We may never win again

[huskyblooz]

Geno can recruit. Geno can develop players. But in close games, I don’t feel confident.
He refuses to use TOs in the 1st half. He’s stubborn in many ways.

Tonight. azura played 27 minutes out of45. Walker played zero. No screens set for Lou in 2nd half. Very little hi-lo v zone.

We should’ve been up double-digits at half. He refused to use a USE IT or LOSE IT timeout ALL YEAR.

And it looked to me Collier refused to pass to an open Lou ... but if I have the stomach to watch the game again, I can confirm it then

 

[Plebe]

Good lord.

 

[triaddukefan]

Looks at the thread title

 

[HoopsFan21]

Believe it or not, despite the "lackluster" season, Geno improved his winning percentage since the team won 97.3% of its games. If the Red Sox played .973 ball this year...

 

[Tenspro2002]

I mean, I guess it's technically true, but is also true for every other program.

Kind of meaningless.

 

[Orc]

Jezz you sound like a tenn fan

 

[huskyrob1]

Geno can recruit. Geno can develop players. But in close games, I don’t feel confident.
He refuses to use TOs in the 1st half. He’s stubborn in many ways.

Tonight. azura played 27 minutes out of45. Walker played zero. No screens set for Lou in 2nd half. Very little hi-lo v zone.

We should’ve been up double-digits at half. He refused to use a USE IT or LOSE IT timeout ALL YEAR.

And it looked to me Collier refused to pass to an open Lou ... but if I have the stomach to watch the game again, I can confirm it then

Been watching Uconn-Notre Dame for years. The one constant I have seen is Muffit McGraw knows Geno better than any other coach. She usually out coaches him.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Fiyur Geno??

 

[Bleed Blue-XY]

I guess we have “GoUconn7961” at one end telling everyone to calm down, it’s only a game and we always have next year and “huskyblooz” at the other end of the spectrum suggesting the team may never win another close game again. I think most of us are somewhere in the middle Still trying to comprehend what happened.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I guess we have “GoUconn7961” at one end telling everyone to calm down, it’s only a game and we always have next year and “huskyblooz” at the other end of the spectrum suggesting the team may never win another close game again. I think most of us are somewhere in the middle Still trying to comprehend what happened.

We know what happened. Same $H! T different year.

 

[UConnNick]

Been watching Uconn-Notre Dame for years. The one constant I have seen is Muffit McGraw knows Geno better than any other coach. She usually out coaches him.

She's 13-35 vs. Geno. How that equates to usually outcoaching him is a mystery to me.

 

[Bleed Blue-XY]

We know what happened. Same $H! T different year.

That is correct. Should have said still trying to deal with what happened.

 

[huskyrob1]

She's 13-35 vs. Geno. How that equates to usually outcoaching him is a mystery to me.

She's done more with less over the years, knows how to prepare her team against UConn better than any other coach Geno faces, always knows what Geno will throw at them.

 

[tomcat]

She doesn't do it all the time - no one could. And there were plenty of years when UCOnn simply was on a higher level than ND and was not going to lose no matter what. But I think that was can be said is that if anyone could come up with a strategy to use limited resources and beat UConn., it's probably Muffet.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

Geno can recruit. Geno can develop players. But in close games, I don’t feel confident.
He refuses to use TOs in the 1st half. He’s stubborn in many ways.

Tonight. azura played 27 minutes out of45. Walker played zero. No screens set for Lou in 2nd half. Very little hi-lo v zone.

We should’ve been up double-digits at half. He refused to use a USE IT or LOSE IT timeout ALL YEAR.

And it looked to me Collier refused to pass to an open Lou ... but if I have the stomach to watch the game again, I can confirm it then

There is no USE IT OR LOSE IT time out. You get 4 for the entire game.
Why did he need to call a time out ? They were down 13 and took a 7 point lead?
They lost because they missed shots.
If they shot the way they did against South Carolina they win by 15.

 

[huskyrob1]

She doesn't do it all the time - no one could. And there were plenty of years when UCOnn simply was on a higher level than ND and was not going to lose no matter what. But I think that was can be said is that if anyone could come up with a strategy to use limited resources and beat UConn., it's probably Muffet.

