Adriacus Peratuun said:

---

Historical Reality:

every name on the Best WBB Coach list took about a decade or more to get their program running at an elite level.

Auriemma, Summitt, Mulkey, VanDerveer, McGraw, Staley, Sharp, other Sharp, Conradt, etc.

Demanding that Collen do something that has never been done before seems very unrealistic.
Top coaches uniformly follow a steady upward trajectory that reaches initial peak around ten-ish years into their job.

For the Win Championships Now crowd, are you also requiring her to cure cancer and eliminate poverty?

---

It should also be pointed out that those coaches made their way up through the ranks at a time when the landscape of WBB was completely different. The parity and competition levels then were only a fraction of what teams encounter today. The kinds of teams you had to beat in the second weekend of the tournament to get to a FF then, you are now having to beat in your conference or in the round of 32.

Based on past records there are only three coaches still in the game that are considered elite....Mulkey, Auriemma and Staley. Do any others really come to mind? There is a reason for that and it isn't because of Mulkey, Auriemma or Staley. The competition is just too tough.

Anyone who will not admit the landscape has changed and doesn't reflect that in their expectations really is requiring the bolded sentence above to be the case.

Agree. We are top 3 for Aaliyah Crump. Hoping we pull 1 or 2 mor we this fal.

And Marcayla was mid 20s and had a very good HS and AAU season although she is on a very subpar team. Drawing the best perimeter defender and still averaging
just over 15ppg. I think she is a great start.

Winning begets top players. May have to show it 1 more season to convince most but if we do then I would be hopeful for a really good 2026 class.

Dcheetah said:

---

Agree. We are top 3 for Aaliyah Crump. Hoping we pull 1 or 2 mor we this fal.

And Marcayla was mid 20s and had a very good HS and AAU season although she is on a very subpar team. Drawing the best perimeter defender and still averaging
just over 15ppg. I think she is a great start.

Winning begets top players. May have to show it 1 more season to convince most but if we do then I would be hopeful for a really good 2026 class.

---

Agree. As much as some folks hate to admit it, top recruiting isn't generally a "day one" item.

Top players attend Summer camps in middle school and develop relationships. Those players then commit in high school [almost always to a "dream school", to an existing relationship, or both items].

Auriemma arrived at UConn in 1985, got a local [Hartford] middle schooler Rebecca Lobo in camp a year later, she signs in 1990 and arrives on campus in 1991, they win the first UConn NC in 1995.

Unfortunately fans can be very Greta Thunberg in their angst & demands.

Agree we need to consistently be getting top players. Just may take a little more time.

Dang. Just had a longer reply and lost it. Marcayla was in 20s until recent ranking. She plays on a subpar AAU team this summer (Lady Drive Nation) and draws the best perimeter defender almost every game but is still averaging over 15ppg and can rebound from the guard spot. She has a joyful personality and I think will be a very good player for us in the future.

We are top 3 for Aaliyah Crump and Keeley Parks is another to watch. Both are 5-stars. Both 25s. Like Divine Bourrages game alot but haven't seen where she has reciprocated interest in us.

Winning is what draws recruits and History. For whatever reason we are having to prove it all over again
despite some programs changing coaches and not playing that well and still getting top recruits. If we can get Maryam, I think we can have a very good season and then I would be reasonably hopeful we could clse well with a lot of top recruits.

Dcheetah said:

---

Agree we need to consistently be getting top players. Just may take a little more time.

Dang. Just had a longer reply and lost it. Marcayla was in 20s until recent ranking. She plays on a subpar AAU team this summer (Lady Drive Nation) and draws the best perimeter defender almost every game but is still averaging over 15ppg and can rebound from the guard spot. She has a joyful personality and I think will be a very good player for us in the future.

We are top 3 for Aaliyah Crump and Keeley Parks is another to watch. Both are 5-stars. Both 25s. Like Divine Bourrages game alot but haven't seen where she has reciprocated interest in us.

