Louisville Loses to ‘Cuse

[beauxregard]

From a Louisville fan: It amazes me Jeff allowed Balogun go play for another team during our season. I get wanting to let Balogun experience playing for her national team, however to the detriment of her teammates seems ridiculous to me. I just wonder what Jeff said to Kylie Shook and Dana Evans, and of course they said they supported it. What else are they gonna say?

To be honest making a run at a nation championship would seem like a better experience then losing for your national team. To be honest I dont think we get the mojo back the rest of the season and will be out of the tourney before regional finals!!!

 

[Zanzman]

Of course no I’ve wants the honor of representing their country

 

[beauxregard]

Of course no I’ve wants the honor of representing their country

Oh I agree. However how many would want to represent their nation if it jeopardizes the success of their top notch college teammates and team? I dont fault Balogun she is young and likely didnt fully consider the decisions impact on her teammates especially after Walz said she could go.

 

[nwhoopfan]

From a Louisville fan: It amazes me Jeff allowed Balogun go play for another team during our season. I get wanting to let Balogun experience playing for her national team, however to the detriment of her teammates seems ridiculous to me. I just wonder what Jeff said to Kylie Shook and Dana Evans, and of course they said they supported it. What else are they gonna say?

To be honest making a run at a nation championship would seem like a better experience then losing for your national team. To be honest I dont think we get the mojo back the rest of the season and will be out of the tourney before regional finals!!!

Sabally from Oregon missed a few games to compete for the German National Team right at the beginning of the season. That was a bit disruptive too but they've had plenty of time to gel since then. Yeah, mid season, I can't really understand it either.

 

[Zanzman]

Oh I agree. However how many would want to represent their nation if it jeopardizes the success of their top notch college teammates and team? I dont fault Balogun she is young and likely didnt fully consider the decisions impact on her teammates especially after Walz said she could go.

See it all the time from other countries just not the US

 

[beauxregard]

See it all the time from other countries just not the US

I fault the UofL coaching staff. They are either focus on winning a title or they are not!!! I realize that is very black and white, but I do believe it is that simple!!!

 

[j66kicker]

I bet Waltz agreed to it while recruiting her, as he should. You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that playing for one’s college is a higher priority than playing for one’s country.

 

[uconnfan68]

From a Louisville fan: It amazes me Jeff allowed Balogun go play for another team during our season. I get wanting to let Balogun experience playing for her national team, however to the detriment of her teammates seems ridiculous to me. I just wonder what Jeff said to Kylie Shook and Dana Evans, and of course they said they supported it. What else are they gonna say?

To be honest making a run at a nation championship would seem like a better experience then losing for your national team. To be honest I dont think we get the mojo back the rest of the season and will be out of the tourney before regional finals!!!

This isn’t the tournament. She’ll be back for that.

 

[bballnut90]

From a Louisville fan: It amazes me Jeff allowed Balogun go play for another team during our season. I get wanting to let Balogun experience playing for her national team, however to the detriment of her teammates seems ridiculous to me. I just wonder what Jeff said to Kylie Shook and Dana Evans, and of course they said they supported it. What else are they gonna say?

To be honest making a run at a nation championship would seem like a better experience then losing for your national team. To be honest I dont think we get the mojo back the rest of the season and will be out of the tourney before regional finals!!!

Being able to rep your country is an experience of a lifetime, especially helping them qualify for the upcoming Olympics and likely securing your spot on the team. The decision should be up to Balogun IMO. She's missed what, 2 games? It's not like she missed a full month. Obviously she was missed by Louisville but it'd be selfish on Walz's part to deny her that experience , especially since there's still almost a month left in the regular season and she'll be there for post season play.

 

[willtalk]

Yes, Sabally played but got in late and missed Germanys first game against Serbia which they barely lost. With Sabally there they probably would have won and she might have been playing this weekend in the qualifiers and missed Oregons key games against the Arizona teams.

 

[beauxregard]

I bet Waltz agreed to it while recruiting her, as he should. You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that playing for one’s college is a higher priority than playing for one’s country.

