South Carolina Postgame Thread

[iri10]

re: KK...

I would have to see the season stats to be sure, but it felt like she started off the season with a very workable amount of offense. Not to say that she was ever a sharpshooter or main scoring option, but she could keep the opposition honest. It felt like her shooting declined somewhat after she got some kind of injury that led to her hand being wrapped.

 

[uconnbill]

He was upset with Staley and how she acted on the sidelines, as well as the things she said to the officials. UConn was just flat, and nothing seemed to go right, and it seemed that Azzi was hesitant shooting from outside.

Geno is not a Staley fan, and sorry, but her demeanor is tough to take when she yells at the officials and gets her way by intimidation

 

[msf22b]

The Woody Hayes comparisons are a bit extreme. Woody punched an opposing player. Geno got into a shouting match with an opposing coach. Not the greatest look, as they say, but it's hardly something that is going to be remembered 10 years from now when people are talking about Geno's career. I found it more fascinating and vaguely thrilling than an indictment of his character.

disagree

 

[HuskyNan]

We're gonna need it to, because the roster will be lacking a sorely needed athletic 2 guard. The players will all need to work hard this summer, especially KK.

Her name is Jovana Popvic, from Serbia. She’ll be a freshman this fall

 

[reelfan]

I stand by Geno.

 

[JBK]

Shame on anyone being critical of any player. They're hurting more than you are. And they've given us more than we deserve

Shame on anyone being critical if Geno. He's the best in history, and he's human too

And for those giving Geno and / or the team advice, you're in the wrong profession. No matter your career, you're in the wrong profession

THANK YOU HUSKIES

We all love these ladies and coach but we are also fans and can give opinions. We win with class and should lose with class -
Geno is in the John Wooden category and is the standard of college coaches. SC played good defense but we were not right since we left storrs. Kinda knew we would lose tonight.
Great year and hope we get another guard with some moxy —

 

[sno-cat]

GOAT coaches don’t act like Geno did with Dawn and walk out on their team when they needed his support!

 

[UConnCat]

I think whatever Geno said to Dawn needed to be said. Probably overdue. One can debate the timing but Geno speaks his mind in the moment.

The team's stars didn't play well. That's a recipe for losing.

 

[CGK]

SC was well-coached for how to take down UCONN in this game. Spacing the floor when on O, making use of the taller, more athletic bigs in the paint where UConn is extremely weak. I'm sorry but our bigs were an obvious weakness. Im hugely disappointed to not have a developed 5 who is aggressively physical, a jumping jack rebounder who moves their feet and can be counted on for 10 and 10 every day. SC beat our brains in with paint play like nobody else has in a very long time. Blocked shots, misfires, deferring to someone else please. Wasn't just one player either. And Sarah Strong is 6'2 with skills but she needs help. Sure, SC played very physical and got away with a lot that they should have been called for. Maybe it could have been a closer game had calls and FT added up for us. But.... that SEC style of play was allowed and it worked. We were tightly covered, held and frustrated. That wasn't the 38-0 UCONN out there.

Don't kill me for my opinions here....In the off-season, Dawn brought in T. Latson, who was a prolific scorer at Florida State. R Johnson is a GREAT player. This team had leadership and experience. Add A. Makeer (who IIRC had UCONN interest) and Joyce Edwards and some others who are coached very well and yeah, that is a heck of a team..... Still, I say they punked us. In offensive sets we had too much standing still while 2 or 3 SC players guarded Sarah. That definitely affected our shooters who couldn't shake free for open looks. We shot airballs, missed layups, deferred shots to others when they should have taken it themselves. The tight D that SC had with pressuring the ball and hands in the passing lanes was tough. Our chance to win was to hit baskets in the first half to set the tone and open the floor for our usually prolific passing and shot-making to score points. We had nearly no fast break points from steals either, despite doing our best. So it wasn't just one thing.
Their collective length, speed, height and wingspan were overwhelming.
I hate the loss. It hurts. I feel for the players and appreciate them all. I definitely want Geno to apologize publicly for his end of game behavior. I can appreciate his being frustrated, but that was way over the line. Love Geno, but we are much better than that.
Next year we may be better.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Couldn't press because they didn't make any shots. But you are correct SC missed alot of shots for us to easily on a normal shooting night, pull off the win.

