The thing we’ve misplaced

[jcoton56]

Winning is fun... Sure. But winning is not the point. Wanting to win is the point. Not giving up is the point. Never letting up is
the point.

Never being satisfied with what you've done is the point.
-Pat Summitt

This is not meant as criticism. I think Vic Schaefer once described the UConn defense as ‘ piranhas on a roast’. Feel free to correct me if I am remembering incorrectly. Anyway my tiny point is that we used to come out and grab the game by the throat and shake it til all resistance was gone. I think this team can do that. Go UConn!

 

[Bigboote]

John Wooden said that he’d rather lose with his own team playing their best than win with them slacking a bit. I’m pretty sure Geno feels the same way.

 

[oldude]

John Wooden said that he’d rather lose to with his own team playing their best than win with them slacking a bit. I’m pretty sure Geno feels the same way.

Well, Geno’s kind of mellowed a bit with age. A number of years back he said, “The only thing you learn from losing is how to lose.” I don’t think he feels that way anymore…..

 

[Topsail]

yes it was a NCAA tourney game during Stewie s last hurrah.

 

[Bigboote]

Well, Geno’s kind of mellowed a bit with age. A number of years back he said, “The only thing you learn from losing is how to lose.” I don’t think he feels that way anymore…..

He also said during the 2016-17 season, "This team needs to lose, and lose badly."

 

[Puppy Love]

I’ve been thinking about this for a while. For me (going back to the AEH class), the issue has been continuity. The best UConn teams have had senior leaders that have played together their entire careers. The combination of recruiting misses, injuries and transfers (both out and in) have disrupted that cycle. It’s pretty difficult to develop a killer instinct when you don’t know who is playing game to game and year to year.

 

[oldude]

I’ve been thinking about this for a while. For me (going back to the AEH class), the issue has been continuity. The best UConn teams have had senior leaders that have played together their entire careers. The combination of recruiting misses, injuries and transfers (both out and in) have disrupted that cycle. It’s pretty difficult to develop a killer instinct when you don’t know who is playing game to game and year to year.

It’s easy to lose site of the fact that UConn’s senior class this season is Azzi & Caroline……

 

[Steelerone]

I'm not sure that Geno has undergone any significant changes in either his attitude or his philosophy. What has changed is the competition. Even ten years ago he more or less had his pick of just about any young lady he wanted coming out of high school. Now he's vying with conferences offering much better competition that Uconn faces in the Big East. If you are a player you might look at Uconn and Geno as a near perfect fit but then you start to think, "Hmm. Seton Hall and Providence or Texas and LSU?"

 

[tomcat]

Steelerone has it exactly right. UConn's position in the Big East is the biggest factor working against it. Geno will still get his share of recruits, but as we are seeing with the pursiot of bigs, he won't win all of them, or even what, a few years ago, was his share of them.

 

[jabstep]

I'm not sure that Geno has undergone any significant changes in either his attitude or his philosophy. What has changed is the competition. Even ten years ago he more or less had his pick of just about any young lady he wanted coming out of high school. Now he's vying with conferences offering much better competition that Uconn faces in the Big East. If you are a player you might look at Uconn and Geno as a near perfect fit but then you start to think, "Hmm. Seton Hall and Providence or Texas and LSU?"

I agree with you and we must factor in the Nil money. We have the crowds but so do others.

 

[Puppy Love]

I'm not sure that Geno has undergone any significant changes in either his attitude or his philosophy. What has changed is the competition. Even ten years ago he more or less had his pick of just about any young lady he wanted coming out of high school. Now he's vying with conferences offering much better competition that Uconn faces in the Big East. If you are a player you might look at Uconn and Geno as a near perfect fit but then you start to think, "Hmm. Seton Hall and Providence or Texas and LSU?"

I’m not sure that I agree with this. If you want to see what a truly dreadful conference looks like, go back to the Big East in the late 80s and early 90’s. Going into the ‘95 national championship, most basketball pundits thought UConn had absolutely no chance because the competition they had played through the season was awful (except for the Tennessee and Kansas games). The Big East was really bad. Even with the absolutely awful conference, Geno managed to consistently recruit players that could compete on the national stage. UConn has a good enough nonconference schedule to more than offset playing in the Big East.

 

[cometjo]

I'm not sure that Geno has undergone any significant changes in either his attitude or his philosophy. What has changed is the competition. Even ten years ago he more or less had his pick of just about any young lady he wanted coming out of high school. Now he's vying with conferences offering much better competition that Uconn faces in the Big East. If you are a player you might look at Uconn and Geno as a near perfect fit but then you start to think, "Hmm. Seton Hall and Providence or Texas and LSU?"

I think the big change is not just how attractive UConn is based on its conference but the quantity of talent coming out of high school. UConn has a bunch of highly ranked recruits but there are plenty of great players to go around - enough to supply a bunch (5-8?) teams with very legitimate national championship hopes. We are in the mix but rarely if ever will anyone ever be a lock again.

