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On the latest Geno Show, Justine asks about possible X factors in March. Geno ponders it and then replies: (1) If Z starts making outside shots and (2) If Megan plays the way she played in a few games this year, we are going to be hard to beat. Meg has been inconsistent for some reason, and Geno is having trouble getting more consistency from her. He wants her to be ready for March.

Good post. I think as long as the starting six play very good we win. We don't need Megan walker to win a championship. If we force turnovers, hit threes, and play A level defense we win. Now if we get in foul trouble or injury then yes it would be great if we can count on megan. Honestly I trust Kyla as 7th man. It's really a shame we do not have a sub that's a guard that Geno can trust. That's the fatal flaw.
 
Can anyone recall a high school #1 player coming into UConn and contributing so little in her freshman year? I can't. There were games in which a #1 didn't play well, or stretches in which one didn't play well. Breanna Stewart was actually not started in one game. But I can't recall any former HS #1 struggling like this at UConn. Ever.

It's very troubling. Kiah Stokes talked about transferring after her freshman year. But she didn't come in as the top player in the country. KML struggled at times. But she also contributed in a big way.

I really hope the off-season sees a renewed enthusiasm and commitment. But this is not a healthy situation at this point.
 
There is a reason why UConn and Geno are where they are in WCBB and a reason why every other coach and team cant compete with them...and your seeing it this season. Geno is tuff and wont tolerate anything he doesnt like that players do. We have no idea why the MW and MC are sitting. It may not be practice it may be attitudes. Geno is teaching them the right way to think and the right way to play. Thats his job. They both can be AA's at UConn if they learn from this experience.
 
With all of the talk we have heard from the core 4 about helping the underclass develop, I have to believe they are going to be consoling voices of moderation for Megan and Mikayla. Lou and Pheesa and Gabby have all sat the pine during their early years. They know the drill and I believe their interactions at this time will help ease the pain and mitigate the frustration for these two ladies who are so important to the future.

I have known several outstanding athletes for whom it was so easy to be the best and dominate every game during their youth, but for some reason are stumped when they move to a level where it takes more than talent to excel. For them it is very frustrating and confusing. They really don't understand why they are not dominating. They are putting more effort in then they have ever in their past and not getting better. Last year Crystal went through that phase. When the light comes on they will be fine. Until then, they will deal with frustration and confusion.
 
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Excerpt from the Courant article. Something maybe more than basketball going on with Walker / Coombs ? I hope not


Katie Lou Samuelson, Possible Player Of The Year, Has Just One Thing On Her Mind



Everyone In, Except …
Freshman guards Megan Walker and Mikayla Coombs were the only players who did not enter the game.

“Yeah, I'm not even going to waste my time talking about them,” Auriemma said.

Off the bench, Azura Stevens played 21 minutes, Molly Bent 11, Kyla Irwin 16, Batouly Camara seven and Lexi Gordon four.

Walker was coming off a pretty good performance — 10 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes against Temple. Coombs played 10 minutes against Temple, scoring three points.

Auriemma was asked if the decision was simply a function of the way they practiced leading up to the game but he did not offer any thoughts.
 
That's more habits than you find at a convent. :oops:
Not really, Sister Theresa would play me in pool once a week and I cant lie about it. She would win once in a while! Memere sat with all the nuns 7 days a week in church,lol.
 
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Would everyone kindly remember the Boneyard rule against transfer speculation.

There have been a few people who've made this thread very high maintenance because of their persistence in dropping comments that violate this rule.

I don't like even having to bring this up, but we have some short-term posters, especially, who seem not to have bothered to read the rules, pinned at the top of the board.

One such actor, having learned nothing from about 10 consecutive post deletions, has been invited to pursue his agenda elsewhere. We don't have time to waste on such obstinateness.

Thanks, as always, for your cooperation.
Classy as always!
 
Excerpt from the Courant article. Something maybe more than basketball going on with Walker / Coombs ? I hope not

Everyone In, Except …
Freshman guards Megan Walker and Mikayla Coombs were the only players who did not enter the game.

“Yeah, I'm not even going to waste my time talking about them,” Auriemma said.
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Ugh.....comments like this make me cringe. Somethings are better
left unsaid. I know it’s Geno’s schtick; but now he’s coming off as downright mean. No need to disparage young women like this regardless of what’s going on behind the scenes.
 
