ND is Pipeline to WNBA | Page 3 | The Boneyard

ND is Pipeline to WNBA

Status
Not open for further replies.
Apropos of "selling" I sorta wish they'd have the warm up top with 10 years - 5 down each arm. 'Course, most opponents are psyched already. For the last three years the most definitive recruiting statement has been made on national TV in early April. Starting around the time they are 6 years old potential future recruits have UConn on their minds as a "dream."
 
okay as a west coast resident who just got to her computer this morning, I find this very entertaining and laughable. If that's their best for Cox -- maybe one should realize that Stanford has 6 alumnae in the WNBA (Wiggins, Appel, Pohlen, Pedersen, and the 2 O sisters)! If 5 is the number then Cox will end up at UConn if she truly values basketball as #1 in her mind.
 
Orangutan said:
I have to think this is more aimed to help recruiting against the other non-UConn schools than against UConn.
Over the last 5 years, only UConn has had better success winning at the college level and producing pros (maybe Baylor is arguable). At best, ND can use this line of reasoning as "We can also send you to the WNBA and we also offer that they don't".

But UConn only takes so many kids and some kids don't like UConn for whatever reason, so it's not like every ND target is also in UConn's crosshairs - many, but not all.

Re the timing, keep in mind that the September 1 was the first date schools are allowed to talk to high school juniors and home visits to those juniors are coming up. This is as much or more aimed at the Megan Walkers of the world than at Lauren Cox.
Expand ...

Although this recruiting brochure will of course be used against other schools I think it is aimed at competing specifically with UConn. Just look at the content:

The Coaching: quotes from WNBA coaches about how well ND develops its players. Player development and producing WNBA-ready talent is a strength of Geno and the UConn program.

The Network: former players come back and practice with the current team. How often have we heard about the UConn alums coming back to practice with the Huskies or the UConn club in the WNBA? One program from the south included the practice issue in an NCAA complaint.

The Competition: ND plays in the tough ACC and plays schools from other P5 conferences. UConn's conference affiliation is a weak spot and this brochure subtly goes right after that weak spot.

Style of Play: Up tempo, style of play produces players who are WNBA-ready. Again, no school produces more WNBA-ready players than UConn.

Both schools competed for Samuelson and Collier and are now competing for Cox, Walker, Jade Williams and likely others.
 
UConnCat said:
Although this recruiting brochure will of course be used against other schools I think it is aimed at competing specifically with UConn.
Expand ...

That's fair, but all of those things (minus the competition) are things that set both of those schools apart from many other schools.

So you can read it as "here's what we do that is like UConn" or as "here's what we do that only us and UConn do"
 
Orangutan said:
That's fair, but all of those things (minus the competition) are things that set both of those schools apart from many other schools.

So you can read it as "here's what we do that is like UConn" or as "here's what we do that only us and UConn do"
Expand ...

True and well said.
 
Orangutan said:
I have to think this is more aimed to help recruiting against the other non-UConn schools than against UConn.
Over the last 5 years, only UConn has had better success winning at the college level and producing pros (maybe Baylor is arguable). At best, ND can use this line of reasoning as "We can also send you to the WNBA and we also offer that they don't".
x.
Expand ...

Duke has produced 6 WNBA players in the past 5 years.... 5 who are still playing..... including 4 first round picks. If you go back 7 years.... the number increases to 5 first round picks. Plus quite a few others who have played overseas. 8 current WNBA players........ hopefully Lindsey Harding gets another shot next year.
 
.-.
triaddukefan said:
Duke has produced 6 WNBA players in the past 5 years.... 5 who are still playing..... including 4 first round picks. If you go back 7 years.... the number increases to 5 first round picks. Plus quite a few others who have played overseas. 8 current WNBA players... hopefully Lindsey Harding gets another shot next year.
Expand ...

Yeah, Duke's pretty close, but ND is on a streak of 4 straight years with top 3 picks, including a #1 overall in Loyd, so I think strictly over the last 5 years ND is ahead. (A streak that will break this year unless Mabrey, Cable, or Huffman are injected with super soldier serum).

And then there's the "winning at the college level" part of the statement...

Sorry, couldn't resist.
 
Orangutan said:
Yeah, Duke's pretty close, but ND is on a streak of 4 straight years with top 3 picks, including a #1 overall in Loyd, so I think strictly over the last 5 years ND is ahead. (A streak that will break this year unless Mabrey, Cable, or Huffman are injected with super soldier serum).
Expand ...

