John A: Team needs a vocal leader

[bruinbball]

I don't think they are looking for someone to call players out in the media, but someone to point out their miscues directly on the spot and tell them what they need to do to fix it, whether is be in a game or in practice. It doesn't have to be negative and when I coached I would prefer it wasn't, but at some point it may take a verbal lashing to get the point across.

 

[speedoo]

Kelly has never been the fiery rah rah type of leader. It would be great if she was, because as a coach, you want your hardest worker being a vocal leader. Hopefully, she will take this to heart become more vocal. I wouldn't want to make her mad.

Kelly would not have to be fiery or rah rah at all, and really would not have to be that vocal IMO. I think she is enormously respected by her team mates. All that would be necessary from her is a quiet word or two from her to the player who is need of correction.

I'm hoping Kelly takes on that role, sounds to me like she is considering it.

 

[John Fryer]

Kelly has never been the fiery rah rah type of leader. It would be great if she was, because as a coach, you want your hardest worker being a vocal leader. Hopefully, she will take this to heart become more vocal. I wouldn't want to make her mad.

IMO, and as I have suggested before, Bria is and has been the leader on the floor.

(Kelly is doing just fine. Why risk complicating a job she is already doing quite well, thank you.)

I get a little uncomfortable when I read suggestions that a player(s) need to get in the face(s) of another player(s).

Bad things can happen.

Besides isn't it the responsibility of the coaching staff to make sure the team is prepared to play each game?

Peace,

John Fryer

 

[pap49cba]

John A. expands on the topic..... Geno Sets The Tone For The Remainder Of The Season

 

[HuskyNan]

I get a little uncomfortable when I read suggestions that a player(s) need to get in the face(s) of another player(s).

Bad things can happen.

Besides isn't it the responsibility of the coaching staff to make sure the team is prepared to play each game?

Have you noticed games where Renee Montgomery would grab someone's arm and say something during a game, not jokingly but seriously and with intensity? How about Diana Taurasi clapping her hands in the direction of her teammates and yelling, "Let's go!"? Or Shea Ralph, the player, giving a teammate a fierce scowl after a dumb foul in a tight game? Or Jen Rizzotti yelling out directions at people, clapping in the huddles to get them fired up? All were - and still are - great leaders. Only good things happen when someone steps up to "own" the team.

 

[Icebear]

Here is the quote in context to the discussion of the issue. Not sure I'd label it calling someone out.

Nor would I.

 

[John Fryer]

Kelly Faris agrees.

“We don’t have a specific vocal leader, the kind of person who will sit there and call someone out,” Fairs said. “That’s been this team’s downfall so far. Coach is right. Holding each other accountable would mean so much more. That is something a few of will need to start doing.

“We respect Coach, we know what he says is right. But apparently, some people aren’t responding to him. So maybe a teammate needs to get into a face and tell them this is how it’s going to be. We will work on that after the break.”

This comment scares me a little.

I agree.

From the context of what Kelly said, I am not sure if she meant one player or a number of players.

But she was speaking about a problem that was obvious to her.

Peace,

John Fryer

 

[earl the pearl]

Geno plays this motivational card nearly every year. Nothing to be overly concerned about. Just something for them to think about over break.

Couldn't agree more. Geno being Geno. Middle of the season motivation.

 

[Sonny44]

The player that concerns me the most is Stefanie Dolson. She seems to have taken a step or two backwards. And, it appears, that as a result she's been spending a lot of time on the bench.

I have to agree. Both she and Caroline scored just 6 pts last night; not much for that opposition.

 

[blackbird]

this needs to be Caroline's role.

I know she's struggling internally, but she needs to take a step back and be what this team needs. If she was a leader last season, from the bench, then she can be one now while she's playing.

She's the type of player to get in someone's face etc. We've seen that personality from her. We've seen her grab a teammate and tell them something. We've seen her calm down KML.

Caroline may not be able to do the things she once could. That's okay. But she needs to do what she's capable of doing, which is being a leader.

Edit: I think Geno wants the leaders to be Kelly and Bria. He seems to relate competitiveness and being a leader, and when Megan asked him to name the most competitive people on the team, that's who he named. When Megan asked about Caroline, he made some sort of comment about her "finding her way in the games." So maybe I'm asking too much of her. Internal struggles are hard to deal with, I just think she's capable of helping the team more in that role. And I think at some point you are starting to ask too much of Bria (If she's not scoring every point, she better be setting people up to score..) And Kelly (doing everything else.)

 

[rington]

I think Bria and Kelly need to step up. Stef seems to be going through the dreaded "sophomore slump", CD is dealing with the knee still, and Tiff has obviously not grown into the vocal leader role that the team needs. As underclassmen it would be best if Bria and Kelly start now with holding their teammates accountable so that it can carry over to next season.