Well, they made SOME shots. Could've pressed a bit. Never made an attempt until the game was over.

 

[NYCer20]

disagree

It's not in the first 38 paragraphs of his obituary.

 

[Woodson]

Not sure exactly what Geno said, but based on what’s been reported so far, seems like the reaction (or overreaction) by opposing coach and their staff was way over the top. I guess emotions were high.

 

[oldude]

Just a side note. UConn and SC put up a total of 50 1st half points in one of the ugliest shooting games you will ever see. At the end of the 1st half of the 2nd game between UCLA & TX, both teams have combined for 37 pts…… 😣

 

[my2cents]

We scored 4 points in the last 6 minutes of the 4th quarter. When your best players never play in the 4th quarter the entire season, maybe they are not ready to play in one when needed.
Any talk about Geno's attitude needs to wait until we find out what made him so angry.
This ain't Little League.

 

[HuskyNan]

So, anyways, regarding the game - I don’t blame any of the players for the loss. I see people that wanted more from the upperclassmen, which is understandable, but I’m totally giving Blanca a pass on this one. She’s a freshman in her first Final Four and she was trying hard to defend and score but may have been overwhelmed by the moment.

I am so glad she’s a Husky and look forward to watching her game grow

 

[ABCDFE]

Love him to death. But he messed up and I’m not going to condone it.

The Woody Hayes comparisons are a bit extreme. Woody punched an opposing player. Geno got into a shouting match with an opposing coach. Not the greatest look, as they say, but it's hardly something that is going to be remembered 10 years from now when people are talking about Geno's career. I found it more fascinating and vaguely thrilling than an indictment of his character.

I also find it extreme to call some one an idiot who was purely sticking up for himself for what he felt was a truly disrespectful behavior. Yes could he be more calm and collected, but he was true to himself and his emotions. He let Dawn know how he felt. She knows what she did. I agree He should’ve shook the SC players hands though but please everyone stop trying to act like we are all saints and we’ve never lost our composure once. Especially calling names to the greatest coach in wbb history and asking him to retire.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Long time lurker -- first post here. Huge Gamecock fan. So much respect to the Huskies for setting and maintaining such a high standard over the years -- and kudos to the great fans here on the Boneyard. Your collective responses tonight validate the passion and class that have defined the program, and I particularly appreciate the willingness on the part of most to admit that Geno crossed a line -- even though that does not define him nor his career. I do believe that the rigors and physicality of the SEC as well as many more highly competitive games were incredibly important for Carolina tonight

Classy first post! Hope you post more. Congratulations on a great game by your team.

 

[Geesworld]

It feels unfair to second guess a 38-1 season, but UConn won last year in part because they had real size to challenge teams like South Carolina and UCLA.

It’s baffling that they completely abandoned that approach this year.

Sacrificed Jana and Serah all season.

 

[JBK]

Long time lurker -- first post here. Huge Gamecock fan. So much respect to the Huskies for setting and maintaining such a high standard over the years -- and kudos to the great fans here on the Boneyard. Your collective responses tonight validate the passion and class that have defined the program, and I particularly appreciate the willingness on the part of most to admit that Geno crossed a line -- even though that does not define him nor his career. I do believe that the rigors and physicality of the SEC as well as many more highly competitive games were incredibly important for Carolina tonight

Congrats. But our wide open shots were just not falling.

 

[Rings R Us]

Maybe its time to hang 'em up, Coach?

Let's throw a big bag of money to Shea Ralph after that nice donation we got yesterday from those donors, and get ready for next year! 😃

 

[oldude]

For all of us wondering what prompted Geno’s reaction, in his postgame he suggested that he waited 3 minutes for Dawn to shake his hand at center court before the game and she never came over. But there is a clear video of Dawn shaking Geno’s hand and giving him a hug before the game, so I have no idea if he was expecting another handshake or he’s angry about the loss and he’s just confused about what did or didn’t happen.

 

[boontonbomber]

I think whatever Geno said to Dawn needed to be said. Probably overdue. One can debate the timing but Geno speaks his mind in the moment.

