UConn WBB History of (not) cutting down nets ?? | The Boneyard

UConn WBB History of (not) cutting down nets ??

I really don't know. Seems it would have been a little arrogant pre-1995, not that Geno can't be 'a little arrogant!'

Maybe 2000 - when they knew they were really good, but had been disappointed for 4 years and he wanted to make the point that the job wasn't done yet.

It feeds into the one game at a time mentality he preaches - don't start celebrating at halftime, don't get over hyped by a mid-season win, enjoy the conference regular season win but keep focused on the conference tournament to come, enjoy that win, but remember the NCAAs are coming, etc.

Edit - really good question BRS24
 
Courtesy of Google chrome AI:
The UConn women's basketball team officially stopped cutting down nets after Regional Final (Elite Eight) wins following their 2008 win over Rutgers, establishing a tradition to only cut down the nets after winning the National Championship.
CT Insider +1
  • The Tradition: Since 2009, Geno Auriemma’s teams have opted to wait until they win a national title to cut down the nets, considering an Elite Eight win a step to be "survived" rather than a championship to be celebrated.
  • The Exception: The team often leaves the "loneliest championship ladder in the world" standing on the floor in the regional final after they win.
  • Recent Examples: Even after Elite Eight wins in 2024 and 2025, the UConn women's team has not cut down the nets.
  • Men's Team Contrast: This tradition applies specifically to the women's program. The UConn men's team has continued to cut down nets, including after Big East regular-season titles in 2024 and regional final wins, such as in 2026.

    Great question, BRS24
 
Last edited:
Rayvin56 said:
Courtesy of Google chrome AI:
The UConn women's basketball team officially stopped cutting down nets after Regional Final (Elite Eight) wins following their 2008 win over Rutgers, establishing a tradition to only cut down the nets after winning the National Championship.
CT Insider +1
  • The Tradition: Since 2009, Geno Auriemma’s teams have opted to wait until they win a national title to cut down the nets, considering an Elite Eight win a step to be "survived" rather than a championship to be celebrated.
  • The Exception: The team often leaves the "loneliest championship ladder in the world" standing on the floor in the regional final after they win.
  • Recent Examples: Even after Elite Eight wins in 2024 and 2025, the UConn women's team has not cut down the nets.
  • Men's Team Contrast: This tradition applies specifically to the women's program. The UConn men's team has continued to cut down nets, including after Big East regular-season titles in 2024 and regional final wins, such as in 2026.

    Great question, BSR24
Expand ...
Appreciate you looking this up. I'm still in the mode of throwing questions out there to this group and see if anyone has knowledge. I probably should have used the google though.
 
Rayvin56 said:
Courtesy of Google chrome AI:
The UConn women's basketball team officially stopped cutting down nets after Regional Final (Elite Eight) wins following their 2008 win over Rutgers, establishing a tradition to only cut down the nets after winning the National Championship.
CT Insider +1
  • The Tradition: Since 2009, Geno Auriemma’s teams have opted to wait until they win a national title to cut down the nets, considering an Elite Eight win a step to be "survived" rather than a championship to be celebrated.
  • The Exception: The team often leaves the "loneliest championship ladder in the world" standing on the floor in the regional final after they win.
  • Recent Examples: Even after Elite Eight wins in 2024 and 2025, the UConn women's team has not cut down the nets.
  • Men's Team Contrast: This tradition applies specifically to the women's program. The UConn men's team has continued to cut down nets, including after Big East regular-season titles in 2024 and regional final wins, such as in 2026.

    Great question, BRS24
Expand ...
I'm not sure this is completely accurate. I think the tradition of not cutting down the nets started earlier, but in 2008 Geno had them cut down the nets after the Rutgers game as that senior squad had never had a chance to cut down the nets in the tournament.
 
On this subject, I came across a local CT sports reporter doing a postgame report from the arena in Ft Worth, long after the celebration was over and most of the fans had left. I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that while the reporter was commenting, in the background you could see a maintenance crew folding up and taking away a big ladder and, of course, both nets were still on the baskets. 😁
 
.-.
LwrcasefaN said:
I like this “tradition”. If everything is celebrated it takes a way from those things that really mean something.
Expand ...
And I like the "no names on the back of the jersey, only the team name on the front" tradition (akin to the NY Yankees.). They make it all about team and less about the individual (but notice how Geno talks up his players near the end of season so that they are in the running to receive individual honors.)
 
LwrcasefaN said:
I like this “tradition”. If everything is celebrated it takes a way from those things that really mean something.
Expand ...
Then you shouldn't expect me to treat getting to the FF as a big accomplishment. Or do they want to have it both ways?
 
ec33 said:
Then you shouldn't expect me to treat getting to the FF as a big accomplishment. Or do they want to have it both ways?
Expand ...
For me…it’s not my standard to set. That’s up to the individual program and situation.
 
Last edited:
It's a tradition based on the fact that Geno' has no more room in his office for nets.
25 Final Fours, 12 National titles would mean 37 nets. There would be no room for chairs.
Plus, nets are difficult to label. Hey, where is this net from? They all look the same.
 
