Tara, Walz, Geno

[NY Fan]

Threads like this make me question what I'm doing w/my life.

Why does Geno's send off to the seniors need to be overtly public for him to be deemed a caring and respectable coach? None of us has any idea what goes on when there are no cameras. If any of you do I'd love to hear it. If he was so bad at this why do his former players love him? Why do his former players come back? Why?

Very simple, publicly when the cameras are rolling is when high school potential recruits and their parents get impressions which impact recruiting. And recruiting is as critical as ever.
It is exasperating to have one's motives doubted. I love Geno (and Chris Dailey) and all he/they has accomplished. FYI - When making a contribution to UConn WBB I wrote to Geno (and have indicated on the BY) that a high point for me was watching his remarks after Stewie's last championship game pointing to the alums in the stands and they blowing kisses at him.

Kara Wolters is paid by SNY to be objective the SAME way Rebecca Lobo is paid by ESPN to be objective. Yes, deep down they're part of the Husky family, but on camera they are paid to do a job. And they both do it well.

This forum, at times, looks for any crack in any open door to criticize (yes you're allowed to do so) Geno and the program.

 

[NY Fan]

You and I seem to use different logical filters. Allow me to illustrate.

“[…] which after a less than spectacular performance might surely benefit from a public as opposed to a private testimonial.”

The very public performance was no doubt seen by WNBA and other professional teams' decision makers. EV was visibly playing hurt. Geno told us that Liv was playing hurt. If there were mitigating factors for CW's performance, I trust Geno would have let us know.

You think sweet words of endorsement from Geno would change
perceptions? He relied on these three all season. Is that not a very public endorsement?

I believe in logic, so if he relied on these 3 all season, why not say something publicly after their last game performance and end on a positive note?

“I guess we'll have to wait and see after the WNBA draft.”

You have set up a thoroughly bogus scenario, unsupported by any facts, in which something Geno did or didn't do, might or might not have said, will be—within the confines of your own head—a causative factor in the draft outcome for these three fine young women. To quote my British spouse, when faced with such utter nonsense, “Bollocks!”

You sort of have me there, I should not have linked to the WNBA draft. As for your British spouse, feel free to share with her that I spent 6 of the most miserable years of my life in an English boarding school!

 

[NY Fan]

I always love to know why someone dislikes a post. I think when you press the dislike button it should force you to state why. JMO

Totally agree!

 

[Linart]

Personally I hate watching any losing team's press conference and rarely watch any of them. The losing players, some only teenagers, are forced to sit on a dais with red eyes and choke out what went wrong. The coach, OK. He's paid to do it. To me, it seems almost cruel to have them sit there on national television while there're asked inane questions like, "what will the locker room be like?"

 

[JBK]

UConn has made it to 14 consecutive final fours. Talk about a spoiled fan base.

Yup.
The fans ???? Ask the players and Geno if they are pleased with 2nd place ...
No way - their greatness has made us all spoiled and would love to keep it that way

 

[npignatjr]

That definitely is NOT the mantra. Ask Tina Charles. This thread needs to be put to bed!

12 years ago. Some different staff.

 

[Littlemin]

I always love to know why someone dislikes a post. I think when you press the dislike button it should force you to state why. JMO

Amen to that!!! I get a fair amount of dislikes, which is more than fine because I am opinionated, but never an explanation or counter argument/position.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Yup.
The fans ???? Ask the players and Geno if they are pleased with 2nd place ...
No way - their greatness has made us all spoiled and would love to keep it that way

UConn has been dominate for years. Now it’s South Carolina’s turn to carry the mantel for WCBB. More of the good players are going to other programs which is good for the sport. Hopefully it will become more like the mens game where more teams have a chance to win the championship every year and there are more upsets.

 

[mbr33ct]

Amen to that!!! I get a fair amount of dislikes, which is more than fine because I am opinionated, but never an explanation or counter argument/position.

...but it's ok if the "likes" do not come with an explanation?

 

[Littlemin]

...but it's ok if the "likes" do not come with an explanation?

I assume “likes“ are an acknowledgement of sorts of agreement.
Dislikes, on the other hand, I interpret as reflections of disagreement which could be for various unknown reasons. So being privy to those reasons could lead to some “mature, respectful” discussion of legitimate differences of opinion. I have strong opinions and share them, that does not mean that I don’t respect others having differing thoughts.

 

[Brown Eyed]

Recently a close friend of mine lost a championship chess match in Chicago, and I laughed. Does this make me a bad person too?
B&C

 

[Zanzman]

...but it's ok if the "likes" do not come with an explanation?

I was asking the same ?

 

[Zanzman]

I never explain my dislikes cause my mouth gets me in a lot of trouble but o find it funny when I give a dislike the petty people that will give me several dislikes just cause their nose is bent out of shape.of course several of those people have me on ignore now

 

[HuskyNan]

Totally agree!

