Should UCONN use a Kim schedule?

[Florida Fan]

The easy wins don’t do anything for anyone. Not the players, coaches, bench or fans. Why anyone would suggest such boggles my mind. Dominating an inferior opponent is not going to make bench more ready to play in March when teams punch back.

Killing Vermont didn't help; apples and oranges?

 

[Hayven]

If they wanted an easy schedule, they would have stayed in the AAC

 

[uconnfan68]

How about using an easy first half schedule like Kim's?
If the first half of the season's schedule has "easy wins," then UCONN can build a strong and confident bench by letting them play more early in the season. Practice is great but there is nothing like playing games to learn. If the coach is confident they will win the game, then coach may be less inclined to yank players for a mistake. Players learn nothing playing in fear of making a mistake. With a strong bench, injuries may not hurt the team as much. The starters should average less than 30 minutes per game. Excluding their freshman years Stewie averaged 29.3 minutes per game, "D" 31.8, and Maya 30.7. Give the starters fresher legs for any given game and for the NCAA tournament. Even the best there ever was, benefited from fresh legs. The bench would actually contribute to close games later in the season.

UCONN won 11 NCAA championships. UCONN did not win a NCAA championship in 27 years. 29%? You can do better!

Never.

 

[uconnfan68]

Yes to more cupcakes. Seems they get injured too much playing tough teams. More cupcakes so that the starters can rest

More cupcakes just makes everyone softer and squishier.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

No!

 

[UConnCat]

One problem is that UConn plays most of their tough games up front, while other teams play difficult conference tournaments to end the season.

Here we go again.

When UConn joined the AAC years ago the mantra was: the team won't be prepared for the NCAA tournament playing in such an easy conference.

After UConn won four straight National Championships (3 while in the awful AAC) the mantra became: it's unfair that UConn has a chance to rest during it's conference season (even though the AAC travel was brutal and UConn played ranked non-conference teams in Jan and Feb).

Then, after UConn failed to win a championship since 2016 we were back to hearing that the conference schedule isn't tough enough to prepare for the rigors of the Final Four.

But wait, a couple of years ago we began to hear from fans of other teams that UConn's conference schedule allows it to "rest and recover" before the tournament and that is so, so unfair.

Now we're back to the conference schedule isn't tough enough.

Like I always say, It's tough to keep up.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

No.

 

[Carnac]

How about using an easy first half schedule like Kim's?
If the first half of the season's schedule has "easy wins," then UCONN can build a strong and confident bench by letting them play more early in the season. Practice is great but there is nothing like playing games to learn. If the coach is confident they will win the game, then coach may be less inclined to yank players for a mistake. Players learn nothing playing in fear of making a mistake. With a strong bench, injuries may not hurt the team as much. The starters should average less than 30 minutes per game. Excluding their freshman years Stewie averaged 29.3 minutes per game, "D" 31.8, and Maya 30.7. Give the starters fresher legs for any given game and for the NCAA tournament. Even the best there ever was, benefited from fresh legs. The bench would actually contribute to close games later in the season.

UCONN won 11 NCAA championships. UCONN did not win a NCAA championship in 27 years. 29%? You can do better!

UConn fans will have different opinions on this. It works for Kim. She made the great 8 this year, and a top 5 national ranking. She's also in the SEC. A conference some consider the best in WCBB. The BIG EAST is hardly considered one of the best. Perhaps the best conference outside of the "Power 5" conferences. Personally, I don't think Geno could get away with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Perhaps cut back a little, but not to the extent Kim does. I would also note that Dawn Staley (South Carolina) plays her second 5 players without hesitation. She does not play a "cupcake" preseason schedule. It can be done.

 

[Shenandoah]

How about recuiting a tall strong dominate rebounder? A Kara Walters type.

What ever happened with recruiting that 6'6" girl from Portugal?

 

[HuskyNan]

What ever happened with recruiting that 6'6" girl from Portugal?

Ask in the recruiting thread

 

[visitingcock]

No.

Why would UConn want to endanger its status as television’s most watched wbb team? That’s exactly what would happen if you Mulkey around with your non-conference schedule.

Girls watch NCAA wbb on television. PROSPECTS from across the nation! UConn’s presence in other markets is based on winning and playing other quality teams across the nation. Those games are on FOX. aNC or ESPN or, at worst, FS1 - not SNY.

If you wanna see your recruiting become local-based rather than national -even international - go ahead play Q-3s and Q-4s. (Just keep the SCar/contract. )

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

Simply put NO, NO, NO... the old saying "Iron sharpens Iron" comes to mind. You gotta push yourself (your Team) by playing top programs to learn about yourself and what needs to be done to improve. Play cupcakes and you are not ready when the big stage comes. If I recall correctly, UCONN was in the Championship Game Just ONE Year Ago... without their 6'5" post who broke her wrist in the Regional final... how could anyone plan for that??? They also had Paige still in recovery mode and Azzi with the flu (or something). Not saying the would have won last year, but without Dorka and a healthy Azzi it was much more difficult.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Has it occurred to the OP that the term “Kim Schedule” is not viewed as a compliment?

