So much hand-wringing!

[Swish It 88]

I don’t usually like to write (or read) marathon posts but please bear with me while I venture into @Tonyc ’s territory for a minute

Sometimes fans here get into a kind of downwards spiral of doubt. South Carolina signed terrific players from the portal – and good for them – but that doesn’t mean the Huskies are doomed. More about South Carolina later.

I would just like to remind everyone that in 2023, Geno took a team of 7 players – one point guard, two shooting guards (one, Lou, basically playing on one leg), and four forwards to the Elite 8, where a lack of experienced ball-handlers combined with a non-existent bench and a season’s worth of mental fatigue finally caught up to them.

In 2024, Geno took another injury-plagued team that lost Azzi, Aubrey, and Caroline during the season to the Final Four. He ended up playing primarily four freshmen (Ice, KK, Ash, Q), junior Paige, and seniors Aaliyah and Nika. Amari and Ines played mostly in end of game situations. Only 6 played in the Final Four game – KK, Ash, Ice, Paige, Aaliyah, and Nika. It was a 2 point loss to Caitlyn Clark & Co.

I dunno, seems like this guy Geno knows what he’s doing.

Regarding the South Carolina game that seems to be distressing to many people; Dawn went into the game with the often-used strategy of fouling UConn on every offensive possession, daring the refs to call them all. It’s not a new strategy or a dirty one but it is the reason Geno went ballistic during and at the end of the game. (I still maintain his motives were right, the timing was wrong). UCLA was the beneficiary of his outburst because in a fairly called game, UCLA was shown to be the better team. I think if the UConn-So Carolina game was called the same way, the outcome would have been different but, obviously, we’ll never know.

Anywho, UConn’s loss to So Carolina didn’t prove anything except that Dawn is a knowledgeable and experienced coach that tried a strategy that paid off. It said nothing about South Carolina’s superiority as a team over UConn. Let’s compare the teams.

They didn't make the Elite 8 in 2023. They only won 2 games in the Tournament.

View attachment 119960

Seems to me both teams have some outstanding, known talents and several promising young players. Both are essentially new teams that Geno and Dawn will have to work to mold into cohesive squads. I totally respect South Carolina but I don’t fear them. We have Sarah and Geno and they don

 

[boontonbomber]

I appreciate your post and largely agree. However, I continue to think (and say) that 'athleticism' is an incoherent term to use to describe top level basketball. Last season, SC was not quicker or stronger than UConn as a team -- those are the usual things folks people think of as athleticism. What SC was in that game was more focused -- and mental focus is often overlooked as a form of athleticism. Exactly how SC was able to disrupt UConn's focus is a separate discussion. In the previous season, UConn only won it all because of excellent mental focus.

Agree about the focus, and that may have begun with the coaches.

 

[Centerstream]

They didn't make the Elite 8 in 2023. They only won 2 games in the Tournament.

Good pickup but the point that HuskyNan was making about 2023 is still valid.

 

[CL82]

I don’t usually like to write (or read) marathon posts but please bear with me while I venture into @Tonyc ’s territory for a minute

Sometimes fans here get into a kind of downwards spiral of doubt. South Carolina signed terrific players from the portal – and good for them – but that doesn’t mean the Huskies are doomed. More about South Carolina later.

I would just like to remind everyone that in 2023, Geno took a team of 7 players – one point guard, two shooting guards (one, Lou, basically playing on one leg), and four forwards to the Elite 8, where a lack of experienced ball-handlers combined with a non-existent bench and a season’s worth of mental fatigue finally caught up to them.

In 2024, Geno took another injury-plagued team that lost Azzi, Aubrey, and Caroline during the season to the Final Four. He ended up playing primarily four freshmen (Ice, KK, Ash, Q), junior Paige, and seniors Aaliyah and Nika. Amari and Ines played mostly in end of game situations. Only 6 played in the Final Four game – KK, Ash, Ice, Paige, Aaliyah, and Nika. It was a 2 point loss to Caitlyn Clark & Co.

