Dawn Staley talks about UConn

[SVCBeercats]

MSN

 

[Lynx23]

“UConn is going to continue to be UConn,” Staley said according to ESPN. “They’re going to reload. If you see their roster that’s coming in and who they’re bringing back next year, they’ll reload. They’ll start a new streak."

A very complimentary article, with Dawn showing much respect.

 

[cancontent]

Horrible title to the article. She simply acknowledges that one can't assume that UConn won't rebound from this.

Especially this quote: “It’s not over,” Staley said. “It’s a scary thing because they lost a lot more games than they normally lose. But they were hampered by injuries, and once they get healthy, once they get Paige back, once this year’s recruiting class is able to play and who they’ll bring in, it’s back to the drawing board.”

Really dislike how the headline frames this in a manner that make it sound like Staley is taking shots at the program. It's getting clicks, but not a good way to do it. This type of stuff hurts the game, especially an excellent tournament like this one.

 

[KY Card Fan]

Horrible title to the article. She simply acknowledges that one can't assume that UConn won't rebound from this.

Especially this quote: “It’s not over,” Staley said. “It’s a scary thing because they lost a lot more games than they normally lose. But they were hampered by injuries, and once they get healthy, once they get Paige back, once this year’s recruiting class is able to play and who they’ll bring in, it’s back to the drawing board.”

Really dislike how the headline frames this in a manner that make it sound like Staley is taking shots at the program. It's getting clicks, but not a good way to do it. This type of stuff hurts the game, especially an excellent tournament like this one.

Headline of an article on ESPN website is much more descriptive of what Staley said...

Dawn Staley confident UConn is 'going to reload' after loss​

 

[GoUconn7961]

Jeff Walz schooled reporters as well in his press conference after his game. Basically he said that he couldn't understand the need to tear them down instead of celebrating their accomplishments and understanding how hard it is to do something like that.

 

[KY Card Fan]

Jeff Walz schooled reporters as well in his press conference after his game. Basically he said that he couldn't understand the need to tear them down instead of celebrating their accomplishments and understanding how hard it is to do something like that.

Walz's opening statement was a well-thought-out, passionate statement from a guy who loves WBB and women's sports in general. It's worth a listen. A couple excerpts -

He was disappointed that the narrative on LSU-Miami was the negative "terrible offense" rather than "great defense"​

He is upset whenever a WBB player, when asked who her favorite pro player is, names an NBA player rather than a WNBA player. His point being that if WBB stars don't promote the game then why should advertisers embrace it.​

 

[cancontent]

Jeff Walz schooled reporters as well in his press conference after his game. Basically he said that he couldn't understand the need to tear them down instead of celebrating their accomplishments and understanding how hard it is to do something like that.

Exactly. There are tons of great stories that could be written that would help the game grow further. Fans need to push back and demand better from sports media or it's never going to change.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Gracious words from the coach who has arguably set the standard for excellence in WCBB for several years now. She's a great coach, and a tremendous recruiter.

 

[BRS24]

Jeff Walz schooled reporters as well in his press conference after his game. Basically he said that he couldn't understand the need to tear them down instead of celebrating their accomplishments and understanding how hard it is to do something like that.

Here it is. He's right. Embrace and celebrate all the successes without focusing on one team's misfortune in one game.

 

[HuskyNan]

Horrible title to the article. She simply acknowledges that one can't assume that UConn won't rebound from this.

Especially this quote: “It’s not over,” Staley said. “It’s a scary thing because they lost a lot more games than they normally lose. But they were hampered by injuries, and once they get healthy, once they get Paige back, once this year’s recruiting class is able to play and who they’ll bring in, it’s back to the drawing board.”

Really dislike how the headline frames this in a manner that make it sound like Staley is taking shots at the program. It's getting clicks, but not a good way to do it. This type of stuff hurts the game, especially an excellent tournament like this one.

It’s good theater. Now that Muffet is retired, there’s no foil for Geno. So, let’s take two coaches that enjoy mutual respect and drum up a feud.

