The Starters Chime In

[RockyMTblue2]

"We're trying to find someone that can step up and play big minutes for us," Samuelson said. "I know we have people that are capable of it. They have to bear down and show it because they could be real crucial for us later in the year. But they have to show it every single day in practice. If we get that next person, or next two, to step up, it will help a lot."

Geno expands on his position: "That is the key to everything isn't it, being able to do it so that it is not a fluke? You saw the game at Texas. We had guys who were All-Americans look overwhelmed out there. We had guys that were first-team All-Americans that struggled. So, I'm going to put in guys that struggle in practice to get something right two days in a row? It just doesn't make any sense. I mean maybe other coaches do that, but that's not where I come from. Am I holding out hope? I'm always holding out hope. Absolutely. Every day I hold out hope. Hopefully, as I said, we will be able to do something about it starting tomorrow night."


No. 1 UConn searching for strength in numbers

 

[Charliebball]

hmmm...........did Geno really mean that AS is the best player in the country or that she's the best player in the country coming off the bench? I assume it's the latter..........

 

[bags27]

Admire and respect Geno immensely. But this strikes me as his talking way too much, especially if he's allowing the starters to do it too. For example, Meg was 1-1 from the field with 6 ribbies in SIXTEEN MINUTES against Notre Dame. Has she deteriorated so much in practice that Geno no longer trusts her to play at all against TX? And is he allowing the starters to echo that?

 

[Gus Mahler]

Admire and respect Geno immensely. But this strikes me as his talking way too much, especially if he's allowing the starters to do it too. For example, Meg was 1-1 from the field with 6 ribbies in SIXTEEN MINUTES against Notre Dame. Has she deteriorated so much in practice that Geno no longer trusts her to play at all against TX? And is he allowing the starters to echo that?

This continues to puzzle me about Meg. The other day I went back and watched the end of some of the recent games. Against USF she made several nice plays. Against UCF, she and Mikayla came in together at just under three minutes. I think she hit a pull-up jumper in that time. Why neither played more I don't know, but I tend to think it was to give his Big Six a lot of run against the rambunctious style of UCF. Against Houston Meg made a good steal though lost it right back. She ran down a long rebound and instantly made the pass back to Kyla for the layup. I'm not sure she's had a lot of chance to shine lately. Why the low minutes? Only Geno and staff know.

And another thing: Wasn't it about this time five years ago when that skinny kid from Syracuse was flopping and flailing around and being MVP for Baylor? I think numbers-wise she turned out alright.

 

[BobbyJ]

I’ve just never understood Auriemma’s need to use the media to make a point to his players. With his stature as a coach, if he brings a player into his office, tells them why they’re not playing and what they need to do to get on the floor, IMO they’re going to get that message. When they can earn it they will. If they don’t, then too bad. IMO, hearing all this in interviews and seeing all the quotes doesn’t help the kids at all. When asked why the bench isn’t playing quality minutes, just tell the media that they’re not ready. I think that business should be between the coaches and the players. I just don’t see the need to entertain the media.

 

[VA Huskie]

This continues to puzzle me about Meg. The other day I went back and watched the end of some of the recent games. Against USF she made several nice plays. Against UCF, she and Mikayla came in together at just under three minutes. I think she hit a pull-up jumper in that time. Why neither played more I don't know, but I tend to think it was to give his Big Six a lot of run against the rambunctious style of UCF. Against Houston Meg made a good steal though lost it right back. She ran down a long rebound and instantly made the pass back to Kyla for the layup. I'm not sure she's had a lot of chance to shine lately. Why the low minutes? Only Geno and staff know.

And another thing: Wasn't it about this time five years ago when that skinny kid from Syracuse was flopping and flailing around and being MVP for Baylor? I think numbers-wise she turned out alright.

And maybe that’s part of what Geno’s doing. Putting the highest expectations on the best young player. He did it with Tina too. I predict that Megan is in the rotation by late in the regular season.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Geno doling out that honesty pill hard:

"I don't want to hear how a kid looks against a really bad team in the last five minutes of a game," Auriemma said. "That means nothing to me. I want to see how they look when we are practicing here against really, really good players. Once that look starts to change, then I hope soon that our depth will change.

 

[Gus Mahler]

And maybe that’s part of what Geno’s doing. Putting the highest expectations on the best young player. He did it with Tina too. I predict that Megan is in the rotation by late in the regular season.