I dunno, seems like this guy Geno knows what he’s doing.

Regarding the South Carolina game that seems to be distressing to many people; Dawn went into the game with the often-used strategy of fouling UConn on every offensive possession, daring the refs to call them all. It’s not a new strategy or a dirty one but it is the reason Geno went ballistic during and at the end of the game. (I still maintain his motives were right, the timing was wrong). UCLA was the beneficiary of his outburst because in a fairly called game, UCLA was shown to be the better team. I think if the UConn-So Carolina game was called the same way, the outcome would have been different but, obviously, we’ll never know.

Anywho, UConn’s loss to So Carolina didn’t prove anything except that Dawn is a knowledgeable and experienced coach that tried a strategy that paid off. It said nothing about South Carolina’s superiority as a team over UConn. Let’s compare the teams.

View attachment 119960

Seems to me both teams have some outstanding, known talents and several promising young players. Both are essentially new teams that Geno and Dawn will have to work to mold into cohesive squads. I totally respect South Carolina but I don’t fear them. We have Sarah and Geno and they don’t.

I felt much the same about the the men's lost to Michigan which, in my opinion was a worse officiated game. In the end, Michigan took advantage of the way the game was being called. I can argue about how the game was officiated, but I can't fault either Michigan or South Carolina for using that to their advantage. We will get another bite at the apple soon enough.

 

[Galaxyshooter]

I don’t usually like to write (or read) marathon posts but please bear with me while I venture into @Tonyc ’s territory for a minute

Sometimes fans here get into a kind of downwards spiral of doubt. South Carolina signed terrific players from the portal – and good for them – but that doesn’t mean the Huskies are doomed. More about South Carolina later.

I would just like to remind everyone that in 2023, Geno took a team of 7 players – one point guard, two shooting guards (one, Lou, basically playing on one leg), and four forwards to the Elite 8, where a lack of experienced ball-handlers combined with a non-existent bench and a season’s worth of mental fatigue finally caught up to them.

In 2024, Geno took another injury-plagued team that lost Azzi, Aubrey, and Caroline during the season to the Final Four. He ended up playing primarily four freshmen (Ice, KK, Ash, Q), junior Paige, and seniors Aaliyah and Nika. Amari and Ines played mostly in end of game situations. Only 6 played in the Final Four game – KK, Ash, Ice, Paige, Aaliyah, and Nika. It was a 2 point loss to Caitlyn Clark & Co.

I dunno, seems like this guy Geno knows what he’s doing.

Regarding the South Carolina game that seems to be distressing to many people; Dawn went into the game with the often-used strategy of fouling UConn on every offensive possession, daring the refs to call them all. It’s not a new strategy or a dirty one but it is the reason Geno went ballistic during and at the end of the game. (I still maintain his motives were right, the timing was wrong). UCLA was the beneficiary of his outburst because in a fairly called game, UCLA was shown to be the better team. I think if the UConn-So Carolina game was called the same way, the outcome would have been different but, obviously, we’ll never know.

Anywho, UConn’s loss to So Carolina didn’t prove anything except that Dawn is a knowledgeable and experienced coach that tried a strategy that paid off. It said nothing about South Carolina’s superiority as a team over UConn. Let’s compare the teams.

View attachment 119960

Seems to me both teams have some outstanding, known talents and several promising young players. Both are essentially new teams that Geno and Dawn will have to work to mold into cohesive squads. I totally respect South Carolina but I don’t fear them. We have Sarah and Geno and they don’t.

