Megan speaks

[HuskyNan]

“Some ups and downs, but it's been positive,” Walker said of her freshman experience. “He's a great coach. He knows I have that potential. Everything he does, there's a reason for it. … I definitely think it's been a fair process, just going back to what I said: everything he does, there’s a purpose.”

UConn's Megan Walker On Her Freshman Season: 'A Fair Process'

She sounds a lot like Tina after her freshman year. I love this kid and will root hard for her to become the best player she can be.

 

[Bascomfan]

I hope this ends any speculation.

 

[MainefanSC]

“Some ups and downs, but it's been positive,” Walker said of her freshman experience. “He's a great coach. He knows I have that potential. Everything he does, there's a reason for it. … I definitely think it's been a fair process, just going back to what I said: everything he does, there’s a purpose.”

UConn's Megan Walker On Her Freshman Season: 'A Fair Process'

What she says sounds a lot like Tina after her freshman year. I love this kid and will root hard for her to become the best player she can be.

Thank you for this eye opener. My heart has ached for this young lady all season. Every time she goes into a game I want her to excel. Geno knows she has "it" and is trying to get "it" to blossom. This article relieves some of my angst. She apparently is accepting of Geno's coaching style and willing to earn his trust. I believe that her potential is limitless, if she applies herself and it sounds like she is willing to work hard.

 

[Blaneylover]

“Some ups and downs, but it's been positive,” Walker said of her freshman experience. “He's a great coach. He knows I have that potential. Everything he does, there's a reason for it. … I definitely think it's been a fair process, just going back to what I said: everything he does, there’s a purpose.”

UConn's Megan Walker On Her Freshman Season: 'A Fair Process'

She sounds a lot like Tina after her freshman year. I love this kid and will root hard for her to become the best player she can be.

This makes me (in a way that would conform to The Rules) very relieved.

 

[eebmg]

Another important quote in the article showing her mindset.

Walker said the most important takeaways from the season have been that she needs to improve defensively and have a consistent approach and effort.

“You have to compete just as hard as everybody on the team — Kia, Gabby, Lou, everybody,” she said. “You have to think harder than ever and really focus in on what the task is.”

 

[oldude]

The article references the Tulane game a few weeks back, when Megan & Mikayla never got off the bench. The BY was beside itself. At that time, I commented that MW & Mikayla knew exactly why they didn’t play. This article confirmed my opinion, at least as far as MW is concerned.

Geno and his staff are constantly communicating with the players. In addition, the veteran players serve as a tremendous support staff. As MW, Mikayla, Lexi, and even AEH go through their freshman struggles at UConn, all they have to do is talk to Gabby, Lou, Crystal and the rest of their teammates to understand that UConn is not a destination. It’s a journey.

 

[MJL243]

It sounds like the reporter reads the Boneyard:

"The public might see Walker produce in short segments and question Auriemma’s decision to keep riding her and sitting her. Or they might see her struggle and question Auriemma’s decision not to allow her to play through more mistakes.

That’s not how it works.

A player has to be succeeding at high levels in various areas — the film room, the classroom, the weight room, during practices. It’s been hard for Walker to string it all together, so her first season at UConn has become more about learning hard lessons than contributing to easy victories.

Why wouldn’t Auriemma change his approach? Because the program is built on expectations across the board. And if he was to let one player, a top recruit like Walker, be satisfied with mediocrity or rewarded while striving for anything less than perfection, well, the whole recipe goes out the window. A program is more about its process than its body of work, and that process — and, in turn, the program — would be negatively impacted."

 

[Charliebball]

The article references the Tulane game a few weeks back, when Megan & Mikayla never got off the bench. The BY was beside itself. At that time, I commented that MW & Mikayla knew exactly why they didn’t play. This article confirmed my opinion, at least as far as MW is concerned.

Geno and his staff are constantly communicating with the players. In addition, the veteran players serve as a tremendous support staff. As MW, Mikayla, Lexi, and even AEH go through their freshman struggles at UConn, all they have to do is talk to Gabby, Lou, Crystal and the rest of their teammates to understand that UConn is not a destination. It’s a journey.

I was beside myself not because I wanted them to get another chance to play but rather because injured starters were sacrificed in order to prove a point..................

 

[LesMis89]

It sounds like the reporter reads the Boneyard:

"The public might see Walker produce in short segments and question Auriemma’s decision to keep riding her and sitting her. Or they might see her struggle and question Auriemma’s decision not to allow her to play through more mistakes.

That’s not how it works.

A player has to be succeeding at high levels in various areas — the film room, the classroom, the weight room, during practices. It’s been hard for Walker to string it all together, so her first season at UConn has become more about learning hard lessons than contributing to easy victories.

Why wouldn’t Auriemma change his approach? Because the program is built on expectations across the board. And if he was to let one player, a top recruit like Walker, be satisfied with mediocrity or rewarded while striving for anything less than perfection, well, the whole recipe goes out the window. A program is more about its process than its body of work, and that process — and, in turn, the program — would be negatively impacted."

That was my first thought as well after reading that passage. Made me smile.

 

[Scud49]

After reading that article, I just breathed big sigh of relief.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

A fair number of us worry QUIETLY. Of course, what Megan is saying is old hat about "the Program" and she might not be genuine in expressing it, but I highly doubt that. Freshman year is a shock, but I think she's been weathering it well and with some composure and dignity,

 

[HuskyNan]

It sounds like the reporter reads the Boneyard

They all read the Boneyard, including the national press.

Family, friends, and former coaches of the current, future, and potential players read the 'yard, too.

 

[Bascomfan]

After championship #12 is in the basket she will be more motivated next season.

 

[Papa33]

They all read the Boneyard, including the national press.

Family, friends, and former coaches of the current, future, and potential players read the 'yard, too.

