Who will stay within 20 points of UCONN this season?

[hjoerring]

I think we are getting too giddy. Yes, we should be a very good team; and, yes we could drop one or two. My money is on US repeating but, there are some very good teams who have the players to put it all together. What I am worrying about is our recruitment. The usual explanation about playing time has ran it's course. What if we do not get Wilson and Nurse. I don't see Wilson going to ND, but she could decide to stay South-- SC? Nurse? Don't underestimate what ND is selling her. They are probably offering her the Vatican and it might be tempting to be the PG there and in the ACC. Also, many have cited here the extend to which players (one especially) from ND have been aggressive in doing their own recruitment for this and the next class. NC and Duke (players) have been doing it, and it has payed off. For some reasons I have the impression (absolutely no 1st 2nd or even 3rd hand info) our UCONN ladies are far removed from recruiting at that level. Think about it. Who on the team could or would get on the net and tweek up a potential recruit? Any of the Bri/e's? Let's face it Breanna and Chong might be two who still might have some contact out there. But I don't that it is their style (or that the coaches would welcome such interventions in the process). But Wesbeld and Samuelson were an are being worked on (shamelessly depending on one's view) relentlessly by that (and perhaps others) ND incoming recruit-- her name keep escaping me. All in all, ND and Duke and a couple others are setting themselves up (both with number and talent) to reap a harvest of fruits, all the while we are plucking roses. I am not criticizing our approach, only being nervous about the big houses that the neighbors down the foot of the hill are building. While I'm rambling, I hope that some of our fellow private schools in the AAC will use some of their royalties to build up their programs-- if the Stanford, Duke, ND have seen the advantage of a first rate Olympian program, so can they. As for this current recruiting class, if we do not get, in my view, Wilson and Nurse (or keep them out of the ACC and Tenn) then we are in trouble because it will put some clouds over us. Of course we will continue to be tops because of the people we have today. Don't get me wrong. We can use both these players for all possible reasons, but we can over-live if we do not get both or one. What we cannot over-live is they being vacumed-up by any of those machines named ND, Duke, etc. Better to see them at SC, OSU, Berkl. (my first stomping ground long before CT), even Samuelson to Stanford/OSU would please me.

 

[Icebear]

Oy, more worrying about problems two years down the road. We have a great recruiting class coming in and it is one recruit away from being a great class and two from and outstanding class. We have one of the best coaches in the history of basketball, no, best coaches of any sport ever still in charge. Let's just enjoy the ride.

There are no clouds, the immediate forecast is light and breezy. Perfect weather for sailing with Captain Geno's hand on the tiller.

 

[hjoerring]

Icebear, you are so right-- 'possibly needless worry'. But that is the good life for US Boneyarders. There is no chance that the snow might be melting, is there? Nothing wrong with making plans for such events- my friend, don't wait for natural selection to work it's trick when culture can suffice to do as much. I'm curious though, why would Nurse come to CT if she is a PG-- and would want to play right away (given her role/status on the CA team). Have we not MO Bri, Chong and another verbal in her class? Were she to come it would be big-time, and it would mean that she would be guaranteed(?) a starting job and lots of minutes. Lets face it- wouldn't the coach of the Canadian Olyp. team bark if she were coming to sit on the bench rather then playing a lot.

 

[doggydaddy]

Icebear, you are so right-- 'possibly needless worry'. But that is the good life for US Boneyarders. There is no chance that the snow might be melting, is there? Nothing wrong with making plans for such events- my friend, don't wait for natural selection to work it's trick when culture can suffice to do as much. I'm curious though, why would Nurse come to CT if she is a PG-- and would want to play right away (given her role/status on the CA team). Have we not MO Bri, Chong and another verbal in her class? Were she to come it would be big-time, and it would mean that she would be guaranteed(?) a starting job and lots of minutes. Lets face it- wouldn't the coach of the Canadian Olyp. team bark if she were coming to sit on the bench rather then playing a lot.

