Huh? Uconn fans, at least those that have been fans for 10 to 30 years have lived through ups and downs, wins and losses. NC's and no Nc's and yes FF or no FF's. That's not new to long time fans. \
Come on @Scoop you knew most of that. It was a good article but except the Steven thing, most of us suspected that. People of your know who, know what, know where; most likely knew or suspected most of what was in that piece. It may have just confirmed your thoughts. Never the less a nice find by Sluconn
Ya I still think if we had gotten Boston all would be good.
Geno obviously reads the wrong posters on the BY. Some of us have been saying these core 4 plus 1 could get to the Elite 8 and maybe beyond. Also Geno --said (paraphrasing) No we are not a bad team.
Mike Anthony: UConn women’s basketball team is at a strange intersection but in a fine spot
Geno Auriemma could have been talking to anyone — just himself, just me, the UConn fan base or the entire college basketball community, for that matter — when he stood up from a chair i…www.courant.com
I've not been happy with the Courant's coverage lately, but at least this Courant reporter actually interviewed the coach and has some information for us that we haven't heard before.
Geno Auriemma... said, “I think we’re going to be OK.”... "I don't think we're going to be bad."
“People are already in a panic and my feeling was like, ‘Yo, we have three starters back from a team that won 35 games,” Auriemma said. “They’re not going to be worse. They say, ‘You’re not going to win a national championship.’ Well, we didn’t win one this year, either. So what are you trying to say? Unless we win a national championship we have a dog ass team?”
I cannot fault Z, and you didn't either, for making a choice to leave. She was playing out of her former "natural" position. She was a great scoring machine, but not so as a defender. I'm not sure a player of her caliber wants to be in perpetual "learning" mode. Yes, learning never ends but some want to feel more like a senior than a frosh. Obviously, you or I will never know what went through her brain at that time. I wished her luck then and now. In no way do I disrespect her choice.
Yes you are right. Guess what I meant was all the complaints of poor recruiting or lack of recruiting bigs would be gone
I see @Scoop, and read and see RESPECT and intelligence, knowledge.Thanks for the nod sir. I appreciate it.
I believe if you read your post carefully, with some detachment, you will note the stern, "lecturing" quality of if. Now I don't usually get into discussions with a person who accuses others of doing what they themselves do, that generally leads to catastrophe, but my confusion gets the better of me. Since there is nothing in my post that refutes the statement you made, indeed most of it makes the same point, I am not sure what you are lecturing me about.
I think we might be just half way thru 20 recruiting. I think 21 could be great too. Who wouldn’t want to play with PB?If we can get Hanna Gusters to come aboard in the fall of 2020, I’d be just as happy as if we had signed Boston. I thought we had Boston for sure, just like I assumed Stevens was coming back that next year. I was not a happy camper when Boston decided to go in another direction, or when Stevens left.
No matter where she goes, I think Gusters is going to be a better player than Boston. Not impressed with Boston’s ability to run the floor and have doubts about her motor. Just MO.If we can get Hanna Gusters to come aboard in the fall of 2020, I’d be just as happy as if we had signed Boston. I thought we had Boston for sure, just like I assumed Stevens was coming back that next year. I was not a happy camper when Boston decided to go in another direction, or when Stevens left.
Making a leap here. Lecturing, as most things, is in the mind of the beholder. If stating facts is lecturing then I was lecturing. I was stating the facts of following this team for decades with the wins, losses, recruits or no recruits, FF'or no FF's. We who followed them are seeing nothing new in not getting specific recruits. When you think Uconn is down, wait they tend to always surprise us.
I didn't pound that nail with my head--that's my normal--HUh what did he say? I worked in a lot of psychiatric hospitals, or was committed--one never knows which.
Like you and others, I believe that UConn should have won the '18 semifinal. When Z came in in the 1st half, UConn outscored ND 30-17 for the rest of the half. I think she had 10 points and 7 rebounds. It was not the 4th quarter that Geno didn't play her, but the third, until there was 3:30 to go in the quarter. She scored 7 points in those remaining few minutes. She played the 4th quarter, but only 2 minutes in the OT. I really think that all was a factor in her not returning. Like Geno said, can't blame her, but not for the same reason that Geno thought.
