Thanks for the confidence. Some of the UConn fans here are thinking 5-10 losses. Some are thinking far fewer. I want to see the schedule, but, at most, I see 2 out of conference and 1 in the NCAA tourney. Yes, our MOV will be down from 39. To 32.
First, I've always admired greatness and hate to see it fall so I hope I don't offend anyone with my post and I'm not predicting UConn's fall. 99% of what I'm writing you already know, but it does not hurt to hear it from the competition's fans, especially non-hostile type, and your greatness does breed a lot of stupid hostile competitive fans.
I'm on Boneyard quite often solely because I admire the unmatched knowledge and dedication of Huskie wbb fans, dedication notably so many wbb fan bases in the country are trying to match.
Now that I've buttered you up, but with truth, here comes the part you may not take to well.
I don't see UConn faltering much from the quality of programs you've had for some 20+ years. Yet, largely due to your own success, you've stroked a lot of fire into aspiring programs. There's now a multiplying number who have begun to put together the right combinations of fan base, coaching, facilities and athletic department backing, UConn will not be able to dominate as they have in the past.
There's definitely a better quality of coach in wbb out there than there was just ten years ago and some college ADs willing to properly compensate them to assure they get the max from these coaches. I have no records for high school participation, but I cannot help but believe there's an overall better quality of high school players coming into the college game today than ten years ago. UConn can't keep them all. The women are now playing in the men's home gyms, adding to spurring the interest of their fans. More men's fans are learning to accept the women's game and at an accelerated pace. This again continues to breed competition nationwide UConn has never faced.
One of our Cardinal fans recently sparked some controversy here over your lack of being in a P-5 conference, at the same time blasting the AAC. I don't know if UConn has suffered from TV appearances since the Big East broke up. I rather doubt it. Yet, one can only wonder how many more times TV would grab at UConn if they were playing in the ACC, Big Ten or that dreaded SEC.Will the UConn name and Aurie be able to maintain over years remaining in the AAC? This is one fan who says there will be some damage over time, but UConn is still UConn and Aurie is still Aurie.
Aurie is still Aurie? Yes, very fit, but then aging Aurie. Will the continued upstart programs budding around UConn catch up with Aurie by the time he hangs it up and will UConn, less Aurie, further realize the competition? I doubt Aurie is going anywhere for another five or so years so we'll put that one off to another time. And, yes it's true, as long as Aurie is at UConn there is no way to honestly predict ANY demise in the UConn program. But, one thing is certain and I honestly believe this. The days of blowing out other top 10 programs consistently by 20 and 30+ points is very likely more in UConn's past. Competition has arrived and is arriving UConn has not seen as often in the past. Winning six games in NCAA play against the competition year after year will NOT be as easy. Oh, and can I add? Stewie is gone next month.
And for the Huskie poster who named five up and coming schools UConn must be concerned about in the furture, you forgot the one I think might be your biggest concern..Louisville.
Well, I got some replies. I did not read where I predicted any UConn "demise". I thought I was very respectful of the Huskie wbb program, but I'll summarize it a bit here.
- I think you guys have won 9 of the last 15 championships. You won't win 9 of the next 15 primarily because Geno won't be here another 15 years.
-There will be added competition not experienced by UConn in the past 15 years. Blowouts of other top ten contenders will not be on the level they've been in recent years.
-UConn will remain the team to beat for the national championship, but Vegas will not get near the play on UConn it got each year the past 15 years.
-Blowing the Louisville Cardinals off the floor in any regular season matches or in national championship games will be much more difficult than the past. UConn fans will learn to respect the man in the plaid shirts and his teams.
If Brenda had DD she would have turned her into a Marissa Coleman/Alyssa Thomas hybrid. Look at what Brenda did with SWK and DD has way more talent than SWK. I think the LV coach really screwed up with her.
I disagree - I don't think DD is that good a shooter, and at this point very few players really change their shooting percentages that much - they can have an anomalous year and I suspect that is the case for SWK this year, but they don't go from career 29% or worse 3 point shooting to 40% let alone 50%. Brenda may have been able to reign in DD's excesses, and with that she might move from 40% to 45% or even 50% overall shooting, but I doubt the three point shooting would change even that much.
If Walzie is such a great coach why does he have to wait until Aurie's demise to take over the WBB world?
Joke is on you my friend, rumor has it that Waltz will take over for Geno when he retires.
If EDD stayed Connecticut would be playing for its 8th straight trip to the White House!
IMO Geno will not let that happen because of what is happening with Tennessee.
Shooting percentage has as much to do, if not more than with shot selection as it does with shooting practice.
Their home boards or chat rooms confuse IQ with RPI and the few like yourself seek higher grounds. Having said that, your opening and buttering up statement was fine but the content of your statement was basically common sense that most here already know.
What next, you will realize besides Jeffy that Dawny & Fresee are getting it done? On a side note any idea what has happened to Stringy and her program? 
But, being called anything breath takes me back a few years. if he could attend one of his practices about three or so years back as was reported by our newspaper.
He actually asked if he and his whole team could attend a practice and Geno said yes. It was the first year Walz was coaching there, and Uconn was spending an extra day in town because their next game was DePaul and they were making a three legged trip. Walz was trying to change the culture and he felt the whole team could benefit by watching how a really good team ran practice.In my 71+ years as a Card fan I've never been called, "beakbreath".
Walz actually asked Coach Auriamma
So you read far enough into my post to note, "most here already know the content of my statement is common knowledge" of those with high WBB IQ willing to listen the lower beings?
Then I'll add Coach Auriamma is no God, though perhaps in his game, close. And though Husky WBB deserves its current palace among all the homeless, Husky fans should as you've suggested, maintain a new awareness and respect in the post Ms. Stewart years of all those aspiring to become a challenger to the Husky dominance. BTW, Coach Walz is in his ninth year of learning as a head coach. Was Coach Auriamma an instant success?
I have no doubt you are correct that planning and preparations are and will continue to be made. I don't, however, believe you can plan genius, either arriving or departing. In the insurance business (I'm not in the insurance business so anyone who is should feel free to correct me) it's called an "Act of God," i.e., that for which humans, no matter how careful, can't plan.
