I started following Joanne Palombo when she coached the Maine Black Bears. Then a big step up to MSU and a
bigger step up to Duke. Terrific overall W-L record but her teams have been rather disappointing when it's time
for the Hot Lights and the Big Stage.
Now she has cancelled future games with UConn, and I don't blame her a bit. Duke's overblown academic reputation and self-involved sense of superiority have attracted one outstanding class of recruits after another,
they start the year highly ranked, they typically win a lot.............and then they meet UConn and are eviscerated year after year.
This can drive a stake through the heart of a team's confidence, esp. a young team. Joanne is really Super Competitive. Looking at this year's team & years of losses to UConn by an average of 29 points, I can hear her
before the season: "By Heaven, Geno's not beating me by 29 THIS time." And she was right - he didn't.
So as the sun sets slowly in the west, we say farewell to another Citadel of Elitism. You won't have Huskies to
kick you around anymore. Now it'll be Gamecocks!
bigger step up to Duke. Terrific overall W-L record but her teams have been rather disappointing when it's time
for the Hot Lights and the Big Stage.
Now she has cancelled future games with UConn, and I don't blame her a bit. Duke's overblown academic reputation and self-involved sense of superiority have attracted one outstanding class of recruits after another,
they start the year highly ranked, they typically win a lot.............and then they meet UConn and are eviscerated year after year.
This can drive a stake through the heart of a team's confidence, esp. a young team. Joanne is really Super Competitive. Looking at this year's team & years of losses to UConn by an average of 29 points, I can hear her
before the season: "By Heaven, Geno's not beating me by 29 THIS time." And she was right - he didn't.
So as the sun sets slowly in the west, we say farewell to another Citadel of Elitism. You won't have Huskies to
kick you around anymore. Now it'll be Gamecocks!