A little perspective, please!

[Papa33]

Hey, you know what?

After Monday’s triple overtime loss to Notre Dame, we would have no weeping, wailing, blame throwing, or gnashing of teeth if—

We had made one 1 more free throw in regulation play;
We had made only 1 of the 4 free throws we missed in the first overtime (especially the three that were the first of 1 and 1’s;
We had made only 1 of the 2 free throws we missed in the second overtime.

We had made only 2 less of 35 turnovers we made, especially any one of the 11 turnovers that led to 21 Notre Dame points;

We had made only 1 more of the 38 shots we missed;

We had made only 1 more of the 10 defensive rebounds we missed that led to 20 Notre Dame second-chance points.

WHY would we not have published comments to the Boneyard full of all-knowing, 20-20 hindsight recriminations?
Because we would have won!

And in the world of the Boneyard and in sports blogs and sports talk radio, fans tend to make too much of too little. Sports contests often hinge on very small and incidental and accidental moments— a slip here, a small error there, an inch too long or short (McBride’s 3-pointer?— a error that turns out right, a wise decision that goes wrong. In the case of this high profile game, one that many Husky fans had invested so much hope and heart in, any one of those “misses” made the difference. But we tend to forget that when our team wins.

If any of those single events changes, UConn wins and Notre Dame loses. Somehow that changes the whole UConn season and universe. That’s how fans tend to work and exaggerate.

IF we had won, no one—

Blames Geno for not coaching his freshman into game winners (even though two of those frosh played through all three overtimes and put UConn in a position to win);
Finds fault with Geno’s game decisions;
Charges (Doty/Hartley/Dolson/Faris) with gross incompetence (even though their play put UConn close enough to win);
Lays the loss on the refs (even though, despite some egregiously bad calls, the officiating erased the usual Notre Dame foul shot advantage entirely until they made 11 foul shots in the third overtime);
Would suggest that what UConn needs is some of Diggins’ “attitude,” because her team would have lost! (She shot 11 for 31 with 8 turnovers; McBride shot 11 for 28— that’s pretty great UConn defense.)
Would claim UConn players have lost the ability to finish out tough games;
Would declare the apocalypse for the UConn Women’s program.

It’s called perspective, folks.

And, by the way, all the same principles apply to the first loss to Notre Dame earlier in the season. With KML hitting >50% of her three’s, we had a better than even chance that UConn is 1-0 vs Notre Dame going in to Monday’s game.

Yes, we were all horribly frustrated by the results. Yes, our kids could have played better. But no on one should question their dedication or effort or heart. Please, put those two agonizing losses into perspective without making them into the decline and fall of UConn basketball. You don’t have to turn yourselves into Pollyannas to do that.

Choose honest, balanced critiques over ad hominem criticism. Don’t let your disappointment acidify your comments.

Apologies for making this so long. I’m off my soap box.

 

[BrianUC]

Well put. Lots of craziness from both newbies and BY veterans. These teams played dead even and with a little extra luck ND pulled it out. We have a great team with great players with heart and great coaching and so do they. Looking forward to the rematch.

 

[HuskyNan]

I've been saying all season that this team is immature. Not immature in the childish way, but in the players' mental approaches to games plus their lack of overall experience. It's no surprise that Kelly (senior), Stef (junior) and Bria (junior) are among the top scorers. Kaleena the sophomore, she's the exception because she's simply, well, exceptional.

I had thought that the team would mature as the season went on primarily because I would term Breanna's play early in the season as that of someone with a more experienced player's mindset. She has suffered a bit of a crisis of confidence in her offense, though, which often happens to young players when they realize physical games against bigger, stronger girls are going to happen every...single...game. It makes one pause.

But, the team still needs some seasoning. I believe this is what Geno meant when he said, "We're not ready to win this game" right after the loss to Baylor. It will come. I know the mental errors and occasional WTF plays frustrate some people but we all mature in our own time. Honestly, I'm enjoying watching Kaleena bloom right in front of me so much that it's taking away the disappointment of some of the other stuff.

