Post-Game Ogwumike Comments Yield Insight?

[psconn]

I have a hard time reading articles about Sun losses so I just got to a Hartford Courant article done after the home loss to LA. I found these comments surprising and perhaps insightful on the cultural differences between UConn and Stanford. Keep in mind that these are the team's leaders...

"Nneka told The Associated Press recently that the first year the two played at Stanford, when she was a junior and Chiney a freshman, "it was a little competitive. She claims she didn't do anything, but she was fouling me. I told her she was going to regret it. After threats were made, Coach took us out."

"Chiney said Saturday: "We did [play opposite each other on the scout team at Stanford], but that wasn't super competitive. It's practice. Even when we did, I wasn't going after her. She knew I was young at the time, so she was trying to give me confidence. She wasn't trying to swat my shot all the time."

The paragraph above the bolded part seems to tell a little different story than the bolded part, but still, when it got chippy, Tara pulled them out. I can't see Geno doing this for anything short of a real fist fight. I think it would be more like... "you don't like what she's doing? Here what you do to counter it...". I'm nothing close to an insider so I could be wrong about that.

I was pretty surprised by this:
"...wasn't super competitive. It's practice..." an Iverson moment... I just can't picture that statement coming out of a UConn player. Think about the stories you've heard about Rizzotti, Elliot, Sue, Shea, D, Mel, Tina, Maya, Kelly, etc. Jen and Jamelle used to go so fiercely that it made the other players uncomfortable and that ultra-competitive practice mode seems to have become a part of the UConn DNA.

 

[HuskyNan]

I was pretty surprised by this:
"...wasn't super competitive. It's practice..." an Iverson moment... I just can't picture that statement coming out of a UConn player. Think about the stories you've heard about Rizzotti, Elliot, Sue, Shea, D, Mel, Tina, Maya, Kelly, etc. Jen and Jamelle used to go so fiercely that it made the other players uncomfortable and that ultra-competitive practice mode seems to have become a part of the UConn DNA.

“I think we have a very competitive and driven class,” [Sadie] Edwards said. “We have competition days for some of our lifts and everybody is battling each other trying to get the most reps. Then we are playing pick-up on the court and everybody is getting in there, getting after each other and making sure everybody is going hard, challenging each other.

“Sometimes I have to guard Kaleena (Mosqueda-Lewis) and it is hard; she is bigger than me, she is more experienced. She is great at moving without the ball to get shots, so I have to make adjustments. Every day it is a new challenge. ...If your teammates aren’t going hard against you, then they are not as close as you would like them to be. It doesn’t do us any good if we don’t go hard against each other because they might be some of the best players we see.”

So there.

 

[msf22b]

So there. [/QUOTE]


I really liked that quote, Nan and recalled it made an impression on me when it was first published
Especially that there were some allegedly disparaging remarks earlier about Sadie's work ethic.
I think we're all going to enjoy seeing that young woman play.

 

[EricLA]

I really like that quote as well, msf. Thanks for posting it Nan. Says a lot about Sadie's character, and this is before her freshman season even starts. There are so many question marks about the freshman class coming in - it's going to be exciting and interesting to see how each kid develops!

 

[Outside Shot]

I think when you're talking about sisters, it's a totally different dynamic. I would trust Tara's judgement.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I think when you're talking about sisters, it's a totally different dynamic. I would trust Tara's judgement.

I agree... none of the above UConn players are REAL sisters

 

[DaddyChoc]

So there.

I really liked that quote, Nan and recalled it made an impression on me when it was first published
Especially that there were some allegedly disparaging remarks earlier about Sadie's work ethic. let it go
I think we're all going to enjoy seeing that young woman play.[/QUOTE]

 

[RadyLady]

I agree... none of the above UConn players are REAL sisters

maybe not by blood yet there are bonds forged so strong through shared experience that a biological familial relationship is essentially moot.

I have been a part of situations like this so I know.

when the team describes one another as "my sisters", I believe them.

And as for sibling rivalry, I am sure that they have their moments.

 

[RadyLady]

...Especially that there were some allegedly disparaging remarks earlier about Sadie's work ethic. let it go
I think we're all going to enjoy seeing that young woman play.

[/QUOTE]

regarding the words in blue: wow - just wow
regarding the words in red that I now know you underlined: I clicked thinking they were a link..I was wrong. It was just instructions.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Our Stanford friends would know better, but the quotes from Nneka and Chiney are consistent with what I have read about their personalities. While both are competitive, Nneka is more mellow and Chiney is more aggressive.

 

[uconnever]

It's a family thing...played sports with 7 brothers and they would rip my heart out at home, but around others we played each other not nearly as aggressive.

 

[Bestiarius]

Our Stanford friends would know better, but the quotes from Nneka and Chiney are consistent with what I have read about their personalities. While both are competitive, Nneka is more mellow and Chiney is more aggressive.

An interesting insight into this occurred during the all star game. The Og sisters were standing next to each other waiting momentarily for play to start. Nneka reached over and playfully tugged Chiney's ponytail. Chiney, in an annoyed tone said, "Get your hands off of me!" and swatted her sister's hand away.

 

[MilfordHusky]

An interesting insight into this occurred during the all star game. The Og sisters were standing next to each other waiting momentarily for play to start. Nneka reached over and playfully tugged Chiney's ponytail. Chiney, in an annoyed tone said, "Get your hands off of me!" and swatted her sister's hand away.

Sounds about right.

 

[Husky1964]

NEVER thought Stanford played up to their abilities against us. SOFT.!!!If I recall they beat us in the FF because we could not stop Wiggins, and the game was in CA.

 

[easttexastrash]

Too bad they didn't go all out against each other at Stanford. If they had, maybe they would have turned into all-star- caliber players.

I have multiple siblings and I have no desire to push them to their limits. Family unity comes first, but I would say that neither Nneka or Chieny ever gave less than 100% against opponents.