At this time, these 2 seem to be the best options. You can not be a vocal leader if you can't perform the tasks you are calling other people out for!

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

Players calling out other players? Bad sign.

Could be, but not so much if the context and verbal lashing is done subtlety and is done in the "not letting your teammates down" sort of way, Young egos are entertaining and at some point or another they all need a little bit of a reset so to speak.

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

This is not in practice or a game. It's in the media. Bad sign.

Mel published a book that part of the content said C Houston was purposefully resisting the scheme Geno was implementing. This sort of thing happens on teams.

 

[Vowelguy]

Mel published a book that part of the content said C Houston was purposefully resisting the scheme Geno was implementing. This sort of thing happens on teams.

And was that good? IIRC, the Charde years were the worst stretch since the late 80s.

 

[DudleyDoRight]

Kelly has called out her teammates in the media lately, I raised an eyebrow, but she works the hardest of anyone on the floor, so she has earned the right to say something if she sees others dogging it.

If Kelly were to become the "mouth" on the team, people would definitely sit up and listen!

 

[Georgestarr7]

Thanks, Nan for the link...I hadn't read it. I don't see anyone "calling someone out"; no-one was named; a situation was observed and an intent stated to address it when they get back. In watching the games this year I have seen leadership growing from Bria and Kelly each in their own manner, especially when you think back to last year when everyone looked to Maya. I think, as Kim said after the game, that UConn has found a new identity and (my thought) we are really beginning to work it out. Floor leader(s) will emerge.

 

[Vowelguy]

Here's an experiment most everyone can try ...

As you sit down to holiday dinner, say the following: "The meal is not as good as it could be. That's because there are too many people at this table who help sometime, but don't help other times."

Let us know whether your friends/family feel 'called out.'

 

[Icebear]

My grandfather would have done just that. He always had the families respect.

 

[rington]

this needs to be Caroline's role.

I know she's struggling internally, but she needs to take a step back and be what this team needs. If she was a leader last season, from the bench, then she can be one now while she's playing.

She's the type of player to get in someone's face etc. We've seen that personality from her. We've seen her grab a teammate and tell them something. We've seen her calm down KML.

Caroline may not be able to do the things she once could. That's okay. But she needs to do what she's capable of doing, which is being a leader.

Edit: I think Geno wants the leaders to be Kelly and Bria. He seems to relate competitiveness and being a leader, and when Megan asked him to name the most competitive people on the team, that's who he named. When Megan asked about Caroline, he made some sort of comment about her "finding her way in the games." So maybe I'm asking too much of her. Internal struggles are hard to deal with, I just think she's capable of helping the team more in that role. And I think at some point you are starting to ask too much of Bria (If she's not scoring every point, she better be setting people up to score..) And Kelly (doing everything else.)

I think you hit upon it with, "internal struggles." If one senses she, herself, cannot do things she once could, it can be difficult to urge others to perform.

 

[rington]

Here's an experiment most everyone can try ...

As you sit down to holiday dinner, say the following: "The meal is not as good as it could be. That's because there are too many people at this table who help sometime, but don't help other times."

Let us know whether your friends/family feel 'called out.'

If I said that, I would be "thrown out."

 

[MilfordHusky]

Mel published a book that part of the content said C Houston was purposefully resisting the scheme Geno was implementing. This sort of thing happens on teams.

I think it was more that Charde was unable to do things, rather than her exerting effort not to follow Geno's guidance.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think this is Caroline's role. She has the tough personality for it. She is also the senior player, along with Tiffany, and is more outgoing than Tiff or Kelly. Bria certainly has the competitiveness, so she may emerge. Kaleena seems to be deferring to others, but she is more than capable of doing it. As we've seen before, this group may be "too nice." They need a different personna on the court.

Regarding Renee, I am reminded of something Geno said before her first season (paraphrasing): "She walks around Gampel as if she own the place." Renee was never one to be shy about anything.

 

[UConnCat]

Regarding Renee, I am reminded of something Geno said before her first season (paraphrasing): "She walks around Gampel as if she own the place." Renee was never one to be shy about anything.

I'll never forget the game against Rutgers when Prince fouled Maya hard while Maya was going up for a layup. After checking on Maya, Renee walked right up to the huddle of Rutgers players and asked Prince if she intended to foul Maya that hard. That's a leader.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I'll never forget the game against Rutgers when Prince fouled Maya hard while Maya was going up for a layup. After checking on Maya, Renee walked right up to the huddle of Rutgers players and asked Prince if she intended to foul Maya that hard. That's a leader.

The mugging that hurt Maya's butt and may have impacted her game vs. Stanford in 2008!

I can see Caroline in the same role. She'd be looking for someone to punch and then ask questions.

