South Carolina Postgame Thread

[ABCDFE]

Yup. Paige was incredibly difficult to replace, but folks cast her off like losing her was no big deal.

There were many here that said unequivocally we were actually a better team, which had me smh. Yes maybe regular season stats showed that. But tournament time is where stars win and lose games for you. Paige’s value both offensive AND defensively was certainly overlooked.

 

[oldude]

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

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with Geno’s history. In each case Geno had some kind of public blowup with the coach of a team that was his biggest competitor at that time for the top spot in WBB. He outlasted Pat, MM and Tara. Now it’s Dawn who may just outlast Geno.

 

[Zonepress]

In my job, if I lost my temper and blew up at a representative of a competitor in front of all of our coworkers, employees, and friends, I would expect to at least be reprimanded. And that is even if I was justified in my anger. As a manager and representative of my company, I have responsibilities that are more important than my anger and that still holds no matter what I’ve accomplished at my job and how widely respected and perhaps loved I might be by my peers. An apology would need to be given to the competitor and their employee.

Geno is an employee of the State of Connecticut and his job is to coach the State’s women’s basketball team. I expect UConn will issue a formal apology to South Carolina. But if Dawn did something that offended or angered Geno, he should discuss it with her in private, address it through both universities’ official channels, or the head of referees (if that’s the problem).

He took the spotlight off the young women of South Carolina. It was their moment and he took the attention off them and put it on him. It was wrong and he should apologize

.

hopefully after some overnight reflection GA will today before flying home he will apologize in person to DS and her team
in person.not putting a lid on this will keep th narrative going
more fuel for the “geno is too old has lost it and should retire “
as u infer a apology will probably be coming /apologizing now, and in person will most likely be perceived as being sincere while the carefully worded statement released by the university, most likely won’t be

 

[mhshuskies]

So was UCONN just overconfident, especially after taking the lead at the half. The MO all year has been to put the game away in the 3rd quarter and they just expected to do that, no problem. Instead it was SC that took over.

 

[Longtime fan]

Normally I would say that our not playing a team over the season works to our advantage. But not always. SC and Staley has played us so often over the years that you just can't rely on them being disrupted in that way.

More importantly, in hindsight I think it hurt that we were unable to play any of SC, UCLA, or Texas in the regular season. Nothing to be done about that; it's just the way things ended up. There's just another level of intensity required when you're playing another team with a great deal of talent, and it's nice to experience that at least once before the late rounds of the NCAA tournament.

I'm not willing to put a final verdict on Geno's behavior at the end of the game, without more information. But on first glance it looks like frustration boiling up in an entirely unproductive way.

Oh well. It was very fun watching this team most of the time. A good season with a disappointing ending.

I'm not willing to put a final verdict on it either. But, it cannot be retracted, regardless of future facts/explanations. It was a poor look for UCONN. One of the first in my memory.

 

[oldude]

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.

OK that’s fine, although you might want to look at just how physical KK and Sarah were defending Johnson & Edwards. But even if Geno had a legitimate complaint about the refs, he could have shook Dawn’s hand after the game and unloaded on the refs in the Postgame…..and I don’t buy the argument that Dawn was trying to “intimidate” the refs. Geno and just about any coach worth a damn does the exact same thing.

 

[Beowulf]

Geno has earned a little bit of the benefit of the doubt for sure, and no way of knowing everything that went down or was said. However….

You cannot act like that. She snubbed you two and a half hours earlier so you ruin a post game handshake line after losing? I’m sorry but he is just going to have to wear the criticism. Got asked a softball question in post game to back track a little, and instead doubled down.

But again, I’m not plugged in, I don’t know the full story. Just know it’s a bad look, and I think it’s a worse look for this fan base to try and both-side this. He can’t do what he did at the end of the game, full stop. You have to be able to recognize that

 

[BBallF]

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.

The obvious difference in the scoring was FTs, not the number of offensive threats. Azzi and Sarah were 7-31 overall and 4 for 14 from 3. That's 22 % overall and 28% from 3. If they shoot 35% from 3 they get an extra 3 points. If you just take the non 3s, they shot 3-17 or 18%. If that number becomes 40% they get an extra 4 regular baskets or 8 points and the score is virtually tied. So yes, shooting was a factor but SCV was not much better. However, it is pretty hard to overcome 16 additional free throws.

 

[Longtime fan]

Congratulations to SC for a game in which they were clearly the better team, beating UCONN in FG %, 3pt %, and tremendous advantages in rebounds (especially o boards) and a "slight"... edge in ft's...
I have no idea what set Geno off at the end, and it's unfortunate that he skipped the handshake line - not a good look for a program that has set the standard for so long.
Tonight was (despite great effort) the nightmare that we all didn't know we were afraid of:

• Azzi and Sarah having the worst shooting performances of their lives.
• Makeer showing us what we came to expect Blanca to be.
• Giving up unrelenting offensive rebounds.
• Blowing countless layups and bunnies, and giving up too many fast break points and points on drives.