The team's stars didn't play well. That's a recipe for losing.

Yes, Geno with another great teaching moment-how not to act when you just got your butt kicked.

 

[WFFL]

He was upset with Staley and how she acted on the sidelines, as well as the things she said to the officials. UConn was just flat, and nothing seemed to go right, and it seemed that Azzi was hesitant shooting from outside.

Geno is not a Staley fan, and sorry, but her demeanor is tough to take when she yells at the officials and gets her way by intimidation

but doesn’t he do the exact same thing ? Literally the last 41 years..

 

[uconnfan68]

We scored 4 points in the last 6 minutes of the 4th quarter. When your best players never play in the 4th quarter the entire season, maybe they are not ready to play in one when needed.
Any talk about Geno's attitude needs to wait until we find out what made him so angry.
This ain't Little League.

You think we’re out of shape?

 

[uconn_nyc]

Some thoughts on the South Carolina game:

• A couple weeks ago, a YouTube video asked the rhetorical question, “UConn, unbeatable or untested?” highlighting the fact that the Huskies had not played SC, TX or UCLA this season. Unfortunately, that question was answered today as UConn was tested by a formidable SC team.
• No team or player expects to lose the last game of the season, and yet, for most, that’s exactly what happens. In his postgame remarks, Geno will undoubtedly remind everyone that, “Winning a championship is hard.” But nobody much will listen, as the expectations by UConn fans are both incredibly high and, at times, unreasonable.
• For the players, coaches and fans, the loss to SC today is very disappointing. That’s normal. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will look to blame someone for the loss: Geno, the players, the refs, whoever. DON’T!!! The game is basketball. Sometimes good teams get beaten by better teams, and in this instance, SC was the better team.
• To those players who will be moving on from UConn: Azzi, Caroline, Serah and perhaps Ice & Ayanna as well, we thank you for all you’ve given to UConn WBB and wish you great success wherever your path in life leads you.
• To the entire team, the coaches and the support staff, Thank you for a great season. UConn WBB fans are truly fortunate.
• We can take some comfort in the knowledge that next season the Huskies will once again be loaded, and they are still coached by the best coach in basketball. #13 will have to wait a year. Only 8 months until next season…….

110 % proud of my UConn team. They'll be back next year! Their shooting percentages seemed to drop in the NCAA games. It happened at a bad time, but it happens in sports. An uber athletic team like SC took care of the rebounding on a cold shooting night for the Huskies. The free throw discrepancy...

In my opinion, the weight of an undefeated season most likely became heavier as the season progressed, and the weak conference games gave us the undefeated rather than untested feeling. Anyway, congratulations to SC. The sun will rise tomorrow.

 

[Conndog]

South Carolina shot 16 more free throws than UCONN & won by 14 points.
But the Huskies missing FIFTEEN 3 point shots was a major factor in the loss.

Live by the three, die by the three

 

[psconn]

I hope to see a full and complete apology from Geno to Dawn, the players on both teams, and the fans.

There's a number of SC fans on this board and I'm sure the whole Geno debacle won't diminish their joy. Congrats and good luck in the championship game.

 

[LetteD]

Sounds like he was expecting an additional handshake.

 

[JBK]

He was upset with Staley and how she acted on the sidelines, as well as the things she said to the officials. UConn was just flat, and nothing seemed to go right, and it seemed that Azzi was hesitant shooting from outside.

Geno is not a Staley fan, and sorry, but her demeanor is tough to take when she yells at the officials and gets her way by intimidation

Danny !!

 

[Vowelguy]

I also find it extreme to call some one an idiot who was purely sticking up for himself for what he felt was a truly disrespectful behavior. Yes could he be more calm and collected, but he was true to himself and his emotions. He let Dawn know how he felt. She knows what she did. I agree He should’ve shook the SC players hands though but please everyone stop trying to act like we are all saints and we’ve never lost our composure once. Especially calling names to the greatest coach in wbb history and asking him to retire.

1) I didn’t call him an idiot
2) but trying to defend him in this moment borders on idiotic. He was pissed sbout the game and let his emotions overtake him and complained about something minor.