Of all the big time hoops programs I too just don't get it! What is the appeal? My niece graduated from SU. I've visited the campus. There was nothing about that visit that shouted out, "Yeah! This is the place to be!" I know that SU hoops is the only attraction worth seeing during the winter up there. They pack in a load of bodies into the dome to watch them play. They'll always rack up a ton of wins each year, but much of that has to do with loading up on weak competition at home during the first few months of the season and the difficulty of OOC programs being prepared to beat their tough zone D. I do hand it to SU for playing the best 2-3 zone year after year, but as so many pointed out, it doesn't prepare their players for the NBA, at least defensively. JB's offensive scheme, if you want to call it scheme, is somewhat of a pro-style that does translate well to the NBA. I'm assuming that has to do a lot with what attracts talented players there, as well as some of the big names that have gone there such as Carmelo.
Spot on DM.Of all the big time hoops programs I too just don't get it! What is the appeal? My niece graduated from SU. I've visited the campus. There was nothing about that visit that shouted out, "Yeah! This is the place to be!" I know that SU hoops is the only attraction worth seeing during the winter up there. They pack in a load of bodies into the dome to watch them play. They'll always rack up a ton of wins each year, but much of that has to do with loading up on weak competition at home during the first few months of the season and the difficulty of OOC programs being prepared to beat their tough zone D. I do hand it to SU for playing the best 2-3 zone year after year, but as so many pointed out, it doesn't prepare their players for the NBA, at least defensively. JB's offensive scheme, if you want to call it scheme, is somewhat of a pro-style that does translate well to the NBA. I'm assuming that has to do a lot with what attracts talented players there, as well as some of the big names that have gone there such as Carmelo.
To answer my own question, I'd say it's name recognition that attracts talented players there. Also props to JB for spotting talented ones. Some of his less heralded players have turned out to be very good college players. He tends to recruit by the arm length, to get players who fit his zone well.
With all this said, I just don't get it. I just don't see why talented recruits who have other options want to play in a location that has such brutal winters. Not that Storrs is such a warm sunny place, which BTW I think works against UConn at times when we go head-to-head against programs such as Zona, UF, UNC and other programs where the climate is much warmer than southern NE. IMO, the counterbalance that has brought talented players to Storrs is the HCs JC and KO, the Big East (well not any more) plus the UConn brand that is synonymous with winning and toughness. For example a player who is attracted to a program like Dook is unlikely to feel drawn to UConn and vise versa. Dook just reeks of prima donna while UConn's image is bring your lunch pail, take the stairs and if you're an escalator type, don't even think about being a Husky. Ooops, my reply definitely went off the tracks, didn't it?
They love zone defenses and they want to go on Spring break every 3rd week in March.
Of all the big time hoops programs I too just don't get it! What is the appeal? My niece graduated from SU. I've visited the campus. There was nothing about that visit that shouted out, "Yeah! This is the place to be!" I know that SU hoops is the only attraction worth seeing during the winter up there. They pack in a load of bodies into the dome to watch them play. They'll always rack up a ton of wins each year, but much of that has to do with loading up on weak competition at home during the first few months of the season and the difficulty of OOC programs being prepared to beat their tough zone D. I do hand it to SU for playing the best 2-3 zone year after year, but as so many pointed out, it doesn't prepare their players for the NBA, at least defensively. JB's offensive scheme, if you want to call it scheme, is somewhat of a pro-style that does translate well to the NBA. I'm assuming that has to do a lot with what attracts talented players there, as well as some of the big names that have gone there such as Carmelo.
To answer my own question, I'd say it's name recognition that attracts talented players there. Also props to JB for spotting talented ones. Some of his less heralded players have turned out to be very good college players. He tends to recruit by the arm length, to get players who fit his zone well.
With all this said, I just don't get it. I just don't see why talented recruits who have other options want to play in a location that has such brutal winters. Not that Storrs is such a warm sunny place, which BTW I think works against UConn at times when we go head-to-head against programs such as Zona, UF, UNC and other programs where the climate is much warmer than southern NE. IMO, the counterbalance that has brought talented players to Storrs is the HCs JC and KO, the Big East (well not any more) plus the UConn brand that is synonymous with winning and toughness. For example a player who is attracted to a program like Dook is unlikely to feel drawn to UConn and vise versa. Dook just reeks of prima donna while UConn's image is bring your lunch pail, take the stairs and if you're an escalator type, don't even think about being a Husky. Ooops, my reply definitely went off the tracks, didn't it?
