[2006alum]

Paige Beukers: #1 in 2020
Aaliyah Edwards #23 in 2020
Ayanna Patterson: #6 in 2022
Isune Brady: #8 in 2022
Kamorea Arnold: #6 in 2023
Ashlyne Shade: #8 in 2023
Qadance Samuels: #41 in 2023

Nika Muhl is the only player who wasn’t ranked in the top 50 and that’s partly because she came from Croatia.  Two other players that saw playing time tonight were outside the top 10.  Five(!) players were in the top 8 recruits their year.

That’s not throwing shade on Geno; after all he recruited them!  But if we are talking about swapping rosters, then you have to account for the fact that UConn’s roster was stacked, and while Stanford is no pushover, the only two top 10 players we have are #3 in 2020 Cameron Brink, and #7 in 2021 Brooke Demetre.

Hannah Jump was #36 in 2019
Kiki Iriafen was #22 in 2021
Talan Lepolo was #71 in 2022
Elena Bosgana was unranked (but international)

That doesn’t give Tara a pass; after all there were a number of players (including Buekers) who we recruited but couldn’t get to sign (BobK can chime in if she had the grades or not).  But Tara recruited the players we have.

But, if your question is “could Geno have taken the 2023/24 Stanford team past the sweet sixteen”, the answer is not self-evident just because he is taking a UConn team with more star power to the final four.

BC

Thank you for this. I was thinking exactly the same thing, but without the bandwidth to do the analysis. For all UConn has recovering from injury on their bench, Geno is still playing with a talented, top-recruited rotation.

[2006alum]

Paige Beukers: #1 in 2020
Aaliyah Edwards #23 in 2020
Ayanna Patterson: #6 in 2022
Isune Brady: #8 in 2022
Kamorea Arnold: #6 in 2023
Ashlyne Shade: #8 in 2023
Qadance Samuels: #41 in 2023

Nika Muhl is the only player who wasn’t ranked in the top 50 and that’s partly because she came from Croatia.  Two other players that saw playing time tonight were outside the top 10.  Five(!) players were in the top 8 recruits their year.

That’s not throwing shade on Geno; after all he recruited them!  But if we are talking about swapping rosters, then you have to account for the fact that UConn’s roster was stacked, and while Stanford is no pushover, the only two top 10 players we have are #3 in 2020 Cameron Brink, and #7 in 2021 Brooke Demetre.

Hannah Jump was #36 in 2019
Kiki Iriafen was #22 in 2021
Talan Lepolo was #71 in 2022
Elena Bosgana was unranked (but international)

That doesn’t give Tara a pass; after all there were a number of players (including Buekers) who we recruited but couldn’t get to sign (BobK can chime in if she had the grades or not).  But Tara recruited the players we have.

But, if your question is “could Geno have taken the 2023/24 Stanford team past the sweet sixteen”, the answer is not self-evident just because he is taking a UConn team with more star power to the final four.

BC

Thank you for this. I was thinking exactly the same thing, but without the bandwidth to do the analysis. For all UConn has recovering from injury on their bench, Geno is still playing with a talented, top-recruited rotation.

[BosCard]

Paige Beukers: #1 in 2020
Aaliyah Edwards #23 in 2020
Ayanna Patterson: #6 in 2022
Isune Brady: #8 in 2022
Kamorea Arnold: #6 in 2023
Ashlyne Shade: #8 in 2023
Qadance Samuels: #41 in 2023

Nika Muhl is the only player who wasn’t ranked in the top 50 and that’s partly because she came from Croatia.  Two other players that saw playing time tonight were outside the top 10.  Five(!) players were in the top 8 recruits their year.

That’s not throwing shade on Geno; after all he recruited them!  But if we are talking about swapping rosters, then you have to account for the fact that UConn’s roster was stacked, and while Stanford is no pushover, the only two top 10 players we have are #3 in 2020 Cameron Brink, and #7 in 2021 Brooke Demetre.

