Went to the women's game last night...

[hthusky74]

Doesn't Kentucky do this? How does it work out for them?

The difference is that in the women's game there is a larger drop off in talent overall when one team signs 4 out of 8 and the other 6 in the top 10 get spread out to 6 different schools. In the men's game, you can have that happen but the overall talent pool is much, much deeper. I've seen several top girls hs basketball players in my area go on to play high d-1 ball and in most cases start, and they would not be in the rotation at UConn. It's just different.

Big difference with the women. With the KY men they are gone after 1-2 years. With the UConn women, except for the occassional transfer, they are there for 4 years.

 

[Husky25]

This is the problem. I will watch a game if they play a top 5 team, and even then the result often matches what happens when the men play a crappy team like Temple. I'll watch in the Final Four, on the off chance that someone challenges them. I want them to win, don't get me wrong, and will never root against them. But watching their games reminds me of the commercials last year where NBA players were getting excited blocking the shots of and dunking on what looked like elementary school kids.

And while I appreciate that the team runs like a well oiled machine, it's a lot easier to run like a well oiled machine when nobody is capable of disrupting it. I was much more appreciative of old Bobby Knight Indiana teams carving up teams that were often athletically superior to them. For what it's worth last year's WBB NC was more satisfying for the early season losses and rare vulnerability they showed. Plus I hate Louisville and would have been pissed if they won both titles.

I agree with every world you wrote. I'll watch matchups vs. ranked teams, but the Women are not appt. TV for me. It's not about want them to lose, I don't think anyone here wants them to lose. On the other hand, if I'm coaching a team of 13 year olds or younger, regardless, of gender, I'd model my offense after UConn's Women and write to Geno to see if he'll let me in on any of his practice techniques.

Watching the Women reminds me of the following quote by Vince Lombardi:
“Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.”
― Vince Lombardi

 

[Uconn93]

If you have a serious disease and your looking for a doctor, do you want the doctor who puts up a good fight and usually cures that disease or the doctor who has perfected his treatment and is at the top of his field and who cures your disease every time?

If your company gets sued, do you want to hire a lawyer who's a nice guy and wins sometime or even most of the time, or do you ant the best lawyer who specializes in your legal problem, knows the judge and wins every time?

If you're putting up a building, do you want the engineer or architect who draws pretty pictures and puts up nice buildings but with a few defects or do you want the person at the top of their field who gets it right every time?

If you're putting together a sports team, do you want the team that fights real hard and wins 60% or 70% of their games and half of those by real close scores or do you want the team that wins every night in a blow out?

You can have your mediocrity, because I want the winner every time.

 

[Husky25]

Apples and oranges comparisons...all of them. You are somehow the only poster on this subject who seems to not be able to grasp the point being made. College basketball is entertainment and it entertains different people to different levels.

If you have a serious disease and your looking for a doctor, do you want the doctor who puts up a good fight and usually cures that disease or the doctor who has perfected his treatment and is at the top of his field and who cures your disease every time?

If your company gets sued, do you want to hire a lawyer who's a nice guy and wins sometime or even most of the time, or do you ant the best lawyer who specializes in your legal problem, knows the judge and wins every time?

If you're putting up a building, do you want the engineer or architect who draws pretty pictures and puts up nice buildings but with a few defects or do you want the person at the top of their field who gets it right every time?

If you're putting together a sports team, do you want the team that fights real hard and wins 60% or 70% of their games and half of those by real close scores or do you want the team that wins every night in a blow out?

You can have your mediocrity, because I want the winner every time.

 

[cohenzone]

Apples and oranges comparisons...all of them. You are somehow the only poster on this subject who seems to not be able to grasp the point being made. College basketball is entertainment and it entertains different people to different levels.

I don't know what the "93" means in the poster's name, but I sure hope it doesn't mean a 1993 alum. Nothing much anyone has written penetrates, and if we're talking anyone over the age of 14...(shakes head).

 

[mauconnfan]

If you have a serious disease and your looking for a doctor, do you want the doctor who puts up a good fight and usually cures that disease or the doctor who has perfected his treatment and is at the top of his field and who cures your disease every time?

