This year's team tougher than last year's team?

[huskeynut]

This team walks on the court and expects to win. They believe in each other and know when a basket is needed and a defensive stop is needed, someone will step up and deliver.

Call it what ever you want - mental toughness, physical toughness, confidence, resilience. They just win.

They don't care who scores how much - just score.
They don't care who gets the rebound - just get the rebound.

It is the essence of the word TEAM.

 

[BroadwayVa]

this is our official "When We're Down" thread... bump up as often as needed!

OK ---Knute Rockne!!

 

[BroadwayVa]

Not according to Geno on his Show yesterday (taped of course). He said they are too nice and wants them to learn how to throttle an opponent for 40 minutes from the jump. There was also a short locker room segment when he accused them of backing down when challenged in a game (they had away jerseys on, but what game?).

That's an old refrain from Geno's classic song book. He has used this about a few, if not many, previous Uconn teams.
He at times has called them Girly Girls--until it became almost PC to not say girl--. If you listen/read/ or hear Geno over the years--his general ACT has a number of SCENE's he tends to re- enter in to the PLAY entitled UConn Basketball.
In human activity or relationships--there are few things different under the sun (whatever that mean/?)
You do know that Geno has called his act and that which his player do--not sport--but entertainment!!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

That's an old refrain from Geno's classic song book. He has used this about a few, if not many, previous Uconn teams.
He at times has called them Girly Girls--until it became almost PC to not say girl--. If you listen/read/ or hear Geno over the years--his general ACT has a number of SCENE's he tends to re- enter in to the PLAY entitled UConn Basketball.
In human activity or relationships--there are few things different under the sun (whatever that mean/?)
You do know that Geno has called his act and that which his player do--not sport--but entertainment!!

You are right, of course, about the "too nice" having been applied to others. Sometimes it has been "lacking the killer instinct" or "not willing to step on their neck and end it." When he is most honest, he continues to express a lack of understanding of what the team is as per the quote below. What it is is a work in progress.

"I don’t know what became evident during those games in November and December where we had to do some things to win and they certainly did,” Auriemma said. “I don’t know we are a bunch of tough guys that are going to maul you to death. I don’t know if we are overwhelming when we walk into the gym like when we had Asjha, Tamika, Swin, Dee, Svet and Shea (on the 2000-01 team), when we walked into the gym everybody just went ‘there is the team that is going to win right there.’ I can’t even put my finger on what is it about this team other than I think they expect to win.” FromRegister article in today's news.

 

[BroadwayVa]

You are right, of course, about the "too nice" having been applied to others. Sometimes it has been "lacking the killer instinct" or "not willing to step on their neck and end it." When he is most honest, he continues to express a lack of understanding of what the team is as per the quote below. What it is is a work in progress.

"I don’t know what became evident during those games in November and December where we had to do some things to win and they certainly did,” Auriemma said. “I don’t know we are a bunch of tough guys that are going to maul you to death. I don’t know if we are overwhelming when we walk into the gym like when we had Asjha, Tamika, Swin, Dee, Svet and Shea (on the 2000-01 team), when we walked into the gym everybody just went ‘there is the team that is going to win right there.’ I can’t even put my finger on what is it about this team other than I think they expect to win.” FromRegister article in today's news.

At times I have felt Geno just believes he has to bring out some old admonishment and revive for this team (in any year).

That was the start of the UCONN on the shirt won many games before they began (or had begun) quotation.
I don't think it is a knock on these guys that---'other than I think they expect to win' ---Geno likes and expects his team to play hard regardless of the score--and he is frustrated when they are up by 10/15/20 and pull the plug and coast. He has too often seen (as in the MD) teams come back to win or very close to winning after losing 15 (against ND) or 19 (against MD) and lose or scare the pants off of him (Geno).

You too are correct there is little you post that I have any issue or disagreement with. A disagreement on posting isn't a personal act---it's just one see's things one way and other see's thing differently--I'm stuck with the disease of seen the world much differently than everyone else---everything is seen from a different platform... Good method in scientific endeavors --not so in human relations.

 

[Kibitzer]

Yes!

 

[Conndog]

I still would like to see the game between This year's team vs. Last year's team. What last year had was better point guard and Stewie- but this year's squad has light-years better Gabby, Lou, Napheesa plus improved Kia and Saniya. I think it would be pretty close- and conjecturing is what makes this fun!

 

[BroadwayVa]

It's hard to argue with facts (some might say it's downright foolish), but I'm going to try anyway. Over the last 3rd of the season, once Lou gained her confidence and was inserted as a starter, IMO she was the most consistent 3-pt threat on a team of very good 3-pt shooters.

The case you make for Tuck is interesting because prior to heating up from beyond the arc later in the tournament she had missed a bunch of 3's, to the point where she got the Geno speech, "You got two choices: either start making them or stop shooting them." Obviously, Tuck selected option 1.

Old Dude---I'm sure you know the most enticing facts are those made up---98 percent of all facts are not real--a fact made up. What some think is fact --cuz the janitor told them--is just BS.
I agree with Katie Lou becoming an integral part of a team of super stars and three point shooters--to play with them at that level takes a strong ego and confidence.