Sure ND is ahead in the last five years .... just injecting that there are other places besides UCONN and ND that put players in the WNBA and in overseas leagues at a pretty good rate. :cool:

Orangutan said:
And then there's the "winning at the college level" part of the statement...

Sorry, couldn't resist.
Expand ...

Et tu, Brute ? :confused:
 
triaddukefan said:
Sure ND is ahead in the last five years .... just injecting that there are other places besides UCONN and ND that put players in the WNBA and in overseas leagues at a pretty good rate. :cool:



Et tu, Brute ? :confused:
Expand ...
Don't feel bad, Notre Dame fans have to take their shots when they can.:D
 
.-.
reno tony said:
I'd like to think that The Boneyard is loaded with a group of fair minded folks. Notre Dame has produced some excellent players for the WNBA and has there been another team that has played as tough against UCONN during the last 7 or 8 years? Give them credit when it is due. If every team is compared to UCONN concerning anything to do with WBB then most will fall pretty short. I love UCONN, but kicking other teams around should be below us. Go Notre Dame!
Expand ...
Thank you for this commentary, one of the few on this thread that makes sense to me. Of course the article in question is a bit of a puff piece, and, of course, it is purposely timed to favorably influence recruiting. The points that it makes relative to the "system" at Notre Dame are perfectly fair and entirely justified. For that reason alone, we UConn fans should be thankful that it was written. Is there anyone around here who thinks that highly prized recruits fail to apply the same criteria in their thinking to the one program that need not publicize the fact that it, and it alone, outshines ND in all of the areas touched upon by the author? By any standard, the writer did UConn a big favor by writing it. It is a trademark, in my opinion, of ND fans to always feel their teams and their programs are being "dissed" and ranked too low. That kind of whining should be far below fans of the ten time national champions. Did I say ten? Gee, I wonder if Lauren Cox and the other top recruits are aware of that...
 
I would be completely shocked if UConn WBB hasn't produced similar documents or brochures touting its accomplishments and those of its alumni that it has distributed to recruits during the recruiting process. What's different here is that ND has produced its in an article format and has made it publicly available on its website. It's also been promoted and circulated by ND's various twitter accounts (program, coaches). The UConn program keeps its stuff in-house and rarely uses twitter, particularly for recruiting purposes. The contrast in style and approach is what interests me.
 
I've always preferred the Tennessee program to that of Notre Dame - for several reasons.

Tennessee has a great record as a collegiate program with a record of championships second only to UConn. They've never resorted to flopping like the Flopping Irish. And they are not known as habitual whiners like ND from the coach, from the fans, and from the team.

Finally, the Tennessee fans demonstrate more knowledge of the game. While the VolNation website contains some anti-Geno rhetoric, there is some discussion of basketball tactics, critique of coaching decisions, etc. There is none on McGraw's Bench. Maybe there is a more sophisticated forum for ND women's hoops? But, I seriously doubt it.
 
mhshuskies said:
When you're the best you don't need to talk about it, the results says it all. If you have to be talking yourself up it's probably due to a sense of inferiority.
Expand ...
Where I'm from ( Norristown, PA) guys that have to tell you how good they are don't last very long.
Geno '2014.
 
Actually UConn is very poor when it comes to using Social Media or its own SID to publicize the accomplishments of program, current players or Alumni. IMHO they rely on the horde for their publicity.ND is the best followed by Stanford and Duke. So Carolina, especially Dawn Staley really used Social Media to publicize their program.

UConnCat said:
I would be completely shocked if UConn WBB hasn't produced similar documents or brochures touting its accomplishments and those of its alumni that it has distributed to recruits during the recruiting process. What's different here is that ND has produced its in an article format and has made it publicly available on its website. It's also been promoted and circulated by ND's various twitter accounts (program, coaches). The UConn program keeps its stuff in-house and rarely uses twitter, particularly for recruiting purposes. The contrast in style and approach is what interests me.
Expand ...
 
.-.
RU has as many current NBA players as ND, so I guess we could claim we are the premier pipeline to the WNBA - even though it is obviously not true. UConn wins that battle hands down. Both ND and RU do prepare their players to play at the next level - as does UT, Duke and several other schools.
 
