--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I understood how deep the…" description: "\"I don't think I understood how deep the Big East was. That was probably something I wasn't prepared for. It's not easy to part rank and make the first ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/anne-donovan-15073_deep_i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the_797716.jpg" --- # I don't think I understood how deep the Big East was. That… ![“I don't think I understood how deep the Big East was. That was probably something I wasn't prepared for. It's not easy to part rank and make the first step into the middle of the pack.” quote by Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/anne-donovan-15073_deep_i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the_797716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/anne-donovan-15073_deep_i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the_797716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/anne-donovan-15073_deep_i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the_797716.jpg) > “I don't think I understood how deep the Big East was. That was probably something I wasn't prepared for. It's not easy to part rank and make the first step into the middle of the pack.” [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She realized the Big East conference was more competitive than expected, finding it challenging to move from a lower rank into the middle tier. **In simple terms:** She found the conference tougher than she thought, making it hard to improve her ranking. Key Takeaway Prepare for higher competition levels when advancing. Themes sports challenge growth Mood reflective motivational Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - season transition - team strategy - player development Key Concepts conference competitiveness rank advancement adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help teams adapt to stronger leagues? - How can players maintain confidence during setbacks? A Different Perspective Success may require resources beyond individual effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes to go deep, you must first go big.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/sometimes-to-go-deep-you-must-first-go-big/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“What I want to do is to help you, the individual, to cross the stream of suffering, confusion and conflict, through deep and complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/what-i-want-to-do-is-to-help-you-the-individual-to-cross-the-stream/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [When she ignored me ones, I understood how deep I LOVE her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-nigam/when-she-ignored-me-ones-i-understood-how-deep-i-love-her/) Arun Nigam > [I never said I'm unhappy about going to the ACC. I'm unhappy the Big East broke up. That's a completely different thing than saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/i-never-said-i-m-unhappy-about-going-to-the-acc-i-m-unhappy-the-big/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [I think we've put ourselves in a position that if we can go into the Big East and compete at the level that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kennedy/i-think-we-ve-put-ourselves-in-a-position-that-if-we-can-go-into-the/) [Andy Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kennedy/) > [I grew up in the Big East Conference for 30 years. We were a conference that was nothing. We were a bunch of schools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/i-grew-up-in-the-big-east-conference-for-30-years-we-were-a/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [My explosiveness, I really couldn't show it at UCLA. It's still there. It's always been there. It was not a lot of running. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabazz-muhammad/my-explosiveness-i-really-couldn-t-show-it-at-ucla-it-s-still-there/) [Shabazz Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabazz-muhammad/) > [When I told my wife UConn would win the Big East tournament, she wanted to know why a team from Alaska got into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-ziegel/when-i-told-my-wife-uconn-would-win-the-big-east-tournament-she/) Vic Ziegel > [We had a chance to see a lot of different styles of play and you had to adapt to the different style each team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-ray/we-had-a-chance-to-see-a-lot-of-different-styles-of-play-and-you-had/) [Allan Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-ray/) > [I want to see if I can play in the Big East, ACC, Pac-10, and pitch, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-want-to-see-if-i-can-play-in-the-big-east-acc-pac-10-and-pitch-too/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I wasn't prepared for this big room with clattering typewriters and teletype printers. You could hardly hear yourself think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-wasn-t-prepared-for-this-big-room-with-clattering-typewriters-and/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [I wasn't prepared to get a mammogram until I was 40 years old, like I'd been told. I never in my wildest dreams expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuliana-rancic/i-wasn-t-prepared-to-get-a-mammogram-until-i-was-40-years-old-like-i/) [Giuliana Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuliana-rancic/) > [“I could have loved him with everything I had but he wasn't prepared for the depth i provided ~ had I been a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/i-could-have-loved-him-with-everything-i-had-but-he-wasn-t-prepared/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [When I went in for the 'Orange' audition, I was just doing what my agency told me to do. Truth be told, I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-brewer/when-i-went-in-for-the-orange-audition-i-was-just-doing-what-my/) [Madeline Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-brewer/) > [“I was fully prepared to be met by the Mr. Sexy that lives here. I thought I was, anyhow. What I wasn't prepared for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-owens/i-was-fully-prepared-to-be-met-by-the-mr-sexy-that-lives-here-i/) [C.M. Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-owens/) ## More by Anne Donovan > [I've been playing as early as I can recall. I don't even remember the first time I picked up a basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-ve-been-playing-as-early-as-i-can-recall-i-don-t-even-remember-the/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [No coach wants to sit back and not have control of the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/no-coach-wants-to-sit-back-and-not-have-control-of-the-team/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I will miss the ladies and the passion of the Sun fans. I was proud to serve as their head coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-will-miss-the-ladies-and-the-passion-of-the-sun-fans-i-was-proud-to/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [If I had to compete against someone almost two feet taller than me, I wouldn't want to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/if-i-had-to-compete-against-someone-almost-two-feet-taller-than-me-i/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I have been with some great organizations, crossed paths with special people, and made numerous lasting relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-have-been-with-some-great-organizations-crossed-paths-with-special/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play for and work under the best, Pat Summitt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-am-grateful-to-have-had-the-opportunity-to-play-for-and-work-under/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [The draft not being exceptionally deep, you basically take the