View From The ND Newspaper

[BigBird]

A good read. This is a well-written and spot-on account.


Noie - South Bend Tribune

 

[wallman]

Loved Genos quote as it is so true. It reminds you that when 1 person is given or takes all the accolades for a championship which seemed to happen from last year it will hurt the TEAM.

 

[eebmg]

Look at the comments section at the bottom. Arike is not treated kindly.

 

[Vowelguy]

Was interesting to see Geno's quote in print, slightly out of context.

It was said in a sympathetic way. "Everyone thinks it's easy when you have the same team back. It's not; it's difficult."

 

[Minicoop69]

I basically live within shouting distance of ND and the mood around here today is not very good. But they are more blaming it on what ND didn't do as opposed to what UConn let them do. Different mind set I guess. This was the 1st game out of the last 3 that I missed going to. So mad at myself for not going.

 

[BigBird]

Look at the comments section at the bottom. Arike is not treated kindly.

I found those comments to be both pointed and maybe a bit surprising.

 

[Carnac]

A good read. This is a well-written and spot-on account.
Noie - South Bend Tribune

An interesting read. It's always nice to read a story written from a perspective on the "other side" of the court.
I said in a previous comment that ND already knew what kind of team they had. Sunday, UConn would find out EXACTLY what kind of team they had. The #1 team in the country will expose any and all deficiencies you may have.

If you're a top 10 program, cream puffs, Twinkees and low level mid major teams will not challenge you, nor do they provide an accurate barometer with which to judge or measure the strengths and weaknesses of a team in the critical areas that determine a team's success. You've got to play top 25 teams for that. Teams get better playing teams ranked above them, not below them.

This week, UConn exposed some weaknesses in DePaul and ND's game. DePaul's 3 losses came from the two top 2 ranked teams, and #14 Syracuse. They didn't learn anything from the 5 unranked teams they beat. ND vanquished two of the 3 ranked teams they've played, # 15 DePaul by 24 and # 14 Iowa by 31. Only #9 Oregon State was able to keep it close losing by 10.

ND found out they aren't as quite as good as they thought they were, and UConn found out they're better than they thought they were, and a whole lot better than some UConn fans (including many here in the yard that predicted a UConn loss) thought they were.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I love Turner's futile protest of innocence. They all must have the same acting coach. I tried to import the pix for another thread, but it was too big.

 

[Vowelguy]

ND found out they aren't as good as they thought they were, and UConn found out they're better than they thought they were,

How do you know what ND or UConn players thought about how good they were?

 

[hoopsfan22]

How do you know what ND or UConn players thought about how good they were?

I think he's including fans and pundits.

 

[BobbyJ]

We hear that McGraw is surprised and disappointed about the lack of mental control and lack of execution but we don't see anything about her being the cause of it by allowing it. She could have easily stopped it. You simply tell your players that if anybody opens their mouth to a referee or opposing coach, or throws a cheap shot or undercuts somebody, they'll sit next to you for the rest of the game. Or you tell them if you don't start getting the ball into the post, I'll get somebody else to and you'll sit next to me until you understand what I want. Not that hard. But her players know she'll allow it so they do it. That's her tough luck.

 

[Vowelguy]

We hear that McGraw is surprised and disappointed about the lack of mental control and lack of execution

Uhh. How many times have we heard Geno say "we didn't run a single play we called in the 1st half?"

 

[BobbyJ]

Uhh. How many times have we heard Geno say "we didn't run a single play we called in the 1st half?"

Many. Same thing applies. If the coach doesn't like it, change it. Usually only have to do it once and they get the message.

 

[Vowelguy]

Many. Same thing applies. If the coach doesn't like it, change it. Usually only have to do it once and they get the message.

Yeah, I'm sure it's that easy. That's why it happens to 2 of the best coaches in the country.