My heart aches for the entire team (especially K-9), but they had a great season which, unfortunately, ended with a subpar performance against a formidable opponent playing a great game.
It's funny that in my 3 things you'd like to happen in the game, I asked for some offense from Ash. Well, she came through, but virtually no one else did.
Congratulations to the UCONN team for a fantastic season, and good luck to an SC team which may very well take home tge title on Sunday night.

And many of those missed lay-ups you mentioned were "blocks" by SC players. They were a more athletic team who clearly wanted it more. I fear that UCONN had been overly distracted by plaudits, and awards.

 

[oldude]

The obvious difference in the scoring was FTs, not the number of offensive threats. Azzi and Sarah were 7-31 overall and 4 for 14 from 3. That's 22 % overall and 28% from 3. If they shoot 35% from 3 they get an extra 3 points. If you just take the non 3s, they shot 3-17 or 18%. If that number becomes 40% they get an extra 4 regular baskets or 8 points and the score is virtually tied. So yes, shooting was a factor but SCV was not much better. However, it is pretty hard to overcome 16 additional free throws.

It’s also pretty hard to overcome 15 additional rebounds. That’s 15 more offensive possessions for SC.

 

[Longtime fan]

Really disappointed in Sarah, Azzi, and Blanca. They needed to figure out a way to score but couldn’t get it done.

Our recurring issues of the past decade are rebounding, post play, and lack of ability to draw free throws. It’s the way Geno wants to play. I love Geno, but this has been the same issues for 10 years. He’s a legend, has made all of us better, so I’m happy for him to keep proselytizing his way.

He has to apologize to Dawn, I don’t care what his issue was. You need to congratulate her and move on. Basketball deserves better.

A good deal of their failure can be attributed to the SC defense. Let's be fair. None of them could get free for a decent open look, particularly AZZI.

 

[BBallF]

OK that’s fine, although you might want to look at just how physical KK and Sarah were defending Johnson & Edwards. But even if Geno had a legitimate complaint about the refs, he could have shook Dawn’s hand after the game and unloaded on the refs in the Postgame…..and I don’t buy the argument that Dawn was trying to “intimidate” the refs. Geno and just about any coach worth a damn does the exact same thing.

I agree that in retrospect he should have shaken her hand but he is not a purely impulsive person and I think he wanted to confront Dawn also and did not want to do it behind her back in the presser alone as a sore loser. By that time it was not just about the refs, it was about her because of what she had done previously. Did that really intimidate the refs? We will never know but from his perspective, looking at his kids being manhandled and no fouls against SC in the 3rd quarter, it's a reasonable conclusion. These incidents are never as clear cut as people want them to be.

As for Dawn trying to intimidate the refs, I have never seen her coach in a game where she didn't try that. It's her MO. Yes, other coaches do it also, but I think Geno felt this was over the top and/or that it actually worked. These were not strong refs anyway and that may have added to his perspective. Plus, they may not have been calling fouls for another reason we will never know. The refs were uncannily the same in the UCLA game which is why I posted the thread about that.

 

[BBallF]

A good deal of their failure can be attributed to the SC defense. Let's be fair. None of them could get free for a decent open look, particularly AZZI.

Because of great man to man defense or because of holding, pushing, grabbing, shoving with no fouls being called?

 

[BBallF]

It’s also pretty hard to overcome 15 additional rebounds. That’s 15 more offensive possessions for SC.

The weird thing is that despite that we had 61 shots to their 56. I bet the time of possession was very one sided though. They would often slow it down to change the pace of the game. It stopped us from getting going and prevented a big run.

 

[Suebird10fan]

This is exactly what SC plays like, but back then we had more athletic and rough players to deal with it, Geno owes no one an apology, but what he does owe, is our amazing frontcourt next year, some tough minded athletic wings and guards, or we will lose again when it matters most because our guards and wings are good enough until we get to this point again. You want to recruit good people i understand, but there is a certain toughness we were missing this year and I noticed it, but honestly thought we were good enough to pull it off. KK needs to be a scoring and shooting threat and we need to look in the portal for a 2 guard that fills what we don't have. Can't get bullied again. At the very least, Azzi needed to go out shooting. I would have taken a loss like that much better than her being hesitant and not wanting to miss and let her team down. Too nice. Need some rough necks on the team.

If there were an “overreaction” button I would have worn out my thumb by now

 

[IDWT]

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

They hall beat him regularly.

 

[BBallF]

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.

She would never apologize about anything.

 

[oldude]

I agree that in retrospect he should have shaken her hand but he is not a purely impulsive person and I think he wanted to confront Dawn also and did not want to do it behind her back in the presser alone as a sore loser. By that time it was not just about the refs, it was about her because of what she had done previously. Did that really intimidate the refs? We will never know but from his perspective, looking at his kids being manhandled and no fouls against SC in the 3rd quarter, it's a reasonable conclusion. These incidents are never as clear cut as people want them to be.

