2014 and Beyond...

[freescooter]

Now that the season is over, the Tournament is over and the Big East is effectively over, it is time to start thinking about the future. My question to the board is not what do you expect next season, but rather what would be an acceptable result? For the womens team, anything less than a Final four is always considered a disappointment. For mens hockey, earning a bye in the 1st round of the league tournament is an accomplishment, for football, failing to qualify for a bowl would be unacceptable. I'm curious what people think, based on the new league and so forth, what would be a minimum acceptable result next year? Not what you want, or even think is possible, but what would you consider an unacceptable outcome? For me, the only thing that really matters is the NCAA tournament, so I view the world through that prism. So in my view, a season that ends before the Sweet 16 will be a huge disappointment and failing to make the Dance would be a failed season. I don't have strong views on the exhibition, oops I mean regular season. But I would think minimally, 2nd place in the newly constituted conference and no worse than a finalist in the conference tourney. Given the makeup of the AAC, that might be necessary to qualify anyway.

 

[Deleted member 3149]

I think you have it about right. If we fail to make the sweet 16, i would say it is a dissapointment. But it's so hard to predict that because you never know with seeding. Especially coming out of the AAC, who knows where the committee will place us.

I'd say if we're below a 5 seed, it would be a disappointment.

 

[LIUCHusky]

Now that the season is over, the Tournament is over and the Big East is effectively over, it is time to start thinking about the future. My question to the board is not what do you expect next season, but rather what would be an acceptable result? For the womens team, anything less than a Final four is always considered a disappointment. For mens hockey, earning a bye in the 1st round of the league tournament is an accomplishment, for football, failing to qualify for a bowl would be unacceptable. I'm curious what people think, based on the new league and so forth, what would be a minimum acceptable result next year? Not what you want, or even think is possible, but what would you consider an unacceptable outcome? For me, the only thing that really matters is the NCAA tournament, so I view the world through that prism. So in my view, a season that ends before the Sweet 16 will be a huge disappointment and failing to make the Dance would be a failed season. I don't have strong views on the exhibition, oops I mean regular season. But I would think minimally, 2nd place in the newly constituted conference and no worse than a finalist in the conference tourney. Given the makeup of the AAC, that might be necessary to qualify anyway.

Louisville and Memphis won't exactly be chopped liver next year. It won't be that easy to be in the top 2.

 

[Jerry1714]

Now that the season is over, the Tournament is over and the Big East is effectively over, it is time to start thinking about the future. My question to the board is not what do you expect next season, but rather what would be an acceptable result? For the womens team, anything less than a Final four is always considered a disappointment. For mens hockey, earning a bye in the 1st round of the league tournament is an accomplishment, for football, failing to qualify for a bowl would be unacceptable. I'm curious what people think, based on the new league and so forth, what would be a minimum acceptable result next year? Not what you want, or even think is possible, but what would you consider an unacceptable outcome? For me, the only thing that really matters is the NCAA tournament, so I view the world through that prism. So in my view, a season that ends before the Sweet 16 will be a huge disappointment and failing to make the Dance would be a failed season. I don't have strong views on the exhibition, oops I mean regular season. But I would think minimally, 2nd place in the newly constituted conference and no worse than a finalist in the conference tourney. Given the makeup of the AAC, that might be necessary to qualify anyway.

I will disappointed if we are not 4 in the AAC, but if we go far in the dance I could care less.

Not making the dance I would also view as a failure, but it is so hard to say what is a disappointment right now in terms of how far we advance in the tournament. Is it 2009 again and we have a Dyson situation? Is there any academic issues where we lose someone like with Marcus Williams (2004)? I do not even know how the rest of the country will look. The 2013 class for freshmen is suppose to be awesome so there a lot of teams out there that could be a lot better then we expect.

If everything goes according to plan I would say losing in the 2nd(which is now the 3rd round I guess) would be disappointing, but not a failure by any means. I think getting to the Sweet 16 is absolutely an "acceptable" result and everything beyond is gravy.

 

[upstater]

I will disappointed if we are not 4 in the AAC, but if we go far in the dance I could care less.

Not making the dance I would also view as a failure, but it is so hard to say what is a disappointment right now in terms of how far we advance in the tournament. Is it 2009 again and we have a Dyson situation? Is there any academic issues where we lose someone like with Marcus Williams (2004)? I do not even know how the rest of the country will look. The 2013 class for freshmen is suppose to be awesome so there a lot of teams out there that could be a lot better then we expect.