Hannah Jump was #36 in 2019
Kiki Iriafen was #22 in 2021
Talan Lepolo was #71 in 2022
Elena Bosgana was unranked (but international)

That doesn’t give Tara a pass; after all there were a number of players (including Buekers) who we recruited but couldn’t get to sign (BobK can chime in if she had the grades or not).  But Tara recruited the players we have.

But, if your question is “could Geno have taken the 2023/24 Stanford team past the sweet sixteen”, the answer is not self-evident just because he is taking a UConn team with more star power to the final four.

BC

Thank you for this. I was thinking exactly the same thing, but without the bandwidth to do the analysis. For all UConn has recovering from injury on their bench, Geno is still playing with a talented, top-recruited rotation.

The tournament at the end stages is very guard driven because the opponents are so good defensively.  You need elite guards who are a threat to score off the dribble either with pull-ups or drives to the basket.  Defenses then have to collapse on that player which opens up passes for assists.  If Tara was coaching Clark, Bueckers or Fulwiley, I’m very confident she would have found a way into the Final Four.   And I’m positive that neither Staley nor Auriemma could have “coached” an injured Lepolo into the final four.

[BosCard]

Paige Beukers: #1 in 2020
Aaliyah Edwards #23 in 2020
Ayanna Patterson: #6 in 2022
Isune Brady: #8 in 2022
Kamorea Arnold: #6 in 2023
Ashlyne Shade: #8 in 2023
Qadance Samuels: #41 in 2023

Nika Muhl is the only player who wasn’t ranked in the top 50 and that’s partly because she came from Croatia.  Two other players that saw playing time tonight were outside the top 10.  Five(!) players were in the top 8 recruits their year.

That’s not throwing shade on Geno; after all he recruited them!  But if we are talking about swapping rosters, then you have to account for the fact that UConn’s roster was stacked, and while Stanford is no pushover, the only two top 10 players we have are #3 in 2020 Cameron Brink, and #7 in 2021 Brooke Demetre.

Hannah Jump was #36 in 2019
Kiki Iriafen was #22 in 2021
Talan Lepolo was #71 in 2022
Elena Bosgana was unranked (but international)

That doesn’t give Tara a pass; after all there were a number of players (including Buekers) who we recruited but couldn’t get to sign (BobK can chime in if she had the grades or not).  But Tara recruited the players we have.

But, if your question is “could Geno have taken the 2023/24 Stanford team past the sweet sixteen”, the answer is not self-evident just because he is taking a UConn team with more star power to the final four.

BC

Thank you for this. I was thinking exactly the same thing, but without the bandwidth to do the analysis. For all UConn has recovering from injury on their bench, Geno is still playing with a talented, top-recruited rotation.

The tournament at the end stages is very guard driven because the opponents are so good defensively.  You need elite guards who are a threat to score off the dribble either with pull-ups or drives to the basket.  Defenses then have to collapse on that player which opens up passes for assists.  If Tara was coaching Clark, Bueckers or Fulwiley, I’m very confident she would have found a way into the Final Four.   And I’m positive that neither Staley nor Auriemma could have “coached” an injured Lepolo into the final four.

[MV72018]

Paige Beukers: #1 in 2020
Aaliyah Edwards #23 in 2020
Ayanna Patterson: #6 in 2022
Isune Brady: #8 in 2022
Kamorea Arnold: #6 in 2023
Ashlyne Shade: #8 in 2023
Qadance Samuels: #41 in 2023

Nika Muhl is the only player who wasn’t ranked in the top 50 and that’s partly because she came from Croatia.  Two other players that saw playing time tonight were outside the top 10.  Five(!) players were in the top 8 recruits their year.

That’s not throwing shade on Geno; after all he recruited them!  But if we are talking about swapping rosters, then you have to account for the fact that UConn’s roster was stacked, and while Stanford is no pushover, the only two top 10 players we have are #3 in 2020 Cameron Brink, and #7 in 2021 Brooke Demetre.

