Voepel picks Baylor over UConn to reach the Final Four

[Alydar]

Lol smith is a first team all American! I’d take her over edwards any day

You have the matchup wrong. Edwards comes off the bench, like Gusters. And that's all those 2 have in common.

 

[GW15MJ4MM23]

When told in December 1993 -- after a 19-point rout of UConn -- that the Huskies should be much improved with the arrival of a certain player from Bloomfield, VanDerveer responded: "We signed six Nykesha Saleses."

On Dec. 21, 1997, after an 16-point UConn victory in Lakeland, Fla., VanDerveer would deny ever saying it. The tape recorder insisted otherwise. The bottom line was that Sales lit up the Stanford tree for 46 points, a UConn-scoring and in-your-face record that still stands.

Then there's...

But it was the Rebecca Lobo situation that made things hairy in a lot of people's minds. "Rebecca was coming out as the darling of college basketball. There were a lot of great players already on that Olympic team, but all anybody wanted to talk about was Rebecca Lobo, Rebecca Lobo."

Lobo didn't start in a much-awaited exhibition return to Storrs. VanDerveer only played her only 13 minutes in a 36-point rout of UConn and that came off cold. She came off even colder, saying Lobo had a problem saying no to endorsements and needed to say yes to more conditioning. Many UConn fans thought VanDerveer was jealous of the adoration UConn had received and her distaste for Geno's flamboyance was being visited on Lobo.

"The kids on that team had a chance to really be showcased [when they return to their campuses] and it didn't happen here," Auriemma said. "I don't know if it was resentment on her part toward the way Rebecca was being treated or she didn't like the way Rebecca was playing or working. I never did ask her."

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I was not around back then. Questions for BYers who were.
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Is there a link to an actual Tara quote about Lobo endorsements and conditioning?
After that above article was written, did Geno ever ask Tara about Lobo?
Lobo ever publicly discuss her PT on the Olympic team?
Lobo ever publicly discuss her relationship with Tara?
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Thanks for any details, insight, and links.
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[j66kicker]

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I was not around back then. Questions for BYers who were.
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Is there a link to an actual Tara quote about Lobo endorsements and conditioning?
After that above article was written, did Geno ever ask Tara about Lobo?
Lobo ever publicly discuss her PT on the Olympic team?
Lobo ever publicly discuss her relationship with Tara?
.
Thanks for any details, insight, and links.
.

@dogged1 linked an article summarizing much of that history...

GOOD TIMING BY TARA

Ten years, Tara VanDerveer said, is a long time. And she’s right. Ten years is long enough to melt enough ice to see some truth underneath. Ten years is long enough to see VanDerveer and Geno…

www.courant.com

Tara got Lobo shoved down her throat by the USA Basketball selection committee, and was publicly unhappy about it. Then she 'abused' Rebecca on the Olympic team and didn't play her. Lobo has always taken the high road. Geno not so much, but lately moreso (I'm disappointed. "Vendetta" is an Italian word, and I would have expected at least 74 more years of hard feelings. I guess he's been Americanized.)

 

[GW15MJ4MM23]

@dogged1 linked an article summarizing much of that history...

GOOD TIMING BY TARA

Ten years, Tara VanDerveer said, is a long time. And she’s right. Ten years is long enough to melt enough ice to see some truth underneath. Ten years is long enough to see VanDerveer and Geno…

www.courant.com

Tara got Lobo shoved down her throat by the USA Basketball selection committee, and was publicly unhappy about it. Then she 'abused' Rebecca on the Olympic team and didn't play her. Lobo has always taken the high road. Geno not so much, but lately moreso (I'm disappointed. "Vendetta" is an Italian word, and I would have expected at least 74 more years of hard feelings. I guess he's been Americanized.)

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Article does not include an actual Tara quote about Lobo endorsements and conditioning. Which is why I asked the question in the first place.
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You have the right to your opinion. But using "Abused" is quite an allegation without providing verifiable proof. "Abuse" is not something to thrown around lightly, whether in quotes or not.
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There are people on this board who were S/P Abused as Children.
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Not sure the Mods will allow this post. Just wanted to be honest.
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/Thread

 

[j66kicker]

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Article does not include an actual Tara quote about Lobo endorsements and conditioning. Which is why I asked the question in the first place.
.
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You have the right to your opinion. But using "Abused" is quite an allegation without providing verifiable proof. "Abuse" is not something to thrown around lightly, whether in quotes or not.
.
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There are people on this board who were S/P Abused as Children.
.
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Not sure the Mods will allow this post. Just wanted to be honest.
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/Thread

Sorry I didn't answer your exact question. Here's another article without exact quotes, but includes Tara admitting that her "...comments were born out of frustration...", indicating that there were, indeed, comments:

"For much of the year, VanDerveer worried that her players were too small to beat the larger and more formidable Russian and Chinese women. She urged the team's sponsors to replace some of them, including media star Rebecca Lobo. When that didn't work, VanDerveer vented her concerns to USA Today."

Tara VanDerveer's Full-Court Press / Driven basketball coach recounts how U.S. women struck Olympic gold

Tara VanDerveer's Full-Court Press / Driven basketball coach recounts how U.S. women...

www.sfgate.com

(The USA Today link in the article is also a dead end)

Anyway, I know you didn't ask for my advice, but you might want to consider switching to decaf... ?

 

[King Kong]

Yes that’s true, but you need to go back a very long time to find an Elite 8 game that UConn actually lost.

"In the last 19 years, the Huskies have lost 11 games in the NCAA tournament. 5 of them have come in the regional final. And while other programs would carve statues to the players and coaches responsible for an 11-5 record in the Elite Eight since 1994, the five losses support what UConn coach Geno Auriemma says every year at this time:

This is the hardest game of the tournament to win."