It means someone disagrees with you.

 

[HuskyNan]

I never explain my dislikes cause my mouth gets me in a lot of trouble but o find it funny when I give a dislike the petty people that will give me several dislikes just cause their nose is bent out of shape.of course several of those people have me on ignore now

It would be a boring world indeed if everyone agreed all the time

 

[NY Fan]

It means someone disagrees with you.

Huh?

 

[Sifaka]

Huh?

Someone likes what you have posted = they agree with your statement(s)

Somebody gives your comment a dislike = The reader disagrees with what you have written.

Most people, it seems, reserve dislikes for strenuous disagreement.

 

[GoUconn7961]

It would be a boring world indeed if everyone agreed all the time

Who said anything about always agreeing with one another? I didn’t.

 

[HuskyNan]

Who said anything about always agreeing with one another? I didn’t.

?? I was replying to @Zanzman

 

[GoUconn7961]

?? I was replying to @Zanzman

Sorry. Thought you were quoting my post. Oops. At least you didn’t just press the dislike button. Lol

 

[Zanzman]

?? I was replying to @Zanzman

I didn’t say I was for always agreeing I figured the dislike button was safer than being blunt like I have a habit of being

 

[HuskyNan]

I didn’t say I was for always agreeing I figured the dislike button was safer than being blunt like I have a habit of being

I was agreeing with you

 

[Zanzman]

I was agreeing with you

Wasn’t sure but did read that way

 

[Cuango]

Recently a close friend of mine lost a championship chess match in Chicago, and I laughed. Does this make me a bad person too?
B&C

Perhaps not, but it does make others wonder why you would laugh at the misfortune of a close friend?

 

[Bigboote]

Back to the original subject, another thing to consider is that Walz is quite a bit younger than Geno (and Tara). I remember 25 years ago talking to a teacher who was of the opinion that you should never say that someone is wrong (she'd recently been at a training session where that had been said). Including in subjects like math. The suggestion was that a person/student wasn't wrong, just maybe had an interesting take..

This was around the same time Walz was cutting his teeth as a coach, but almost two decades after Geno had begun coaching. In addition to Jeff seeming to have a more euthymic personality, he also learned methods when societal norms had evolved to be much more positive than than when Geno was learning. Also recall Geno 20 years ago; his approach has mellowed quite a bit, but still has a long way to go before he reaches Walz territory.

 

[hayman522]

After Louisville's loss to SC, I saw Walz embracing and comforting Engstler, and in the Presser gave her a heartfelt sendoff. I've never seen this side of him before, and must admit to a better appreciation and understanding of his success.

Tara is Tara - one of the all-time greats - and after the loss in which her team played well below potential, and in no small part due to UConn defense, she gave a shout-out to her graduating seniors, especially to Lexie Hull who had uncharacteristically low scoring success and more turnovers. I believe she said she wouldn't trade Lexie for any other player anywhere!

Geno, without a doubt in my mind the GOAT, came a distant 3rd among the three in his post SC Presser. I don't recall hearing any sendoff for Evina, Christyn, or Liv. If for no other reason, he surely knows they have WBB and other pro BB expectations. What positive words did he say for their futures? If I missed it, I'll be ready to apologize. No, I haven't won 11 championships, but as reasonably knowledgeable about human nature, I can't see how this helps future recruiting. While I read CW saying Geno "broke her" (not sure of the context), that surely doesn't help.

Add to it Kara Walters critique, as discussed in another thread, and regardless how right her views might be, how is it helpful to UConn WBB? This is unexpectedly disappointing!

I think we are viewing Kara Wolters critique through todays politically correct lens. 10 years ago nobody would have blinked an eye. We are entirely to sensitive today any kind of criticism not allowed. It borders on rediculous you can't please everyone. I appreciate people who say what they feel even if I do not agree.

 

[NY Fan]

Someone likes what you have posted = they agree with your statement(s)

Somebody gives your comment a dislike = The reader disagrees with what you have written.

Most people, it seems, reserve dislikes for strenuous disagreement.

Bollocks.

 

[Brown Eyed]

Perhaps not, but it does make others wonder why you would laugh at the misfortune of a close friend?

It was sarcasm. Just like many of these post criticizing Geno for not hugging and consoling his players

 

[Redux]

I suspect, strongly, that if Geno wanted to be perfectly honest, he would have said something like: these very talented and hard-working players put in every bit of effort they could, but they simply weren't able to give to the team, consistently,
what I thought they were capable of.

That would have been regarded as taking a shot. He was probably too sick to finesse his way around it (probably using self-depreciation) so he just didn't go there

I had resolved not to be in the least bit negative about the farewells, because I love the effort these three put in, the obstacles they overcame and the great performances they gave at times. But if Geno praises every very good UConn player as if they were great, it demeans what he has to say about the giants. And core of the Geno schtick (often not obvious within the blarney) is truth. Sorry.