So What is the Recruiting Strategy for the 2020 Recruiting Class> | Page 2 | The Boneyard

So What is the Recruiting Strategy for the 2020 Recruiting Class>

You can breathe easy BY... Look at this way, Stanford, Baylor, Texas, SCarolina all have startinv wing n forward/post posoptions filled. Leaves a lot of opportunity to seize 2020 talent where we need it most. Breathe ppl, it will work itself out. These girls are not looking to spend 2 or 3 years coming off the bench. They wanna start or get heavy minutes. At UConn they will get that. Patience. Besides we have real at NC this year if CW n ONO have grown by March. Go Huskies!
 
BobbyJ said:
Coco, do you have any idea if the "sit in" was UConn's idea or if it was the kid's idea and UConn just went along with it? I haven't been able to figure out why they were there, especially since it appears to me that Jones may have had her mind set for Stanford for awhile.
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There was a article or a tweet indicating that it was Paige and Azzi's idea to make sure Aliyah and Haley had a good visit. Either way, and again this is in hindsight, UCONN should have said no IMO.
 
Blueballer said:
The recruiting strategy will be same as it's been for many many years. Don't expect Geno and CD to change their approach this late in their careers. They would rather have a harder path with kids they consider "UCONN" type kids than go outside the mold.
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Fully agree that part of the recruiting equation (UCONN type kids) will never change. There is also no indication that ANY of the recruits that said no to UCONN in 2019 failed to meet that criteria though.
 
Charliebball said:
as Notre Dame, MD, Miss St and other programs have proven, you don't need every player to be a top ten recruit..there's nothing wrong with a skilled second tier player (30 -100) that has some of the skills and the mind set that UConn is looking for.....for example ND has been playing Abby Prohaska due to injuries and she was ESPN #73....Taylor Mikesell is playing well at Maryland and she was rated #33...and I won't even go into Dara Mabrey who wasn't even rated in the ESPN 100.....bottom line..yes fight for the top kids but don't forget that there are talented recruits a bit farther down the line that may provide a bit of insurance when things don't work out as planned...focus on a couple of the best of them and make an offer.....
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Charlie with all do respect though the skill level required to play and impact the game is different at UCONN than it is a Mississippi state or MD i.e., AEH.
 
CocoHusky said:
There was a article or a tweet indicating that it was Paige and Azzi's idea to make sure Aliyah and Haley had a good visit. Either way, and again this is in hindsight, UCONN should have said no IMO.
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I tend to agree that it wasn't a great idea since an important part of the OV is to interact with current members of the team that will be there for the next few years. The thing I don't get is why it would be important to them for Jones and Boston to have a good visit to UConn and not to any other school. Unless........ and I have to believe it's too early for that to be possible. It kind of put UConn in a tough position, how do they say no? They sure don't want to risk alienating probably their two most important future recruits.
 
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BobbyJ said:
I tend to agree that it wasn't a great idea since an important part of the OV is to interact with current members of the team that will be there for the next few years. The thing I don't get is why it would be important to them for Jones and Boston to have a good visit to UConn and not to any other school. Unless... and I have to believe it's too early for that to be possible. It kind of put UConn in a tough position, how do they say no? They sure don't want risk alienating probably their two most important future recruits.
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It is a very delicate situation. I think the delivery with compassion would have been key. Geno and CD to the Parents of Paige and Azzi: We very much appreciate that you want to come up because Aliyah and Haley are going to be here but we want this weekend to be about them. When you get ready to take your official visit that weekend will be about you.
 
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oldude said:
I had no idea Geno had so much talent these past few seasons that he was just rolling out the balls and letting the kids play. I mistakenly believed he was coaching his ass off. Who would’ve guessed. :rolleyes:
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He has recruited at a top 5 level the past few classes. So, uh, yeah, quality of recruit makes a difference.Head bang
 
Rich said:
He has recruited at a top 5 level the past few classes. So, uh, yeah, quality of recruit makes a difference.Head bang
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In your post you suggested Geno hasn’t been coaching hard, just because he’s had great players. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I will argue that Geno worked harder during the 2015-16 season than any season I can remember because he knew he had a great team, and he didn’t want to screw it up.
 
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CocoHusky said:
Charlie with all do respect though the skill level required to play and impact the game is different at UCONN than it is a Mississippi state or MD i.e., AEH.
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so Geno wouldn't be interested in Fraser, Charles, Mikesell or Austin if they were available to him next year?
 
Charliebball said:
I'm not going to start with the I told you so's even though I spent months suffering the slings and arrows of the UConn cognoscenti as they derided my pleas for additional 2019 recruiting offers ....let's just say that I hope Geno and Co will cast a somewhat wider net for this ultra important 2020 class...next year's team will be short in stature and short on players...they'll still be a good and competitive team but I wouldn't expect them to win the championship......many of us know the big names in the 2020 class..Bueckers, Van Lith, Clark, Andrews, Kapinus, Marshall, Daniels, Gusters...each and every one of these players will get multiple offers from most of the big programs...I really am curious how Geno will handle these recruits.....in the meantime, I'm going to be looking at some of the other "lesser" ranked players that still may offer UConn some great value in the days to come
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Just because it is obvious, here is a guess on next year's starting line-up:

1. Dangerfield - AA at guard ( senior )
2. Megan Walker - exponentially improving player at Forward ( junior )- AA potential
3. Williams - exponentially improving player at guard( sophomore.) - AA potential
4. ONO - we imagine how she will develop and start at the post ( sophomore).- AA potential.
5. Big question mark here. Is Ossining recruit good enough to start? Unlikely. So who does?