 

[RadyLady]

and a reminder that a blossom in our bouquet of players was lost to an ACL injury. Brianna Banks was having a hell of a season until she went down.

 

[meyers7]

Hey, you know what?

After Monday’s triple overtime loss to Notre Dame, we would have no weeping, wailing, blame throwing, or gnashing of teeth if—

We had made one 1 more free throw in regulation play;
We had made only 1 of the 4 free throws we missed in the first overtime (especially the three that were the first of 1 and 1’s;
We had made only 1 of the 2 free throws we missed in the second overtime.

We had made only 2 less of 35 turnovers we made, especially any one of the 11 turnovers that led to 21 Notre Dame points;

We had made only 1 more of the 38 shots we missed;

We had made only 1 more of the 10 defensive rebounds we missed that led to 20 Notre Dame second-chance points.

WHY would we not have published comments to the Boneyard full of all-knowing, 20-20 hindsight recriminations?
Because we would have won!

And in the world of the Boneyard and in sports blogs and sports talk radio, fans tend to make too much of too little. Sports contests often hinge on very small and incidental and accidental moments— a slip here, a small error there, an inch too long or short (McBride’s 3-pointer?— a error that turns out right, a wise decision that goes wrong. In the case of this high profile game, one that many Husky fans had invested so much hope and heart in, any one of those “misses” made the difference. But we tend to forget that when our team wins.

If any of those single events changes, UConn wins and Notre Dame loses. Somehow that changes the whole UConn season and universe. That’s how fans tend to work and exaggerate.

IF we had won,

Lots of "if"s, but none of them happened. Which really, makes it even more depressing. Gee thanks.

 

[doggydaddy]

Lots of "if"s, but none of them happened. Which really, makes it even more depressing. Gee thanks.

I look at it as promising.

 

[Jonathan Husky]

Hey, you know what?

After Monday’s triple overtime loss to Notre Dame, we would have no weeping, wailing, blame throwing, or gnashing of teeth if—

We had made one 1 more free throw in regulation play;
We had made only 1 of the 4 free throws we missed in the first overtime (especially the three that were the first of 1 and 1’s;
We had made only 1 of the 2 free throws we missed in the second overtime.

We had made only 2 less of 35 turnovers we made, especially any one of the 11 turnovers that led to 21 Notre Dame points;

We had made only 1 more of the 38 shots we missed;

We had made only 1 more of the 10 defensive rebounds we missed that led to 20 Notre Dame second-chance points.

WHY would we not have published comments to the Boneyard full of all-knowing, 20-20 hindsight recriminations?
Because we would have won!

And in the world of the Boneyard and in sports blogs and sports talk radio, fans tend to make too much of too little. Sports contests often hinge on very small and incidental and accidental moments— a slip here, a small error there, an inch too long or short (McBride’s 3-pointer?— a error that turns out right, a wise decision that goes wrong. In the case of this high profile game, one that many Husky fans had invested so much hope and heart in, any one of those “misses” made the difference. But we tend to forget that when our team wins.

If any of those single events changes, UConn wins and Notre Dame loses. Somehow that changes the whole UConn season and universe. That’s how fans tend to work and exaggerate.

IF we had won, no one—

Blames Geno for not coaching his freshman into game winners (even though two of those frosh played through all three overtimes and put UConn in a position to win);
Finds fault with Geno’s game decisions;
Charges (Doty/Hartley/Dolson/Faris) with gross incompetence (even though their play put UConn close enough to win);
Lays the loss on the refs (even though, despite some egregiously bad calls, the officiating erased the usual Notre Dame foul shot advantage entirely until they made 11 foul shots in the third overtime);
Would suggest that what UConn needs is some of Diggins’ “attitude,” because her team would have lost! (She shot 11 for 31 with 8 turnovers; McBride shot 11 for 28— that’s pretty great UConn defense.)
Would claim UConn players have lost the ability to finish out tough games;
Would declare the apocalypse for the UConn Women’s program.

It’s called perspective, folks.