 

[Zinethar]

Somehow I remember Geno doing precisely that. Stewie and Tuck sitting out a game on the bench. Sent a message they got for sure. As a retired coach I know the hardest decision to make is one for the good of the team that will likely cause a loss. I've had to do it. Not easy. I've made players go to opposing coaches or Refs and apologize for poor actions. Both the kids and the team earn respect for that. Of course my teams were not fighting for a national championship...

 

[Rocket009]

We hear that McGraw is surprised and disappointed about the lack of mental control and lack of execution but we don't see anything about her being the cause of it by allowing it. She could have easily stopped it. You simply tell your players that if anybody opens their mouth to a referee or opposing coach, or throws a cheap shot or undercuts somebody, they'll sit next to you for the rest of the game. Or you tell them if you don't start getting the ball into the post, I'll get somebody else to and you'll sit next to me until you understand what I want. Not that hard. But her players know she'll allow it so they do it. That's her tough luck.

I remember that when UCONN played ND when Marina Mabrey was a freshman, she got frustrated with Mo Jeff guarding her and pushed off and got called for a foul. In that game Muffet sat her for the rest fo the game. Maybe she needs to extend that to upperclassmen and not just freshman to get the point across.

 

[Dillon77]

I remember that when UCONN played ND when Marina Mabrey was a freshman, she got frustrated with Mo Jeff guarding her and pushed off and got called for a foul. In that game Muffet sat her for the rest fo the game. Maybe she needs to extend that to upperclassmen and not just freshman to get the point across.

Good point to bring up because Marina had gone off for 20+ something in the first half before Geno put MoJeff on her. If Marina thought she was getting special benefit of the doubt for that, guess again.

 

[hussybulldog]

Uhh. How many times have we heard Geno say "we didn't run a single play we called in the 1st half?"

He did say CW didn't get enough touch in the 2nd quarter.

 

[MSGRET]

Somehow I remember Geno doing precisely that. Stewie and Tuck sitting out a game on the bench. Sent a message they got for sure. As a retired coach I know the hardest decision to make is one for the good of the team that will likely cause a loss. I've had to do it. Not easy. I've made players go to opposing coaches or Refs and apologize for poor actions. Both the kids and the team earn respect for that. Of course my teams were not fighting for a national championship...

That was a AAC game right before they played South Carolina, they both got the message and they beat SC by more than 20 points. SC was ranked #1 and UConn was #2.

 

[BobbyJ]

Yeah, I'm sure it's that easy. That's why it happens to 2 of the best coaches in the country.

One reason is because they’re alike in one regard. Neither will sacrifice a game to make the point. Not a big game and certainly not to a weak opponent.

 

[tomcat]

Damn good article. Im really impressed.

 

[Orangutan]

ND found out they aren't as good as they thought they were, and UConn found out they're better than they thought they were, and a whole lot better than some fans (including many here in the yard than predicted a UConn loss).

I actually think that Muffet found out her team is exactly as bad as she's been trying to convince them they are.
The players, meanwhile, finally learned that you can't just give the other team a lead and expect that you can come back to win in the second half. You actually have to play well all 40 minutes.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Notre Dame has historically been a very mentally tough team. In last year's NCAA run, they were 1-4-1 in the first halves of games. They were tough and determined. Their self-destruction yesterday was out of character and surprising. Arike, in particular, looked like a freshman. Maybe the off-season publicity was a bad thing.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I actually think that Muffet found out her team is exactly as bad as she's been trying to convince them they are.
The players, meanwhile, finally learned that you can't just give the other team a lead and expect that you can come back to win in the second half. You actually have to play well all 40 minutes.

They usually have been a 40-minute team. One of the best.

It's harder to repeat than folks think.

 

[CMC'72]

I remember that when UCONN played ND when Marina Mabrey was a freshman, she got frustrated with Mo Jeff guarding her and pushed off and got called for a foul. In that game Muffet sat her for the rest fo the game. Maybe she needs to extend that to upperclassmen and not just freshman to get the point across.

Oops! One problem. Arike is everything to ND. Probably not happening.