Winning is what draws recruits and History. For whatever reason we are having to prove it all over again
despite some programs changing coaches and not playing that well and still getting top recruits. If we can get Maryam, I think we can have a very good season and then I would be reasonably hopeful we could close well with a lot of top 26 recruits.

---

We have good interest from a lot of top 26s currently. I may post more on that later.

Cheetah, I like your longer reply better! Thanks for the updates on interested recruits. I have the same info. Here are our commits 4 years 2022-2025:

Class of 2022: #17 Buggs, #41 Fontleroy and #62 Abraham
Class of 2023: 0 in top 100
Class of 2024: #51 Nelms and #73 Goryanova
Class of 2025: #35 Johnson

Class 2024 and 2025 look promising so far for the near future.

Dauda followed by South Carolina Performance coach on IG. Final nail in coffin?

Who knows honestly. I would honestly wait and see what the decision is first. The decision will be this week.

lety was a top recruit like want to say 40 in the class of 2024 but i do not know if you mean who are still here playing.

12au said:

---

Dauda followed by South Carolina Performance coach on IG. Final nail in coffin?

---

Doesn't sound good.

It just comes down to what Dauda is looking for. If she wants to play on team that will likely be playing for Championship again this year, wants to be coached by Dawn and is willing to be a backup player with uncertain amount of minutes, it is SC. Not sure how much NIL SC would give to player who will likely not be a starter

If she want to play a lot of minutes on a team that will likely be a Top 10 team with excellent chance of reaching at least the Elite 8 she chooses us.

We will be a better team with Dauda but we will also be a very good team without her.

Bear3 said:

---

It just comes down to what Dauda is looking for. If she wants to play on team that will likely be playing for Championship again this year, wants to be coached by Dawn and is willing to be a backup player with uncertain amount of minutes, it is SC. Not sure how much NIL SC would give to player who will likely not be a starter

If she want to play a lot of minutes on a team that will likely be a Top 10 team with excellent chance of reaching at least the Elite 8 she chooses us.

---

Same exact thoughts as you on this right now. At the end of the day I'll be plenty happy that she won't be at LSU.

What does LSU have to do with the recruiting battle between BU and SC for Dauda?

LSU isn't even in the mix. My point here is that she won't be with Kim Mulkey at all.

Word from LSU fans in the know, said they didn't pursue Dauda. One of their assistant coaches said that too. They got all the players they needed after they received 4 transfers. Dauda was NEVER in the mix at LSU so everyone on this board can be plenty happy. We have to move forward and focus on Baylor moving towards a NC, instead of continued jealousy and hate for Kim Mulkey and LSU (by some people on this board).

LSU portaled Dauda's former teammate Jersey Wolfenbarger back in March to share the Lauren Cox high post role with SaMyah Smith.

The only role Dauda could get at LSU is sharing the Kalani Brown "no more than 8 feet from the bucket" role with Del Rosario.

Not exactly an enticing option for any player with professional basketball aspirations.

Bear3 said:

---

It just comes down to what Dauda is looking for. If she wants to play on team that will likely be playing for Championship again this year, wants to be coached by Dawn and is willing to be a backup player with uncertain amount of minutes, it is SC. Not sure how much NIL SC would give to player who will likely not be a starter

If she want to play a lot of minutes on a team that will likely be a Top 10 team with excellent chance of reaching at least the Elite 8 she chooses us.

We will be a better team with Dauda but we will also be a very good team without her.

---

I would think too, that if she has the WNBA as a goal, then advantage BU. I don't believe one makes the "W" by having more bench minutes than court minutes. Plus CNC knows how to get players skill set expanded for the W.

Dauda is following a number of SC players and reportedly their strength coach and coaches. She is following all our coaches, bigs, Bella and our strength coach. I really thought she was our 2wks ago. We make so much sense but maybe she wants her best chance at a ring. Hard to wait for this announcement.

