Megan speaks

[EricSD]

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...

You REALLY think Geno would "sacrifice injured starters"??? Wow. Just to be clear, you are saying that Geno played injured starters, purposely risking further injury to them so he could sit Coombs and Walker to prove a point?

That might be one of the worst and nastiest criticisms I've ever seen regarding Geno, and I've seen a lot.

 

[schmendrick]

I for one never worried about Megan. She has a low-pulse calm about her--as well as a quiet ferocity.

Watch out.

 

[Buzzyboy]

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."

Love this. It's so concise and makes perfect sense. You've got to be consistent so as to maintain and any deviation would shake the foundation of what the program is about.

 

[Bama fan]

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

More than others here, you deserve that cred. Many of us, not so much! Keep up the BY rep,Nan.

 

[Charliebball]

You REALLY think Geno would "sacrifice injured starters"??? Wow. Just to be clear, you are saying that Geno played injured starters, purposely risking further injury to them so he could sit Coombs and Walker to prove a point?

That might be one of the worst and nastiest criticisms I've ever seen regarding Geno, and I've seen a lot.

Did Crystal not have shinsplints and Gabby not have a bad hip for many weeks during the season and did Geno often play one or both of them into the fourth quarter instead of bringing in bench players? I'm sure he believed that playing them extra minutes would not worsen their condition but any time a player is on the court and especially hustlers like those two you are risking further injury that's undeniable.............

 

[HuskyNan]

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

It just happened. Don’t know his futur e plans yet

 

[Bronx23]

I was pleased to read this article about Megan and what she had to say about her experiences at U Conn and her coach(es).
I'd rather wait and see it be implemented in whatever steps it takes, than crown it done at this time. Now the real work begins.
She needs to earn and maintain regular consistent playing time first. Then hopefully will be a starting role, then acknowledgement of her accomplishments long before her becoming a star or an AA.
All of us are amazed and admiring of Gabby, Pheesa, Kia and KLS because
of their hard work and non stop effort yet many here want to anoint MW the next star. It's earned through an on-going tough process.
Bronx23

 

[Gus Mahler]

to understand that UConn is not a destination. It’s a journey.

Nice thought.

 

[Gus Mahler]

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.

Now I'm too nervous to ever post again. [not really]

 

[Mister2]

For over 20 years, we've listened to Geno (and CD) explaining on countless TV programs his coaching methods and the way he operated at UCONN.

For over 20 years, we've listened to countless UCONN alums, whose names literally filled up the who's who in WCBB, describing Geno's methods and the way he operated.

For over 20 years, we've witnessed UCONN breaking and setting countless WCBB records, based on Geno's methods and the way he operated.

Now, perhaps I'm just too dense too comprehend, what exactly has been the MW situation that is so mysterious that warranted such wild speculation by some posters in the first place? I don't know. And what exactly has MW now revealed that is so at variance with the evidence complied over 20 years that warranted a collective sigh of relief by the same posters? I don't know.

What I do know, and I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar on it, is that next year, when Geno does not give Williams a ton of minutes, this board will light up again.

How dull life would have been without fan boards like the BY.

 

[Crossover]

Did Crystal not have shinsplints and Gabby not have a bad hip for many weeks during the season and did Geno often play one or both of them into the fourth quarter instead of bringing in bench players? I'm sure he believed that playing them extra minutes would not worsen their condition but any time a player is on the court and especially hustlers like those two you are risking further injury that's undeniable...

Actually, it is "deniable" that playing with these particular maladies "risk further injury." The team's medical staff has said that the risk is small. Perhaps they are not as informed or knowledgeable as you are, but they do "deny" your assertion.

