UConn hosts BRUNELLE and Poffenbarger

[meyers7]

Is Jonathan taller than Bria Hartley??

Are you measuring by his head or by his ears.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Well, one of the "old guy" versions of guards that controlled the ball playing together were Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe. Worked just fine for the Knicks. "Clyde" was the primary lead guard, but "the Pearl" would spell him and mix things up.

As for growth, as a former long-time travel soccer coach, most of my female players had reached peak height by 8th or 9th grade, so I wouldn't expect too much growth from Bueckers. From the tape I've seen of her, she could play "off guard" easily or -- with an intelligent (basketball-wise) running mate -- they could interchange certain duties at certain points (bringing the ball up court, initiating the half-court offense). Given the offense the Huskies run, I can see this.

(An unintended example of this may be taking place in South Bend the rest of the season depending on the extent of Lili Thompson's injury.)

With all the talk about the flair of Paige's game and intensity of VanLith, the guard I'm drawn to is Caitlin Clark, who seems to have a number of each player's characteristics, plus a steely resolve and ability to oversee an approach to the game. Macro management with an attention to detail and a bit of flair. I could also see why MM would be interested.

I enjoyed this one! Your assessment of growth is correct in those you have seen but statically growth (apparently) continues up to at least age 25. Then too there those that for some reason get a growth spurt. . Point is: All 8 th 7th grade kids should expect some continued growth, how much : ask their parents.
Lilli Thompson IS an important player for the success of ND this year. She is a LEADER. Shes the kind of producer on the floor I really don't like to see on opponents teams. Along with the "highly contested transfer" ND has more than a little talent and experience--

 

[BroadwayVa]

On that "you can't have all the recruits" thing, I'm just trying to protect all of you from the complaints from other fan bases about UConn getting all of the best players. I know you hate that. So just leave Brink and Van Lith alone, you have plenty enough good players east of the Mississippi to choose from.

Would you have had Geno turn down Dt, Gabby, KML, KLS, ---he was just trying to save them if Calif slides in to the pacific. Uconn is always looking out for "others", especially WBB players. I believe Geno needs to SAVE all the great WBB players he can..

 

[BroadwayVa]

When I coached high school as an asst at the time. I also coached a 7th grade travel team in the middle 90s. Before season started I had a meeting with parents and my players about parents coaching from the stands or anytime they were with me. If it happened that kid would not play! I played two thirds of my schedule against older teams. There is 3 high schools in town and basically we ran alot of the same plays offense and defense. Which we learned from watching some of it at Uconn practices! At halftime we were down 10 and my team was not handling the press well because they were doing a lousy job with our press breakers with to much dribbling. My leading scorers father started to tell her to dribble through the press right before the 2nd half started. So I took her aside and before I said anything to her, She knew her night was done. During a timeout my pg came to me and said that player was on bench saying I hate my f@#$ing father! I sat with her and told her It wasnt her I was dissapointed with and calmed her down. We lost the game and after her father (who never played or coached ) started ranting about his daughter not playing. I just said you know the rules. He left his daughter there 25 miles from home. With 3 months left in season this players father didnt bring her to anything! We ended up winning the Boys & Girls Club State Championship! Then we played New Hampshire for the New England Championship At Brandeis University. With 9 seconds left and a tie game at 40 and our ball. They played man to man. During our timeout I put his daughter in the far corner, my 2 post opposite side elbow and block with my pg receiving the inbounds at half court. at 6 seconds my post on the elbow started sliding towards the block at that time my player in the far corner watched that post move down and then cut towards them. Right after she cut between them. My big girls stood shoulder to shoulder and sealed off the girl guarding her and the 2 guarding them! She received the ball 15 ft.away and it hit nothing but net as time expired to win the NEC! After the game this father came up to me an apoligized and congratulated me on the game and final play. I told him thank you for today but save your apology for your daughter! All 12 of my kids played 4 years of high school and all were ahead of the other freshmen at there schools. This was one of the worst parents I dealt with in my coaching career!

