"The Grind Does Not Stop" Pheesa and Megan

[OldAlum]

Hmmm, not playing for me. Click on Pheesa and you can get it from her Twitter account.

 

[augustaTC]

God bless Pheesa for bringing Megan with her on this program. And props to MW for the willingness to keep learning & working.

 

[oldude]

I am reminded how many BY’ers were fretting over MW’s state of mind after her up and down freshman year, fearing that Geno had somehow demotivated her.

Yessiree, Megan certainly appears to be struggling with her motivation this off season.....

 

[MilfordHusky]

Meg picked a good person to hang out with and emulate. Alex has done some good things for Pheesa and will do the same for Megan. On Pheesa's IG account, Alex called Megan "a beast." I'm confident that Meg will make a nice sophomore leap.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I am reminded how many BY’ers were fretting over MW’s state of mind after her up and down freshman year, fearing that Geno had somehow demotivated her.

Yessiree, Megan certainly appears to be struggling with her motivation this off season.....

we can go back over post all summer long and pick out who said stuff that didn't pan out

 

[oldude]

we can go back over post all summer long and pick out who said stuff that didn't pan out

Yes we could. But it’s one thing to suggest, for instance, that Z would start over Crystal, as I once did, which is nothing more than harmless speculation. It’s quite another thing to speculate that MW was unhappy and might consider transferring, which a number of BY posters suggested at several points throughout the season.

The speculation surrounding MW’s state of mind was unnecessary and unfair to a young lady who is a tremendous competitor, and was always more likely to buckle down and work incredibly hard to become the player we all expected her to be when she came to Storrs.

 

[paisan]

I believe most by ers said that he would have gotten more out of his freshmen if they got more game time. Also that the starters would not be so worn out by tournament time. Most probably still believe that.

 

[JS]

It’s quite another thing to speculate that MW was unhappy and might consider transferring, which a number of BY posters suggested at several points throughout the season.

Quite another thing that's against BY Rules and wouldn't have lasted past first sight by a moderator.

 

[augustaTC]

I believe most by ers said that he would have gotten more out of his freshmen if they got more game time. Also that the starters would not be so worn out by tournament time. Most probably still believe that.

Drivel & speak for yourself.

 

[oldude]

Quite another thing that's against BY Rules and wouldn't have lasted past first sight by a moderator.

Nevertheless, there were numerous posts intimating such consequences while implying that Geno was somehow breaking MW's spirit, despite 30+ years of evidence to the contrary that Geno, CD, et al knew more about motivating and developing players than just about any coaching staff on the planet.

 

[JS]

I believe most by ers said that he would have gotten more out of his freshmen if they got more game time. Also that the starters would not be so worn out by tournament time. Most probably still believe that.

"Most?" I don't believe that's accurate.

Some said that. Most said some variation of:

1. You earn your playing time in practice.

and/or the more aggressive . . .​

2. He knows what he's doing. How many national championship teams have you coached?

 

[Charliebball]

Yes we could. But it’s one thing to suggest, for instance, that Z would start over Crystal, as I once did, which is nothing more than harmless speculation. It’s quite another thing to speculate that MW was unhappy and might consider transferring, which a number of BY posters suggested at several points throughout the season.

The speculation surrounding MW’s state of mind was unnecessary and unfair to a young lady who is a tremendous competitor, and was always more likely to buckle down and work incredibly hard to become the player we all expected her to be when she came to Storrs.

I for one said that MW's lack of consistent playing time led to her inconsistency during the season and would in the end come back to haunt UConn with such a limited bench...........Geno so much as admitted that he was mistaken in not subbing for KLS and others in the ND game where foul trouble and fatigue were rampant and yet MW didn't get a sniff.........I know I'll get stick for it but I'll stand by that same thought today................I never suggested she would transfer but that it might effect future recruiting.........waiting to see if that turns out to be the case..........

 

[JS]

we can go back over post all summer long and pick out who said stuff that didn't pan out

Let's do.

 

[Charliebball]

Yes we could. But it’s one thing to suggest, for instance, that Z would start over Crystal, as I once did, which is nothing more than harmless speculation. It’s quite another thing to speculate that MW was unhappy and might consider transferring, which a number of BY posters suggested at several points throughout the season.

