Sassy Sarah

[ThisJustIn]

Freshman Strong was a notoriously "bad" interviewee. Her response to questions revealed little if anything. Probably due to her youth, her public personality and her deference to others.

Got a glimmer of the Sarah her teammates must engage with every day during the post USF game interview with Bob on the radio. Asked about school/grades etc. she said, "Well, I'm eligible." lol

 

[Charliebball]

She's clearly having a bit more fun with the interviews this season.......I'd say she has a pretty "dry" sense of humor.....

 

[my2cents]

I only care about her game.

 

[WiseWillie]

She's clearly having a bit more fun with the interviews this season.......I'd say she has a pretty "dry" sense of humor.....

To me Sarah seems to be thinking that all these very obvious questions seem a little foolish especially since the efforts she and the team just put out on the court should speak for themselves. But she might be thinking I'll go along with this and give a quick answer and let it be. Geno on the other hand who will frown and shake his head when Sarah gives a one or two word answer will take even the most inane and obvious question and give it an expanded response like he has never been asked that before and is appearing on Sports Center. Anyway, it's amusing to see the interplay between coach and star player.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Yes,@WiseWillie , you nailed Geno. He absolutely drives me nuts when he turns a question into a seminar, complete with weighty facial expressions and gestures.

 

[FanSince17]

Super topic! Players, coaches, and officials dealing with the media. Forever an issue.
I fall on the side that players, in this case, have a responsibility to be forthcoming and fair with media. Paige and Geno are incredibly generous with media. So, Sarah has two of the best mentors in this regard. These young women are spectacular models to so many people in their behavior in public. I wish for Sarah to do better with the media. You're 5 steps ahead of everybody, perfect SAT score and you finished in 15 minutes, we're hovering in regular people space.......give us a little more! We're fans! Just basketball stuff!

 

[iri10]

Yes,@WiseWillie , you nailed Geno. He absolutely drives me nuts when he turns a question into a seminar, complete with weighty facial expressions and gestures.

It was interesting to compare his usual press conference answers to the answers he gave during a courtside post-game interview with Rebecca Lobo and the other commentator, after the USF game. He sounded so much more enthusiastic sitting courtside, without nearly as much "padding" in the answers.

 

[bayern7]

Yes,@WiseWillie , you nailed Geno. He absolutely drives me nuts when he turns a question into a seminar, complete with weighty facial expressions and gestures.

I think it’s just his way of having a bit of fun at Sarah’s expense, which is very Geno coded when it comes to his star players. Another facet of this program is the media training the girls undergo especially from CD. So that’s probably part of where he’s like oh come on, we’re supposed to go along with all this media stuff. I’ve always gotten the sense that Geno is in on the joke so to speak, and Geno probably wishes he could be as dry and short as Sarah is, he’s just jealous 🤪

 

[Vancat]

Yes,@WiseWillie , you nailed Geno. He absolutely drives me nuts when he turns a question into a seminar, complete with weighty facial expressions and gestures.

Went to an open practice recently. Surprisingly, when it was over, he took a mic and addressed the smallish crowd. Talked. and talked. and talked. Then answered questions. We were like gosh, doesn't he want to go home? lol. I think he just really likes to talk. I love the guy. We'll miss him when he's gone.

 

[oldude]

Sarah’s newfound “loquaciousness” is a product of a concerted effort by both Geno and her mother over the past year or so. As a leader of the #1 team in the nation and its star player, it’s pretty much a requirement that you speak to the press. It’s also an indication of the longtime development of UConn WBB players who come to Storrs as young HS kids and leave as confident, articulate young women.

 

[OldSchooler]

Yes,@WiseWillie , you nailed Geno. He absolutely drives me nuts when he turns a question into a seminar, complete with weighty facial expressions and gestures.

It's called "respect." He has never run down or sought to embarrass a reporter, no matter how inane the question. In addition to being a court wizard and a great coach, he's a gentleman . . . and that doesn't get enough play in the coverage.

 

[FanSince17]

I'm an ex-manager, so I find leadership fascinating. Every detail with this program is perfection. I'm mesmerized by it. Think about how Geno's mastery of the media is part of that. He acknowledges his opponents, he sends messages to his players, he gives his avid fans glimpses into the inner workings, he lauds his former players and coaches, he voices his well-respected opinions on key issues with women's basketball, etc.
I listen to everything he says, that's made available. (BTW where's the presser after USF?)

 

[RockyMTblue2]

It's called "respect." He has never run down or sought to embarrass a reporter, no matter how inane the question. In addition to being a court wizard and a great coach, he's a gentleman . . . and that doesn't get enough play in the coverage.

Geno can take as long as he wants. He's more than earned it. The only thing about postgame pressers that bothers me is the erratic mikes that can make listening an acute job of concentration.