Let's say it is Coombs. That leaves the following bench;

1. Kyla
2. Molly
3. The Ossining freshman
4. Lexi ( have to wonder if she will choose to remain )

I don't know what Batouly's status is, or what eligibility remains. But she is injured again. Doesn't seem like she can be relied upon as a full time player. Now or next year ( if eligible )

It is very possible that the following will occur in the subsequent year:

1. Batouly will be done
2. Molly , Kyla, And Dangerfield will be graduated.
3. Lexi basically does not exist, whether she remains or not.

That leaves Megan, ONO, Williams, Coombs and the Ossining recruit as the entire team, depending upon next season's recruiting success.

I think this is a big problem for UONN. Geno and CD have done everything imaginable and made history for UCONN. But do they wish to begin again? Do the Lady Huskies have to deal with a coaching change in the near future ( 2-3 years ) as well?

So here is the message; we have an exciting team to watch this year. Brimming with great players. And loaded with growth and maturity opportunities for some outstanding young women. Just enjoy it and leave the details to UCONN. If Megan and Williams begin playing like AA's this year ( entirely possible ) this team will be hard to touch.
 
For what it’s worth, the SNY team made a not so subtle pitch for graduate transfers during the game tonight, indicating that they had spoken with Geno and he was receptive.
 
oldude said:
For what it’s worth, the SNY team made a not so subtle pitch for graduate transfers during the game tonight, indicating that they had spoken with Geno and he was receptive.
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Speaking of graduate transfers Danni Williams dropped 22 for Texas tonight.
 
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Charliebball said:
that's a lot trickier then it sounds....you can't alienate the ones you really want by making offers willy nilly but on the other hand UConn needs a minimum of four players...they are in a tough spot.....
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We only need a strong point guard, particularly one that can shoot 3's, and a 6'2" or above inside player. Not unreasonable.
 
Somebody said it best, the strategy is the same it has always been; recruit the players that fit the UConn standard that Coach Auriemma and Coach CD have built the program on.
 
HopJim said:
If Geno just looks at all of Jeff's future transfers, he could fill the rooster. :p
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Several teams signed five players from this class. I think there are going to be some players looking for new homes in a year or two from now. Dawn signed five players from the 2019 class, 4 in the top 20 I believe, that cover each position on the floor. She basically just signed a brand new totally stacked team in one recruiting cycle. I can't recall the last time I saw something like that. Maybe UNC when they signed Diamond et al, and we all know how that story ended.
 
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UConnCat said:
I understand Geno will sit down with Jeff Walz and learn the wide net strategy. It worked very well for Jeff this year. An old dog can learn new tricks.
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Geno doesn't need as big a net but I guess it out worked pretty well for South Carolina and Tennessee
 
Hayven said:
Geno is set in his ways and I don’t see that changing soon. Have to focus on getting a PG and bigs, so that means Van Lith, Andrews, Kapinus, Daniels, and Gusters.

Marshall is all in with ND, if she goes anywhere else I would be surprised (based upon what have been discusssed on this board). Although I would like to see Paige go to UConn, I think she will follow in the footsteps of Whalen and stay home, and give Minnesota a few glory years
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I thought Marshall was a serious ND lean too, that's why I was surprised to see her at First Night.................CT is certainly a lot closer to home then Indiana...............I assume UConn is going to look to take advantage of that advantage plus all the playing time they can offer.......
 
I have to say i am a bit confused on the recruiting of the 16 and 17 classes. Yes you haven’t needed them until now. You have only one real contributor in 16 and one in 17 so now you count on
Crystal
Meg
CW
Ono
And a new freshman to be your team next season? This is all you will have for 19 i will be shocked if Geno doesn’t go hard for a grad transfer
 
Rich said:
Geno is going to enjoy this. He will now have the opportunity to really coach for the first time in a long while. Won’t be able to rely on pure skills.

Needless to say kiss those undefeated seasons goodbye for 3-4 years.

Also UCONN might want to think about articulating either a Geno succession plan or getting him to affirm commitment for the next X years. I think that other coaches may be using his age as a recruiting lever and it might be working.
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OMG!
The sheer audacity of the entitlement and unreal expectations on this board is truly confounding.
To wit: Geno and staff actually coach EVERY YEAR, otherwise you would see 35+ wins a year. Not one collegiate team nor one pro team can rely solely on skill and win a Championship or Title and to say something like this diminishes all the hard work Stewie, Tuck, Dolson,Jefferson KML and others all put in.
Undefeated season ARE INCREDIBLY HARD. Your side remark as a throwaway is also very insulting.
As far as the succession plan, I think too many people on this board are SIGNIFICANTLY more concerned than Geno, the school or the players are.
The sense of entitlement and lack of appreciation and joy on what we have been witnessing is just so disrespectful. This years forum are becoming VolNation light and is not as a enjoyable as it should be.
This years team just Played a really nice game with all 5 starters showing offense, defense, passing and flair. This years team is really, really good and all most people want to harp on is “lack of depth” or “lack of height” or “next year we are in trouble”. Live a bit more in the moment. The only team that worries me from winning a title this year is the team we play on Sunday. Oregon, Baylor, MSU and Louisville are all notches down from ND/UConn level. Let’s appreciate that.

Ok, rant over. I feel better now. :cool:
 
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Charliebball said:
I thought Marshall was a serious ND lean too, that's why I was surprised to see her at First Night.......CT is certainly a lot closer to home then Indiana.....I assume UConn is going to look to take advantage of that advantage plus all the playing time they can offer..
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Point well taken. I don't think of Marshall as an ND lock, by any means.
However, regarding the geography point: Marshall's family has moved around a lot and they spent time in Chicago, which -- as you know -- a short drive from South Bend.

But to one of your earlier points, some very prominent programs will be pursuing many of the same prospects and it will take some pointed efforts.
 
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