LSU's Kim Mulkey BENCHES Angel Reece in 2nd Half

[Gordo]

@TC22 - I agree with your opening remark. But coaches do get some credit for the players than move on into the pros. I don't think we were discussing that per se. I'm assuming SC (stands for So. Carolina, it isn't important), but yes I suspect all schools with potential pros on their roster provide them with at least some, if not all, of the tools you have referred to with one exception. Unless times (and rules have changed), I believe having an "agent" would be against NCAA rules while still an active roster player. Superstar players with NIL certainly need assistance, but I am unaware if that help comes from th school or from the personal life or both?

I don't agree with your last statement at all. Her job is to WIN games and have her players prepared to do just that. Her record speaks for itself. What she doesn't do is pamper spoiled brats on her team. Angel Reese is a spoiled brat with a defiant attitude! Geno on the other hand generally doesn't have to deal with that based on the caliber of young women he recruits and signs.

 

[visitingcock]

A LOT of misunderstanding going on in the last ten or so posts. My post about “ agree to disagree” should have been in blue to signal that I was joking. I apologize to @Gordo

Let’s all Peace Out

 

[Gordo]

A LOT of misunderstanding going on in the last ten or so posts. My post about “ agree to disagree” should have been in blue to signal that I was joking. I apologize to @Gordo

Let’s all Peace Out

Thank you! I don't want problems with anyone here. I love having discussions, commenting, and passing along some of the things I've learned about this game and it's players and coaches. I've been around a very long time, have even been on this site for many more years than my current handle indicates. I realize that my style can sometimes come off offensive, but there is never anything personal meant by them. We all are UConn fans who just at times see things differently.

 

[Cockygirl]

Since nil started, college kids are allowed to have agents and should. It is the coach’s job to win games but smart ones will offer much more in order to gain favor in recruit’s eyes. As a parent I would certainly be looking for a coach that will treat my child like her family away from home. Just as a parent wants to set their child up for success, I think most coaches want to do the same for their players. I love how Dawn always says she wants to be a dream merchant. She wants her player’s dreams to become reality and she helps them in every way she can. No … it is not a requirement of her job but it is an added bonus that recruits and their families definitely take note of. I look at it like someone weighing two job opportunities. Yes one job may seem more lucrative up front but the other could have more benefits that in the long run will reap more success.

 

[Gordo]

Since nil started, college kids are allowed to have agents and should. It is the coach’s job to win games but smart ones will offer much more in order to gain favor in recruit’s eyes. As a parent I would certainly be looking for a coach that will treat my child like her family away from home. Just as a parent wants to set their child up for success, I think most coaches want to do the same for their players. I love how Dawn always says she wants to be a dream merchant. She wants her player’s dreams to become reality and she helps them in every way she can. No … it is not a requirement of her job but it is an added bonus that recruits and their families definitely take note of. I look at it like someone weighing two job opportunities. Yes one job may seem more lucrative up front but the other could have more benefits that in the long run will reap more success.

Yes, following my post questioning "agents", I looked it up and stand corrected. As for the rest of your commentary, I agree with you for whatever that means. What individual coaches offer recruits depends on many things ... winning record certainly being in the top 3, especially for those players who know they have a very high probably of reaching the pros.

 

[omshanti]

@TC22 - I agree with your opening remark. But coaches do get some credit for the players than move on into the pros. I don't think we were discussing that per se. I'm assuming SC (stands for So. Carolina, it isn't important), but yes I suspect all schools with potential pros on their roster provide them with at least some, if not all, of the tools you have referred to with one exception. Unless times (and rules have changed), I believe having an "agent" would be against NCAA rules while still an active roster player. Superstar players with NIL certainly need assistance, but I am unaware if that help comes from th school or from the personal life or both?

I don't agree with your last statement at all. Her job is to WIN games and have her players prepared to do just that. Her record speaks for itself. What she doesn't do is pamper spoiled brats on her team. Angel Reese is a spoiled brat with a defiant attitude! Geno on the other hand generally doesn't have to deal with that based on the caliber of young women he recruits and signs.

I don’t think calling Angel Reese a ‘spoiled brat’ is appropriate at all. Whatever one thinks of any college athlete is not a reason to post something offensive. She is a college kid. Period. That’s just disrespectful and unnecessary. Whatever is happening with her is not a reason to call her names. Goodness…

 

[BRS24]

Sorry, I've changed my mind about responding to you.

All of what you said sounds good, but in reality you're not saying much that I didn't ... just differently. You say, "coaches give them the tools to succeed at a professional BB level." What does that statement mean to you exactly? What tools over and above teaching them how to play the best brand of basketball they can and with their natural God given abilities can a coach give them? So if they are coaching them to play the best basketball they can as a cohesive teammate (as I said), is that not doing the same thing? Do you think college head coaches set aside time to talk to their team about being pro basketball players? Seriously? They may answer questions from players about that on an individual basis, but not what you're talking about. Head coaches at all levels of college and professional sports are paid the big bucks to WIN. If anyone at the college level provides much advice to players about becoming pros it would most likely be one of the assistants.

