Transfer thread

[oldude]

Z was the tallest player on the team at the time, and really had to play center out of necessity, she was still allowed to fire away from deep, drift out on to the wing, and listed as a Forward/ Guard on the UConn roster, the only thing she didn’t do here was bring the ball up court I believe. Austin would be playing next to a true center in Liv at UConn, something Maryland doesn’t have, and with Reece coming in who will slide right into the four where Charles was playing, would have kept Austin in the post.

Interesting that you mention Reese coming in at MD. She’s made it very clear that she thinks she’s a guard. Considering that Austin appears to be leaving because she doesn’t want to play center, Brenda may have yet another battle on her hands to convince Reese to play forward.

 

[Huskie02]

You answered your own question. The player has to ask that question. Unfortunately the Coach is looking for a signature and, from what I understand, only interested in talking about popsicles and rainbows.

I read something I believe in the Hartford courant that after she announced her commitment to UConn, she called Geno and asked where she would be playing. Geno‘s response was something like I have no idea, it’s much to early to project anything like that. I hope someone out there does a fact check.

 

[DeeHusky]

I think it’s smart for players to know where they want to play on the court early on in high school. That way all the skills they have can be displayed and shown to college coaches so that even if you don’t get the set position you want, you’ve shown that you can do it and maybe the coach will allow you to be versatile and play there sometimes.

By the time you get to college it’s kinda too late to play on the perimeter if that’s something you haven’t shown you can do because there are plenty players that can already do that with ease. Whereas in high school, you’re probably the star and you can pretty much do what you want.

 

[bballnut90]

Interesting that you mention Reese coming in at MD. She’s made it very clear that she thinks she’s a guard. Considering that Austin appears to be leaving because she doesn’t want to play center, Brenda may have yet another battle on her hands to convince Reese to play forward.

Reese is still pretty raw from footage I've seen. Likely needs to add on a lot of muscle if she's going to compete inside. Has good handles for a 6-3 girl and attacks the basket well. Not the prettiest looking jumper or the best finisher inside. I think they'll really miss Austin next year even if Reese is better than I anticipate. I think the gap between Bueckers and the rest of the class is pretty substantial at this point.

 

[Charliebball]

Two different parts in play here, Offense and Defense.
According to her father, she wants to expand her game. That generally means on offense. IF she's effective offensively from the perimeter, that's fine, I'm all in.
If not... next.

exactly but the problem is she's unproven from the outside........she shot 509% from the floor last year which is good but she was 0-1 from three point territory so should we just assume she wants to work on her mid range game?

 

[DefenseBB]

I suspected you might fill in the blanks and I appreciate the examples you suggest. But I did list 5 criteria, so some of the examples don’t quite fit the bill.

• Reimer - started to deal with injuries at ND, particularly a chronic Achilles’ tendon issue.
• I had listed Slocum in my original post along with Austin. The other MD players you list support the general point I was making, that Brenda appears to have a unique problem with starters transferring.
• With all due respect to triadduke, the Blue Devils haven’t been a perennial top 10 team for some time.
• Moore is a good example
• KY, like Duke, is hard to consider a perennial top 10 team.
• Dawn made it clear that she did not offer Cooper the opportunity to come back to SC for a sixth year of eligibility.
• Mompremier had lost her starting spot to Brown with freshman Cox waiting in the wings. The writing was clearly on the wall.
• I agree that Nixon & Patterson were probably penciled in as starters this year. But they weren’t starters and perhaps after spending a lot of time on MM’s bench, they didn’t trust her or their own abilities to become starters at ND.

Not to quibble with you but I think all the players that @CocoHusky listed (except for the 3 ND players -Patterson and Nixon before starting and Reiner left due to what I thought was a violation of team rules-marijuana ) did fit the criteria. Now you seem to want to parse the names even more. So let’s first set the record straight that Maryland is in the Big10, not the ACC. It is curious that many good players leave the Terp program-Kiah Gillespie, Jen Staiti were also 2 more prominent names.

You seem to be hinting at something about a lack of development which may or may not be true. There are two other programs that come to my mind more frequently in Texas and former Holly Warlick coached LV.

I went to 6 Terp games this year and I know Austin was benched from starting for at least 1 game if not more before the start of conference play. The team was having some issues at that time but seemed to turn the corner after their team meeting that resulted from the NW blowout. While they had 5 losses this year, Brenda played a very good schedule (for once) and I thought she actually did a good job coaching this team. Austin could dominate games at times and whether she thinks so or not, she is a post player, not a wing. She is not Stewie and any coach who has her would do the same thing as Brenda was doing with her and what Dawn did with A’ja. Maybe if Austin could prove to Geno she really is an awesome jump shooter, he and CD would let her take 3’s but I highly doubt it (anyone remember Azura?).