The speculation surrounding MW’s state of mind was unnecessary and unfair to a young lady who is a tremendous competitor, and was always more likely to buckle down and work incredibly hard to become the player we all expected her to be when she came to Storrs.

Not trying to be a wise guy but judging by her lack of playing time couldn't you reverse that and say she was not a tremendous competitor nor an incredibly hard worker otherwise she would have played more minutes? Or was it something else about her game that Geno found lacking?

 

[oldude]

I for one said that MW's lack of consistent playing time led to her inconsistency during the season and would in the end come back to haunt UConn with such a limited bench......Geno so much as admitted that he was mistaken in not subbing for KLS and others in the ND game where foul trouble and fatigue were rampant and yet MW didn't get a sniff....I know I'll get stick for it but I'll stand by that same thought today......I never suggested she would transfer but that it might effect future recruiting....waiting to see if that turns out to be the case.....

While I disagree with your assessment, I take no issue with your right to express that view. My issue was with a number of posters who continually lambasted Geno for being mean and insensitive to the fragile emotional state of a freshman, implying that dire consequences would result.

Geno has always said that the worst thing that could happen is for a player to spend 4 years at UConn and feel they didn’t reach their potential. MW is a fierce competitor with enormous potential. Geno knew exactly what he was doing with MW, and what’s more, MW knows exactly why she didn’t play more this past season. To her credit, she’s going to see to it that never happens again. That’s the stuff of champions.

 

[CocoHusky]

Not trying to be a wise guy but judging by her lack of playing time couldn't you reverse that and say she was not a tremendous competitor nor an incredibly hard worker otherwise she would have played more minutes? Or was it something else about her game that Geno found lacking?

Lol!

 

[oldude]

Not trying to be a wise guy but judging by her lack of playing time couldn't you reverse that and say she was not a tremendous competitor nor an incredibly hard worker otherwise she would have played more minutes? Or was it something else about her game that Geno found lacking?

The best explanation for MW’s inconsistency is the most logical one. She was a freshman. Mo, Gabby, Crystal and countless other players overcame that particular affliction. I have no doubt MW will as well.

 

[meyers7]

Not trying to be a wise guy but judging by her lack of playing time couldn't you reverse that and say she was not a tremendous competitor nor an incredibly hard worker otherwise she would have played more minutes? Or was it something else about her game that Geno found lacking?

Personally, with no inside information, I think it was something else.

 

[msf22b]

"Most?" I don't believe that's accurate.

Some said that. Most said some variation of:

1. You earn your playing time in practice.

and/or the more aggressive . . .​

2. He knows what he's doing. How many national championship teams have you coached?

I dimly recall a logic course I took at Hunter College in the early 70's..sort of continuing ed for me...restless..

I think the "how many national championships argument" is a variation of the fallacy of (authority?) perhaps an expert can help me here.
like when old movie actor tells you to purchase a reverse mortgage.

That argument at the very least is a discussion ender and should be banned from the board...

Geno is a genius, has been the most remarkable of coaches with a record to prove it. but he is not infallible and probably is more than a little fixed in his ways as "times they are a-changin."

He had trouble with Stewie in her freshman season and didn't "get" Moriah until the following year.

This season's freshman class was pretty much a total bust...all their fault? Impossible to quantify.

And some incidents over the years...the famous Christmas photo incident...drove me batty; how could he be so insensitive?

At the very least, for initiates, it is very difficult to understand both the system and the effort required to perform in it. May very well go against everything they had been previously taught.

Both Notre Dame and Miss. State won, when a player or two who could one-on-one (like men's pro BB), manufacture their own shots; did just that.

Such individual style of play is not often found or (seemingly) encouraged here.
Sure, Dee, Maya were that sort. But it's not really the style of play that seems to be cherished... and for me is what I find so attractive about the team.

A dilema for sure.

But also... for sure...Geno is a human, with faults, prejudices, predilections, whatever.

This upcoming season will be telling; lot's of talent, perhaps, not all the required pieces...especially if he keeps his usual maxim of freshman should be seen and not heard.

