walk-ons

[katiecrum1992]

Will they stay or go? All our incoming freshmen are guards/forwards.
I could see Lawlor staying, but will Pulido go back to track and field? Is it possible to switch back?

 

[Fiftyish]

My guess is both will not be asked back. Just too many guards coming in. Loved the effort both provided when the bench was thin.

 

[tonehill68]

If they're not asked back, they had quite the year. A championship to talk about forever.

 

[itsasport]

I think that the coaches and other players would be surprised at such a suggestion. They are Huskies no less than the recruited players. Geno displayed a great deal of appreciation to Fernandez, even giving her an available scholarship.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I think they'll continue as walk-ons! I don't see them having great expectations!

 

[Fiftyish]

I think that the coaches and other players would be surprised at such a suggestion. They are Huskies no less than the recruited players. Geno displayed a great deal of appreciation to Fernandez, even giving her an available scholarship.

Jacquie Fernandes was offered a scholarship after her freshman year. I don't think the team back then had as many guards as they will have this year. We'll see.

 

[Icebear]

One thing we can expect they will know exactly the situation they will be in and offered the choice to stay the decision they make to stay or not if will be respected.

 

[alexrgct]

UConn has spots for them, so why not keep them? Playing time of any sort will be a significant challenge, but that was the case even this past season when things started to get thin on the Huskies.

 

[Shenandoah]

I obviously, don't have any insight into their thoughts, but, I would have loved to have had the opportunity to be a pinch hitter on the '27 Yankees...BTW...I loved TLaw and Polly's attitude and enthusiasm...

 

[meyers7]

Will they stay or go? All our incoming freshmen are guards/forwards.
I could see Lawlor staying, but will Pulido go back to track and field? Is it possible to switch back?

That has been my feeling. I have no insight, just a WAG.

 

[UcMiami]

My guess is both will not be asked back. Just too many guards coming in. Loved the effort both provided when the bench was thin.

I am pretty sure that if they are willing to continue the level of commitment they had this past year they will never be 'dropped' from the team. The commitment they made last year was really a two way commitment that included the team committing to them.
The question in my mind is whether with the limited playing time and the huge time commitment, will they continue to want to be on the team, and that is a question only they can answer. With Polly, the question of scholarship also hangs in the balance. I don't think Geno will get to 15 recruit scholarships, especially with Banks leaving, but that is still a question, as is whether she could get her T&F scholarship back or if she would want to.
There are huge benefits to being on the team - they travel in style and they win NCs and even if they do not get the individual glory they have great affection from the fan base.

 

[cabbie191]

From the coaches' perspective, I would speculate whether or not to invite them back will depend on the degree to which they feel their presence will help in practice and game preparation, coupled with (hopefully) a sense of gratitude and loyalty for their contributions this past year. It certainly doesn't otherwise hurt to keep them on the roster.

From the students' perspective, I would guess that all things considered, they would likely want to stay on the team - from all accounts they were fully accepted as teammates by the scholarship players and from that I would think there were some very strong relationships that developed. They certainly know that they won't get but a handful of minutes of playing time during the season. Great that Geno let them close out the last minute against ND.

 

[Shenandoah]

I would think / hope, that loyalty would play a role in the coaching staffs willingness to bring them back. TLaw and Polly helped the team out more than we'll ever know, especially when Morgan and KML went down. As long as they understand their role, which will be the same as last years, they should be invited back. JMO...

 

[DavidinNaples]

My guess is both will not be asked back. Just too many guards coming in. Loved the effort both provided when the bench was thin.

The above photo was taken just after Lawlor nailed a 3 during the season. It illustrates the respect and affection the team had for TLAW (and Polly). From all accounts, TLAW (and Polly) worked her butt off in practice, earned the time she spent on the court, bonded w/ her team mates and NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING.

With respect, if you don't understand why Geno would want this kid back, you don't understand coaching. When the player who plays the least, works just as hard as the ones who play the most, and never complains about playing time, the coach has found gold. If she doesn't complain, nobody can complain. If she works her butt off, everybody has to work their butt off. That's the UConn way and TLAW (and Polly) earned Geno's respect and the team's support. IMO Geno will welcome them back if they want to make the sacrifice of time and effort again.

Go Huskies..!!

