POSTGAME: Dawn Staley on UConn: It was the ball's fault! [merged]

[SVCBeercats]

It was the ball's fault!

 

[Hoopcrazee]

WTH..the ball? Nike vs Wilson...Geno deflategate?

 

[Martin]

Lol i’ve err heard that before. Since deflategate.

 

[iri10]

I chuckled, but I suppose that's kind of the granular answer I'd expect from a former point guard when you think about it. A PG would be very concerned with the feel of the ball while dribbling.

 

[mhshuskies]

New banner to hang: SC #1 (if using a Wilson ball)

 

[hardcorehusky]

Ball don't lie!!

 

[Adesmar123]

She blames the Wilson ball for the loss.

 

[psconn]

Weird. Didn't they know they were going to play with a Nike ball? Sounds like a coaching staff failure if the team wasn't prepared for that.

Attention to detail, Coach.

 

[HuskyMJ]

Everyone has to be used to the Nike ball considering how many schools they sponsor. Its not like a BADEN or THE ROCK that back in the day only a handful of schools used.

 

[Aluminny69]

That's a first. I wonder who decides which ball to use? Here's a thought: practice with both balls. Get used to it. In terms of offense, I wouldn't say UConn was much better than SC offensively. That's what happens when two good teams neutralize each other. Unfortunately, SC will have more competitive games for the rest of the season than UConn will.

 

[Kaizen]

She should thank to the refs otherwise they will lose without OT.

 

[WBBSUperFan]

I don’t like the fact she talked about, but that is a real thing. I know on the men’s side a lot of the bigger programs will break out different balls leading up to different opponents Just so they get the real for it.

 

[j66kicker]

She’s in denial. Blaming it on the Nike ball vs. the Wilson ball??

UConn didn’t do anything different than everybody else. WE didn’t do this or that, blah blah. How about WE only scored 59 points. UConn had nothing to do with that?

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

Weird. Didn't they know they were going to play with a Nike ball? Sounds like a coaching staff failure if the team wasn't prepared for that.

And, wouldn't they have used the Nike ball during their shoot around and their pre-game warm up? This is the most incredible excuse I have ever heard from a Coach...especially one with the experience and resume of this coach. Disappointed.

 

[Lynx23]

 

[JordyG]

Like I said in the game thread. Hey Dawn, we beat you mostly playing 3 freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. Now what you got? The ball? I think both teams were using the same ball. Why didn't it affect UConn as much as it did you guys?

 

[eebmg]

Very little credit to UConn.

Had to wait to the last question about Paige. Paige is a player, when her number is called, she makes big shots. What she did not say is just how smart she is and everything else she does and her defense. She looks pretty depressed and probably thinks with 4 years of Azzi and Paige, they are going to start beating us again like a drum (irregardless of the good recruiting classes)

 

[Plebe]

The next banner they raise will say: "We would've won if the ball had been different."

Hopefully our resident meme-makers can get on that.

 

[my2cents]

That was pure ballsh*t.

 

[psconn]

I don’t like the fact she talked about, but that is a real thing. I know on the men’s side a lot of the bigger programs will break out different balls leading up to different opponents Just so they get the real for it.

If it makes that big a difference, it's a coaching failure that her team wasn't prepared for it.

 

[da60]

...just watched Dawn Staley's post-game press conference...My My......blaming the loss on the ball, huh? Called Paige a 'GOOD PLAYER'....is she kidding???? Is this the kind of coach we want leading our nation's team? She sure didn't learn her sore loser tactics under Coach Auriemma. If you didn't see the press conf., make sure to do it.
Attitude has a lot to do with coaching, and hers is really quite poor. Dawn Staley is OVER-RATED! Go UConn girls!

 

[HuskyMJ]

I am pretty sure these universities buy basketballs of all the common brands to prep for road games. S Car had Nike basketballs they could work with I am sure of it.

 

[psconn]

Perfect.

 

[pvdoggy]

Not as gracious as most of the KC Chiefs players who lost the SB last night.

 

[Kaizen]

She’s in denial. Blaming it on the Nike ball vs. the Wilson ball??

UConn didn’t do anything different than everybody else. WE didn’t do this or that, blah blah. How about WE only scored 59 points. UConn had nothing to do with that?

Now I don't feel sorry for their loss.

 

[topogigio]

Time for a statue of the Nike Ball next to the Wilson statue. Then raise another banner of the Nike Ball right next to last year's bogus championship banner. What a crock of horsesheet by Dawn. i would expect better than some sorry ass, poor sport excuse!

 

[dtbtbtb]

Kind of a sore loser...blame the ball...really and no credit to UConn...

 

[bballnut90]

I don’t like the fact she talked about, but that is a real thing. I know on the men’s side a lot of the bigger programs will break out different balls leading up to different opponents Just so they get the real for it.

I'm shocked to learn they use different basketballs...you'd think they'd have a uniform ball/brand across the entire NCAA like they do for volleyball. Or how they do in the WNBA/NBA/NFL.

There's probably some validity to her statement that the ball wasn't what they were used to but that's on her and the coaching staff for not prepping the team accordingly if they're able to find out what brand of ball will be used.

 

[UConnCat]

Wait wut?

 

[HuskylnSC]

Dawn If you know the ball is going to be different then spend some money, buy some nike balls and let your team practice with it. IT COMES BACK TO THE COACH!