No I believe you are focused on winning a title or you are not. You do not add undue risk!!! Again i dont have a problem with Balogun playing for her national team, but during the season and to a risk to her teammates I have a serious problem with it. Its a bad coaching decision.

 

[beauxregard]

Being able to rep your country is an experience of a lifetime, especially helping them qualify for the upcoming Olympics and likely securing your spot on the team. The decision should be up to Balogun IMO. She's missed what, 2 games? It's not like she missed a full month. Obviously she was missed by Louisville but it'd be selfish on Walz's part to deny her that experience , especially since there's still almost a month left in the regular season and she'll be there for post season play.

I respectfully diagree. Its a decision that the coach who is responsible for the rest of the team should make. IMO Walz made a bad one here!!! I am sure you agree that having a shot of winning a natty might be a pretty good experience itself.

 

[Zanzman]

I respectfully diagree. Its a decision that the coach who is responsible for the rest of the team should make. IMO Walz made a bad one here!!! I am sure you agree that having a shot of winning a natty might be a pretty good experience itself.

Still rather represent my country then win a natty which Louisville is not winning anyways

 

[bballnut90]

I respectfully diagree. Its a decision that the coach who is responsible for the rest of the team should make. IMO Walz made a bad one here!!! I am sure you agree that having a shot of winning a natty might be a pretty good experience itself.

Missing 2 games doesn't take away Louisville's shot at a championship. And it's not like she's skipping out for a music festival, it's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity that's basketball related. Every WNBA team loses players due to national team commitments, a lot of NCAA teams do too. Doing anything other than letting her go play would be a terrible look for Louisville and the wrong choice IMO.

 

[j66kicker]

No I believe you are focused on winning a title or you are not. You do not add undue risk!!! Again i dont have a problem with Balogun playing for her national team, but during the season and to a risk to her teammates I have a serious problem with it. Its a bad coaching decision.

You’re still prioritizing her college team over her national team for her. She and Waltz obviously feel differently, as most reasonable people would. Her ‘real’ teammates are in Nigeria, her home country. Waltz is on the USA Basketball coaching staff, so he gets it.

BTW no way Louisville is winning a title this year anyway, so if that’s your argument then it’s a moot point.

 

[maccca3232]

Missing 2 games doesn't take away Louisville's shot at a championship. And it's not like she's skipping out for a music festival, it's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity that's basketball related. Every WNBA team loses players due to national team commitments, a lot of NCAA teams do too. Doing anything other than letting her go play would be a terrible look for Louisville and the wrong choice IMO.

Obviously in the short term it's not helping their projected seeding. Honestly though player's miss games throughout the season regularly and from a glass-is-half-full perspective, it should have given other players an opportunity to step into new roles which maybe required later in the year if she gets into to foul trouble.

 

[beauxregard]

Missing 2 games doesn't take away Louisville's shot at a championship. And it's not like she's skipping out for a music festival, it's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity that's basketball related. Every WNBA team loses players due to national team commitments, a lot of NCAA teams do too. Doing anything other than letting her go play would be a terrible look for Louisville and the wrong choice IMO.

I see it completely opposite from you. If a coach is more player driven then team success driven is a concern!!!

 

[bballnut90]

Some big picture what ifs:

1. What if Taurasi chose to go to her other finalist, UCLA? UCONN likely isn't nearly as good in 2003 and 2004.

2. What if Maya chooses Tennessee over Connecticut? Moore and Parker play together for a year, Tennessee likely still remains a top title threat for her collegiate career.

3. What if Candace Parker goes to Duke? Tennessee likely has 2 less titles, GG likely never leaves, Duke likely wins it all in 06/07, possibly 08.

4. For Notre Dame....what if Achonwa doesn't get injured in the Elite 8? What if Loyd doesn't bolt for the pros early? What if Turner doesn't tear her ACL in the NCAAs? What if Reimer doesn't quit midseason as a junior and sticks around in 2017? What if they have McBride on the roster in 2011? Lots of what ifs at that program that could've potentially propelled them to multiple titles. On the flip side, what if Jess Shepard isn't eligible in 2018?