Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[whaler11]

Why do you have to be so negative about it? UConn tanked 2014 on purpose to play kids who weren't ready. Not surprisingly (to me) that meant that 2015 was vastly better than what you'd predict from 2014 if you didn't know the reality. Since even 2015 was mostly kids with limited experience, I think 2016 is also a stronger roster than most people think. Several writers have picked us as a team with surprise upside.

Is UVA a slam dunk? No. I have it as a pick-em too. But they should beat Syracuse, and BC is slight edge to UConn, even on the road. There is room for 7 wins certainly. @Houston is the only game I can't see them winning, but then I didn't see them beating Houston last year. Navy is vastly overrated this year. Temple is likely to take a step back, that's a tough game. Cinci is definitely down from last year as well and we get them at home.

Other than Houston and USF, our toughest opponents are at home. There are several winnable road games.

How is saying UConn losing to
Virginia wouldn't be shocking inherently negative?

That's all I said and you agree with me.

Pretty much any FBS game on the schedule wouldn't be shocking if it went in either direction. They could beat Houston or they could lose to Tulane.

 

[BlueandOG]

I can't believe I have to walk you through this.

You see Subba said UConn losing to Virginia would be a WTH loss. I tried to point out nicely that UConn losing to Virginia isn't a WTH loss. Understanding that UConn losing to Virginia isn't shocking is so far away from the rest of your premise it's funny.

If you'd like to get into the detail Virginia actually has a very talented roster and they added a capable coach...

Subba replied saying that beating ACC teams at home outside of Clemson and FSU is old hat and nostalgia. I'm sorry for having to point out that UConn has actually not done all that well at home against ACC teams - no matter what #nostalsia might exist.

If you want to be one of the posters claiming 8-4 is a disappointment, or that losing to Virginia would be shocking... like I said knock yourself out. Those positions are not based in reality. 7-5 would be a good season 8-4 would be a great season.

Right now I'd have UConn a very slight favorite over Syracuse and a pick with Virginia.

If you aren't interested in having a realistic football discussion and UConn just wins every game in your mind - why would you reply to me?

I know it's hard for some to understand but I don't go into every season expecting 15-0. I left that behind in like 2nd grade.

I'm starting to understand why some of you think every media outlet hates UConn. They haven't come to the conclusion that the other teams shouldn't bother to show up.

Fair enough. I misunderstood your reason for posting the ACC record. I retract my critique. Sorry for causing drama.

 

[gwhuskyfan]

From Andy Katz --
CBB Podcast: West Virginia's Bob Huggins on expansion, "I wouldn't pick any. I think we're good the way we are."

 

[Waquoit]

Hey Huggy, time to change your diaper.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Jake Trotter@Jake_Trotter 12 mins ago · Oklahoma City
Recent numbers show the Big 12 has lost its stranglehold on the Houston TV market. Could UH deliver it back?

Jake Trotter@Jake_Trotter2 mins ago · Oklahoma City
In 2010, the Big 12 had 9 of the 10 most watched games in Houston. Last year, that number was 2.

If the Big 12 welcomes Houston, do better TV ratings follow?

Pretty dumb argument. In 2010, Texas A&M was still in the Big 12, now they're not. Even last year, only one UH game made the top 1o in ratings in the Houston market (AAC title vs. Temple). The only way UH is a game-changer for ratings is if they produce TCU/Baylor type results for the next 5-10 years while hoping A&M and UT suck.

 

[dr.holiday]

Anyone that has been to Houston knows it belongs to A&M. Houston joining the Big 12 will not change that. Houston joining the PAC12 would not change that. There is nothing Houston can do to change that.

 

[Sea Goat]

From Andy Katz --
CBB Podcast: West Virginia's Bob Huggins on expansion, "I wouldn't pick any. I think we're good the way we are."

There is no accounting for all the boxes of rocks that you come across...

 

[HuskyHawk]

How is saying UConn losing to
Virginia wouldn't be shocking inherently negative?

That's all I said and you agree with me.

Pretty much any FBS game on the schedule wouldn't be shocking if it went in either direction. They could beat Houston or they could lose to Tulane.

Because of the way you do it. Maybe you don't intend it (but I doubt that), but it comes across as if you treat anyone who thinks UConn might win a bit more than is commonly expected as a delusional idiot. You always assume the worst and admit that maybe, possibly, but you really doubt it, they might surprise you. Others are positive and optimistic, and yet are aware, in the back of their minds, that reality may disappoint them.

 

[whaler11]

Because of the way you do it. Maybe you don't intend it (but I doubt that), but it comes across as if you treat anyone who thinks UConn might win a bit more than is commonly expected as a delusional idiot. You always assume the worst and admit that maybe, possibly, but you really doubt it, they might surprise you. Others are positive and optimistic, and yet are aware, in the back of their minds, that reality may disappoint them.

Do I think people who say 8 wins would be a disappointment are delusional? Yes, I'd admit I'm guilty as charged on that count of the indictment.

 

[CL82]

Pretty dumb argument. In 2010, Texas A&M was still in the Big 12, now they're not. Even last year, only one UH game made the top 1o in ratings in the Houston market (AAC title vs. Temple). The only way UH is a game-changer for ratings is if they produce TCU/Baylor type results for the next 5-10 years while hoping A&M and UT suck.

Could it be the same thing we're seeing with Tramel? Is the Big 12 'preparing the field' for the candidates it will invite?