I think either way we are still a good team, does it make us better yes. But Vonleh was the biggest piece to the puzzle and if you have doubts about that go watch her and Kansas State play and the way she was able to work Lee. Or her takes against USC or other Pac 12 teams. She was great and she fits the system well. She is great at passing so if you watch the wnba a lot and our system reflects it as well when the big is at the top of the key to make some decisions as well we can help her improve in that area, she is already super strong and has great foot work. She can teach players like Kyla what she knows. I'm excited to see her on our team!!

Would love Dauda she is great defensively and gives us a different look compared to Vonleh. She can pick and pop to shoot 3's and that fits the system we run already and she can really improve what we have to offer down low as well. But it is not life of death.

I still think we will be a ton more competitive against teams with a big and not hoping we face teams who do not have one in the post season. The stats that really impacted our team was paint points and rebounds and we add to what we had last year when it comes to that with potential to add even more. I think we will be great regardless moving forward but i understand everyone has their own opinion and are definitely entitled to have it.

I sure hope she goes with Baylor. She is a super player and fits CNC style of play so well.

blackie said:

---

Adriacus Peratuun said:

---

Historical Reality:

every name on the Best WBB Coach list took about a decade or more to get their program running at an elite level.

Auriemma, Summitt, Mulkey, VanDerveer, McGraw, Staley, Sharp, other Sharp, Conradt, etc.

Demanding that Collen do something that has never been done before seems very unrealistic.
Top coaches uniformly follow a steady upward trajectory that reaches initial peak around ten-ish years into their job.

For the Win Championships Now crowd, are you also requiring her to cure cancer and eliminate poverty?

---

It should also be pointed out that those coaches made their way up through the ranks at a time when the landscape of WBB was completely different. The parity and competition levels then were only a fraction of what teams encounter today. The kinds of teams you had to beat in the second weekend of the tournament to get to a FF then, you are now having to beat in your conference or in the round of 32.

Based on past records there are only three coaches still in the game that are considered elite....Mulkey, Auriemma and Staley. Do any others really come to mind? There is a reason for that and it isn't because of Mulkey, Auriemma or Staley. The competition is just too tough.

Anyone who will not admit the landscape has changed and doesn't reflect that in their expectations really is requiring the bolded sentence above to be the case.

---

THANK YOU.

Geno, Dawn and Mulkey did what they had to do from the GROUND UP.


The landscape across College sports should not place us in the middle of the pack for WBB, but that's what hiring an unproven coach does for you.

In actuality, it's not NC's fault at all. She's doing well, but the odds were for sure stacked against her from a experience/relationship standpoint when it came to WBB.

Its one of the main reasons why Chloe was hired.

Can't fault Dauda for choosing SC, if that is the move.

That program will more than likely run WBB

Im just glad NC finally realizes you need a dominant big to win

There are very few Centers. And not that many tall Forwards/Posts over 6'2", slim pickings. Yes agree, bigs are important and every college in the country is pursuing them out of HS and the transfer portal (and they know it). Coach has to figure out how to sell Baylor to the best F/P players.

In any given WBB year, the number of quality players 6'4 or taller [throughout all classes and all levels of college] can be counted on one person's fingers.

The laughable comment that Collen has not tried to get one is nonsense. Every coach is trying to get one but if 3 incoming freshmen fit that description it is a very deep recruiting class.

You get lucky and land one, you go smaller & athletic, or you get a project and try to develop the player. So far Collen has had to pursue the latter two options. For whatever reason, Texas HS WBB is in an extended drought of big player talent. On the other hand, the guard talent in Texas has jumped upward.

CNC knows..

Lety at 6'7" was a good get…just hasn't worked out..so far..??

BUatbirth said:

---

CNC knows..

Lety at 6'7" was a good get…just hasn't worked out..so far..??

---

Lety was always going to be a project, same as Kyla (who i also think won't sniff the court)

AP it's been confirmed that NC thought the small ball **** Golden Stare Warrior would work in WBB and she found out the hard way.