 

[Charliebball]

Actually, it is "deniable" that playing with these particular maladies "risk further injury." The team's medical staff has said that the risk is small. Perhaps they are not as informed or knowledgeable as you are, but they do "deny" your assertion.

every additional minute a player is on the court is a minute when they can aggravate an existing injury or gain a new one............Gabby fell awkwardly a couple of games ago and reinjured her hip..............as I remember this happened in the middle of the game where she was needed so it was worth the risk..................playing when the team has a huge lead makes far less sense to me....................this is an ongoing discussion.....................I remember a poster quoting from a medical article that shinsplints aren't disabling and that Crystal would simply play through it.................Crystal then proceeded to sit out numerous practices and several games due to this injury.............the question is why were starters still out there on the court when the outcome of the game was beyond doubt..................Geno said that the bench players hadn't performed up to standard thus they would not play in the game.................so in effect several starters were forced to play additional meaningless minutes so that Geno's rules were maintained...............that's a fact

 

[trisailin]

every additional minute a player is on the court is a minute when they can aggravate an existing injury or gain a new one..

Charlie - apparently you don't believe every player that has ever passed through the program that has stated "practice is harder than the games". Sitting out 10 minutes of a game is NOT going to protect anything.

I am at a complete loss to understand your position.

 

[trb123]

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.

Boneyard has become the samizdat of WCBB without state censorship.
It is the Shakespeare of WCBB dramas, the Conan Doyle of WCBB detective stories and the Tolstoy of WCBB novels.

 

[Charliebball]

Charlie - apparently you don't believe every player that has ever passed through the program that has stated "practice is harder than the games". Sitting out 10 minutes of a game is NOT going to protect anything.

I am at a complete loss to understand your position.

that's perfectly fine..........sorry for your loss............

 

[MSGRET]

every additional minute a player is on the court is a minute when they can aggravate an existing injury or gain a new one..Gabby fell awkwardly a couple of games ago and reinjured her hip....as I remember this happened in the middle of the game where she was needed so it was worth the risk...playing when the team has a huge lead makes far less sense to me.....this is an ongoing discussion......I remember a poster quoting from a medical article that shinsplints aren't disabling and that Crystal would simply play through it.......Crystal then proceeded to sit out numerous practices and several games due to this injury...the question is why were starters still out there on the court when the outcome of the game was beyond doubt...Geno said that the bench players hadn't performed up to standard thus they would not play in the game.......so in effect several starters were forced to play additional meaningless minutes so that Geno's rules were maintained.....that's a fact

Is that you Phil Mushnick?

 

[Stinger92860]

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

The sports department has someone who is tasked with reading the Boneyard. He is this. Surprise? My clients are buying technology to better understand what their client want. We are clients of the UConn AD .

 

[JoePgh]

What I do know, and I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar on it, is that next year, when Geno does not give Williams a ton of minutes, this board will light up again.

Why do you predict so confidently that Christyn Williams’s freshman experience will be similar to Megan’s, rather than to that of Kia Nurse, Bria Hartley, Stef Dolson, Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes, or Renee Montgomery — all of whom started or played major minutes as freshmen under Geno?

In my opinion (looking from a distance), I think that the difference between freshmen who play a lot and those who play less has very little to do with basketball skills, and quite a lot to do with personal maturity and more specifically work ethic. The ability to learn quickly what the coaches are teaching is also a factor.

Based on press releases (an admittedly unreliable source), it seems possible that ONO and C. Williams may have the personal assets that will allow them to contribute more as freshmen than this year’s group has done.

 

[augustaTC]

every additional minute a player is on the court is a minute when they can aggravate an existing injury or gain a new one..Gabby fell awkwardly a couple of games ago and reinjured her hip....as I remember this happened in the middle of the game where she was needed so it was worth the risk...playing when the team has a huge lead makes far less sense to me.....this is an ongoing discussion......I remember a poster quoting from a medical article that shinsplints aren't disabling and that Crystal would simply play through it.......Crystal then proceeded to sit out numerous practices and several games due to this injury...the question is why were starters still out there on the court when the outcome of the game was beyond doubt...Geno said that the bench players hadn't performed up to standard thus they would not play in the game.......so in effect several starters were forced to play additional meaningless minutes so that Geno's rules were maintained.....that's a fact

Understand you are concerned about the players and share that concern. Understand that you are frustrated you don't have access to everything that goes into player-related decision making. But isn't it just a wee bit presumptuous to think that your bits of information and distant vantage point is better or more relevant than the coaches and players and staff?