 

[uconnfan68]

It was interesting to compare his usual press conference answers to the answers he gave during a courtside post-game interview with Rebecca Lobo and the other commentator, after the USF game. He sounded so much more enthusiastic sitting courtside, without nearly as much "padding" in the answers.

That's because Rebecca got him a taller chair so he looked down on her.

 

[Bigboote]

Sarah’s newfound “loquaciousness” is a product of a concerted effort by both Geno and her mother over the past year or so. As a leader of the #1 team in the nation and its star player, it’s pretty much a requirement that you speak to the press. It’s also an indication of the longtime development of UConn WBB players who come to Storrs as young HS kids and leave as confident, articulate young women.

Some players arrive at UConn ready to give good interviews -- Paige is the best recent example, Kia Nurse was also born to have a microphone thrust in her face. But as you say, UConn does a great job preparing their players for the press. Seldom does someone interviewed in her senior year not impress me, even if she was a bit awkward her freshman or sophomore year.

One thing about Strong, even as a freshman, she always seems to be having a good time, so I feel good watching her in pressers even if she seems at a loss how to answer a question.

 

[Crossover]

Some players arrive at UConn ready to give good interviews -- Paige is the best recent example, Kia Nurse was also born to have a microphone thrust in her face. But as you say, UConn does a great job preparing their players for the press. Seldom does someone interviewed in her senior year not impress me, even if she was a bit awkward her freshman or sophomore year.

One thing about Strong, even as a freshman, she always seems to be having a good time, so I feel good watching her in pressers even if she seems at a loss how to answer a question.

I think that Nika was the best recent example. Her analysis was invariably thoughtful. Paige tended to give canned answers, albeit cheerfully.

 

[FanSince17]

Just came to me. What if this is Sarah’s way of leading. She seems to be silly and funny off the court. Like Larry Bird, light, funny, and a jokester off the court. Then, when he said something, everybody listened and weren’t intimidated. He was one of them.
Bird story: team was tired, didn’t want to practice, Bird walks into the locker room and walks over to Eddie Pinckney and says to him, “I’m going to kick your a** today”. Then Parrish says the same to Pinckney. Game on.
I could see Sarah that way.

 

[Kat]

Sarah at the mike reminds me of Aaliyah Edwards. She's glad to let her more loquacious teammates do the talking. I can still see AE sitting there, smiling, while Paige and Nika were answering all the questions.

 

[Skeets]

Sarah’s newfound “loquaciousness” is a product of a concerted effort by both Geno and her mother over the past year or so. As a leader of the #1 team in the nation and its star player, it’s pretty much a requirement that you speak to the press. It’s also an indication of the longtime development of UConn WBB players who come to Storrs as young HS kids and leave as confident, articulate young women.

LOL, maybe all except Paige who came in being "famous for being famous".

 

[Skeets]

It's called "respect." He has never run down or sought to embarrass a reporter, no matter how inane the question. In addition to being a court wizard and a great coach, he's a gentleman . . . and that doesn't get enough play in the coverage.

Almost true. A few years ago he famously dressed down a UConn student working on the campus newspaper. It may or may not have been deserved but it got a lot of media attention. Bad optics.

 

[WiseWillie]

Went to an open practice recently. Surprisingly, when it was over, he took a mic and addressed the smallish crowd. Talked. and talked. and talked. Then answered questions. We were like gosh, doesn't he want to go home? lol. I think he just really likes to talk. I love the guy. We'll miss him when he's gone.

Geno is one of, if not the best,coaches I have ever heard explaining things he has been asked certainly hundreds of times but treating it as the first time. He is extremely differential and courteous to everyone.

Contrast that for those of you who can recall Bobby Knight or even Bill Parcells. If you were a young reporter you never wanted to ask either one an obvious question (particularly if they just lost a game) because they would either stare at you or make you feel like you wanted to hide under your chair. Geno might be something else to players in his practices but in the public he is a true gentleman. Bet if asked (Sure he probably has been asked this) he would say that it was his wonderful Italian mother who drummed it into him. Thank you and RIP Marciella.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

LOL, maybe all except Paige who came in being "famous for being famous".

Her approach seems to be paying off handsomely. I have to say her play has entertained me a lot more than any other player ever. Heck I gladly watch her commercials. Never going to forget the freshman patting Geno on the behind as she ran up court.

 

[veivoli]

That's because Rebecca got him a taller chair so he looked down on her.

I read somewhere that he used to make her take her high heels off before she interviewed him on court. Even so she would tower over him. Falls in to the class of what I call stories that I hope are true!

 

[twiceahusky]

LOL, maybe all except Paige who came in being "famous for being famous".

No she didn’t … Paige came in being famous for being an awesome basketball player.

 

[Woof 101]

I only care about her game.

I get your point but being eligible is a very important part of the game ; )