if he isn't?
The best is yet to come.
And so now is a time to reflect on 90 once again.
Maya Moore and Tina Charles. Two high school #1s. Two game changers. An unbeatable pair of aces. Tina, strong, wiry, fast, athletic beyond belief, a young woman who, when the light fully came on, made post moves and went for rebounds with an electric, almost violent, crispness. Maya, smooth, effortless, brilliant, a young woman who could do basically anything on a basketball court. One New Yorker with a big personality befitting her home town, the other with the more subdued personality of a Midwestern/Southern hybrid. These two amazing players just went out and won. Most of the time, they won so easily that you almost took it for granted. Outsiders used it as ammunition to denigrate WBB rather than promote it. But I was there- if you couldn't appreciate what they were doing, why even care about basketball at all?
I don't say any of this to diminish the contributions of other players during the streak. Rene Montgomery, a steady hand at PG and an All-American in her own right. Tiffany Hayes, who played in all 90 games and started more than 70 of them. Caroline Doty, who hit some dagger shots late in the 2010 NC game, the only game through the first 79 of the 90 that was close. Kalana Greene, a tremendously talented glue player who made up for the disappointment of her season-ending injury in 2007-08 to finish her career with two NCs. Bria Hartley, playing in only her second game as a collegiate, whose late game heroics against Baylor in November 2010 allowed the streak to make it to 80. And many more, all of whom can and should be proud to have been a part of some or all of those games.
Make no mistake, though. Tina and Maya, Maya and Tina, were the 800 horsepower engine that didn't beat opponents so much as devour them.
And of course, someone had to drive the car. Geno Auriemma, the greatest coach in WCBB history, a man who lives to build juggernauts and did so. Injuries, fatigue, the delusions of invincibility, not doing the things that got you in position to accomplish great things to begin with, these are the sorts of issues that mere mortal coaches struggle with. To Geno, every team should be perfect every game, every possession, and he's got his trademark stare of utter incredulity for you if it isn't. From the fall of 2008 until December 2010, he coached a team that nearly executed that vision. Only Geno can rip into his team convincingly at halftime when they're up 25. Only he can do it without demoralizing his players.
Here's the great thing about Geno. Maya and Tina are long gone, but he still toils away, on the recruiting trail, in every practice, on the sidelines of every blowout, thinking of ways to create a team better than ones that have preceded the squads he has currently. Five national championships, including four in five years? Nine total Final Four berths? Not good enough. There was more to accomplish. Do you really think he's satisfied with 90? Are really going to bet against him if he isn't?
The best is yet to come.
