Geno Auriemma Criticizes Men's College Basketball; "It's a Joke!"

[GenJac]

"I don't coach it. I don't play it, so I don't understand the ins and outs of it. But as a spectator watching it, it's a joke. There's only like 10 teams, you know, out of 25, that actually play the kind of game of basketball that you'd like to watch."

Auriemma said he is speaking as a fan. And he doesn't like what he sees.

"The bottom line is, nobody can score," Auriemma said. "And they'll tell you that it's because of great defense, great scouting, a lot of teamwork. Nonsense, nonsense. College men's basketball is so far behind the times it's unbelievable."

I do agree with what he's saying. He's not advocating women's bball over men's basketball. He's just making an observation, and an observation that is justified.

Basketball players spend too much time these days trying to flop and get fouls that it's taking away from the game. A lot of players with hard-nosed reputations were before my time but when I watch NBA classic and see those games, I feel like I'm watching men play hard and fight for the win rather than trying to trick the refs. Basketball is getting soft these days.

 

[7Samurai13]

With so many one and dones, players are not developing the fundamentals, instead it is all one on one match ups and very little passing and working it. The longer you stay in college the more of a negative it is viewed as by the NBA.

 

[Wishbone]

It's hard to disagree with him.

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

With so many one and dones, players are not developing the fundamentals, instead it is all one on one match ups and very little passing and working it. The longer you stay in college the more of a negative it is viewed as by the NBA.

I get what you're saying, but blaming one-and-done (college) ball for a lack of fundamentals is like blaming colleges for not teaching kids how to read. They should know how to do that long before they ever set foot on campus. If the majority of your recruits are "project" players coming from Zambia and they've never seen a basketball before, that's one thing, but the lack of fundamentals from homegrown kids is mostly the fault of the AAU system.

 

[jontaejones]

I guess it's more fun watching UConn women pulverize all their opponents by 60 points with 'flawless basketball' because their opponents are far inferior?

To me, when two teams really get after it because they want it so bad, that's when it gets ugly. And good...

 

[7Samurai13]

I get what you're saying, but blaming one-and-done (college) ball for a lack of fundamentals is like blaming colleges for not teaching kids how to read. They should know how to do that long before they ever set foot on campus. If the majority of your recruits are "project" players coming from Zambia and they've never seen a basketball before, that's one thing, but the lack of fundamentals from homegrown kids is mostly the fault of the AAU system.

So in your opinion college coaches are the same as high school coaches? If you don't think that college coaches are better at the fundamentals and teaching kids how to use their teammates, who are more times than not significantly better than the high schoolers they were playing with the why are coaches paid millions? Just hire some high school coach for $100k and save $3mill. Many of these kids were the only great player on the court and just ball hogged it to the hoop. I think that Coach K or Calipari are better at coaching than some high school civics teacher.

 

[OregonDucks]

I've watched womens ball...it's like watching basketball in slow motion. You want to talk about lack of scoring, watch a game that isn't uconn.

 

[GNG]

I do agree with what he's saying. He's not advocating women's bball over men's basketball. He's just making an observation, and an observation that is justified.

Basketball players spend too much time these days trying to flop and get fouls that it's taking away from the game. A lot of players with hard-nosed reputations were before my time but when I watch NBA classic and see those games, I feel like I'm watching men play hard and fight for the win rather than trying to trick the refs. Basketball is getting soft these days.

Geno is jealous that the majority of fans don't care about women's basketball.

 

[GNG]

I've watched womens ball...it's like watching basketball in slow motion. You want to talk about lack of scoring, watch a game that isn't uconn.

Boring basketball indeed.

 

[TxHeat]

I guess it's more fun watching UConn women pulverize all their opponents by 60 points with 'flawless basketball' because their opponents are far inferior?

To me, when two teams really get after it because they want it so bad, that's when it gets ugly. And good...

It is more fun!!

 

[Davis_Mike]

Some of his criticism is spot on. There is a lot that the NCAA can do to make the games a heck of a lot more enjoyable to watch. A simple start would be to reduce that ridiculous 35 second shot clock down to about 28 seconds. That alone would speed the game up. Then add a 2 year commitment for all scholarship players like baseball does. You would see a lot better shooting & movement on offense with experienced players.

Where he gets it wrong is that you can't compare the the two sports. They are completely different animals. If Gino had to work in the same system that men's coaches did, he wouldn't fare any better.

 

[Wamu]

Someone please shove a basketball in Geno's mouth to shut him up. The women's game is so damn boring he's got no room to say anything.

 

[TxHeat]

Geno is jealous that the majority of fans don't care about women's basketball.

He's got nothing to be jealous about. He gets paid well, he wins championships and the arena is always full.

 

[TxHeat]

Someone please shove a basketball in Geno's mouth to shut him up. The women's game is so damn boring he's got no room to say anything.

Because he hogs all the good talent every year.

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

So in your opinion college coaches are the same as high school coaches? If you don't think that college coaches are better at the fundamentals and teaching kids how to use their teammates, who are more times than not significantly better than the high schoolers they were playing with the why are coaches paid millions? Just hire some high school coach for $100k and save $3mill. Many of these kids were the only great player on the court and just ball hogged it to the hoop. I think that Coach K or Calipari are better at coaching than some high school civics teacher.

With all due respect, what the fuck are you talking about?!?

How the fuck did you get "High school coaches and college coaches are the same" out of what I wrote?

High School coaches and AAU coaches, (and jr. high coaches) should be the ones teaching fundamentals. You should already have that down BEFORE you ever set foot on campus. College coaches are paid more precisely BECAUSE they teach different things from high school coaches. They teach more ADVANCED things. Not more FUNDAMENTALIER things. They are building upon what those kids should already know, not just teaching tem the same concepts only better.

Do you even know what "fundamentals" means?

 

[GNG]

He's got nothing to be jealous about. He gets paid well, he wins championships and the arena is always full.

He probably wishes he was a men's basketball coach because nobody really cares about women's basketball unless you are a Connecticut fan.

 

[Wamu]

Because he hogs all the good talent every year.

Yep & he's a helluva HC. I just think he should have said nothing at all only because the men's & women's game are so different. Now maybe if had had coached men's hoops I might listen to what he has to say about this topic.

 

[GNG]

Because he hogs all the good talent every year.

No, because women's basketball is boring to most basketball fans.

 

[TxHeat]

He probably wishes he was a men's basketball coach because nobody really cares about women's basketball unless you are a Connecticut fan.

It will never get to the point of the men's game but for the programs that are successful people do care. Do you think people in Waco don't care about the Baylor women's team?

 

[redseat]

He's got nothing to be jealous about. He gets paid well, he wins championships and the arena is always full.

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