The problem is CC was going to UConn had Geno offered her. So it wasn't entirely like she stayed for the home state team. She has made it very public she wanted to be at UConn, and that will be talked about tonight during the broadcast, as it's been peppered over the media the last couple of days.She's very carefully crafted her "brand" since HS in my district. Her freshman year she was thee WBB "It Girl" and first one with a huge social media impact so that is pretty easy for her to say now. She's reportedly very fussy about org/business's she does deals with but she's still reportedly worth 1.5M.
One thing I'll give Clark over Bueckers is that Clark elected to stay home over going to an elite or blue blood and that's part of the story. I was 100% convinced Clark would go to ND. UConn went to 12 straight Final Fours in the years before Bueckers. At UConn you are guaranteed a Sweet Sixteen and a shot at the Final Four almost every year. Final Four would have been a lot harder and challenging if she had elected to play for the Gophers so I am not entirely buying her "selflessness". There no doubt in my mind she wants to be #1 again.
Not a huge Geno fan but minute 102 in this video is very telling.
Geno Auriemma is really misunderstood. Since being out in CT and having my wife, who is a UConn grad and women's basketball nut, I have gotten to see so many UConn women's games, talked to Geno in person and seen him in more of the every day life. The dude is really smart and doesn't BS. He tells it like it is, is very old school (but not in the Bob Knight way) and cares about his program and kids very similar to Bill for our women.ehI don't know much about Geno, just heard he's considered kind of a doosher, but from that video I kind of like him. I've seen the antics of some youth players who think they're in the NBA and it's beyond obnoxious.
I think this was the reason that CC didn't end up at ND (despite committed to them).Geno Auriemma is really misunderstood. Since being out in CT and having my wife, who is a UConn grad and women's basketball nut, I have gotten to see so many UConn women's games, talked to Geno in person and seen him in more of the every day life. The dude is really smart and doesn't BS. He tells it like it is, is very old school (but not in the Bob Knight way) and cares about his program and kids very similar to Bill for our women.
Here's the deal, of course Geno would want to have Caitlin from a talent standpoint, he isn't stupid. However, she absolutely would not fit in at UConn. They are program first at all times. They do not care about the name on the back of the jersey. It is a culture, a system and way of doing things that players must stick to. And honestly, it's better Caitlin didn't go there because then she wouldn't be Caitlin. Her actions on the court and how she plays would not fly at UConn (and that's not talking about her complaining to the officials, which definitely wouldn't fly. But even the body language and other quirks she has doesn't mesh with UConn).
It worked out for both parties. Elena Delle Donne didn't fit in at UConn, and she was phenomenal. Sometimes the player just doesn't mesh with the program. Caitlin at Iowa State wouldn't mesh well either.
Yes Elena was homesick, which may have been the reason it wasn’t working. All I know is the chemistry wasn’t there with the UConn players as well, which lead to the homesickness too. And again it has to work for both parties.I think this was the reason that CC didn't end up at ND (despite committed to them).
EDD I think was homesick, she wanted to be close to her sister (who has disability)
IIRC someone posted that there was no chemistry among CC and our players when she had her official visit here.
Your very last point is one I’ve made in several conversations with folks. The Iowa homers all jump to, "you’d take CC in a heartbeat." I always said yes, but her antics wouldn’t fly. Of course they think any coach would let her do what she does. Players reflect coaching and CC perfectly reflects her head coach.Geno Auriemma is really misunderstood. Since being out in CT and having my wife, who is a UConn grad and women's basketball nut, I have gotten to see so many UConn women's games, talked to Geno in person and seen him in more of the every day life. The dude is really smart and doesn't BS. He tells it like it is, is very old school (but not in the Bob Knight way) and cares about his program and kids very similar to Bill for our women.
Here's the deal, of course Geno would want to have Caitlin from a talent standpoint, he isn't stupid. However, she absolutely would not fit in at UConn. They are program first at all times. They do not care about the name on the back of the jersey. It is a culture, a system and way of doing things that players must stick to. And honestly, it's better Caitlin didn't go there because then she wouldn't be Caitlin. Her actions on the court and how she plays would not fly at UConn (and that's not talking about her complaining to the officials, which definitely wouldn't fly. But even the body language and other quirks she has doesn't mesh with UConn).
It worked out for both parties. Elena Delle Donne didn't fit in at UConn, and she was phenomenal. Sometimes the player just doesn't mesh with the program. Caitlin at Iowa State wouldn't mesh well either.
Watching this shitfest between SCarolina n NCST…..good gawd they can’t shoot, are slow, undisciplined…… are the Sukeyes going to win this effin thing ??
I felt certain LSUs athleticism would beat Iowa despite the LSU dysfunction. At this point, I won’t be shocked if Iowa wins it all.I had a similar impression watching that game last year. Most of their success seems to be from how big and tall they are?
At the same time, 36-0 doesn't happen by accident.