 

[DEpup]

Why do you predict so confidently that Christyn Williams’s freshman experience will be similar to Megan’s, rather than to that of Kia Nurse, Bria Hartley, Stef Dolson, Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes, or Renee Montgomery — all of whom started or played major minutes as freshmen under Geno?

In my opinion (looking from a distance), I think that the difference between freshmen who play a lot and those who play less has very little to do with basketball skills, and quite a lot to do with personal maturity and more specifically work ethic. The ability to learn quickly what the coaches are teaching is also a factor.

Based on press releases (an admittedly unreliable source), it seems possible that ONO and C. Williams may have the personal assets that will allow them to contribute more as freshmen than this year’s group has done.

I think CW will be closer to Kia and company rather than MW and Danger. I think I see a business like maturity.

 

[Charliebball]

Understand you are concerned about the players and share that concern. Understand that you are frustrated you don't have access to everything that goes into player-related decision making. But isn't it just a wee bit presumptuous to think that your bits of information and distant vantage point is better or more relevant than the coaches and players and staff?

I'm not sure why it's hard to agree that for every additional minute a player is on the court there is a greater inherent risk of a new injury or the aggravation of an existing injury.............I haven't heard of too many players getting injured while sitting on the bench although I am aware that pink eye has been going around in Bergen County WBB circles recently.................this is not open to medical question, it's a simple fact..............I am not saying that I know better then the medical staff, I'm saying that sitting on the bench is safer for a player then playing in the game in the fourth quarter with your team up by 36 points.....................Geno often made the decision to play some of his starters longer then they usually would because he was not satisfied with the play of his bench players.......................therefore one could fairly make the argument that he is "risking" the health of his starters in order to make a point to his bench players...........now you can question how great that "risk" is or agree that this is a worthwhile risk necessary to maintain the UConn "Way" but no matter how you try to deny it this is a situation that all coaches have to deal with during the season

 

[jaundicedeye]

Boneyard has become the samizdat of WCBB without state censorship.
It is the Shakespeare of WCBB dramas, the Conan Doyle of WCBB detective stories and the Tolstoy of WCBB novels.

A bit florid but I'll roll with it and agree!

 

[augustaTC]

Geno often made the decision to play some of his starters longer then they usually would because he was not satisfied with the play of his bench players

Assumes you know what "then (sic) they usually would" is. But he said that, didn't he? Well, if you believe every word that comes from Geno's mouth as gospel, I suppose you can draw that conclusion. Personally, I take most everything he says with a grain of salt, sometimes many.

Maybe that's why he left the starters in or maybe he had another reason he chose not to share or maybe he goofed or maybe that's the first answer that popped into his head when questioned. The point is, you don't know what goes thru his mind when he makes decisions because he may or may not share it, or only share part of it, or maybe it's what his experience and gut said to do.

The last part of your last sentence is the most valid: that's one of the things coaches do - they make decisions, and it's still a bit presumptuous to think you know better. You might I guess, in which case maybe you should apply for Ollie's job!

Not picking on you Charlieball, just tired that all a thread needs is "Megan" in the title and it eventually devolves into second guessing Auriemma and his staff. Tedious.

 

[Charliebball]

Assumes you know what "then (sic) they usually would" is. But he said that, didn't he? Well, if you believe every word that comes from Geno's mouth as gospel, I suppose you can draw that conclusion. Personally, I take most everything he says with a grain of salt, sometimes many.

Maybe that's why he left the starters in or maybe he had another reason he chose not to share or maybe he goofed or maybe that's the first answer that popped into his head when questioned. The point is, you don't know what goes thru his mind when he makes decisions because he may or may not share it, or only share part of it, or maybe it's what his experience and gut said to do.