Where I worry is would Austin work hard enough to fit in for the teams sake vs. “her development perspective”. Geno and CD will know that answer.

I would last add that this will be the new norm of good players transferring if they have a disagreement with a coach on their views. Albeit 1 time only pass but the transfer numbers will stay higher than they were 2,3 and 4 years ago.

Owens leaving doesn’t even have me batting an eye as I agree with @oldude that she may be overmatched for the MD program. I will find it interesting how Angel Reese may fit in...

 

[Checkmate 2.0]

Not to quibble with you but I think all the players that @CocoHusky listed (except for the 3 ND players -Patterson and Nixon before starting and Reiner left due to what I thought was a violation of team rules-marijuana ) did fit the criteria. Now you seem to want to parse the names even more. So let’s first set the record straight that Maryland is in the Big10, not the ACC. It is curious that many good players leave the Terp program-Kiah Gillespie, Jen Staiti were also 2 more prominent names.

You seem to be hinting at something about a lack of development which may or may not be true. There are two other programs that come to my mind more frequently in Texas and former Holly Warlick coached LV.

I went to 6 Terp games this year and I know Austin was benched from starting for at least 1 game if not more before the start of conference play. The team was having some issues at that time but seemed to turn the corner after their team meeting that resulted from the NW blowout. While they had 5 losses this year, Brenda played a very good schedule (for once) and I thought she actually did a good job coaching this team. Austin could dominate games at times and whether she thinks so or not, she is a post player, not a wing. She is not Stewie and any coach who has her would do the same thing as Brenda was doing with her and what Dawn did with A’ja. Maybe if Austin could prove to Geno she really is an awesome jump shooter, he and CD would let her take 3’s but I highly doubt it (anyone remember Azura?).

Where I worry is would Austin work hard enough to fit in for the teams sake vs. “her development perspective”. Geno and CD will know that answer.

I would last add that this will be the new norm of good players transferring if they have a disagreement with a coach on their views. Albeit 1 time only pass but the transfer numbers will stay higher than they were 2,3 and 4 years ago.

Owens leaving doesn’t even have me batting an eye as I agree with @oldude that she may be overmatched for the MD program. I will find it interesting how Angel Reese may fit in...

"Brenda played a very good schedule"? She scheduled one ranked team. A 9 point loss at home vs South Carolina was a moral victory. The Big 10 was weak and the ranked teams were mediocre teams who played weak schedules.

2019-20 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Maryland Athletics

The official 2019-20 Women's Basketball schedule for the Maryland Terrapins

umterps.com

 

[Plebe]

"Brenda played a very good schedule"? She scheduled one ranked team. The Big 10 was weak and the ranked teams were mediocre because of the weak schedules.

2019-20 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Maryland Athletics

The official 2019-20 Women's Basketball schedule for the Maryland Terrapins

umterps.com

Her SOS was ranked #5 in both RPI and Massey. Her nonconference schedule wasn't great (#84), but she did play both South Carolina and NC State.

Not sure by what criteria you're calling the Big Ten weak. They were the clear #2 conference behind the Pac-12 and clearly ahead of the ACC, SEC and Big 12.

Maryland played 18 games against the RPI top 50, more than any other team in the country. Compare that to Baylor, who played 10, or UConn, who played 8.

 

[Checkmate 2.0]

Her SOS was ranked #5 in both RPI and Massey. Her nonconference schedule wasn't great (#84), but she did play both South Carolina and NC State.

Not sure by what criteria you're calling the Big Ten weak. They were the clear #2 conference behind the Pac-12 and clearly ahead of the ACC, SEC and Big 12.

Maryland played 18 games against the RPI top 50, more than any other team in the country. Compare that to Baylor, who played 10, or UConn, who played 8.

Again she scheduled only one ranked team. NC State was part of the ACC vs BIG10 match up, Brenda did not schedule NC State. She was 1-2 against the top 15 teams. It was a weak year for all the P5 conferences. Ranking are not facts, they are based on reputation and records. Only the top 5 or 10 ranked teams really matter......look at how much the rankings change after the cupcakes are no longer played

How many top 10 teams did UConn play? Baylor? Any team higher than # 20 are nothing special.... the record against premier teams is what counts.

