Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2024-25

[NoBackBoard]

@Amb3096I am not saying it's being done for the fans. I am saying the fans are the only ones who care about it being Bridgeport.

No, the committee cares. Because it’s about money. And if UConn isn’t in Bridgeport, attendance at the regional will be down. All those UConn fans in that region aren’t traveling to Spokane. And they won’t show up to watch teams play that aren’t UConn. The committee knows this and they have a history of tinkering with seedlings to ensure teams are placed in regions with maximum fan support. It’s completely unfair to teams that earned their seeding but the committee values money over fairness.

 

[brassie]

Yes I will bet you that the SEC is far better than the Big east in every sport.

So what? This forum is about WCBB. All that matters is head to head and where they end up when the fat lady sings. All this "mine is bigger than yours" babble is meaningless.

 

[Volfan2012]

So what? This forum is about WCBB. All that matters is head to head and where they end up when the fat lady sings. All this "mine is bigger than yours" babble is meaningless.

Someone wanted to know which conference was the best one in the nation in women's basketball so I told him. To bad if you don't like that cause I really don't care.

 

[Volfan2012]

 

[VolBall09]

This seems to be the trend. Players who are under recruited in HS can now go to a mid-major, play well, and then level up to a better school.

Kellie has picked up two conference players of the year in Green and Dye. Won’t be shocked to see us go that direction again. If any 2-3 players who can score are entering out of a good mid major I think we will give them a look for sure.

For post players I wouldn’t be scared of looking at some JUCO players. There have been some good post players like Jackson at KU and the girl at OSU last season that started in the JUCO route.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

UConn being in Bridgeport is primarily an issue for the fans that will travel to see the game. As far as the team is concerned, I don't think it matters to them where and with who they play. Travel is not an issue. They either travel in chartered jets to Spokane or in a bus to Bridgeport. It's about 90 minutes more travel in a luxury jet as compared to a cramped bus. They stay in a luxury hotel with all arrangements made regardless of where they go. If they go all the way, they have to play the best teams regardless of when and where. Disrespect this team if you want, but here is a quote from Geno, "We haven't played UConn basketball for 4 or 5 years. But we are starting to see that in this team." Plus he has 11 to 18 days to see if Paige Bueckers can become a significant factor on the court.

It is also the issue of which teams get to play with thousands of their own fans cheering them on. It’s not about the bus or the plane ride.

 

[NeedOrange]

It is also the issue of which teams get to play with thousands of their own fans

Whatever bracket UConn plays there will be thousands of fans cheering them on. If an arena seats 20,000, 5,000 UConn fans will be there. I don't care about the arena. If you can win in TBA against a Pat Summitt team, you can win anywhere. Been there, Done that. Now we aren't afraid to go anywhere.

 

[Rooster1]

It’s a great thing that WBB is so even with all the new talent spread around, good for WBB.

 

[Mr. Doo Wop]

Yes, you've had tremendous defense against a bunch of awful teams. Massey #43 DePaul was your best win, and they aren't picked as a tournament team. Then you have a handful of teams ranked around #60, and then 5 under #120 (3 under #200). I don't think that defense would be as effective against a top 25 caliber team.

Isn't Tennessee a top 25 team? It worked against them and it was not as good then as it is now. However, there is no doubt the SEC is a stronger conference than the BE. That is not even debatable.

 

[Amb3096]

Isn't Tennessee a top 25 team? It worked against them and it was not as good then as it is now. However, there is no doubt the SEC is a stronger conference than the BE. That is not even debatable.

You seem to have mistaken Tennessee for a high scoring team with good offense.

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

AD Danny White is Bo or at least knows what Bo knows. Remember Bo Jackson. Auburn graduate. Fantastic professional athlete in both basketball and football. Back in the day, shoe marketing campaign showed Bo playing 7 or 8 different sports. Funny, original and effective.
I don't think Tennessee's rise in all sports is a coincidence. AD White knows sports.
Fall
2021 Women Soccer Tournament Champions. Got to elite 8

2021 womens' volleyball got to sweet 16

21/22 men's basketball ranked 13th and have wins over Auburn, Kentucky, Arizona ( all ranked in top 5 when beaten)

21/22 women's basketball ranked as high as 4th before injuries derailed season

Spring
2022 men's tennis ranked #1

2022 women swim and dive team won SEC Championship

2022 men's swim and dive team finished second in league ( behind Flordia who won their 12 consecutive championship)

2022 men's baseball team ranked #3 (after finishing 2nd in conference regular season and tournament and making it to final 8 world series last year)

2022 women's softball team ranked in top 20

2021/22 men"s football team finished ranked and is currently ranked as high as 15th going into spring ball.

Incredible elevation of program in short period of time. Bo.knows sports. AD White must know Bo.

 

[Rooster1]

You could be right, but going to be scary for that number one seed to know that is who they have to get by to get to the final four.

Nobody wants conn in their region….