Wow, again a home run. Lots to digest. Geno is ALMOST a constant. But he changes and modifies how he thinks what he does. I get a kick out of those who says OF ANYONE they changed their mind or process. Intelligent people CHANGE. So does Geno. Geno won't take transfers has been has been reported. No he doesn't until he needs them. Geno will never ever ever play the Vols--until it suits him. Geno is human. Geno shoots from the lip. His every word is NOT to be written in stone. He has modified his methods of handling recruits over the years, he's still tough but not AS tough. Too often long time fans get raked over the hot coals for stating the truths about Geno. If you listen to Geno over the years you will hear his views on many subjects and many times with opposite views. He's not a puppet or robot or clone, he has faults and foibles as all do. His ever decision is not perfection, but obviously better than his peers. Luckily he has surrounded himself with great women, stating with Kathy and Chris Dailey.Thanks. You're right, most long time fans were already aware of what was contained/mentioned in his piece. We get a lot of posts here from fans with varying degrees/amounts of WCBB knowledge and UConn WBB knowledge. We're getting new "converts" everyday. Some of them complain about thus and so, without knowing some of the underlying facts or dynamics about subject their complaint/concern.
For example - Look at the comments concerning UConn's recruiting the last 3 years. We ALL see the result, but some don't really understand the why or the how. Recruiting is an art of which the dynamics are constantly changing. You can't use the tactics or philosophy you used 10 years ago, or even 5 years ago.
The "elite" 18 year olds today don't think or perceive college basketball like they did 5-10 years ago. The game has changed, and you had better change with it, or get run over and "scooped" on coveted recruits by over zealous/aggressive coaches. Look at how Duke's men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski had to adjust to the "one-and-done" concept that has recently become pervasive in men's college basketball. He didn't like it, but he had to adapt if he wanted to remain competitive.
If you really consider yourself a WCBB fan, and especially a UConn WBB fan, you've got to spend some time here in the yard to expose yourself to information about this program that you will not find anywhere else. Listen and watch every radio and TV show that Geno is on If you want to know what and how he thinks. He'll tell you if you watch and listen.
That's why some of the older fans here know his tendencies and his thinking. They've been watching and listening to him for years. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. We have some posters here that are closely connected to the program. I can tell by what they write, and the vantage point of those comments. No names here, but they've posted comments that was not common knowledge. I haven't been keeping track, but most of them are batting 1.000. How they know, I don't know, but they know. If you're here long enough, you'll figure out who they are.
Everything I know and have learned about UConn WBB, I've learned in the yard. I'm here everyday. Those of us out here on the west coast get ZERO news/information about teams on the east coast. We've got 9 professional and major college teams here that get all of the media's attention and loyalty.
I don't do any other social media. I'm not addicted to facebook , twitter or instagram. I see poor souls everyday driving in their cars with the wheel in one hand, and their cell phone in the other (they can't put their phone down for a moment) reading and responding to text messages. You see it too. When you're at a stoplight, the odds are better than 50-50 the person in the car next to you will be looking down at their cell phone. SMH.My biggest fear is....... having one of them run in to me because they were paying more attention to their cell phone, than where they were going.
Sometimes I like to read articles like this one that reminds to stay far enough back from the action so that I can see the entire forest, and not just the few trees that may be obscuring my view.
But again, who in their right mind would change the starting lineup of a team that had went the season undefeated and was up by 7 at half time???? One would have to be an idiot to do that.
Would also have allowed Collier to play small forward instead for forcing her to guard someone 2-4" taller and 20+ lbs heavier. She did ok but would have been even more dominate.
because the starting lineup fell way behind in the first half; then Z came in. maybe not start her, but then keep her out that long? I don't think so, and I don't think she did either.
poor Geno.
I could see bringing her in earlier. But anyone who changed that starting lineup should be fired immediately.
yes, she should have been in earlier( it's called going with the hot hand). she easily could have made the difference. then she only played 2 minutes in the OT. all head scratching.