I do believe it will have an affect and opposing coaches will beat it into recruits heads. However UConns OOC schedule is very strong and their reputation is tops at making the FF, NCs AA's and Pros. I have to wonder if we would have this thread if Wilson had committed or does commit. We have a terrific team and now with many top teams leaving we're concerned about the strength of our conference, and rightly so. Next years verbals/class is great. All we need is a big post player. Let face it UConn is loaded for the next 3 seasons and will be the favorite the next 3 seasons. If Wilson verbals we most likely will be the favorite for 4 years after that.
Duke MD ND UNC Stanford Tenn are all loading up so is there room for any other top players on their rosters, and will kids want to play for a team with rosters loaded with AAs and will playtime be a problem keeping them all and keeping them all happy. Or would they rather come to UConn where there are so many schollys available, and NC's lurking. The conference thing has an impact based on what a girl is looking for and I would think winning a NC is tops and UConn is in the best position for that.
The only thing opposing coaches have to argue is that UConn is in a weak conference as compared to only a couple of conferences. So if Im selling a recruit on coming to UConn and conference is a concern then I talk about OOC, and show the weak teams in opposing conferences. Don't forget. ND has been good the past couple of seasons and they went to the ACC. MD was good the past few seasons and they left the ACC. As far as track records in the FF. The ACC hasn't faired well in the past couple of seasons. Either has the SEC. Consistently in the FF has been UConn and Stanford. That tells me both have great coaching, and great recruiting.
Do you think the PAC 10 is a great conference? No but Tara gets top players and I know what your thinking Stanford is a great academic school. Well so is Duke and they haven't made the FF in quite some time.
Bottom line for me are these things. Much like Pat and Tara Genos reputation will allow UConn to get top players. The conference thing will have an impact and whether big or small inpact it will depend on the recruit. I also believe if Geno wanted some of those kids who have gone elsewhere he might have made a bigger push. We as fans don't know what he knows regarding recruits. If they aren't UConn caliber then perhaps he's not taking a chance on them. Why? Because if theyre not UConn material they could upset the apple cart. You need to trust he knows what he's doing. Theres a reason why we only have a roster of 9 and not 12 or 14. You must also remember those kids after 8 or 9 on most teams don't get much playtime and those kids usually aren't very happy campers.
So why did Diamond McDaniel Hammond Sierra Brianna and others go elsewhere? I have my thoughts and I think they're explained in this post as to why. Perhaps they wanted to be in a better conference, perhaps they wanted to be The Star, perhaps they wanted to be close to home, perhaps Geno didn't go after them hard enough for his own reasons. We all know that if your not willing to share the ball, with kids as good or better then you, and if your not UConn material where playtime has to be guaranteed, and if you want to be close to home and if all those are more important they playing for a team, within a team concept, and for a NC team then UConn just may be better off.
Be patient and those who are worth it will come. Right now we are only in the need for a top post player. There is only one out there. I think with the USA team games, and our last NC, and with our number 1 ranking in the polls and all the other stuff that makes UConn attractive if that dosnt get Wilson to come then there is nothing else we can do.