The last part of your last sentence is the most valid: that's one of the things coaches do - they make decisions, and it's still a bit presumptuous to think you know better. You might I guess, in which case maybe you should apply for Ollie's job!

Not picking on you Charlieball, just tired that all a thread needs is "Megan" in the title and it eventually devolves into second guessing Auriemma and his staff. Tedious.

No worries.......................I never said I knew better, I'm just stating my personal unease with the additional minutes logged by players that I believe didn't need to be on the court.......,,,.........I watched Crystal's play deteriorate due to shinsplints and wondered why the heck she was still out there when the team had a big lead.........................I was chastised for my opinion because Geno and the med staff "knew better" yet the next thing we know she's not practicing or playing in games................but you are correct.................this is a Megan Walker thread that I have somehow hijacked......................sorry about that...........

 

[Mister2]

Why do you predict so confidently that Christyn Williams’s freshman experience will be similar to Megan’s, rather than to that of Kia Nurse, Bria Hartley, Stef Dolson, Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes, or Renee Montgomery — all of whom started or played major minutes as freshmen under Geno?

I used the word "when" in the sense of a strong "if".

 

[HuskyNan]

The sports department has someone who is tasked with reading the Boneyard. He is this. Surprise? My clients are buying technology to better understand what their client want. We are clients of the UConn AD .

The Compliance Department reads the Boneyard. This I know for a fact as I met the folks up there after the infamous NCAA complaint that was basically 30+ pages of Boneyard posts.

 

[JellyBean]

This young lady is going to be okay. Year 1 is done and she went through some growing pains. She is going to be okay.

 

[MD#12Fan]

This young lady is going to be okay. Year 1 is done and she went through some growing pains. She is going to be okay.

I don't agree with your characterization. I believe we're talking about a process. There's no "year 1 is over" aspect to this. First of all, year 1 is not over. One could claim the season is only half over. Have you ever seen the saying, "The journey is the destination".
The point is that the UConn basketball program is uncompromising. It is because of that that UConn experiences unparalleled success year after year. Being a part of that experience is life-changing for these girls. Girls go to UConn because of that and because they know they will leave UConn as better players and people. Watch the HBO documentary, UConn: March to Madness, episode 4. If the interview with Saniya Chong's mother doesn't move you, you're not human.
Geno calls it "walking through the front door". I think that means doing things right, no short-cuts.
Now- in this 2nd half of the season- what would it mean for Meg and the UConn program for her to do something to contribute to this team's success!

 

[Bama fan]

Boneyard has become the samizdat of WCBB without state censorship.
It is the Shakespeare of WCBB dramas, the Conan Doyle of WCBB detective stories and the Tolstoy of WCBB novels.

That is quite a promotional encomium for our humble BY. I love the "samizdat' reference. Fairly abstruse but damn funny!

 

[Bronx23]

Why do you predict so confidently that Christyn Williams’s freshman experience will be similar to Megan’s, rather than to that of Kia Nurse, Bria Hartley, Stef Dolson, Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes, or Renee Montgomery — all of whom started or played major minutes as freshmen under Geno?

In my opinion (looking from a distance), I think that the difference between freshmen who play a lot and those who play less has very little to do with basketball skills, and quite a lot to do with personal maturity and more specifically work ethic. The ability to learn quickly what the coaches are teaching is also a factor.

Based on press releases (an admittedly unreliable source), it seems possible that ONO and C. Williams may have the personal assets that will allow them to contribute more as freshmen than this year’s group has done.

I concur with the point that playing time has a lot to do with what a would call social/emotional/effort factors than skill or general athleticism.
I'm sure someone else here may have the #'s of minutes played by each player, but I'd guess that Kyla & Molly have either have played close to or maybe even more minutes than MW. Yes they are both sophs and she is a freshman and they've had a full year longer to get "it". I'd also guess that a year ago, they were further along is understanding, accepting and beginning to integrate those things into their effort and play.
Bronx23