Bigpetunia said:
Thank you for this commentary, one of the few on this thread that makes sense to me. Of course the article in question is a bit of a puff piece, and, of course, it is purposely timed to favorably influence recruiting. The points that it makes relative to the "system" at Notre Dame are perfectly fair and entirely justified. For that reason alone, we UConn fans should be thankful that it was written. Is there anyone around here who thinks that highly prized recruits fail to apply the same criteria in their thinking to the one program that need not publicize the fact that it, and it alone, outshines ND in all of the areas touched upon by the author? By any standard, the writer did UConn a big favor by writing it. It is a trademark, in my opinion, of ND fans to always feel their teams and their programs are being "dissed" and ranked too low. That kind of whining should be far below fans of the ten time national champions. Did I say ten? Gee, I wonder if Lauren Cox and the other top recruits are aware of that...
Expand ...
Big, just a follow up since the article about ND being a pipeline to WNBA there have been 2 other article highlighting ND connections/ players to WNBA. One was predictable Jewell being name Rookie of the year. The other caught me by surprise, it was on the top banner of the ND WCBB page highlighting Devereaux Peters 2nd WNBA championship.
http://www.und.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101415aad.html
I can't applaud loud enough what ND is doing by highlighting former ND players in the WNBA. I also now belive there is no intended/implied counter messaging to recruits of UCONN WCBB.
 
Last edited:
CocoHusky said:
Big, just a follow up since the article about ND being a pipeline to WNBA there have been 2 other article highlighting ND connections/ players to WNBA. One was predictable Jewell being name Rookie of the year. The other caught me by surprise, it was on the top banner of the ND WCBB page highlighting Devereaux Peters 2nd WNBA championship.
http://www.und.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101415aad.html
I can't applaud loud enough what ND is doing by highlighting former ND players in the WNBA. I also now belive there is no intended/implied counter messaging to recruits of UCONN WCBB.
Expand ...
What the top banner didn't say was about how Peters was just along for the ride that was driven by UCONN alumni.
 
mhshuskies said:
What the top banner didn't say was about how Peters was just along for the ride that was driven by UCONN alumni.
Expand ...
Careful! Then ND fans would counter with Kalana Greene must also have been along for the ride also. There doesn't have to be a UCONN angle to everything ND does. I like the fact that ND is biggin up thier WNBA players. I honestly wish UCONN would do the same.
 
UConnCat said:
I would be completely shocked if UConn WBB hasn't produced similar documents or brochures touting its accomplishments and those of its alumni that it has distributed to recruits during the recruiting process. What's different here is that ND has produced its in an article format and has made it publicly available on its website. It's also been promoted and circulated by ND's various twitter accounts (program, coaches). The UConn program keeps its stuff in-house and rarely uses twitter, particularly for recruiting purposes. The contrast in style and approach is what interests me.
Expand ...

Actually we use the ESPN marketing arm to produce our WCBB promotional materials and broadcast them to the widest possible audience. :cool:
 
.-.
UConnCat said:
Piece done by the ND athletic department about ND developing its players for the WNBA. Nicely done and just in time for recruiting season.

http://www.und.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/090315aap.html

Imagine what UConn could put together about its program if it were so inclined. They could add winning championships and Olympic and World Championship gold medals.

Geno once said he thinks UConn is the best women's basketball program in the country but "we don't go around flaunting it." Geno, I think you should change your mind on that.
Expand ...

I thought players went to ND primarily because of its academic reputation. The name has a certain athletic cachet, too. Muffet, like her or not, is a pretty good coach. But it makes no sense (to me) to go to ND if you want to play in the WNBA. UConn not only sends more players, it sends more top players who go on to affect the outcome of games. I've never heard Geno extol his program as a conduit to professional sport. Be nice if Irish stars completed their 4 year commitment . . .
 
huskyd said:
I thought players went to ND primarily because of its academic reputation. The name has a certain athletic cachet, too. Muffet, like her or not, is a pretty good coach. But it makes no sense (to me) to go to ND if you want to play in the WNBA. UConn not only sends more players, it sends more top players who go on to affect the outcome of games. I've never heard Geno extol his program as a conduit to professional sport. Be nice if Irish stars completed their 4 year commitment . . .
Expand ...
You are right it make no sense to go to a strong academic school like Duke, Stanford, or ND because WNBA basketball will prepare you for the rest of your life, and you'll never have to go apply for another job in the real world where an employer might actually put some value on your diploma. In fact, why worry about getting a diploma anyway? How contrary, It would be nice if ND stars stay for 4 years but you don't understand why they would go there in the first place.
This is good fodder for Geno's recent critique of "some" UCONN fans being so ..... (I trying not to get banned so I won't repeat it)
 
Last edited:
reno tony said:
I'd like to think that The Boneyard is loaded with a group of fair minded folks.
Expand ...
images.jpg
 
CocoHusky said:
You are right it make no sense to go to a strong academic school like Duke, Stanford, or ND because WNBA basketball will prepare you for the rest of your life, and you'll never have to go apply for another job in the real world where an employer might actually put some value on your diploma. In fact, why worry about getting a diploma anyway? How contrary, It would be nice if ND stars stay for 4 years but you don't understand why they would go there in the first place.
This is good fodder for Geno's recent critique of "some" UCONN fans being so ..... (I trying not to get banned so I won't repeat it)
Expand ...