Players know if they possess the talents and abilities to play at the next level. Coaches have done their job of preparing players with pro talents by helping them grow, by teaching them all they can about how to play this game. It's not really the job of a college head coach to hold their hand into the pro game. Not all players turning pro will play in the WNBA by the way! If a player with an attitude (such as Reese) were to leave LSU today, there would be plenty of pro teams needing the type of skills she possess willing to take a chance on her ... WNBA or elsewhere! Have you seen her play?

You're just dead wrong regarding the Alexis Morris rumor thing. You're not giving any thought to understanding how these types of rumors start. Once they do, each time the rumor is told to others it gets altered to some degree. So she says in jest in front of a few people, 'oh, you mean I need an agent?' The next time it's told, it's said that she doesn't even know she needs an agent ... indicating that she is dumb. And please don't tell me that all bloggers and members of the media in general are totally honest and above board. It only takes one to alter a rumor and then away it goes being changed and altered along the way.

No hard feelings, we can just agree to disagree.

What I heard (it was a live broadcast, Morris wasn't the one talking) with respect to Morris was clear, however I'll concede the point based on what you and @JDuro have said above. That wasn't the main idea of my original post. Other than posts here on the BY, we don't know each other, so I'd appreciate that you not assume that I don't understand how rumors start.

On the point of coaches talking to players or giving them the tools about the professional level? Yes, I believe good college coaches discuss career options with players, just like my engineering professors did for me. The difference between college and pro skills, abilities, schedules, expectations, game prep, etc is immense, and some players don't realize that once they are out of school, there's very little structure and most of the off court "stuff" is up to them to manage. College players have very scheduled daily routines for everything - practice, rehab, study hall, meals, etc. I never implied that coaches are going to "hold their hand into the pro game." With respect to UConn, do I believe that Geno and the staff discuss some of these things with the players and outline the expectations if they want to play pro (US, EU, etc)? Yes, I do, based on articles and interviews I've read from former players over the past years.

ps @visitingcock, no worries, my BY handle is neutral, just like many, but I'm a she.

 

[wbbhoops278]

I don’t think calling Angel Reese a ‘spoiled brat’ is appropriate at all. Whatever one thinks of any college athlete is not a reason to post something offensive. She is a college kid. Period. That’s just disrespectful and unnecessary. Whatever is happening with her is not a reason to call her names. Goodness…

Thank you for this. Given the number of spoiled brats who exist on this site...the irony is not lost.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Dawn talks a lot about preparing the players to be pros, fwiw.

I think it's an odd position for a fan to take that the coach doesn't owe the players anything and her job is just to win. That does seem to be KM's philosophy though.

 

[awhom111]

Gooodness gracious, ya’ll act like a bunch of teenage girls. I’m going to put my 2 cents worth in. Maybe it’s not the coach’s OBLIGATION to prepare them for the league, but if you look at the coaches who consistently have players drafted and stick with the league, the Coach should get some credit. I don’t know what goes on in other programs but I do know at SC all our girls have an agent, they are all given the financial tools to deal with any money they earn, and they know how to prepare their bodies for a long season. They are given tools to deal with the media and so are the parents. It’s pretty obvious that Kim wants to win games and doesnt see it as her job to worry about her players other than that.

During her rookie season, DiDi Richards told the media that she was not aware that the WNBA existed until Kalani Brown was drafted. I choose to believe that she knew and then just did not care until later in her career. She was recruited by big enough programs that I just cannot imagine that none of them ever mentioned their WNBA track record or asked her what her post-college aspirations were.

 

[oldhusky]

During her rookie season, DiDi Richards told the media that she was not aware that the WNBA existed until Kalani Brown was drafted. I choose to believe that she knew and then just did not care until later in her career. She was recruited by big enough programs that I just cannot imagine that none of them ever mentioned their WNBA track record or asked her what her post-college aspirations were.

I think that vast majority of the top 100 or so recruits every year dream about a WNBA career, or being able to play for pay abroad after their collegiate career is over. Coming from a scenario where you were the best player on your team and maybe in your state, it would be easy to be overly optimistic about those prospects, when in reality only 15 or so will last in the WNBA.

I hope coaches do discuss career prospects with players that at least have the potential to play for pay, but suspect that they may tell far more than is realistic, "come here and I can make you a pro". With monetary differences and opportunities now a huge part of their college experience, and players entering the portal without having to wait a year, coaches have a lot more to deal with than just preparing their team for games.