We should have made our open shots and didn't, and Nurse missed multiple bunnies, but I didn't like the calls against us and the no calls against ND late in the game. Young lowered her shoulder a couple of times going up for shot, and no call, while Azura got nailed with an offensive foul doing the same thing and I don't blame Geno for going off on the refs.

 

[uconnfan68]

Been watching Uconn-Notre Dame for years. The one constant I have seen is Muffit McGraw knows Geno better than any other coach. She usually out coaches him.

Too bad she gets beat so often by other coaches. 11>1.

 

[UConnNick]

She's done more with less over the years, knows how to prepare her team against UConn better than any other coach Geno faces, always knows what Geno will throw at them.

Does more with less? She gets plenty of great recruits and coaches at the second biggest money making school in the NCAA, and in a P5 conference.

Knows how to prepare her team better against UConn than any other coach Geno faces? OK, but she ought to, considering she's played against him more than any other coach.

Always knows what Geno will throw at them? See above.

Sorry, but when you lose almost two out of every three games in a series, you're not outcoaching your opponent. It also took a mini win streak of 7 of 8 games when she had a bad matchup problem for UConn with one player just to get close to one out of every three games won.

I will acknowledge that Geno got outcoached last night. There's no question about that. It happens to the best on rare occasions.

 

[huskyrob1]

Does more with less? She gets plenty of great recruits and coaches at the second biggest money making school in the NCAA, and in a P5 conference.

Knows how to prepare her team better against UConn than any other coach Geno faces? OK, but she ought to, considering she's played against him more than any other coach.

Always knows what Geno will throw at them? See above.

Sorry, but when you lose almost two out of every three games in a series, you're not outcoaching your opponent. It also took a mini win streak of 7 of 8 games when she had a bad matchup problem for UConn with one player just to get close to one out of every three games won.

I will acknowledge that Geno got outcoached last night. There's no question about that. It happens to the best on rare occasions.

You don't understand, they knew each other very very well even before both became head coaches, were both trained and mentored by the same people. The old pictures they showed yesterday of Geno and Muffet together with Geno wearing the Notre Dame shirt was funny. I think on certain occasions she knows what he's going to do even before he knows. Lol

 

[RockyMTblue2]

 

[Chong-Master]

Parity at the Top is the answer to your questions. A reality check is the other strong Colleges and University Women's Basketball Programs are getting and holding onto just as good, if not better talent, as UCONN is presently getting. The recent track record of UCONN recruits leaving during or after 1 season is NOT a good sign for Geno or the program. It is apparently scaring off some top notch recruits. This is not to say that UCONN will not get their fair share of really great High School BBall talent. They will and they always will. But programs like Notre Dame, Baylor, South Carolina, Texas, and Louisville (who, I think is going to be very dangerous over the next several years, and to who rumors have it that they will land Aubrey Griffin for the incoming Class of 2019). Then you have those West Coast Teams, such as Oregon, UCLA and others who are taking the "International Approach" in recruiting.

 

[CMC'72]

But in close games, I don’t feel confident. We should’ve been up double-digits at half. He refused to use a USE IT or LOSE IT timeout ALL YEAR.

What is YOUR record in life? I'll bet not one "equivalent achievement" to a national title. Not even close, I'm betting. Geesh!

 

[HuskyBandDad]

Parity at the Top is the answer to your questions. A reality check is the other strong Colleges and University Women's Basketball Programs are getting and holding onto just as good, if not better talent, as UCONN is presently getting. The recent track record of UCONN recruits leaving during or after 1 season is NOT a good sign for Geno or the program. It is apparently scaring off some top notch recruits. This is not to say that UCONN will not get their fair share of really great High School BBall talent. They will and they always will. But programs like Notre Dame, Baylor, South Carolina, Texas, and Louisville (who, I think is going to be very dangerous over the next several years, and to who rumors have it that they will land Aubrey Griffin for the incoming Class of 2019). Then you have those West Coast Teams, such as Oregon, UCLA and others who are taking the "International Approach" in recruiting.

Scaring off recruits? Hmm..... Next year Uconn gets #1 and #5. Scared??? Um No.

 

[Chong-Master]

Scaring off recruits? Hmm..... Next year Uconn gets #1 and #5. Scared??? Um No.