If your company gets sued, do you want to hire a lawyer who's a nice guy and wins sometime or even most of the time, or do you ant the best lawyer who specializes in your legal problem, knows the judge and wins every time?

If you're putting up a building, do you want the engineer or architect who draws pretty pictures and puts up nice buildings but with a few defects or do you want the person at the top of their field who gets it right every time?

If you're putting together a sports team, do you want the team that fights real hard and wins 60% or 70% of their games and half of those by real close scores or do you want the team that wins every night in a blow out?

You can have your mediocrity, because I want the winner every time.

Congrats to you for this wonderful analogy……now move on you're clueless!

 

[sdhusky]

If you have a serious disease and your looking for a doctor, do you want the doctor who puts up a good fight and usually cures that disease or the doctor who has perfected his treatment and is at the top of his field and who cures your disease every time?

If your company gets sued, do you want to hire a lawyer who's a nice guy and wins sometime or even most of the time, or do you ant the best lawyer who specializes in your legal problem, knows the judge and wins every time?

If you're putting up a building, do you want the engineer or architect who draws pretty pictures and puts up nice buildings but with a few defects or do you want the person at the top of their field who gets it right every time?

If you're putting together a sports team, do you want the team that fights real hard and wins 60% or 70% of their games and half of those by real close scores or do you want the team that wins every night in a blow out?

You can have your mediocrity, because I want the winner every time.

And that's why UCONN Women's BB will get better ratings than the Super Bowl.

(my comment is only slightly stupider than yours)

 

[Uconn93]

Right, because when you're not smart enough to carry on an intelligent conversation or debate, personal insults is always the best way to go.

 

[Husky25]

Right, because when you're not smart enough to carry on an intelligent conversation or debate, personal insults is always the best way to go.

Not that I need to defend the Original poster, but:

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. - John 8:7

I'm so sick of hearing this nonsense. Why is it that we are a nation of whiners?!?!?!?! I get that we complain when "your" team loses.....that's only natural. Because.....wait for it.wait for it..the goal is for your team to win. When the dreaded day comes and Geno retires, and we move back to the pack...it's gonna suck! Then, you and every other whiner will have a legitimate reason to complain. Until then, sit back, shut up and root for the UConn Women's basketball team to break every record possible and to win *EVERY* game by the *LARGEST* amount possible.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If you have a serious disease and your looking for a doctor, do you want the doctor who puts up a good fight and usually cures that disease or the doctor who has perfected his treatment and is at the top of his field and who cures your disease every time?

If your company gets sued, do you want to hire a lawyer who's a nice guy and wins sometime or even most of the time, or do you ant the best lawyer who specializes in your legal problem, knows the judge and wins every time?

If you're putting up a building, do you want the engineer or architect who draws pretty pictures and puts up nice buildings but with a few defects or do you want the person at the top of their field who gets it right every time?

If you're putting together a sports team, do you want the team that fights real hard and wins 60% or 70% of their games and half of those by real close scores or do you want the team that wins every night in a blow out?

You can have your mediocrity, because I want the winner every time.

How about this, since basketball is entertainment. If you read a book or watch a movie, do you want the one where you already know how everything turns out? Or would you prefer to go through the trials and life forming changes that affect the characters of the story not knowing how they will handle them and what the outcome will be?

The greatest moments in sports all come from adversity being overcome. That's what we remember, those are the images that last a lifetime. Kirk Gibson's homerun, Willis Reed coming back from injury for the Knicks, Fisk's HR in 76, UConn beating Duke in '99, Baylor's win over Bama this year, the Cal-Stanford finish years ago, thousands of upsets and last second shots in the NCAA tournament (including Laetner agaisnt us) and greatest of all for me....the shot, from Burrell to Tate and then in. I would not trade what happened in that Clemson game for a 25 point blowout of Clemson. Never. No blowout could ever possibly come close.

 

[Thirty Three]

Right, because when you're not smart enough to carry on an intelligent conversation or debate, personal insults is always the best way to go.

