The View From Section 241 -- Jim Mora | Page 4 | The Boneyard

The View From Section 241 -- Jim Mora

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No attack but what are you on besides beer? Maybe some of the horse racing meds? ;)
You have absolutely no clue of the women's basketball team or why they have lost a few games against top 10 teams.

I'll let you look for the facts but extend an olive branch by letting you know last years NCAA player of the year is out injured.
Oh and her backup is also out injured, both being the point guard.

Obviously you only follow the football team so think of it as your #1 and #2 QBs are out. How does that usually play out? Has nothing to do with the recruiting that has been great. They have lost 3 games all to top ranked teams, four players on the bench hobbling wounded.
You should catch a game sometime, you might enjoy it. Then be able to make a more informed comment on them. ;)
No attack but...LOL! You are an idiot with your mansplaining. I've been following the WBB team for 30 years. Using the injury excuse makes my point for me. The injured players are underclassmen recruited under the Big East banner. The upperclassmen recruited under the AAC banner are a big cut below as we are seeing now. The AAC was taking it's toll, Geno had tons of misses and had to go the international and transfer route. Some left early because they couldn't cut it once the normal recruiting started up again in the Big East. UConn shouldn't be losing to unranked teams ever, nevermind with a team full of 4 year players. But they do if those upperclassmen aren't all that good. Because even for Geno, it was becoming impossible to bring better players into that cruddy league.
 
Also, I still haven't seen an answer on the stretch between Diana's last game with us and Maya's first but it would be silly if me to expect some form of rational feedback or intelligent discussion.
I thought it was a silly point not worthy of a response. And tell me why my post above is unintelligent?
 
I thought it was a silly point not worthy of a response. And tell me why my post above is unintelligent?

I will. It is NOT smart to opine on anything Women's Basketball related near to the UCONN Women's Basketball board. It is like waving raw meat in front of predatory pit bulls.
 
No attack but...LOL! You are an idiot with your mansplaining. I've been following the WBB team for 30 years. Using the injury excuse makes my point for me. The injured players are underclassmen recruited under the Big East banner. The upperclassmen recruited under the AAC banner are a big cut below as we are seeing now. The AAC was taking it's toll, Geno had tons of misses and had to go the international and transfer route. Some left early because they couldn't cut it once the normal recruiting started up again in the Big East. UConn shouldn't be losing to unranked teams ever, nevermind with a team full of 4 year players. But they do if those upperclassmen aren't all that good. Because even for Geno, it was becoming impossible to bring better players into that cruddy league.
Again no attack but sometimes some folks need what you call mansplaining. I will even go so far as to think you meant idiot savant. ;)
Do you really think a recruit is coming here to play a Big East schedule? Would love to hear the presser from them on that one. It is about the coaching staff, out of conference schedule and continued tournament success.

Name the Big East team as an opponent that as a parent you or your daughter would be most excited to play for UConn.
Yes maybe a bump on the men's side but nothing to do with a recruiting tool on the women's.

For a time there was a ND, Rutgers and a brief Cuse challenge but nothing that would change the recruiting world.
Paige, Azzi and Caroline along with two transfers did not come here because of the conference.
Geno stated long ago anyone, anywhere, anytime and it started with Tennessee and has evolved sense. That with out of conference scheduling.
My last comment on the topic here, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! :)
 
I thought it was a silly point not worthy of a response. And tell me why my post above is unintelligent?
How is the point silly? Your assertion has been that membership in the AAC was damaging the women's program and the sole piece of evidence is that in 2020 they would not have made the final four (a concession I will agree to in order to move on). How is the fact that they missed three consecutive final fours in the not too distant past (when by the way there were far fewer quality programs in women's hoops) as a member of the BE silly? It is absolute evidence that they had fallen further as a member of the BE, which could easily lead one to believe that perhaps it wasn't the conference that was at fault.

As far as was led to the depths of the abyss that we fell to in 2019-2020, you mentioned recruiting in an earlier post as the contributing factor but I really can't agree. Below is a listing of who was recruited the few years leading up to the one season that we did not make the final four as a member of the AAC:
  • Crystal Dangerfield; 2016 McDonald's All-American, Wooten national player of year)
  • Mikayla Coombs; 2017 McDonald's All-American
  • Megan Walker; 2017 McDonald's All-American, Gatorade, Naismith, MaxPreps and WBCA national player of year
  • Olivia Nelson-Ododa; 2018 McDonald's All-American, ESPN #5 national recruit
  • Christyn Williams; 2018 McDonald's All-American, ESPN #1 national recruit, Gatorade & Naismith national player of the year
  • Aubrey Griffin; 2019 McDonald's All-American, 2019 WBCA All-American
The above does not include the transferring in of a few HS AA players who began their careers elsewhere.

I have a strong suspicion that you are reasonably close to my age (61). In my (at times it seems too many) years I've had successes and failures (fortunately the former outweighs the latter) and one constant was that when something did not succeed, even if there were some factors outside of my control, there were always things I could have done better that would have led to success. It's always easier to blame failure on others, it's always better to look into what you could have or should have done better.

