The Monster

[my2cents]

In the history of team sports, Geno and CD's legacy will be that UCONN women's basketball under them, is the most successful and winningest program of all time, in any sport. However, along with this unparalleled success, Geno has created a "Monster".
The Monster is the creation of a level of expectations that are so high, that for any current team it's almost impossible to reach AND impossible to exceed.

When our team doesn't match the expectations, it leads to disappointment and some negativity.
In his post Villanova presser, Geno stated that "losing is misery, and winning is a relief." The joy from winning is harder and harder to achieve, it's expected. Big East regular season champ. Expected. BET champ, expected. The Monster.

The Monster shows up in 100% coverage of the program. Our current team is never compared to their peers. (other teams). They are compared to the past UCONN teams that were the best in the history of WCBB. These undefeated, National championship teams were filled with All-Americans and future Hall of Famers. They pretty much destroyed everyone they played. Being compared to those standards, is not fair and impossible to duplicate. So you hear about our 'struggles' this year. We have struggled to a NET #2 ranking and maybe a #2 seed in the tournament. We have struggled to a 29-5 record and Big East championships. We really have struggled. The Monster.

For spoiled fans, and I include myself; winning is easy and losing should never happen. When we do win, we need to win every quarter. When we play our end of bench players, they need to match the other teams starters that are still in the game. If we win by 10 points, it should have been 20. If we win by 20, it should have been 30. ( and so on). We never think the other teams are any good and capable of winning the game. The Monster.

For the media, when we lose a game, it becomes major news and the biggest upsets ever, they will write. When we lost a conference game last year, for the first time in a ridiculous 8 year span, the emphasis was on how we lost. This year, we lost two whole games in a row, after an equally crazy 30 year span. The emphasis again was on the poor play of our team and not the crazy unmatched streak. The Monster.

For the coaches , they have to deal with the monster too. After the Xavier game, which felt like a loss to them. Jamelle had to remind Geno that we WON the game and to hold any negative comments until the next day. Teams and players are not perfect and they are never going to be. Geno implied last night that as he ages and mellows he is going to handle the Monster better moving forward.

As we had into the Tournament, we should understand the monster, and come to appreciate the effort, improvement and success this team has already had under difficult circumstances.

 

[#1florida]

In the history of team sports, Geno and CD's legacy will be that UCONN women's basketball under them, is the most successful and winningest program of all time, in any sport. However, along with this unparalleled success, Geno has created a "Monster".
The Monster is the creation of a level of expectations that are so high, that for any current team it's almost impossible to reach AND impossible to exceed.

When our team doesn't match the expectations, it leads to disappointment and some negativity.
In his post Villanova presser, Geno stated that "losing is misery, and winning is a relief." The joy from winning is harder and harder to achieve, it's expected. Big East regular season champ. Expected. BET champ, expected. The Monster.

The Monster shows up in 100% coverage of the program. Our current team is never compared to their peers. (other teams). They are compared to the past UCONN teams that were the best in the history of WCBB. These undefeated, National championship teams were filled with All-Americans and future Hall of Famers. They pretty much destroyed everyone they played. Being compared to those standards, is not fair and impossible to duplicate. So you hear about our 'struggles' this year. We have struggled to a NET #2 ranking and maybe a #2 seed in the tournament. We have struggled to a 29-5 record and Big East championships. We really have struggled. The Monster.

For spoiled fans, and I include myself; winning is easy and losing should never happen. When we do win, we need to win every quarter. When we play our end of bench players, they need to match the other teams starters that are still in the game. If we win by 10 points, it should have been 20. If we win by 20, it should have been 30. ( and so on). We never think the other teams are any good and capable of winning the game. The Monster.

For the media, when we lose a game, it becomes major news and the biggest upsets ever, they will write. When we lost a conference game last year, for the first time in a ridiculous 8 year span, the emphasis was on how we lost. This year, we lost two whole games in a row, after an equally crazy 30 year span. The emphasis again was on the poor play of our team and not the crazy unmatched streak. The Monster.

For the coaches , they have to deal with the monster too. After the Xavier game, which felt like a loss to them. Jamelle had to remind Geno that we WON the game and to hold any negative comments until the next day. Teams and players are not perfect and they are never going to be. Geno implied last night that as he ages and mellows he is going to handle the Monster better moving forward.

As we had into the Tournament, we should understand the monster, and come to appreciate the effort, improvement and success this team has already had under difficult circumstances.

This is a great article. Truly, great.

 

[Rowdy831]

Very insightful and accurate opinions. As a coach I always wanted our team to execute 100% of the easy plays which might be making a layup or boxing out a player in basketball. The thing about UCONN is they have always been the best at this which gives them a huge advantage when it comes to big games. When you are so fundamentally sound you can beat any team at your level and many that might have better players but aren't as detailed. With UCONN they often have both great players and the attention to detail which usually means they will at least compete for a championship.

How is the relevant this year? I don't think Geno and the coaches had the practice time to fine tune the players like they usually would and that was a point of frustration for Geno and the fans. Things we weren't use to seeing on the floor were happening and people were quick to give a comment or two to get them back on track.

This weekend they looked like that well oiled machine again. I think that is why you saw so many smiles on the court and the extra pep in their step. The team is finally getting the time to prepare properly and the results were impressive. Now maybe us spoiled fans can sit back and enjoy the final 6 games of the season.

 

[topogigio]

In the history of team sports, Geno and CD's legacy will be that UCONN women's basketball under them, is the most successful and winningest program of all time, in any sport. However, along with this unparalleled success, Geno has created a "Monster".
The Monster is the creation of a level of expectations that are so high, that for any current team it's almost impossible to reach AND impossible to exceed.