I've been thinking that perhaps this season's team will struggle in big games...

But what do I know?

 

[Geew1992]

Meg looks great. Starting to chisel out. Losing weight, gaining muscle

 

[MilfordHusky]

Meg looks great. Starting to chisel out. Losing weight, gaining muscle

Meg looks good, but I didn’t think she looked too shabby last season.

 

[Geew1992]

Meg looks good, but I didn’t think she looked too shabby last season.

I’m not saying that. Shoot Crystal looked great her freshman year, but still has room to improve her body this year

 

[Bills Fan]

I know not being part of the Geno is god crowd tends to draw extreme anger from many of you, but I agree with Charlie that some of Geno's personal and public ridicule of the freshman class last year might have more of an effect on recruiting than on the 3 remaining frosh. I commend MW for, at least at this point, sticking with the program and working so hard with Pheesa. Hopefully Megan can give us a lot of what Gabby did the last couple of years. I think MW's ceiling might actually be higher than Gabby's.

With regard to the future recruiting issue, it is too early to form any solid opinion, HOWEVER, could Geno's public criticisms, have been a factor in us losing next years' top recruit to ND and will that loss have any carryover to recruiting losses (e.g. PB and Fudd) in future years? In spite of all the "Don't worry, be happy" talk after losing SB, I think she was our #1 target for the 2019 class and would have been a perfect replacement for KLS. IF we land Jones it might work out ok, but the odds of getting a West Coast player, especially as the competition out West is getting tougher (Oregon and Or St.), are longer than the odds of landing a star player from Virginia.

The loss of SB can have a significant impact on the next two recruiting years. Only time will tell if that works out to be the case. What I do know is that our rival, ND, is now the #1 team coming into next year and we, at this point, do not have replacements lined up for the loss next year of KLS and NC.

Sorry for the not-so-happy talk, but every once in a while I think The Boneyard needs an injection of reality.

 

[CocoHusky]

I dimly recall a logic course I took at Hunter College in the early 70's..sort of continuing ed for me...restless..
I think the "how many national championships argument" is a variation of the fallacy of (authority?) perhaps an expert can help me here.
like when old movie actor tells you to purchase a reverse mortgage.
That argument at the very least is a discussion ender and should be banned from the board...
Geno is a genius, has been the most remarkable of coaches with a record to prove it. but he is not infallible and probably is more than a little fixed in his ways as "times they are a-changin."
He had trouble with Stewie in her freshman season and didn't "get" Moriah until the following year.
This season's freshman class was pretty much a total bust...all their fault? Impossible to quantify.
And some incidents over the years...the famous Christmas photo incident...drove me batty; how could he be so insensitive?
At the very least, for initiates, it is very difficult to understand both the system and the effort required to perform in it. May very well go against everything they had been previously taught.
Both Notre Dame and Miss. State won, when a player or two who could one-on-one (like men's pro BB), manufacture their own shots; did just that.
Such individual style of play is not often found or (seemingly) encouraged here.
Sure, Dee, Maya were that sort. But it's not really the style of play that seems to be cherished... and for me is what I find so attractive about the team.
A dilema for sure.
But also... for sure...Geno is a human, with faults, prejudices, predilections, whatever.
This upcoming season will be telling; lot's of talent, perhaps, not all the required pieces...especially if he keeps his usual maxim of freshman should be seen and not heard.
I've been thinking that perhaps this season's team will struggle in big games...
But what do I know?

Being fixed in his ways is what makes Geno. Geno lives by a set of principles that are unchanged since the time he was coaching JV basketball a life time ago.
The times may be a changin but Geno will retire before he compromises on ANY of those core principles. One of those core principles is that individual talent, regardless of how great, MUST fit within a broader stronger TEAM framework. One of Geno's maxim is surely not that "Freshmen should be seen and not heard". As condescending as that statement was, I'm give you a pass and suggest that you google Kia Nurse.
Regarding UCONN not having players to "manufacture their own shots" and specific to Mississippi State, ND and might as well throw in Amber Orange of Stanford shots in there also- THESE WERE NOT one on one basketball plays. These were well designed TEAM basketball plays that any UCONN starter in the past five years was capable of executing. You name any UCONN starter since the 2013 season and I can point out a game where that starter make a clutch shot to help UCONN win a game. UCONN does not have to start looking for a different type of recruit or make any drastic changes to the offensive or defensive system.