If everything goes according to plan I would say losing in the 2nd(which is now the 3rd round I guess) would be disappointing, but not a failure by any means. I think getting to the Sweet 16 is absolutely an "acceptable" result and everything beyond is gravy.

Given the schedule as it is now (Indiana, Maryland, BC and Washington), I expect 7 regular season losses for UConn.

Memphis, Louisville, Cincy, one of USF or UCF away, 2 OOC to the BCS schools, and one WTF to either a lower AAC team or a good mid-major OOC.

 

[HuskyDogArt]

We Are Playing BCU?

 

[Yonick]

We Are Playing BCU?

We are involved in a Dec. tourney in MSG with BCU, Indiana, & Washington. No parings have been announced yet.

 

[freescooter]

I actually forgot Louisville was still in the league next season. I wasn't considering them when I said 2nd place actually. Hard to keep track of who is in and who is out...

 

[UChusky916]

Agreed that at least a sweet 16. With this team's experience and the quality in the backcourt, I expect them to make it further than that. Rebounding will be the key. If they get a bad matchup against a team that pounds it inside and outrebounds them, I could see an early exit.

 

[Matt1010]

LVille is losing their top 3 contributors, we should definitely beat them. Cincy is keeping Kilpatrick but still losing 2 key contributors and we were a better team this year. I think Memphis will be our biggest challenge next year.

 

[UC990411]

Anything less than an elite 8 is a disappointment in my mind, every year

 

[Husky68]

Anything less than a FF is on Ollie, the Rock Star should have Shaka and the Butler coaches on speed dial. Since Uconn is a midmajor team it should have the best mid major coaches, guys that proved this year that one and dones are possible even if not in a major conference.
Free, were Shaka and Butler coaches huge disappointments this year for taking teams that were in FF previous year and not even making the 2nd week end, if so I think I'll contact the Rock Star and let him know he should reconsider his speed dial setup?
So, since I think only 16 teams can make the sweet 16, will Duke, Kentucky, NC, Maryland, NCSt, Syracuse, Pitt, Indiana, Ohio State,, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisc., Minn., Cin., Georgetown, Marquette, Temple, Memphis, Louisville, ND, Ville., PeeCee (nah), Tenn., Florida, Florida State, Miami, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Colorado State, Creighton, Wichita State, VCU, Butler, LaSalle, Florida Gulf Coast, Southern Miss., Gonzaga, St. Mary's, UNLV, New Mexico, St. Louis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas (you get the picture, maybe you don't but enough is enough) all be huge disappointments (not just diappointing but HUGE disappontments) if they don't make the sweet 16 also, or is it only Uconn. Just hope all the NBA lottery picks and other 1st rounders Uconn had on team this year decide to stay so us Uconn fans won't be HUGELY disappointed or have a FAILED season.
Pretty lame spouting off about top 2 in conference and not factoring in the National Champions, just sayn'.
If Uconn doesn't make the 2nd weekend should the Rock Star replace Ollie? HUGE dissapointment, isn't that a fir'n offense.

 

[intlzncster]

Given the schedule as it is now (Indiana, Maryland, BC and Washington), I expect 7 regular season losses for UConn.

Memphis, Louisville, Cincy, one of USF or UCF away, 2 OOC to the BCS schools, and one WTF to either a lower AAC team or a good mid-major OOC.

Depending on who we play, I would expect us to beat Indiana (big defections), MD, and BC. Don't have a feel for Washington.

It's going to come down to our OOC record, because that will affect our seeding. A good seeding, and we can make a run. A bad one, and not so much.

 

[intlzncster]

Anything less than a FF is on Ollie, the Rock Star should have Shaka and the Butler coaches on speed dial. Since Uconn is a midmajor team it should have the best mid major coaches, guys that proved this year that one and dones are possible even if not in a major conference.
Free, were Shaka and Butler coaches huge disappointments this year for taking teams that were in FF previous year and not even making the 2nd week end, if so I think I'll contact the Rock Star and let him know he should reconsider his speed dial setup?
So, since I think only 16 teams can make the sweet 16, will Duke, Kentucky, NC, Maryland, NCSt, Syracuse, Pitt, Indiana, Ohio State,, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisc., Minn., Cin., Georgetown, Marquette, Temple, Memphis, Louisville, ND, Ville., PeeCee (nah), Tenn., Florida, Florida State, Miami, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Colorado State, Creighton, Wichita State, VCU, Butler, LaSalle, Florida Gulf Coast, Southern Miss., Gonzaga, St. Mary's, UNLV, New Mexico, St. Louis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas (you get the picture, maybe you don't but enough is enough) all be huge disappointments (not just diappointing but HUGE disappontments) if they don't make the sweet 16 also, or is it only Uconn. Just hope all the NBA lottery picks and other 1st rounders Uconn had on team this year decide to stay so us Uconn fans won't be HUGELY disappointed or have a FAILED season.
Pretty lame spouting off about top 2 in conference and not factoring in the National Champions, just sayn'.
If Uconn doesn't make the 2nd weekend should the Rock Star replace Ollie? HUGE dissapointment, isn't that a fir'n offense.

