A historical look at UConn 18-8

[UofCT]

The last time we were 18-8 was in 2003 after a loss to Providence. Ended the year 23-10 with a L to Texas in S16.

We were also 18-8 in 2000, ended the year 25-10 with an L to Tenn in the Round of 32.

These feel like realistic comparisons to this year.


We were 19-8 a bunch of times though.

In 2013 we were 19-8 after the 2OT G-town loss and finished the season 20-10.

In 2016 we had a similar record 19-8 after a Feb 20th L to Cincy. We finished the season 2-2, won 3 straight in AAC and lost in round 2 to Kansas.

 

[upstater]

The last time we were 18-8 was in 2003 after a loss to Providence. Ended the year 23-10 with a L to Texas in S16.

We were also 18-8 in 2000, ended the year 25-10 with an L to Tenn in the Round of 32.

These feel like realistic comparisons to this year.


We were 19-8 a bunch of times though.

In 2013 we were 19-8 after the 2OT G-town loss and finished the season 20-10.

In 2016 we had a similar record 19-8 after a Feb 20th L to Cincy. We finished the season 2-2, won 3 straight in AAC and lost in round 2 to Kansas.

That '03 Texas team was a #1 seed and Final 4 team that went down to a close game against Carmelo.

We had a habit back then of losing to really strong teams we met too early in the tourney (Duke, UNC, UCLA, Maryland, Texas).

 

[aceboon]

2013 was the APR tournament ban year, Bazz got hurt in the Georgetown loss and missed the next 2 games before returning for the season finale against Providence. That team didn't have enough depth/options to offset his absence.

 

[Inyatkin]

2013 was the APR tournament ban year, Bazz got hurt in the Georgetown loss and missed the next 2 games before returning for the season finale against Providence. That team didn't have enough depth/options to offset his absence.

You're telling me that RJ Evans playing 42 minutes in the season finale was suboptimal?

 

[UCann]

If we get to the Sweet 16, that would be the best performance for a back-to-back champion (since UCLA) team. We should all be happy if we get to that point or beyond.

 

[Dutch Boyd]

That '03 Texas team was a #1 seed and Final 4 team that went down to a close game against Carmelo.

We had a habit back then of losing to really strong teams we met too early in the tourney (Duke, UNC, UCLA, Maryland, Texas).

James Thomas for Texas annoyed me. He’s from the area I currently live at and didn’t miss from the foul line that game it seemed. He also reminded me of predator from the movie lol

 

[UCan3]

The last time we were 18-8 was in 2003 after a loss to Providence. Ended the year 23-10 with a L to Texas in S16.

We were also 18-8 in 2000, ended the year 25-10 with an L to Tenn in the Round of 32.

These feel like realistic comparisons to this year.


We were 19-8 a bunch of times though.

In 2013 we were 19-8 after the 2OT G-town loss and finished the season 20-10.

In 2016 we had a similar record 19-8 after a Feb 20th L to Cincy. We finished the season 2-2, won 3 straight in AAC and lost in round 2 to Kansas.

Only thing that never get brought up is while we are technically 18-8, 3 of those losses was from a tourney gone sideways.

Since we returned from that strange trip we’re 18-5.

If we can get to 20-22 wins that would be great way to finish strong! BE Tourney will be very important to negate the poor pre-season tourney Showing.

 

[jibsey]

The last time we were 18-8 was in 2003 after a loss to Providence. Ended the year 23-10 with a L to Texas in S16.

We were also 18-8 in 2000, ended the year 25-10 with an L to Tenn in the Round of 32.

These feel like realistic comparisons to this year.


We were 19-8 a bunch of times though.

In 2013 we were 19-8 after the 2OT G-town loss and finished the season 20-10.

In 2016 we had a similar record 19-8 after a Feb 20th L to Cincy. We finished the season 2-2, won 3 straight in AAC and lost in round 2 to Kansas.

I watched that game on my phone while at a table at a wedding. That was rough.

 

[Pmac923]

Only thing that never get brought up is while we are technically 18-8, 3 of those losses was from a tourney gone sideways.

Since we returned from that strange trip we’re 18-5.

If we can get to 20-22 wins that would be great way to finish strong! BE Tourney will be very important to negate the poor pre-season tourney Showing.

14-5. We were 4-0 going into Maui

 

[Scoe]

2003 team was a national championship team with Caron, would be like Rip leaving after the 98 season. Without Caron we were a year away.

 

[Travelman6]

That Colorado loss just keeps looking worse and worse. Shall is and and will continue to not age well. Take away those two losses and this is clearly a ranked team and top 5 seed.

 

[Dutch Boyd]

That Colorado loss just keeps looking worse and worse. Shall is and and will continue to not age well. Take away those two losses and this is clearly a ranked team and top 5 seed.

It is a bad loss, but at the end of the day there’s nothing you can do about it. 4 starters gone, new players and role players moving into different roles. Letting the first Nova game slip away and that horrendous Hall game is really a d… punch. Our record would be 20-6.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

This so hard to calibrate. In some ways, this team is unlike anything we have seen before. To wit, our ceiling when everything is clicking is much, much higher than any other non-champ team from the past. I mean, objectively speaking, this team should have 4 losses, because we avoid half of our losses with a healthy Liam. Also, we still have not seen Solo, Alex and Liam all playing red-hot at the same time. And that's without taking into account the games where Whinny the Pooh turns into the Abominable Snow Man. HOWEVER, are those things going to materialize this year? It is fair to ask that because after 24 games, they have not, and they may not. I guess my point is that our 18-8 record in many ways does not tell the story of how good, or bad, we are this year. I am still on the "let's wait until March" mode because I think this team has the cojones to make a deep run in the tourney.

 

[J187Money]

This so hard to calibrate. In some ways, this team is unlike anything we have seen before. To wit, our ceiling when everything is clicking is much, much higher than any other non-champ team from the past. I mean, objectively speaking, this team should have 4 losses, because we avoid half of our losses with a healthy Liam. Also, we still have not seen Solo, Alex and Liam all playing red-hot at the same time. And that's without taking into account the games where Whinny the Pooh turns into the Abominable Snow Man. HOWEVER, are those things going to materialize this year? It is fair to ask that because after 24 games, they have not, and they may not. I guess my point is that our 18-8 record in many ways does not tell the story of how good, or bad, we are this year. I am still on the "let's wait until March" mode because I think this team has the cojones to make a deep run in the tourney.

Talent, yes. Cohones? TBD...that's been the problem. Senior testiculo needs to make an appearance.

 

[businesslawyer]

This so hard to calibrate. In some ways, this team is unlike anything we have seen before. To wit, our ceiling when everything is clicking is much, much higher than any other non-champ team from the past.

This is so, so, so unbelievably wrong. You know how many teams we've had not win championships that were on a totally different and higher level than this year's team? Just off the top of my head, 90, 94, 95, 96, 98, 02, 06 and 09.

 

[Stasher599]

No matter where we end up in our bracket who is going to actually want to play us. I would love to see us finish out the year well but in actuality what team is hoping to play us at a 6 or 7 seed.

 

[USNavyDog]

2013 was the APR tournament ban year, Bazz got hurt in the Georgetown loss and missed the next 2 games before returning for the season finale against Providence. That team didn't have enough depth/options to offset his absence.

It felt good when Ryan Boatright made that final shot to win it against Providence at the Gampel Pavilion.

That postseason ban year ended with a nice win and good preparation to win the championship in 2014 a year later.