This is from 2012, so it is a long time ago, but still a truism. So, if UConn (probably) plays Baylor in this Elite 8, it may provide indications whether this is the beginning of the next dynasty or not. It certainly has not seemed the same since Stewie left

 

[UcMiami]

In the 20 tournaments starting with the one in 2000 which is when the dynasty really began:
Championship game: 10-0
Semifinal 10-7
Regional Final 17-2
Sweet 16 19-1

So based solely on record ... the Semifinal game has been Uconn's hardest.

I think is his mind he still thinks of the early years establishing the program after the first breakthrough to the FF in 1991. After that year he lost second round, first round, elite 8, NC, semi, elite 8, elite 8, S16. The reality now is different.

NB That semifinal record of playing in 17 of the 20 in this century is just mind blowing!

 

[oldude]

"In the last 19 years, the Huskies have lost 11 games in the NCAA tournament. 5 of them have come in the regional final. And while other programs would carve statues to the players and coaches responsible for an 11-5 record in the Elite Eight since 1994, the five losses support what UConn coach Geno Auriemma says every year at this time:

This is the hardest game of the tournament to win."

This is from 2012, so it is a long time ago, but still a truism. So, if UConn (probably) plays Baylor in this Elite 8, it may provide indications whether this is the beginning of the next dynasty or not. It certainly has not seemed the same since Stewie left

I guess I’ll have to answer my own question. The last time UConn lost an Elite 8 game was 2007, 14 seasons ago. Since that time the Huskies are 12-0 in the Elite 8, with last year’s tournament cancelled and this year TBD.

So while Geno may say it’s the hardest game of the tournament to win, maybe he should add, “if you’re not UConn.” As UcMiami pointed out, all of UConn’s recent losses in the tournament have occurred in the semifinals, and as we all know, Geno has never lost a national championship game.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Voepel on the UConn-Iowa game: "viewers with UConn fatigue (everyone except Huskies fans) will join Hawkeye Nation as huge Iowa fans". Too bad for them, I guess.

 

[dogged1]

Voepel on the UConn-Iowa game: "viewers with UConn fatigue (everyone except Huskies fans) will join Hawkeye Nation as huge Iowa fans". Too bad for them, I guess.

Jeez, are we back to UConn is bad for women's basketball already? Gimme a break it's been a 4 year drought.

 

[Waquoit]

Now, a UConn fan looking for an excuse to take umbrage thinks Tara dissed Kesh, but someone else might think that she was saying (clumsily and tactlessly) that she was bringing in 6 players that will improve her team. Was it poorly said, absolutely, but Tara wanted Kesh really badly so she knew what a great player she was. Yeah, the lack of tact was probably from sour grapes but Tara in her younger days was a feisty, fiery coach.

So you are saying it's wasn't a diss but admit she clumsily and tactlessly slighted a recruit that she didn't succeed in signing? Sorry, no Sales!

 

[ucbart]

Voepel on the UConn-Iowa game: "viewers with UConn fatigue (everyone except Huskies fans) will join Hawkeye Nation as huge Iowa fans". Too bad for them, I guess.

But, she works for the network that shoves UCONN down everyone's throat.

 

[mustafa]

Lol smith is a first team all American! I’d take her over edwards any day

Chill out.

Yes, Smith is very good. BUT, Edwards is also Excellent and a TOUGH AS NAILS / NO NONSENSE player and athlete.
Make no mistake, if UCONN is fortunate enough to make it to the Elite 8 game vs. Baylor, Smith will have her hands full against Edwards.

 

[Baylor1994]

Chill out.

Yes, Smith is very good. BUT, Edwards is also Excellent and a TOUGH AS NAILS / NO NONSENSE player and athlete.
Make no mistake, if UCONN is fortunate enough to make it to the Elite 8 game vs. Baylor, Smith will have her hands full against Edwards.

Okay edwards is great but smith has playoff experience! And she’s playing in her hometown. She’s playing with lots confidence and wants to win in her hometown. Literally ono and Williams are the only ones on UConn with playoff experience. But yes Baylor and UConn will be a great game!

 

[browns]

Chill out.

Yes, Smith is very good. BUT, Edwards is also Excellent and a TOUGH AS NAILS / NO NONSENSE player and athlete.
Make no mistake, if UCONN is fortunate enough to make it to the Elite 8 game vs. Baylor, Smith will have her hands full against Edwards.

I love watching AE but let's be real Smith is a lot more than very good..there's a reason she's a 1st team AA and as great as AE may become she's not in Smith's league..at least not yet..think back to last years game when Smith just took over the game in the 4th quarter..who can stop her now..AE isn't quick enough..the one thing in Uconn's facor is Smith gets into foul trouble a lot...I was surprised how much Egbo has improved since last year..Liv will have to do what she did last night to Cardoza which won't be easy..Egbo overpowered and abused the 6'6" Kitley

 

[mustafa]

I love watching AE but let's be real Smith is a lot more than very good..there's a reason she's a 1st team AA and as great as AE may become she's not in Smith's league..at least not yet..think back to last years game when Smith just took over the game in the 4th quarter..who can stop her now..AE isn't quick enough..the one thing in Uconn's facor is Smith gets into foul trouble a lot...I was surprised how much Egbo has improved since last year..Liv will have to do what she did last night to Cardoza which won't be easy..Egbo overpowered and abused the 6'6" Kitley

If we have this game, should UCONN even waste their time to show up?

 

[cbraarj]

No but we are better than people expect us to be and it’s a down year for everyone! Anything can happen this year

Actually UConn is a lot better than last year!