Yes, I am very happy that we are back in the BE. I was far from happy in the AAC but in all candor, being in the AAC wasn't why many of our higher profile programs fell. There were failures in coaching, recruiting, administration that led to this. Our football program fell to the depths we've recently seen due to the triumvirate of Pasqualoni, Diaco and RE v2. Our men's program because KO reached the point where he had too many outside priorities. The women's program really didn't fall. A few programs rose to increase the size of the field of legitimate competition. We also lost a couple final four heartbreakers when (at least in my opinion) Geno leaned a bit too much on a handful of veterans, never allowing some players he had on the bench (including a big who could have neutralized ND's size advantage) to contribute.

Once again to clarify, my point isn't that we should be in the AAC. My point is that it can be very dangerous attempting to pass off blame on something when we should look in the mirror.
 
.-.
The kids have been committing to the coach not any conference affiliation for a long time now. What hurt them in the latter AAC years was losing a committed Charli Collier late in the early recruiting cycle to Texas. Still, final fours.
 
How is the point silly? Your assertion has been that membership in the AAC was damaging the women's program and the sole piece of evidence is that in 2020 they would not have made the final four (a concession I will agree to in order to move on). How is the fact that they missed three consecutive final fours in the not too distant past (when by the way there were far fewer quality programs in women's hoops) as a member of the BE silly? It is absolute evidence that they had fallen further as a member of the BE, which could easily lead one to believe that perhaps it wasn't the conference that was at fault.

As far as was led to the depths of the abyss that we fell to in 2019-2020, you mentioned recruiting in an earlier post as the contributing factor but I really can't agree. Below is a listing of who was recruited the few years leading up to the one season that we did not make the final four as a member of the AAC:
  • Crystal Dangerfield; 2016 McDonald's All-American, Wooten national player of year)
  • Mikayla Coombs; 2017 McDonald's All-American
  • Megan Walker; 2017 McDonald's All-American, Gatorade, Naismith, MaxPreps and WBCA national player of year
  • Olivia Nelson-Ododa; 2018 McDonald's All-American, ESPN #5 national recruit
  • Christyn Williams; 2018 McDonald's All-American, ESPN #1 national recruit, Gatorade & Naismith national player of the year
  • Aubrey Griffin; 2019 McDonald's All-American, 2019 WBCA All-American
The above does not include the transferring in of a few HS AA players who began their careers elsewhere.

I have a strong suspicion that you are reasonably close to my age (61). In my (at times it seems too many) years I've had successes and failures (fortunately the former outweighs the latter) and one constant was that when something did not succeed, even if there were some factors outside of my control, there were always things I could have done better that would have led to success. It's always easier to blame failure on others, it's always better to look into what you could have or should have done better.

Yes, I am very happy that we are back in the BE. I was far from happy in the AAC but in all candor, being in the AAC wasn't why many of our higher profile programs fell. There were failures in coaching, recruiting, administration that led to this. Our football program fell to the depths we've recently seen due to the triumvirate of Pasqualoni, Diaco and RE v2. Our men's program because KO reached the point where he had too many outside priorities. The women's program really didn't fall. A few programs rose to increase the size of the field of legitimate competition. We also lost a couple final four heartbreakers when (at least in my opinion) Geno leaned a bit too much on a handful of veterans, never allowing some players he had on the bench (including a big who could have neutralized ND's size advantage) to contribute.

Once again to clarify, my point isn't that we should be in the AAC. My point is that it can be very dangerous attempting to pass off blame on something when we should look in the mirror.
tl:dr
That pre-covid women's team was was the worst at UConn since Kerry Bascom played.
 
We can be as good as Liberty, Coastal Carolina etc. The major difference between Mora and RE1, PP, Diaco, and RE2 is there is a plan! A plan and a vision!

RE 2.0 had a plan. His plan was to coast. And, honestly, it worked out pretty well for him.

Unfortunately, it was antithetical to functional -- let alone successful -- football.
 
tl:dr
That pre-covid women's team was was the worst at UConn since Kerry Bascom played.
That's your response? And you wonder why I claim that you refuse to argue rationally or intelligently.

The two seasons immediately following Bascom each had ten losses yet somehow those were better teams than 2019-2020.

Got it.
 
No attack but...LOL! You are an idiot with your mansplaining. I've been following the WBB team for 30 years. Using the injury excuse makes my point for me. The injured players are underclassmen recruited under the Big East banner. The upperclassmen recruited under the AAC banner are a big cut below as we are seeing now. The AAC was taking it's toll, Geno had tons of misses and had to go the international and transfer route. Some left early because they couldn't cut it once the normal recruiting started up again in the Big East. UConn shouldn't be losing to unranked teams ever, nevermind with a team full of 4 year players. But they do if those upperclassmen aren't all that good. Because even for Geno, it was becoming impossible to bring better players into that cruddy league.
In 2013, when UConn was fully a member of the AAC, Geno had a roster of #1 soph Breanna Stewart, #1 junior Kaleena Mosquera-Lewis, #2 soph Moriah Jefferson, soph Morgan Tuck, and junior Kiah Stokes. If you’re top ranked kid coming out of high school, just which of those stars do you think you’re going to bump out of the line up? Geno had trouble recruiting highly ranked kids to sit on the bench and who can blame them?

