cferraro04
Sensei
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 2,118
- Reaction Score
- 9,987
For many kids it is a dream to come to UConn. Let's face it at any given time there are 5 kids who start and 1 or 2 who are good enough to be starting but it just isn't their time yet. They have to wait for those upper classmen to serve out their eligibility in order to crack the starting line-up. For many of them they are lucky that Geno and his staff do a good job at spreading out the recruiting classes so that the wait is only one or two seasons at the most. In the meantime they must be content with playing significant minutes off the bench and learning Geno's system so they can be effective when they become starters.
For some they must be content to come to UConn and be a role player. It just isn't within them to crack the starting line-up with the steady stream of high school All Americans that Geno has coming to his program year after year. So, why do they do it? Some say it is for the privilege of learning from the master. Others say, it is to have an opportunity to be part of history and to be part of a winning tradition that competes for the final four every year and for national championships more than just about any other team in WCBB.
Whatever the reason we are blessed each year to have those players like Brianna Banks who stick with the program even though she could be a starter elsewhere and the prospects for being a starter at UConn, beyond someone getting hurt are not very good. So, we have players like Brianna, Kiah, Morgan and Saniya who would be starting for most every other program in the country if they transferred. They know they have the talent, they know that Geno thinks very highly of them. They also know all about the opportunity that is in front of them; to one day start for the best basketball team with the best coaching staff in the country. They are also very aware of those who have graduated from the UConn basketball program and what many of them have gone on to do. The list of accomplished graduates who have gone on to play ball in Europe, the WNBA and the Olympics is beyond impressive; it is actually getting to the point where the program is becoming legendary which, is really hard to do when the people who are creating that legend are still actively coaching.
Brianna has recently, had to step up and be a starter especially for those eight games when KML and Tuck were unable to play. With Dolson and Bria Hartley graduating there is a good chance that Brianna becomes a starter next year. Kiah or Tuck probably also. Saniya may have to wait another year while getting significant minutes as the first off the bench next year.
Still, there is another category of recruit...these recruits that stay all four years and are content to play as a role player, a reserve player, whose minutes come during the so-called garbage time when the starters and the front end of the bench have put the game out of reach for the other team. These players get into the game and they play for sheer enjoyment of the game. They try their best to run the sets they learned in practice and if they are lucky they will see their name in the box score for either scoring, rebounding, getting an assist or getting a steal. It is always thrilling for us fans as well as, the starters on the bench to see one of these recruits hit a three...to see a walk-on do it is just purely orgasmic to the fans who just can't seem to get enough. Watching Kiah off the bench grabbing every rebound in sight or conducting her own block party is inspirational. Or, seeing Brianna Banks get a steal and nobody on the court being able to catch her in the open court...who would have know that a short 11 months ago she tore her ACL. always gets the fans going.
But, there is also, unfortunately a fourth category of recruit...these are the kids who are talented enough to get Geno to accept them if they verbal to the program. These kids come in with the hopes that they are an undiscovered gem...shades of Maria Conlon. They play the hearts out but alas try as they do sometimes it just isn't enough to crack into the rotation of the roster of talented players who come to UConn. These kids really want to play and they know that if they have any aspirations of making it to the next level they have to be able to showcase their talents whatever they might be. Sometimes, it just isn't the right fit. So, in some cases they opt to transfer to another school. It is always heartbreaking when it happens and as much as we as fans might be upset with their decision we often realize that it is for the best. The good fans try to put on a good face and reach down in their hearts to wish them the best...and for the most part, a great many of the fans really mean it. After all, having worn the UConn jersey and played minutes for the Husky basketball team, they will always be part of the UConn family. We recently had two kids make that very tough decision...and we were all sad to see them both go...they were both great kids. I am speaking of Michala Johnson (Wisconsin Badgers) and Lauren Engeln (Boston College). We could see that these players were talented and that they probably could get significant minutes somewhere else. In Michala's case it was both a function of her slow recovery from injuries acquired late in her high school career and the fact that her sister was playing for the Wisconsin Badgers close to home. In Lauren Engeln's case she was a talented player who just wasn't fitting in with the UConn system and its roster of All Stars. So, how are they doing? Actually, they are both doing great...
Lauren Engeln - (on television yesterday): She has started in all 13 games this year and is averaging 31.8 minutes per game. She has shot the ball at .360 from the field making 41 out of 114 shots. Her three point shooting leaves something to be desired as she has only made 3 of 13 for a .231 percent. She has managed to get to the free throw line and has shot FTs at a .714 clip where she has made 20 of her 28 attempts. Lauren averages 8.1 points per game, 2.8 rebounds / G and one steal per game. Lauren has a team leading 51 assists, which is roughly about 4 assists per game while her turnovers are very low at 34 (little less than 3 per game) giving her a respectable Assists to Turnover Ratio of 1.5.
Michala Johnson - (on television tonight): Michala is having a fantastic year. She is happy playing near home with her sister and not only starting but actually is the star of the team. Michala is averaging 15.2 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game, 1.4 assist per game, 1 block and 1 steal / G. Michala is shooting a very respectable .507 from the floor making 74 of her 146 attempts.
