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Message: [QUOTE="JoePgh, post: 2734746, member: 1131"] Geez, this myth again. Apparently people think that they can make it true (or make it be believed) just by repeating it. It has been refuted numerous times on this board, but in case anyone missed the last 20 refutations, let me offer here a [I][B]partial [/B][/I]list of past freshmen to whom Geno has given “meaningful minutes in meaningful games”: Katie Lou Samuelson Kia Nurse Breanna Stewart Morgan Tuck Kelly Faris Stef Dolson Bria Hartley Samarie Walker (even though she transferred after one semester) Caroline Doty Maya Moore That is just who I can think of in the last decade or so; it is far from a complete list. It is absolutely false that Geno refuses on principle to play freshmen. People who think otherwise are generalizing wildly from one particular year (last year), which is by no means a typical year. Geno will find out in October, and the rest of us in mid-November, whether Megan Walker has overcome her problems, or not. It wouldn’t be a great leap (based on past experience) to think that she might. Here is a partial list of players who did not play very much or very well in their freshman years but went on to become major contributors at UConn: Crystal Dangerfield Napheesa Collier Gabby Williams Moriah Jefferson Tiffany Hayes Tina Charles Mel Thomas It is entirely possible that Megan Walker (and perhaps Mikayla Coombs) will add their names to this second list. Which of the two lists will eventually contain the names of ONO and CW? I have no idea, and I doubt that Geno does. But if I had to guess, I would say that they are more likely to make the first list than the second. For UConn as a team, it is more important for ONO to make the first list than for CW to do so, because UConn has other good options at guard but not at center. So, as with Stefanie Dolson, Geno is likely to be more tolerant of ONO’s mistakes if her attitude is right and if she is a quick learner. Stef had major weaknesses as a freshman — she was foul-prone and was a poor rebounder for her size, and she was not in UConn shape. Just as ONO has to add bulk, Stef had to lose baby fat. Geno tolerated that in Stef, mainly because he had no real alternatives but also because Stef was always eager to learn and learned well. If her head had not been in the right place, he would not have played her just because he needed her size. All the indications that I see from ONO are that her head will be in the right place, and that she is smart enough to learn quickly. If that is true, her lack of bulk will be tolerated and worked with. There is a good chance that she will be in the starting lineup from Day 1 (as Stef was). And UConn will be a very good team. I would certainly expect UConn to be a Final Four team next year, but I agree that they would not be favored to win the NC (although they might). Unlike some BostonFan’s, I will be happy to watch them if they achieve that. [/QUOTE]

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