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Could it be the same thing we're seeing with Tramel? Is the Big 12 'preparing the field' for the candidates it will invite?

No idea but I'm starting to think we're in if they expand by 4 (little talk of UCF, Memphis, CSU lately with BYU still fighting the LGBT battles). As always #PrayFor4

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Big 12 expansion candidates from a basketball perspective (w/ the requisite tap to nads by Myron)

<<1. Connecticut Huskies
Name the only program with four national championships since 1999. It's not Duke (three national championships in that stretch) or North Carolina (two). The answer is Connecticut. The Huskies won in 1999, 2004, 2011 and 2014. Due to academic issues, they were banned from the postseason in 2012-13. But UConn is a modern powerhouse with 10 Elite Eight appearances since 1990. If the Big 12 decides to make a basketball-only decision, UConn should be its first choice.<<

Suggested edit...

"...Due to academic issues, they were banned from the postseason in 2012-13, although UConn sanctions were for issues of a significantly less of a degree that took place over a shorter timeframe than fellow basketball powers Louisville, North Carolonia, and Syracuse, who minimally sanctioned or not sanctioned at all.

 

[dayooper]

Syracuse has no defense. They are worse than Temple for sure, probably worse than Cinci. BC has a great D and no offense. ECU is a complete unknown at this point really.

I think BC's defense is a question mark. Losing your DC, when he is the one credited for making the defense great, has to put a question mark on that defense. BC is abysmal, worse than Rutgers, IMO.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think BC's defense is a question mark. Losing your DC, when he is the one credited for making the defense great, has to put a question mark on that defense. BC is abysmal, worse than Rutgers, IMO.

Well we lost the same exact guy as our DC, and it didn't have a huge impact. They won't be as good on D, or as bad on O.

 

[Husky25]

Well we lost the same exact guy as our DC, and it didn't have a huge impact. They won't be as good on D, or as bad on O.

I recall a definite drop off. Though it may have had something do with the Defense spend 20% more time on the field the year after Brown left.

 

[FDNY99]

I recall a definite drop off. Though it may have had something do with the Defense spend 20% more time on the field the year after Brown left.

One thing to remember about BC...their new OC Scott Loeffler isn't some guru. He has been run out of town his last 2 stops. It was definitely a questionable hire by the Dazzler.

 

[don356]

From Andy Katz --
CBB Podcast: West Virginia's Bob Huggins on expansion, "I wouldn't pick any. I think we're good the way we are."

Was he sober?

 

[CoastAtlantic]

 

[UConnNick]

From Andy Katz --
CBB Podcast: West Virginia's Bob Huggins on expansion, "I wouldn't pick any. I think we're good the way we are."

Translation: he doesn't want to be in a conference with his old school, Cincinnati.

 

[dayooper]

One thing to remember about BC...their new OC Scott Loeffler isn't some guru. He has been run out of town his last 2 stops. It was definitely a questionable hire by the Dazzler.

Loeffler got his start at Michigan (he was a QB and a grad assistant there). He was the QB coach for the 2008 0-16 Detroit Lions.

 

[UConn Dan]

Bob Bowlsby remains very mum about the process that could lead to Big 12 expansion, but one Big 12 school official said 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has called power brokers, including Oklahoma State’s T. Boone Pickens, lobbying for support for BYU to join the conference. Romney is a BYU grad. Bowlsby said there are fewer than 20 interested candidates as has been reported, but declined to say if any Power 5 conference schools have expressed interest. He’s almost done going through applicants’ one-hour video presentations and has had “several calls” with Big 12 presidents to update them. Asked how the presidents are feeling about the process, Bowlsby said, “It depends on who you ask. I think there continues to be an open mindedness about it. I think some have developed their positions and probably aren’t sharing it. If it was a clear path, it wouldn’t have taken so long.”

Bohls: Romney’s pushing BYU, one AP voter’s pushing Texas

 

[FDNY99]

Loeffler got his start at Michigan (he was a QB and a grad assistant there). He was the QB coach for the 2008 0-16 Detroit Lions.

his last 2 jobs:
2012 Auburn OC 3-9
2013 Va Tech OC 8-5
2014 Va Tech OC 7-6
2015 Va Tech OC 7-6

 

[Jae-VT]

his last 2 jobs:
2012 Auburn OC 3-9
2013 Va Tech OC 8-5
2014 Va Tech OC 7-6
2015 Va Tech OC 7-6

JMHO, but Coach Loeffler just ran into a series of bad luck; too many to recount here.

I'm not saying he is the next great head coach nor the next great offense coordinator. I just want to be fair to the man; he knows how to coach QBs and he was Coach Addazio's OC when they were both at Temple during the 2011 - 2012 season. Temple went 9-4 that year. It could be that Addazio provided guidance and overrode some of OC Loeffler's manic tendencies.

The guy has a high football IQ and can design some great plays. It's just that his offenses are sometimes overly complex and he also has a tendency to be too smart for his own good. All in all, he is a good OC and if he can stay at a school with coaching stability, I'm interested to see how his teams offenses will perform.

From a VT fan, and I apologize in advance if I upset anyone.

 

[The Funster]

I figure UConn can go 12-0, get through the semi-final game pretty easy but have a tough game to win the CFP.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Translation: he doesn't want to be in a conference with his old school, Cincinnati.

They'd both beat him like a drum.