You mean like telling the original poster to shut up and going on a tirade which had almost nothing to do with the very simple point he was making. Yea, way to not throw personal insults and carry on an intelligent conversation.

Or when you started babbling about "so everyone should get a trophy and we shouldnt care who wins or loses, blah, blah, blah" which again had NOTHING to do with any of the simple points anyone was making. You just made up some ridiculous crap that no one said or even remotely implied. And you claim that others cant carry on an intelligent conversation or debate. Hysterical. Seriously, your reading comprehension abilities are either absolutely horrific, or you're just a troll. Im having a hard time figuring out which it is.

 

[GlastonTim]

Right, because when you're not smart enough to carry on an intelligent conversation or debate, personal insults is always the best way to go.

You threw the first insults by calling me a "whiner". It's alright for you though.

 

[DW4UCONN]

I'm so sick of hearing this nonsense. Why is it that we are a nation of whiners?!?!?!?! I get that we complain when "your" team loses.....that's only natural. Because.....wait for it.wait for it..the goal is for your team to win. When the dreaded day comes and Geno retires, and we move back to the pack...it's gonna suck! Then, you and every other whiner will have a legitimate reason to complain. Until then, sit back, shut up and root for the UConn Women's basketball team to break every record possible and to win *EVERY* game by the *LARGEST* amount possible.

9 likes, REALLY? Geno retires and because you think the team will have to compete, be at the top of their game to win and playing their best sometimes will not be good enough .... will really suck for you? Sad. I guess you were not there when the program was in it's infancy. Were you following Geno's team when they had great competitors like Kerry Bascom, Megan Pattyson, Wendy Davis and Debbie Baer? They lost a lot so I have to wonder if you did. Perhaps it took a perfect 35-0 to grab your attention?

There is much to admire about our Lady Huskies, but unless it is a competitive game I have little interest in watching yet another anticipated blowout. I just wonder if the women would draw so well if the were mere mortals? I remember playing pick up games in the Field House on a court next to where the women held practice. I imagine they also occasionally held practice on the game court when the men's team wasn't using it, but for the most part they shared the floor where they must have noticed a lot of bad basketball going on next to them. I rarely got to see a men's practice because they usually put up a privacy screen around the court. When they were not practicing we'd play on that court as well. Back in my day the Field House was open to the public and the woman had it no better than me, a middle school student. I was able to use everything, except that the weight room was off limits. Those were wonderful times, but not for women's basketball. The woman did catch my interest however, but not for their basketball. Not until I saw the likes of Debbie Bascom and Debbie Baer. There was no physical attraction there to catch my interest, just admiration for their game. They were scrappy and fun to watch. They lost but I still fell in love with them.

Anyway, I rarely miss a men's game and I'll watch it regardless of the score, but NO DOUBT the best games are the close ones. Sometimes I'll get so disgusted I can not watch. During our 2006 tournament loss to George Mason, my 8 yr old son wouldn't stop whining (same thing as "complaining" by the way) about my Huskies so I showed him the door and made him stay outside and think about it awhile. I was depressed for days after losing to Duke in 1990, but was so proud of them. Winning is a must, I kid you not. But it isn't everything, or how else can I explain my passion for Uconn football?

I understand where Glaston Tim is coming from, I really appreciate the Men as well. It's been rocky, but I really like these guys.

 

[CTBasketball]

The only reason why the women are so successful is because there are 3-4 competitive women's college basketball teams. They are consistently better than 95% of the trashy teams that schools put together because of equal rights and such.

That's pretty much my problem with women's collegiate basketball. The only good games of the year come during March Madness. And at that point most people are watching the men and it develops to be white noise. But I agree to a poster above. Why would you want to know the outcome of an entertainment event? I wish I knew the outcome of entertainment events, that way I would go to the casino every once and a while. But for basketball it is about overcoming adversity and the odds in order to stun the nation with an upset. That never happens in women's college basketball. The 16 thru 16 seeds don't even have the ability of UConn's walk-ons.