 

[Rooster1]

Creme just released his new bracket and bumped UConn up to #6 overall with their impressive win over Villanova, thus landing them in Bridgeport. That better not be what the committee does.

Tbh, UConn is the team nobody wants to play right now, I don’t care where they seed them, they are starting to get it together after all of those injuries to many players (I know, same for UT). lets just say I am hoping they are not in SC’s regional….

I see the same thing GA sees in his team right now, they are starting to space the floor and pass into those open spaces like their old teams….I for one know enough to fear that if they truly are back to that style, because they have the shooters all back now…..man, think on that.

 

[NoBackBoard]

Tbh, UConn is the team nobody wants to play right now, I don’t care where they seed them, they are starting to get it together after all of those injuries to many players (I know, same for UT). lets just say I am hoping they are not in SC’s regional….

All those All-Americans on your roster and you lack confidence? Tragic. That’s the difference between other fans and Lady Vols fans. If we had your roster we’d love to face UCONN to prevent them from reaching the Final Four.

 

[Amb3096]

Tbh, UConn is the team nobody wants to play right now, I don’t care where they seed them, they are starting to get it together after all of those injuries to many players (I know, same for UT). lets just say I am hoping they are not in SC’s regional….

I agree that UConn is a team that will make a #1 seed very unhappy...but that's the reality of how their season played out. They are easily a top 4 team, but they won't get that seeding because of the injuries and their record. I'm just against the committee playing around with the seedings to favor them if they don't do so unilaterally. Kentucky has a stronger argument than UConn, because they've played tougher competition in their winning streak and beat two top 10 teams. If they're gonna re-evaluate impact of injured players that have returned, they should do so across the board...not just for UConn.

 

[lvocd]

Tbh, UConn is the team nobody wants to play right now, I don’t care where they seed them, they are starting to get it together after all of those injuries to many players (I know, same for UT). lets just say I am hoping they are not in SC’s regional….

I agree. I said months ago that the injuries to starters, IF everyone is back at least a couple weeks before the NCAA Tournament, will have served to make the team much better because most of the roster will have gotten the experience of playing bigger roles than they would have if Auriemma hadn't been forced into it.

Unfortunately, my prediction is coming true. Ugh.

 

[creekdipper]

Really don't understand the wrath of CONN striking fear into the hearts of solid, talented teams. They played us at the low point of our season when we were shell-shocked and getting blitzed by Florida, losing to Auburn and Alabama, and having to go into OT with Ark in Knoxville. Who else have they played during that time?

 

[Rooster1]

All those All-Americans on your roster and you lack confidence? Tragic. That’s the difference between other fans and Lady Vols fans. If we had your roster we’d love to face UCONN to prevent them from reaching the Final Four.

NBB,

I hear you man. And of the 16 or so teams with a great shot at getting to the final 8, I know the Lady G’s can get there, but really hope not to see Uconn out of all the other teams until the final.

 

[creekdipper]

NBB,

I hear you man. And of the 16 or so teams with a great shot at getting to the final 8, I know the Lady G’s can get there, but really hope not to see Uconn out of all the other teams until the final.

You shouldnt have to. CONN isn't getting anywhere near a Final Four.

 

[Amb3096]

Really don't understand the wrath of CONN striking fear into the hearts of solid, talented teams. They played us at the low point of our season when we were shell-shocked and getting blitzed by Florida, losing to Auburn and Alabama, and having to go into OT with Ark in Knoxville. Who else have they played during that time?

The problem was that was during the low point of their season, too. Blown out by Oregon, barely beat DePaul, then lost their next game after Tennessee to Villanova. They haven't played anyone since, but I'd bet money that they make the FF if they are not in SC or Stanford's regions.

 

[Lucy]

UConn being in Bridgeport is primarily an issue for the fans that will travel to see the game. As far as the team is concerned, I don't think it matters to them where and with who they play. Travel is not an issue. They either travel in chartered jets to Spokane or in a bus to Bridgeport. It's about 90 minutes more travel in a luxury jet as compared to a cramped bus. They stay in a luxury hotel with all arrangements made regardless of where they go. If they go all the way, they have to play the best teams regardless of when and where. Disrespect this team if you want, but here is a quote from Geno, "We haven't played UConn basketball for 4 or 5 years. But we are starting to see that in this team." Plus he has 11 to 18 days to see if Paige Bueckers can become a significant factor on the court.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let’s break this down.
Being in Bridgeport is not just about fan’s travel. It’s about giving UConn a home court advantage with thousands of screaming fans. They are a 2 seed and do not deserve that.
All top level teams travel by chartered jet and stay at a luxury hotel. So please don’t think the Connies are the only team treated well when they travel (although how does a bankrupt athletic department do that?). Coaches, despite the hotels, would like their kids to sleep in their own beds and stay in their normal time zone so travel matters.
Finally, regarding Geno’s assessment that the team is rounding into “UConn basketball” form. How can he tell? The big East schedule would make anyone look good. The top four/five teams in the SEC would go undefeated in conference too in UConn’s shoes.
Really like you NO (still wondering if you have football eligibility left) but UConn in Bridgeport is an unfair advantage given the season performance.