She would come to play with the best and for the best.

And she wouldn't sit on the bench.

 

[Icebear]

Icebear, you are so right-- 'possibly needless worry'. But that is the good life for US Boneyarders. There is no chance that the snow might be melting, is there? Nothing wrong with making plans for such events- my friend, don't wait for natural selection to work it's trick when culture can suffice to do as much. I'm curious though, why would Nurse come to CT if she is a PG-- and would want to play right away (given her role/status on the CA team). Have we not MO Bri, Chong and another verbal in her class? Were she to come it would be big-time, and it would mean that she would be guaranteed(?) a starting job and lots of minutes. Lets face it- wouldn't the coach of the Canadian Olyp. team bark if she were coming to sit on the bench rather then playing a lot.

Nope, it is all good. There is great waterfront property available about ten miles inland starting in 2112.

 

[reno tony]

I have already predicted that UCONN will win it's regular season games by an average of 33.3. To add to the topic, the only possible way any team has of staying within 20 points or even beating UCONN is they play awesome defense and keep UCONN under 80 points. Then they have to run the gauntlet of speedy guards and long armed AA post players to score a bunch of points. I personally don't see it happening but it is fun to read some of the scenarios people have.

Morgan Tuck is the next Kelly Faris!​

 

[Tonyc]

Here are some of my thoughts on this and putting things in my perspective. Didn't Breanna wait til her junior year to verbal and she verbaled to UConn? This seems to be the trend with top players coming to UConn. It is my feeling that early verbals only scare away potential recruits from coming. I believe Geno would rather have top recruits verbal late in their junior year then earlier to make sure that they're sure and not commit and decommit. We've seen that before. Geno is still recruiting Wilson therefore he must know UConn has a very good chance of getting her or else he would back off her. Wilson is doing the same waiting til the spring to verbal. Makes me think she too will verbal to UConn. It is my understanding that we have a very good chance of getting her. It is also my feeling shes concerned about being homesick and shes getting help with that. I believe that if Wilson verbals to UConn you will see some top recruits follow her.

As far as any team hanging with UConn this season. There is no team in WCBB that can defend UConn.... on the perimeter or inside. There isn't a team in WCBB that UConn cant defend and they proved that last season in the NCAAs. Could we lose. IMO only through the law of averages and right now those law of averages are on our side.

As far as top teams. UConn is number one and there is only one Number 1. I don't care who is number 2 3 or 4.

If we don't get a big this season we still have Kiah Morgan and Breanna. We might have to wait another season to get one. That will have little affect on the next 3 seasons. However if we get Wilson that will have a huge affect on the next 3 seasons and beyond.

As far as Nurse goes. ND already is starting a freshman point guard this season. If Nurse comes to UConn she will get a lot of playtime because of UConns short roster and Mojeff being the only true point guard.

As far as Sammuelson. I see her taking KMLs place when she graduates. Shes that good of a shooter. From what I understand it is UConn ND and Stanford in that order.

Remember this when talking about teams like Duke and ND and all the top recurits theyre getting. Duke MD UNC and Tenn have stacked their team with top recruits and only ND has made the FF the rest haven't made the FF in quite sometime. By having all these top recruits you have to find playtime for them and if you don't word gets out and others wont come. So by spreading out all the playtime it makes it harder to develop continuity, and a flow to the game. It also makes it hard to defend your opponent because its very difficult to get all 12 to 15 players on the same page with minimal playtime. That's why in big games you see a shorter roster playing

I read these threads and many fans are concerned that UConn is losing the recruiting race. Understand UConn is loaded for the next 3 years. Genos coaching skills are at a completely different level then anyone elses and a lot of that has to do with what he's accomplished over the past 20 years. So if Duke ND Tenn or MD or anybody else has top recruits sitting the bench waiting for playtime imo it will hurt them in the future. Remember you can only play 5 at a time and most teams only play 7-8 top players play in big games. Worry about them and when they can play defense like UConn and make the FF like UConn then we have some serious competition. Until then everything depends on getting lucky. The reason so many fans feel ND is our competition is because they beat us a lot and they beat us by living at the foul line. Diggins is gone and that's a big blow. She was a floor leader and team leader. That will hurt ND more then most think, because it will hurt the flow of the game. You will see ND lost at times this season and that's what Diggins brought to the team.

