51-37 - in the NCAA tournament

[Fishy]

At 70-72, they're not.

I'm baffled by the sideline's reaction to the run that started right after Giffey's (awful) three-point attempt. Completely baffled.

It's February 28th. You have to know your team - this team turns on and off like a light switch. It took Blaney way, way, way too long to recognize what was so blindingly obvious as soon as PC started their run.

The rest we've seen before - the star isn't ready for his star turn, the defense is porous, the rebounding was dainty, etc. They're just not a Jim Calhoun team, they're adrift. I don't blame them either - they play like a team without a head coach because they don't seem to have one.

But, even so, they were basically 12 minutes away from the NCAA tournament and now they're three or wins away from it. Falling off the bubble is so much easier than getting back on.

 

[husky99]

blows my mind how bad blaney coached this game...

 

[Fishy]

When I blink right now, the inside of my eyelids has an image of Blaney seared onto them - George is standing there, looking contemplative, with his arms folded in front of him with one finger resting on his chin.

I call it the "Hmmm....we used to be up 14" pose.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Putting Blaney in charge during his absence this year was the single worst decision Calhoun has made since he first stepped up to the podium at his first press conference. A talented as this team was, Blaney has pissed the season away.

 

[tentoes4rings]

That stretch by Giffey where he lost his man twice resulting in 6 points, shot that three that resulted in a fast break and turned the ball over resulting in another basket is the worst stretch I can remember from one player. I like Giffey but that was just brutal.Also,that play where three guys had a chance to take a charge and Bazz ends up sliding in half heartedly and committing a foul epitomized why this team is 3-9 down the stretch.

 

[Fishy]

I can't disagree with that, Nelson - I get the sense that the season was sacrificed at the alter of loyalty.

 

[Inyatkin]

That stretch by Giffey where he lost his man twice resulting in 6 points, shot that three that resulted in a fast break and turned the ball over resulting in another basket is the worst stretch I can remember from one player. I like Giffey but that was just brutal.Also,that play where three guys had a chance to take a charge and Bazz ends up sliding in half heartedly and committing a foul epitomized why this team is 3-9 down the stretch.

On the plus side, this might end all the "We need more Giffey!" comments for a day or so.

 

[jibsey]

At 70-72, they're not.

I'm baffled by the sideline's reaction to the run that started right after Giffey's (awful) three-point attempt. Completely baffled.

It's February 28th. You have to know your team - this team turns on and off like a light switch. It took Blaney way, way, way too long to recognize what was so blindingly obvious
as soon as PC started their run.

Not having a coach has been brutal because even as poorly as we have played at times, you can't tell me that Calhoun would have allowed tonight to happen. I'd love a healthy Calhoun to coach for 5 more years but we actually need someone who we can be sure will have their butt on our bench every day and the whole season long. We can't be handing these players over to Blaney again, ever.

The rest we've seen before - the star isn't ready for his star turn, the defense is porous, the rebounding was dainty, etc. They're just not a Jim Calhoun team, they're adrift. I don't blame them either - they play like a team without a head coach because they don't seem to have one.

But, even so, they were basically 12 minutes away from the NCAA tournament and now they're three or wins away from it. Falling off the bubble is so much easier than getting back on.

 

[HuskyFan32]

blows my mind how bad blaney coached this game...

Blaney certainly coached an awful game but you have to put a lot of the blame on the players. Were the defending national champs. Yes were young, but its the end of February, our freshman are basically sophomores and our sophomores, juniors. How can we still just completely fold everytime a team makes a run? We literally put up no resistence at all. I havent seen a team this mentally weak since my 4th grade rec team.....

 

[UCweCONN]

That stretch by Giffey where he lost his man twice resulting in 6 points, shot that three that resulted in a fast break and turned the ball over resulting in another basket is the worst stretch I can remember from one player. I like Giffey but that was just brutal.Also,that play where three guys had a chance to take a charge and Bazz ends up sliding in half heartedly and committing a foul epitomized why this team is 3-9 down the stretch.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[RuffRuff]

I would love to be able to listen to Blaney's inner dialogue while this team is pissing away large leads in crucial games.

I get the sense that it goes something like this:

"Hmm, Neil's had a nice couple of days in practice, let's give him a try for a few. I wonder if I should go with ketchup or gravy on my meatloaf tonight. Yeah know what, I can put a little of both on my plate and alternate during 60 minutes on DVR - that's the ticket. God I'm hungry. I really need to get to get this growth checked out. Oh , Neil's really up out there, I should probably take him out. What's the score anyway?"