What team over the past 10 years has won without a solid post player?

BaylorBears_254 said:

---

AP it's been confirmed that NC thought the small ball **** Golden Stare Warrior would work in WBB and she found out the hard way.

What team over the past 10 years has won without a solid post player?

---

UConn won 4 straight NCs with 6'3 Breanna Stewart playing as a mobile inside/outside post.

But sure…….other than that

And what does "it has been confirmed" mean? Have a direct quote from her or the staff?
There is a big difference between a chosen design and making the best of the material on hand.

i don't think she wanted it to be that way she had to go with the cards she was dealt and would you rather put the best lineups out there or take the losses potentially with putting Lety and Kyla out there when they were not ready? I could only imagine how people would speak on her coaching if that was the case.

2025 WBB prospect McKenzie Mathurin, 5-10 CG, Broken Arrow HS (OK), has announced her decommitment from Nebraska; among her other reported offers when she committed were Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas State, and Purdue

—  Raoul (@Raoul_000) May 29, 2024

Very talented.

Adriacus Peratuun said:

---

BaylorBears_254 said:

---

AP it's been confirmed that NC thought the small ball **** Golden Stare Warrior would work in WBB and she found out the hard way.

What team over the past 10 years has won without a solid post player?

---

UConn won 4 straight NCs with 6'3 Breanna Stewart playing as a mobile inside/outside post.

But sure…….other than that

And what does "it has been confirmed" mean? Have a direct quote from her or the staff?
There is a big difference between a chosen design and making the best of the material on hand.

---

Stewart was legit their post lmao along with Stokes and Dolson. Once again, post play is needed.

This further proves my point that you need a post to win.

NC legit said something along the lines of bringing a smaller ball playstyle into the league. That **** does not work unless you have a generational talent that you can run the offense through.

she said this season we are going to see that type of lineup a lot because of our how our roster turned out to be. Those were the vets on the team and the pieces she trusted in those late game moments and the ones who earned minutes in the off season.

Brusinbear2001 said:

---

she said this season we are going to see that type of lineup a lot because of our how our roster turned out to be. Those were the vets on the team and the pieces she trusted in those late game moments and the ones who earned minutes in the off season.

---

NC had a style envisioned when she came in. She wanted to somewhat play a 5 out form of basketball.

Nothing wrong with it all. It's one of the main reasons why we went after Blackwell and Edwards. They provided an offensive style that she liked.

Offensively it works when shots are falling, but there were many games where we were just outmatched when we played serviceable post players.

BaylorBears_254 said:

---

Adriacus Peratuun said:

---

BaylorBears_254 said:

---

AP it's been confirmed that NC thought the small ball **** Golden Stare Warrior would work in WBB and she found out the hard way.

What team over the past 10 years has won without a solid post player?

---

UConn won 4 straight NCs with 6'3 Breanna Stewart playing as a mobile inside/outside post.

But sure…….other than that

And what does "it has been confirmed" mean? Have a direct quote from her or the staff?
There is a big difference between a chosen design and making the best of the material on hand.

---

Stewart was legit their post lmao along with Stokes and Dolson. Once again, post play is needed.

This further proves my point that you need a post to win.

NC legit said something along the lines of bringing a smaller ball playstyle into the league. That **** does not work unless you have a generational talent that you can run the offense through.

---

Stewart played as a smaller post. Stokes is even shorter than Stewart. And Dolson only overlapped Stewart one season at UConn. That argument seems flimsy. The entire discussion is the limited quantity of quality larger posts.

And what does "legit said" even mean? Have a Quote?
Sounds like Demi Moore "strenuously objecting" in A Few Good Men.

i get the clean paint, when you open it up driving ones are easier. Our biggest issue is finding a way to run offense in a zone. That was when we played our worst. If a team was man to man on us it was very rare we played bad.