This Win is the Greatest Win in UConn History

[Skeets]

1995, first National Championship can't be "surpassed" for me

The best non-tournament game was the 1995 MLK Day victory over the evil empire. That Ladies and gentlemen started it all.

 

[Skeets]

KK has impressed has well. she is a persistent pest on defense. She could be the gnew gnat.. or maybe, Gnat, Jr.

Gnat 2.0? (I like that, "gnew gnat")

 

[CL82]

Gnat 2.0? (I like that, "gnew gnat")

Thanks. I thought about going with gnu gnat but it seemed like a bridge too far.

 

[OldSchooler]

You are correct on the 3 games behind. Geno started the season 6 games behind, and Tara was done with 30 wins. Geno and the Huskies have 33 wins, so he can't catch Tara this season, but maybe before Dec 31st, 2024 - one can hope...

Commander - You are right on. Despite UConn's slow start, Geno made up one game on Tara this season through the conference playoffs. Tara entered the NCAA tournament with a 5-victory lead. When Stanford got eliminated in the Sweet 16, that gave Geno a lane to draw potentially within one, assuming UConn goes all the way. If they get into the finals and lose, it's -2. If they lose Friday night, it's -3. Anyway you look at it, Geno's within striking distance. When you consider the strong team he's going to have next year, and the weakened team Stanford will have + a lot of more challenging travel games, we should see a new leader next season.

Looks like only the retired vets (you, me and the sarge) are following this.

 

[Phil]

Remember 1989 , when Lemond won the last stage by 58'' and the tour by 8 seconds

Yes, when Laurent Fignon wanted his fans to see his flowing hair, and chose not to wear a helmet.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Several of the NC games looked like the last stage of the Tour de France.

Would an individual time trial (35 km to Nice?1?) between Clark and Paige be the appropriate penultimate stage to going over the cobblestones on their way to the Champs-Élysées in the shadow of the Arch de Triumphe vs. South Carolina (or even better odds vs. NC State to "erase" a different loss this season)

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Commander - You are right on. Despite UConn's slow start, Geno made up one game on Tara this season through the conference playoffs. Tara entered the NCAA tournament with a 5-victory lead. When Stanford got eliminated in the Sweet 16, that gave Geno a lane to draw potentially within one, assuming UConn goes all the way. If they get into the finals and lose, it's -2. If they lose Friday night, it's -3. Anyway you look at it, Geno's within striking distance. When you consider the strong team he's going to have next year, and the weakened team Stanford will have + a lot of more challenging travel games, we should see a new leader next season.

Looks like only the retired vets (you, me and the sarge) are following this.

With a new conference for Stanford to deal with (and hopefully five losses in the ACC), January, 2025 is looking for a lead for Geno that will not be relinquished in wins. Had Tara not taken a full season off to work with the USA Olympic team, Geno would be over 35 games behind her...

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I don't really care who the committee deems coach of the year but I do think Auriemma is deserving of being in the mix. I'm curious who would be your 4 finalists. Would any of the committee's finalists--Bluder, Gottlieb, Staley, and VanDerveer--make your list?

#1 Geno; #2 Wes Moore; #3 Bluder; #4 JR Payne from Colorado OR Scott Rueck of Oregon State (both did a better job than Tara).

To answer your question, Yes, Bluder of Iowa, as they lost their best "Big" from last season...

 

[Ex Nutmegger]

Commander - You are right on. Despite UConn's slow start, Geno made up one game on Tara this season through the conference playoffs. Tara entered the NCAA tournament with a 5-victory lead. When Stanford got eliminated in the Sweet 16, that gave Geno a lane to draw potentially within one, assuming UConn goes all the way. If they get into the finals and lose, it's -2. If they lose Friday night, it's -3. Anyway you look at it, Geno's within striking distance. When you consider the strong team he's going to have next year, and the weakened team Stanford will have + a lot of more challenging travel games, we should see a new leader next season.

Looks like only the retired vets (you, me and the sarge) are following this.

Oh, I’m following very closely! I was a frequent contributor to the “Coaching wins” thread started by vowel guy in 2016. I have nothing against Tara - she has been a great coach. She does have the advantage of Stanford’s great location, great weather, beautiful campus and great academics always working for her in recruiting. And she’s been at it for six more years than he has. And since they are essentially the same age(she is nine months older than he is), she has a six year advantage (make that five years, taking one off for the Olympics). So I have no problem rooting for Geno to surpass Tara on the all time wins race.

By the way, there is another thread on this subject ongoing started by maxw called “Geno closing the gap with Tara for most wins by a coach, so we are not the only people rooting for Geno.

 

[Skeets]

Oh, I’m following very closely! I was a frequent contributor to the “Coaching wins” thread started by vowel guy in 2016. I have nothing against Tara - she has been a great coach. She does have the advantage of Stanford’s great location, great weather, beautiful campus and great academics always working for her in recruiting. And she’s been at it for six more years than he has. And since they are essentially the same age(she is nine months older than he is), she has a six year advantage (make that five years, taking one off for the Olympics). So I have no problem rooting for Geno to surpass Tara on the all time wins race.

By the way, there is another thread on this subject ongoing started by maxw called “Geno closing the gap with Tara for most wins by a coach, so we are not the only people rooting for Geno.

I do. She refused to play Lobo in the Olympic. Spiteful and vindictive. Truly great coaches are not like that. They are bigger than that.

 

[omshanti]

#1 Geno; #2 Wes Moore; #3 Bluder; #4 JR Payne from Colorado OR Scott Rueck of Oregon State (both did a better job than Tara).

To answer your question, Yes, Bluder of Iowa, as they lost their best "Big" from last season...

I would take Bluder out and Geno in. Geno gets coach of the year . If nc state wins it then Moore.

 

[Forego]

I would take Bluder out and Geno in. Geno gets coach of the year . If nc state wins it then Moore.

Take Bluder off the list!!!!? But she was listed as one of the best game planners.
Game plan:
1. Give the ball to Clark.
2. Set a screen for Clark.
3. Watch Clark make a three pointer.

 

[fomalhaut]

I would take Bluder out and Geno in. Geno gets coach of the year . If nc state wins it then Moore.

What time period does the coach of the year cover? Moore would only be in contention in my view if it covers all the way to the Final Four. The obvious picks are Auriemma, Staley (undefeated, even if lucky to be so), and Bluder. Not sure who my 4th would be.

 

[Ex Nutmegger]

I do. She refused to play Lobo in the Olympic. Spiteful and vindictive. Truly great coaches are not like that. They are bigger than that.

Good point! I forgot about that. Old memories usually soften for me. I now think of Muffet McGraw as just trash instead of pond scum.

 

[Forego]

I do. She refused to play Lobo in the Olympic. Spiteful and vindictive. Truly great coaches are not like that. They are bigger than that.

Tara was never one of my favorites. However, Rebecca did get to play a few minutes here and there. As I recall, the remark she made to Rebecca was something like if you get into a game you are to be our last option to take a shot.