Agreed. Absolutely.

 

[Woof 101]

I’ve just never understood Auriemma’s need to use the media to make a point to his players. With his stature as a coach, if he brings a player into his office, tells them why they’re not playing and what they need to do to get on the floor, IMO they’re going to get that message. When they can earn it they will. If they don’t, then too bad. IMO, hearing all this in interviews and seeing all the quotes doesn’t help the kids at all. When asked why the bench isn’t playing quality minutes, just tell the media that they’re not ready. I think that business should be between the coaches and the players. I just don’t see the need to entertain the media.

Just saying...No attack at all, again just saying...Do you realize you contradict yourself here?....
First Geno has constantly stated the reason for the lack of minutes for the bench. Second, what is he supposed to do, refuse to answer the question? Geno being Geno when prompted will never change, take it or leave it. He has a post game show, podcast and multiple media situations where he is expected to answer the questions.
I think that business should be between the coaches and the players. I just don’t see the need to entertain the media.[/QUOTE]D
Do you realize this is a form of media you are commenting on? I see you are from AZ would you be here if it were not for Geno? Again no slander just an honest question.

 

[BobbyJ]

Just saying...No attack at all, again just saying...Do you realize you contradict yourself here?....
First Geno has constantly stated the reason for the lack of minutes for the bench. Second, what is he supposed to do, refuse to answer the question? Geno being Geno when prompted will never change, take it or leave it. He has a post game show, podcast and multiple media situations where he is expected to answer the questions.
I think that business should be between the coaches and the players. I just don’t see the need to entertain the media.

D
Do you realize this is a form of media you are commenting on? I see you are from AZ would you be here if it were not for Geno? Again no slander just an honest question.[/QUOTE]
First, I didn’t say don’t answer the question. I said to simply answer that they’re not ready. That we are working with them in practice to get them ready. Secondly, I’ve lived in AZ for a few months. Born and lived in NE for 50 years and followed this team since the late 80s. Auriemma is a great coach and he does a good job getting good athletes to play with a purpose but his team is what interests me, I couldn’t care less about him personally. My only concern here is that I don’t agree with sharing the kid’s lack of progress with the public. Accent the positive in public and keep the negative between yourself and the players. The players gain nothing from having their shortcomings tossed around in the media.

 

[Sonny44]

Admire and respect Geno immensely. But this strikes me as his talking way too much, especially if he's allowing the starters to do it too. For example, Meg was 1-1 from the field with 6 ribbies in SIXTEEN MINUTES against Notre Dame. Has she deteriorated so much in practice that Geno no longer trusts her to play at all against TX? And is he allowing the starters to echo that?

Totally agree. Earning it in practice, you gotta be kidding. There are just some things you can't learn in practice. Just as some kids don't learn or accept things from their parents, until they hear it from outsiders. It's a well known phenomenon.
Geno, please stop griping like a baby and let them play and struggle against the AAC. We don't need to win by 50 points every night!

 

[BroadwayVa]

"We're trying to find someone that can step up and play big minutes for us," Samuelson said. "I know we have people that are capable of it. They have to bear down and show it because they could be real crucial for us later in the year. But they have to show it every single day in practice. If we get that next person, or next two, to step up, it will help a lot."

Geno expands on his position: "That is the key to everything isn't it, being able to do it so that it is not a fluke? You saw the game at Texas. We had guys who were All-Americans look overwhelmed out there. We had guys that were first-team All-Americans that struggled. So, I'm going to put in guys that struggle in practice to get something right two days in a row? It just doesn't make any sense. I mean maybe other coaches do that, but that's not where I come from. Am I holding out hope? I'm always holding out hope. Absolutely. Every day I hold out hope. Hopefully, as I said, we will be able to do something about it starting tomorrow night."


No. 1 UConn searching for strength in numbers

s

FLUKE? ARE all of those Geno recruited this year--with talent and abilities and stamina--that is a FLUKE? I can accept that he expecst something near repeatable performances however, freshmen and sophs, are not robots--are imperfect . To expect anything near great every time--rarely happens. I cannot believe Walker went from repeatable and near solid performances to --daa where am I ?
Then too is the praise he heaped upon Irwin---"I love watching her play"--if he loves repeatable performances--it would seem she was giving that.