And the church aid said AMEN!!!!...Why are you people panicking? Geno has been here before, and I trust him. Carolina has a lot of talent but so do we but Carolina is really going to miss the heart and soul and glue, or old reliable, in the same way we missed Paige, and that's the departure of Raven Johnson, a true floor general and coach on the floor to run what the coaches demand..she won 2 chips at SC and Dawn kept her over the super athletic and human highlight MiLaysia fulwiley..the coaches know they'er doing and we'er acting like priveledge spoil rottren kids..for a long time Uconn was the hunter chasing the elites (Tennesee, Stanford) maybe it's good to be the hunted for a change to get the competitive fires burning and stop thing everything is automatic because we'er Uconn...a painful loss can be a powerful reminder

 

[uconnever]

we will have a very good year, final four good, and anything can happen, you can only play five players at a time, but our guards are limited defensively. KK is outstanding defensively, but Ash and Ally don't have the required foot speed to get it done. They have high basketball IQ's which will help, but in the end, it's not enough. I love our team and want them to succeed, but to me it's as obvious as it's been in a long time, that we don't have enough on the perimeter. We are rock solid everywhere else. We will have trouble with Jazzy, Makeer and JuJu because if we give help, those teams have players at every position that can hurt us, to me, this has not always been the case in the past. South Carolina and USC are built how we always are, where there aren't any holes. I remeber there being some great teams in years past not named Uconn, but not like these two coming this year. Anything can happen in one game, but it will be very difficult i think because we lack that 2/3 elite defender. I also think that Ash and Ally MAY have a hard time scoring on those teams as well. This im less certain of, it's mostly defense. They get blown by a lot by elite guards because they lack foot speed. Blanca may be able to do it, but she i think is a little too big and can't keep up with a quick guard either. Just what I saw from her this year. 99 percent of the guards she can, but not the best of the best, which is not saying anything bad, she's more of a 3/4, i trust her against anyone at those positions. Jovana doesnt look like she will be able to either from what I've seen. I don't like it, but logically, who guards Jazzy, JuJu, and Saniyah Hall on the perimeter. KK will stop who she's on, but the other two, hopefully they won't all be on the court together. They also have two really good bigs so Sarah and Blanca and the big O will have their hands full and won't be able to help much. Its a problem. I dont like it at all and I hope im wrong, but to me it's obvious that they along with South Carolina will be a cut above the rest.

 

[Dogdude]

As regards to last season's end, you can say what you want about the refs, but the video of Raven leaning all over Sarah was interesting..sure the refs reeked, but what was a larger, stronger Sarah doing letting Raven lean on her and push her around? We got beat because we folded when pushed. We didn't push back.

Leading into this year, both teams are different, and it's way to early to predict. Trying to pick apart individual players to figure who has what advantage based on last season is pointless, there's plenty of room for individual improvement for all members of the team, and if they all improve just a little, it'll be final four worthy again.

 

[Aluminny69]

Bottom Line question is this: Do you consider this season 25-26 successful? Only one loss, but kind of an important loss.

 

[Pharos]

I don’t usually like to write (or read) marathon posts but please bear with me while I venture into @Tonyc ’s territory for a minute

Sometimes fans here get into a kind of downwards spiral of doubt. South Carolina signed terrific players from the portal – and good for them – but that doesn’t mean the Huskies are doomed. More about South Carolina later.

I would just like to remind everyone that in 2023, Geno took a team of 7 players – one point guard, two shooting guards (one, Lou, basically playing on one leg), and four forwards to the Elite 8, where a lack of experienced ball-handlers combined with a non-existent bench and a season’s worth of mental fatigue finally caught up to them.

In 2024, Geno took another injury-plagued team that lost Azzi, Aubrey, and Caroline during the season to the Final Four. He ended up playing primarily four freshmen (Ice, KK, Ash, Q), junior Paige, and seniors Aaliyah and Nika. Amari and Ines played mostly in end of game situations. Only 6 played in the Final Four game – KK, Ash, Ice, Paige, Aaliyah, and Nika. It was a 2 point loss to Caitlyn Clark & Co.

I dunno, seems like this guy Geno knows what he’s doing.

Regarding the South Carolina game that seems to be distressing to many people; Dawn went into the game with the often-used strategy of fouling UConn on every offensive possession, daring the refs to call them all. It’s not a new strategy or a dirty one but it is the reason Geno went ballistic during and at the end of the game. (I still maintain his motives were right, the timing was wrong). UCLA was the beneficiary of his outburst because in a fairly called game, UCLA was shown to be the better team. I think if the UConn-So Carolina game was called the same way, the outcome would have been different but, obviously, we’ll never know.