.-.
LwrcasefaN said:
For me…it’s not my standard to set. That’s up to the individual program and situation.
Expand ...

I will acknowledge that it isn't Geno's tradition. But if they were to come up short this weekend I suspect he would be defending making the Final Four as a big accomplishment worthy of respect. That regional championships are -- in fact -- a big deal.

Because I am a spoiled and arrogant UConn fan, I am with the players that it is not time to celebrate yet (although I would go through the motions myself) because for them winning the regional isn't a big deal and if they don't win two games this weekend then the season was -- in fact -- a disappointment.

My point is that people are not generally going to be pleased with my outlook (yet celebrate the players not cutting down the net).
 
I think every team should absolutely celebrate every single win in the tournament...but I think cutting of nets should be reserved for only one team - the final Champion.
 
my2cents said:
It's a tradition based on the fact that Geno' has no more room in his office for nets.
25 Final Fours, 12 National titles would mean 37 nets. There would be no room for chairs.
Plus, nets are difficult to label. Hey, where is this net from? They all look the same.
Expand ...
Maybe he could have them sewn into a nice hammock?
 
ec33 said:
I will acknowledge that it isn't Geno's tradition. But if they were to come up short this weekend I suspect he would be defending making the Final Four as a big accomplishment worthy of respect. That regional championships are -- in fact -- a big deal.

Because I am a spoiled and arrogant UConn fan, I am with the players that it is not time to celebrate yet (although I would go through the motions myself) because for them winning the regional isn't a big deal and if they don't win two games this weekend then the season was -- in fact -- a disappointment.

My point is that people are not generally going to be pleased with my outlook (yet celebrate the players not cutting down the net).
Expand ...
ec33, what are you talking about? Geno has ALWAYS said making the Final Four is a big deal and not easy to do. It is a big deal to the players as well, but somehow you have made the incorrect inference that it is not, presumably because they simply don't cut down the Regional nets??? Didn't you see the post-game activity on the floor following the win over Notre Dame? The t-shirts, the confetti, the dancing, the cowboy hats???

Complete nonsense that if they don't win both games this weekend, then the season would be a disappointment to the players. Disappointment to you, perhaps.

Your opinion about what the players would be thinking is baseless.
 
YKCornelius said:
ec33, what are you talking about? Geno has ALWAYS said making the Final Four is a big deal and not easy to do. It is a big deal to the players as well, but somehow you have made the incorrect inference that it is not, presumably because they simply don't cut down the Regional nets??? Didn't you see the post-game activity on the floor following the win over Notre Dame? The t-shirts, the confetti, the dancing, the cowboy hats???

Complete nonsense that if they don't win both games this weekend, then the season would be a disappointment to the players. Disappointment to you, perhaps.

Your opinion about what the players would be thinking is baseless.
Expand ...
Then please enlighten me on what you think the intended message in not cutting down the nets?
 
.-.
ec33 said:
Then please enlighten me on what you think the intended message in not cutting down the nets?
Expand ...
Intended message? Message by whom - the players? And to whom - to themselves? Why do you not accept the position - articulated by the UConn players to the media for decades - that they see their work as not yet finished? Is that so hard to understand?

Is it your position that the program's decision to do (or not do) something must have an intended external message? There are a LOT of things that UConn does that many programs do not do and, likewise, many things the Huskies do not do, that other programs do.

There is no intended external message other than the players believe there still is work to be done and, hence, the time for celebrating in this fashion is after the work is complete.

They celebrated after the Big East regular season was won, and again after the Big East Tournament. They celebrated seniors' careers on Senior Day. They celebrated the hanging of last year's banner. They celebrated the additions to the Huskies of Honor rolls. This team celebrates when personal and team milestones have been met. There is no shortage of celebrations - at the right time.

A discussion of "Intended message" is inconsequential to the more egregious aspect of your post: that the players would consider the entire season a disappointment by not winning a NC. That nonsense might be applicable to how you (and perhaps several other posters in the Boneyard) think and feel, but only if you don't have the ability to see the wonderful things that this team has accomplished together and the growth every player has achieved in this exceptional season.

The 2025-26 UConn Huskies are undefeated thus far and riding a 54 game winning streak. They certainly might be disappointed if they don't win the last two games, and especially if they feel they didn't play up to their abilities, but the season has been special and glorious nonetheless, and we as fans should be proud of what these incredible young ladies have accomplished.....together.

Go Huskies!
 
YKCornelius said:
ec33, what are you talking about? Geno has ALWAYS said making the Final Four is a big deal and not easy to do. It is a big deal to the players as well, but somehow you have made the incorrect inference that it is not, presumably because they simply don't cut down the Regional nets??? Didn't you see the post-game activity on the floor following the win over Notre Dame? The t-shirts, the confetti, the dancing, the cowboy hats???

Complete nonsense that if they don't win both games this weekend, then the season would be a disappointment to the players. Disappointment to you, perhaps.

Your opinion about what the players would be thinking is baseless.
Expand ...
They also get the regional Championship trophy, photos, dancing with the "Stars" coach.

CD doesn't want them "running with scissors" until after the season is over (with NC in hand). 😍😎 🔥 😎😍
 
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