 

[CTBballfan243]

No, The Big East conference basketball is so weak UConn needs a tough out of conference schedule to make up for the weak Big East. The out of conference schedule for the most part needs to be completed before teams from the power conferences get into their conference play. In the power conferences there aren’t many easy games.

So no, UConn cannot afford to schedule East out of conference games.

 

[Boreifs]

Was the bench being developed? No.

Which of those three would have made a difference?

 

[oldhusky]

I say no for a couple of reasons but understand the concern. Would it be an advantage particularly with new players to have an easier non conference schedule to prepare for more meaningfull conference games? Sure, many team use the non conference schedule like an extended training camp, getting players used to different rotations, learning the system etc.

But we don't really have that option. Our big games are mostly out of conference, totally different from teams in the power 5 conferences. If we didn't schedule difficult national opponents then we would have a schedule that would be considered very weak for a national contender. The Big East may be as good as any non power 5 conference, but it still is not at that level.

Every year as the conference portion of the schedule approaches we are rated as having near the toughest schedule in the country. Then teams start playing mostly conference games and the schedule difficulty starts going in the opposite direction. Our schedule difficulty starts to fall and most Power 5 conference teams start to rise. We still wind up with a high level of difficulty, but only because of the early very challenging schedule.

I would rather ease into the season and have the big games toward the end not the beginning, but being in the Big East means if we are going to have a schedule as challenging as the top conference teams, we have to do it that way.

My other concern is recruiting. If you are trying for the very top players, which we do every year I think it would be hard to get them if the biggest games on your regular schedule are Villanova, Marquette, Depaul etc., they want the challenge and excitement of games against South Carolina, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Louisville and other top programs. Once again if you want to play those kind of teams, in most cases it needs to be early in the year, just the way it is if you are not in a top 5 conference.

 

[Bigboote]

Which of those three would have made a difference?

I shouted at the TV after about the fifth turnover in a row, "Put Ines in!" The TV didn't listen.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Which of those three would have made a difference?

All of them if properly developed.

 

[SVCBeercats]

The BIG EAST is hardly considered one of the best. Perhaps the best conference outside of the "Power 5" conferences.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I would also note that Dawn Staley (South Carolina) plays her second 5 players without hesitation. She does not play a "cupcake" preseason schedule. It can be done.

UCONN 18-2 in Big East - lost 2 to two 13-7 teams Marquette and St. Johns and beat 7 other conference teams by 10 or less points. Not impressive in a "hardly considered one of the best" conferences.

Look again, it is broke.

Because she focuses on developing the whole team not just a select few.

 

[bovwa10]

I say no for a couple of reasons but understand the concern. Would it be an advantage particularly with new players to have an easier non conference schedule to prepare for more meaningfull conference games? Sure, many team use the non conference schedule like an extended training camp, getting players used to different rotations, learning the system etc.

But we don't really have that option. Our big games are mostly out of conference, totally different from teams in the power 5 conferences. If we didn't schedule difficult national opponents then we would have a schedule that would be considered very weak for a national contender. The Big East may be as good as any non power 5 conference, but it still is not at that level.

Every year as the conference portion of the schedule approaches we are rated as having near the toughest schedule in the country. Then teams start playing mostly conference games and the schedule difficulty starts going in the opposite direction. Our schedule difficulty starts to fall and most Power 5 conference teams start to rise. We still wind up with a high level of difficulty, but only because of the early very challenging schedule.

I would rather ease into the season and have the big games toward the end not the beginning, but being in the Big East means if we are going to have a schedule as challenging as the top conference teams, we have to do it that way.

My other concern is recruiting. If you are trying for the very top players, which we do every year I think it would be hard to get them if the biggest games on your regular schedule are Villanova, Marquette, Depaul etc., they want the challenge and excitement of games against South Carolina, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Louisville and other top programs. Once again if you want to play those kind of teams, in most cases it needs to be early in the year, just the way it is if you are not in a top 5 conference.

I don’t think UConn has anything to worry about with recruiting as long as Geno’s still there. He’s been killing it on the recruiting trail since the 2020 class.

 

[Boreifs]

All of them if properly developed.

Do you realize that Ohio State had a rotation of six players? A rotation of seven players is totally the norm; your point is not well taken. Not to mention that your evaluation of our bench is quite radically different from most observers.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Still want iron sharpening iron? Kimmy's scheduling worked after sooooo many Boneyarders ridiculed her scheduling.
Probably Dawn thought this was her year to become the best women's college basketball coach. Oops! Now she is at best 3rd behind Geno and Kim. Not sure about Tara as 3 or 4.