 

[volnationnj]

This was posted on another board. It seems that lower seeds get home court advantage quite frequently:
In 2019, Louisville was the #1 seed in Bridgeport. In the same regional, UConn was #2. Mississippi State was the #1 seed in Portland, with Oregon as #2. Baylor was the #1 seed in Greensboro with NC State at #3 and SC at #4.

In 2018, Notre Dame was the #1 seed in Spokane. In the same regional, Oregon was #2.

In 2017, Note Dame was the #1 seed in Lexington, KY (their closest regional), but they let Kentucky stay home as the #4 seed.

In 2016, Notre Dame was the #1 seed in Lexington, KY (their closest regional), but they let Kentucky stay home as the #3 seed.

Then, going back to 2000 and just looking at UConn's seeding/parings...

In 2014, UConn was the #1 seed in Lincoln, NE. In the same regional, Nebraska was the #4 and Oklahoma was the #10. Same year, South Carolina was the #1 seed ON STANFORD'S HOME FLOOR with Stanford as the #2 seed.

In 2010, UConn was the #1 seed in Dayton, OH. In the same regional, Ohio State was the #2 seed.

In 2007, UConn was the #1 seed in Fresno, CA. In the same regional, Stanford was the #2 seed.

In 2003, UConn was the #1 seed in Dayton, OH. In the same regional, Purdue (~3 hours from Dayton) was the #2 seed. Same, year, LSU was the #1 seed on Stanford's home floor with Stanford as the #3 seed.

In 2000, UConn was the #1 seed in Richmond, VA. In the same regional, Duke (~2 from Richmond) was the #2 seed.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

Selfishly I wanted her to enter the portal

 

[JBB1985]

Yes, you've had tremendous defense against a bunch of awful teams. Massey #43 DePaul was your best win, and they aren't picked as a tournament team. Then you have a handful of teams ranked around #60, and then 5 under #120 (3 under #200). I don't think that defense would be as effective against a top 25 caliber team.

What is missed is not that foes, although beating middle of the pack teams by 15-25 more points than mathematically-driven Massey projects is still an out-performance (i.e. like beating a fellow Top 10 team that one is forecasted to beat by 5, but the team wins by 15-20, that is still impressive and unanticipated), but that UConn's team is no longer missing 4 major players, just 1. Even with missing/ injured 3, 2 or 1 players, UConn is 20-1. Indeed, when they have 4 injured players of note including a historically rare injured POY, they are merely 5-4. One suspects the close game against highly ranked L'ville with 1 injured player (i.e. Griffin) than 4 injured players would likely have been a win for UConn. Walz has only one win vs. UConn in normal circumstances even when he has superstars like McCoughtry and Shimmel.

 

[JBB1985]

No, the committee cares. Because it’s about money. And if UConn isn’t in Bridgeport, attendance at the regional will be down. All those UConn fans in that region aren’t traveling to Spokane. And they won’t show up to watch teams play that aren’t UConn. The committee knows this and they have a history of tinkering with seedlings to ensure teams are placed in regions with maximum fan support. It’s completely unfair to teams that earned their seeding but the committee values money over fairness.

Of course the NCAAW has to think about fan base ticket sales, fan-driven local/ regional media coverage, and TV ratings -- most years at the most 1-2 WCBB teams make money, including the two best ever WCBB programs. They have to look in the Northeast and react when dumpy Albany bids the most for Regional (and is 130 miles from UConn) or when dumpy B'port bids the most because the profit-making semi-professional leagues of the NCAA are in it for the money. Eastern Regionals way back when were in NJ or NYC or VA, but those places/ arenas don't bid squat for WCBB anymore. So if Albany or Bridgeport outbid South Bend, Chapel Hill, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, San Jose/ Palo Alto and other nearby cities or homes of top tier programs, NCAAW picks the money. If UConn is ranked nationally #1 or #2 and have a fan base that buys tickets, of course a Regional is geographically favored for them.. But they have won over 90% of games in CT and won over 90% of games outside of CT. Last NCAAWs outside of UConn's region was when they went to Lincoln, Nebraska. They still won and on to the FF. For decades Tenn had the same plusses with the usually very high ranking, a massive fan base, and superior media coverage. In her prime, how often did Pat Summitt teams play more than 150-180 miles away even in the more geographically dispersed southeast America? Pat won, she earned it. Typically, when Tara or Auriemma win big reg season, they earn preferred location early rounds in impoverished WCBB. NCAAW is so rich, yet in individual sports they pinch nickels and dimes like WCBB that doesn't make money. It is a curse of most female sports at college level, as well as pro levels, but NCAA is less involved at that level.