Yes, for the Incoming Class of 2018, we do have the # 1 and # 5 recruit coming in (they committed awhile ago). But start looking at who Louisville, Notre Dame, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas has marked to come in for 2019, 2020, and 2021. (and I didn't even mention MSS with their recruiting class added to AEH transferring out of UCONN)

 

[Centerstream]

We should’ve been up double-digits at half. He refused to use a USE IT or LOSE IT timeout ALL YEAR.

And it looked to me Collier refused to pass to an open Lou ... but if I have the stomach to watch the game again, I can confirm it then

No such thing this season, all 4 carried over I believe.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

Yes, for the Incoming Class of 2018, we do have the # 1 and # 5 recruit coming in (they committed awhile ago). But start looking at who Louisville, Notre Dame, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas has marked to come in for 2019, 2020, and 2021. (and I didn't even mention MSS with their recruiting class added to AEH transferring out of UCONN)

So you have a crystal ball and know what is going to happen in 2021? Recruiting goes the way the wind blows. Constantly changing.

 

[CocoHusky]

Yes, for the Incoming Class of 2018, we do have the # 1 and # 5 recruit coming in (they committed awhile ago). But start looking at who Louisville, Notre Dame, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas has marked to come in for 2019, 2020, and 2021. (and I didn't even mention MSS with their recruiting class added to AEH transferring out of UCONN)

I have been. Many of those players going to those schools are players that UCONN has evaluated and said not thanks to.
Hopefully Aubrey doesn't follow that same path.

 

[UConnCat]

Yes, for the Incoming Class of 2018, we do have the # 1 and # 5 recruit coming in (they committed awhile ago). But start looking at who Louisville, Notre Dame, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas has marked to come in for 2019, 2020, and 2021. (and I didn't even mention MSS with their recruiting class added to AEH transferring out of UCONN)

Wait, you know which kids these schools will be getting in 2019, 2020 and 2021? Please, please tell us. Break it to us gently though.

 

[BostonCanuck]

Geno's stock fell last night, no question about it. (Of course, there was no where else it could go but down.)

I've listened to Geno all year complain about the soft mindset of his players and their inconsistency on the court, as though he's powerless to do anything about that. I've listened to his default refrain about how hard it is to win a national championship, as though his main communications strategy is to counter some kind of media narrative. And when he talks about the expectations of the program, and how much pressure it puts on his players, I can't help but wonder why we never also hear about the things he and his staff are doing to counter that.

The best thing Geno could do next year is establish with his players what their true goals are for the season. If they say they want to win a national championship, he should explain exactly what changes and sacrifices it will take from each of them to make that happen, and ask them if they really want to go there.

If they say yes, then they should commit to one another that failure is simply not an option, which would be a very good first step towards the mental adjustments that this group needs to make. From there, Geno should come flat out and say publically at some point that winning a national championship is the team's goal this season. That's what he did in 1994-95. No more beating around the bush. Do, or do not.

Alternatively, after explaining the absolute hell they would have to put themselves through to ensure that outcome, the team may decide that it has more modest goals. There would be no shame in that. But right now Geno is trying to have it both ways, and it's not working.

 

[CocoHusky]

Geno's stock fell last night, no question about it. I've listened to him all year complaining about the soft mindset of his players and their inconsistency on the court, as though he's powerless to do anything about that. I've listened to his default refrain about how hard it is to win a national championship, as though he's trying to counter a media narrative more than anything else. And when he talks about the expectations of the program, and the pressure it puts on his players, I can't help but wonder why we don't also hear about the things he and his staff are doing to counter that.

The best thing Geno could do next year is establish with his players what their true goals are for the season. If they want to win a national championship, he should explain exactly what changes and sacrifices it will take from each of them to make that happen, and ask them if they really want to go there.

If they say yes, then they should commit to one another that failure simply is not an option, which will be a very good first step towards the mental adjustments that this group needs to make. From there, Geno should come flat out and say at some point that winning a national championship is the team's goal. That's what he did in 1994-95. No more beating around the bush. Do, or do not.

Alternatively, the team may decide it has more modest goals, and there would be no shame in that.

But right now Geno is trying to have it both ways and it's not working.

The bolded part is SOP for this program, nothing new there. The underlined part is kind of strange: We going to ask the UCONN players if they really want to win a National Championship? Wake me up when one of them says no, because that would be a major scoop.