 

[businesslawyer]

Blaney was god awful down the stretch, and with a competent game coach we win. But Blaney didn't fall apart on the court, and Blaney wasn't the one who failed to make this group a cohesive unit down the stretch.

There is plenty of blame to go around. For all we know, a Makersmuppet pep talk might have been the difference.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Probably the most concise and apt reaction a Husky fan can take from the game.

Still.....WTFFFFFFF GEORGE!!!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

That stretch by Giffey where he lost his man twice resulting in 6 points, shot that three that resulted in a fast break and turned the ball over resulting in another basket is the worst stretch I can remember from one player. I like Giffey but that was just brutal.Also,that play where three guys had a chance to take a charge and Bazz ends up sliding in half heartedly and committing a foul epitomized why this team is 3-9 down the stretch.

Walk me through who on UConn was playing lock down defense on the perimeter.

 

[ford82]

I have always liked Giffey, but today I can't defend him. That was a really bad stretch.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I can't disagree with that, Nelson - I get the sense that the season was sacrificed at the alter of loyalty.

Any of the other choices would have made more sense than Blaney. Calhoun is not the kind of coach to get hung up on loyalty or seniority with his players, so I am really surprised he did it with Blaney. Hobbs and Miller both have head coaching experience, and objectively, Hobbs was more successful (until he had the rug pulled out from under him) than Blaney ever was.

 

[Fishy]

I actually now disagree - Calhoun is intensely loyal.

It might be one of his most defining characteristics. He has hung onto coaches who had long since outlived their purposes to his detriment in the past...(Andre).

 

[jorge34]

At 70-72, they're not.

I'm baffled by the sideline's reaction to the run that started right after Giffey's (awful) three-point attempt. Completely baffled.

It's February 28th. You have to know your team - this team turns on and off like a light switch. It took Blaney way, way, way too long to recognize what was so blindingly obvious as soon as PC started their run.

The rest we've seen before - the star isn't ready for his star turn, the defense is porous, the rebounding was dainty, etc. They're just not a Jim Calhoun team, they're adrift. I don't blame them either - they play like a team without a head coach because they don't seem to have one.

But, even so, they were basically 12 minutes away from the NCAA tournament and now they're three or wins away from it. Falling off the bubble is so much easier than getting back on.

Hard disagree with anything written. Hard to figure exactly what the issue is with this team. Unfortunately, I think there are many. Players expected to step up early in the season, didn't. Throw in the the lovely NCAA placing the APR double jeopardy cloud over their heads, before the season even starts. Now compound the existing issues, again, with the NCAA playing the leading role, in the Boatright travesty.

If that wasn't enough....Calhoun goes down with an injury.

Excuses....maybe.

Alot to overcome.....absolutely. They are kids. I have a hard time leveling too much criticism on kids placed in an extraordinarily.....odd situation.


I still believe they have as much pure talent as any team in the nation. This season is essentially over. Tragically, instead of looking forward to a loaded team next year that SHOULD return an entire roster, and add to it........there will be no NCAA tournament to look forward to.

Looks like the NCAA board of directors wins.

 

[uconnfan68]

John wooden would lose with these guys.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

 

[Fishy]

Looks like the NCAA board of directors wins.

I think you nailed it about ten times in that post.

 

[Fishy]

John wooden would lose with these guys.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

I'm not sure - even as dead as he is, he still might have managed to call a timeout before George did tonight.

 

[HuskyHawk]

On the plus side, this might end all the "We need more Giffey!" comments for a day or so.

Looked very different live. Napier was the one who constantly lost his man. Giffey actually gave up points mostly when covering for a lapse by someone else. But there are too many problems to list.

 

[TRest]

This season's defining image, for me, is Napier coming up late on his man with his hands down as the 3 is about to leave the shooter's hand. We would be better off if he just took out their legs and put them on the line.

 

[RuffRuff]

You'd think the guy would just get it having grown up around great leaders like Abraham Lincoln.

 

[jorge34]

I think you nailed it about ten times in that post.

Losing an upperclassmen, charismatic, energetic leader was going to be hard enough to overcome. Losing Kemba AND Calhoun?

Impossible to overcome.

My anger is directed at those who are going to take away what could have been another real special year next year.