This is why I've lost respect for Jeff Walz

[pap49cba]

(CD post game) Offense struggled, but a lot had to do with how Louisville plays defensively. They're physical and hold a lot. They foul on every possession and make (it) difficult for the officials.

(At least ETT will "like" this post, )

 

[ThisJustIn]

If players didn't try and get away with what they could get away with, there would be no refs.

For years we talked with pride about the "tough" Big East and with thinly veiled disdain about the "finesse" West Coast.

Remember UConn manhandled Kelly Mazzante??

I guess respect is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[John Glass]

I lost respect for Jeff the first time he showed up for a game without a tie.

 

[HuskyNan]

If players didn't try and get away with what they could get away with, there would be no refs.

Exactly. Well-coached player are told to play physically until the refs blow the whistle then to adjust to the refs. The refs swallowed their whistle in the first half.

 

[Samanthabrown3]

Exactly. Well-coached player are told to play physically until the refs blow the whistle then to adjust to the refs. The refs swallowed their whistle in the first half.

Yeah, but this game seemed more physical than most. Even I saw it, and the players were visibly annoyed.

 

[HoopsFan21]

If players didn't try and get away with what they could get away with, there would be no refs.

For years we talked with pride about the "tough" Big East and with thinly veiled disdain about the "finesse" West Coast.

Remember UConn manhandled Kelly Mazzante??

I guess respect is in the eye of the beholder.

Has a UConn player ever gone out with the intention of injuring another player? Can't recall such an incident, but Louisville certainly tried that one on Stef last year in the final game with about 7 minutes left in the ball game down by 30.

 

[sawxfan23]

(CD post game) Offense struggled, but a lot had to do with how Louisville plays defensively. They're physical and hold a lot. They foul on every possession and make (it) difficult for the officials.

(At least ETT will "like" this post, )

How would something like this make you lose respect for Walz? He had his kids playing as hard as they possibly could. If the officials are not going to call fouls it is not Walz's fault it is the officials.

 

[UConnCat]

I think the next emphasis will be on cleaning up play in the post. Until that happens, I have no problem with teams testing the refs and seeing what they can get away with. I credit Geno for not complaining too much and expecting his team to play through it.

BTW, CD's point was not so much to criticize the officials but to talk about her team overcoming the physical play and figuring out how to play through it and score.

 

[HuskyNan]

Yeah, but this game seemed more physical than most. Even I saw it, and the players were visibly annoyed.

Oh, I was annoyed too but the physicality of the game was what the refs allowed. I can't blame Walz ot the Louisville kids for that.

 

[sawxfan23]

Has a UConn player ever gone out with the intention of injuring another player? Can't recall such an incident, but Louisville certainly tried that one on Stef last year in the final game with about 7 minutes left in the ball game down by 30.

Stop it!

 

[UCONNfan1]

Yeah, but this game seemed more physical than most. Even I saw it, and the players were visibly annoyed.

Then it's up to Geno to start yammering in the ref's ears. Walz does it all the time.

 

[Outside Shot]

I think there is a difference between playing "hard" and playing dirty. I am not a fan of Louisville's style.

 

[HuskyNan]

Louisville. has always played like this. This is the first time I can recall that the refs let it go this long.

Many coaches subscribe to the "they can't call every foul" theory and I think Walz is one of them

 

[DobbsRover2]

Seems like a lot of American teams are playing pretty chippy and physical this year. USF definitely looks ready to be like the old Rutgers, and even SMU the last game was pushing hard in the post. To me it's more a sign of teams wanting to get respect and show they're tough enough to move up and become like the old BEast teams. Not a bad sign at all to take what the refs give you.

 

[msf22b]

Louisville played tough and stuff wasn't called.
But it went two ways and our kids weren't angels either.

 

[HuskyNan]

Sportscasters had predictedteams would play UConn physically this year. UConn's bench is thin and opponents want to wear them down or keep Stewie from taking over (good luck with that, lol). No surprises here.

 

[pap49cba]

Louisville. has always played like this. This is the first time I can recall that the refs let it go this long.

Many coaches subscribe to the "they can't call every foul" theory and I think Walz is one of them

So that makes it okay? Perhaps I'm getting too old.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Louisville played tough and stuff wasn't called.
But it went two ways and our kids weren't angels either.

True, but the difference is that it's not integral to UConn's strategy. Geno gets just as irritated when they commit fouls as he does when they turn the ball over. Geno's game plan is to play the most perfect basketball you possibly can which if he had it his way would mean zero fouls and zero turnovers.