Hannah Jump was #36 in 2019
Kiki Iriafen was #22 in 2021
Talan Lepolo was #71 in 2022
Elena Bosgana was unranked (but international)

That doesn’t give Tara a pass; after all there were a number of players (including Buekers) who we recruited but couldn’t get to sign (BobK can chime in if she had the grades or not).  But Tara recruited the players we have.

But, if your question is “could Geno have taken the 2023/24 Stanford team past the sweet sixteen”, the answer is not self-evident just because he is taking a UConn team with more star power to the final four.

BC

Thank you for this. I was thinking exactly the same thing, but without the bandwidth to do the analysis. For all UConn has recovering from injury on their bench, Geno is still playing with a talented, top-recruited rotation.

The tournament at the end stages is very guard driven because the opponents are so good defensively.  You need elite guards who are a threat to score off the dribble either with pull-ups or drives to the basket.  Defenses then have to collapse on that player which opens up passes for assists.  If Tara was coaching Clark, Bueckers or Fulwiley, I’m very confident she would have found a way into the Final Four.   And I’m positive that neither Staley nor Auriemma could have “coached” an injured Lepolo into the final four.

The question is whether Geno or Staley would have had and kept Lepolo as his PG throughout the season, or would have accelerated the development of another team member as his PG during the season and had that woman installed as his starting PG by tournament time.

[MV72018]

Paige Beukers: #1 in 2020
Aaliyah Edwards #23 in 2020
Ayanna Patterson: #6 in 2022
Isune Brady: #8 in 2022
Kamorea Arnold: #6 in 2023
Ashlyne Shade: #8 in 2023
Qadance Samuels: #41 in 2023

Nika Muhl is the only player who wasn’t ranked in the top 50 and that’s partly because she came from Croatia.  Two other players that saw playing time tonight were outside the top 10.  Five(!) players were in the top 8 recruits their year.

That’s not throwing shade on Geno; after all he recruited them!  But if we are talking about swapping rosters, then you have to account for the fact that UConn’s roster was stacked, and while Stanford is no pushover, the only two top 10 players we have are #3 in 2020 Cameron Brink, and #7 in 2021 Brooke Demetre.

Hannah Jump was #36 in 2019
Kiki Iriafen was #22 in 2021
Talan Lepolo was #71 in 2022
Elena Bosgana was unranked (but international)

That doesn’t give Tara a pass; after all there were a number of players (including Buekers) who we recruited but couldn’t get to sign (BobK can chime in if she had the grades or not).  But Tara recruited the players we have.

But, if your question is “could Geno have taken the 2023/24 Stanford team past the sweet sixteen”, the answer is not self-evident just because he is taking a UConn team with more star power to the final four.

BC

Thank you for this. I was thinking exactly the same thing, but without the bandwidth to do the analysis. For all UConn has recovering from injury on their bench, Geno is still playing with a talented, top-recruited rotation.

The tournament at the end stages is very guard driven because the opponents are so good defensively.  You need elite guards who are a threat to score off the dribble either with pull-ups or drives to the basket.  Defenses then have to collapse on that player which opens up passes for assists.  If Tara was coaching Clark, Bueckers or Fulwiley, I’m very confident she would have found a way into the Final Four.   And I’m positive that neither Staley nor Auriemma could have “coached” an injured Lepolo into the final four.

The question is whether Geno or Staley would have had and kept Lepolo as his PG throughout the season, or would have accelerated the development of another team member as his PG during the season and had that woman installed as his starting PG by tournament time.

[BillBradley]

The question is whether Geno or Staley would have had and kept Lepolo as his PG throughout the season, or would have accelerated the development of another team member as his PG during the season and had that woman installed as his starting PG by tournament time.