 

[Plebe]

Again she scheduled only one ranked team. NC State was part of the ACC vs BIG10 match up, Brenda did not schedule NC State. She was 1-2 against the top 15 teams. It was a weak year for all the P5 conferences. Ranking are not facts, they are based on reputation and records. Only the top 5 or 10 ranked teams really matter......look at how much the rankings change after the cupcakes are no longer played

How many top 10 teams did UConn play? Baylor? Any team higher than # 20 are nothing special.... the record against premier teams is what counts.

Your methodology of analysis is both flawed and inconsistent.

First of all, your arbitrary bar changes literally with every sentence: first it was "top 15 teams", then "top 5 or 10 ranked teams", then "top 10 teams", then "any team higher than #20". If you're gonna be arbitrary about which teams matter and which don't, make up your mind and stick to a story.

Secondly, you appear to be making the classic mistake of judging the opponents by "ranking" at the time of the contest. If we're looking at games against top 15 teams, Maryland was actually 5-3 against teams that finished in the RPI top 15.

You were responding to @DefenseBB 's remark that Brenda played a strong schedule this season. That's an indisputable fact, regardless of whether most of that strength of schedule was of her choosing or not.

 

[bballnut90]

Again she scheduled only one ranked team. NC State was part of the ACC vs BIG10 match up, Brenda did not schedule NC State. She was 1-2 against the top 15 teams. It was a weak year for all the P5 conferences. Ranking are not facts, they are based on reputation and records. Only the top 5 or 10 ranked teams really matter......look at how much the rankings change after the cupcakes are no longer played

How many top 10 teams did UConn play? Baylor? Any team higher than # 20 are nothing special.... the record against premier teams is what counts.

By that logic Dawn only scheduled 2 ranked teams (Maryland and UCONN) and Oregon only scheduled 2 (UCONN and Syracuse). Baylor scheduled 1. You can't just discredit conference games and preseason tournaments/conference battles.

People have been able to rip on Brenda's scheduling in past but there's no way you can make that argument this year.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

By that logic Dawn only scheduled 2 ranked teams (Maryland and UCONN) and Oregon only scheduled 2 (UCONN and Syracuse). Baylor scheduled 1. You can't just discredit conference games and preseason tournaments/conference battles.

People have been able to rip on Brenda's scheduling in past but there's no way you can make that argument this year.

A good point. Put in perspective, really, coaches do schedule individual games with knowledge of what they think their conference is bringing to the table and also what they "expect" to play when they commit to in-season tournaments. They are also at the mercy of who is willing to play them, games with players in mind (such as trips home), "road trips" that are financially sensible, etc.

I will point out 3 road trips - North Dakota opened their season visiting Arizona and Grand Canyon. Towson did a road trip to San Diego and San Diego State. And Arizona's trip to Chicago State was predicated on a second game planned in the area that fell through.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Geno is not that type of coach you are correct. There is a flip side to that equation though, Geno also challenges his players to do things that they are not comfortable with doing & always for the benefit of the team. If Austin truly wants to expand her game, there is no better coach.

I know you mean that Geno's focus is primarily on what is best for the team but his 'requests' for payers to significantly alter their playing approach/strategy also benefits the player to expand their abilities, not just the team.

Some players can get very passive aggressive going through these changes. they might buy in physically but not mentally. For example, If 6'4" believes her best game is on the wing and is asked to play the post, she may play the post but with a wing mentality. To get her to fully buy in and change her mentality is the problem.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Wow, are we dating ourselves!

i was more of a DuPont type dude. You know; "better living through chemistry"

 

[CocoHusky]

I know you mean that Geno's focus is primarily on what is best for the team but his 'requests' for payers to significantly alter their playing approach/strategy also benefits the player to expand their abilities, not just the team.

Some players can get very passive aggressive going through these changes. they might buy in physically but not mentally. For example, If 6'4" believes her best game is on the wing and is asked to play the post, she may play the post but with a wing mentality. To get her to fully buy in and change her mentality is the problem.

 

[Krrt82]

Reading through this thread I saw a few people mention Charlie Collier. Have there been rumblings that she might be considering to transfer? Or why have people been bringing her up?

 

[oldude]

Reading through this thread I saw a few people mention Charlie Collier. Have there been rumblings that she might be considering to transfer? Or why have people been bringing her up?

“No” to your first question. As to why people are bringing her up, “Who knows?”