Can anyone recall a high school #1 player coming into UConn and contributing so little in her freshman year? I can't. There were games in which a #1 didn't play well, or stretches in which one didn't play well. Breanna Stewart was actually not started in one game. But I can't recall any former HS #1 struggling like this at UConn. Ever.

It's very troubling. Kiah Stokes talked about transferring after her freshman year. But she didn't come in as the top player in the country. KML struggled at times. But she also contributed in a big way.

I really hope the off-season sees a renewed enthusiasm and commitment. But this is not a healthy situation at this point.
Could be because she is on a team that has 5 potential AAs on the court in front of her, 6 if you think like a lot of BYers. Has that ever happened to any other former #1 HS player???? But wait, because of her HS ranking she is entitled to her playing time, right? :rolleyes:
This is not aimed directly at you @Fairfield Fan just my thoughts concerning this freshmen class.
 
Can anyone recall a high school #1 player coming into UConn and contributing so little in her freshman year? I can't. There were games in which a #1 didn't play well, or stretches in which one didn't play well. Breanna Stewart was actually not started in one game. But I can't recall any former HS #1 struggling like this at UConn. Ever.

It's very troubling. Kiah Stokes talked about transferring after her freshman year. But she didn't come in as the top player in the country. KML struggled at times. But she also contributed in a big way.

I really hope the off-season sees a renewed enthusiasm and commitment. But this is not a healthy situation at this point.

Agreed. I know she's probably frustrated and not happy but every time they showed her on camera she seemed to be sulking. It's the opposite of say how Kyla is handling limited minutes. Would look better if she was a bit more vocal on the pine
 
Ugh.....comments like this make me cringe. Somethings are better
left unsaid. I know it’s Geno’s schtick; but now he’s coming off as downright mean. No need to disparage young women like this regardless of what’s going on behind the scenes.
There's another way to interpret Geno's comments. I'm becoming more convinced this was not about practice. MW & Mikayla did something very wrong. Geno is willing to take the heat, because he does not want additional scrutiny on the players, who are receiving a healthy dose of tough love.
 
Poor Raoul. He seems so unhappy.

stock-photo-a-funny-one-cartoon-crocodile-who-cries-crocodile-tears-3240830.jpg
 
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I think you got this all wrong! Geno never promises anyone playing time. They should know what they are getting into when they decide to come to U Conn as it has happened to all the greats who were here. Yet especially some of the really good players think this ain't going to ever happen to me. They have never, ever faced being sat down and not playing. They are used to being the pampered star and at the HS level always excel. Geno is hardest on the best players because he can see what they can and should be. Look at KLS also #1 in her class and how she became an AA as sophomore and probably the best all around player in the country as a junior. You never, ever see her pouting when she's hurt and I'm sure extremely disappointed that she can't play. She's there cheering on her teammates. MW sits there with a very serious, upset face, which will only bury her deeper and / or longer.
Of course U Conn will miss out on her talents, skills & abilities but the system & culture is much more important than ANY player. Essentially it's called a tough love approach. They are not into a pampering, pleading style which ultimately means the player themselves loses out because they will not become what they can be.
It's MW's choice but it's total on Geno's terms. Take it or leave it!
Sorry if this sounds harsh and pointed but it is what it is, and it's not for everyone.
The 11 NC's prove this works! Geno too can occasionally be wrong about some things but this is essential to what's built U Conn wbb to not only the premiere program in wcb but in all of sports maybe all time.
While of course you have the right to express anything you wish here or elsewhere, I'd suggest you accept this is the way it is here and just as MW has choices so do you! This is not meant as any sort of threat or put down, just the realities. Again, it doesn't work for everyone and doesn't have to!
Bronx23
Well thanks for acknowledging that I have a right to express my opinion.
You know whats more important than 12 NC? How you treat other human beings.
I believe that's more important.
I have posted on this topic all season.
It would be hard to find in the 33 years that Geno has been here, a player that has been more "Publicly" treated than MW.
I have no problem with in house comments , treatment etc. The public negative comments, benchings ( with no explanations) are out of line.
 
