What makes UConn so good for so long | The Boneyard
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What makes UConn so good for so long

Tonyc

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What has made UConn so good for so long? How has Geno maintained this level of success year after year? He seems to take his teams to a new level every year, making it harder for the competition to keep up with him.

It all comes down to.......Belief. Geno has built a trust in all his girls, coaches and staff that come to play and work for him. He has built a foundation and that foundation has a nucleus of players that is there every season for the freshman and underclassmen to learn from and become part of. UConn is run like an engine with interconnected pieces that work in harmony with each other like a well-oiled machine. Geno is the engine of that machine and Geno is what makes it go. This is why attitude is so important. This is why controlling your emotions is so important. Everybody must be on the same page.

By making a total commitment to Genos system you're changing your life. What is a total commitment. A total commitment is when you're willing to give up the way you've been doing things and learning how to do them the correct way. In other words, you're electing to change. That takes time and practice. How much time? As long as it takes. Its different for everybody. By making a total commitment you are admitting you want to become better, and you are willing will learn to do it the right way. Mentally, emotionally and physically you will learn the right way to play and with the right mental attitude. Ive said many times there are two types of people in the world. Those who think they can and those who think they can't...and their both right. This is a direct correlation to being successful. By making a total commitment you will become a better person for it.

Attitude: When you win your humble and when you lose you show gratitude. When you're the best, thats what you do. There is only One Number One. Winning is a habit unfortunately so is losing. Just because you lose doesn't mean you're not the best, it just means you had an off day. People still respect you for being the best. By being humble and grateful you will earn respect.

Work ethic: It is nothing more than practicing the right way to do something and continue to practice it every day. Only Perfect practice makes Perfect. This is why repetition is so important Repetition is the mother of skill.

In 1971 I won the lottery.... military lottery and joined the army for 3 years. In 1975 when I got out, I went to work at an exclusive private country club working for former golf touring pros while I attended college. This helped prepare me for life. I met a very successful man upon completing college who taught me personal growth. He changed my life. He was a big part of teaching me what it took to be successful. Much like what happened to me in life is what Geno has built at UConn. The girls who go through his program are the best and they come out being better for being part of his team. Geno has become better because he continues to search for people who can make him better.

Team building is not easy. It takes a leader and that leader has a responsibility to continue to become better because his girls are depending on him. If you're not getting better, you become stagnant and at some point, somebody will pass you by. Nobody has passed Geno by because he out works them. Im sure Geno learned alot growing up from working with the coaches at the various schools he coached for, but it didnt stop there. Once he got his job at UConn, Geno talked to other successful professional coaches to learn more. He kept wanting to get better and kept wanting to learn more. You see even Geno made a total commitment to get better, and he still does.

Geno continues to win because he does what most other coaches dont do. He continues to work hard and learn. For Geno its not about the money. They money comes based on what he has done and what he has built. He has his goals and he has goals for the team. He also has requirements to be part of his team and what he expects from each player on the team. You have to earn your role at UConn. Nothing is handed to you,

Those requirements are what makes dreams come true. He sets the bar high every season and his team is taught to strive to reach for those goals. Sometimes they look unreachable and thats what makes it so rewarding. While other teams' dream, about a final four and wish and hope to make the final four. Geno is there. You can't wish your way to the top. Other teams will never achieve what Geno has achieved because they dont have the right attitude. They are not willing to do what it takes. They try to take short cuts to reach their goals. They talk about making the NCAA Tournament. At UConn the goal is a final four and they prepare to make the final four. They are on a mission. It isn't talk or hype its reality because they've done it so many times before. Its expected. Once again winning is a habit. You can't wish your way to the top.

In life there are no guarantees. You work very hard for as long as it takes and you might make it. When you think your there continue to work at it every day, and don't let up, because there is always somebody out there ready to take your place.

Not everybody is fit for UConn, but for those who are dreamers, for those who are willing to pay the price in advance with no guarantees and to do whatever it takes it's there.
 
TonyC: You aced it. And I appreciate your military service too.