 

[Suebird10fan]

The only problem I see with teams staying within 20 points is the UCONN bench players that will be playing at the end of the game will probably be Banks, Tuck, Stokes, Chong and who knows. Since I expect they will try to impress Geno for some starting time, I don't expect the opponents to make much of a dent in those 30 point leads the bench will probably get.

My prediction after looking over the schedule, checking prior match ups, analysing the statistical data, taking into consideration the heights and weights of UCONN players and their opponents and most importantly.... considering all I have read on the Boneyard, will be that UCONN will win their regular season games by an average of 33.3 points. My predictions for the tournaments will come later in the season.

I'll take the over on that for sure.

As for Op's Q I would expect 3 to 4 teams to come within 20 (incl postseason). Leading candidates would be Duke and MD, followed by ND if we meet in ncaa's, followed by @Lville.

 

[boontonbomber]

i hope that there are at least a few competitive games, otherwise we'll be changing stations most of the time to pbs at halftime. it is unfortunate that we are not playing nd in the regular season, where there is plenty of talent and plenty of coaching. there are other teams with plenty of talent, but none of them have auriemma or mcgraw level coaching. what has to happen in wcb is for more really good coaches to develop, especially some who know how to teach good defense. i just am not impressed( maybe i'm too picky) by the coaches at the name schools( duke, stanford, tenessee, maryland, baylor,rutgers, louisville, north carolina), the ones who seem to pick up the most top high school players. there are a few coaches who i would love to see get the talent that these schools get - blair at a&m, perretta at villanova, georgis at marist,bruno at depaul, and barnes-arico at michigan. they have their teams prepared, and, most importantly, do a good job in-game. pretty short list, and what do i know, but these are just people i've been impressed with over the years. but in order for wcb to become more competitive, either these coaches would need to get more top players( not likely), or more really talented folk must appear( or geno must retire).

 

[Wonkster]

... most of our games are going to be the slaughter of the innocents ...

Or, as Kib so colorfully put it a few weeks back, a Demolition Derby.

 

[easttexastrash]

Notre Dame, if you end up playing them.

 

[easttexastrash]

I believe MD will be closer than many think, especially early in the season. Penn State will not be a runaway, nor will Louisville. either.

Well, if Louisville plays defense like they did against Baylor, anything can happen.

 

[hjoerring]

tonyc & BBomber, v. interesting read. Good idea regarding appearance - reality split. BBomber, why do these players flock to these schools when very little come of it? Are we making too much about championships- when these young people would care less, more about playing with their friends, etc. Is it the usual (elite)education trick? How about Duke and Stanford etc telling the recruits and their parents about the cost of a 4-year scholarship from their school versus a public sch ($1m vs $200,000-- just putting random recruit numbers)? Who would not sign-on right away. I am curious about Duke because it is a very difficult environment to be in if you are not 'Blue Blood', according to two friend of mine who were students there and are from prominent families from the area. What is the attraction, even after their top recruiters left the school . How many schools could experienced such major turnovers over such a short period and keep on rolling. Is recruitment an art or a science? Duke wbb coach might not be winning championships, but she knows how to fish- I will give her credit.

 

[meyers7]

I am very interested in who might stay within 20 points this season.

A team of Banks, Chong, Tuck, Stokes and Lawler/Pulid is the only one I can come up with off the top of my head.

 

[Vowelguy]

I thought this thread was about the football team.
So far the answer is not Buffalo and not Cincinnati.