Nice article about UConn

[CalifHusky]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/womens-basketball/news?slug=ycn-11129752

Nice walk down memory lane, and a beautiful picture of our girl Maya.

 

[Phil]

Thanks!

(If you don't know what I mean, I took that picture of Maya.)

 

[doggydaddy]

"Hartley played almost a flawless defensive game in the record rout of Kansas State"

How is that measured?

 

[Icebear]

"Hartley played almost a flawless defensive game in the record rout of Kansas State"

How is that measured?

Metric scale.

 

[alexrgct]

Certainly a flattering article, but doesn't do much to examine how UConn has had the success it's had. There's a lot to examine there, from the strokes of good luck to the ways Geno took advantage of those opportunities to the way the program's run today. It's a story worth telling. Obviously, the story is old hat to us no matter how detail is or isn't provided.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The entire KSU backcourt had at most 8 field goals for the game. I'm betting that most of them were not scored on Bria.

 

[huskybill]

""Hartley played almost a flawless defensive game in the record rout of Kansas State"

How is that measured? "

They asked TonyC.​

 

[CalifHusky]

Thanks!

(If you don't know what I mean, I took that picture of Maya.)

It is a beautiful picture of a beautiful young woman! Very Nice Job.

 

[ctfjr]

Certainly a flattering article, but doesn't do much to examine how UConn has had the success it's had. There's a lot to examine there, from the strokes of good luck to the ways Geno took advantage of those opportunities to the way the program's run today. It's a story worth telling. Obviously, the story is old hat to us no matter how detail is or isn't provided.

Hmmm. . . the more 'practice' Geno gets the luckier he is

 

[alexrgct]

Hmmm. . . the more 'practice' Geno gets the luckier he is

There were seven key strokes of good luck that contributed heavily to the 1995 championship:

1. The arrival (simultaneous with Geno) of unproven 25 year-old assistant Chris Dailey, who proved to be the best assistant in the country.
2. I cringe calling this "luck", but Kerry Bascom's mother's health kept her close to home. She otherwise would have been out of reach for UConn at the time.
3. Kerry would have out of reach, but she was NOT a super-blue kind of prospect. She blossomed into a first-team AA. Credit Geno and staff for helping develop her, but they didn't dream they were getting THAT good a player.
4. Just as Kerry was wrapping up her UConn career and leading UConn to a Final Four, there happened to be a super elite high school prospect from Southwick, MA, who decided she believed in what UConn was doing. Without Rebecca Lobo, where would UConn be? How many great players have come from that area since?
5. and 6. In 1992 and 1993, Geno picks up an undersized, under-athetic point guard from New Fairfield and a 6'7" project from outside of Framingham, MA. Neither is sniffed by big-time programs, and neither would be recruited by UConn today. Geno and his staff get credit for evaluation and development, but I don't think he predicted Jen Rizzotti and Kara Wolters would become NPOY-caliber players.
7. Just as everything is coming together, it so happens that the nation's #1 high school prospect for 1994, Nykesha Sales, is from just outside of Hartford. Again, when before or since has Hartford produced anything close to that caliber of talent?

Geno did a LOT right during that period. Luck, as they say, is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. But the opportunity still has to be there. If you want evidence that Geno doubted he'd have the same opportunities again, just look at how he shifted gears as soon as he had the 1995 NC to hang his hat on. UConn became the premier program during the five year stretch between 2000-2004. The players who were the stars of those teams? All nationally elite recruits, and none from New England. Geno knew better than to count on lightning striking twice. But it did strike once. It's an amazing series of good fortune, and a pretty cool story. Hardly diminishes Geno as a coach.

 

[MilfordHusky]

There were seven key strokes of good luck that contributed heavily to the 1995 championship:

1. The arrival (simultaneous with Geno) of unproven 25 year-old assistant Chris Dailey, who proved to be the best assistant in the country.
2. I cringe calling this "luck", but Kerry Bascom's mother's health kept her close to home. She otherwise would have been out of reach for UConn at the time.
3. Kerry would have out of reach, but she was NOT a super-blue kind of prospect. She blossomed into a first-team AA. Credit Geno and staff for helping develop her, but they didn't dream they were getting THAT good a player.
4. Just as Kerry was wrapping up her UConn career and leading UConn to a Final Four, there happened to be a super elite high school prospect from Southwick, MA, who decided she believed in what UConn was doing. Without Rebecca Lobo, where would UConn be? How many great players have come from that area since?
5. and 6. In 1992 and 1993, Geno picks up an undersized, under-athetic point guard from New Fairfield and a 6'7" project from outside of Framingham, MA. Neither is sniffed by big-time programs, and neither would be recruited by UConn today. Geno and his staff get credit for evaluation and development, but I don't think he predicted Jen Rizzotti and Kara Wolters would become NPOY-caliber players.
7. Just as everything is coming together, it so happens that the nation's #1 high school prospect for 1994, Nykesha Sales, is from just outside of Hartford. Again, when before or since has Hartford produced anything close to that caliber of talent?

Geno did a LOT right during that period. Luck, as they say, is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. But the opportunity still has to be there. If you want evidence that Geno doubted he'd have the same opportunities again, just look at how he shifted gears as soon as he had the 1995 NC to hang his hat on. UConn became the premier program during the five year stretch between 2000-2004. The players who were the stars of those teams? All nationally elite recruits, and none from New England. Geno knew better than to count on lightning striking twice. But it did strike once. It's an amazing series of good fortune, and a pretty cool story. Hardly diminishes Geno as a coach.

I love your historical perspective. My first-hand knowledge of pre-2000 is rather limited.