Culture, culture, culture. Some, albeit not all, great high school girls (with parental support) want to come to an environment they will find first class, comfortable, and nurturing. They will not be in Storrs for only one or two years to prep for the pros, unlike some of the men who may sign multi-million dollar NBA contracts well before graduating. Do not underestimate the added value of Chris Dailey in recruiting. UConn is a place for classy, mature young women who want to play at the highest level among like-minded women, under the direction of similarly classy coaches. Let the "all about me" recruits go elsewhere. We'll be fine with Geno and Chris at the helm.
 
It all comes down to.......Belief.

That helps, but I'd say five things have made "UConn so good for so long."

1. Geno's elite recruiting touch
2. Geno's elite recruiting touch
3. Geno's elite recruiting touch
4. Geno's ability to teach elite offense
5. Geno's ability to teach elite defense
 
What sets Uconn apart, is obviously the culture they built since 1995. But also the program's philosophy of each individual player playing for each other. Its the daunting task of leaving all ego outside the storr's gym and play selflessly for each other. You see in their extra passes to each other that drive us fans crazy because we are are there screaming at our tvs "shoot the ball". Its those small things that Uconn found a way to weaponize it against all their opponents.

Recruiting also plays a crucial role in their dominant culture. Not all top high school players have what it takes to be at Uconn not because of what they can bring to the team, but because what they would have to give up once they arrive to campus. Mikayla from LSU (respectfully) is a perfect example of this. A talented player she is, but was she willing to give up her flashy game to be conditioned to make the better pass. Those are small acumen that Geno and staff look for when recruiting players. This is all just my humble opinion BTW.
 
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TonyC: You aced it. And I appreciate your military service too.

Culture, culture, culture. Some, albeit not all, great high school girls (with parental support) want to come to an environment they will find first class, comfortable, and nurturing. They will not be in Storrs for only one or two years to prep for the pros, unlike some of the men who may sign multi-million dollar NBA contracts well before graduating. Do not underestimate the added value of Chris Dailey in recruiting. UConn is a place for classy, mature young women who want to play at the highest level among like-minded women, under the direction of similarly classy coaches. Let the "all about me" recruits go elsewhere. We'll be fine with Geno and Chris at the helm.
Remember, she went to Egypt and rode the camel.
 
Geno was a special talent, recruited well and was helped by the public broadcasting network inside of CT to build a cult following in the 90's and 2000's
This popped up on my Youtube feed. A blast from the past.

This game was a gem. With starters Shea Ralph, Amy Duran, Sue Bird, and Swin Cash all out with injuries, the Huskies, fresh off a bad loss against Boston College, now must travel to face a very good Rutgers team in a much anticipated matchup. The fans were into the game. I remember how the cable tv was out and it was hard to get a good picture but I think it's good enough to watch here
UConn Starters: Svetlana Abrosimova, Paige Sauer, Tameka Williams, Asjha Jones, Kiersten Walters
Also: Marci Glenney, Stacy Hansmeyer, Tihana Abrlic

 
Great post Tony!

I might proffer that there is one factor that rises to the top. Expectations. All the values you so aptly point out - they are expectations, not hopes and wishes. Winning is an expectation at UConn now.
 
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I would say at this point in the life the the program, tradition and expectations are what is keeping it going. These are two difficult things that will be difficult to maintain for the next generation of UConn coaches. I seriously doubt you will ever see another Geno Auriemma/Chris Daily combination in terms of recruiting acumen and the ability to understand and motivate diverse over achievers that are the cream of women's college basketball players.
 
I agree with all that's been said, but I'll add one more point.

Geno has his own style that's imprinted on the team. It's easy to see them and say UConn basketball is UConn basketball, Geno always coaches the same, he just gets the best players. Motion offense, switching defense, all that, can seem to look the same from year to year. BUT Geno is masterful at working with what he has. The overall look may be similar, but the individual roles are just that: individual. How many times have we heard him say that he encourages players to do what they do best? It's not just something he says, he designs players' roles to take advantage of their individual strengths, and it's not ever just one player he's adjusting play for. He understands the players' roles, which takes some time and effort, then he has to design the team dynamic and teach each player how she fits into that. My head spins just thinking of how much work that has to be.

And, of course, he's surrounded himself with the best coaching staff, too, and they have a lot of input into each step of the process, from recruiting to winning championships.
 