 

[visitingcock]

It’s good theater. Now that Muffet is retired, there’s no foil for Geno. So, let’s take two coaches that enjoy mutual respect and drum up a feud.

Headlines sell papers . . . uh , , , I mean "clicks."

 

[hoopsfan22]

Headlines sell papers . . . uh , , , I mean "clicks."

Pretty much. There was nothing controversial about what Dawn said.

 

[Jokerman619]

She is right. Uconn will reload, and take back what is thier. So I suggest all who thought uconn was gone. Get ready. Cause the NC is coming home. Go Huskies.

 

[Rowdy831]

When you have a bunch of good coaches the one with the best players is usually going to win. I don't remember one bad team winning a championship and all these coaches know as long as Geno is at UCONN he will have great players. The thing is the women's game has grown to where quite a few teams can get good players so the competition has become much closer and mistakes can make a difference in the game.

Dawn Staley is a very good coach and is recruiting very well too. She has a passion for the game and loves her players. I don't know if she will coach long enough to catch the likes of Geno or Tara in wins but she is right there with them at the head of the coaching class right now.

 

[cancontent]

It’s good theater. Now that Muffet is retired, there’s no foil for Geno. So, let’s take two coaches that enjoy mutual respect and drum up a feud.

I get that's the goal (and the sarcasm ), but this type of narrative is more of a negative than a positive in my view. It's an insult to what this game has become with multiple teams being top contenders.

Rivalries can be promoted as healthy competition, which would be better overall especially in today's world of social media being detrimental to one's mental health.

 

[maple]

Here it is. He's right. Embrace and celebrate all the successes without focusing on one team's misfortune in one game.

Nothing but respect for him and Dawn (and all other coaches who give credit where credit is due). THEY KNOW how hard it is to do what Geno has done. For Louisville, they were the Cinderella darlings of the basketball world during the 2013 tourney, but they’ve yet to get back to a title game. For SC, they might be riding high now but all good things must end (just ask Baylor, ND, Tenn, and even us right now). No one wants their previous success to be diminished when suddenly they’re on the outside looking in (and rightly so, NO team’s previous success should be diminished because of “what have you done lately”).

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[RedStickHusky]

Geno and Chris have created this monster that allows people to think that a 30-win, sweet-16 season is some kind of failure. How many of those did UConn have before Geno? And for fans, it's one thing to sympathize with the players disappointment, something entirely different to imply that the disappointment is yours or that the players somehow let YOU down. Get over yourselves if you're feeling that way.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Damn, Paige must have strong shoulders.

 

[salvagedsam]

It’s hard not to like Dawn Staley. Very ‘real’ person.

 

[cohenzone]

Geno and Chris have created this monster that allows people to think that a 30-win, sweet-16 season is some kind of failure. How many of those did UConn have before Geno? And for fans, it's one thing to sympathize with the players disappointment, something entirely different to imply that the disappointment is yours or that the players somehow let YOU down. Get over yourselves if you're feeling that way.

As i said in another thread, UConn has been so crazy good for so long that when we have a season like this one that would be the dream season for 98% of the other programs, it looks like somehow we crashed and burned. With all of the key injuries we had a terrific year.

 

[Sargassoc]

Here it is. He's right. Embrace and celebrate all the successes without focusing on one team's misfortune in one game.

And who else remembers THIS GEM from Dan Shaughnessy in March of 2010? And again in 2016, Geno called it, too.

Back then, we were BAD for women's basketball-- because we always won.
Now? Something's wrong with the team, with Geno, with UConn, our players, the recruiting, etc.,etc., etc.

So is winning all the time bad? Is losing bad? Is parity good? Is it bad? Who can tell? As long is none of it is UConn, it's apparently all good.

Thanks to Jeff Walz and Dawn Staley for sticking up for what Geno has built.

And to Shaughnessy? I don't want to be kicked off the board ()we all know who he is, though).