UCONN-Syracuse
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Syracuse is on the upward curve and we are going the other direction. When I saw the Cuse coach the first time at the RAC,I thought he was a nut job. He proved me wrong with his winning records and recruiting. So sad for CVS.
The over/under for this game probably is UConn winning by at least 25 points.
Except for a very small group of elite teams there always will be periods where teams have varying levels of success.Yes, Rutgers is on a downward trend and that will only change by better recruiting and understanding the game has changed with the use of the 3 point shot.
Cuse used to be downright terrible in WBB. I'm sure if you compare the level of recruits for both RU and Cuse, there would be a significant difference in supposed quality of players. Their coach is not in the HOF though and I guess that makes it OK.
It was weird but it attracted the attention of his players by playing at a very high level.It won't work tonight against UConn.
Actually, if you had taken the time to look it up, you would have seen that there is NOT a great difference in the level of recruits. Syracuse upperclassmen include a 5-star McDonalds AA (#13 overall player and #4 guard), a 4-star 2,000 point scorer (#96 overall, #26 guard), another 4-star (#57 overall, #15 forward), a 3-star (#36 forward), a RS Jr McDonalds AA (#30 overall, #9 guard), and a Jr from the Netherlands who played on both the Dutch U17 and U19 national team.
Don't worry about Cuse winning the championship tonight, Shields. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than they do of beating UConn
Third-world countries hate UConn because the NCAA never bothers to make champs gear for any other squad.
I predicted UCONN would win by thirty. I was off by one point. I refused to watch the debacle unfold. I just checked in periodically to see the score. It's one thing to have a great program, it's another to have THE program and no one is even close anymore. How stale women's BB has become without any unpredictability.
While I really hate some of the things said about UConn on this board, I'll admit I didn't watch either. But I don't watch any contest not involving RU that has the making of a whupping, so I skipped some really mis-matched tOSU, South Carolina, Notre Dame, Baylor, etc. games. For example, I watched Baylor play Texas, I skipped Baylor vs. Texas Tech. Very few games that UConn is involved in that I wouldn't describe as having the makings of a whupping.
I don't see the issues others seem to with the UConn players. They play hard as long as they are playing - as Vivian and many other coaches require as well. Geno just does it better. He has a capability of being a bit arrogant (his personality isn't my cup of tea) - but I've yet to see him not back up almost everything he has said.
Like others in another thread, I don't personally care for the 3 point high-fives, but it isn't because UConn does it or limited to UConn.
I don't see the issues others seem to with the UConn players. They play hard as long as they are playing - as Vivian and many other coaches require as well. Geno just does it better. He has a capability of being a bit arrogant (his personality isn't my cup of tea) - but I've yet to see him not back up almost everything he has said.
Like others in another thread, I don't personally care for the 3 point high-fives, but it isn't because UConn does it or limited to UConn.
As a display of basketball skill, the first half was kind of interesting. And I have to say that UConn running the break is a thing of beauty.
But it does say a lot about the game that the point when the crowd was most into it (and I include the UConn fans here) was when Syracuse went on a big run to cut the lead to 17 in the 3rd quarter.
One thing I took from watching the game was that UConn will not be as good next year. That big run came, in part, when Geno used his bench and, specifically, put in Chong, who just wasn't ready for prime time. With graduation taking away all of the main pistons in that engine, I think it's going to look a lot different next season.
But it does say a lot about the game that the point when the crowd was most into it (and I include the UConn fans here) was when Syracuse went on a big run to cut the lead to 17 in the 3rd quarter.
One thing I took from watching the game was that UConn will not be as good next year. That big run came, in part, when Geno used his bench and, specifically, put in Chong, who just wasn't ready for prime time. With graduation taking away all of the main pistons in that engine, I think it's going to look a lot different next season.
UConn has a great system. They have also had players who are not just McD, but all-world Olympians, many years. Dangerfield is likely another but I don't think anyone else on next year's team will be, and Crystal will be a freshman. Notre Dame will have an awesome roster next year as will Texas. That PG going to Maryland looks tremendous and they should also compete or even beat UConn if they play them.
I realize that UConn is made of up 12 or 13 of the top 20 players in the country...but if there are 4 top 20 players a year...thats 80...so where are all these other women and why are they so behind the ones who go to UConn. The disparity in performance is unreal. UConn was beatable up until about 5 years ago. What changed from the Taurasi/Bird years to now...supposedly the womens game is getting stronger yet the gap is widening
Just take a look at this.
I keep on forgetting UConn not only is dominating, but downright scary looking at Geno's w-l record since2005-6:
2005–06 Geno Auriemma 32–5 14–2 2nd NCAA Elite Eight
2006–07 Geno Auriemma 32–4 16–0 1st NCAA Elite Eight
2007–08 Geno Auriemma 36–2 17–1 1st NCAA Final Four
2008–09 Geno Auriemma 39–0 16–0 1st NCAA Champions
2009–10 Geno Auriemma 39–0 16–0 1st NCAA Champions
2010–11 Geno Auriemma 36–2 16–0 1st NCAA Final Four
2011–12 Geno Auriemma 33–5 13–3 3rd NCAA Final Four
2012–13 Geno Auriemma 35–4 14–2 2nd NCAA Champions
Geno Auriemma (American Athletic Conference) (2013–present)
2013–14 Geno Auriemma 40–0 18–0 1st NCAA Champions
2014–15 Geno Auriemma 38–1 18–0 1st NCAA Champions
2015–16 Geno Auriemma 38–0 18–0 1st NCAA Champions
edit to add from 1993-4
1993–94 Geno Auriemma 30–3 17–1 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1994–95 Geno Auriemma 35–0 18–0 1st NCAA Champions
1995–96 Geno Auriemma 34–4 17–1 1st NCAA Final Four
1996–97 Geno Auriemma 33–1 18–0 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1997–98 Geno Auriemma 34–3 17–1 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1998–99 Geno Auriemma 29–5 17–1 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1999–2000 Geno Auriemma 36–1 16–0 1st NCAA Champions
2000–01 Geno Auriemma 32–3 15–1 T–1st NCAA Final Four
2001–02 Geno Auriemma 39–0 16–0 1st NCAA Champions
2002–03 Geno Auriemma 37–1 16–0 1st NCAA Champions
2003–04 Geno Auriemma 31–4 14–2 1st NCAA Champions
The intimation factor can't be ignored.The Syracuse game was over after the first five minutes.
You and others have the wrong attitude! How can you not be interested in watching perhaps the best women's basketball team in NCAA history play the game at the highest level? Forget about the coach, the score and the competition. I just sit back and enjoy seeing what a great game women basketball players are capable of playing.
Easy. I've seen enough of it to last me. I don't watch WBB to enjoy the way the game is played, I watch it to root for or against a team, or just to see how a team executes its stuff. In UConn's case, I'm usually neutral on the for or against, and as I say, I have seen enough to know just how attractive a game UConn plays (on both offence and defense, in my opinion).
The fact that their opponent inevitably looks terrible, usually not too far into the game, ruins watching for me. It is time for a lot of coaches to step up their games (as some have been trying to) and learn what it takes to compete with Conn. The problem (or part of it) is that, while other teams certainly have extremely talented players, most teams are not able to put as many superb players on the floor (and bench) at one time as UConn can.
One thing that struck me during the first part of the game is that Hillsman didn't call any timeouts. He just let it happen. I'm not sure it made any difference, but it seemed kind of peculiar.