Poll: Will Geno's coaching the US National team help or hurt recruiting?

[msf22b]

There is actually an answer ommited in the poll…that I think is the correct one.

-Both

 

[Phil]

I also think folks are overestimating the positive impact.

He's won 8 national titles, been an Olympic coach, had the longest winning streak in WCBB history, multiple undefeated seasons, and the highest winning percentage.

After all that, his SECOND selection as Olympic coach is what's going to impress a recruit?

I liked your post because, well, I liked it. Having said that, some people subscribe to the "what have you done for me lately" concept, and when you remember that some of these accomplishments occurred before current recruits were born, it may be helpful to have something recent to point to.

 

[boontonbomber]

Umm ... it is only 7 years and three competitions ago that USA Women won bronze after losing to Russia in the WC in Brazil. A team that did include Parker. Now I agree that loss was all the players fault because they were a dreadful team that included Bird, DT, Augustus, and Catch as well as Parker and really if it was chosen from the best USA players you really don't need a coach, just someone to submit the line-up card. (Sarcasm) Not saying that a different coach might have made a difference, but I can't say I am a Donovan fan, though she did lead them to Gold two years later in the Olympics. Part of her problem, and the problem that would face a new coach at this point is that she had very little training time with the team. Next year's WC team gets three days this fall with any players in the semi finals or finals of the WNBA probably missing out, followed by maybe a week next spring, followed by maybe 2 weeks next fall with one or two friendlies before the WC. That is not a lot of time to bring a team together and have them play as a team.
And since 2006 the world has not stopped developing talent and the number of women playing serious BB and the number of nations with actual BB 'institutions' to train players for the national teams year around has increased. Geno and the team made the WC and the Olympics look pretty easy the same way Geno and the Uconn team made the NCAAs look pretty easy last year - but do not kid yourself on either score. The margin of error was very slim.
By the way - anyone hear what is planned for the WNBA season next year as the WC will conflict with the playoffs?

in both cases i don't believe that the margin of error was very slim. and with the talent pools , both at uconn and the national team, getting much deeper, the slim margin of error you refer to will be evn further from reality.
what i think would be fascinating would be to see geno honor his heritage, and apply for the head job of italy's national team. what a way for him to cement his legacy. take a team with not a lot of talent, and see what he could do with them.

 

[UcMiami]

in both cases i don't believe that the margin of error was very slim. and with the talent pools , both at uconn and the national team, getting much deeper, the slim margin of error you refer to will be evn further from reality.
what i think would be fascinating would be to see geno honor his heritage, and apply for the head job of italy's national team. what a way for him to cement his legacy. take a team with not a lot of talent, and see what he could do with them.

I guess going 1-3 against ND and having been ousted the previous two years by the same team doesn't count as being a slim margin for error? Or the fact that Baylor was the overwhelming favorite entering the tournament and had a 1-0 record against Uconn last year?
No question talent in the USA is great, but international talent is improving at probably a greater rate (because they had a further way to go.) I have no doubt in my mind that the USA team in 2006 had more talent than any other National team but that didn't help them. Duke has had very talented teams over the last decade that have lost to teams with less talent. Why is Uconn so good - because they have the best coach in the country to lead a very talented team. I personally do not think Uconn wins last year with just any old coach at the helm. I don't think they win with Kim or JPM or Doug, and I doubt they win with Muffet or Jeff or Tara. Maybe you disagree, but if you don't then you are just proving why USA BB chose Geno - you don't send in the second string and hope when you are talking about the National team.

 

[svetbird]

I guess going 1-3 against ND and having been ousted the previous two years by the same team doesn't count as being a slim margin for error? Or the fact that Baylor was the overwhelming favorite entering the tournament and had a 1-0 record against Uconn last year?
No question talent in the USA is great, but international talent is improving at probably a greater rate (because they had a further way to go.) I have no doubt in my mind that the USA team in 2006 had more talent than any other National team but that didn't help them. Duke has had very talented teams over the last decade that have lost to teams with less talent. Why is Uconn so good - because they have the best coach in the country to lead a very talented team. I personally do not think Uconn wins last year with just any old coach at the helm. I don't think they win with Kim or JPM or Doug, and I doubt they win with Muffet or Jeff or Tara. Maybe you disagree, but if you don't then you are just proving why USA BB chose Geno - you don't send in the second string and hope when you are talking about the National team.