It's part of the mystery of life why "God sheds His grace on thee" University of Connecticut.

I strongly suspect that it's because UConn is a part of the great state of Connecticut, the 5th state of the Union, and all of the numerological & spiritual associations with the number 5, which include the 5 pointed star of the US Flag (pentagram), with the number 5 being the only prime number that's the sum of 2 other prime numbers (2 & 3), associated with the planet Mercury, and which also represents the 5 senses, the 5 digits of the hand, and in spiritiuality represents God's grace and kindness.
Last but not least, the number 5 representts the connection between the divine and the earthly.

Most if not all of the athletes tend to mention that they give all the glory to God for their success.
 
To @Tonyc 's point a lot of things go into making Connecticut women's basketball as good for as long as it is. The elite coaching, the elite recruits, the elite facilities and the elite fans all play a role, but if I had to single out one thing it would be the pursuit of perfection.

Perfection is unattainable, even in a season like this where, so far, we've worn every game. But the unrelenting pursuit of perfection is the transformative element that makes good teams great. Geno and CD have done a remarkable job in convincing very young women to buy into that extraordinarily demanding pursuit and have done so for decades. That longevity and consistency is remarkable. We truly are blessed as fans.

Great post as always, Tony!
 
Here's my thinking on how UConn has remained so successful over the past 40+ years:

1) Geno and CD had a vision and then went an implemented that vision in real time. They never compromised on anything that would alter their vision.
2) Karry Bascom - she's the one recruit that started the pipeline
3) Rebecca Lobo - the first in a long line of high school All-Americans to be recruited by Geno
4) SNY TV coverage. Millions of young girls were able to watch UConn on SNY and decide that they wanted to be part of that
5) Geno's recruiting changes. Geno was way ahead of other coaches in looking for and getting over seas talent
6) Facility upgrades and monetary support for the sport of women's basketball from the University
 
Tony, magnificent summary.

As a retired educator - 33 years as a band director - I can appreciated what Geno & CD have built and continue to maintain.

Standard of excellent all must meet.
Fairness.
Consistency in all aspects of the program
Building of personal relationships with the team members
Excellent assistant coaching staff.
Unbelievable support form the school, athletes' parents, and the fan base.
 
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It helps to sign the top recruit in the nation. I don't think Geno has won one championship without at least one superstar. Last year, he started three number one recruits. That's a nice advantage.
I don't disagree, but there's an art to finding top recruits that will buy in and do the work to play for Geno. At the end of the day though, it is very much about the kids.
 
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Here's another macro explanation about why Connecticut & UConn were destined to become the Basketball Capital of the World that I posted about in a BY forum in 2022.
It involves the invention of dribbling having actually occurred in New Britain, Connecticut in 1896.
Lobo's grandparents also lived in New Britain....Now you know the rest of the story....
----------------------

The internet will tell you that the first team to dribble a basketball was Yale University in 1897.
But if you search Google for- Dribbling invented in New Britain, Conn - the results will produce a Hartford Courant article that includes the quote below.

"...In the golden age, innovation reached broadly. There's a photo of the local men's YMCA basketball team in the New Britain Industrial Museum from 1896, the year the squad won the world championship. Bernardotte Loomis, a timekeeper at Stanley and later the city tax collector, bounced the ball in the title game that was witnessed by James Naismith, who approved the move — and dribbling was born.

"His unexpected maneuver," The Courant's Bob Zaiman wrote in an article on March 6, 1954, "probably saved the game of basketball from extinction."

The Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't recognize Loomis' dribble as a first. But the world still recognizes New Britain as an amazing incubator of the machine age...."

 
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Great comments by all. The recruiting top players or "#1 player" in the nation helps but we all know and seen programs that have recruited top players and those programs have been good but lack that staying power. We are lucky because Coach Auriemma and Coach CD have been here for four decades, and they have kept the standard the Standard. That vision for the program has not shifted at all over the four decades. The core values, the standards of behavior, the vision, and credible leadership. Those are key ingredients for sustained championship level program.
 
Thankfully Nan taught Tony to write in paragraphs. Could you imagine trying to read the OP if it was one big blob of words? Nice work Tony.
yes, I do recall that lol
 

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