best player available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/the-draft-not-being-exceptionally-deep-you-basically-take-the-best/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I am really excited to join the Connecticut Sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-am-really-excited-to-join-the-connecticut-sun/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I think it's imperative to keep your focus on why you're in school. You're in school to get an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-think-it-s-imperative-to-keep-your-focus-on-why-you-re-in-school/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [Players need to come in and not take the opportunity for granted and really work hard at the game and make sure it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/players-need-to-come-in-and-not-take-the-opportunity-for-granted-and/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [You don't just go and pick up a gold medal anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/you-don-t-just-go-and-pick-up-a-gold-medal-anymore/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I'm the youngest of eight kids in my family. All tall, we all played basketball, so at my earliest memory, I was bouncing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-m-the-youngest-of-eight-kids-in-my-family-all-tall-we-all-played/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I've been around the coaching circuit far too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-ve-been-around-the-coaching-circuit-far-too-much/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [I guess I concentrated exclusively on basketball because of my height. If I was shorter, I don't think I would play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-guess-i-concentrated-exclusively-on-basketball-because-of-my-height/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [When I was coming up through the programs with the Amateur Basketball Association, it was height: they looked for the tall players, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/when-i-was-coming-up-through-the-programs-with-the-amateur-basketball/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) [Explore all 44 Anne Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) ## More Deep quotes > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [I'm just going to express my opinion and try to change the way people think with the stuff I write or try to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-m-just-going-to-express-my-opinion-and-try-to-change-the-way-people/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [I don't feel I have to write deep and meaningful songs; they can be light and meaningless. It has to do with the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-write-deep-and-meaningful-songs-they-can-be/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [From time to time I look at the picture when I am very sad. I just want to remember my past and that scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/from-time-to-time-i-look-at-the-picture-when-i-am-very-sad-i-just/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [“Haunted by the longing to feel something real, deep and magical; I searched for a shared ecstasy... that's when you came along.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/haunted-by-the-longing-to-feel-something-real-deep-and-magical-i/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [And I always think of life like a giant wave. You know, it rises and it crests and it flies, and it's just magnificent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/and-i-always-think-of-life-like-a-giant-wave-you-know-it-rises-and-it/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [Extremist perspectives win sympathy and recruits because they offer narratives that claim to identify deep injustices and enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-gahr-store/extremist-perspectives-win-sympathy-and-recruits-because-they-offer/) [Jonas Gahr Store](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-gahr-store/) > [I want to have a lengthy career. I want to play interesting characters. I want to tell beautiful stories, complex stories, deep stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/i-want-to-have-a-lengthy-career-i-want-to-play-interesting-characters/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) > [We all have love hidden deep inside us. It just takes that special person to look hard enough to find it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-have-love-hidden-deep-inside-us-it-just-takes-that-special/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They say a picture paints a thousand words. Well I say my eyes will tell you everything you need to know. Can you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/they-say-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words-well-i-say-my-eyes-will/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) > [I had a brilliant relationship with Thomas Tuchel. We spoke a lot, not only on the surface, but really deep about football and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-had-a-brilliant-relationship-with-thomas-tuchel-we-spoke-a-lot-not/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [I want to go deep into fashion; I want to go maybe into acting. There's a lot of stuff I would like to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-peep/i-want-to-go-deep-into-fashion-i-want-to-go-maybe-into-acting-there-s/) [Lil Peep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-peep/) > [The personal, if it is deep enough, becomes universal, mythical, symbolic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-personal-if-it-is-deep-enough-becomes-universal-mythical-symbolic/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [It's fun, and a laugh for you... you can boo me and feel happy about yourself because you're part of the crowd that did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goodes/it-s-fun-and-a-laugh-for-you-you-can-boo-me-and-feel-happy-about/) [Adam Goodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-goodes/) > [We should bathe our spirits in the deep, pure feeling that stirs within us when we gaze on the glories of His creation. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/we-should-bathe-our-spirits-in-the-deep-pure-feeling-that-stirs/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) Browse all 3,514 Deep quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I understood how deep the Big East was. That was probably something I wasn't prepared for. It's not easy to part rank and make the first step into the middle of the pack.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anne Donovan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the-big-east-was-that-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deep" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the-big-east-was-that-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/anne-donovan-15073_deep_i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the_797716.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/anne-donovan-15073_deep_i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the_797716.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/anne-donovan-15073_deep_i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the_797716.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think I understood how deep the Big East was. That was probably something I wasn't prepared for…” — Anne Donovan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anne Donovan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think I understood how...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the-big-east-was-that-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-don-t-think-i-understood-how-deep-the-big-east-was-that-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```