South Carolina Postgame Thread

[Bigpetunia]

Several decades ago, when I was an adolescent, I was clearly guilty, on multiple occasions, of adolescent behavior. I might have been mercifully forgiven back then on the basis of my age, which doesn’t change the fact that it was, in fact, clearly unbecoming. For someone Geno’s age unbecoming is an understatement. Is he a great coach with a great W-L history? Sure! What’s that got to do with it? We should expect him to show more class! I hope he apologizes to USC. None of this has anything to do with handshakes. We all know that had UConn been comfortably leading at the end of the game, none of this would have happened. Win with class…lose the same way!

 

[reelfan]

The SC coach disrespected a HOF Coach, the UCONN team, the University itself and all fans. Clearly she is alone in Staley world.

 

[FanSince17]

Here’s something to chew on - after all the hype UConn has gotten all season and the high expectations set for them, could Geno have deliberately drawn eyes to him instead of his players? Azzi, Sarah, and Blanca have gotten a lot of press and so might have gotten a lot of criticism/derogatory comments. It’s not unknown for Geno to do something outrageous to take the heat off his team

Food for thought

I made the exact same point after Felisha’s comments after the Syracuse game. Got crickets.
I know what you mean, but I’m not sure it’s comparable. With stature comes responsibilities. Geno IMO doesn’t need “benefit of the doubt”. From his lofty perch, nothing is more important than respect and class. Humans are flawed. Get out in front of this and make a public apology and/or explanation.

 

[NoSpamHere]

Other than the video, what else? ESPN and other media sources have written about the missed handshake in several article, including some that were posted just after the game.

'Frustrated' Auriemma gets into heated sideline spat with Staley after loss

UConn's Geno Auriemma ripped into the officiating crew during a live TV interview and then got into a heated argument with Dawn Staley in the final seconds of the Huskies' 62-48 loss to South Carolina in the women's Final Four.

www.espn.com

Although that article is much closer to what really happened (kudos to the writer for reporting facts vs opinion) one article on the website doesn’t represent all of the comments made by their on air personalities as well as other social media posts.

My point wasn’t that espn is out to get Geno, it’s that they are part of the “instant analysis/judgement culture” that permeates our world. If you’d like another example, go read/listen to all they said about Duke and their coach right after their loss to us.

 

[Gate81]

for physical play -- any former Pac-12 fan knows that it would be called tighter in conference and every team would get to the NCAA tournament and have to deal w getting practically beaten up by others. so this is not new, and yes probably exacerbated by the reffing. Clearly the way to win involves it. Does anyone recall MD's style in the past? I have to say though even Vic and TX were very physical but at the end of the game how tender and caring he was in allowing Harmon the grace and kudos she deserved - as opposed to the other male coach last night and poor Azzi Fudd who deserved better.

 

[1974yankees]

My final thoughts.

I was not going to watch tomorrow's game between S.C. and UCLA but I changed my mind...

I wanna see S.C. get destroyed by UCLA so bad I could taste it.

Losing in the quarterfinals of the final 4 is bad and heartbreaking but there is nothing worse than making it all the way to the championship game and losing..

We might be feeling bad now (but we will get over it and nobody will remember it) but losing tomorrow will be worse..

I hope UCLA beats them by 30. But even if they beat them by 1 point at the buzzer that will still make me feel better.

 

[BBallF]

More to your point was that UConn had some bad luck with OOC scheduling this year. Notre Dame was scheduled before Miles and Koval transferred. Like you mentioned, USC was scheduled before the Juju injury. Florida State was scheduled before Latson transferred. Utah was scheduled before Kneepkens transferred. While still a strong team, Ohio State was scheduled before McMahon transferred. And though it was scheduled a while ago, Tennessee looked stronger on paper going into the season than they ended up being.

Honestly, I think we stopped getting better at a certain point. The first half of the Tennessee game was very telling in my view as to how poorly we could play. There was a certain tiredness that we had. Azzi had not shot well in the Sweet 16 at all. I was reminded of our other losses in the FF like against Arizona, Notre Dame and Miss. State. A totally different kind of rhythm from last year.

 

[cancontent]

Although that article is much closer to what really happened (kudos to the writer for reporting facts vs opinion) one article on the website doesn’t represent all of the comments made by their on air personalities as well as other social media posts.

My pPoint wasn’t that espn is out to get Geno, it’s that they are part of the “instant analysis/judgement culture” that permeates our world. If you’d like another example, go read/listen to all they said about Duke and their coach right after their loss to us.

Fair enough.