All of us who have coached : Little league, Jr League, HS, CYO, AAU--have had the pleasure and advise of parents, some good, some bad. Most intend to HELP, as frustrating for a coach that may be. A parent shouting advice during a game should get no more than a heckler (and they too are omnipresent) face to face I would smile, take the advise; use it or reject it. My kids, I can truthfully say, never knew what an ass I thought the parent was.

 

[Blueconn]

View attachment 27404 View attachment 27404 View attachment 27404 View attachment 27404

Fit young Husky players or possible Huskies always wear the gear so much more attractively ! That classic, clean thrown together casualness draped over terrific athletes.

I type the VISA number, get that same sweatshirt, and the image ain’t the same. Admit it would help if I had some hair, a few less wrinkles, and could keep a New Year’s Resolution to drop 20 pounds !

 

[Dillon77]

I enjoyed this one! Your assessment of growth is correct in those you have seen but statically growth (apparently) continues up to at least age 25. Then too there those that for some reason get a growth spurt. . Point is: All 8 th 7th grade kids should expect some continued growth, how much : ask their parents.
Lilli Thompson IS an important player for the success of ND this year. She is a LEADER. Shes the kind of producer on the floor I really don't like to see on opponents teams. Along with the "highly contested transfer" ND has more than a little talent and experience--

In regards to Lili Thompson, it's a shame that she got injured and hope this is not a long-term one. It takes time to get new pieces to fit, but she was finding her role within the ND guard rotation very well. I was impressed with her defense, particularly an ability to read passing lanes and patterns. She would've been a great defensive back -- quick hands and super burst speed. And she's worked well with the trio of Ogunbowale, Mabrey and Young, which probably had/has it challenges, as well as benefits.

As for Shep, she's fit in very well on so many fronts, including playing through some ankle sprains. That decication is appreciated by players and coaches alike, particularly this snake-bit season. This core group is getting smaller in number of players, but hopefully stronger in their mission.

As for the growth issue, I am speaking about height. While I'm sure some kids are going to grow (particularly guys...I added two inches in college) as they get older, I wouldn't count on Paige being a point forward!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

As for height, sure some kids are going to grow (particularly guys...I added two inches in college) but I wouldn't count on Paige being a point forward!

Bueckers is basically the same height as Taurasi and Diana more or less became a small forward who played the point often. That's kind of what I see Bueckers possibly becoming.

 

[JavaMan]

Does the sideline reporter ever interview a visiting recruit? Illegal?unethical?

Well, you could have just asked your avatar.

​

 

[Phil]

On that "you can't have all the recruits" thing, I'm just trying to protect all of you from the complaints from other fan bases about UConn getting all of the best players. I know you hate that. So just leave Brink and Van Lith alone, you have plenty enough good players east of the Mississippi to choose from.

Everyone is east of the Mississippi, if you go far enough east.

 

[Golden Husky]

Well, one of the "old guy" versions of guards that controlled the ball playing together were Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe. Worked just fine for the Knicks. "Clyde" was the primary lead guard, but "the Pearl" would spell him and mix things up.

As for growth, as a former long-time travel soccer coach, most of my female players had reached peak height by 8th or 9th grade, so I wouldn't expect too much growth from Bueckers. From the tape I've seen of her, she could play "off guard" easily or -- with an intelligent (basketball-wise) running mate -- they could interchange certain duties at certain points (bringing the ball up court, initiating the half-court offense). Given the offense the Huskies run, I can see this.

(An unintended example of this may be taking place in South Bend the rest of the season depending on the extent of Lili Thompson's injury.)

With all the talk about the flair of Paige's game and intensity of VanLith, the guard I'm drawn to is Caitlin Clark, who seems to have a number of each player's characteristics, plus a steely resolve and ability to oversee an approach to the game. Macro management with an attention to detail and a bit of flair. I could also see why MM would be interested.

I don't know about other posters but when I mentioned growth it referred to Paige's game, not her body. That's really where it counts, right?

