Rich: Special bond Between Geno and Shenneika Smith [merged]

[UConnCat]

Nice story by Rich on Geno providing some guidance and encouraging words to Shenneika Smith at the request of KBA. It's a side of Geno that often goes unreported. http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/

The relationship between Auriemma and Smith originated at Big East Media Day in New York City during her freshman year in 2009-10. Barnes Arico had brought her along and Smith asked her if she could introduce her to Auriemma.
“She always looked up to him,’’ Barnes Arico said. “She always idolized him. He’s the greatest coach in the game. So I have a good relationship with him so I brought her over to him and they chatted and she was just in awe afterwards.’’
The two talked again at Big East Media Day in 2010. This time the meeting was again set up by Barnes Arico. She felt that Smith needed some guidance. And she felt that Auriemma was the perfect candidate to get Smith on the right path to success.
“She was going through a lot of struggles and she had her little bumps in the road,’’ Barnes Arico said. “People were trying to get in her mind and people were trying to do different things with her. She was struggling. And I said to Coach (Auriemma), `Coach, can you grab Shenneika for a minute? Can you talk to her for a minute?’ He did and that kind of turned the kid around. She’s the greatest kid ever and the commitment she’s made to our program and the strides that she has made are tremendous. He really pumped her up. He gave her a bit of confidence and he really made her feel good. She came back and she was a different player.’’

 

[pap49cba]

Nice story....

 

[MilfordHusky]

I can see Geno doing this too:

“When we walked in (Friday), he was over in the corner and I didn’t even know that he was here and Shenneika’s like, `Coach is here. Coach is here,’’’ St. John’s coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “I said I was going to go on over before I leave and that she could come over. She walked over and he’s like, `C’mon, you planned to hit that 3? You said give me the ball?’ She said, `Yeah, I did.’ Then he started busting her chops a bit. `I let you make it. I let you have it.’ It just means the world to her. Sometimes people don’t realize the impact that Coach Auriemma can really have on kids. I think he does. What he did for this young lady in just a short bit of time has really helped and made a major impact on her. So I can’t thank him enough. He didn’t have to give her time the other day and it means the world to her.’’

 

[speedoo]

Nice, very nice. Geno helps out the Brooklyn kid.

 

[VAMike23]

The Shot we'd rather she didn't make.....

 

[Icebear]

Great story. So having helped to raise her confidence it is really Geno's fault we lost. I knew couldn't trust him. The hair is too perfect.

 

[ThisJustIn]

I think he complimented her earlier today, so we're safe tonight.