Slate Article: The UConn Women’s Basketball Dynasty Is Over

[Deadrody]

I didn't read it and I won't. Why would anyone in their right mind go to Slate for a sports opinion on anyone or anything.

Heh. That strategy does not apply to only sports opinion. Slate is no more than an amateur weblog indistinguishable from the average internet troll.

 

[Deadrody]

The team that returned in 2005 had Ann Strother and Barb Turner as juniors and starters on NC winning teams and Willnett Crockett an integral part of two NCs, a senior center (5th year) in J. Moore who had three NC rings and was a starter on two NC teams, Ashley Battle a fifth year senior with 3 rings and a defensive dynamo in the Faris mold, Nicole Wolff a third year sophomore who started as a freshman before her first injury, and well regarded recruits in Mel Thomas, Ketia Swanier, and Charde Houston and Rashidat Sadiq a Olympic team member(Nigeria?) and JuCo transfer. That is both a lot of experience and a lot of talent - and they had lost only the incomparable DT and Maria Conlon a consummate college PG. Compare that team on paper to the team returning next year which will have lost both the incomparable Stewart and the best PG perhaps in program history and perhaps Tuck the emotional leader of the current team and perhaps the third draft pick in the WNBA draft and it is very similar.
Do Chong and Williams and Nurse and Ekmark and Butler and Collier and Samuelson become better leaders and have more success than the 2004-2005 team - I sure hope so, but on paper are they better than that team ... in our hopes sure, in reality we will see. And on paper that 2005 team had a lot more experience.

Well, let's be fair. Once Diana was gone, It was clear that the talent around her those last 2 years was not as great as she made it look. I think that is the point that was being made, and frankly, I agree. They were "good", but it remains to be seen if the same effect will befall this group next year. I tend to doubt it. Kia Nurse, alone, has proven outside of UConn that she is exceptionally talented.

 

[SportsPageMike]

Good article, the dynasty may not be over but it would be slowed if Tuck decides to go to the WNBA. Am not sold on Chong, Butler and Ekmark so my concerns are bench play. I'm sure that some of you may agree and others will not. The starters more than likely without Tuck would be Nurse, Danger, Collier, KLS and Gab. Love that starting five. They will compete and be very good. Hopefully, I am wrong about bench players.

 

[pinotbear]

Knew it. You are the devil!

What does that make meyers?

 

[UcMiami]

Hmm, not sure, I think Lobo was transcendent, especially in 1995. But, like you point out, depends on how you define "transcendent", versus, say, "generational", which gets misused as well of course.

A quick look suggests it happens about about 2/3 of the time, i.e. the national champion has a transcendent player, whether it be Stewart, Griner, Moore, Parker, Taurasi, Swoopes, Miller, or Holdsclaw. I would add Pam Kelly, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Lobo to that list, for their time.

Interesting to think about the second part of your question: winning without the transcendent player when there is one that year. I'd have to take more time to look at 1982-2000, but a quick look at the last 3 times a team won without a transcendent player - 2011, 2006, and 2005 - shows that there was a transcendent player each time: Moore in 2011, and Augustus in 2006 and 2005. I'd argue it happened in 2001 as well, with Stiles, though you could argue if Ruth Riley was transcendent, as well as whether it's fair to consider SW Missouri State at all for national championship purposes.

Lobo was the first in a line of stretch four type players presaging Lauren Jackson, EDD, and Stewart. That she had to retired due to injury prevented her showcasing those skills in the pro ranks. That she started as a freshman on a team still putting together the pieces necessary to rise to the top and playing in obscurity meant that until her senior year no one in the broader society recognized what she was doing. Yeah, she was for a brief moment transcendent and that team in 1995 was pretty stacked with talent. 2000 is a year when I would say the program did not have a 'transcendent' player - Sue, Sveta, Shea and crew were/are fabulous players but in line with players who came before and after.

 

[bob neal]

The UConn Women’s Basketball Dynasty Is Over

This writer has NO IDEA of the great recruits lined up for 2017 plus Dangerfield next will be BETTER than Jefferson !! 2017 we have Lexi Gordon from Texas, Andrea Espinoza Hunter and probably the best PG in the USA for both 2017 & 2018. We will not miss a beat for the next 5-6 years !! I have been going to games at Storrs long before Geno when Sara Hamn, Wanda Flora and Jean Balthazzer ere coaching before Geno. That started in 1976. Gena came in 1985. He has done so WONDERFULLY AMAZING and has recruits lined up as far as the eye can see that are GREAT, never mind Meagan Walker. She may be headed to ND, who really knows. Not sure she knows yet. We missed out on so many players we recruited hard that were # 1 in HS , Diamond De shields, Brianna Turner, A'ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd, Serra Calhoun just to name a few and there are many more we missed on. SO WHAT> Relax Fans !!! There is more Greatness ahead although next year will be interesting. Bob Neal

 

[HuskyDogArt]

The UConn Women’s Basketball Dynasty Is Over

Slate magazine is wrong about politics, so it's wrong on basketball. Crappy, magazine...

 

[01Neaggrad02]

The UConn Women’s Basketball Dynasty Is Over

BS. UCONN will be fine and when we land great players we will win. We do not need all #1s.... South Carolina has a number 1 and no titles. Tennessee has a #1 and no titles lately.... ND has great players.... No recent titles. Geno will have them back

 

[01Neaggrad02]

The UConn Women’s Basketball Dynasty Is Over

The author should stick to the law because he knows nothing about Basketball

 

[Ozimoto]

Based on past history, I think Geno is looking forward to working with next year's team to bring out their best. They likely aren't the most talented bunch, but it they are coachable, (and I have no reason to think they aren't) it will be a blast to see what Geno, CD, and their staff can get out of them. He will have to become a game coach again! Age does matter (damn it) so it would not be a surprise if he doesn't have the same passion and energy he had 10 or 15 years ago.

In my opinion, Geno didn't have to do a lot of "in game" coaching and game management for at least the last two seasons. This group with the big three translated practices so well to games that for the most part they cruised. That won't be the case next year, at least at the beginning of the season during out of conference play because other teams will have the talent to challenge the Huskies. Also, other teams will be taking the floor believing the have a good shot to win. That, realistically, was not the case in recent seasons.

If Geno still has the fire to be a sideline coach and game manager, next year may be more "fun" for him even though the win loss record may well not be what we have grown accustomed to over the last four years. It's a long wait, but I am looking forward to see what sort of progress the kids have made before tip off next season.

 

[bags27]

I'd like to think you're right, Ozimoto, and I'd like to think that even if we aren't dominant or go far in the tournament, that we, too, would derive the same joy from this next group of players.