I have no idea what you're talking about, Coco, nor do I see any relevance to what I wrote. Any woman who chooses a school in order to get a degree and to prepare for a life's work is a very smart woman indeed. Women who choose the schools you mention often base their choice on the excellence of the school's reputation and hence the value of its degree. That makes perfect sense. But if someone picks a school primarily for its being a springboard to the WNBA, that wouldn't make a lot of sense for many reasons, not the least of which is the few who actually make basketball a career (and a fairly low paying one at that). Education comes first, in my humble opinion. I would also argue that playing for UConn might meet both interests; they are not mutually exclusive.
 
BroadwayVa said:
If my post came across as dissing Notre Dame--that was not my intent. But by numbers UConn has sent more to the WNBA and Europe than ND. I followed ND Basketball, a bit of their football, and most of the National TV games of ND Women. Muffet lost me for a while as a fan with her hissing contest with Uconn with less than truthful and less than professional comments. I'm back to liking Muffet but kind of waiting for her revert to form. ND talent, unlike some, I like Turner her potential is very high. Muffet has a record of coaching Big girls to goodness if not greatness starting with Riley and currently with Riemer and Turner. She has had some of the best guards in College BB that she developed--Mallory/the Australian kid and Loyd (among other). Point is ---
Tough competition is desired by Uconn and it's fans--being less than professional takes away from that.
Expand ...
No matter how close those string of Irish wins were the fact is they had some talented players and McGraw can coach. You don't get that many wins against geno and the teams he and staff have developed. But I went and read this piece on ND being the pipeline to the pros and the reality is Notre Dame is currently (at least according to the site I used for collecting the data) the seventh ranked school for roster members in the WNBA. Actually tied with Maryland with 5 each. The players now there are Achonwa, Diggins, Loyd, McBride, and Peters. . North Carolina and Stanford with 6, Rutgers and Tennessee with 7, and in second place a bit of a surprise was Duke with 8, UConn has 13 which does not include Taurasi nor Battle. Now I don't claim to be as good with names from the ND program but there were only two that jumped out at me from the historical list, Novasel and Riley. I think I got 13 or 14 others from their UConn careers who also had a WNBA spot at one time or another. So since the WNBA started nearing or at THIRTY former Husky's have turned pro. Anyone want to bet that the list grows by 2 this year, one next, and maybe two the next year. Without going into this year's recruits. The factors that go into where a kid will declare are many and varied. The pyramid to the WNBA is small
 
billnaples said:
No matter how close those string of Irish wins were the fact is they had some talented players and McGraw can coach. You don't get that many wins against geno and the teams he and staff have developed. But I went and read this piece on ND being the pipeline to the pros and the reality is Notre Dame is currently (at least according to the site I used for collecting the data) the seventh ranked school for roster members in the WNBA. Actually tied with Maryland with 5 each. The players now there are Achonwa, Diggins, Loyd, McBride, and Peters. . North Carolina and Stanford with 6, Rutgers and Tennessee with 7, and in second place a bit of a surprise was Duke with 8, UConn has 13 which does not include Taurasi nor Battle. Now I don't claim to be as good with names from the ND program but there were only two that jumped out at me from the historical list, Novasel and Riley. I think I got 13 or 14 others from their UConn careers who also had a WNBA spot at one time or another. So since the WNBA started nearing or at THIRTY former Husky's have turned pro. Anyone want to bet that the list grows by 2 this year, one next, and maybe two the next year. Without going into this year's recruits. The factors that go into where a kid will declare are many and varied. The pyramid to the WNBA is small
Expand ...

I cant see why that would be a suprise... even a bit of a surprise. Its not like Duke is on the level of Clemson or Wake Forest in terms of WCBB.
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
167,957
Messages
4,546,671
Members
10,428
Latest member
CarloPFF


Top Bottom