Why is UConn still successful?

[CtQuip]

Geno’s serious answer to that question from a Sporting News article. Maybe the best answer ever...My apologies if this was already put up.

"The true answer is we get the kind of kids that fit exactly what we want, what we do, and how we do things," Auriemma said. "That doesn't mean they weren't the best players coming out of high school. For sure, they were. But we've been very, very fortunate, for the most part, to get those kids that come out of high school and they want to be coached the way I coach, and they're not afraid to walk into our building, look up at the walls, see those names and see those banners and go, 'I got this.'"

 

[msugrad00]

If it was all about talent then Texas would be in the final four because they have 10 freakin McDonald's All Americans on their roster this year TEN!!!!! MSU doesn't have a single one although it was silly that VV wasn't one her senior year and I think Myah Taylor should have been one last season. Hell, even Andra Espinoza-Hunter should have probably been one last year and she is a dawg now

 

[inthisopinion]

The sad truth is that the coaching in WCB is very poor. I think Texas has very good players including the game's most important element, size. In all college BB the use of very tall players is not done very well, generally. When a team has very big players those players must be the coach's number one priority. After that is done every thing else becomes much easier. Those big players must be used first and foremost for defense and rebounding. Even if they are not already good or don't improve at passing and shooting they are assured of being large positive contributors. When you see games even at the highest level of WCB you see teams that are woefully unprepared for the contest. This falls on the coaching and keep in mind that there was a long time when only one coach was on the bench of teams at the highest levels. A simple game must be kept simple for the players be able to succeed as a team.

 

[DefenseBB]

What? Dribble, dribble, dribble, stand around, stand around, stand around, oh crap 2 seconds left, shoot doesn't cut it for you? I sort of agree but also disagree as it is not simple-ball screens, high/low pick and rolls, back door cuts and most of all crisp ball movement (ie effective passing) are the items required for a good offense and that is not simple but requires a tenacity of commitment to practice. I do see far too many "quality teams" with players woefully out of shape to handle running up and down the court. Even in this final four, ND, to me is not as in great physical shape but has done remarkably well due to their zone defense to prevent their "iron 6" from getting exhausted. They incredibly, put up 83 points a game with Shepard, Nelson and even Mabry not in "peak" condition. Add in the fact that by comparison, UConn has some of the best ball movement in all of basketball-MCBB, NBA, WNBA and all others pale by that benchmark. One of the items NOT mentioned in all these ND/UConn pregame articles when they talk about the comeback-ND was tired, UConn wasn't. As Geno said at the beginning of the year to the women-"Great players don't get tired, good players when they get tired, get their a@# beat by great players".

Conditioning is also on the coaching staff and on the players.

 

[Orangutan]

If it was all about talent then Texas would be in the final four because they have 10 freakin McDonald's All Americans on their roster this year TEN!!!!!

It's about quality, not quantity. After all, only 5 at a time play. Baylor had 4 in the McDonald's game the other day. UConn had 2. I don't know about you but I would take UConn's two over Baylor's four any day.

I love Geno's answer here and I (and many others) have long said the same thing about UConn. Geno gets the best recruits but he also gets the right recruits. Players that are willing to be coached and to sacrifice themselves for the team. There are some top-5 recruits of recent years that may not exactly fit those criteria (I won't name names, draw your own conclusions).

I also thought the quotes Geno and Muffet made about ND and UConn recruiting (and choosing not to recruit) a lot of the same players were interesting. I always think it's interesting to see what consensus top recruits are not linked with either program.

Back to the McDonald's game. ND's players were Jordan Nixon (tied for game-high in assists with 5) and Katlyn Gilbert. Gilbert's coach at the McDonald's game made special mention that she was "very coachable". This stuff is no accident.

 

[my2cents]

The obvious answer is Geno. Now he recruits the best players in the country, but prior to that he was successful with local talent, Bascom, Lobo, Sales, et al.
His vision of how the game should be played is pass the ball for an open shot, run in transition, make lay ups; but his biggest difference with what he would call "girls' basketball, is to play defense.
His total emphasis on playing defense is what separates his program from all others.

 

[UConnCat]

I look forward to seeing what Muffet is able to do with Patterson and Cosgrove, two recruits UConn took a look at (Patterson harder than Cosgrove) and passed on. Brunelle may indeed be another. All three seemingly very coachable kids.

 

[BostonFan]

Geno has his players practicing hard against men players! I doubt many schools do that.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

If it was all about talent then Texas would be in the final four because they have 10 freakin McDonald's All Americans on their roster this year TEN!!!!! MSU doesn't have a single one although it was silly that VV wasn't one her senior year and I think Myah Taylor should have been one last season. Hell, even Andra Espinoza-Hunter should have probably been one last year and she is a dawg now View attachment 30259

Go watch your team tearing up Louisville ... oops, not right now. But it sure looks like an SEC game. In other words ... SMEH

 

[JellyBean]

Coach hit the nail on the head. Getting players that buy into the culture of UConn and what coach is saying.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Geno has his players practicing hard against men players! I doubt many schools do that.

LOL almost all of them do, and not just the P5 schools.