Muffet or Jeff May have had a chance but Geno has proven time again he can out coach anyone in the game. People like to bring up our 1 and 3 record vs ND to show that ND was better but Geno adjusted from 3 close loses to destroy them when it mattered most. I think Muffet and Jeff are great coaches but there is only one Geno

 

[Vowelguy]

People like to bring up our 1 and 3 record vs ND to show that ND was better but Geno adjusted from 3 close loses to destroy them when it mattered most.

Does that mean ND/Muffet was better in 2011 when they adjusted after 3 losses to beat UConn when it mattered most?

 

[svetbird]

Does that mean ND/Muffet was better in 2011 when they adjusted after 3 losses to beat UConn when it mattered most?

there have been times when I thought Muffet out coached him. When you have a coach as good as Muffet your going to be out coached sometimes. If you look at records though I take Geno over Muffet, Jeff and even Pat

 

[jsloanjr]

CR..Are you kidding me.......Players come to UCONN or any other top 10 place to win...........The above 8 strengths are second to none........GO UCONN!!!...Bring on all the negative doom Sayers........

 

[winitall]

CR..Are you kidding me.......Players come to UCONN or any other top 10 place to win...........The above 8 strengths are second to none........GO UCONN!!!...Bring on all the negative doom Sayers........

No not kidding at all I think it's a serious consideration going forward. Look at the teams that have left us behind in a new league of nameless teams with no rivalries. If we don't get into another league (ACC or Big 10) before Geno retires we may be in a world of hurt. I've been a season ticket holder for 20 years and I'm sad to see all our league rivalries gone after this season. Yes we'll have great OOC games like we always do but I'm not looking forward to going to league games against teams I can't even get excited to see. At this point I can't name one I'm looking forward to playing, heck I don't think I could name 5 new league members without looking them up.

 

[UcMiami]

No not kidding at all I think it's a serious consideration going forward. Look at the teams that have left us behind in a new league of nameless teams with no rivalries. If we don't get into another league (ACC or Big 10) before Geno retires we may be in a world of hurt. I've been a season ticket holder for 20 years and I'm sad to see all our league rivalries gone after this season. Yes we'll have great OOC games like we always do but I'm not looking forward to going to league games against teams I can't even get excited to see. At this point I can't name one I'm looking forward to playing, heck I don't think I could name 5 new league members without looking them up.

Well I guess I am looking forward to Temple and Cinci because of the coaches, and I can't say that there were a whole lot of league rivals that got me all that excited in the old Big East. Rutgers was exciting for a few years, then ND has been exciting for a few years, but Providence, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, DePaul, South Florida, meh. Can't remember the last time any of those teams actually won a game and few of the contests were very competitive. I mean, we have lost a total of 14 regular season conference games in the last 14 years - drop out Rutgers and ND and the number is halved.

 

[winitall]

Well I guess I am looking forward to Temple and Cinci because of the coaches, and I can't say that there were a whole lot of league rivals that got me all that excited in the old Big East. Rutgers was exciting for a few years, then ND has been exciting for a few years, but Providence, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, DePaul, South Florida, meh. Can't remember the last time any of those teams actually won a game and few of the contests were very competitive. I mean, we have lost a total of 14 regular season conference games in the last 14 years - drop out Rutgers and ND and the number is halved.

Don't forget that we had some good games with BC, West Virginia, Georgetown, St John's and Louisville. I just don't see a lot of excitement over any of the teams in our new league but I'll by tickets and continue to support the team but a lot of people won't. Not looking forward to the competition in the new league as you said, meh!

 

[HGN]

I voted that Geno's involvement will help a little......... It certainly can't hurt. Its advertising.

As long as the UConn WBB team continues to be FF participants , before 2016 and get the publicity , and Geno gets even more publicity as national coach , the recuits will consider the Huskies even more.

Conference realignment may have a small impact , but its going to be more what UConn does as a team and in the NCAA Tournament that will carry more weight with recruits.

 

[RadyLady]

You can have a boatload of very talented players - getting them to buy into a system and play as a cohesive unit in a very short amount of time takes a great coach who garners a lot of respect.
I also think that he (Geno) respects his players as well.

without this you just have a boatload of talented players who will play well individually...but will they win it all? who knows?

 

[arty155]

Parental/Home Propinquity is a huge factor for many, as I see it. IOW, closeness to what you are familiar with.

So, you're sayin, kids usually won't leave, if their parents cook at home with propane?

