What Dawn could learn from Geno

[RockyMTblue2]

I would have welcomed a dash of Dawn in Geno last night in the first half. He could have delivered his complaints about calls or should I say none calls with more "enthusiasm". The zebras did a crap job last night.

 

[hussybulldog]

No doubt there’s a difference between winning and losing, but as others have pointed out, we didn’t see Geno complaining about the refs after the MS St game, or a few years earlier in the OT loss to Stanford or going back even further to the 2012-13 season after 3 close losses to ND and 1 to Baylor.

Geno may very well yell at the refs during a game and even get T’d up, although CD usually wrestles him back to the bench these days, but I don’t remember a game in a long time, if ever, when Geno met with reporters after the game and tore into the refs.

He could not have complained about aforementioned games as we all know he was worthy being assigned with the blame. He has not won any OT games since 2004.

 

[j66kicker]

Just shows that Geno says what is needed in that moment to move his present team to the next level. That is the consistency, no?

He wasn’t referring to his players in this case - heh heh.

 

[JordyG]

Oh geez I love all the short memories on this board. Geno has gotten technicals before, and fir the reason of protecting his players.

Geno could have a different reaction last night because his team was playing freaking UCF.

And Geno has lost his mind on many occasions in past years over the referee's, and in many a game without getting tee'd. I used to think that CD's primary on court job was running interference between Geno and the ref's. It just seems many a poster here are relatively new to The Boneyard and UConn.

 

[oldude]

I certainly wouldn’t suggest that there isn’t a basis for complaining about the refs. Some of the calls they missed were unbelievable. But as others have pointed out, the opportunity to send an important message to your players is more important than any gratification a coach might feel by complaining about the refs. That’s what Geno understood last night and hopefully what Dawn will learn in time.

 

[CMC'72]

I certainly wouldn’t suggest that there isn’t a basis for complaining about the refs.

During the game, I went to look at the names of the 3 refs involved.

Three of the top refs in the league: Bryan Enterline, Dee Kantner, and Kevin Pethtel

 

[oldude]

During the game, I went to look at the names of the 3 refs involved. Three of the top refs in the league.

Maybe the big ref was trying to help out UCF after he pancaked their player on the sideline.

 

[JordyG]

Maybe the big ref was trying to help out UCF after he pancaked their player on the sideline.

LOL. But yeah, I'm one of those guys who never complains about the refs. I sound like a broken record, but your team should be good enough to overcome most any adversity, especially the refs.

 

[Jim R]

As Geno said last night, "Life isn't fair."

Am reminded of Nick Saban's comments after his team's CFB victory against Georgia:
"It is hard," Saban said. "We knew it would be a hard game. ... If you can't overcome hard, you're never going to have any great victories in your life."

 

[Carnac]

I miss the days when, faced by physical play, a coach had a couple of enforcers on the bench who would be sent into the game specifically to commit some hard fouls. I've seen games where, when UConn's starters responded to toughness with toughness, suddenly the refs started blowing their whistles and UConn found itself in foul trouble.

So while I thought that Geno's postgame comments were the right thing to say by a coach to his team he should also see how his penchant for playing 6 players in big games makes his team vulnerable to this sort of gamesmanship. If I had been the coach the minute I saw what UCF was doing I would have used Camara to send a message, whether or not she "gets it" in practice. From my experience when only one team is playing tough and they are the underdogs the refs often look the other way, ala Louisville vs Baylor in 2013(?). And when the other team starts returning the toughness blow for blow the officials suddenly find their whistles. Last night UConn let UCF beat them up and because they were almighty UConn the refs allowed it. But if say Camara came in and knocked a couple of UCF players into the second row, the way the game was being called would have changed quickly.

ala Louisville vs Baylor in 2013(?) Yes, I remember that game. They mauled Griner, the entire game. The refs swallowed their whistles, and looked the other way.

 

[Carnac]

Am reminded of Nick Saban's comments after his team's CFB victory against Georgia:
"It is hard," Saban said. "We knew it would be a hard game. ... If you can't overcome hard, you're never going to have any great victories in your life."