I'd prefer he keep the competitive early season/OOC games competitive. First, it gives the team exposure in different parts of the country from a recruiting standpoint, 2nd, some of these games serve as homecoming for seniors, and 3rd, if roughly half of our BE games are not that competitive, keeping strong OOC games prep them for the NCAAT. And yes, LSU seems to be doing well, in spite of the early easy games, however their SEC season is always a battle.

They did well in this year's OOC schedule so why look to make it easier?

A tough OOC schedule is part of the recruiting tool.. IMO.

No. Take on all comers.

No.

The Big East already lacks enough in terms of competitiveness compared to other conferences. UConn’s OOC schedule is what separates them from everyone else, taking on the best the P-5 conferences have to offer.

No. Next question, please.

Etc., etc., etc.

 

[socal613ws]

if Uconn played in the SEC sure, but they don't. That's why they get tougher ooc

 

[wingsfan055]

The competitive schedule this year kinda backfired for Geno. The injuries, imo, had a direct effect on both the outcome of games (losing to good teams they normally would beat) and also led to more injuries (players playing hurt or overextending themselves).

The result was an absolute mess. Yes, we earned a good record and a 2-seed, but at what cost? We had our Top 7 back for OSU, but at least 4 of them were still clearly hurt and playing at 50% effectiveness. We looked like a shell of ourselves against a team we should have won by double digits.

Playing an easier schedule would have allowed more rest and recovery for key players during the season, without sacrificing wins.

 

[HuskyNan]

The competitive schedule this year kinda backfired for Geno. The injuries, imo, had a direct effect on both the outcome of games (losing to good teams they normally would beat) and also led to more injuries (players playing hurt or overextending themselves).

Paige, Ice & Aaliyah - injured preseason
Azzi - injured in collision with Aaliyah, second (different) injury - knocked knees with a Georgetown player
Nika - fell down because she plays like the Tasmanian Devil
Caroline - whacked In head, suffered lingering effects of concussion
Aubrey - COVID
Amari - snowed in

How are these due to the schedule?

 

[darrell]

Still want iron sharpening iron? Kimmy's scheduling worked after sooooo many Boneyarders ridiculed her scheduling.
Probably Dawn thought this was her year to become the best women's college basketball coach. Oops! Now she is at best 3rd behind Geno and Kim. Not sure about Tara as 3 or 4.








Etc., etc., etc.

UConn playing essentially Community Colleges in addition to a mediocre BE schedule makes sense for whom?

 

[HopJim]

Just like to see a more balanced schedule by UConn. Next year's out of conference schedule doesn't provide Geno enough time to work with the bench and hammers the starters physically. While it gives Geno excellent feedback regarding what to focus on, it also provides the competition with a compete view of how to game plan against them.

 

[BRS24]

I'll admit that I thought Kim's early season scheduling would hurt the team long term, and I was wrong. It worked for them, this year. No idea if it will again, and the SEC conf schedule did a good job of preparing them for the tourney. Other posters have said that she didn't have much of a say with the schedule, so now let's see what happens in '23-24.

I went back and looked at LSU's bracket and there wasn't any other team that stood out. Did I think Utah had a chance to beat them? Yup, and I would have loved an Utah/VA Tech semi, and then either of those teams vs Iowa.

 

[Bald Husky]

Playing an easy OOC schedule serves no purpose for a program that is the leader in this sport. We need these tough games to challange our core players, to show the country we are still here, to invigorate the fan base and the opportunity for us to see the best WBB teams in the country against our girls. I only have season tics to the XL as my night time eyesight makes it hard to get to Storrs sometimes. I don't want to see us play Central Conn. State, Quinnpiac, or Umass-Lowel. I want Maryland, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. It worked for Kim because she had a lot of transfers that had to learn to play with each other, and these games got them to where they ended up in Dallas. We don't need that, we have a veteran team that knows how to play together. The OOC games are the ones that get us excited in the early parts of the season, and bragging rights do exist in WBB with many of our players and the friends that are on other teams. They come here for how this team schedules and what they can become by being a Husky. I wouldn't change anything about our schedule, a challenge that we love, and in most cases, the results that we love even better.

 

[UConnCat]

LSU's 2022-2023 Non-Conference schedule that Kim had no control over:

Bellarmine
Mississippi Valley State
Western Carolina
Houston Christian
Northwestern State
George Mason
UAB
Southeast Louisiana
Tulane
New Orleans (cancelled -- dodged a bullet no doubt)
Lamar
Oregon State (how did they sneak in here)

Wow. Sign me up.

Only Tulane was an away game. A lot of these opponents look like they were paid to come in and take a whuppin'.