 

[CocoHusky]

With regard to the future recruiting issue, it is too early to form any solid opinion

Apparently not for you though right?

The loss of SB can have a significant impact on the next two recruiting years.

 

[CocoHusky]

IF we land Jones it might work out ok, but the odds of getting a West Coast player, especially as the competition out West is getting tougher (Oregon and Or St.), are longer than the odds of landing a star player from Virginia.

How do you figure that? KLS is from Cali and Megan Walker is from Va. The odds of UCONN landing the number one player are the same even if the player was from say.....Arkansas?

 

[oldude]

I know not being part of the Geno is god crowd tends to draw extreme anger from many of you, but I agree with Charlie that some of Geno's personal and public ridicule of the freshman class last year might have more of an effect on recruiting than on the 3 remaining frosh. I commend MW for, at least at this point, sticking with the program and working so hard with Pheesa. Hopefully Megan can give us a lot of what Gabby did the last couple of years. I think MW's ceiling might actually be higher than Gabby's.

With regard to the future recruiting issue, it is too early to form any solid opinion, HOWEVER, could Geno's public criticisms, have been a factor in us losing next years' top recruit to ND and will that loss have any carryover to recruiting losses (e.g. PB and Fudd) in future years? In spite of all the "Don't worry, be happy" talk after losing SB, I think she was our #1 target for the 2019 class and would have been a perfect replacement for KLS. IF we land Jones it might work out ok, but the odds of getting a West Coast player, especially as the competition out West is getting tougher (Oregon and Or St.), are longer than the odds of landing a star player from Virginia.

The loss of SB can have a significant impact on the next two recruiting years. Only time will tell if that works out to be the case. What I do know is that our rival, ND, is now the #1 team coming into next year and we, at this point, do not have replacements lined up for the loss next year of KLS and NC.

Sorry for the not-so-happy talk, but every once in a while I think The Boneyard needs an injection of reality.

There’s a lot to unpack in your post, but clearly one major inaccuracy is that UConn “lost SB to ND.” Perhaps you missed the handful of posts from the mysterious “Dolphin” likely a friend or family member, who indicated that UConn’s offer had been pulled (perhaps never really extended) and accurately predicted that SB would sign with ND. This information was supported by long time beat reporter John Adamec who indicated that SB had not been offered.

As for Geno’s comments, there are numerous examples of Geno critizing players for 30 years, and it hasn’t impacted recruiting so far. Fortunately, high school girls don’t hang on Geno’s every word like all of us here on the BY.

 

[meyers7]

I know not being part of the Geno is god crowd tends to draw extreme anger from many of you, but I agree with Charlie that some of Geno's personal and public ridicule of the freshman class last year might have more of an effect on recruiting than on the 3 remaining frosh. I commend MW for, at least at this point, sticking with the program and working so hard with Pheesa. Hopefully Megan can give us a lot of what Gabby did the last couple of years. I think MW's ceiling might actually be higher than Gabby's.

I don't think Walker will match Williams defensively. However, I think she may end up being better offensively, due to being a better overall shooter.

With regard to the future recruiting issue, it is too early to form any solid opinion, HOWEVER, could Geno's public criticisms, have been a factor in us losing next years' top recruit to ND and will that loss have any carryover to recruiting losses (e.g. PB and Fudd) in future years? In spite of all the "Don't worry, be happy" talk after losing SB, I think she was our #1 target for the 2019 class and would have been a perfect replacement for KLS. IF we land Jones it might work out ok, but the odds of getting a West Coast player, especially as the competition out West is getting tougher (Oregon and Or St.), are longer than the odds of landing a star player from Virginia.

The loss of SB can have a significant impact on the next two recruiting years. Only time will tell if that works out to be the case. What I do know is that our rival, ND, is now the #1 team coming into next year and we, at this point, do not have replacements lined up for the loss next year of KLS and NC.