I think that's a valid observation. I've often wondered if the Cal Stars players were given some extra "consideration" by Tara. Cam is an obvious choice (and Haley too from prior years), but Jump and Lepolo never coming off the court and Demetre being first off the bench...just seems really coincidental given their lack of speed and creativity, and especially after Lepolo's injury. Maybe they were just the best at playing their roles and were the best defensive choices and that's what Tara wanted. Or maybe that extra friendship/chemistry was worth something on the court. I'm sure Tara had her reasons and it's tough to argue with a P12 championship.

[BillBradley]

The question is whether Geno or Staley would have had and kept Lepolo as his PG throughout the season, or would have accelerated the development of another team member as his PG during the season and had that woman installed as his starting PG by tournament time.

I think that's a valid observation. I've often wondered if the Cal Stars players were given some extra "consideration" by Tara. Cam is an obvious choice (and Haley too from prior years), but Jump and Lepolo never coming off the court and Demetre being first off the bench...just seems really coincidental given their lack of speed and creativity, and especially after Lepolo's injury. Maybe they were just the best at playing their roles and were the best defensive choices and that's what Tara wanted. Or maybe that extra friendship/chemistry was worth something on the court. I'm sure Tara had her reasons and it's tough to argue with a P12 championship.

[Hoops9092]

Oregon State's Talia von Oelhoffen enters the portal. Really too bad. 

https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2024/...ollow.html

This article mentions more Oregon State players are expected to follow, likely given the lack of a major conference for Oregon State's future. May be a good time for Scott Rueck to consider heading elsewhere, perhaps Tennessee.

[Hoops9092]

Oregon State's Talia von Oelhoffen enters the portal. Really too bad. 

https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2024/...ollow.html

This article mentions more Oregon State players are expected to follow, likely given the lack of a major conference for Oregon State's future. May be a good time for Scott Rueck to consider heading elsewhere, perhaps Tennessee.

[Jskass]

Can thank football media for all this - as CLW of WSU also in portal. USC losing the three Ivy grads?

[Jskass]

Can thank football media for all this - as CLW of WSU also in portal. USC losing the three Ivy grads?

[Jskass]

So if you don’t have a team in the Final Four your refs get outsized representation?

https://x.com/raoul_000/status/1775630974920847641?s=46

[Jskass]

So if you don’t have a team in the Final Four your refs get outsized representation?

https://x.com/raoul_000/status/1775630974920847641?s=46

[crackpot]

So if you don’t have a team in the Final Four your refs get outsized representation?

https://x.com/raoul_000/status/1775630974920847641?s=46

IIRC, we had Brenda in the 2021 Final? Brenda did the semi against South Carolina.

[crackpot]

So if you don’t have a team in the Final Four your refs get outsized representation?

https://x.com/raoul_000/status/1775630974920847641?s=46

IIRC, we had Brenda in the 2021 Final? Brenda did the semi against South Carolina.

[martyup]

What? No Bacon?

[martyup]

What? No Bacon?

[76lsjumb]

What? No Bacon?

He’s in charge of painting the 3-point arc on  the court…

[76lsjumb]

What? No Bacon?

He’s in charge of painting the 3-point arc on  the court…

[martyup]

What? No Bacon?

He’s in charge of painting the 3-point arc on  the court…

[martyup]

What? No Bacon?

He’s in charge of painting the 3-point arc on  the court…

[WBB fan]

BOTH Barlow and Bird are doing the South Carolina/North Carolina St game!

[WBB fan]

BOTH Barlow and Bird are doing the South Carolina/North Carolina St game!

[2006alum]

Well it's good both teams have deep benches. Though Missy has really reformed herself lately. For all I (rightly) ragged her in the past, I feel the need to credit her for aligning more with the rest of the D1 refs in how she blows the whistle.

[2006alum]

Well it's good both teams have deep benches. Though Missy has really reformed herself lately. For all I (rightly) ragged her in the past, I feel the need to credit her for aligning more with the rest of the D1 refs in how she blows the whistle.