 

[oldude]

Like many on this thread I have to agree that Geno works in mysterious ways, that are often difficult to comprehend. The proof of the pudding is in the results.

Late in the season heading into tournament time, UConn always seems to find another gear as well as one or two players who step up their level of play significantly.

Certainly Stewie, Kiah Stokes and Lou are good examples of players who found another gear heading into the Big Dance.

The situation that is perhaps most similar to MW this season occurred during the 2015-16 season, Pheesa looked good early in the season, only to fall into a mid season freshman funk. It looked like it was going to be “wait till next year.”

It was not until after the conference tournament, during the extended break before the NCAA tournament, that Geno suddenly began to publicly praise Pheesa’s performance and effort in practice. Pheesa got far more prime time PT in the tournament than she’d gotten for weeks, and she performed exceptionally well.

While I don’t pretend to understand what Geno is doing, I certainly can’t argue with the results.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Totally agree. Earning it in practice, you gotta be kidding. There are just some things you can't learn in practice. Just as some kids don't learn or accept things from their parents, until they hear it from outsiders. It's a well known phenomenon.
Geno, please stop griping like a baby and let them play and struggle against the AAC. We don't need to win by 50 points every night!

Yea, I had the dumbest parents in the world , until I became a parent--it's amazing how much they learned during that time.
I haven't won 11 NC, but I saw one once---so I am of the school that say---LEARN in practice--Hone those skills in REAL PT.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Like many on this thread I have to agree that Geno works in mysterious ways, that are often difficult to comprehend. The proof of the pudding is in the results.

Late in the season heading into tournament time, UConn always seems to find another gear as well as one or two players who step up their level of play significantly.

Certainly Stewie, Kiah Stokes and Lou are good examples of players who found another gear heading into the Big Dance.

The situation that is perhaps most similar to MW this season occurred during the 2015-16 season, Pheesa looked good early in the season, only to fall into a mid season freshman funk. It looked like it was going to be “wait till next year.”

It was not until after the conference tournament, during the extended break before the NCAA tournament, that Geno suddenly began to publicly praise Pheesa performance and effort in practice. Pheesa got far more prime time PT in the tournament than she’d gotten for weeks, and she performed exceptionally well.

While I don’t pretend to understand what Geno is doing, I certainly can’t argue with the results.

I would take STOKES out of that list. Because, she played solid defense prior to the Ncaa tourney. Geno's knock on her --and minimized her PT--because she was not a scorer. She took one shot and missed it--and received pain--and rarely shot again. But she continued to play super great defense. And got high praise from the master--yea that's what she does. However as a Pro, she scores and defends, different motivation works on different people.

 

[BroadwayVa]

And maybe that’s part of what Geno’s doing. Putting the highest expectations on the best young player. He did it with Tina too. I predict that Megan is in the rotation by late in the regular season.

It took TINA the better part of 3 years to become the player she became. Can we wait that long for Megan Walker?

 

[LesMis89]

Geno is entirely consistent in his message that game time is earned during practice. Many UConn recruits (those who actually come versus those that were recruited and chose to go elsewhere) have commented about how different the message "You earn your playing time in practice" from what they heard from other coaches.

I believe that message is one of the absolute foundations of the UConn WBB program. Nothing is going to be 'handed' to a player based on either their high school ranking or their potential ceiling. They want game action? Show the coach that you're ready by executing what he wants in practice.

 

[oldude]

I would take STOKES out of that list. Because, she played solid defense prior to the Ncaa tourney. Geno's knock on her --and minimized her PT--because she was not a scorer. She took one shot and missed it--and received pain--and rarely shot again. But she continued to play super great defense. And got high praise from the master--yea that's what she does. However as a Pro, she scores and defends, different motivation works on different people.

I don’t disagree, but Stokes really didn’t see very much PT until midway through her junior season, after Tuck was injured. At that point, she became more than a rim protector and rebounder. She improved her scoring and passing and was able to come into the game without substantially limiting the team’s offensive flow.

 

[Rsna]

I think U should be careful what U wish 4....I can see Geno starting 3 Freshman & 2 Sophomores next game. Won’t that be a fine kettle of fish !??!