Geno had similar recruiting issues with the Cash-Bird-Jones-Williams class plus Taurasi. If it weren’t for Diana Taurasi, 2002-2006 would have been an unmentionable horrorshow. As it was, UConn lost 17 games between the fall of 2003 and spring of 2006 (3 seasons). Tina Charles was a freshman in the fall of 2006 then Maya Moore joined the following year. Championships followed them.

It’s cyclical. Geno gets these fabulous, star-studded lineups then 2-3 years of relative mediocrity (by UConn fans’ standards). It’s been happening since 1995 so I have no idea why you think it has anything to do with the Big East or AAC.
 
Saying it's was just cyclical is just more of you AAC diehards hanging on for dear life. The trough in the cycle reached new depths in the AAC. I actually attend WBB games. The last AAC team was brutal, that you guys ignore how desperate things has gotten tells me you agree. That's why you want to argue about old trivia. Everything got better the instant we left the AAC. Our only chance for a P5 shot is to have elite hoop and competent FB. We had neither in the AAC. We are so much closer to that now then we would be if we never left. And let's talk about the fanbase. The fans that actually go to games, not the keyboard commandos. The XL is a tough ticket again, you couldn't give 'em away in the AAC.
 
.-.
Saying it's was just cyclical is just more of you AAC diehards hanging on for dear life. The trough in the cycle reached new depths in the AAC. I actually attend WBB games. The last AAC team was brutal, that you guys ignore how desperate things has gotten tells me you agree. That's why you want to argue about old trivia. Everything got better the instant we left the AAC. Our only chance for a P5 shot is to have elite hoop and competent FB. We had neither in the AAC. We are so much closer to that now then we would be if we never left. And let's talk about the fanbase. The fans that actually go to games, not the keyboard commandos. The XL is a tough ticket again, you couldn't give 'em away in the AAC.

HOW MUCH LONGER ...

Are you gonna hold your breath and argue this for weeks. I think NAN gave the definitive answer - our talent level in WBB is more tied to a cyclical flow of a handful at a time (til they graduate - because this is WBB) and not to conference affiliation.

Other variables are tangent. YES. AAC: Our fanbase and energy level was waning in this sport and others. Our National stature took a hit at times. Our preparation to be our best and ready for championship play was ... not ideal.

As for this P5 dream that some of you have? I think there will be more shakeups. But THE idea we get included in the top 20 - 30 in CFB is just delusional; I believe the 65 in P5 today are gonna get their slaggards clipped. With the money rising, the few and the greedy will gore this ox. UCONN, at our best, get a affiliation/tie that gives us regular - regional specific - attractive games. Maybe a bowl again someday. But WE are light years from the mythical playoff rounds.
 
Saying it's was just cyclical is just more of you AAC diehards hanging on for dear life. The trough in the cycle reached new depths in the AAC. I actually attend WBB games. The last AAC team was brutal, that you guys ignore how desperate things has gotten tells me you agree. That's why you want to argue about old trivia. Everything got better the instant we left the AAC. Our only chance for a P5 shot is to have elite hoop and competent FB. We had neither in the AAC. We are so much closer to that now then we would be if we never left. And let's talk about the fanbase. The fans that actually go to games, not the keyboard commandos. The XL is a tough ticket again, you couldn't give 'em away in the AAC.
If you follow the women’s board, and I know you do, out knows I’ve been deeply involved with recruiting for years. I’ve scouted recruits, I’ve interviewed them and not a single one mentioned conference affiliation. They talk about the program (UConn),the coach, potential teammates but never the conference. Oh, they might say “I want to play on ESPN” but not as it relates to conference media contracts. After all, the recruits are 16 or 17 years old, just kids with a kid’s view of the world, which usually revolves around them.

Your descending into insults means you don’t have a reasonable rationale to rebut statements that challenge your views. Give it up.
 
All this entropy produced about WBB? Both conferences are equally weak. UConn gets players because of their history and coaching staff. UConn football is the opposite although half of the equation has hopefully been rectified (the coaching half). Now what is needed is some wins. It is just that simple
 
HOW MUCH LONGER ...

Are you gonna hold your breath and argue this for weeks. I think NAN gave the definitive answer - our talent level in WBB is more tied to a cyclical flow of a handful at a time (til they graduate - because this is WBB) and not to conference affiliation.
13 consecutive final fours should speak for itself for most. But obviously not all.

If you follow the women’s board, and I know you do, out knows I’ve been deeply involved with recruiting for years. I’ve scouted recruits, I’ve interviewed them and not a single one mentioned conference affiliation. They talk about the program (UConn),the coach, potential teammates but never the conference.
Nan, I suggest you take a NASCAR term and buckle up and pull the straps tight! Some folks simply do not realize sometimes the other team wins. You will most likely be getting more of this until we get a true point guard back. Yes several of our players can play multiple positions but not point to the ability of Paige or Nika.
Fans have to suck it up for now and support the team. They will be back.
 
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