2 meditations on Geno

First, this guy who almost certainly signed his final contract just landed another transcendently great player and the top recruiting class. Sarah is not only a truly great player--poetry in motion--but someone of the highest character. When asked where she'd play at UConn:
“Anywhere, I don’t even care,” Strong told ESPN when asked how she wants to contribute for UConn next season. “I’m willing to do anything.”
Character attracts character.

Second, a lot could be said about last night's game. Geno obviously wasn't happy with the refs. But he made it clear that UConn still had an opportunity to win, but didn't (literally) grab it:
“The screen call and the missed free throw, I think those two things combined — whether they were right call, wrong call — we have no control over the call on the screen,” Auriemma said. “We have control over whether we got to rebound. So we had an opportunity at the very end and if we secure that rebound, now we have one more chance to win the game. And we didn't do it.” [from Dan Connolly's newsletter]

In the depths of disappointment, Geno is using it as a teaching moment: control what you can control and make no excuses when you don't. 

This is how one of this sport's greatest teachers lives his life and teaches his young players. Sarah came down to 3 schools--all with high character head coaches. But she chose the one who's been teaching it best for four decades.

First, this guy who almost certainly signed his final contract just landed another transcendently great player and the top recruiting class. Sarah is not only a truly great player--poetry in motion--but someone of the highest character. When asked where she'd play at UConn:
“Anywhere, I don’t even care,” Strong told ESPN when asked how she wants to contribute for UConn next season. “I’m willing to do anything.”
Character attracts character.

Second, a lot could be said about last night's game. Geno obviously wasn't happy with the refs. But he made it clear that UConn still had an opportunity to win, but didn't (literally) grab it:
“The screen call and the missed free throw, I think those two things combined — whether they were right call, wrong call — we have no control over the call on the screen,” Auriemma said. “We have control over whether we got to rebound. So we had an opportunity at the very end and if we secure that rebound, now we have one more chance to win the game. And we didn't do it.” [from Dan Connolly's newsletter]

In the depths of disappointment, Geno is using it as a teaching moment: control what you can control and make no excuses when you don't. 

If I'm not mistaken, the offensive rebound on the missed foul shot occurred when someone reached over Nika.  I don't recall anyone wondering why Nika, one of the smallest players on the floor, was in such a key rebounding position.  Perhaps, if a bigger or taller player had been positioned in the lane, the offensive rebound would not have happened.  OTOH, maybe they need Nika to be there to get the ball in play quickly and safely after a make.  



A tough break.



This is how one of this sport's greatest teachers lives his life and teaches his young players. Sarah came down to 3 schools--all with high character head coaches. But she chose the one who's been teaching it best for four decades.