Another way to say it..................."You can't have a testimony without a test"

 

[Carnac]

LOL. But yeah, I'm one of those guys who never complains about the refs. I sound like a broken record, but your team should be good enough to overcome most any adversity, especially the refs.

Agreed.................as long as they're calling it the same way on BOTH ends of the court!!!!

 

[oldude]

LOL. But yeah, I'm one of those guys who never complains about the refs. I sound like a broken record, but your team should be good enough to overcome most any adversity, especially the refs.

It’s funny how your perceptions of a game can change when you watch it a second time. I just watched the game again, and I have to say that I didn’t see a lot of missed calls by the refs.

In the 1st half UCF just plain out-hustled UConn. UConn also committed a number of turnovers and missed an incredible number of open shots.

In the 2nd half, UConn took better care of the ball, shot the ball much better and, most importantly, matched UCF’s effort with Gabby, Kia, Z and the rest of the team stepping up their overall level of play.

In the entire game I saw only one clear cut no-call by the refs, at the end of the 3rd qtr, when Gabby forced a TO, that lead to a layup by Lou, where she was clearly fouled and should have been awarded an opportunity for a 3-pt play.

 

[Carnac]

It’s funny how your perceptions of a game can change when you watch it a second time. I just watched the game again, and I have to say that I didn’t see a lot of missed calls by the refs.

In the 1st half UCF just plain out-hustled UConn. UConn also committed a number of turnovers and missed an incredible number of open shots.

In the 2nd half, UConn took better care of the ball, shot the ball much better and, most importantly, matched UCF’s effort with Gabby, Kia, Z and the rest of the team stepping up their overall level of play.

In the entire game I saw only one clear cut no-call by the refs, at the end of the 3rd qtr, when Gabby forced a TO, that lead to a layup by Lou, where she was clearly fouled and should have been awarded an opportunity for a 3-pt play.

Agrred!!! here's a comment I wrote a moment ago in another thread: "UCF gave UConn the kind of game they needed. The Golden Knights made the Huskies work, and play hard. They didn't come in and lie in a corner in a fetal position. Nay, they came out and competed hard and aggressively. They weren't there to kiss UConn's rings or anything else".

I wish more ACC teams would play UConn like this. THIS is the type of play needed from opponents that will aid UConn in preparing for post season play.

 

[Rocket009]

And Geno has lost his mind on many occasions in past years over the referee's, and in many a game without getting tee'd. I used to think that CD's primary on court job was running interference between Geno and the ref's. It just seems many a poster here are relatively new to The Boneyard and UConn.

Geno certainly had his moments! I remember seeing him run over CD in a game. Knocked her down trying to scream at the refs.

 

[nyfanofwbb]

You perhaps have forgotten Geno in the good old days. The guy who thought he could control every little thing on the court. Age tempers everything.

Since I have only been following UConn BB for a few years now, I don't remember Geno back then.

 

[JordyG]

Since I have only been following UConn BB for a few years now, I don't remember Geno back then.

Geno didn't get that arrogant a*****e moniker without reason. Seth Greenberg has told a story that when they used to play cards together back in the day he was an arrogant son of a gun even then.

 

[Biff]

Then there was this unfortunate incident back in 2004 when Sally Bell was at the top of her game and CD still had a strong grip.....

 

[JordyG]

Then there was this unfortunate incident back in 2004 when Sally Bell was at the top of her game and CD still had a strong grip.....

View attachment 27668

FOTFLOL. Twice. You ain't NO darned good. Triple like.

 

[JordyG]

Then there was this unfortunate incident back in 2004 when Sally Bell was at the top of her game and CD still had a strong grip.....

View attachment 27668

Retweet.

 

[oldude]

Then there was this unfortunate incident back in 2004 when Sally Bell was at the top of her game and CD still had a strong grip.....

View attachment 27668

Good stuff. FYI, Sally Bell was recently inducted into the Women’s Basketball HOF in Knoxville last February.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Oh geez I love all the short memories on this board. Geno has gotten technicals before, and fir the reason of protecting his players. Geno could have a different reaction last night because his team was playing freaking UCF.