Sorry for the not-so-happy talk, but every once in a while I think The Boneyard needs an injection of reality.

Lot's of people need injections of reality. Geno has been publicly criticizing players for years. Hasn't seemed to affect recruiting all that much. According to many we get all the best players. And have for years. Why do you think it would change THIS year?

Why do you think Brunelle was our #1 target? There has been quite a bit of talk on here that UCONN actually backed off of her?? How accurate that is, is up for debate, but it didn't seem like UCONN was going out of it's way in recruiting her at the end. They seemed, from reports, to be spending more time on other recruits. Which to me, would make it seem like she was not the #1 target.

Also down recruiting years are usually followed by outstanding recruiting years. For example after the Faris year, we brought in Dolson/Hartley/Walker/Engeln/Johnson. Followed by KML/Banks/Stokes and then Stewart/Jefferson/Tuck (6 AA's in 3 years). After the Chong year, we brought in Williams/Nurse/Ekmark/Edwards and then KLS/Collier/Boykin (3 AA's and a 4 year starter). Dangerfield class wasn't down, but not great, but has been followed by Walker/Coombs/AEH/Hunter and now Williams/ONO. So, excuse me if I'm not too worried about recruiting for 2019/2020/2021. UCONN doesn't have too many down years and if they do have one, it's usually followed up by some pretty good recruits.

It's sometimes harder to bring players cross country, but that's always been the case. However as programs go, UCONN is probably better than most at doing just that. We've gotten recruits from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California (7), Colorado, Florida, Georgia (5), Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, along with Canada, Croatia, New Zealand, Nigeria, and Russia. We do ok. Distance doesn't seem to be that big of deal.

Reality is, people can chillax. It's gonna be ok.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Geno being critical of last year’s freshmen did not chase away Sam Brunelle. Coach was a little more vocal and harsh than I was comfortable with, though.

On another point, I think Gabby is a better athlete and defender than Megan, but Meg is the better basketball player at the same stage of her career (partly due to Gabby’s lost time because of injuries). That said, Meg has an elite combination of size, speed, length, and hops.

 

[Carnac]

Meg picked a good person to hang out with and emulate. Alex has done some good things for Pheesa and will do the same for Megan. On Pheesa's IG account, Alex called Megan "a beast." I'm confident that Meg will make a nice sophomore leap.

Meg picked a good person to hang out with and emulate. Milford, you just posted the "thought of the day"!!! There's an old saying: "Who you run with says who you are". Personally, I never had any doubts that Megan would blossom into the elite player she's projected to be. Because of Geno's rigorous indoctrination and conditioning program, plus the fact that he himself says that very few freshmen come in, adapt and learn his system right away. I'm just following Geno's lead. In Geno I trust!!!

Because of this, I give all of the freshmen a pass their first year, but I also expect them all to make that sophomore leap the following summer. If one or two "get it" early on, so much the better. When was the last time Geno brought in a freshman that he expected and needed to contribute early and often their freshman year? Yes, Stewie did, but she had her share of challenges, failures, disappointments and set backs along with hitting the wall mid-season. She finished strong, and contributed heavily down the stretch in UConn winning the championship that year. How many "Stewies" have come through the program in the last 20 years?

Megan Walker will be the elite player we all expect her to be. I saw things in her last season that I did not see in the other freshmen. If she continues to hang and train with Collier this summer, she will be ready to begin the season in every way. From a physical as well as a mental aspect. I'm really not concerned about Walker. I think from this point forward, she will be as good as advertised. My concern is about the two incoming freshmen. Because right now, they're unknowns. They're wild cards. We have no idea how long it will take them to adjust to playing at this level, or how much/little they will help the team this coming season.

I think most will agree that anything they can contribute will be needed. Depth will be a concern this coming season. Presently, there are 11 players on UConn's roster. Geno needs at least 4 reserves from last season to step up this year and fill the shoes left by the departed seniors. ALL of the returning reserves need to make that leap THIS summer!!!. There is no room for a player on this 2018-2019 team that has not gotten "it" yet, and that Geno does not trust. When the referee tosses the ball up to begin that first exhibition game in early November, EVERYONE must be locked in, focused and ready to play.