We might be playing a crap conference, but we are not a mid major. Not even remotely so. We are closer to blue blood status than anything (although, given the historical factor we never will be BB).

 

[aceboon]

we're not guaranteed to play Indiana next year, while I'm not penciling in a win over BC, IU isn't guaranteed a win over Washington(if that's how the pairings work out). IU is losing 4 starters while Wash returns alot and adds Mike Moser.

 

[freescooter]

We might be playing a crap conference, but we are not a mid major. Not even remotely so. We are closer to blue blood status than anything (although, given the historical factor we never will be BB).

Unfortunately I don't think you're correct on that. You eventually become what your conference is. Gonzaga, Butler Memphis, are all viewed as something of exceptions to the rule as really good mid-majors, but mid-majors none the less. All the bitching about Gonzaga being a 1 seed was based on the fact that they play in a mid-major league. It is going to be an issue ofr UConn going forward as well. You'll start seeing it with things like rankign and then seeding come Tourney time. Instead of a 2-3, a really good UConn team will be a 4. A team that would have been a 5 in the "old days" will be a 7-8. It might not happen in 2014, and it might happen gradually, but over time, it will be tougher to get good seeds, tougher to make deep runs if only because we'll have tougher early round games. The difference between playing a 15 and a 7 in the first two rounds and playing a 12 and a 3 is like night and day. The world of mid-majors is full of schools tha once were "somebodies." Houston comes to mind. LaSalle, San Francisco, UNLV, Villanova and Georgetwon will have a similar fate to us I think. The NCAA Championship has become the property of major power programs from major power conferences. We currently fit the former, but not the latter and it will be progressively more difficult to stay up with the major programs as time goes on.

 

[freescooter]

Anything less than a FF is on Ollie, the Rock Star should have Shaka and the Butler coaches on speed dial. Since Uconn is a midmajor team it should have the best mid major coaches, guys that proved this year that one and dones are possible even if not in a major conference.
Free, were Shaka and Butler coaches huge disappointments this year for taking teams that were in FF previous year and not even making the 2nd week end, if so I think I'll contact the Rock Star and let him know he should reconsider his speed dial setup?
So, since I think only 16 teams can make the sweet 16, will Duke, Kentucky, NC, Maryland, NCSt, Syracuse, Pitt, Indiana, Ohio State,, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisc., Minn., Cin., Georgetown, Marquette, Temple, Memphis, Louisville, ND, Ville., PeeCee (nah), Tenn., Florida, Florida State, Miami, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Colorado State, Creighton, Wichita State, VCU, Butler, LaSalle, Florida Gulf Coast, Southern Miss., Gonzaga, St. Mary's, UNLV, New Mexico, St. Louis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas (you get the picture, maybe you don't but enough is enough) all be huge disappointments (not just diappointing but HUGE disappontments) if they don't make the sweet 16 also, or is it only Uconn. Just hope all the NBA lottery picks and other 1st rounders Uconn had on team this year decide to stay so us Uconn fans won't be HUGELY disappointed or have a FAILED season.
Pretty lame spouting off about top 2 in conference and not factoring in the National Champions, just sayn'.
If Uconn doesn't make the 2nd weekend should the Rock Star replace Ollie? HUGE dissapointment, isn't that a fir'n offense.

About the only thing that makes sense here is that only 16 teams make the sweet 16...that being said, at least right now I don't put us in the same catagory with St Marys Florida gulf coast, UNLV new Mixico St Louis. We might be heading there but we're not right now. All those schools are typically thrilled to make the Sweet 16. Some to get NCAA bids at all. Others, Oklahoma, Texas think its nice but hardly end of the world stuff if they lose. They are much more concerned with what happens between the last weekend in August and the first week of January than they will ever be with March Madness. The NCAA tournament just means Spring football is that much closer in that part of the world. FYI, Texas drew 46,000 for their Spring game last year. Oklahoma 20,000. So I'm not kidding about their priorities.