I am in agreement with you. I have a question. At age 47 (Dawn's age) and having just experienced what Dawn and her team experienced against Missouri, how would have Geno reacted? Like Dawn did? Or as he did after the UCF game?

 

[Rixxx]

He would have said IMHO that we didn't adjust to the refs, played substandard defense and were not patient on offense.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I think most anyone in the sport and other sports could learn things from Geno and I think Dawn Staley undoubtably has.

With that said, Lawd have mercy.

 

[cohenzone]

When I was in hs about halfway through the last century, there was an athlete in our school a year ahead of me who was the best hs althlete in CT at the time. largest school division. 1st team all state in baseball (pitch and outfield) basketball (point guard) and football (QB and DB). Great hs QB. Played baseball and football in college and AAA baseball and minor league football. He was sitting next to me, hardly knew him, during a JV hoops game before he had to dress for the varsity game. Everyone was woofing about horrible reffing. I’ll never forget him saying that he never got upset by officiating, only ruins your game and focus. Pretty sure he was only a junior then. Very mature. Ended up teaching hs phys ed.

 

[OldAlum]

I thought UCF played physical and did stuff that I thought should have been called fouls, but I didn't think they played "dirty" or maliciously.
It seems like refs let some players get away with pushing and flat out running over people while calling fouls on players that use their hands. We seem to have more players that reach and get called for ticky-tack fouls.
I would like rule changes to keep games from resembling rugby matches. It is ugly and I think more fans would like a less "physical" game. Don't know how that would be done!

 

[Waquoit]

Considering the way UConn played in the 2nd half, I would say Geno handled it perfectly.

 

[Siestakeyfan]

True. But aren't the refs paid to provide a security blanket to prevent players from getting injured? This game got out of hand, IMO. Basketball wasn't intended to be all about banging. USF=beautiful basketball; UCF=ugly bb. The analogy to the bad old Rutgers' games applies.

Players getting lnocked down HARD on Layups is BAD basketball and injury prone !

 

[ctfjr]

Dawn and Geno are good friends who have great respect for each other. Dawn worked as one of Geno’s assistants on USA WBB for a number of years, and Geno enthusiastically supported Dawn to take over as HC when he stepped down. Each year in Feb SC & UConn face each other in a “much watch” WBB game, that allows both teams to gauge exactly where they are heading into conference and NCAA tournaments.

This past week, SC lost in a physical game at MO in which NPOY candidate A’ja Wilson fouled out. Dawn was ejected from the game after her 2nd technical foul and she complained bitterly about the officiating afterwards. At the time, I suggested that Dawn’s response was not good for her or her team.

Fast forward to last night when UConn faced a physical challenge from a tough UCF team coached by an aggressive young coach. Add in the fact that the officials appeared to let the teams play for the most part, generally swallowing their whistles during much of the game. One BY’er suggested that the game was reminiscent of the battles with C. Viv’s Rutgers teams years ago.

At halftime, after a disappointing 32-19 effort during the 1st half, UConn did not come out of the locker room until there was only 23 seconds left before the start of the 2nd half. With no warmup at all, UConn proceeded to shoot 64% in the 2nd half, outscoring UCF 48-25.

In his postgame press conference, Geno’s directed his biting sarcasm at his team. His message was clear. Don’t expect the refs to bail you out just because the opposing team touched you when you were trying to make a shot.

There’s a larger message here, one that we all learned from our parents and try to pass on to our children. Life isn’t always fair. When life isn’t fair, are you going to complain and shrink from the challenge, or are you going to do something about it? In last night’s game, after what I am sure were some choice comments from their HC, UConn WBB, led by Gabby, Z & Kia, decided to do something about it.

Geno’s comments were on Sportscenter this morning. Hopefully, Dawn was watching.

Great post, thanks!

 

[Bronxjeff]

I think the Rutgers analogy is pretty good. UCF were pretty physical and I think got away with few no calls that the refs were allowing the underdogs. But I think all in all they played a good game and their defense gave us a good challenge. Their one speedy guard was quite a player.