Some of you can be such self absorbed d-bags sometimes. The OP never said anything like "the women could beat the men" or even "why can't the men win as much as the women". There was never a direct comparison of the teams. He just implied that maybe KO could learn something from Geno. Anyone that thinks that Geno just recruits and then tosses the players out there is as much an idiot as anyone that thinks KO doesn't try to get the team to run set plays. Geno is one of the greatest BASKETBALL COACHES of all times, period. Yes, he recruits the most talented players. The same players are also coachable. That is not a mistake or coincidence. In fact, he does NOT have the 10 best players in the country. What he has is the 10 best players that are also coachable. He then coaches the crap out of them and demands perfection. He demands precision and discipline. The same philosophy can and HAS been used to elevate male players and men's teams. In fact, it is probably why our out-talented teams of 2011 and 2014 won the championships. But this year's team either flat out lacks sufficient talent or there are too many players who refuse to play disciplined ball because no one can argue that we see this team playing good basketball right now. Either they can't execute what they are being taught or they refuse to. Either way, it isn't acceptable and HAS to change. Sadly, I think what we are seeing is the combination of lack of talent and lack of discipline.
In my mind, KO gets a pass this year for what he has already accomplished. But beyond this one year, the Manuel/contract and/or NCAA sanctions and/or lack of practice facility and/or AAC excuses become just that...excuses. Enough. Maybe it is asking too much to win anymore championships while we are stuck in this conference but it is NOT too much to ask for something that resembles a basketball team. There are plenty of teams in non-power conferences that put Top 25 teams on the floor EVERY year. And if people want to say that we have to suck for 2-3 years to have that one championship run on the fourth, fine...I get it. But it better happen..........
1. Geno doesn't need to go out and plead, beg and borrow to get the best players - they come to him. Its hard for me to fathom why athletes who are deemed among the top 50 in their sport would throw away the competetive drive they have to come to UConn and play second and third string. I've coached both girls and boys for over 25 years from the U-6 level all the way to Olympic Development. A vast majority of those athletes entering the college age, the ones who felt the strongest about playing at the collegiate level, would search for schools that would afford them the best shot at starting and playing significant minutes. I coached plenty of all state players and I can't name one male athlete who said they wanted to go to X University because they would be satisfied sitting on a bench but winning championships. However, several of the females would/were considering going to Y University, knowing they would be sitting but winning.
Remember - Geno hasn't ALWAYS recruited the mos coachable - there have been bad apples.
2. Geno is a great women's coach, but part of that greatness is definately attributed to the sheer talent of some of his players - ala Phil Jackson. Take MJ, Pippen, Kobe, Shaq out of the equation. We saw what happened to Phil when MJ skipped town a few years and Kobe/Shaq were hurt. Would Geno win championships without Rebecca, Svet, Dianna, Bird, etc? These women were hands and heads above most any other in their sport and alone would carry the load. As far as play calling - I hate to be sexist but women follow directions better than men and the flow of the womens game, due to a lower level of physicality and speed, allows plays to appear to run much more mechanical and as drawn up.
3. This year's mens team is not a case of refusing to run plays - thats absurb. I think the reason is that they are young, haven't had any tenure in melding as a cohesive group and the fact that they are being physically beaten up by most every team they face. Sometimes it looks like men against boys. Conversely, with Geno's team, night in and night out it looks like an Olympic team vs a rec team. I would like to know where your hint at a lack of discipline comes from - where is the proof?
4. Your last paragraph is simply mind boggling to me. Thanks from all of us life long UConn fans that you have granted KO a pass for this year but your ultimatum kind of fizzled at the end - "But it better happen.............." Please elaborate
Also I question the validity of "plenty of no P5 conferences" that consistantly put out several top 25 teams. A few, yes, plenty, no. Not being in a P5 for a program such as UConn and even Gonzaga is a definite detriment.
...they are totally whacked and in their own little world, which is fine. But to think Geno's NC's vs JC's are close in comparison is just plain out of your mind.