Was Geno just imagining it that the team has began to show signs for a championship run?

[Plebe]

Being in the Big East gives us a good chance to make it to March Madness each year. If we played 10 more "really tough teams" in a "powerhouse league" our record might be worse than 50-50 and we might not make it to March Madness so be careful what you wish for!

???

We beat UNC, Ole Miss, Louisville and Iowa State, and all these teams are well above .500.

If UConn declines to the point where we can only get into the tournament thanks to the conference autobid, that means we have slipped outside the top 40-45 teams and there are WAY bigger problems.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Back to the original question. Ask Geno today and I'll bet he'd say it was his imagination. When Nika left we lost something that hasn't been replaced. The talent is there, but something is missing.

 

[Oldschoolbb]

You missed my point entirely

Nope. Just totally disagree with it.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Well said. When we were in the AAC and folks were upset because the competition wasn't "tough" enough, we won three Nattys. The Big East, like any conference, has 3-4 top level teams and then you have a middle level and of course those bottom level teams. It happens. If UConn were to join the P4 group, who knows what could happen. Like you said, we should be very careful what we are wishing for.

I can’t think of another team in the Big East other than UConn that would be considered a “Top Level” team.

 

[LIUCHusky]

I can’t think of another team in the Big East other than UConn that would be considered a “Top Level” team.

There are 360 Division 1 women’s basketball teams. Creighton is currently ranked #24 in the AP Poll. I think most would consider them a “Top Level” team.

 

[GoUconn7961]

Geno may believe they're a championship team, it's the players that have to believe it.
It's the players that have to execute the vision. Can they? That's the big question.

 

[CL82]

I couldn't have said this better myself. Hard to develop as a player and improve if you're not playing!

Assuming that that is correct, it presents a bit of a conundrum. You can only play five players at a time, right? Every time one player steps on the floor, they take away minutes from another player. So, aren't you advocating for stifling the development of some players in exchange for the development of others?

 

[DennieEddy]

Assuming that that is correct, it presents a bit of a conundrum. You can only play five players at a time, right? Every time one player steps on the floor, they take away minutes from another player. So, aren't you advocating for stifling the development of some players in exchange for the development of others?

Isn't any game, any sport, anywhere: that same stifling aspect?

 

[Monte]

I believe there is too much comparison to other years, and former players. New players on UCONN, and new players on other teams. When people talk about TENNESSEE beating UCONN, there is no way you can compare this year's Tenn team to the great teams which Pat had. I hope I am wrong about this, but I believe that you cannot compare this year's UCONN team with the great Huskies of the past.
I hope Geno gets them on the right track for March, but I would not bet on them making the final Four.

 

[CL82]

Isn't any game, any sport, anywhere: that same stifling aspect?

No, every game everywhere is an empowering meritocracy, at least once you start getting to the higher levels.

 

[hookshot]

I think what it boils down to is that Geno has a tendency to recruit the same type of player - unathletic (or average athletic) white kids with great BBIQ, obviously great character, solid ball handlers, and sometimes good/great shooters. Aside from Aubrey and KK, there are zero other elite athletes on the team.

In the past, the elite athletes who went to other schools struggles to put the ball in the basket so they relied on O-boards and putbacks. Now, however, these kids are not only elite athletes, but really good hoopsters too. Until he starts recruiting more athletic kids, nothing will change.

The game is changing, and in the past, Geno has shown he's been able to change as well. But more is required.

Q is somewhat elite athletically

 

[Tufkas]

Updated post, after the rewatch / analysis of the Tennessee, USC and Notre Dame games to emphasize. The talent in place is without question extremely well placed to win it all. However, in my opinion, this team cannot win the national championship with the currently set rigid rotations. Better leverage of in-game combinations that prove more effective than those dictated by the scout/game plan is required.

Confused by the now two "haha" reactions to this post. Confounding where some people on public boards find humor...

 

[Alydar]

It's only an edge if UConn's elite scorers shoot well against a strong defense otherwise, their overall scoring stats are meaningless when it comes to winning the NC....

True. UConn has to do what they are best at and SCar has the same job except that too many UConn fans assume that Scar will play at their best while being consumed by the worry that UConn won't shoot well.
Stats are much less meaningful in a FF game but I don't rate UConn's offense on their stats, I measure UConn's shooters/scorers against SCar's shooters/scorers. From a strictly shooting ability UConn has a large edge.