 

[Ozimoto]

I don't know where Saylor is from but Sam Brunnell is N.Central VA lady---the cold here is not far from the cold in CT---Today. The weather should not be turn-off. I'm keeping my eyes crossed Sam becomes a Geno believer--if Saylor is a Stewie type, then she will know there is ONLY one school for Stewie and Saylor.

Saylor Poffenbarger attends Middletown High School in central Maryland between Frederick and Hagerstown. She will be used to cold weather, trust me.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Sue Bird and Keirsten Walters were part of the incoming 1998 group. Sue was ranked as low as #20 for political reasons. We all know that she became arguably the best PG ever over her career. Keirsten was ranked very highly, but her career was cut very short by injuries. I think Paige can be a combo guard or even a wing. Just think of Sue and Diana in the same backcourt. That has worked rather well (massive understatement).

Milford, would you be willing to elaborate on that? I've never heard this.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Are you measuring by his head or by his ears.

Yes.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Milford, would you be willing to elaborate on that? I've never heard this.

Others know the story more accurately than I. As I recall, Sue was on a competing AAU team or refused to join the AAU team of the person behind one of the rating services. It may have been Blue Star, but I'm not certain. In any case, that service rated her noticeably lower than the other services, not that there were as many services back then as there are now. I'm pretty sure that service rated her #20, though everyone knew she was a top 10 player. I believe that Tamika Williams was #1, Swin Cash was #2, and Asjha Jones was #4 or so.

Rating services are imperfect and reflect inherent human biases. Some kids are overrated; some are underrated. Sue was underrated, and there are frequent jokes about it on the BY. A couple of others who were grossly underrated, possibly because they were under the radar or were late bloomers were Angel McCoughtry and Alana Beard. My memory fails me, but I think they were rated roughly #50 and #40, respectively. When they came out of college, they were top 2 or so.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Others know the story more accurately than I. As I recall, Sue was on a competing AAU team or refused to join the AAU team of the person behind one of the rating services. It may have been Blue Star, but I'm not certain. In any case, that service rated her noticeably lower than the other services, not that there were as many services back then as there are now. I'm pretty sure that service rated her #20, though everyone knew she was a top 10 player. I believe that Tamika Williams was #1, Swin Cash was #2, and Asjha Jones was #4 or so.

Rating services are imperfect and reflect inherent human biases. Some kids are overrated; some are underrated. Sue was underrated, and there are frequent jokes about it on the BY. A couple of others who were grossly underrated, possibly because they were under the radar or were late bloomers were Angel McCoughtry and Alana Beard. My memory fails me, but I think they were rated roughly #50 and #40, respectively. When they came out of college, they were top 2 or so.

Thanks a lot.

 

[meyers7]

Others know the story more accurately than I. As I recall, Sue was on a competing AAU team or refused to join the AAU team of the person behind one of the rating services. It may have been Blue Star, but I'm not certain. In any case, that service rated her noticeably lower than the other services, not that there were as many services back then as there are now. I'm pretty sure that service rated her #20, though everyone knew she was a top 10 player. I believe that Tamika Williams was #1, Swin Cash was #2, and Asjha Jones was #4 or so.

Rating services are imperfect and reflect inherent human biases. Some kids are overrated; some are underrated. Sue was underrated, and there are frequent jokes about it on the BY. A couple of others who were grossly underrated, possibly because they were under the radar or were late bloomers were Angel McCoughtry and Alana Beard. My memory fails me, but I think they were rated roughly #50 and #40, respectively. When they came out of college, they were top 2 or so.

BlueStar that year 97-98 was
1. Tamika Williams
2. Swin Cash
5. Asjha Jones
13. Keirsten Walters
18. Suzanne Bird

Alana Beard was #30 in 99-2000

Not sure about Angel. I believe she graduated HS in 2004, but then spent a year getting NCAA Div 1 qualified before she went to Louisville. I don't have the 2004 Blue Star rankings.

