NCAA WBB tourney 2026

#957
#957
maple said:
Alright. I'm back because I have to get something off my chest and the BY doesn't like it when you speak a little too harshly. To preface, nothing I say here is personal. At the end of the day most of the players will never play beyond college and they're also human. There's some players in WBB that I have a particular distaste for, but none of them are on this years' FF teams. That said ...

(I apologize about the incoming rant. Feel free to skip.)

First of all congrats to SCar. To be honest with you I don't even think they played their A game last night -- frankly, it didn't seem like any of the FF teams did, for whatever reason. Kills me as a UConn fan, but SCar outplayed us all game. They showed more heart, more hustle, more tenacity. It wasn't necessarily "beautiful basketball", but they made the plays when it counted. And that's on their coaching. I have "sports hate" for SCar the way I did for TN or ND. It's not personal. And really, the loss, I could live with it if both teams played at their highest level and SCar was just the better team. I've seen UConn win a lot in my 38 years, but I've also seen them lose. Sometimes close ones, sometimes not (though during those "injury bug" years I didn't really mind the big losses as much because there were outside factors). I've seen UConn choke in big moments, too. I would say any fan hates to see their favorite team lose a game and I'm certainly not immune.

But this game. Man. What an absolute unmitigated disaster for UConn on multiple levels. Two AAs on the floor and a bunch of players with tourney experience and an utterly pathetic performance. Azzi is unfortunately never beating the "disappears in big games" allegations. I thought maybe after last season, but, no. I mean. I don't know what else is there to say. UConn played like garbage. And yes part of that was BECAUSE SCar doing things right on their end. But also some of it was just self-inflicted. Complete loss of composure. I can complain about the officials but at the end of the day, you have to play the hand you're dealt with. And for what it's worth, working the refs is part of the game.

Speaking of composure, however ... I'll never put any coach on a pedestal or petition them for sainthood. In my eyes every coach has "bad look" moments. And I am aware of where I'm posting this and I know that some may think very lowly of Geno and that's fine. I'd never take offense to it because I'm sure if I wasn't a UConn fan I'd feel the same way. And God knows there are plenty of coaches in WBB and elsewhere where I have some choice words to describe them. It is what it is. THAT SAID, Geno's actions yesterday were inexcusable and I frankly can't understand or justify them. I truly don't give a **** what Dawn might or might not have done. That was clownery from Geno, plain and simple. And it genuinely pisses me off because now it'll be a talking point until the end of time and I can't even blame people in the future when they bring it up because I do the same thing for other teams/coaches all the time. Those in glass houses, etc. I don't know. Like, the terrible L in the Final Four wasn't enough? I'm just disgusted. Don't know what else to say.

Personally I won't be watching the title game because I always quit watching the tourney (men's and women's) when UConn loses. But I hope both teams have a great game and may the best team win. If Close actually pulls it up I have a whole season's worth of crow to eat. Would be huge for UCLA. If SCar wins ... well, I'm happy the nice SCar fans here are happy. (Look, I can only be so gracious, forgive me.)

I'd say I'm on to looking forward to next season but I'm really not. This may be the worst I've ever felt after a loss. I blame [expletive] Geno.

Anyway, thank you to VolNation for continuing to be one the bastions of places to talk WBB. I truly enjoy reading everyone's posts and talking with you all. Happy Easter, take care. 🫶
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Happy Easter to you too Maple. That post was all a lot and glad you shared it with us. It is hard when a team you love struggles. I guess we are in that boat together except at very different levels (insert laughing and crying).
Don’t be a stranger. Peace.
 
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#958
#958
Crazy that South Carolina picked today to have a nightmare shooting day. They managed to make this year's Lady Vols look like pretty good shooters in comparison today. 😳

I figured before the season started that UCLA was at least an Elite 8 team, and a Final Four team with a lot of luck and some help from other teams in the Tourney. I did NOT think they'd have a chance at even being in the championship game, much less winning the championship. That they've won it so convincingly and with obviously great skill is really something. I'm glad I decided to watch it!
 
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#963
#963
What a game by UCLA, team of destiny perhaps but they were amazing today, it’s a good story for the game. I wanted to congratulate the Bruins for an epic win, they played like champions. It was another amazing season for WBB, all the best to UCLA and Coach Close. I wanted to say also that I hope the game keeps growing, I believe it will.
 
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#965
#965
My family doesn’t follow WBB too closely but we generally are sports obsessed. So at our Easter egg hunt and luncheon today the Geno, Dawn fuss came up. Literally everyone agreed Dawn would pound him into the dirt if it had come to that.😆😆😆
 
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#966
#966
I might be wrong, but I didn’t see any single Lady Vols shot in the end of the tournament compilation. I hate where the program finds itself on the women’s basketball stage
 
#967
#967
spojo13 said:
I might be wrong, but I didn’t see any single Lady Vols shot in the end of the tournament compilation. I hate where the program finds itself on the women’s basketball stage
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probably focused on teams that went deeper into the tournament
 
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#971
#971
15 years.

That’s what it took for Cori Close to win it all.

She’s been at ucla since 2011. This was only her second time ever getting to the Final Four, first time was last season. Before that ucla made the EE once in 17-18.

This was her first season EVER finishing first in conference play.

It takes time.

These schools are so impatient. It took Close 5 season to even make the NCAA tournament.

Not saying this excuses our current dumpster fire, but it does provide some perspective.
 
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#972
#972
DarkVolder said:
How obnoxious is the Big ten going to be this offseason if they have the football champs and women bball champs and possibly the men’s bball champs with a Michigan win tomm night.
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Its not stopping anytime soon. Wild west NIL was always going to be to their advantage.

Really happy for Cori Close though. Great genuine person.
 
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#973
#973
WVU05UT09 said:
Its not stopping anytime soon. Wild west NIL was always going to be to their advantage.

Really happy for Cori Close though. Great genuine person.
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I really gained a lot of respect for her when I read she said she was not the leader she needed to be last year. That after the loss in the tournament she immediately jumped into portal recruiting and failed to take time to celebrate and share with her players their accomplishments. A lot of self-awareness and humility there.
 
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