 

[UCONNfan1]

there have been times when I thought Muffet out coached him. When you have a coach as good as Muffet your going to be out coached sometimes. If you look at records though I take Geno over Muffet, Jeff and even Pat

Geno owned Pat. He had a 13-6 edge, and then during the Parker years, Pat won 3 in a row and it was 13-9, which is where it stands now. Since Parker, had they played at all, UCONN would have won, and it would have gotten out of control - maybe close to 18 to 20-9.

 

[Phil]

So, you're sayin, kids usually won't leave, if their parents cook at home with propane?

Ah, memories. I first learned the word Propinquity in a Dobie Gillis episode, which sadly, few will remember.

 

[AllHusky529]

It wont hurt if we have these 4 on the floor for UConn....

 

[arty155]

Ah, memories. I first learned the word Propinquity in a Dobie Gillis episode, which sadly, few will remember.

- Hey Phil, Been enjoying your posts the past week.
-Yeah, Dobie Gillis was a great show! Although, I've always felt cheated that final episode never actually showed the impress gang clubbing Maynard G. Krebbs and Shanghaiing him aboard the S.S. Minnow. Freaking censors.
- You were way, way ahead of me today; I had no idea what Oz's sofistdakadid sawfizz big word meant, until good old Yahoo Answers came through for me:

pro·pin·qui·ty noun\prə-piŋ-kwə-tē\​

1. (n.) Serving aboard Captain Ahab's whale ship; e.g., Queequed quietly quailed, quickly quaffing quaint squid liquid hid amid quixotic Pequod, propinquityingishly. ​

2. (n., French) Escape attempts from Devil's Island, by les prisoners infamous Mssrs. S. McQueen and D. Hoffman​

3. (n., French culinary term) Roasting "morts ou vivants" with propane gas, from gothic novel Marquis de Oz; normally complemented with an exquisite malt.​

4. (n.) What Dobie Gillis said.​

 

[Icebear]

Or else

Propinquity Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

 

[meyers7]

Ah, memories. I first learned the word Propinquity in a Dobie Gillis episode, which sadly, few will remember.

Come on Phil, we're all old here.

Doby and Maynard

 

[Icebear]

Come on Phil, we're all old here.

Doby and Maynard

Nah, Propinquity was about Zelda and Dobie.

 

[slimmer56]

How in the world can you follow Tonyc. He said everything that needs to be said, so I will just add a little.

How could it hurt ? Geno recruits different than anyone else, and he has proved that his method works. You Boneyarders know he recruits team players and unselfish players. The young players (possible recruits) see all these superstars playing their guts out for Geno in the Olympics, and it puts thought in their heads. That is 8 years of Olympic coaching. 8 years for young high schoolers and middle schoolers to watch Geno coaching Olympics ! How could it hurt !

He will not let the Olympics interfere with coaching UCONN. He knows and we know we have the best assistants in WCBB. He will delegate when he has to. Did he not come back from the Olympics
and win # 8. Well we are going to get # 9 this year, and that sure as hell ain't goinna hurt !

 

[Bestiarius]

Given the short practice time and improving competition, a win is no sure thing. I admire Geno for taking the job and the risk.

 

[Bestiarius]

- Hey Phil, Been enjoying your posts the past week.
-Yeah, Dobie Gillis was a great show! Although, I've always felt cheated that final episode never actually showed the impress gang clubbing Maynard G. Krebbs and Shanghaiing him aboard the S.S. Minnow. Freaking censors.
- You were way, way ahead of me today; I had no idea what Oz's sofistdakadid sawfizz big word meant, until good old Yahoo Answers came through for me:

pro·pin·qui·ty noun\prə-piŋ-kwə-tē\​

1. (n.) Serving aboard Captain Ahab's whale ship; e.g., Queequed quietly quailed, quickly quaffing quaint squid liquid hid amid quixotic Pequod, propinquityingishly. ​

2. (n., French) Escape attempts from Devil's Island, by les prisoners infamous Mssrs. S. McQueen and D. Hoffman​

3. (n., French culinary term) Roasting "morts ou vivants" with propane gas, from gothic novel Marquis de Oz; normally complemented with an exquisite malt.​

4. (n.) What Dobie Gillis said.​

Propinquity - I always thought it had something to do with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

 

[Phil]

Nah, Propinquity was about Zelda and Dobie.

Yep Zelda Gilroy and Dobie Gillis. Last names so close in the alphabet that(back in the day) meant they would sit next to each other for their entire school career.