The UConn Huskies Have a Geno Auriemma Problem

In this video, I break down UConn's tough loss to UCLA and why Geno Auriemma needs to change some of his tactics.

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[JH-egmq]

Great analysis of the team, coaching and issues. The lack of offense has been a problem in big games against ranked opponents, for a while now. The other players don’t show up to help Paige!! Where are the ballers for UConn? Really pathetic loss, but can this team be turned around? We will see.

[billsimmons]

I love it when everyone knows more than Geno.

[tommyv]

I don’t want to knock a long time great coach BUT we have a crisis at UCONN! Whether it’s recruiting, coaching or both, the Huskies are seriously undersized and need help at the forward and center positions. There are more talented BIGS around and why they don’t elect to come to UCONN is a question that must be addressed.

[richhahn]

I have said since the first game, the lack of bigs was going to kill UCONN. Between Edwards, Brady, and DeBerry, they were a combined 2 for 18. DeBerry didn't even take a shot in 9 minutes. I bet that was a coaching decision. If your bigs aren't a threat to score, the guards aren't going to get open.

I have also questioned putting Nika at point when that was Paige's position. Paige isn't getting many assists at shooting guard, and the offense has become "give it to Paige and let her shoot". A lot like last year's :give to Azzi or Lou and let her shoot:. Bring Nika off the bench to bring energy to the team.

I have only been watching UCONN for 3 years, but what I see is Geno pinning his hopes on his favorite player each year and turning potential stars into role players. Then, when a Paige or an Azzi goes down with injury, he expects a role player to immediately fill in. Just think of what UCONN would have been the last couple of years without transfers Dorka and Lou.

Not playing DeBerry in blowout games and then expecting her to perform in a big game is just poor coaching. Is Geno a great coach or just a great recruiter?

[jaybock]

Very little confidence as a whole on the team. Paige is doing what she can…….. heart, hustle and focus is not there for this UCONN team to be in the Top 20 by the end of the year. I’m so sad that this is happening. Hope UCONN proves me wrong!

[ChanBoogie]

What I notice about UCONN is once they play a team with height and/or a team that play aggressive/pressure defense it seem like only Paige knows how to get a shot off Arnold can too basically they don’t have much shot creators on the team and they only have two real playmakers and I see only one of them is a true threat on offense besides playmaking, I didn’t even talk about the defense yet.

[gerryfisher]

I read all the comments. I agree with the "not enough true bigs, and not enough I'll add only this: Geno made a recruiting adjustment after the bleak "Barbara Turner/Charde Houston" years, and it led to some more undefeated seasons and six more championships. As he writes about in one of his books, he stopped automatically going for the absolutely highest rated players and focused instead on "players who weren't full of themselves" (he often tells the story about Stewie signing the commitment letter by her dad pulling over in the car and signing on the hood, instead of conducting one of those egotistical, obnoxious press conferences) and on players "who really wanted to play at UConn, playing 'the unselfish UConn way.'" The other players who best personified that shift in recruiting style would be Kelly Faris and Stefanie Dolson. This is especially true of Stefanie, who was not well regarded in her draft class, and Geno took a chance on her based on heart, hustle, and her really wanting to play for UConn. That gamble paid off big time. (Sometimes, when you gamble like that, you lose. See DeBerry.)

So, if Geno wants to continue coaching well past the traditional retirement age--his choice...he's got *nothing* to prove--then I think it's time for another adjustment to his recruiting. I read all the comments here, and the ideas that I like best are utilizing the transfer portal better (though I don't know any more specifics about how a program would do that), and going for more bigs who can combine athleticism and toughness (perhaps easing up on or adjusting that "must be UConn style and of high character" thing that they've been using since the late oughts, as sad as that sounds to me). Perhaps, these days, it's helpful to consider that a young woman's character isn't cemented at the age of 16 or 17 when they are signing their letters of intent, and considering that character can be developed and built during their college years.

[edlearned]

Missing El Alfy and Fudd 4 the season. Patterson size is missing due to continuing rehab. Ducharme a late scratch due 2 neck spasms. Its only game 5 - still lots to figure out w a shorthanded team and the schedule is purposefully difficult from the jump. With EVERYBODY healthy Huskies would be 5-0. I expected this loss. They will bounce back against Kansas as the patchwork Huskies lineup will b more familiar with playing together. Watch the defensive rotations improve IMMENSELY.

[kaptainh]

U Conn, missed out in transfer portal . They regressed without Dorka and Lou .

[nkanski]

It‘s too soon to panic. Losing a player like Azzi and with Caroline in and out of the rotation, new players coming in and Paige returning from a severe injury only a fool would think this season was gonna be a walk in the park. Not to forget that with Juhasz leaving and Ayanna and Jana out with injuries they simply lack depth on the inside positions. In women‘s basketball it is almost impossible to win on this level without proper size inside.

[DT_Brown]

Your videos are the best the takes and analysis are always on point

[StoryGordon]

So many fair weather fans and amateur coaches. What went wrong was it takes time to replace the loss of Lou and Dorka.
UCLA is playing with only one Freshman and two grad students. Lauren Betts, the Big that was suipposed to dominate was held below her averages. Stay tuned until the four Freshmen learn their roles and how to play off one another.

[snekmeseht]

What's it been, 7 years now? Excuses are getting old. This crop of players is fragile, and clearly UConn coaching has lost its mojo.

[danschott]

UCLA is the better team this year. Think uconn is still an elite 8, final 4 contender. But ucla and South Carolina are the two best teams

[Tuscarora-Twigg]

Good analysis, I agree with everything pointed out in this video. The team has not yet gelled which explains some of the spacing issues and lack of solid high screens for Paige.

[chsyank]

I just love the pile on comments. Can't coach, can't recruit, can't design plays to get points, sure lots of can't to go with those 11 rings plus a bunch of final 4s.

[mileshanley]

They are small. I've ssid it multiple times. The only way "small ball" works is if you have 3 or more capable shooters on the floor. They don't have them. Even if they had a healthy Azzi, they would have difficulty against the top teams. Why? Because a key component of small ball is getting stops and getting out on the break. But that means getting defensive rebounds. So even with that style of play, you need decent size to rebound the ball to run. I'm sorry, but with Azzi, Beuckers, Ducharme, Edwards & Nika (his preferred starting lineup), that isn't enough size to rebound against the better teams. Heck, it's not enough shooting because Nika is a sporadic shooter, and so is Ducharme. I'm a fan, but as constituted, this team is not championship level and combine that with Geno's coaching (lately, because he is still a great coach) they will have trouble making a deep run in the tournament.

[Charnelle]

My issue is that it took three quarters to adjust the defense. Once they started pressing and trapping at half court they were forcing errors but it was just too late to make a comeback.

[KINGCONN]

No coach in the country is held to GA's standard but him. From my seat his team can finish in the top 25 and be labeled a loser. It's wrong, While the buck stops with GA. but over the last few seasons of injuries any coach would be taken off his game.

[davidkusch]

Geno needs to retire, period. That Italian rocking chair is waiting. UConn needs fresh blood and fresh ideas.