Brian is correct. Geno only goes after a certain type of player. He really didn't pursue Betts in the transfer portal or actively recruit Aalyah Del Rosario in the 23 class only Ciera Toomey who went to NC. We need height to compete. We also need athleticism. This system worked 6-7 years ago but it doesn't today. SC was so good because they recruited athletic black players. Her team looked like an HBCU. LSU is going in the same mold. If you cant get a shot off because of the defense then what good are you. Adhel Tac, Blanca Thomas or Koval must be a get for 2024.
You could have criticized the 2014-5 team with the same reasons and they were an even more guard heavy roster than now. Who was the true center on that team?
That's not true Mac. We had 6'5" Natalie Butler who came to us from Georgetown. She blocked shots, she scored, She rebounded. Then, we had 6'2" power forward Morgan Tuck, and 6'4" Breanna Stewart. Stewart had a 7 foot wingspan and also was a prolific shot blocker, as well as a lethal scorer. Moriah Jefferson was a great floor general but not much of a scorer, but her work with Shea changed that to where she became a consistent outside threat and great defensive guard.
Butler was red-shirted that season and that is one reason I chose that season. I totally agree about both Morgan and Stewart but neither was a "true back to the basket center" that Brian was referring to. Also Tuck more closely resembles what Edwards currently is than a "true center". And I didn't see anyone on any team this year that resembles Stewart at all.
There has been way too much emphasis in the recruiting over the last several years on backcourt and not enough on the front court . That in itself could be - besides the injury bug - the Achilles heel for a Final Four or national championship.
UConn should command the top spot in the Big East since none of the competition has a dominating front court presence. But against teams that have a strong , experienced front court of 6'5" or better will be the real test and the sooner that happens the better. The strategy against UConn will be to draw fouls on Edwards, mostly fake charging flops that for some strange reason always seem to go against the visiting team, (check out last years game at Providence when Edwards got into early foul trouble and ended up with single digit points because of questionable charging fouls.) Once she was on the sidelines the middle opens up and the other team changes to continual drives into the lane for points and/or fouls from an inexperienced and in some cases foul-prone replacements. Relying upon essentially first year and/or inexperienced players to help against an experienced team with a strong front court and back court like a LSU , SC or UCLA - and some other possibilities - is going to be the real test for whether UConn will succeed - and of course goes without saying whether the returning players can all stay healthy.
Good luck UConn women. We're with you all the way. Work hard. Play harder. Go Huskies!
I agree D.R. I would just add that with one scholarship spot open, why wasn't Lauren Betts or one of the other quality Bigs pursued?? It never hurts to have too many 6'5" or taller players.
I remember UCONN's first Championship year. There was one game where the refs seemed to have picked on Rebecca Lobo; calling a couple of cheap ticky tack fouls on her. Luckily, we had Kara Walters - all 6'7" of her, and she took over in Rebecca's absence and really dominated the game for us. Unless someone enters the portal and they bring them in this summer, we'll just have to go with what we have, and PRAY.
Thanks DC. If the players stay healthy everything else will take care of itself, but can they? After the last two years we'll be holding our breath all season.
After the Texas loss it is time to step back and reassess what we as UConn WBB fans and supporters are expecting from this team of young women many who are aspiring professional basketball players.
First, all of us need to get off the "Championship or Nothing" bandwagon.
This is not the '80's or 90's or '00's when UConn could roll over less-qualified teams. Players across the board are bigger, stronger and more athletic than ever. Coaching alone has grown by leaps and bounds. Offensive and defensive sets and tactics have changed to accommodate a faster game. Play some videos of women's basketball from the early 80's and compare it to today. There's no comparison.
Next,we should not forget that these young ladies are trying hard but sometimes no amount of effort is going to overcome simple size, skill and athleticism that now exists across the entire women's game. As much as it is difficult to accept, the days of UConn dominating the women's game are over. Parity caused by the transfer portal and other factors is now the norm.
Last, it is time to realize that a winning season is in itself something to be proud about. Let us continue to cheer on and heartily support these young athletes. Show up at Gampel, XL, Mohegan and on the road when possible. Help them with your support through tough or easy games. Just like the team and coaches, we loyal fans need to celebrate the wins big and small and learn from the losses.
Here’s hoping that the Huskies can pick up from the portal, at least one long, tall, athletic big, who can defend and hit midrange shots. Barring injuries, they’re backcourt is star studded, if not overcrowded, but as we’re seen in the recent past, once they get deep in the tournament, they’ve been overwhelmed by taller, more athletic front courts.