 

[Charliebball]

True. UConn has to do what they are best at and SCar has the same job except that too many UConn fans assume that Scar will play at their best while being consumed by the worry that UConn won't shoot well.
Stats are much less meaningful in a FF game but I don't rate UConn's offense on their stats, I measure UConn's shooters/scorers against SCar's shooters/scorers. From a strictly shooting ability UConn has a large edge.

UConn has always had the better shooting team when playing South Carolina yet the Gamecock's tough defense and rebounding have allowed them to compete and often win against the more skilled Huskies......

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

You aren't making any sense here!!! You have totally misread and/or misunderstood my comment which was in reply to another member. Perhaps you should read his claim about how Paige & Azzi "deserve" a NC for all they have been through here before posting your nonsense.

Come. come......I was the one who posted that they deserve an NC playing together as they planned.....(and for all the ahrd work they put in to get back in shape).

I think your optimism is totally unfounded. Paige is not the dominant force she once was, even though a great BB player. Put another way, " the world has caught up to her." Sarah is probably our best player, but remains a freshman. And she will not be perfect every night ( especially because she will be carefully defensed ). KK is our next best asset. And she has holes in her game, too. Mostly, that her three point shot is unreliable and she drives to the hoop when the lane is blocked ( decision making weakness). Chen is simply over-matched at this top level ( I do not include the BE teams in this level ,), Jana is over-matched by a large margin against anyone. And I don't know where ICE is; ASH seems unable to bring her brilliance to big games against top talent; Chelli is a developing form with little offensive reliability; and Aubrey is one of our best talents, still a large distance from being in top BB shape and confidence. Alli and Q are bench players who will see no time in any meaningful game. Net assessment; this team, at best will squeeze into the elite 8. And if the draw is wrong, that won't happen either. But they are fun to watch.

How did that get added here? Have to learn this trick sometime.

We shall see won't we? Obviously, we don't see the same things......and you are looking only at the obvious. Example: Paige has to decide to take over scoring in order to pile up points - she seems to like the rounded game she now has: score, rebound, defense (and those blocked shots!).....but she can score a lot when she wants to or when she finally decides to listen to GA on that point.

No point dissecting everything else.....they are still continuing to learning to play together as a team and that is priority. Running out of time during Paige's time but that will be the point for her - come tournament time, Paige buckets has to show up along with Paige blocks.

Maybe you are right......anyway, reading the news these days scrambles your mind and shaking your head too many times at what is going on is probably mashing the brain. If I have to have an excuse, that's mine....

 

[packwrap]

Confused by the now two "haha" reactions to this post. Confounding where some people on public boards find humor...

I'll give you an answer.

I doubt anyone was laughing at you.

We're just not used to seeing English above the level of the NY Times here; nice Avatar by the way, I was a big Michael Owen fan.

If you follow Geno, you'll notice be has steady tendencies with who he plays. He usually locks in on a starting 5 that rarely changes. Over the course of the game, actual minutes played are often a clue to a specific game strategy, or if he is tinkering with new ideas.

This year's team with so many useful players, has him play way more different combinations than in recent years.

If your specific point is he should go with someone, who has a hot hand, he was still dealing with minutes restriction on Aubrey and he's been pretty locked on the 50/50 platoon for KK/Chen.

SC is here, despite some injuries Geno can still field a best lineup here. We'll get a chance to see Jana against quick, athletic players, and Aubrey now up to 25 minutes for a smaller lineup.

Hopefully, our ha ha's for that game are celebrating an upset!

 

[Just.A.Fan]

Come. come......I was the one who posted that they deserve an NC playing together as they planned.....(and for all the ahrd work they put in to get back in shape).

Well excuse me then! The point IS, no one deserves anything for simply putting in the work, etc., etc., etc. A NC is won when you and your team have beaten all comers and there is no one left to beat. GET IT NOW???

 

[Tufkas]

I'll give you an answer.

I doubt anyone was laughing at you.

We're just not used to seeing English above the level of the NY Times here; nice Avatar by the way, I was a big Michael Owen fan.

Thanks for that.

Off-topic, but, we loved Owen as a proper Scouser, but he lost it all when he went to the Mancs. Torres, El Niño, on the other hand, broke my heart, with Suarez a bit of a way back in second. Won't even mention Klopp leaving lol...

 

[Zarathustra]

Thanks for that.

Off-topic, but, we loved Owen as a proper Scouser, but he lost it all when he went to the Mancs. Torres, El Niño, on the other hand, broke my heart, with Suarez a bit of a way back in second. Won't even mention Klopp leaving lol...

"Thanks for that" is a wonderful "In the spirit of the BONEYARD" comment.
Not to get off the topic but one of my favorite coaches (after Geno) is EMMA HAYES, USWNT.