 

[grizz36]

There were seven key strokes of good luck that contributed heavily to the 1995 championship:

1. The arrival (simultaneous with Geno) of unproven 25 year-old assistant Chris Dailey, who proved to be the best assistant in the country.
2. I cringe calling this "luck", but Kerry Bascom's mother's health kept her close to home. She otherwise would have been out of reach for UConn at the time.
3. Kerry would have out of reach, but she was NOT a super-blue kind of prospect. She blossomed into a first-team AA. Credit Geno and staff for helping develop her, but they didn't dream they were getting THAT good a player.
4. Just as Kerry was wrapping up her UConn career and leading UConn to a Final Four, there happened to be a super elite high school prospect from Southwick, MA, who decided she believed in what UConn was doing. Without Rebecca Lobo, where would UConn be? How many great players have come from that area since?
5. and 6. In 1992 and 1993, Geno picks up an undersized, under-athetic point guard from New Fairfield and a 6'7" project from outside of Framingham, MA. Neither is sniffed by big-time programs, and neither would be recruited by UConn today. Geno and his staff get credit for evaluation and development, but I don't think he predicted Jen Rizzotti and Kara Wolters would become NPOY-caliber players.
7. Just as everything is coming together, it so happens that the nation's #1 high school prospect for 1994, Nykesha Sales, is from just outside of Hartford. Again, when before or since has Hartford produced anything close to that caliber of talent?

Geno did a LOT right during that period. Luck, as they say, is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. But the opportunity still has to be there. If you want evidence that Geno doubted he'd have the same opportunities again, just look at how he shifted gears as soon as he had the 1995 NC to hang his hat on. UConn became the premier program during the five year stretch between 2000-2004. The players who were the stars of those teams? All nationally elite recruits, and none from New England. Geno knew better than to count on lightning striking twice. But it did strike once. It's an amazing series of good fortune, and a pretty cool story. Hardly diminishes Geno as a coach.

You omitted one other VERY important factor and that is the recruiting of an overachieving rugged forward from Washington, DC by the name of Jamelle Elliot. In my opinion, from her arrival until her departure to coach at Cincy, she was the heart, soul and guts of the UCONN women's program.

 

[UConnCat]

You omitted one other VERY important factor and that is the recruiting of an overachieving rugged forward from Washington, DC by the name of Jamelle Elliot. In my opinion, from her arrival until her departure to coach at Cincy, she was the heart, soul and guts of the UCONN women's program.

Good point. If I remember correctly, John Walters wrote (in Same River...) something like Jamelle's decision to play in Storrs laid the tracks for future African-American players like Nykesha, Rita, Swin, Tamika and Asjha.

 

[Buzzyboy]

There were seven key strokes of good luck that contributed heavily to the 1995 championship:

1. The arrival (simultaneous with Geno) of unproven 25 year-old assistant Chris Dailey, who proved to be the best assistant in the country.
2. I cringe calling this "luck", but Kerry Bascom's mother's health kept her close to home. She otherwise would have been out of reach for UConn at the time.
3. Kerry would have out of reach, but she was NOT a super-blue kind of prospect. She blossomed into a first-team AA. Credit Geno and staff for helping develop her, but they didn't dream they were getting THAT good a player.
4. Just as Kerry was wrapping up her UConn career and leading UConn to a Final Four, there happened to be a super elite high school prospect from Southwick, MA, who decided she believed in what UConn was doing. Without Rebecca Lobo, where would UConn be? How many great players have come from that area since?
5. and 6. In 1992 and 1993, Geno picks up an undersized, under-athetic point guard from New Fairfield and a 6'7" project from outside of Framingham, MA. Neither is sniffed by big-time programs, and neither would be recruited by UConn today. Geno and his staff get credit for evaluation and development, but I don't think he predicted Jen Rizzotti and Kara Wolters would become NPOY-caliber players.
7. Just as everything is coming together, it so happens that the nation's #1 high school prospect for 1994, Nykesha Sales, is from just outside of Hartford. Again, when before or since has Hartford produced anything close to that caliber of talent?

Geno did a LOT right during that period. Luck, as they say, is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. But the opportunity still has to be there. If you want evidence that Geno doubted he'd have the same opportunities again, just look at how he shifted gears as soon as he had the 1995 NC to hang his hat on. UConn became the premier program during the five year stretch between 2000-2004. The players who were the stars of those teams? All nationally elite recruits, and none from New England. Geno knew better than to count on lightning striking twice. But it did strike once. It's an amazing series of good fortune, and a pretty cool story. Hardly diminishes Geno as a coach.

I don't know if I necessarily agree that Jen Rizzoti and Kara Wolters wouldn't have even been looked at today. Geno has had a tendency to at least evaluate local talent even now and it wouldn't have taken a rocket scientist to determine the intangibles that Jen Rizzoti had, which is the hallmark of any UConn team. A team player with a ferocious appetite to win and a team first mentality and with "some skills", though maybe not the MOST athletic of players. Big Girl reminds me a little of our present center (Steph Dolson) when she was recruited, not an overtly athletic kid but someone with great size and great hands that might have been worth a gamble, even now. That old adage, about not being able to recruit 6'8" would have warranted some attention, as well. As usual you always make some wonderful points and I know anytime I read any of your posts that I'll enjoy them and in many cases, get educated by them. Thanks for your contributions, Alex!

 

[alexrgct]

Good point. If I remember correctly, John Walters wrote (in Same River...) something like Jamelle's decision to play in Storrs laid the tracks for future African-American players like Nykesha, Rita, Swin, Tamika and Asjha.

My question is whether Jamelle's production/leadership/trailblazing at UConn was beyond the pale of what Geno was expected or whether she was "just" a good evaluation/recruiting job that produced within the range Geno anticipated. Honestly, I'm not sure- saw it as enough of a gray area not to include Jamelle as part of the "luck string."