 

[winlots]

You folks talking about dealing with the aging process have been nothing short of inspirational. Thank you - and MANY Happy New Years to all Yarders, regardless of age.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Saylor Poffenbarger attends Middletown High School in central Maryland between Frederick and Hagerstown. She will be used to cold weather, trust me.

Know the area . The VA hospital I frequent is in Martinsburg WVa, stop in Hagerstown regularly.
If she is there today---she is feeling REAL cold. Thanks for the information--Thank you

 

[nwhoopfan]

Would you have had Geno turn down Dt, Gabby, KML, KLS, ---he was just trying to save them if Calif slides in to the pacific. Uconn is always looking out for "others", especially WBB players. I believe Geno needs to SAVE all the great WBB players he can..

I can be reasonable. I'm not asking Geno to stay out of California. EVERYBODY recruits in California. But Oregon and Washington don't produce very many top 10 or top 5 recruits. Maybe Geno can just pretend like he didn't notice that part of the country existed (although that would be difficult after playing a game in Eugene this year, and in Seattle about 15 years ago).

 

[Carnac]

When I coached high school as an asst at the time. I also coached a 7th grade travel team in the middle 90s. Before season started I had a meeting with parents and my players about parents coaching from the stands or anytime they were with me. If it happened that kid would not play! I played two thirds of my schedule against older teams. There is 3 high schools in town and basically we ran alot of the same plays offense and defense. Which we learned from watching some of it at Uconn practices! At halftime we were down 10 and my team was not handling the press well because they were doing a lousy job with our press breakers with to much dribbling. My leading scorers father started to tell her to dribble through the press right before the 2nd half started. So I took her aside and before I said anything to her, She knew her night was done. During a timeout my pg came to me and said that player was on bench saying I hate my f@#$ing father! I sat with her and told her It wasnt her I was dissapointed with and calmed her down. We lost the game and after her father (who never played or coached ) started ranting about his daughter not playing. I just said you know the rules. He left his daughter there 25 miles from home. With 3 months left in season this players father didnt bring her to anything! We ended up winning the Boys & Girls Club State Championship! Then we played New Hampshire for the New England Championship At Brandeis University. With 9 seconds left and a tie game at 40 and our ball. They played man to man. During our timeout I put his daughter in the far corner, my 2 post opposite side elbow and block with my pg receiving the inbounds at half court. at 6 seconds my post on the elbow started sliding towards the block at that time my player in the far corner watched that post move down and then cut towards them. Right after she cut between them. My big girls stood shoulder to shoulder and sealed off the girl guarding her and the 2 guarding them! She received the ball 15 ft.away and it hit nothing but net as time expired to win the NEC! After the game this father came up to me an apoligized and congratulated me on the game and final play. I told him thank you for today but save your apology for your daughter! All 12 of my kids played 4 years of high school and all were ahead of the other freshmen at there schools. This was one of the worst parents I dealt with in my coaching career!

Those types of parents are EVERYWHERE, and at ALL levels, across various sports i.e., softball volleyball, soccer, etc. The coaches at my granddaughter's high school pretty much have a similar policy. It seems to work pretty good, because the parents know, the coaches mean what they say. You coach from the stands, your kid gets benched, period!!!

Every year BEFORE the start of official practice, the coaches from the 3 levels have a group parent/player Q&A meeting in the gym, where the rules and regs and the zero tolerance policy is explained to them. The parents also receive at copy of these rules in writing for future reference. After 1-2 incidents at the beginning of the season, causing a player to be removed from the game (there's always that 1 parent that has to test the coach/policy), the coaching from the stands usually ceases. When a player is pulled, it's for the remainder of the game. I can understand the player's fury and frustration at being benched for no fault of her own. It's not a pretty sight or situation. The player and parent are usually pissed and embarrassed.

 

[FASTEDDY]

I think I'd add Amihere in 2019, but I largely agree.

Van Lithe (or something like that) as well.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Van Lithe (or something like that) as well.

