Coaching

[swok34]

yikes, at least I don't think I've ever heard a Big XII coach say this about any member of his/her team.......this is like lumping 5/6 players together......young players at that.

In trying to challenge his bench, Cleveland quotes Geno Auriemma as saying, "either they come out every day and continue to get better in communicating with each other and with the upper classmen, and in their energy level and intensity level, or they are going to have to turn on the tv and keep listening to people descibe us as the best starting five in the country and six slugs who happen to find a uniform.

[Bob_Ballew]

Six Slugs. That is terrible.

It sounds like he said that to a third party and not directly to their faces. Not that it would ease the sting however. I would expect coach Geno to be a top motivator that would not resort to such comments.

What are your thoughts about male coaches versus women coaches? Do you think someone like Kim Mulkey-Robertson who had such success as a player in WCBB has an advantage over a male coach, even one that played college ball?

[Jennifer]

I think Geno is reiterating what public opinion seems to think about Uconn's bench, not necessarily what he thinks himself, and he's trying to use that as a motivating factor.
If you read the boneyard or other Uconn boards, they are extremely hard on the reserves, especially Maria Conlon. Until his bench starts to produce more, that public opinion isn't going to change.

[Bark]

From the couple of CT newspaper articles that carried the quote, I appears that Geno said the above statement to the media. However, it is his style not to mince words in practice and what he may have said to the six bench players could be even more direct. I have no idea.

Geno's style obviously works for him. I coach high school kids and personally do not endorse this style. But my opinion means squat (his program and mine are worlds apart).

Jennifer, Swok, and those of you who have read the boneyard have seen a lot of negative criticism of the UConn bench from a couple of posters. And a lot of criticism from the most boneyarders of the negative posters. The reality is that the UConn bench is not as good as it has been in many years, and is not as good as they could be.

The fans have high expectations from this team. And the team also has high expectations. To get where they want to go would be easier if the bench makes more of a contribution. This appears to be Geno's way of getting that to happen. Will it work? In the past it has. With this group? Dunno.

[swok34]

bark...I just don't recall seeing a grouped lumped together like "the bench"........I remember a couple of years ago, Sheri Coale made a remark about a "particular" player, that being Jadrea Seeley and said.....if her defense were better, she would see more playing time.

My point is the "lumping" them all together rather than speaking of the individual and their "weakness". Or rather than calling them "the super starters and the slugs"....maybe it should be "the team".......I would think this might create some chemistry problems (especially if you are a slug) http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

One person who has improved tremendously by having the "right" coach is Baylor's "Danielle Crockrum".....she was nonexistent her sophomore year.

[Bark]

Swok, I misunderstood your point, my bad. I re-read the article and your posts. I think Geno was addressing the comments from some of the TV media, and that the quote: "...and six slugs who happen to find a uniform." was a phrase Geno used to recap what some of the media is saying.

Geno doesn't lump his players into groups, that's coaching 101 which any coach knows is a disaster. Don't think there is a chemistry problem either.

I also see that he has specific goals/challenges for each of the players, starters and reserves. Just like any other team, some are responding/improving and others are not.

My personal opinion is that 3-4 of the reserves have a clear understanding of what they individually need to do to improve, get more playing time, and make a contribution. That, by subtraction, leaves a couple of bench players that may be at risk.