Shea Ralph explains the difference between UConn and TN

[Gus Mahler]

Interesting quote at the end of the article. She came back for her last year because she wanted to play with the incoming Freshman, DT. Too bad MW didn't feel the same way about playing with Paige.

Or Evina.

 

[msf22b]

Interesting point Gus, re: MW
Some of this has been discussed before, but a reprise is warranted

MW had some serious bug up her behind that we'll probably never be able to fathom...It's her private business and I'm reasonably sure she won't share it.

But based on subsequent events, events that she would have had time to consider; she had to have known that her prospects for playing a meaningful WNBA season this summer was somewhere between limited and nil.

The makes her desire to end her college career profound.

 

[msf22b]

If Shea doesn't get hurt, she would be talked about in the same breath as Maya, D and Stewie.

She had the complete package., including mentality.

Been watching a bunch of old games that I hadn't seen before; (we all have the time... and unlike some, I'm a relative Johnny come lately).

My (initial) impression of Shea's body of work is that she was
a wonderful, skilled player, with a relentless motor and a fierce disposition...

But to compare her talent level to three of the greatest players in the history of the game ...even possibly the 3 greatest (and I'm not talking just about UConn) ...

How do I put this in the most respectful way?...
Is unfair to Shea.

 

[Watchdog]

My prediction is Carla Berube has the best shot to replace Geno. None of his other players/coaches have been as successful as head coaches as she has been (need more time to be sure about Marisa who's 33-26 in her first two years), and Geno personally pushed for Carla to go after the Princeton job. She had already had a great career at Tufts and made them a nationally prominent program and she got the Princeton job, had an outstanding year, and proved her success at Tufts was not a fluke.

It's hard enough to replace a legend if you're an experienced head coach and Shea has never been a head coach. Look at Holly at TN and Ollie at UConn. Both had no head coaching experience and ultimately failed and the failures seemed to be related to their inability to manage a program, not the x's and o's.

 

[HopJim]

While my favorite player is Jen Rizzotti, Shea is right up there. She was tough as nails! Even if I was my youthful self, I wouldn't want to try to take a charge with Shea coming at me! BTW she's still tough as nails!

Love the reshowing of older videos. Never fully realized how good Shea was and how physical her game was. Among the best at throwing her body around and always moving at full speed.

 

[msf22b]

My prediction is Carla Berube has the best shot to replace Geno.

I fundamentally agree; with the following caveats.

1. She must be willing to abandon (what I expect) to be a series of successful (triumphant?) Princeton seasons and be willing and ambitious enough to move up to a power conference.

2. Aside from success at the next level, she will have to demonstrate aptitude both in recruiting of players and assistant coaches.

Her first test comes this season (if we have one) with the graduation of her star forward Bella.