And, by the way, all the same principles apply to the first loss to Notre Dame earlier in the season. With KML hitting >50% of her three’s, we had a better than even chance that UConn is 1-0 vs Notre Dame going in to Monday’s game.

Yes, we were all horribly frustrated by the results. Yes, our kids could have played better. But no on one should question their dedication or effort or heart. Please, put those two agonizing losses into perspective without making them into the decline and fall of UConn basketball. You don’t have to turn yourselves into Pollyannas to do that.

Choose honest, balanced critiques over ad hominem criticism. Don’t let your disappointment acidify your comments.

Apologies for making this so long. I’m off my soap box.

DD I agree with everything you wrote. Also, if Geno didn't have the technical foul we would have won by one.

The women played as hard as they could and that is all you can ask. We can still win the Big East Tournament and the NCAA's and I hope we will.

 

[doggydaddy]

DD I agree with everything you wrote. Also, if Geno didn't have the technical foul we would have won by one.

The women played as hard as they could and that is all you can ask. We can still win the Big East Tournament and the NCAA's and I hope we will.

I didn't write it. Pap33 did .

 

[msf22b]

Not wanting to throw a monkey wrench into a beautifully written and convincing piece but:
Permutations and combinations.
You could have written it about the Baylor game...You could have written it about the first Notre Dame game...
You could have....

 

[doggydaddy]

Not wanting to throw a monkey wrench into a beautifully written and convincing piece but:
Permutations and combinations.
You could have written it about the Baylor game...You could have written it about the first Notre Dame game...
You could have....

Nahhh..not want to......

Unbelievable.

 

[RadyLady]

Not wanting to throw a monkey wrench into a beautifully written and convincing piece but:
Permutations and combinations.
You could have written it about the Baylor game...You could have written it about the first Notre Dame game...
You could have....

Which means that we are so close!!

 

[msf22b]

Which means that we are so close!!

That's a good way to look at it!
Think of all the losses ND had to us; they competed got close a bunch of times and lost time after time.
Now the shoe is on the other foot.

I do believe that Stewie and Morgan gained invaluable experience in Monday's game.
I'm with more time for Mo starting now.
Morgan is close to being the silent assassin that I expected.
Now, if we can just get the real Stewie, we'll be untouchable.
Hope springs eternal, the talent's there.

 

[doggydaddy]

That's a good way to look at it!
Think of all the losses ND had to us; they competed got close a bunch of times and lost time after time.
Now the shoe is on the other foot.

I do believe that Stewie and Morgan gained invaluable experience in Monday's game.
I'm with more time for Mo starting now.
Morgan is close to being the silent assassin that I expected.
Now, if we can just get the real Stewie, we'll be untouchable.
Hope springs eternal, the talent's there.

Aliens have taken over msf!!!!

 

[msf22b]

Sorry to disappoint.

 

[meyers7]

I look at it as promising.

I'm more of a glass lying shattered on the floor kinda guy.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Delayed comment on the ND game because I knew others could say it better. Nan calls it maturing. I call it jelling. It may be a very small move into matured/jelled that will have this team humming. Just not yet.

 

[meyers7]

Delayed comment on the ND game because I knew others could say it better. Nan calls it maturing. I call it jelling. It may be a very small move into matured/jelled that will have this team humming. Just not yet.

Hope it comes soon.

 

[Wink96]

Not wanting to throw a monkey wrench into a beautifully written and convincing piece but:
Permutations and combinations.
You could have written it about the Baylor game...You could have written it about the first Notre Dame game...
You could have....

But it is

 

[meganmatthews]

Not wanting to throw a monkey wrench into a beautifully written and convincing piece but:
Permutations and combinations.
You could have written it about the Baylor game...You could have written it about the first Notre Dame game...
You could have....

The bottom line is . . . How Did That Three Ball Go In??? How? How? It bounced twice! How? They had been horrible from long range! How? It was a terrible shot! How? How? Waaahhh! Waaaahhh! Waaahhh! Me sleepy now. Nite nite . . . . . . .

 

[vtcwbuff]

Hey, you know what?