Oh, dear!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Meg has been positive all season, except for the game at Tulane. I don’t know what she and Mikayla did, but it got them benched. Penalty served, Meg played some decent minutes after that. I watched her closely in the Cincy replay, and thought she was very good. In 2 years, she’ll be the star talking about the struggles of the 2019 recruits and referencing how Lou helped her years before.

 

[Bama fan]

Oh, dear!

Oh, dear is right! We will all have to elevate our efforts and put our best foot forward. An audience is an awesome responsibility. Go Huskies and Go Boneyard! And Go Megan ,to get back in focus.

 

[donalddoowop]

Meg has been positive all season, except for the game at Tulane. I don’t know what she and Mikayla did, but it got them benched. Penalty served, Meg played some decent minutes after that. I watched her closely in the Cincy replay, and thought she was very good. In 2 years, she’ll be the star talking about the struggles of the 2019 recruits and referencing how Lou helped her years before.

How all the upper class players helped her years before.

 

[bags27]

Geno is complaining about "kids today." But what I see personally in my classrooms and, for example, from what Meg says, are kids with a great deal of character and a willingness to work very hard. I do mourn the days when kids were in my face more, refusing to believe what I said or see the world the same way as me, but these are also a terrific bunch of young people with their own strengths. Pretty soon, it's going to be their world to run, and I feel really good about that.

 

[DefenseBB]

1. @HuskyNan is the BEST! Thank you for posting
2. Can we send this article to Mushnick and more importantly to his editor to know and understand that STANDARDS for excellence should not be compromised. Otherwise you get mediocrity....

 

[Charliebball]

They all read the Boneyard, including the national press.

Family, friends, and former coaches of the current, future, and potential players read the 'yard, too.

other then some BY quotes from those "so called" basketball experts that turn up now and again how do we know that team affiliated folks are currently reading the BY?

 

[Bama fan]

other then some BY quotes from those "so called" basketball experts that turn up now and again how do we know that team affiliated folks are currently reading the BY?

We feel it in our bones.

 

[BigBird]

Geno is complaining about "kids today." But what I see personally in my classrooms and, for example, from what Meg says, are kids with a great deal of character and a willingness to work very hard. I do mourn the days when kids were in my face more, refusing to believe what I said or see the world the same way as me, but these are also a terrific bunch of young people with their own strengths. Pretty soon, it's going to be their world to run, and I feel really good about that.

Great post, Bags. Spot on. Most people outside of higher ed wouldn't really be able to grasp the importance of the "in my face" part of it. One of the first things I remember learning as a college freshman was a bit from my philosophy course. "Truth is the product of the conflict of ideas."

 

[Bigpetunia]

“Some ups and downs, but it's been positive,” Walker said of her freshman experience. “He's a great coach. He knows I have that potential. Everything he does, there's a reason for it. … I definitely think it's been a fair process, just going back to what I said: everything he does, there’s a purpose.”

UConn's Megan Walker On Her Freshman Season: 'A Fair Process'

She sounds a lot like Tina after her freshman year. I love this kid and will root hard for her to become the best player she can be.

I will gladly settle right now for a so-so Sophomore season followed by Junior and Senior seasons that remind all of us of Tina and her two final chapters in this uniform!

 

[oldude]

I was beside myself not because I wanted them to get another chance to play but rather because injured starters were sacrificed in order to prove a point...

My comment was not directed at a specific member of the BY, but since you mentioned injured starters, there were still 5 other reserves on Geno’s bench excluding MW & Mikayla.

 

[Charliebball]

My comment was not directed at a specific member of the BY, but since you mentioned injured starters, there were still 5 other reserves on Geno’s bench excluding MW & Mikayla.

exactly.............I would have been happy if they put in the student manager up 40 points............

 

[Charliebball]

We feel it in our bones.

I sometimes think that we "flatter" ourselves when it comes to the relevance of the BY to the rest of the WBB world..................I view it as an extension of my discussions in the local watering hole although those can get far more contentious among some involved........

 

[HuskyNan]

other then some BY quotes from those "so called" basketball experts that turn up now and again how do we know that team affiliated folks are currently reading the BY?

I, personally, have been interviewed for an LA newspaper, was taped for the 60 Minutes segment on Geno, and interviewed in TK Karmels book on the Huskies. I’ve spoken to player parents and am Facebook friends with one.

Besides, years ago Tonya Cardoza told me at a UConn event that “everyone” reads the Boneyard except Geno. I asked Geno at that same event and he said he doesn’t although his wife reads it occasionally so h knows what’s going on. He called the Boneyard out once, by name

 

[Charliebball]

I, personally, have been interviewed for an LA newspaper, was taped for the 60 Minutes segment on Geno, and interviewed in TK Karmels book on the Huskies. I’ve spoken to player parents and am Facebook friends with one.

Besides, years ago Tonya Cardoza told me at a UConn event that “everyone” reads the Boneyard except Geno. I asked Geno at that same event and he said he doesn’t although his wife reads it occasionally so h knows what’s going on. He called the Boneyard out once, by name

Thanks for that............do they take anything said seriously or do they just find it amusing?

 

[HuskyNan]

Thanks for that..do they take anything said seriously or do they just find it amusing?

They didn’t say. Kathy Auriemma gave me a warm greeting when I met her and she found out who I am, though.

I should have mentioned most of the current and former UConn beat writers are my Facebook friends. John A is no longer with the Courant, btw :-(

 

[cabbie191]

They didn’t say. Kathy Auriemma gave me a warm greeting when I met her and she found out who I am, though.

I should have mentioned most of the current and former UConn beat writers are my Facebook friends. John A is no longer with the Courant, btw :-(

If you happen to know and are able to share, where did John land? I really enjoyed his writing and miss it.