 

[BBallF]

I’m giving Ash, KK, and Kayleigh a shoutout. They tried hard all game. I have no idea what was going on with Azzi and Sarah. Serah, too, gave some good minutes

Honestly I think they were beat up during the game and that was the plan. It's very hard to play your game, especially when it involves finesse, when you are held, pushed and shoved. The evidence for that is indisputable.

 

[Nyskier]

That was a terrible look by Geno. I guess it started in the 3rd qtr when he was hot about the disparity of foul calls. But going after Dawn for some perceived slight made no sense whatsoever.

I was embarrassed by Geno's behavior. He did not go through the handshake line, and almost punched Dawn. SC played better yesterday. Geno was acting like a crazy old man.

 

[NoSpamHere]

Fair enough.

Thanks for going back and forth with me on this. It’s nice that we can have a rational discussion amidst all the emotion we all feel.

 

[Scoe]

Dawn is perfect and Geno is a monster. Dawn is a saint and Geno is the devil.

 

[Stinger92860]

There is an article written by Jerry Brewer for the NYT/the Athletic that does an excellent job of explaining the incident last night and what was behind it. It’s worth reading.

That was a bit of a hit piece and I learned nothing new.

 

[DennieEddy]

It was Geno that made her cry?

No, unfortunately the missed layup with a couple of minutes left.

 

[ABCDFE]

Among other things, does anyone discount the possibility that Dawn's ceremonial handshake snub might have been intentional gamesmanship? Obviously, Geno's demeanor in confronting Dawn at the end of the game isn't a good look, but has everyone forgotten Dawn's in-game demeanor when SC was getting pummeled by UCONN last year? Give him a break, as, on the whole, we've previously afforded Dawn.

Good luck with that. Many Byers are quick to jump on their righteous soap boxes (in tow) to criticize Geno but sadly never mention what I find to be extremely disturbing language and and disrespectful pregame antics. I mean if Geno ever said “I’ll beat your ass” to an opposing coach how would that be taken in the media. But since it’s Dawn she gets a pass in the media and here here too. Those who criticize Geno has not even once said Dawn should apologize for how poorly that violent statement looks and especially to the young girls watching. I can’t make this stuff up on the one sided nature of this discussion by some here. So many saints and mother Theresa’s here who’ve always taken the high road in life (sarcasm emoji)

 

[DennieEddy]

The SC coach disrespected a HOF Coach, the UCONN team, the University itself and all fans. Clearly she is alone in Staley world.

Probably disrespecting on both sides of center court.

 

[ABCDFE]

I made the exact same point after Felisha’s comments after the Syracuse game. Got crickets.
I know what you mean, but I’m not sure it’s comparable. With stature comes responsibilities. Geno IMO doesn’t need “benefit of the doubt”. From his lofty perch, nothing is more important than respect and class. Humans are flawed. Get out in front of this and make a public apology and/or explanation.

If Geno needs to apologize what about Dawn? Do you condone threatening to beats someone’s ass something that should be absolved of an apology? Just asking so I can teach my children better how to be a good human being.

 

[oldude]

We don't know what Gino said as the camera was at his back, and lip readers needed to be on the other side. Gino has been around for a long time and I'm sure it was nothing offensive - but appropriate. What got me was how SC coach exploded - had to be restrained by 3-4 assistants. wtf. And later on camera gave a 'I'm the victim' speech. Chief is correct. Oy.

We do know what Geno said because he told everyone in the Postgame. It was all about a perceived slight over a handshake. As for being restrained, I guess you didn’t see Jamelle and CD restraining Geno.

 

[oldude]

No, unfortunately the missed layup with a couple of minutes left.

Also, she had turned the ball over on the preceding play dribbling into a crowd.

 

[oldude]

That was a bit of a hit piece and I learned nothing new.

Hit piece? There are very few coaches that Geno has had frosty relationships throughout his career. I can only think of 4: Pat, Tara, MM and now Dawn. What do they all have in common?

 

[Longtime fan]

Oh well. Hoping the men can get it done tomorrow.

And why did Geno ignore Allie Zeibell?

 

[Stinger92860]

You’re entitled to your opinion but obviously you’ve got KK derangement syndrome lol. She’s an elite athlete and AA caliber PG and if people like you think that she’s mediocre or “not bad” so be it. I’m not even going to bother citing her and the team’s stellar offensive and defensive statistics and efficiency (which is a direct result of pure PG play) to you in support of the great historic season and win streak that unfortunately just ended because it is a thorough waste of time with people like you who only want to unfairly and wrongly criticize these tremendous young athletes and persons like our KK.

When KK is on the floor and your 5 cannot create offense the other team can focus on 3 players. That 3rd player shot 30% from 3 this year. So if you are designing your Defense, where do you place your focus. That said, KK and that 3rd player are the heart of our defense.

