2023-24 Georgetown Women's Basketball Discussion

[DFW HOYA]

[bluegray79]

I'm a Hoya from Connecticut, and I have lots of respect for Geno Auriemma and the WBB program there for all these years. TBS, I was disappointed and disheartened when it was announced that Geno was named Coach of the Year (COTY) in the Big East for this past season. There's an argument there -- the UConn Huskies this year have faced a bunch of injuries and still achieved at a high level -- and lots of that comes from good coaching and a culture that instills and promotes the kind of resiliency and fight that that team has shown.

But, let's be real -- Geno and UConn have benefitted for all these years from top-level recruiting and a dynastic culture -- and deservedly so. But, I ask, what makes a coach worthy of being COTY? Is it getting the best out of their players, developing them into elite athletes, uniting disparate personalities to play as a unit, engendering a culture of unity and fight and caring for every person on the team, and getting them to play better than anyone expected? If so, then the committee made an easy choice, a safe choice in choosing Geno, a HOF coach & one of the best ever, but overlooked our own Darnell Haney, who exemplified all of these qualities, who stepped in to lift up a team and program racked by grief at the sudden loss of a beloved head coach, who branded his team with a love for each other and a toughness any Hoya fan would be proud of, and who led this underdog group to its very first 20+ victory season and the championship game of the BE Tournament after being picked to finish 10th in the pre-season coaches' poll. Geno is a fine coach, but this year Haney was Coach of the Year in the Big East, hands down. Bravo to him and his staff and team for showing us what a very unique and special group can do even under the toughest circumstances! Well done, 2023-24 Hoya WBB!

[thedragon]

[RusskyHoya]

Mar 11, 2024 20:34:26 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

That clip is close to going viral (and may yet). Hard to even put into words the level and range of emotion packed into that moment (especially if you think about what Graceann has been through).

[DanMcQ]

guhoyas.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/darnell-haney/1977

[TC]

His first move should be immediately hiring Graceann Bennett as an assistant.

[bluegray79]

Graceann stands out for her endless effort, toughness, resilience, leadership, and teammate love and loyalty that makes this year's team so special and Coach Haney so deserving of a contract extension -- and recognition for his exceptional job this year.

[Jack]

Mar 12, 2024 10:20:25 GMT -5 TC said:

His first move should be immediately hiring Graceann Bennett as an assistant.

Coaching is probably in her future, but maybe after a few years of playing abroad?

Georgetown Head Coach Darnell Haney said, “I’m getting calls from agents all over the world that want to see if they can represent Graceann Bennett…to play professional basketball. She has an opportunity to do that, and then she also has an opportunity to do things off the floor because of how special of a person she is…

“She can play in some of the top leagues overseas. I think right now her level is France, Spain, those leagues over there, because she would be a problem [for opponents] over there with her inside presence.”

Bennett says of pro ball, “That’s always been a dream of mine,” but added, “I’m focused right now on having a really great final lap of my college career and winning games with my team.”

After school she sees herself working at the intersection between education and sports, either coaching, as a professor, or being an athletic director for student athlete development, among other options.

[hoyarooter]

Mar 11, 2024 20:34:26 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

This is beyond awesome. You could just feel the emotions while she was talking. A must view for everyone.

[DanMcQ]

[DanMcQ]

[jwp91]

Mar 11, 2024 3:49:53 GMT -5 DanMcQ said:

Can he consult to the men?

[DanMcQ]

[DanMcQ]

[hoyarooter]

The Pac 12 was very strong in women's hoops this year. This will be a major challenge. Good luck to the women.

[RusskyHoya]

[RusskyHoya]

[DanMcQ]

[RusskyHoya]

Ladies and gentlemen...we got him

[DanMcQ]