Brian, I agree with much of what you say. Olivia was a good center, but didn't seem to have to strength to dominate Centers her size who were stronger. Geno does a great job getting great players, but he's got to go after those high quality centers, because they are the ones who will win those tight games for you. Also, a low post scorer, rebounder, shot blocker makes the game easier for the rest of the team. This off season, we saw several quality Bigs in the transfer portal go to 'other schools'. Maybe Jana is going to shock us this year, and maybe Amari is putting in the off season work so that she, too, can be a major contributor. If so, maybe we can win it all with what we have. However, I would pursued one of the bigs, since there was one open scholarship, just to ensure my team's success.
I agree with the other commentators below - that the Storrs-Injury-Bug will be forefront in my mind, every time one of the players goes down. And yes - the team looks loaded for bear, but with Hailey V.L. going to LSU ..................... well, we'll get a taste in Nov.
LSU didn't play much of a schedule last year until they played South Carolina and got thier butts handed to them. Tennessee also beat them the 2nd time around. The thing that I noticed about some of these schools who started chasing Geno, is that the coaches seem to recognize that they needed a 5-star Big, then they could work on surrounding them with good players. Kim did it at Baylor and now at LSU, Miss State, Oregon, Stanford, SC, et al...all seem to be following this pattern of building teams, and now with the transfer portal, it's even easier as some take advantage of it while others seem to sleep.
we still have no true center??
this is been 8 years still no center ?? LSU is number for a reason! they have a good center?
we get out rebounded all the time and do nothing about it??
Gino has to changes his ways,,
why we got no one off the transfer portal this year??
everyone else is trying very hard to do so ,, Gino wake up please, we need a good big girl
other teams are doing a better job then we are?? LSU UCLA SO CAROLINA !
Brian is correct. Geno only goes after a certain type of player. He really didn't pursue Betts in the transfer portal or actively recruit Aalyah Del Rosario in the 23 class only Ciera Toomey who went to NC. We need height to compete. We also need athleticism. This system worked 6-7 years ago but it doesn't today. SC was so good because they recruited athletic black players. Her team looked like an HBCU. LSU is going in the same mold. If you cant get a shot off because of the defense then what good are you. Adhel Tac, Blanca Thomas or Koval must be a get for 2024.
You could have criticized the 2014-5 team with the same reasons and they were an even more guard heavy roster than now. Who was the true center on that team?
That's not true Mac. We had 6'5" Natalie Butler who came to us from Georgetown. She blocked shots, she scored, She rebounded. Then, we had 6'2" power forward Morgan Tuck, and 6'4" Breanna Stewart. Stewart had a 7 foot wingspan and also was a prolific shot blocker, as well as a lethal scorer. Moriah Jefferson was a great floor general but not much of a scorer, but her work with Shea changed that to where she became a consistent outside threat and great defensive guard.
Butler was red-shirted that season and that is one reason I chose that season. I totally agree about both Morgan and Stewart but neither was a "true back to the basket center" that Brian was referring to. Also Tuck more closely resembles what Edwards currently is than a "true center". And I didn't see anyone on any team this year that resembles Stewart at all.
Here's UConn WBB targets & commitments for the next two years:
2024:
6'0" G Commitment
6'0" F Commitment
6'2" F
5'10"G
5'7" G
6'2" F
6'2" F
2025:
5'9" G Commitment
6'1" W
5'9" G
6' 1" W
What's missing from this list of 8 targets and 3 commitments? No bigs; in fact no one is over 6'2".
You, me, we’re on the same page. Maybe Geno needs a prescription for his reading glasses.😎
There has been way too much emphasis in the recruiting over the last several years on backcourt and not enough on the front court . That in itself could be - besides the injury bug - the Achilles heel for a Final Four or national championship.
UConn should command the top spot in the Big East since none of the competition has a dominating front court presence. But against teams that have a strong , experienced front court of 6'5" or better will be the real test and the sooner that happens the better. The strategy against UConn will be to draw fouls on Edwards, mostly fake charging flops that for some strange reason always seem to go against the visiting team, (check out last years game at Providence when Edwards got into early foul trouble and ended up with single digit points because of questionable charging fouls.) Once she was on the sidelines the middle opens up and the other team changes to continual drives into the lane for points and/or fouls from an inexperienced and in some cases foul-prone replacements. Relying upon essentially first year and/or inexperienced players to help against an experienced team with a strong front court and back court like a LSU , SC or UCLA - and some other possibilities - is going to be the real test for whether UConn will succeed - and of course goes without saying whether the returning players can all stay healthy.