As for Dawn trying to intimidate the refs, I have never seen her coach in a game where she didn't try that. It's her MO. Yes, other coaches do it also, but I think Geno felt this was over the top and/or that it actually worked. These were not strong refs anyway and that may have added to his perspective. Plus, they may not have been calling fouls for another reason we will never know. The refs were uncannily the same in the UCLA game which is why I posted the thread about that.

But hold on. Is it about the refs or is it about Dawn? You’re conflating the 2 issues. “Working the refs” or umpires is a time-honored tradition in every sport I can think of, and Geno certainly does it. If you don’t like the way the refs called the game, your beef is with the refs, not the opposing team or coaches.

 

[oldude]

The hall beat him regularly.

BINGO!

 

[oldude]

The weird thing is that despite that we had 61 shots to their 56. I bet the time of possession was very one sided though. They would often slow it down to change the pace of the game. It stopped us from getting going and prevented a big run.

UConn was +5 on turnovers, so the actual difference in possessions was SC +10, and they don’t actually count missed shots that a player is fouled on in a team’s shot total. So effectively, SC had more scoring opportunities.

 

[Rowdy831]

Thank you. I am glad someone else saw the same game I did. It was like a street fight. Too many Uconn fans putting all of the attention on Geno's reaction. If you have never coached at this level, please don't make Geno your scape goat.

I love Geno but as the coach his job is to know a mud fight is coming and have a plan to get out of it if that is what happens. Last night it was apparent they were missing something and the adjustments were few and far between. For the players I can't remember when a UConn team looked so tired. Sarah and Azzi looked wiped out both in their play and on their faces. Even KK looked slower than she normally has been. I though they looked similar last weekend too but the teams weren't good enough to fully expose them.

 

[darrell]

Damage is sadly done, but I think this was important to do. Onward and upward.

 

[jaundicedeye]

But hold on. Is it about the refs or is it about Dawn? You’re conflating the 2 issues. “Working the refs” or umpires is a time-honored tradition in every sport I can think of, and Geno certainly does it. If you don’t like the way the refs called the game, your beef is with the refs, not the opposing team or coaches.

Quite honestly, the beef can easily be with both. You can be unhappy with the undue influence from the opposing coach as well as the ref(s) being influenced.

 

[oldude]

Quite honestly, the beef can easily be with both. You can be unhappy with the undue influence from the opposing coach as well as the ref(s) being influenced.

Post 597 of this thread should put this discussion to bed. Credit to Geno for admitting his mistake. I hope that in addition to his public apology, he reaches out to Dawn personally to apologize.

 

[JwittersPAC]

hopefully after some overnight reflection GA will today before flying home he will apologize in person to DS and her team
in person.not putting a lid on this will keep th narrative going
more fuel for the “geno is too old has lost it and should retire “
as u infer a apology will probably be coming /apologizing now, and in person will most likely be perceived as being sincere while the carefully worded statement released by the university, most likely won’t be

Has the apology occurred yet?

 

[jaundicedeye]

OK that’s fine, although you might want to look at just how physical KK and Sarah were defending Johnson & Edwards. But even if Geno had a legitimate complaint about the refs, he could have shook Dawn’s hand after the game and unloaded on the refs in the Postgame…..and I don’t buy the argument that Dawn was trying to “intimidate” the refs. Geno and just about any coach worth a damn does the exact same thing.

I do buy it. That has always been a staple of Dawn's coaching and she gets away with it. It has an impact. If it didn't she would not do it.

 

[oldude]

I do buy it. That has always been a staple of Dawn's coaching and she gets away with it. It has an impact. If it didn't she would not do it.

I agree. As I indicated, Geno does exactly the same thing.

 

[sno-cat]

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?

Warning: Elephant in the room "Did Geno ever interact with male coaches the way he did with these four coaches?"
Can you imagine him interacting with Dan hurley like this - That would have been a sight to see!!

 

[maple]

Don’t forget that Stewie had off days also.

Sure, but she still won FF MOP 4x.

 

[BBallF]

But hold on. Is it about the refs or is it about Dawn? You’re conflating the 2 issues. “Working the refs” or umpires is a time-honored tradition in every sport I can think of, and Geno certainly does it. If you don’t like the way the refs called the game, your beef is with the refs, not the opposing team or coaches.

I realize that this is all past tense now, but the two issues are intertwined. Dawn's behavior and her cursing at the refs which is not what all coaches do but which Dawn does regularly and gets away with, you could reasonably argue, led to the lack of fouls in the third quarter which set Geno off. As I said previously , there is no proof just circumstances. Post hoc, ergo proctor hoc. After this, therefore because of this. Listen, Geno apologized. It's over. I do think the larger issue has been and remains, the terrible quality of womens basketball officials in general.

I agree. As I indicated, Geno does exactly the same thing.

Just not the way she does it! That is my point. She cursed, screamed, hurled expletives. It's not acceptable.