It's ultimately MW's call if she will get on board with the program and the culture.
This. She's got to buy in, and that's entirely on her. As this pattern persists, my suspicion is that it's more than just bad some practices. She may be fighting the system in some way, and I would imagine that Geno starting to get annoyed. But it's not too late to end the season as a real contributor. That's something both Megan and the team really needs, We've all seen her incredible skill set and the impact she can have in games. I believe she can and will become a great Husky.
 
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As a very LONG time husky fan, I find myself tired of big egos , especially at this stage of my life. As far as "body language ", where was the positive coaching "body language " last season going into the FF ? IMHO , the 2018 NC rests solely on one persons shoulders. Why ? Only one coach has 6 possible AA candidates . There are no excuses this year Geno . The outcome rest solely on you. You do the recruiting, run the practices, substitute the players. Just the way it is !
 
As I mentioned in another thread, my sense from the Temple game was that every time I looked at Megan playing defense her hands were down. The coaches harp on that on defense, hands up. I was not focusing on Coombs so I have no idea how she was doing. I think Geno will play Molly and Kyla ahead of someone like Megan. They are not as naturally talented and may make more goofs with the ball, but they are doing their best to follow instructions and play to the best of their ability. At age 69 I ran into an old high school friend who was a professional golfer for a number of years, and he is changing my whole swing. He tells me what to do and I try, but after a year maybe about 1 in 5 swings comes out right. Practice, practice, practice until it in ingrained, you don't have to think about it. Megan is told keep your hands up, she goes in the game, she did not do that in High School, she forgets. Do it over and over, then repeat it. Eventually you learn. Hopefully she understands Geno wants her to be the best she can be. It may happen in the next few weeks, or it may take a whole summer of just practicing defense. Or it may be she missed curfew on Bourbon Street and I don't know what I am talking about. One final thought, there are number ones like Di, Maya, Stewie, Candace Parker, EDD, who everyone knows are in a class by themselves. Most years there are number ones who are great, but not at that level. I don't think people put anyone from the class of 17, 18, or 19 at that level.
 
As I mentioned in another thread, my sense from the Temple game was that every time I looked at Megan playing defense her hands were down. The coaches harp on that on defense, hands up. I was not focusing on Coombs so I have no idea how she was doing. I think Geno will play Molly and Kyla ahead of someone like Megan. They are not as naturally talented and may make more goofs with the ball, but they are doing their best to follow instructions and play to the best of their ability. At age 69 I ran into an old high school friend who was a professional golfer for a number of years, and he is changing my whole swing. He tells me what to do and I try, but after a year maybe about 1 in 5 swings comes out right. Practice, practice, practice until it in ingrained, you don't have to think about it. Megan is told keep your hands up, she goes in the game, she did not do that in High School, she forgets. Do it over and over, then repeat it. Eventually you learn. Hopefully she understands Geno wants her to be the best she can be. It may happen in the next few weeks, or it may take a whole summer of just practicing defense. Or it may be she missed curfew on Bourbon Street and I don't know what I am talking about. One final thought, there are number ones like Di, Maya, Stewie, Candace Parker, EDD, who everyone knows are in a class by themselves. Most years there are number ones who are great, but not at that level. I don't think people put anyone from the class of 17, 18, or 19 at that level.
While I agree with your analysis about MW's defense, I'm not sure this is about their play on the court, either in games or in practice. There's something else happening here that lead to both freshmen being benched in the same game, and we will probably never know what it was about.
 
There's another way to interpret Geno's comments. I'm becoming more convinced this was not about practice. MW & Mikayla did something very wrong. Geno is willing to take the heat, because he does not want additional scrutiny on the players, who are receiving a healthy dose of tough love.
We may be off base, but that's kinda the feeling I'm getting too. Well probably not "very wrong". I think "very wrong" and you're not on the trip (or the team).

Hopefully whatever it was it's done and over and they can all move on. Next game on Sat., we'll see.
 
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We may be off base, but that's kinda the feeling I'm getting too. Well probably not "very wrong". I think "very wrong" and you're not on the trip (or the team).

Hopefully whatever it was it's done and over and they can all move on. Next game on Sat., we'll see.
Agreed. I too hope to see them both on the court in the SMU game, but I have this growing concern that they may not play then either. I hate speculation, but I can't seem to avoid it here. What if they did something after they left CT? I guess you could send them back home, but it's easier to just keep them with the team and sit them down.
 