 

[Centerstream]

Totally agree. Earning it in practice, you gotta be kidding. There are just some things you can't learn in practice. Just as some kids don't learn or accept things from their parents, until they hear it from outsiders. It's a well known phenomenon.
Geno, please stop griping like a baby and let them play and struggle against the AAC. We don't need to win by 50 points every night!

Great advice to give the coach with 11 NCs.

 

[meyers7]

BY: waa waa waa, why isn't Geno letting them play? He's so mean.

Geno: Here's why they aren't playing XXX.

BY: waa waa waa, why is Geno saying stuff in the media? He's so mean.

Geno's program is NOT to make players feel good. It is to play games the right way, win and for players to improve and take responsibility. They are held accountable, they are pushed out of their comfort zone. You don't get a diamond without extreme heat and pressure. It's been that way for 32 years. If you haven't figured that out yet, well I can't help you. The denseness of some posters on here is beyond the pale.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I’ve just never understood Auriemma’s need to use the media to make a point to his players. With his stature as a coach, if he brings a player into his office, tells them why they’re not playing and what they need to do to get on the floor, IMO they’re going to get that message. When they can earn it they will. If they don’t, then too bad. IMO, hearing all this in interviews and seeing all the quotes doesn’t help the kids at all. When asked why the bench isn’t playing quality minutes, just tell the media that they’re not ready. I think that business should be between the coaches and the players. I just don’t see the need to entertain the media.

I have issues with the Media comments by Geno about players.

Harry Truman said it best: The buck stops here. That is true of Coaching ---the Buck Stops with GENO--. If the coach can't get them to perform as required--doesn't he have all the power?
Can you image what the By would be saying if JPM had said these things?
I doubt the Courant or the Register, ESPN, SNY can motivate the UConn Frosh to practice or play more than Geno can--so why speak to them about the players??? Apparently this tactic isnt working..

 

[Rocket009]

I have issues with the Media comments by Geno about players.

Harry Truman said it best: The buck stops here. That is true of Coaching ---the Buck Stops with GENO--. If the coach can't get them to perform as required--doesn't he have all the power?
Can you image what the By would be saying if JPM had said these things?
I doubt the Courant or the Register, ESPN, SNY can motivate the UConn Frosh to practice or play more than Geno can--so why speak to them about the players??? Apparently this tactic isnt working..

Geno has always said he does not coach effort. It's not all on the coach. They teach, the kids are supposed to learn. It is a 2 way street.

Having said that, Geno, CD and the coaches consistently look at improving every year. They make changes to the drills, what they teach and how they handle the team. If they feel they can improve, they will change things, but it will not be by dishing out unearned playing time.

 

[TitleTown]

This continues to puzzle me about Meg. The other day I went back and watched the end of some of the recent games. Against USF she made several nice plays. Against UCF, she and Mikayla came in together at just under three minutes. I think she hit a pull-up jumper in that time. Why neither played more I don't know, but I tend to think it was to give his Big Six a lot of run against the rambunctious style of UCF. Against Houston Meg made a good steal though lost it right back. She ran down a long rebound and instantly made the pass back to Kyla for the layup. I'm not sure she's had a lot of chance to shine lately. Why the low minutes? Only Geno and staff know.

And another thing: Wasn't it about this time five years ago when that skinny kid from Syracuse was flopping and flailing around and being MVP for Baylor? I think numbers-wise she turned out alright.

I think Coach Auriemma sums up his thinking pretty clearly in these quotes.

"I don't want to hear how a kid looks against a really bad team in the last five minutes of a game," Auriemma said. "That means nothing to me. I want to see how they look when we are practicing here against really, really good players. Once that look starts to change, then I hope soon that our depth will change."

"That is the key to everything isn't it, being able to do it so that it is not a fluke? You saw the game at Texas. We had guys who were All-Americans look overwhelmed out there. We had guys that were first-team All-Americans that struggled. So, I'm going to put in guys that struggle in practice to get something right two days in a row? It just doesn't make any sense."

 

[HopJim]

Geno has always said he does not coach effort. It's not all on the coach. They teach, the kids are supposed to learn. It is a 2 way street.

Having said that, Geno, CD and the coaches consistently look at improving every year. They make changes to the drills, what they teach and how they handle the team. If they feel they can improve, they will change things, but it will not be by dishing out unearned playing time.

We all don't really know what benchmark is being used. We do know that most of the starters have foot and ankle issues. Rest is typically the only solution. Pick your poison.