Anywho, UConn’s loss to So Carolina didn’t prove anything except that Dawn is a knowledgeable and experienced coach that tried a strategy that paid off. It said nothing about South Carolina’s superiority as a team over UConn. Let’s compare the teams.

View attachment 119960

Seems to me both teams have some outstanding, known talents and several promising young players. Both are essentially new teams that Geno and Dawn will have to work to mold into cohesive squads. I totally respect South Carolina but I don’t fear them. We have Sarah and Geno and they don’t.

"Regarding the South Carolina game that seems to be distressing to many people; Dawn went into the game with the often-used strategy of fouling UConn on every offensive possession, daring the refs to call them all. It’s not a new strategy or a dirty one but it is the reason Geno went ballistic during and at the end of the game."
"often-used strategy" - True enough. With long benches it can be done. With a 5-foul limit it can be done.
"every offensive possession" - Again, true. That's what was infuriating.
"daring the refs" - uh huh. And they won't because "refs shouldn't determine the outcome..."
"not new" - True. "or a dirty one" - well, yes it is. It is dirty. It "games" the rules and enforcement, maybe, but it is seriously disrespectful to the game's spirit.
1) nothing's going to change. 2) Changes that would affect things: a) shorter benches, and b) 4 fouls and you're out.

 

[Steelerone]

I don’t usually like to write (or read) marathon posts but please bear with me while I venture into @Tonyc ’s territory for a minute

Sometimes fans here get into a kind of downwards spiral of doubt. South Carolina signed terrific players from the portal – and good for them – but that doesn’t mean the Huskies are doomed. More about South Carolina later.

I would just like to remind everyone that in 2023, Geno took a team of 7 players – one point guard, two shooting guards (one, Lou, basically playing on one leg), and four forwards to the Elite 8, where a lack of experienced ball-handlers combined with a non-existent bench and a season’s worth of mental fatigue finally caught up to them.

In 2024, Geno took another injury-plagued team that lost Azzi, Aubrey, and Caroline during the season to the Final Four. He ended up playing primarily four freshmen (Ice, KK, Ash, Q), junior Paige, and seniors Aaliyah and Nika. Amari and Ines played mostly in end of game situations. Only 6 played in the Final Four game – KK, Ash, Ice, Paige, Aaliyah, and Nika. It was a 2 point loss to Caitlyn Clark & Co.

I dunno, seems like this guy Geno knows what he’s doing.

Regarding the South Carolina game that seems to be distressing to many people; Dawn went into the game with the often-used strategy of fouling UConn on every offensive possession, daring the refs to call them all. It’s not a new strategy or a dirty one but it is the reason Geno went ballistic during and at the end of the game. (I still maintain his motives were right, the timing was wrong). UCLA was the beneficiary of his outburst because in a fairly called game, UCLA was shown to be the better team. I think if the UConn-So Carolina game was called the same way, the outcome would have been different but, obviously, we’ll never know.

Anywho, UConn’s loss to So Carolina didn’t prove anything except that Dawn is a knowledgeable and experienced coach that tried a strategy that paid off. It said nothing about South Carolina’s superiority as a team over UConn. Let’s compare the teams.

View attachment 119960

Seems to me both teams have some outstanding, known talents and several promising young players. Both are essentially new teams that Geno and Dawn will have to work to mold into cohesive squads. I totally respect South Carolina but I don’t fear them. We have Sarah and Geno and they don’t.

i sometimes have to laugh when think of the old adage, "Careful of what you wish for =

I don’t usually like to write (or read) marathon posts but please bear with me while I venture into @Tonyc ’s territory for a minute

Sometimes fans here get into a kind of downwards spiral of doubt. South Carolina signed terrific players from the portal – and good for them – but that doesn’t mean the Huskies are doomed. More about South Carolina later.

