So the question is very simple? We all know that he is the GOAT but what are the reasons? Is it because he has won 11 NCAA titles or did he win those titles because he is great? Or because he got great players? There is some truth in all of that. We've all seen his incredible strategic moves as a coach. We all remember the isolation to Diana with a minute to go in the NC game against Oklahoma that scored the basket and fouled out Stacey Dale. On a smaller stage, how about the last game against St. John's? Move Aubrey to cover Everett and Katie bar the door. It wasn't until I read Geno's recent comments reported here under different threads that I came to my own conclusion about him.
After the NC State game last year, Geno talked about the pressure he felt to win and get to the Final Four. It wasn't peer or media pressure it was internal pressure. There is an implicit promise to the kids that come here, he implied, that go through boot camp like practices with him, that give up their egos, that act and become UCONN kids, Geno's kids, that he will get them to the Promised Land of the Final Four. That was by his own admission the pressure he felt. His obligation to his recruits. I was floored. It is such a testament to humility with the complete absence of arrogance.
Reading his recent comments, he feels responsible for every errant pass, every missed assignment, every error because he feels as though he didn't teach it correctly.That's why his practices are so Lombardiesque. Are you kidding me? What an amazing point of view. I coached youth in different leagues including recreation, CYO, travel and AAU, both boys and girls and also high school girls AAU. Not once did I internalize and then externalize like that- if it didn't work or their was a turnover, or a missed box out, it's because I didn't teach it correctly. I didn't do my job.
He is a pure perfectionist and a true disciple of John Wooden. He is trying to distance himself from that burden lately but perhaps that was why Wooden just sat on the bench with his program rolled up. He knew that they all got it and it was just a matter of the conductor watching the orchestra play the symphony themselves.
Basketball, and especially womens basketball, is very lucky to have Geno. I hope he finds that new middle. Either way, I feel really good about this coming April.
After the NC State game last year, Geno talked about the pressure he felt to win and get to the Final Four. It wasn't peer or media pressure it was internal pressure. There is an implicit promise to the kids that come here, he implied, that go through boot camp like practices with him, that give up their egos, that act and become UCONN kids, Geno's kids, that he will get them to the Promised Land of the Final Four. That was by his own admission the pressure he felt. His obligation to his recruits. I was floored. It is such a testament to humility with the complete absence of arrogance.
Reading his recent comments, he feels responsible for every errant pass, every missed assignment, every error because he feels as though he didn't teach it correctly.That's why his practices are so Lombardiesque. Are you kidding me? What an amazing point of view. I coached youth in different leagues including recreation, CYO, travel and AAU, both boys and girls and also high school girls AAU. Not once did I internalize and then externalize like that- if it didn't work or their was a turnover, or a missed box out, it's because I didn't teach it correctly. I didn't do my job.
He is a pure perfectionist and a true disciple of John Wooden. He is trying to distance himself from that burden lately but perhaps that was why Wooden just sat on the bench with his program rolled up. He knew that they all got it and it was just a matter of the conductor watching the orchestra play the symphony themselves.
Basketball, and especially womens basketball, is very lucky to have Geno. I hope he finds that new middle. Either way, I feel really good about this coming April.