Van Lith is lithe.

 

[BigBird]

Illegal.
13.11.1 Presence of Media during Recruiting Contact. A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution's coaching staff member. Violations of this bylaw do not affect a prospect's eligibility and are considered institutional violations per Constitution 2.8.1.

13.11.3 Radio/TV Show. A member institution shall not permit a prospect or a highschool, college preparatory school or two-year college coach to appear, be interviewed or otherwise be involved (in person or via film, audio tape or videotape) on: (a) A radio or television program conducted by the institution's coach; (b) A program in which the institution's coach is participating; or (c) A program for which a member of the institution's athletics staff has been instrumental in arranging for the appearance of the prospect or coach or related program material.

This (13.11.3) seems to provide an “out” for print media and the legions of Internet recruiting sites.

 

[CocoHusky]

This (13.11.3) seems to provide an “out” for print media and the legions of Internet recruiting sites.

13.10.1 Presence of Media During Recruiting Contact. A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution's coaching staff member. [D] (Adopted: 1/9/96, Revised: 1/14/97, 6/22/11)

Legislative Services Database - LSDBi

 

[BigBird]

Those types of parents are EVERYWHERE, and at ALL levels, across various sports i.e., softball volleyball, soccer, etc. The coaches at my granddaughter's high school pretty much have a similar policy. It seems to work pretty good, because the parents know, the coaches mean what they say. You coach from the stands, your kid gets benched, period!!!

The pushy parent isn’t limited to sports, unfortunately. My wife taught high school Spanish for about forty years. She was many times confronted by parents who cared nothing about established school rules, procedures, or teaching methods. They had another agenda. They adamantly cared that their kid not screw up a possible scholarship (and the resultant revenue savings for themselves). Because they thought grades equalled hard cash, they could be particularly vicious.

It wasn’t unusual for parents here to pull their kid out of school for a week so that the family could vacation together in the tropics. And of course, they demanded that the student be given all assignments in advance AND be allowed to submit assignments late. If necessary, she was expected to do one-on-one remedial lessons to get the kid caught up. Despite the additional teacher workloads this created, these parents were arrogant, self-centered and selfish to the point of absurdity. They railed at my wife, not because she wasn’t a good and dedicated teacher. They were upset with her because Spanish isn’t a subject where parents can readily do the homework for their student-athletes and allow their kid to slide through. It’s the same for teachers of other challenging subjects. If the grade isn’t an “A,” parents leap to question the ability of the teacher, not the ability or attentiveness of their student. It’s a favorite tactic of the “helicopter parent” to show up at the school multiple times every week to argue every last point on every assignment. Their goal is to wear out the teachers’ resolve and thus gain favorable treatment. School principals don’t help the situation much at all.

Here in the Midwest, far too many high schools are headed by men whose main leadership qualification is that they coached (typically unsuccessfully) football or some other sport. They threaten or lean on teachers to extend special treatment to athletes, and they side with the pushy parent out of convenience or political comfort. Their might-makes-right attitudes are not a solution. They are a major part of the problem. The “good ‘ol boys network” is in full force.

I enjoyed teaching at the college level. Under law, I could not discuss most details of a student’s academic progress with parents. I never outright told a parent to “get lost.” But I did make it absolutely clear that I dealt with students, not with parents.

 

[BigBird]

13.10.1 Presence of Media During Recruiting Contact. A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution's coaching staff member. [D] (Adopted: 1/9/96, Revised: 1/14/97, 6/22/11)

Legislative Services Database - LSDBi

Right. But 13.11.3 says something different. Read carefully; it’s about radio/TV. That’s the part I was referring to. BTW, thanks for your OP.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I can be reasonable. I'm not asking Geno to stay out of California. EVERYBODY recruits in California. But Oregon and Washington don't produce very many top 10 or top 5 recruits. Maybe Geno can just pretend like he didn't notice that part of the country existed (although that would be difficult after playing a game in Eugene this year, and in Seattle about 15 years ago).