 

[HuskyNan]

I made the exact same point after Felisha’s comments after the Syracuse game. Got crickets.
I know what you mean, but I’m not sure it’s comparable. With stature comes responsibilities. Geno IMO doesn’t need “benefit of the doubt”. From his lofty perch, nothing is more important than respect and class. Humans are flawed. Get out in front of this and make a public apology and/or explanation.

If Geno’s intention was to deflect criticism of his team, it was poorly executed. I agree with what you said

 

[BBallF]

It’s not about the handshake and never was. It’s all about the game and the outcome. I point out again that it was a continuation of what happened at the end of the 3rd qtr when Geno went off in front of Holly Rowe, ranting about foul calls and suggesting that SC had grabbed and torn Sarah’s jersey. After the game we learned that Sarah had torn her own jersey in frustration.

But that continuation was due to what happened in the third quarter and even before. Sarah and Azzi both were being pushed, held, grabbed and shoved all game long. The video evidence for that is indisputable. Irrespective of the jersey incident, Dawn's cursing at the referees at the beginning of the third quarter and then the subsequent no foul calls on SC the entire third quarter would be enough to make any coach angry. Who the hell is she to be able to talk like that to the refs and get away with it? She gets a pass for all her behavior all the time. I cannot just look at Geno's behavior in a vacuum because these kinds of events do not happen in a vacuum. He didn't just overreact because he lost. He was reacting all game long to what was happening to his players and also to the crude, unprofessional behavior of the opposing coach.

 

[Basingstoke]

Maybe this is what Geno was mad about. This is clearly illegal contact by South Carolina. Nothing was called and this went on all night.






Yes, in basketball, a defender "continually touching" an offensive player is typically a foul, commonly called hand checking or illegal use of hands. While minor, incidental contact is permitted, using hands or arms to impede a player's speed, quickness, rhythm, or balance is illegal, especially when it disrupts their movement.
View attachment 119258Reddit +2
Key Rules on Defensive Touching:

• Hand Checking: It is a foul to place and keep a hand on an opponent, or to use a forearm to prevent a player from moving.
• The Cylinder Principle: All players have a right to their "cylinder" (the space directly above them). A defender violates this by reaching in and making contact with the offensive player's arms or body, often causing a foul.
• Two Hands: Placing two hands on an offensive player is an automatic foul.
• Incidental vs. Illegal: Light, momentary touching that does not restrict movement may be considered incidental. However, persistent contact, pushing, or grabbing is a violation.
• Exceptions: A defender may use a forearm on a player with their back to the basket in the lower defensive box

OK, so Raven is constantly fouling Sarah, but we understand her predicament, being much smaller than Sarah. That said, could you imagine the reaction if Sarah REALLY pushed back? Raven would probably (as others have done when guarding Sarah) have feigned being mauled and immediately flopped to the floor or propelled herself into the third row. Given the size disparity and the lack of referee competence, what was Sarah to do?

 

[Stinger92860]

Hit piece? There are very few coaches that Geno has had frosty relationships throughout his career. I can only think of 4: Pat, Tara, MM and now Dawn. What do they all have in common?

They were good coaches and created a rivalry. What are you trying to say? Just say it.

 

[Suebird10fan]

And no one on this team is anywhere close to
Paige or any of the truly great Uconn players.
Sarah is a good player, but unless she improves a lot will never be in the top six.
DT, Sue, Maya, Stewie, Tina, Paige, and Rebecca.

Good god, I’m pretty sure every one of those players had a bad F4 game or two. perspective folks!

 

[BBallF]

That was a bit of a hit piece and I learned nothing new.

A hit piece and a Hooray for Dawn piece. Never once did it impugn or castigate her.

 

[oldude]

When KK is on the floor and your 5 cannot create offense the other team can focus on 3 players. That 3rd player shot 30% from 3 this year. So if you are designing your Defense, where do you place your focus. That said, KK and that 3rd player are the heart of our defense.

Just for comparison sake, last night SC’s pg was 1/6 with 4 turnovers and their center’s offense was confined to scoring off of offensive rebounds. So SC too relied on 3 players for their scoring.

 

[Stinger92860]

Here’s something to chew on - after all the hype UConn has gotten all season and the high expectations set for them, could Geno have deliberately drawn eyes to him instead of his players? Azzi, Sarah, and Blanca have gotten a lot of press and so might have gotten a lot of criticism/derogatory comments. It’s not unknown for Geno to do something outrageous to take the heat off his team

Food for thought

No way, he was really pissed