 

[pvdoggy]

Reading through this thread I saw a few people mention Charlie Collier. Have there been rumblings that she might be considering to transfer? Or why have people been bringing her up?

just wishful thinking by some people based on saying that Texas is floundering as a program when Collier probably had a better season than ONO.

 

[donalddoowop]

just wishful thinking by some people based on saying that Texas is floundering as a program when Collier probably had a better season than ONO.
[/QUOTE
Some people see that some of the better Texas players have not reached their potential the last few years and believe Collier has noticed that. A perfect example: Joiner Holmes. There are others. Some Texas fans are not satisfied with the head coach at Texas and hope she is on the hot seat. As you stated, "just wishful thinking".

 

[Centerstream]

“No” to your first question. As to why people are bringing her up, “Who knows?”

Reading through this thread I saw a few people mention Charlie Collier. Have there been rumblings that she might be considering to transfer? Or why have people been bringing her up?

It's the BY...

 

[JonathanXIV]

By that logic Dawn only scheduled 2 ranked teams (Maryland and UCONN) and Oregon only scheduled 2 (UCONN and Syracuse). Baylor scheduled 1. You can't just discredit conference games and preseason tournaments/conference battles.

People have been able to rip on Brenda's scheduling in past but there's no way you can make that argument this year.

The portion of the schedule which Brenda had control over was ranked 84th. If that’s upping her strength of schedule that really says everything about her scheduling practice and philosophy.

 

[Tonyc]

Any player coming to UConn will have to make a total commitment and be coachable, especially a player who is coming from another team with only a year or two of eligibility left. With that said a player who has been playing the post and wants to play on the outside, when infront of her are a bunch of AA's who may be shorter but have experience on the outside and are better from the outside. Well I dont see that happening. IMO in most cases its takes to long to develop a post player let alone a post player who wants to play outside. If you gonna play a position like Stewie or Lobo did and your not Stewie or Lobo well I dont think theres much chance of you playing for a top team with 2 years left. Stewie and Lobo played their positions from high school forward and were developed. Two years imo isnt enough time to be developed.

Top teams need post players who can step outside on occasion . Stewie and Lobo were one of a kind. There arent may players like those two AA's. UConn is in very good shape for the next few years.

To bring in Austin and her not willing to play underneath could create an attitude problem and thats one thing UConn does not need. UConn is young talented and will be developed. If shes willing to play underneath and be developed and then work on coming out and taking shots that might work, then who sits?????

Again UConn has great recruits coming in, in the next 2 years and they will need alot of attention and work to be developed. We have discussed not having enough positions and playtime and with Megan turning pro will now have that opening. I would not be jump on this. We could use a good post player who is willing to share time with Liv and then Paith and DeBerry and they would have to be willing to share time too????? Alot of questions that only Geno and Chris can answer.

 

[bballnut90]

The portion of the schedule which Brenda had control over was ranked 84th. If that’s upping her strength of schedule that really says everything about her scheduling practice and philosophy.

The portion she had control over was literally 7 games. You make your schedule having a good idea of what your conference looks like. She also likely knew far in advance that her squad was playing at NC State in the challenge so she took that into consideration. Even if she didnt know who the opponent would be, she knew she had an ACC opponent on the schedule for the challenge.

Furthermore, it isn't every coach's goal to have the toughest possible schedule. We saw ND schedule tough and pay the price for it this year. Maryland was a wreck to start the year and caught fire in conference play. Ultimately it all worked out quite well for Brenda. Her team faced a tough schedule and would've earned a #1 seed. If she added in 1-2 more top 20 foes early on, they likely drop another game and are out of the 1 line.

Historically Brenda has put together some awful non conference schedules with the knowledge that the Big Ten would be bad, but this last year she didn't. You cant cherry pick a 7 game portion of her non-conf schedule and criticize her schedule philosophy based on those games.

 

[bballnut90]

Reading through this thread I saw a few people mention Charlie Collier. Have there been rumblings that she might be considering to transfer? Or why have people been bringing her up?

I have no insider info but there's a lot of reason to think she might be considering it.

Most high profile recruits (Collier was #2 coming into college) want to play for teams
that are likely title contenders or at least in the top 10-15. Texas hasnt been that her first 2 years despite having a ton of talent. Next year they're likely in rebuilding mode, losing a big senior class and Collier is the only standout returning.

Collier also switched her commitment twice prior to entering college and Texas has had several top recruits transfer out in recent years.

On top of that, Aston's contract ends this year so who knows if it'll be renewed or if Texas brings in a new coach in the offseason.

 

[mhshuskies]

Tom Brady

Does he still have any eligibility left?