I'm sure we can get a Summit meeting of the East Coast Coaches and the North West coaches---that is only logical (says an illogical person). Geno I'm sure would agree to ONLY visit High School or Middle Schools (with talent) if they sign a contract saying they don't want to be a Uconn recruit. That's fair, isn't it??
On the down side you can't recruit in Wallingford Ct at any time.
I'm sure the West Virginia Coach would fit in -in Seattle, he is familiar with ridge walking.

 

[Carnac]

The pushy parent isn’t limited to sports, unfortunately. My wife taught high school Spanish for about forty years. She was many times confronted by parents who cared nothing about established school rules, procedures, or teaching methods. They had another agenda. They adamantly cared that their kid not screw up a possible scholarship (and the resultant revenue savings for themselves). Because they thought grades equalled hard cash, they could be particularly vicious.

It wasn’t unusual for parents here to pull their kid out of school for a week so that the family could vacation together in the tropics. And of course, they demanded that the student be given all assignments in advance AND be allowed to submit assignments late. If necessary, she was expected to do one-on-one remedial lessons to get the kid caught up. Despite the additional teacher workloads this created, these parents were arrogant, self-centered and selfish to the point of absurdity. They railed at my wife, not because she wasn’t a good and dedicated teacher. They were upset with her because Spanish isn’t a subject where parents can readily do the homework for their student-athletes and allow their kid to slide through. It’s the same for teachers of other challenging subjects. If the grade isn’t an “A,” parents leap to question the ability of the teacher, not the ability or attentiveness of their student. It’s a favorite tactic of the “helicopter parent” to show up at the school multiple times every week to argue every last point on every assignment. Their goal is to wear out the teachers’ resolve and thus gain favorable treatment. School principals don’t help the situation much at all.

Here in the Midwest, far too many high schools are headed by men whose main leadership qualification is that they coached (typically unsuccessfully) football or some other sport. They threaten or lean on teachers to extend special treatment to athletes, and they side with the pushy parent out of convenience or political comfort. Their might-makes-right attitudes are not a solution. They are a major part of the problem. The “good ‘ol boys network” is in full force.

I enjoyed teaching at the college level. Under law, I could not discuss most details of a student’s academic progress with parents. I never outright told a parent to “get lost.” But I did make it absolutely clear that I dealt with students, not with parents.

Wow, thanks BigBird. An excellent post. I taught for a year after college, then went in another direction career wise. Not long enough to encounter any of the challenges you described here. Thanks for the behind the scenes look at some of the challenges teachers can/may encounter.

 

[oldude]

Wow, thanks BigBird. An excellent post. I taught for a year after college, then went in another direction career wise. Not long enough to encounter any of the challenges you described here. Thanks for the behind the scenes look at some of the challenges teachers can/may encounter.

For far too many parents, any grade other than an "A" is unacceptable.

 

[Teacherdeb]

Wow, thanks BigBird. An excellent post. I taught for a year after college, then went in another direction career wise. Not long enough to encounter any of the challenges you described here. Thanks for the behind the scenes look at some of the challenges teachers can/may encounter.

In the early 90’s, I coached a travel basketball team of 7 and 8th grade girls. I had previously coached a lot of these girls in the rec league from when they were third and forth graders, had a great relationship with them, and I put the team together to give them some great competition in the state to prep them for high school. I explained to the parents of the 7th graders that there would be games where their daughters might not play- it wasn’t a rec team where everyone gets a chance. They all agreed, but then turned on me when their daughters didn’t get any time in a competitive game. Then a guy I had coached with and had a great relationship with called me up and chewed me out for favoring another player and not playing his daughter- I am still mortified that I broke down in tears- damn female conditioning- and it still hurts me. I am also a teacher and know about families who pressure the teacher not the kid about grades. It’s only gotten worse. I hope the pendulum swings back to parents holding their own kids accountable for performance- and letting them learn the lesson that life isn’t fair.