When our team doesn't match the expectations, it leads to disappointment and some negativity.
In his post Villanova presser, Geno stated that "losing is misery, and winning is a relief." The joy from winning is harder and harder to achieve, it's expected. Big East regular season champ. Expected. BET champ, expected. The Monster.

The Monster shows up in 100% coverage of the program. Our current team is never compared to their peers. (other teams). They are compared to the past UCONN teams that were the best in the history of WCBB. These undefeated, National championship teams were filled with All-Americans and future Hall of Famers. They pretty much destroyed everyone they played. Being compared to those standards, is not fair and impossible to duplicate. So you hear about our 'struggles' this year. We have struggled to a NET #2 ranking and maybe a #2 seed in the tournament. We have struggled to a 29-5 record and Big East championships. We really have struggled. The Monster.

For spoiled fans, and I include myself; winning is easy and losing should never happen. When we do win, we need to win every quarter. When we play our end of bench players, they need to match the other teams starters that are still in the game. If we win by 10 points, it should have been 20. If we win by 20, it should have been 30. ( and so on). We never think the other teams are any good and capable of winning the game. The Monster.

For the media, when we lose a game, it becomes major news and the biggest upsets ever, they will write. When we lost a conference game last year, for the first time in a ridiculous 8 year span, the emphasis was on how we lost. This year, we lost two whole games in a row, after an equally crazy 30 year span. The emphasis again was on the poor play of our team and not the crazy unmatched streak. The Monster.

For the coaches , they have to deal with the monster too. After the Xavier game, which felt like a loss to them. Jamelle had to remind Geno that we WON the game and to hold any negative comments until the next day. Teams and players are not perfect and they are never going to be. Geno implied last night that as he ages and mellows he is going to handle the Monster better moving forward.

As we had into the Tournament, we should understand the monster, and come to appreciate the effort, improvement and success this team has already had under difficult circumstances.

Great post! I’m guilty as charged!

 

[TCC Kid]

In the history of team sports, Geno and CD's legacy will be that UCONN women's basketball under them, is the most successful and winningest program of all time, in any sport. However, along with this unparalleled success, Geno has created a "Monster".
The Monster is the creation of a level of expectations that are so high, that for any current team it's almost impossible to reach AND impossible to exceed.

When our team doesn't match the expectations, it leads to disappointment and some negativity.
In his post Villanova presser, Geno stated that "losing is misery, and winning is a relief." The joy from winning is harder and harder to achieve, it's expected. Big East regular season champ. Expected. BET champ, expected. The Monster.

The Monster shows up in 100% coverage of the program. Our current team is never compared to their peers. (other teams). They are compared to the past UCONN teams that were the best in the history of WCBB. These undefeated, National championship teams were filled with All-Americans and future Hall of Famers. They pretty much destroyed everyone they played. Being compared to those standards, is not fair and impossible to duplicate. So you hear about our 'struggles' this year. We have struggled to a NET #2 ranking and maybe a #2 seed in the tournament. We have struggled to a 29-5 record and Big East championships. We really have struggled. The Monster.

For spoiled fans, and I include myself; winning is easy and losing should never happen. When we do win, we need to win every quarter. When we play our end of bench players, they need to match the other teams starters that are still in the game. If we win by 10 points, it should have been 20. If we win by 20, it should have been 30. ( and so on). We never think the other teams are any good and capable of winning the game. The Monster.

For the media, when we lose a game, it becomes major news and the biggest upsets ever, they will write. When we lost a conference game last year, for the first time in a ridiculous 8 year span, the emphasis was on how we lost. This year, we lost two whole games in a row, after an equally crazy 30 year span. The emphasis again was on the poor play of our team and not the crazy unmatched streak. The Monster.

For the coaches , they have to deal with the monster too. After the Xavier game, which felt like a loss to them. Jamelle had to remind Geno that we WON the game and to hold any negative comments until the next day. Teams and players are not perfect and they are never going to be. Geno implied last night that as he ages and mellows he is going to handle the Monster better moving forward.

As we had into the Tournament, we should understand the monster, and come to appreciate the effort, improvement and success this team has already had under difficult circumstances.

+While the winning is exceptional and most long time fans HOPE for an NC. We are realistic . Geno early on created this expectation, on the Hartford Capitol Steps telling all---We'll be back HERE next year. He wasn't. But we, his flock believed. Some fans in some seats will be there winning or losing.
We long long time fan have seen wins and losses and we return every year --but not every year expecting to win it all--REALITY. As does Geno, we hate losing.
I've followed Lou Holtz in Arkansas and Okla Football and even Wooden in the old days. Expectations are not holy beliefs. We believed we'd win it all every year and mostly they didn't as UC WCBB fans we HOPED. Saw potential and wished. Even NOW I don't expect an NC this year.
But for the next 3 years I EXPECT one.

 

[tomcat]

OP: Very well said. Anything we get beyond the first 2 rounds of the NCAAs is gravy, IMHO. This team has been running on guts and grit, and even with Azzi back, it'll take a helluva effort to get to the Final Four. It's been easier to cheer for UConn teams from other years, but you have to admire this one for what they've accomplished under crazy circumstances.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

As each season starts I don't have high hopes & desires!
I just want the team to be injury & illness free!
And the last two years weren't, and it's tough to lose when you know the talent is there just not healthy!
I can't fault the healthy players when you have 60 to 70 points on the bench unavailable!
Hopefully these last possible 6 games will be injury and illness free and let the chips fall where they may!