Good luck UConn women. We're with you all the way. Work hard. Play harder. Go Huskies!
I agree D.R. I would just add that with one scholarship spot open, why wasn't Lauren Betts or one of the other quality Bigs pursued?? It never hurts to have too many 6'5" or taller players.
I remember UCONN's first Championship year. There was one game where the refs seemed to have picked on Rebecca Lobo; calling a couple of cheap ticky tack fouls on her. Luckily, we had Kara Walters - all 6'7" of her, and she took over in Rebecca's absence and really dominated the game for us. Unless someone enters the portal and they bring them in this summer, we'll just have to go with what we have, and PRAY.
on paper looks like a dynamic team with some great athletes. Lets see what it looks like during the middle of the season.
Exactly
WHAT HAVE WE WON LATELY !!
ARE WE GOING TO WIN THIS YEAR !! NO !!
PAGE COME HERE WITH OUT A GOOD CENTER
SHE IS GOING TO LEAVE HERE WITH OUT A GOOD CENTER
HOW TIMES FLYS
WE CAN ONLY RECRUIT GUARDS WE CAN T FINSH THE TEAM,
Thanks DC. If the players stay healthy everything else will take care of itself, but can they? After the last two years we'll be holding our breath all season.
After the Texas loss it is time to step back and reassess what we as UConn WBB fans and supporters are expecting from this team of young women many who are aspiring professional basketball players.
First, all of us need to get off the "Championship or Nothing" bandwagon.
This is not the '80's or 90's or '00's when UConn could roll over less-qualified teams. Players across the board are bigger, stronger and more athletic than ever. Coaching alone has grown by leaps and bounds. Offensive and defensive sets and tactics have changed to accommodate a faster game. Play some videos of women's basketball from the early 80's and compare it to today. There's no comparison.
Next,we should not forget that these young ladies are trying hard but sometimes no amount of effort is going to overcome simple size, skill and athleticism that now exists across the entire women's game. As much as it is difficult to accept, the days of UConn dominating the women's game are over. Parity caused by the transfer portal and other factors is now the norm.
Last, it is time to realize that a winning season is in itself something to be proud about. Let us continue to cheer on and heartily support these young athletes. Show up at Gampel, XL, Mohegan and on the road when possible. Help them with your support through tough or easy games. Just like the team and coaches, we loyal fans need to celebrate the wins big and small and learn from the losses.
Where are the BIGS.
Where are the Bigs???????
RELAX....It will all come together.
And how do any of you know who Geno pursued anytime anywhere.
so you think Muhl starts
good job the fans know what the team needs !!
the team don t see it?? open your eyes !
Here’s hoping that the Huskies can pick up from the portal, at least one long, tall, athletic big, who can defend and hit midrange shots. Barring injuries, they’re backcourt is star studded, if not overcrowded, but as we’re seen in the recent past, once they get deep in the tournament, they’ve been overwhelmed by taller, more athletic front courts.
Brian, I agree with much of what you say. Olivia was a good center, but didn't seem to have to strength to dominate Centers her size who were stronger. Geno does a great job getting great players, but he's got to go after those high quality centers, because they are the ones who will win those tight games for you. Also, a low post scorer, rebounder, shot blocker makes the game easier for the rest of the team. This off season, we saw several quality Bigs in the transfer portal go to 'other schools'. Maybe Jana is going to shock us this year, and maybe Amari is putting in the off season work so that she, too, can be a major contributor. If so, maybe we can win it all with what we have. However, I would pursued one of the bigs, since there was one open scholarship, just to ensure my team's success.
I agree with the other commentators below - that the Storrs-Injury-Bug will be forefront in my mind, every time one of the players goes down. And yes - the team looks loaded for bear, but with Hailey V.L. going to LSU ..................... well, we'll get a taste in Nov.
LSU didn't play much of a schedule last year until they played South Carolina and got thier butts handed to them. Tennessee also beat them the 2nd time around. The thing that I noticed about some of these schools who started chasing Geno, is that the coaches seem to recognize that they needed a 5-star Big, then they could work on surrounding them with good players. Kim did it at Baylor and now at LSU, Miss State, Oregon, Stanford, SC, et al...all seem to be following this pattern of building teams, and now with the transfer portal, it's even easier as some take advantage of it while others seem to sleep.
That's hella good analysis, D.M. Thanks for following up.