I would just like to remind everyone that in 2023, Geno took a team of 7 players – one point guard, two shooting guards (one, Lou, basically playing on one leg), and four forwards to the Elite 8, where a lack of experienced ball-handlers combined with a non-existent bench and a season’s worth of mental fatigue finally caught up to them.

In 2024, Geno took another injury-plagued team that lost Azzi, Aubrey, and Caroline during the season to the Final Four. He ended up playing primarily four freshmen (Ice, KK, Ash, Q), junior Paige, and seniors Aaliyah and Nika. Amari and Ines played mostly in end of game situations. Only 6 played in the Final Four game – KK, Ash, Ice, Paige, Aaliyah, and Nika. It was a 2 point loss to Caitlyn Clark & Co.

I dunno, seems like this guy Geno knows what he’s doing.

Regarding the South Carolina game that seems to be distressing to many people; Dawn went into the game with the often-used strategy of fouling UConn on every offensive possession, daring the refs to call them all. It’s not a new strategy or a dirty one but it is the reason Geno went ballistic during and at the end of the game. (I still maintain his motives were right, the timing was wrong). UCLA was the beneficiary of his outburst because in a fairly called game, UCLA was shown to be the better team. I think if the UConn-So Carolina game was called the same way, the outcome would have been different but, obviously, we’ll never know.

Anywho, UConn’s loss to So Carolina didn’t prove anything except that Dawn is a knowledgeable and experienced coach that tried a strategy that paid off. It said nothing about South Carolina’s superiority as a team over UConn. Let’s compare the teams.

View attachment 119960

Seems to me both teams have some outstanding, known talents and several promising young players. Both are essentially new teams that Geno and Dawn will have to work to mold into cohesive squads. I totally respect South Carolina but I don’t fear them. We have Sarah and Geno and they don’t.

i sometime have to laugh when i think of the old adage - Be careful of what you ask for, you just might get it. Years ago people were constantly complaining that not enough schools were prioritizing women's basketball, that Uconn had no competition. Well, guess what, things have changed and for the better.

 

[hoophuskee]

i sometimes have to laugh when think of the old adage, "Careful of what you wish for =

i sometime have to laugh when i think of the old adage - Be careful of what you ask for, you just might get it. Years ago people were constantly complaining that not enough schools were prioritizing women's basketball, that Uconn had no competition. Well, guess what, things have changed and for the better.

62/51/48/44 is "better?"

 

[ctfjr]

In many posts on this and the General Board, I think many UConn and other posters are selling UConn short on the talent level. I think UConn is the equal to USC and U$C in terms of talent.

We might have an advantage in terms of athleticism . Y’all might have the edge in skill. Both have excellent coaches. It is likely that both will return to the Final Four and, if we meet, the outcome may be determined on factors that may be different from our first meeting this year.

patronizing much?

 

[mainerhuski]

One thing jumps out at me in your comparison. South Carolina is big and long. 13 players 6'0 or over. to UConn's 7 players.

South Carolina: 6'7", 6'5", 6'3", 6'3", 6'3", 6'3", 6'2", 6'2". 6'1", 6'1", 6'0", 6'0", 6'0"
UConn: 6'5", 6'5", 6'4", 6'2", 6'2", 6'2", 6'0"

You can only play 5 at a time.

 

[mainerhuski]

Bottom Line question is this: Do you consider this season 25-26 successful? Only one loss, but kind of an important loss.

Thinking that ending the season tied as the third best D1 team in the nation is not a successful result is wacko! A bit of perspective may be helpful, and appreciation to the players, coaches and all staff! ❤️ 🐺

 

[uconnfan68]

Sorry, South Carolina simply outplayed UConn. Very difficult to beat a good team when your 2 best players don't show up. I'm still wondering what happened to them.

The refs allowed much more physicality than normal. I watched a bit of SC vs Louisville earlier in year, and SC wasn’t overly physical then.