 

[CL82]

Given how short our bench is, I'm not complaining about the refs keeping their whistles in their pockets. Agree, that there was a lot of contact out there.

 

[UcMiami]

I have gained a lot of respect for Jeff over the years and continue to think he is a great game coach. His players play a tough physical game of basketball and take what the refs allow, but they also know how to dial it back based on what the refs are calling. His teams have beaten a lot of teams with a lot more talent because he devises a game plan and gets his kids to buy in, and he knows how to adjust on the fly. If he ever gets really top talent watch out - he has taken very flawed teams to the championship game and he was a big part of that MD NC team.
I agree that one foul last year was over the top, but so did Jeff and he yanked the player immediately.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I have gained a lot of respect for Jeff over the years and continue to think he is a great game coach. His players play a tough physical game of basketball and take what the refs allow, but they also know how to dial it back based on what the refs are calling. His teams have beaten a lot of teams with a lot more talent because he devises a game plan and gets his kids to buy in, and he knows how to adjust on the fly. If he ever gets really top talent watch out - he has taken very flawed teams to the championship game and he was a big part of that MD NC team.
I agree that one foul last year was over the top, but so did Jeff and he yanked the player immediately.

Yep. A credit to him. I'm not a fan of the physical games. They tend to hurt UConn and their style of play, and really it makes for ugly basketball.

 

[UcMiami]

Yep. A credit to him. I'm not a fan of the physical games. They tend to hurt UConn and their style of play, and really it makes for ugly basketball.

Part of that is the privilege of having very talented teams - anyone who 'has the most talent' wants a very clean game, anyone coaching a team that has inferior talent generally wants to muddy up the game.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

If players didn't try and get away with what they could get away with, there would be no refs.

Not every foul is intended. Who would decide which team gets the ball after it has gone out of bounds? Who decides when a tie up has occurred? How much time remains? If an opponent has entered the lane early on a foul shot, or remained there too long? Those who deliberately flaunt the rules disrespect the game.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Going back to the OP, I'll buy the physical and hold, I seriously doubt they foul on every play - that's coach speak.

Also, to the immediate preceding post - it is not disrespect to push and find out where the ref's draw the line. Generally teams who keep pushing the limit lose. Unless a team is very, very good, a significant foul discrepancy dooms them.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

People, remember that no team in the AAC had a chance to beat UCONN so they figure to play as chippy as they can knowing that the incompetent refs will call at least 50% of the fouls against UCONN and maybe get Stef, Breanna,Bria, etc. in major foul trouble! You will see this in the AAC Tourney, and the NCAA's! They only play this way because the refs give them a chance to win or at least keep it close! The refs can end that tactic by calling the fouls the way they happen but the're incapable of doing that!

 

[hjoerring]

I have gained a lot of respect for Jeff over the years and continue to think he is a great game coach. His players play a tough physical game of basketball and take what the refs allow, but they also know how to dial it back based on what the refs are calling. His teams have beaten a lot of teams with a lot more talent because he devises a game plan and gets his kids to buy in, and he knows how to adjust on the fly. If he ever gets really top talent watch out - he has taken very flawed teams to the championship game and he was a big part of that MD NC team.
I agree that one foul last year was over the top, but so did Jeff and he yanked the player immediately.

I agree with everything here. The one foul on Step. was overboard and, typically these exessive fouls by players have little to do with coaching as frustration of a player gone amok. Where this type of playing come bak to haunt us is international play. There some of our (US) star players come into problems beause they have difficulties keeping their ounterpart in front of them without grabbing.
As for Jeff. No question about him being one of the best in the business- just look at his reord. However, the constant cry here about him doing well with half the talent does not hold. LV is a talented team with many good players. There are at least 3-4 players on that team that Uconn would have recruited had they not gone after others who may have filled a need/or paired better!

 

[HuskyNan]

So that makes it okay? Perhaps I'm getting too old.

It's just what most teams do. And Louisville has played this way since Walz was named coach, always.

 

[Shenandoah]

What concerns me is not the elbows/forearms in the back trying to establish position, but the low bridging on rebounds. THAT is what gets people injured. That is not boxing out.

 

[Icebear]

Going back to the OP, I'll buy the physical and hold, I seriously doubt they foul on every play - that's coach speak.

Also, to the immediate preceding post - it is not disrespect to push and find out where the ref's draw the line. Generally teams who keep pushing the limit lose. Unless a team is very, very good, a significant foul discrepancy dooms them.

They certainly ignored the emphasis on freedom of movement.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

Also, to the immediate preceding post - it is not disrespect to push and find out where the ref's draw the line. Generally teams who keep pushing the limit lose.

We disagree.