There doesn't seem to be


IDK. Really only Geno and the staff know all the answers. I would guess that if Geno thought she could help, she would be out there. In fairness, PT is earned. When she has earned the time she hasn't been that great. The summer will do her good. She will know how and what to work on and should improve greatly.

I see that you replied to my post, but, I am curious, why did my post disappear from this thread. Did I offend someone or everyone.

Take it to PM. I suggest Biff on this one. -- JS
 
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Well thanks for acknowledging that I have a right to express my opinion.
You know whats more important than 12 NC? How you treat other human beings.
I believe that's more important.
I have posted on this topic all season.
It would be hard to find in the 33 years that Geno has been here, a player that has been more "Publicly" treated than MW.
I have no problem with in house comments , treatment etc. The public negative comments, benchings ( with no explanations) are out of line.
Sveta? And she was a 3 time AA. Geno's mom even got on him for the way he treated her. Worked out pretty well.

These kids aren't near as fragile as some of the adults here on the BY.
 
I hope Megan realizes two very important things:
  1. It's not how fast you climb, it's how high; and
  2. The team concept at UCONN isn't conducive to fast climbing.
I've seen nothing to indicate a limitation on how high Megan can go. It just depends on how much she wants to invest in herself...

PS Geno is always the hardest on his favorites...
 
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Why is everyone such a chicken little??? The sky's not falling... The reason she didn't play is between her and the coaches... can't anyone just relax on this board??

Well, there are 4 of us anyway.
 
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...
For example; the razzing of Pheesa, during the early season might, just might have been the reason for her modest swoon and seeming diminution of confidence (happily dissipating as the season unfolds). She also seemed just a little less happy out there; especially earlier. Maybe she needed a kinder, gentler approach?
...

Again, I just don't know.
In non-Euclidian situations, e.g., life, the shortest path between two points isn't a straight line. Sometimes hitting a target requites spiraling in rather than taking direct aim.

And I can assure you, I just don't know either.
 
Agreed. I know she's probably frustrated and not happy but every time they showed her on camera she seemed to be sulking. It's the opposite of say how Kyla is handling limited minutes. Would look better if she was a bit more vocal on the pine
Can't argue with the lack of enthusiasm she displays, at least from what they show us. Cameramen/women tend to focus on what they're told to. As to Kyla - the differences in potential are vast between her and Walker and yes we don't dole out minutes solely on potential.. It's tough for me to watch Irwin and Bent, knowing how hard they try and the constant enthusiasm they both show on the bench.
 
Sveta? And she was a 3 time AA. Geno's mom even got on him for the way he treated her. Worked out pretty well.

These kids aren't near as fragile as some of the adults here on the BY.
Sveta was never benched for an entire game. She played in every Uconn game until her injury her senior year.
 
There doesn't seem to be


IDK. Really only Geno and the staff know all the answers. I would guess that if Geno thought she could help, she would be out there. In fairness, PT is earned. When she has earned the time she hasn't been that great. The summer will do her good. She will know how and what to work on and should improve greatly.
Have to question how this helps the team. No matter how you evaluate Walker's in game performance, she has outperformed all other bench players excluding Z and has more upside and
Crystal played in 31 out of 37 games last year. Also averaging 24 minutes a game. Rarely did Crystal not play. Last year most of the questions about Crystal was her play on the court, not whether she was going to get any playing time at all.

Megan has played 23 of 27 games, but is only averaging 16 minutes a game. Mikayla has played 21 out of 27 games and only averaging 7 minutes a game.


What about Crystal last year. Where you equally as concerned? How about when he benched Stewie in her freshman year, where you so concerned then? Why are so many people fretting? Why are so many considering Geno's methods suddenly are too extreme. Geno warned us right from the start that this group of freshmen were behind other years in getting it. Why are so many suddenly surprised that he was so right?
Not sure your comparison is valid. All the players you noted played consistent minutes, typically at least a third or half the game. They may have been benched, but this was rare. No better coach in nation but there is a fine line between teaching a lesson and embarrassing a player. Geno has proven that he doesn't care and in past has used public embarrassment as a positive tool. My question is when does this stop being positive. Even in the Geno Show, he noted that while he normally knows how to push all the right buttons, sometimes he has made mistakes.
 
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