 

[Kibitzer]

It would be hard for someone with physical challenges like C Doty to be a vocal leader. I wonder if Kelly Faris can take up the slack. Hartley is still learning the offensive and defensive schemes.

"Hartley is still learning the offensive. . . schemes."

Yeah, so is Chris Daily.

 

[Icebear]

The mugging that hurt Maya's butt and may have impacted her game vs. Stanford in 2008!

I can see Caroline in the same role. She'd be looking for someone to punch and then ask questions.

Caroline has already done that type of thing.

 

[VAUConnFan]

The mugging that hurt Maya's butt and may have impacted her game vs. Stanford in 2008!

I can see Caroline in the same role. She'd be looking for someone to punch and then ask questions.

Of course, you are entitled to hold that opinion, but Maya scored 20 points on 8-19 shooting with 9 rebounds. Candice Wiggins, generally acknowledged as the difference for Stanford, scored 25 points on 7-19 shooting while collecting 13 rebounds.
Between the Rutgers game to which you refer and the Stanford game, there was a period of 33 days during which Maya Moore and UConn played seven other games; The Big East Tournament and the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Maya's stats briefly:
DePaul 6-16, 15 rebounds, 14 pts
Pittsburgh 3-6, 6 rebounds, 7 pts
Louisville 5-14, 4 rebounds, 13 points
Cornell 7-16, 8 rebounds, 17 points
Texas 10-15, 12 rebounds, 24 points; (Who can forget the four consecutive threes she drained in the first half? or the nifty one hand over the head catch of a Kaili McLaren pass for a layup? Or, the play of the game when Maya chased down the Texas fastbreak and blocked the layup out of bounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWukBrbBjGE
Old Dominion 10-20, 11 rebounds, 25 points
Rutgers 3-7, 5 rebounds, 7 points

While I do not expect these stats to quell the bad feelings toward Epiphany Prince and Rutgers, maybe it will put to rest any notion of Maya being adversely affected over a month later by the hard foul.

 

[Olde Coach]

Mel published a book that part of the content said C Houston was purposefully resisting the scheme Geno was implementing. This sort of thing happens on teams.

With all due respect, Cafe, Mel said no such thing in her book.
Nor has she ever thought such a thing about Charde.

I speak as the editor of Mel's book. I have read her entire manuscript (very carefully) at least ten times, and many parts of it more than that. I know very precisely what is in Heart of a Husky.

The language you have chosen ("purposefully resisting the scheme that Geno was implementing") implies an intentional undermining of Geno's coaching procedures and goals. This point of view has no basis in fact regarding Charde's experience at UConn. Nor is it relevant to the search for leadership on this year's team -- the central subject of this thread.

Charde was inconsistent and unpredictable in her relationships with teammates, coaches, UConn fans and the press. But she was never an intentionally negative participant in the program.

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

With all due respect, Cafe, Mel said no such thing in her book.
Nor has she ever thought such a thing about Charde.

I speak as the editor of Mel's book. I have read her entire manuscript (very carefully) at least ten times, and many parts of it more than that. I know very precisely what is in Heart of a Husky.

The language you have chosen ("purposefully resisting the scheme that Geno was implementing") implies an intentional undermining of Geno's coaching procedures and goals. This point of view has no basis in fact regarding Charde's experience at UConn. Nor is it relevant to the search for leadership on this year's team -- the central subject of this thread.

Charde was inconsistent and unpredictable in her relationships with teammates, coaches, UConn fans and the press. But she was never an intentionally negative participant in the program.

Well, The reading of the book says what I said, you perceive me as saying "intentional undermining of Geno's coaching etc, I never used those words or said what you are saying, what I said is "C Houston was purposefully resisting the scheme Geno was implementing" exact words not your interpretation of them, I never said she was trying to undermine Geno as you insinuate, I do understand your perspective, but you are adding on intent and words I never used, it is a bit unbecoming to purposefully reword and then redefine the actual statement made.

 

[Icebear]

Well, The reading of the book says what I said, you perceive me as saying "intentional undermining of Geno's coaching etc, I never used those words or said what you are saying, what I said is "C Houston was purposefully resisting the scheme Geno was implementing" exact words not your interpretation of them, I never said she was trying to undermine Geno as you insinuate, I do understand your perspective, but you are adding on intent and words I never used, it is a bit unbecoming to purposefully reword and then redefine the actual statement made.

Good communication practice requires restatement in different words to ascertain the meaning of a statement as given. Clearly, you understood the words you used differently than OC read them and I would say as I read them, too. His restatement made you object and give further clarification. That is helpful. The phrase "purposefully resisting" does smack of working against the team goal and that can easily be termed "consciously undermining" you have said that isn't how you understood it. That helps tremendouslyto clarify what you saw the words to imply. OC, consciously or unconsciously, did exactly what was necessary in communication process. Once common understanding of the content of words is achieved dialog has a means to an end.