 

[Huskyforlife]

The only reason why the women are so successful is because there are 3-4 competitive women's college basketball teams. They are consistently better than 95% of the trashy teams that schools put together because of equal rights and such.

That's pretty much my problem with women's collegiate basketball. The only good games of the year come during March Madness. And at that point most people are watching the men and it develops to be white noise. But I agree to a poster above. Why would you want to know the outcome of an entertainment event? I wish I knew the outcome of entertainment events, that way I would go to the casino every once and a while. But for basketball it is about overcoming adversity and the odds in order to stun the nation with an upset. That never happens in women's college basketball. The 16 thru 16 seeds don't even have the ability of UConn's walk-ons.

Not to mention keeping 3 top ten recuits for four years

 

[CTBasketball]

Not to mention keeping 3 top ten recuits for four years

That too.

 

[BearJWS]

Wow, can't we just wish both teams well? Give our women some respect. They have 8 National Championships! Geno is a great coach & get's his players to play hard every game. Kevin & Geno have a great relationship and Kevin looks to Geno for advice, just like with Calhoun. AND our men's & women's players support each other. Yeah, they are friends. Why knock our men for supporting their women friends? That's just poor taste. Sorry.... We are UConn... we support all our teams, not just in baskeball, but all sports! Grrr....

 

[jleves]

This just in - people on the Internet like different things... and the other side is wrong!

 

[UConnDad]

Have to weigh in. I watcH all the games. Like them both. If you attend the games totally different crowd. And like someone said after a men's loss it's great to then watch the women destroy someone. It's soothes the hoop anguish until the next men's game.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I prefer the women's violent dismembering of their opponents to the water torture wins of the recent men's teams.

I like forgone conclusions and 40-point wins. Give me more of them.

If you've ever coached any margin less than 40 is a nail biter.

 

[BoatShow]

Wow, can't we just wish both teams well? Give our women some respect. They have 8 National Championships! Geno is a great coach & get's his players to play hard every game. Kevin & Geno have a great relationship and Kevin looks to Geno for advice, just like with Calhoun. AND our men's & women's players support each other. Yeah, they are friends. Why knock our men for supporting their women friends? That's just poor taste. Sorry.... We are UConn... we support all our teams, not just in baskeball, but all sports! Grrr....

You can like either football, men's basketball, or women's basketball. NOT 2 AND CERTAINLY NOT ALL 3. THIS IS UCONN.

 

[David 76]

Wow! I expressed an opinion re enjoying the women's game and listen to the reactions. I don't understand why it makes me "holier than thou" .
If John Wooden can appreciate the women huskies for "playing the right way" I think I should be able to express that sentiment.
Also" the game"s are much more boring, your lying if you don't think so" doesn't leave space for differing opinions.

Believe it or there are people that are only fans of the women. Millions of people watch things on TV that I think are trash. Are they liars too?

Calm down guys. I really do enjoy watching them execute. Loved it against Duke. It does have its limits. But I stand with John Wooden in my appreciation of them. And it takes nothing away from my appreciation of the more physical, more athletic, above the rim game of the men.

 

[Scoe]

can't we all just route for a dual national champion, a recap of 04

 

[Adios]

It seems women's basketball is the third most popular college sport, baseball at #4 and maybe soccer or hockey at #5. Men's basketball is # and football is #1. We are dominant in 60% of those sports. That is not bad, at all. Very impressive, actually.

We are working on the other two sports. Commitment is there. Us killing gazelles regularly in the third most popular sport is not bad, really. I don't know if we'll ever be dominant in football. Winning a championship is possible (Wasington, Colorado, BYU), but not easy to reach blue-blood status.

 

[David 76]

can't we all just route for a dual national champion, a recap of 04

Yes!
It is stupid when women's fans think they could play against the men or the pre-1999 chant "Conn, where men are men and women are champions."
But I think those of you discrediting what the women have done is the mirror image of that. Sure it is easier to win 8 women's championships than 8 men's, but it is still a remarkable accomplishment that only one other team has accomplished. Twenty something consecutive years of top teams. 21 consecutive years w/o 2 consecutive losses And they weren't always the 800 lb gorilla

We have 2 great basketball programs that came from nowhere to national prominence. One does not take away from the other. Enjoy.