 

[DanDar]

For women acceptable result is national championship. Anything less is a disappointment. At least for the next two years it would be.

For the men, next year I would hope for at least the Elite Eight. They have experience and studs at 1-4. They only need a serviceable 5. Once Nolan puts on 10-20 pounds he should be more then enough.

We don't know who leaves or stays beyond next season and don't know the freshmen for fall of 2014 so it's hard to predict, but for a young team, I'd hope for at least a sweet 16.

 

[upstater]

Given the makeup of the AAC, that might be necessary to qualify anyway.

There is absolutely no logic to this statement. The AAC can easily, and will likely, send 5 of 12 to the tourney next year. Ville, Memphis, Cincy, UConn are going to go. Temple or ECU have a decent shot as well.

 

[HuskyDogArt]

We are involved in a Dec. tourney in MSG with BCU, Indiana, & Washington. No parings have been announced yet.

Oh...Just wondering...

 

[HuskyDogArt]

I actually forgot Louisville was still in the league next season. I wasn't considering them when I said 2nd place actually. Hard to keep track of who is in and who is out...

I wish we were out...

 

[HuskyDogArt]

Anything less than a FF is on Ollie, the Rock Star should have Shaka and the Butler coaches on speed dial. Since Uconn is a midmajor team it should have the best mid major coaches, guys that proved this year that one and dones are possible even if not in a major conference.
Free, were Shaka and Butler coaches huge disappointments this year for taking teams that were in FF previous year and not even making the 2nd week end, if so I think I'll contact the Rock Star and let him know he should reconsider his speed dial setup?
So, since I think only 16 teams can make the sweet 16, will Duke, Kentucky, NC, Maryland, NCSt, Syracuse, Pitt, Indiana, Ohio State,, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisc., Minn., Cin., Georgetown, Marquette, Temple, Memphis, Louisville, ND, Ville., PeeCee (nah), Tenn., Florida, Florida State, Miami, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Colorado State, Creighton, Wichita State, VCU, Butler, LaSalle, Florida Gulf Coast, Southern Miss., Gonzaga, St. Mary's, UNLV, New Mexico, St. Louis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas (you get the picture, maybe you don't but enough is enough) all be huge disappointments (not just diappointing but HUGE disappontments) if they don't make the sweet 16 also, or is it only Uconn. Just hope all the NBA lottery picks and other 1st rounders Uconn had on team this year decide to stay so us Uconn fans won't be HUGELY disappointed or have a FAILED season.
Pretty lame spouting off about top 2 in conference and not factoring in the National Champions, just sayn'.
If Uconn doesn't make the 2nd weekend should the Rock Star replace Ollie? HUGE dissapointment, isn't that a fir'n offense.

A mid Major team???

 

[freescooter]

There is absolutely no logic to this statement. The AAC can easily, and will likely, send 5 of 12 to the tourney next year. Ville, Memphis, Cincy, UConn are going to go. Temple or ECU have a decent shot as well.

I told you I forgot that Louisville would be here. But East Carolina? Really? You do know they have made it twice, last time in 1993, right? And yes, they won the the CIT this year, but that is strictly a mid-major tournament even according to its own website!

 

[ctchamps]

What am I looking for in 2014? The same thing I'm looking for now. That freescooter stays on the football forum and doesn't find his way onto this forum to instigate his anti "whatever" to those who are passionately supporting KO and JC.

Barring that, I'm looking for my fellow Boneyarders in this forum to realize who free is, and realizing his intentions, they just ignore him.

And barring that, I'm looking forward to Uconn becoming a major irritant to the other universities by winning many NC's to the point that one of the so called major conferences, hopefully the B!G, will invite UConn into their conference, and then, those Boneyarders who can't avoid succumbing to this irritant called free, will be able to ignore him or pity him.

 

[upstater]

I told you I forgot that Louisville would be here. But East Carolina? Really? You do know they have made it twice, last time in 1993, right? And yes, they won the the CIT this year, but that is strictly a mid-major tournament even according to its own website!

They played well in CUSA this year, I caught one of their tourney games, they are very athletic. I was impressed. There's a reason they won the CIT. I expect them to be the best of the rest after the top 5 (Cincy, UConn, Memphis, Temple and Ville). I expect ECU to be better than Rutgers, for whatever that's worth. Unfortunately, they also lost their top scorer, but their next two best players are returning, esp. that Richmond kid who will be on all-conference teams.