 

[JoePgh]

I think it will be 100% their decision. With 10 scholarship players, the coaches have to be concerned about having enough bodies to play 5-on-5 in practice even on the road, when male practice players are not available. By the middle of the season, somebody is bound to be banged up and unable to practice for a few days, so an 11th and 12th player will be needed for that purpose. And for next year, the cost of keeping them (and even giving them scholarships) is essentially zero -- just the cost of their plane tickets and hotel rooms.

In 2015-16, it may be a different story, since UConn could be near the limit of scholarship players, and they will need to get the practice time rather than TLaw and Polly.

 

[katiecrum1992]

Right now I'm thinking that Lawlor will stay but Pulido will go. The question is with Banks leaving would Geno offer Lawlor a scholarship? Butler would normally have that spot, but she has to sit out this year because of the rules regarding transfers.
Nonetheless, both contributed to the team and I wish them both the best no matter their decision.

 

[Kibitzer]

Geno personifies loyalty. No way he discards either of thse players so long as they hold up their end of the deal. If either or both want to continue to be UConn Huskies, he will most certainly welcome them back.

This is Geno Auriemma, not Rene Portland or some clown in the Kansas State AD office.

 

[Shenandoah]

Geno personifies loyalty. No way he discards either of thse players so long as they hold up their end of the deal. If either or both want to continue to be UConn Huskies, he will most certainly welcome them back.

This is Geno Auriemma, not Rene Portland or some clown in the Kansas State AD office.

Well said, Troop! Loyalty is a 2 way street, and there is no way that UConn would have the number of players coming back year after year to practice with the team if, when they graduated, Geno washed his hands of them.

 

[UcMiami]

Right now I'm thinking that Lawlor will stay but Pulido will go. The question is with Banks leaving would Geno offer Lawlor a scholarship? Butler would normally have that spot, but she has to sit out this year because of the rules regarding transfers.
Nonetheless, both contributed to the team and I wish them both the best no matter their decision.

FYI - Butler will be on scholarship next year, just not eligible to play in games. I certainly think it is possible that Lawlor gets the same deal Fernandez got - a year to year scholarship based on availability - the same applies to Polly but because of her being an out of state student who came on a different scholarship, it was automatic and will continue to be a little more important.

 

[Sonny44]

Right now I'm thinking that Lawlor will stay but Pulido will go. The question is with Banks leaving would Geno offer Lawlor a scholarship? Butler would normally have that spot, but she has to sit out this year because of the rules regarding transfers.
Nonetheless, both contributed to the team and I wish them both the best no matter their decision.

Doesn't Butler's scholarship start this Year? I can't imagine her having to pay tuition, no?

 

[Icebear]

Yes, that's what the signing is about.

"Natalie Butler, who was selected as the 2013-14 Big East Rookie of the Year while competing at Georgetown University, has signed a financial aid agreement to complete her transfer to the University of Connecticut."

 

[Mattydog7]

Geno personifies loyalty. No way he discards either of thse players so long as they hold up their end of the deal. If either or both want to continue to be UConn Huskies, he will most certainly welcome them back.

This is Geno Auriemma, not Rene Portland or some clown in the Kansas State AD office.

Good call Kib.

 

[UCAP_Fan]

Geno personifies loyalty. No way he discards either of thse players so long as they hold up their end of the deal. If either or both want to continue to be UConn Huskies, he will most certainly welcome them back.

This is Geno Auriemma, not Rene Portland or some clown in the Kansas State AD office.

Amen, Bitzer.
We can tell who the Jonny come Latelys are.

 

[TroyHouse66]

Ah HA!!
Proof positive that MoJet is actually at least 4" taller than the Team Roster gives her credit for...
By internally coiling herself up, she can unleash enough energy to time-project herself on backcourt defense... (And cloud the vision of mortal men...)

 

[sawxfan23]

Geno personifies loyalty. No way he discards either of thse players so long as they hold up their end of the deal. If either or both want to continue to be UConn Huskies, he will most certainly welcome them back.

This is Geno Auriemma, not Rene Portland or some clown in the Kansas State AD office.

I totally agree Kib. I am sure that Geo hat sat both Pulido and Lawlor down and told them that playing time was going to be scarce. I am also sure that he has told them that they both earned their way on the team and as long they both continued to work hard they would have a place on the team.