They are not just walk-ons - Lawlor and Pulido



Tierney Lawlor

Briana Pulido

Walk-ons?? Nahhhh - PLAYERS


I can't think of an other way to start my 2015 preview series than to talk about two of my favorite players. And I do mean players.

Before their first practice, Geno had this to say about the duo -

“Walk-ons usually fit a certain mold. They’re great kids and that made an impression on our players and work really hard and have been able to get our players to accept them as people. Obviously they’re not going to be at the level our players are on the court. Their demeanor and the way they are, just their attitude has made an impression and that’s more important than anything else."

“I want to see them doing the thing they know they can do and not try to do the things they can’t do. I’m sure there will be a week or so that will be difficult for them at practice. I’ve been around really good walk-ons and I’ve been around bad walk-ons. From all reports, these kids are going to be great, they’re going to be great for us.”

Boy, was he right about them. From day one they were more than practice players. And they always have his back.

Yes, when Stewart put out her tweet asking for former high school basketball stars enrolled at UConn to try out for the squad it was because the UConn roster that season was only 9 players. Even the novice basketball fans knows you need ten to run a full practice certainly on the road. They would also be needed to allow some starters to rest at the end of blowouts and we know there were many of those games. But once they made the team after working out for Ralph and Mosley they were every bit the equal of any scholarship player in almost every way.  

You know they were part of the team early in there experience when the Huskies opened their exhibition schedule. Once inserted late in the game Pulido took a pass from Stewart for a layup. Polly threw out a fist pump and sprinted back on defense!

“We enjoyed that as a team. The kids enjoy it,” Auriemma said. “We put Polly in second because we knew the second she’d touch the ball she would shoot it.” “Tierney is a 10-times better shooter than Polly, but Polly will shoot it 10 times more,”.

Yep, Geno's sarcasm isn't just for the scholarship players. He treats them all the same and they have earned that with hard work and doing what the team needs.

Recently, I had the pleasure of conversing with Terry Pulido, mother of Briana or "Polly" as her teammates call her. A lovely women with a great attitude, she is rightfully proud of her daughter.

Terry - I am of the opinion that we, as parents of the players, should interact with the fans via social media in positive ways. In this way, the fans can feel "connected" and "part of the family."

I would add that the reverse is true and fans need to interact on social media in positive ways and in a respectful manner to the players.

Here is a terrific article on Briana from her Junior year in High School. It tells us a lot about Polly the person.  

Terry Pulido 

So, what has Briana been doing this summer in preparation for her senior year at UConn? According to Terry, she spent the summer doing the same workouts and conditioning as the players except in Miami. She's been working on getting all of her pre-med classes and getting ready to graduate in 2016, take MCAT and apply to medical schools.

I can tell you that you can sign me up as one of her patients when she becomes a doctor. I hope she is working with geriatrics!!!

Tierney is a junior this season and is the local girl of the two walk-ons. Coming from Ansonia, the chance to play for UConn has been a once in a lifetime experience.

“I came to UConn strictly for academics. When I found out about the tweet I said ‘why not give it a shot, just the opportunity to try out is awesome, so being able to make the team is even better."

Here is a great article after Tierney's freshman year in High School. She was quite the star in three different sports. She is a terrific athlete and it has shown in her first two years playing with the best team in WCBB.

When she tried out for Shea, Tierney was impressive.  Shea said - “You have to be able to play a bit and know the game. You have to be coachable. Tierney came in and hit about 70 percent of her shots in the tryout and these weren’t layups. They were 3-pointers and jumpers. We let her join the team for preseason and she worked hard. She kept up with everybody and that is what you need."

Just watch her when she enters the game. She plays with the same intensity that any of the starters show. She always looks like she belongs. And that's because she does. As does Briana.

Moriah Jefferson said this about the duo - "They come in and give us energy off the bench and in practice they work hard every day so you can’t ask for anything else, It takes a lot of guts to come to a place like this and walk on. I take my hat off to them every day when they come to practice.”

So, what are the expectations for this season? More of the same, only less. Same intensity. Same terrific teammates. Same hard work. Same hustle. But with the larger roster of players ahead of them, it will be in less minutes. It's just the way it is.

I'll end this blog entry with more from my conversation with Briana's mom, Terry Pulido.

"I appreciate your posting about Tierney  and Briana because they do work hard and go through the same things as the other "recruited" players do. We have been truly blessed to be able to experience this journey with her.  I now can see why the other former Huskies form a bond throughout the years that can never be broken, but rather strengthens with time. Getting to know all of the ladies as well as their families has been a real treat for us as parents. The coaches know what they do when they do it. People may not understand that, but we have seen it first-hand and applaud their efforts for ALL of these years. UConn Women are Champions because of the caliber of players, and the knowledge, dedication, and guidance of all of the coaches and staff."

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Briana Pulido Team Page 

 

 

 

 

 Tierney Lawlor Team Page