 

[Gordo]

@BRS24 - My last words on this subject will be ... coaches (head & assistants) prepare their most likely pro candidates by teaching them how to play this game better ... individually and collectively as a team. The head coach especially (in season) is far too busy doing their level best getting his/her players ready to beat the next opponent. That's his/her responsibility ... to WIN! NIL has brought agents into play which further relieves any perceived responsibility in this regard. But, of course, coaches (head & assistants) with and without actual experiences of playing in the pros will pass along information. I never meant to imply otherwise and don't think I did.

By the way, the "LisaG" under your handle is a pretty good indication that you are most likely a female. Have a good day!

 

[maple]

I knew Reese didn't have a GPA over 2.0 (needs 1.8 to be eligible) since she really wasn't in the mix for any of the POA last season & that was one of the requirements. This is all on Kim Mulkey, she built this roster, let her figure it out LOL.

I struggle to understand how LSU couldn't "somehow" find a way to make Reese academically eligible. It makes me wonder what else is going on.

 

[cancontent]

I struggle to understand how LSU couldn't "somehow" find a way to make Reese academically eligible. It makes me wonder what else is going on.

No one knows for sure if she is / isn't academically available for this current season. Everything discussed in this thread as to the actual reason are based on rumours and interpretations of what's been posted online.

Last season's academic discussion was over one specific national award, the Naismith one, if I recall correctly, where a min GPA of 2.0 was required. She obviously was eligible as she played the full season.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

No one knows for sure if she is / isn't academically available for this current season. Everything discussed in this thread as to the actual reason are based on rumours and interpretations of what's been posted online.

Last season's academic discussion was over one specific national award, the Naismith one, if I recall correctly, where a min GPA of 2.0 was required. She obviously was eligible as she played the full season.

I believe the academic speculation is completely untrue. The timeline doesn't make sense for an academic suspension. Grades shouldn't come out until the semester ends in December. So if she's ineligible now, she should have been ineligible to start the season too.

 

[BRS24]

I believe the academic speculation is completely untrue. The timeline doesn't make sense for an academic suspension. Grades shouldn't come out until the semester ends in December. So if she's ineligible now, she should have been ineligible to start the season too.

I agree that we don't have any idea on the academics, however with the end of the semester approaching, if a student has no chance in passing a course, then who knows? LSU's last day of classes is 12/3, exams 12/4-9. Regardless of the reason of her being away from the team, I hope it gets resolved sooner than later for everyone's sake.

and on edit - I hope that whatever Reese needs, it's provided to her.

 

[CardsWBBfan]

I believe the academic speculation is completely untrue. The timeline doesn't make sense for an academic suspension. Grades shouldn't come out until the semester ends in December. So if she's ineligible now, she should have been ineligible to start the season too.

I agree about it not being academics. She was benched after playing a half in a game. She since hasn’t been back. If it were academics she would not have played at all.

 

[Tonyc]

Hey guys we dont know what happened that caused her to not show up for the game. Kim is saying nothing but seems clearly upset. So until we know what the reason(s) are lets not say anything because we dont know.

 

[Geew1992]

Hey guys we dont know what happened that caused her to not show up for the game. Kim is saying nothing but seems clearly upset. So until we know what the reason(s) are lets not say anything because we dont know.

I dont think she “didn’t show up for the game”. I have never heard a player just not show up? Have you? She was suspended. Whether it’s 1 game or 10 games, we shall soon find out

 

[maple]

Thank you everyone for the clarifications.

 

[Centerstream]

Didn't the team have some kind of shoot around today for tonight's cakewalk? If so, are they closed? Because if not, I would think that someone would have reported her status...
Just throwing it up against the wall...

 

[cancontent]

I dont think she “didn’t show up for the game”. I have never heard a player just not show up? Have you? She was suspended. Whether it’s 1 game or 10 games, we shall soon find out

Based on Mulkey's demeanour when asked, I doubt we'll ever know for sure if it's a suspension. It will always be speculation unless Mulkey or Reece decide to talk, regardless how many games.

 

[Britt87]

She was suspended and not for grades. Like one of the posters in this thread said earlier. She got in an altercation with her teammates. One of which was Flaujae.

 

[cancontent]

She was suspended and not for grades. Like one of the posters in this thread said earlier. She got in an altercation with her teammates. One of which was Flaujae.

Posters who are reporting third hand information from unverified sources. The school hasn't, nor likely will confirm or deny anything. Not saying it isn't possible, but without verifiable proof, it still has to be considered speculation.

 

[oldude]

I was skeptical of the “academic problem” explanation when I first heard it. However, the longer this goes on, the more likely that explanation is accurate.

If this was just a “behavior” issue, I would think a 1 game suspension would get Kim’s message across to Reese. But if Reese has blown off classes and is in danger of being put on academic probation, the remedy may involve a more sustained set of actions to get her academic performance in line with school requirements.