[WBB fan]

South Carolina wins 78-59 -- NC State just collapsed in the 2nd half, and South Carolina was a bulldozer. Total domination. They are tough!

[WBB fan]

South Carolina wins 78-59 -- NC State just collapsed in the 2nd half, and South Carolina was a bulldozer. Total domination. They are tough!

[Sam Leopold]

Quite the game.  UConn was clearly a legitimate title contender but Iowa proved that they are more than just Caitlin Clark, winning on a night where Clark was just 3-11 from distance.  Although, when it was 28-16, it looked like Clark might have been a little too quick to cash in with those commercials for Gainbridge.

Good show Geno.  Lots of deep runs in recent tournaments, but no championships since before the first season of Stranger Things came out.

[Sam Leopold]

Quite the game.  UConn was clearly a legitimate title contender but Iowa proved that they are more than just Caitlin Clark, winning on a night where Clark was just 3-11 from distance.  Although, when it was 28-16, it looked like Clark might have been a little too quick to cash in with those commercials for Gainbridge.

Good show Geno.  Lots of deep runs in recent tournaments, but no championships since before the first season of Stranger Things came out.

[WBB fan]

Gino gained two wins on Tara this year. Thanks to Iowa, it wasn't more

[WBB fan]

Gino gained two wins on Tara this year. Thanks to Iowa, it wasn't more

[qwerty49]

I am definitely no fan of Geno, but that was a tough loss, and yeah, a Mickey Mouse foul call.

Both teams played hard, but Iowa turned out to be a better balanced team.  Martin in particular was really clutch.

[qwerty49]

I am definitely no fan of Geno, but that was a tough loss, and yeah, a Mickey Mouse foul call.

Both teams played hard, but Iowa turned out to be a better balanced team.  Martin in particular was really clutch.

[Jskass]

Did Edwards get call for taking off Martin’s head? So maybe a makeup call to even out but she did move.

[Jskass]

Did Edwards get call for taking off Martin’s head? So maybe a makeup call to even out but she did move.

[PVTree]

I am definitely no fan of Geno, but that was a tough loss, and yeah, a Mickey Mouse foul call.

Both teams played hard, but Iowa turned out to be a better balanced team.  Martin in particular was really clutch.

Same here... Very happy that Gene-o lost, but that was a very bad call from my point of view.

[PVTree]

I am definitely no fan of Geno, but that was a tough loss, and yeah, a Mickey Mouse foul call.

Both teams played hard, but Iowa turned out to be a better balanced team.  Martin in particular was really clutch.

Same here... Very happy that Gene-o lost, but that was a very bad call from my point of view.

[petersalas]

It was a foul. It should be called regardless of when it happens. I just don’t know why Stanford is always on the short end during tournament time and refs swallow the whistle or call so many offensive fouls on them and blocks on them when they are getting bulldozed down.. see end of Old Dominion final four, end of Tennessee elite 8, Texas A&M final four to name a few! I’m still bitter, I guess! 

I am definitely no fan of Geno, but that was a tough loss, and yeah, a Mickey Mouse foul call.

Both teams played hard, but Iowa turned out to be a better balanced team.  Martin in particular was really clutch.

Same here... Very happy that Gene-o lost, but that was a very bad call from my point of view.

[petersalas]

It was a foul. It should be called regardless of when it happens. I just don’t know why Stanford is always on the short end during tournament time and refs swallow the whistle or call so many offensive fouls on them and blocks on them when they are getting bulldozed down.. see end of Old Dominion final four, end of Tennessee elite 8, Texas A&M final four to name a few! I’m still bitter, I guess! 

I am definitely no fan of Geno, but that was a tough loss, and yeah, a Mickey Mouse foul call.

Both teams played hard, but Iowa turned out to be a better balanced team.  Martin in particular was really clutch.

Same here... Very happy that Gene-o lost, but that was a very bad call from my point of view.