The reason that UCONN has dominated college womans basketball for the past 25 years - with no let up in sight

[xoxxox]

Every UCONN player has endured extreme mental and physical hardships to enable them to transform from a group of individuals and become a TREMENDOUS MACHINE while on the court performing for the audience.

 

[Sonny44]

The first tremendous machine.

If you saw it you would never forget.

 

[DriveLH]

UCONN has been "Harlem Globetrotter" dominant.
Here are some numbers: since the start of the '95-96 season UCONN has lost 58 games.
For comparison Notre Dame 162, Tennessee 148, Stanford 138.
And for those who think the Big East offers more competition UCONN lost 11 games in the final 5 seasons, while Notre Dame ( who had our number ) lost 29.

 

[Zorro]

Actually, this was probably the first tremendous machine.

 

[eebmg]

Geno & CD

 

[EricLA]

Gotta disagree with the OP. UCONN players do NOT endure extreme mental and physical hardships. That sort of makes it sound like players are tortured. I'm sure that's not what the OP meant (at least I hope not), but as @eebmg said, Geno and CD.

They prepare the players better than any other team in WCBB. Practices are harder than games. Geno sets them up to fail in practice - going 4 on 5 for example. They are incredibly physically fit - at least as fit as any other team out there.

Plus Geno recruits not only really talented players (ie. highly rated), but kids who WANT to play team ball, who are great character people, who are highly competitive and motivated, and who are coachable. The term is often used regarding the freshmen that they need to be "broken down and then built back up". I don't care for that term but it's not far from the truth.

Many coaches take a talented freshman and work to enhance what they already do really well. But they pay little to no attention to the things they struggle with. Geno and CD do 2 things - break the bad habits and teach proper habits (Megan Walker perfect example - took her 2 years to REALLY get it), and push them to do more than they ever thought they could.

I do agree that he's a master of taking individuals and getting them to perform at their max potential as a team. I also want to add something about recruiting - potential recruits meet the team. If the team feels it's not a match, the recruit won't ever be part of UCONN. Good chemistry is essential. The coaches sometimes get it wrong. Kids who don't fit in end up leaving. Others leave for lack of PT. But bottom line, 99% of the time, the team has amazing chemistry and that's pretty amazing when you consider the top talent they recruit who could be prima donnas...

 

[donalddoowop]

If the coaching staff gets Griffin to do more than she ever thought she could, she may become a three time AA. In fact, if that works with the recruits coming in over the next three years, UConn will be as good as they have ever been, imo.

 

[my2cents]

Geno gets great players and makes them better, never an easy task. Not completely sure how he does it, he just does it.

 

[CocoHusky]

The reason that UCONN has dominated college woman's basketball for the past 25 years, with no let up in sight, is because of Geno, CD, and some really really really good players.

----- Cpt. Obvious

 

[Monte]

The GOOD players are GOOD people.

 

[Mdoggie]

Its the system. It never changes for the player. The players must adjust to the system. Coaches scout and recruit players that they see as good fits. Sometime they get it wrong. Systems and structure always dominate if the right players buy in. We have been fortunate enough to see it first hand most years.