 

[diggerfoot]

The two comments I enjoyed most in this thread were jleve's observation that people on the Internet enjoy different things. You could go for the entertainment "thrill" of a close game, or the entertainment "artistry" of something well-executed. Both are indeed entertainment, but may not be equally so for different people. I also like fleud's comment that he enjoys the change of pace. Yes, I think it is possible for one to enjoy both.

I'm adding on something not yet expressed in this thread. I enjoy watching the women because 100% of the players give 100% effort in 100% of the games. We are not the only women's team that recruits at our level, yet the women still dismantles teams like Duke with even more Mickie Ds because of the effort. I'm old enough to remember when such "old school" effort was more prevalent in sports than it is now, and I love it.

 

[mauconnfan]

Wow, can't we just wish both teams well? Give our women some respect. They have 8 National Championships! Geno is a great coach & get's his players to play hard every game. Kevin & Geno have a great relationship and Kevin looks to Geno for advice, just like with Calhoun. AND our men's & women's players support each other. Yeah, they are friends. Why knock our men for supporting their women friends? That's just poor taste. Sorry.... We are UConn... we support all our teams, not just in baskeball, but all sports! Grrr....

You're missing the point here……mostly everyone roots for the women but to compare is ridiculous, it;s not the same game at all and 93 seems to think "perfection" is the women only….it's in the eyes of the beholder and the men's fans understand perfection could be a 24-7 season this year with competition around the corner every night……the women? outside of the Top 3 there's hardly a speed bump……if 93 wants to come here holier than thou he/she/it will be held in contempt!

 

[mauconnfan]

The two comments I enjoyed most in this thread were jleve's observation that people on the Internet enjoy different things. You could go for the entertainment "thrill" of a close game, or the entertainment "artistry" of something well-executed. Both are indeed entertainment, but may not be equally so for different people. I also like fleud's comment that he enjoys the change of pace. Yes, I think it is possible for one to enjoy both.

I'm adding on something not yet expressed in this thread. I enjoy watching the women because 100% of the players give 100% effort in 100% of the games. We are not the only women's team that recruits at our level, yet the women still dismantles teams like Duke with even more Mickie Ds because of the effort. I'm old enough to remember when such "old school" effort was more prevalent in sports than it is now, and I love it.

Go back to your board seriously you're a joke too. 100% all of the time? Relative my friend, easy to look 100% all of the time against competition who is 10% as good!! get a grip the guys play hard even when they don't look it….physicality of the 2 games are worlds apart. Go back and talk about the girls hair cuts and stuff will ya…….

 

[CTBasketball]

The two comments I enjoyed most in this thread were jleve's observation that people on the Internet enjoy different things. You could go for the entertainment "thrill" of a close game, or the entertainment "artistry" of something well-executed. Both are indeed entertainment, but may not be equally so for different people. I also like fleud's comment that he enjoys the change of pace. Yes, I think it is possible for one to enjoy both.

I'm adding on something not yet expressed in this thread. I enjoy watching the women because 100% of the players give 100% effort in 100% of the games. We are not the only women's team that recruits at our level, yet the women still dismantles teams like Duke with even more Mickie Ds because of the effort. I'm old enough to remember when such "old school" effort was more prevalent in sports than it is now, and I love it.

The women appear to be playing 100% because the people they are playing are no better than a boys 7th grade AAU program from Brattleboro, VT.

 

[mauconnfan]

The women appear to be playing 100% because the people they are playing are no better than a boys 7th grade AAU program from Brattleboro, VT.

And as someone pointed out above imagine how many titles JC may have if Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Charlie Villanueva, Jeremy Lamb, Kemba Walker, Rudy Gay and so many others would have stayed for 4 years?? I assume other teams would have kept good players too but these guys were cream of the crop at the next level too……..may have as many trophies despite the parity difference if this were to be apples-to-apples despite the fact our guys don't play 100%……..