I know there are many on this board who join me in wishing these two former Husky players the very best in their careers and in expressing to them our gratitude for the contributions they made to our team while they wore the Husky Blue and White.
For some they must be content to come to UConn and be a role player. It just isn't within them to crack the starting line-up with the steady stream of high school All Americans that Geno has coming to his program year after year. So, why do they do it? Some say it is for the privilege of learning from the master. Others say, it is to have an opportunity to be part of history and to be part of a winning tradition that competes for the final four every year and for national championships more than just about any other team in WCBB.
Whatever the reason we are blessed each year to have those players like Brianna Banks who stick with the program even though she could be a starter elsewhere and the prospects for being a starter at UConn, beyond someone getting hurt are not very good. So, we have players like Brianna, Kiah, Morgan and Saniya who would be starting for most every other program in the country if they transferred. They know they have the talent, they know that Geno thinks very highly of them. They also know all about the opportunity that is in front of them; to one day start for the best basketball team with the best coaching staff in the country. They are also very aware of those who have graduated from the UConn basketball program and what many of them have gone on to do. The list of accomplished graduates who have gone on to play ball in Europe, the WNBA and the Olympics is beyond impressive; it is actually getting to the point where the program is becoming legendary which, is really hard to do when the people who are creating that legend are still actively coaching.
Brianna has recently, had to step up and be a starter especially for those eight games when KML and Tuck were unable to play. With Dolson and Bria Hartley graduating there is a good chance that Brianna becomes a starter next year. Kiah or Tuck probably also. Saniya may have to wait another year while getting significant minutes as the first off the bench next year.
Still, there is another category of recruit...these recruits that stay all four years and are content to play as a role player, a reserve player, whose minutes come during the so-called garbage time when the starters and the front end of the bench have put the game out of reach for the other team. These players get into the game and they play for sheer enjoyment of the game. They try their best to run the sets they learned in practice and if they are lucky they will see their name in the box score for either scoring, rebounding, getting an assist or getting a steal. It is always thrilling for us fans as well as, the starters on the bench to see one of these recruits hit a three...to see a walk-on do it is just purely orgasmic to the fans who just can't seem to get enough. Watching Kiah off the bench grabbing every rebound in sight or conducting her own block party is inspirational. Or, seeing Brianna Banks get a steal and nobody on the court being able to catch her in the open court...who would have know that a short 11 months ago she tore her ACL. always gets the fans going.
But, there is also, unfortunately a fourth category of recruit...these are the kids who are talented enough to get Geno to accept them if they verbal to the program. These kids come in with the hopes that they are an undiscovered gem...shades of Maria Conlon. They play the hearts out but alas try as they do sometimes it just isn't enough to crack into the rotation of the roster of talented players who come to UConn. These kids really want to play and they know that if they have any aspirations of making it to the next level they have to be able to showcase their talents whatever they might be. Sometimes, it just isn't the right fit. So, in some cases they opt to transfer to another school. It is always heartbreaking when it happens and as much as we as fans might be upset with their decision we often realize that it is for the best. The good fans try to put on a good face and reach down in their hearts to wish them the best...and for the most part, a great many of the fans really mean it. After all, having worn the UConn jersey and played minutes for the Husky basketball team, they will always be part of the UConn family. We recently had two kids make that very tough decision...and we were all sad to see them both go...they were both great kids. I am speaking of Michala Johnson (Wisconsin Badgers) and Lauren Engeln (Boston College). We could see that these players were talented and that they probably could get significant minutes somewhere else. In Michala's case it was both a function of her slow recovery from injuries acquired late in her high school career and the fact that her sister was playing for the Wisconsin Badgers close to home. In Lauren Engeln's case she was a talented player who just wasn't fitting in with the UConn system and its roster of All Stars. So, how are they doing? Actually, they are both doing great...
Lauren Engeln - (on television yesterday): She has started in all 13 games this year and is averaging 31.8 minutes per game. She has shot the ball at .360 from the field making 41 out of 114 shots. Her three point shooting leaves something to be desired as she has only made 3 of 13 for a .231 percent. She has managed to get to the free throw line and has shot FTs at a .714 clip where she has made 20 of her 28 attempts. Lauren averages 8.1 points per game, 2.8 rebounds / G and one steal per game. Lauren has a team leading 51 assists, which is roughly about 4 assists per game while her turnovers are very low at 34 (little less than 3 per game) giving her a respectable Assists to Turnover Ratio of 1.5.
Michala Johnson - (on television tonight): Michala is having a fantastic year. She is happy playing near home with her sister and not only starting but actually is the star of the team. Michala is averaging 15.2 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game, 1.4 assist per game, 1 block and 1 steal / G. Michala is shooting a very respectable .507 from the floor making 74 of her 146 attempts.
I know there are many on this board who join me in wishing these two former Husky players the very best in their careers and in expressing to them our gratitude for the contributions they made to our team while they wore the Husky Blue and White.
Last edited:
