Muffet Speaks With Only A Little Hoof and Mouth

[Orangutan]

But Orangutan, Coco raises an interesting point about self-criticism. I'm certainly not piling on Turner here, as I don't follow her nearly closely enough. Just that there's a fine line between taking some responsibility for a loss and publicly being down on yourself. The latter is a recipe for self-doubt going forward. Great players in every sport shrug off a mistakes and move on quickly. I think Coco is raising the issue of whether Turner isn't too tough on herself and whether she has the capacity to move on quickly enough.

Not to stir the coals of this fire, but hey, why not. Geno is quite tough on his players and will be so publicly. But in some way, that frees them up because he is direct and honest in his criticisms. And, of course, no one builds a player back up quite like Geno. For better or worse, his players always know where he stands on them.

ND has lost three games with Turner in the lineup. Two were season-enders and the other was the Miami game in Jan. '15. The game after that one she scored 21 points in 23 minutes in a game that ND won by 46 over Boston College. So I don't think self-criticism is an issue. Actually, that was Taya Reimer's issue (one of them, at least).

If anything, Bri asserting herself more consistently is the issue. Sometimes she does disappear (at least offensively) for stretches. On the other hand, ND fans have all watched stretches when ND racks up turnovers trying to force it into Bri when she is not open. So, as Allen and McGraw note in those quotes, it's not always on Bri if Bri is not scoring. Sometimes it's on the guards for not finding her or for throwing bad entry passes.

 

[CocoHusky]

This article pulled from a 15-minute press conference she gave yesterday, of which 90+% of the time was spent talking about her own players.

That 90% should have been 100%.

 

[wallman]

Of course it had nothing to do with the other team they were playing

As a fan of women's basketball, I enjoy watching Notre Dame and I think Turner has a great motor but also needs to expand her skill level. Sometimes MM comes off as, gosh I cannot think of the right word but it's like when someone scratches their nails on the chalk board. Then again there are a lot worse when it comes to addressing the media.

 

[Kaizen]

She believes 6-3 forward Brianna Turner (14.6 points, 7.3 rebounds), is the nation's best player and senior Lindsay Allen, who averaged 9.3 points and 5.8 assists, is the best point guard.

==>When does NCAAW basketball become such low standard ???

 

[Dillon77]

That 90% should have been 100%.

Coco: I'm sure you're aware of this but it was the annual media day press conference out in South Bend (not press release day). Last time I checked even the Notre Dame sports media department (they're not all controlling as some have inferred) allows the press to ask the questions. To my reading of the transcript, all of two questions deviated from inter-team questions.
Here they are:

When you look at the national scene, what are you expecting this year?
"I'm expecting that this is the year where parity finally hits women's basketball. It's a long time coming. I think it's going to be great for the game. I think there's a lot of teams that can win it, just in our conference. Louisville is a great team with just about everybody coming back. Miami's got everybody coming back. Syracuse is coming off a Final Four. Duke's a team that's a little under the radar right now. There's a lot of great talent in the ACC.

"Nationally, you've got Tennessee with just about everybody back. Baylor has almost everybody back. Stanford's got a really good team coming back. This is a year where nobody lost a lot of talent except for Connecticut. I think that evens things out and I think maybe this will be a year where we'll see a different number one every week like the men had last year -- which I thought was really exciting. Unless, we're the ones that are not number one. Then I wouldn't be quite as excited."

Would you put your own team at number one?
"I wouldn't. I would put us in the top five but there's a lot of good teams. This time of year, we haven't earned anything. I want to earn it."

 

[Orangutan]

That 90% should have been 100%.

So when they asked about the national scene and ND stacks up - she's supposed to say "next question"? That's the Bill Belichick way to handle it. "We're onto Cincinnati" or in this case "We're on to Central Michigan".

 

[mhshuskies]

Absolutley correct on that one. I saw most of the game. Notre Dame was outplayed all over the court. And until I see it change, Brianna Turner doesn't show up for the biggest games!

Right, she used the same excuse she did in the '15 NC game "I didn't come out aggressive enough in the first half". Excusable for a freshman maybe (Geno says they are not freshman by tourney time) but not for the waiting in the wings "best player" when it is one and done.

 

[CocoHusky]

So when they asked about the national scene and ND stacks up - she's supposed to say "next question"? That's the Bill Belichick way to handle it. "We're onto Cincinnati" or in this case "We're on to Central Michigan".

No, never cared much for Bill Belichick- he's from a Navy family. Anyway, when asked about the national scene and how ND stacks the words "UCONN" did not need to come out of her mouth to adequately answer the question. The next time Geno has a press conference about the status of HIS team and the words ND is part of his response you can be offended- or pretend to be.

 

[bags27]

Anything to talk about something besides what a certain high school senior is thinking/tweeting today....

I take your points, Irish fans, but I hope you can understand that some of us think this is code:
"I'm expecting that this is the year where parity finally hits women's basketball. It's a long time coming. I think it's going to be great for the game."
This is essentially what was tweeted by an idiot sports writer (not quite a redundancy, but close) during UConn's historic run. Is UConn supposed to feel guilty that it didn't allow parity by being better than everyone else for four straight years? If "parity" is great for the game, is non-parity bad for the game? Is Muffett criticizing UConn's "behavior"?

I know she's answering questions off the cuff, but still "when parity finally hits..." sounds like there was a disease that's finally gone away, like "when health finally returns." There was no parity because no team could beat UConn. Frankly, saying it the way she did (and I do think she's a master of this formulation) is being passive-aggressive.

that is all; I'm expecting my blood pressure to come down, now too.

 

[CocoHusky]

Coco: I'm sure you're aware of this but it was the annual media day press conference out in South Bend (not press release day). Last time I checked even the Notre Dame sports media department (they're not all controlling as some have inferred) allows the press to ask the questions. To my reading of the transcript, all of two questions deviated from inter-team questions.
Here they are:

When you look at the national scene, what are you expecting this year?
"I'm expecting that this is the year where parity finally hits women's basketball. It's a long time coming. I think it's going to be great for the game. I think there's a lot of teams that can win it, just in our conference. Louisville is a great team with just about everybody coming back. Miami's got everybody coming back. Syracuse is coming off a Final Four. Duke's a team that's a little under the radar right now. There's a lot of great talent in the ACC.

"Nationally, you've got Tennessee with just about everybody back. Baylor has almost everybody back. Stanford's got a really good team coming back. This is a year where nobody lost a lot of talent except for Connecticut. I think that evens things out and I think maybe this will be a year where we'll see a different number one every week like the men had last year -- which I thought was really exciting. Unless, we're the ones that are not number one. Then I wouldn't be quite as excited."

Would you put your own team at number one?
"I wouldn't. I would put us in the top five but there's a lot of good teams. This time of year, we haven't earned anything. I want to earn it."

Now see! Now I am really really offended. She actually talked about TN, Baylor & Stanford before she talked about UCONN- inexcusable, unforgivable!

 

[Bgillon]

So when they asked about the national scene and ND stacks up - she's supposed to say "next question"? That's the Bill Belichick way to handle it. "We're onto Cincinnati" or in this case "We're on to Central Michigan".

My only problem with MM's comments revolve around " I'm expecting that this is the year where parity finally hits women' s basketball. It's a long time coming. I think it's going to be great for the game". Is she implying that no team will win multiple championships over the next so many seasons? Does it mean there was no parity in 1991 win she won a NC? Or win Baylor won with Griner? And how do you measure how "great" it will be for the game? More fan attendance or higher TV ratings? I believe it is a not too subtle slam at Geno and UCONN's dominance of WCBB being bad for WCBB. Remember her comment about Class acts in reference to Pat Summit and the lack thereof now at the top? Unfortunately she can't quite figure out how to be a great coach and ambassador for WCBB IMO.

 

[Dillon77]

Now see! Now I am really really offended. She actually talked about TN, Baylor & Stanford before she talked about UCONN- inexcusable, unforgivable!

Hah! I'm joining Bags and letting my blood pressure come back to normal by continuing to paint my garage on a summer-like day!

 

[Decoli2]

Absolutley correct on that one. I saw most of the game. Notre Dame was outplayed all over the court. And until I see it change, Brianna Turner doesn't show up for the biggest games!

This board has exceptionally high standards if a double-double (even if restricted to one half) is not "showing up": Stanford vs Notre Dame - DI Women's Basketball

 

[Charliebball]

You have to admit, it will be kind of fun to be the underdog for a change..............let them all take UConn lightly..............I'm sure Geno will use that to his advantage.....................

 

[Alydar]

This article pulled from a 15-minute press conference she gave yesterday, of which 90+% of the time was spent talking about her own players. But of course ESPN isn't going to print the quotes about how Koko Nelson is in better shape or Erin Boley has the best 3-point shot on the team or Brianna Turner has been working on her free-throw line jumper, etc. etc.

LOL And have you read, or do you expect to read, all about the talent on this year's UConn squad? No, all that has been written has been about who left.

And why isn't the entire press conference video on the Notre Dame site? Where did you get the added information about what she talked about? I'd like a link please.

I think MM gave last year's seniors a kick in the ass going out the door with the "little talent" comment. There could have been a nicer way to say it. While they may not have been in the same class as the UConn trio they played 50 minutes a game last season and, along with Turner and Allen were the core of the team. So in fact, Notre Dame lost half it's starting core. And if you compare this year's preseason roster with last year's Notre Dame is missing nearly a third of the minutes. Remember, last year at this time Reimer was also part of the roster. So Notre Dame goes into this season with 3 starters missing from last year's starting lineup. Of course one can say that Notre Dame has already adjusted to Reimer's loss. yeah, All the way to the S16. But Boley hasn't yet played a single minute and despite all the accolades is untested. We have seen with Stewart how freshmen can struggle. Mabrey the younger and Ogunbowale started last season hot but IMO peaked in the UConn game. By the end of the season both were much less effective.

And since when is having 5 or 6 teams out of 350 vying for a title called "parity"? Is parity defined as "when your team is a contender"?

Despite all that is written above, if asked to pick the most likely NC I would say Notre Dame. And my reasons would be talent and experience at the post, the point ... and most importantly, the coach.

 

[BroadwayVa]

McGraw: NCAA women might see parity in '16-17

Seems she and the rest of the NCAA, except UConn, lost little talent. How will Madison Cable feel about that?

How old is Madison Cable??? 34?? She seems to have been at ND forever. Tough old lady --I like her..

Muffet said Nothing WRONG! What she failed to say is ---there has been parity with Uconn for the last 4 years--who has Uconn faced in the NC these past 4 years?? Tx, Baylor, USC, ND all had equivalent teams--Uconn was just a bit more equal. If Turner was more aggressive as Stewie was--who knows? Does Muffet mean PARITY means being able to beat Uconn?? Bad premise!
Parity comes when everyone achieves the level of technical play and coaching as Uconn--it's not about breeding down but breeding UP!

Other than that Muffet was truthful and ambitious for her team--but I think she did not do ND WBB a service by alluding to the departure of Uconn's Golden 3 as a reason for Parity or success of ND WBB.

It never was about how Badly UConn played but how well everyone else did.

 

[BroadwayVa]

LOL And have you read, or do you expect to read, all about the talent on this year's UConn squad? No, all that has been written has been about who left.

And why isn't the entire press conference video on the Notre Dame site? Where did you get the added information about what she talked about? I'd like a link please.

I think MM gave last year's seniors a kick in the ass going out the door with the "little talent" comment. There could have been a nicer way to say it. While they may not have been in the same class as the UConn trio they played 50 minutes a game last season and, along with Turner and Allen were the core of the team. So in fact, Notre Dame lost half it's starting core. And if you compare this year's preseason roster with last year's Notre Dame is missing nearly a third of the minutes. Remember, last year at this time Reimer was also part of the roster. So Notre Dame goes into this season with 3 starters missing from last year's starting lineup. Of course one can say that Notre Dame has already adjusted to Reimer's loss. yeah, All the way to the S16. But Boley hasn't yet played a single minute and despite all the accolades is untested. We have seen with Stewart how freshmen can struggle. Mabrey the younger and Ogunbowale started last season hot but IMO peaked in the UConn game. By the end of the season both were much less effective.

And since when is having 5 or 6 teams out of 350 vying for a title called "parity"? Is parity defined as "when your team is a contender"?

Despite all that is written above, if asked to pick the most likely NC I would say Notre Dame. And my reasons would be talent and experience at the post, the point ... and most importantly, the coach.

Pre-season--MOST LIKELY to win the NC---that could have been written about ND most of the last 4 years (maybe just the first 3).
They had the best shot --when Baby Mabrey went off on Uconn I thought it would be a different final 4.

 

[Florida Fan]

McGraw: NCAA women might see parity in '16-17

Seems she and the rest of the NCAA, except UConn, lost little talent. How will Madison Cable feel about that?

Muffet's idea of parity is the Irish run the table, something they could have done the past four years, except for one thorn in the coach's competitive side. But, this year, ND is really, really loaded, McGraw's only problem, how to keep her talented bench happy. Granted, the top teams are all better, so rotating number #1's is a possibility, but all smarmy humility aside, Muffet's fangs are showing a little red at the chance to mow down the competition, Uconn first among the expected victims. Women's basketball being "more exciting" is Muffet talk for the also-rans fighting it out for second and third.

 

[huskeynut]

Muffet has her opinion like everyone else. Muffet is probably the second best coach in WCBB. Makes no difference.

Things will be settled on the court, as usual. As to Allen being the best pg in the country and Turner the POY, Muffet said that all of last year. So it will be her campaign speech all season. I don't see either of these two players obtaining those lofty ranks.

UConn has come back to the pack - a little. We will see how far. Do I think UConn will run the table this year - no. I believe come March and April, UConn will be there in contention for #12. After all - we have Geno and they don't!

 

[Vowelguy]

Me I just love to poke at Ms. Thin Skin.

Lol.

Pot: "Kettle, you are black."

 

[Orangutan]

LOL And have you read, or do you expect to read, all about the talent on this year's UConn squad? No, all that has been written has been about who left.

I have read plenty about UConn's talent...on this board

And why isn't the entire press conference video on the Notre Dame site? Where did you get the added information about what she talked about? I'd like a link please.

Here you go - McGraw Optimistic, Confident in Deep Irish Squad Sometimes they are a little slow getting things up on UND.com WatchND.tv puts up press conferences the fastest.

I think MM gave last year's seniors a kick in the ass going out the door with the "little talent" comment. There could have been a nicer way to say it. While they may not have been in the same class as the UConn trio they played 50 minutes a game last season and, along with Turner and Allen were the core of the team. So in fact, Notre Dame lost half it's starting core. And if you compare this year's preseason roster with last year's Notre Dame is missing nearly a third of the minutes. Remember, last year at this time Reimer was also part of the roster. So Notre Dame goes into this season with 3 starters missing from last year's starting lineup. Of course one can say that Notre Dame has already adjusted to Reimer's loss. yeah, All the way to the S16. But Boley hasn't yet played a single minute and despite all the accolades is untested. We have seen with Stewart how freshmen can struggle. Mabrey the younger and Ogunbowale started last season hot but IMO peaked in the UConn game. By the end of the season both were much less effective.

Well, Mabrey1 (Miami) and Cable (Wisconsin) are enemy combatants now that they are working elsewhere as graduate assistants! She does talk later about needing to replace Mabrey1 and Huffman as "glue" players. There are definitely some questions about this team and you do a good job of listing them out. I would say that the young players (Mabrey2, Arike, Boley, Young) are more talented than the departed seniors. Huffman, Cable, and Mabrey1 got the most out of their talent. It remains to be seen whether those younger players can do the same. I am optimistic, though, especially regarding the sophomores. I know that Arike and Mabrey2 put in a lot of offseason skill work.

And since when is having 5 or 6 teams out of 350 vying for a title called "parity"? Is parity defined as "when your team is a contender"?

When you're coming off of 3+ years of utter domination by one team, 5 or 6 teams having a chance does look like parity by comparison. I think Syracuse and Washington showed last year that their may be more teams capable of deep tourney runs than most people think.

 

[Dillon77]

Pre-season--MOST LIKELY to win the NC---that could have been written about ND most of the last 4 years (maybe just the first 3).
They had the best shot --when Baby Mabrey went off on Uconn I thought it would be a different final 4.

Baby Mabrey. I like that...

However, now that Michaela has left "Baby Mabrey" or Mabrey2 or simply Marina is now the only NJ Shore Girl on campus. The new "Baby Mabrey" is now Dara and she's just starting her junior year at Manasquan, down the Shore. However, she might find herself out west in two years...

..but first, time to enjoy Marina in her soloness (new word....) as a Mabrey,
along with her buddy Arike and new running mate, Jackie (Young).

 

[Charliebball]

Young and Boley will be excellent for ND........... just a matter of time..............they would certainly see minutes if they were playing for Geno...........

 

[Kaizen]

This board has exceptionally high standards if a double-double (even if restricted to one half) is not "showing up": Stanford vs Notre Dame - DI Women's Basketball

Do you think she is a double-double (a UConn recruit 2018)

Aubrey Griffin,
The Ossining freshman has announced her presence with authority since stepping onto the floor and has been turning heads every step of the way. Griffin, a 5-foot-11 forward, grabs her second lohud girls basketball player of the week honor after averaging 41.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in two Pride wins last week, including a 49-point, 15-rebound display against Peekskill on Friday.

Player of the week (Jan. 17): Aubrey Griffin, Ossining

 

[BroadwayVa]

Baby Mabrey. I like that...

However, now that Michaela has left "Baby Mabrey" or Mabrey2 or simply Marina is now the only NJ Shore Girl on campus. The new "Baby Mabrey" is now Dara and she's just starting her junior year at Manasquan, down the Shore. However, she might find herself out west in two years...

..but first, time to enjoy Marina in her soloness (new word....) as a Mabrey,
along with her buddy Arike and new running mate, Jackie (Young).

Thanks---Manasquan?? I live on the Jersey Shore--New Gretna (near where the phone lines go to europe).
Ok--I'll use Mabrey2 (First names allude me). Is she as accurate as Mabrey2???

 

[Alydar]

Pre-season--MOST LIKELY to win the NC---that could have been written about ND most of the last 4 years (maybe just the first 3).
They had the best shot --when Baby Mabrey went off on Uconn I thought it would be a different final 4.

Not me. When an opposing team hits 70% of their 3's in the first half ... and still trail on the scoreboard, I feel like a win is in the bag.

 

[southbendcane]

McGraw: NCAA women might see parity in '16-17

Seems she and the rest of the NCAA, except UConn, lost little talent. How will Madison Cable feel about that?

Did you listen to her interview ? She said what she is waiting to see is who will replace the things that the 3 girls they lost brought to the table. Cable was the first one she mentioned along with Mabrey and Huffman. Nice try.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Lol.

Pot: "Kettle, you are black."

If having thin skin, i.e. prone to respond to personal comments, 80 percent of Americans would be Black.
Probably make it a better place.

 

[southbendcane]

How old is Madison Cable??? 34?? She seems to have been at ND forever. Tough old lady --I like her..

Muffet said Nothing WRONG! What she failed to say is ---there has been parity with Uconn for the last 4 years--who has Uconn faced in the NC these past 4 years?? Tx, Baylor, USC, ND all had equivalent teams--Uconn was just a bit more equal. If Turner was more aggressive as Stewie was--who knows? Does Muffet mean PARITY means being able to beat Uconn?? Bad premise!
Parity comes when everyone achieves the level of technical play and coaching as Uconn--it's not about breeding down but breeding UP!

Other than that Muffet was truthful and ambitious for her team--but I think she did not do ND WBB a service by alluding to the departure of Uconn's Golden 3 as a reason for Parity or success of ND WBB.

It never was about how Badly UConn played but how well everyone else did.

U Conn and Tennessee were ahead of the curve.They got the jump on All Americans and top recruits. Now these other teams are getting as many and some even more. It took them a while to catch up. Until Diggins came along N.D. only had maybe 3 or 4 High School All Americans ever. U Conn has more then that on their team every year. N.D. has like 7 or 8 this year so its put up or shut up time. . It be interesting to see how U Conn would of done if they only had 1 All American every few years instead of a handful and usually the top player in the country every year? Just saying.

 

[southbendcane]

She believes 6-3 forward Brianna Turner (14.6 points, 7.3 rebounds), is the nation's best player and senior Lindsay Allen, who averaged 9.3 points and 5.8 assists, is the best point guard.

==>When does NCAAW basketball become such low standard ???

I was wondering when someone would mention that lol. I love Turner but just wish she had a little outside game which Muffet claims she worked on over the off season. As for Allen i wish she had a little more fire and was more vocal but she is steady and good at what she does. I was one to quickly say Mo Jeff was a better guard when Muffet said Allen was the best last year. I think she says that some time to give her players more confidence in themselves and let them know how much confidence she has in them. If their not the best they are both up there . I think Wilson from South Carolina might be a little better then Turner .