 

[Geosfun]

Oh yee of lil faith.
Of course, we're a FF team.
Of course, we have a better-than-good chance of winning it all.
And, of course, Paige will likely be the MVP.
I know:
Yes, our bigs need to improve. They will.
Yes, our D needs to get better. It will, even if Aubrey isn't able to be her former self.
Yes, our offense needs to run more efficiently. It will, especially if Azzi recovers her rhythem and Audrey adds some zip to our fastbreak with steals and rebounds.
Yes, we will because IN GENO AND CD WE TRUST!!!

 

[ERWUC65]

I think the big change is not just how attractive UConn is based on its conference but the quantity of talent coming out of high school. UConn has a bunch of highly ranked recruits but there are plenty of great players to go around - enough to supply a bunch (5-8?) teams with very legitimate national championship hopes. We are in the mix but rarely if ever will anyone ever be a lock again.

We may be overlooking one potentially up and coming source of good to great players - the International market. Geno might have been the first and is certainly the best at recruiting there. Still somewhat behind the men's, it is still developing, but relatively untapped and something that can provide the occasional star without fanfare or much notice.

 

[cancontent]

We may be overlooking one potentially up and coming source of good to great players - the International market. Geno might have been the first and is certainly the best at recruiting there. Still somewhat behind the men's, it is still developing, but relatively untapped and something that can provide the occasional star without fanfare or much notice.

What do you mean by this? The number of international athletes has grown a fair bit the last couple years. Per Raoul's website they account for 22% of the rosters this season.

International Players in 2024 Women's Basketball Recruiting Class - WBB Blog

International players in the 2024 women's basketball recruiting class: statistics and a breakdown of how many come from which countries

wbbblog.com

The other recruiting challenge is the European development system and the options available to players there. They don't have to leave Europe to develop and have the opportunity to be drafted to the WNBA.

Look at Malonga of France. She's 19, competed for France at the Olympics and is considered a top draft pick. I remember UConn fans on this board were really hoping she'd consider UConn. The logic was that she'd benefit from Coach Auriemma's tutelage. And while that could be very true, she's turned into one heck of a player who competed well against top competition this past summer.

 

[cgshuskie]

Yes, think Blanca Quiones. We are good for the neard future. Our recruits, Sarah, Allie and Morgan, are good enough
for a Natty.

 

[HopJim]

Can't say I disagree with the comments but have to add a few points. The best players want two things: Best preparation to be pro ready and a personal brand image that can attract NIL money today and advertising contracts later. While there are a number of great coaches out there, Geno has been a factory in producing pro ready players. The number of fans helps with advertising and NIL money and UConn still is the leading name in women's college basketball. With all due respect to many of the other top 10 teams, most sports fans around the country know that if you play for UConn you are among the best. Ask most about Iowa, Texas, LSU, etc. women's basketball and you get blank stares. The sport is changing but UConn has an advantage in this regard now and for several more years.

 

[CL82]

John Wooden said that he’d rather lose with his own team playing their best than win with them slacking a bit. I’m pretty sure Geno feels the same way.

[Whispers] - i'm pretty sure they both would rather get the win.

 

[Bigboote]

[Whispers] - i'm pretty sure they both would rather get the win.

I did put the words in Geno's mouth. But Wooden did say it in a book he wrote in 1997.

 

[Bone Dog]

I did put the words in Geno's mouth. But Wooden did say it in a book he wrote in 1997.

As Mark Twain said, “There’s lies, damn lies, and stuff people write in books.”

 

[jcoton56]

So what I am hoping to see within the scout and the game plan, is a laser focus, supreme effort with the goal of winning every possession. Play like that until every person doesn’t know any other way. We have enough players, we have enough talent and its perfectly okay to play this way without apology to anyone. Just old fashioned I guess.

 

[JellyBean]

We just have to get back that killer instinct. The season is still young. 12 games going into the 13th on the weekend. We are still trying to find our identity out there. We are still trying to find that 3rd and 4th option out there. Once we get things figured out, we are going to be unstoppable. Another Final Four run is on the horizon.

 

[Baroloboy]

Well, Geno’s kind of mellowed a bit with age. A number of years back he said, “The only thing you learn from losing is how to lose.” I don’t think he feels that way anymore…..

 

[Zonepress]

Oh yee of lil faith.
Of course, we're a FF team.
Of course, we have a better-than-good chance of winning it all.
And, of course, Paige will likely be the MVP.
I know:
Yes, our bigs need to improve. They will.
Yes, our D needs to get better. It will, even if Aubrey isn't able to be her former self.
Yes, our offense needs to run more efficiently. It will, especially if Azzi recovers her rhythem and Audrey adds some zip to our fastbreak with steals and rebounds.
Yes, we will because IN GENO AND CD WE TRUST!!!

Paige is a great player but Hidalgo and juju
We’re clearly the best players in the recent games