After Monday’s triple overtime loss to Notre Dame, we would have no weeping, wailing, blame throwing, or gnashing of teeth if—

We had made one 1 more free throw in regulation play;
We had made only 1 of the 4 free throws we missed in the first overtime (especially the three that were the first of 1 and 1’s;
We had made only 1 of the 2 free throws we missed in the second overtime.

We had made only 2 less of 35 turnovers we made, especially any one of the 11 turnovers that led to 21 Notre Dame points;

We had made only 1 more of the 38 shots we missed;

We had made only 1 more of the 10 defensive rebounds we missed that led to 20 Notre Dame second-chance points.

WHY would we not have published comments to the Boneyard full of all-knowing, 20-20 hindsight recriminations?
Because we would have won!

And in the world of the Boneyard and in sports blogs and sports talk radio, fans tend to make too much of too little. Sports contests often hinge on very small and incidental and accidental moments— a slip here, a small error there, an inch too long or short (McBride’s 3-pointer?— a error that turns out right, a wise decision that goes wrong. In the case of this high profile game, one that many Husky fans had invested so much hope and heart in, any one of those “misses” made the difference. But we tend to forget that when our team wins.

If any of those single events changes, UConn wins and Notre Dame loses. Somehow that changes the whole UConn season and universe. That’s how fans tend to work and exaggerate.

IF we had won, no one—

Blames Geno for not coaching his freshman into game winners (even though two of those frosh played through all three overtimes and put UConn in a position to win);
Finds fault with Geno’s game decisions;
Charges (Doty/Hartley/Dolson/Faris) with gross incompetence (even though their play put UConn close enough to win);
Lays the loss on the refs (even though, despite some egregiously bad calls, the officiating erased the usual Notre Dame foul shot advantage entirely until they made 11 foul shots in the third overtime);
Would suggest that what UConn needs is some of Diggins’ “attitude,” because her team would have lost! (She shot 11 for 31 with 8 turnovers; McBride shot 11 for 28— that’s pretty great UConn defense.)
Would claim UConn players have lost the ability to finish out tough games;
Would declare the apocalypse for the UConn Women’s program.

It’s called perspective, folks.

And, by the way, all the same principles apply to the first loss to Notre Dame earlier in the season. With KML hitting >50% of her three’s, we had a better than even chance that UConn is 1-0 vs Notre Dame going in to Monday’s game.

Yes, we were all horribly frustrated by the results. Yes, our kids could have played better. But no on one should question their dedication or effort or heart. Please, put those two agonizing losses into perspective without making them into the decline and fall of UConn basketball. You don’t have to turn yourselves into Pollyannas to do that.

Choose honest, balanced critiques over ad hominem criticism. Don’t let your disappointment acidify your comments.

Apologies for making this so long. I’m off my soap box.

There really is only one perspective. They lost the game. It isn't horse shoes, and "ifs" count for nothing on the scoreboard.

 

[doggydaddy]

There really is only one perspective. They lost the game. It isn't horse shoes and "ifs" count for nothing.

I totally agree. And that goes for all the finger pointing as well as why they lost.

They lost. Move on.

 

[Icebear]

There is a difference between ifs being an excuse for what did happen and ifs being the basis for a belief for why it can be different next time. One is attempting to justify an immutable past, but the other is identifying areas needing attention and presenting opportunities for shaping the future. Ifs can be very important.

 

[Papa33]

There really is only one perspective. They lost the game. It isn't horse shoes, and "ifs" count for nothing on the scoreboard.

There really is only one perspective. They lost the game. It isn't horse shoes, and "ifs" count for nothing on the scoreboard.

Actually, there are multiple perspectives:
1. The UConn players' perspective— that each of them bears a measure of responsibility for a loss they could easily have turned into a win, responsibility not only for omissions in the game, but also lapses and missed opportunities at practice. They have owned up to that responsibility squarely.
2. The coaches' perspective— in which they second-guess themselves and try to combat all those lapses in games and practices; and also point out perspective #1 to the players.
3. The fans' perspective— the one I was speaking to. Which can be the all-or-nothing, win-lose one some fans have proposed, but not what I was talking about. I was referring to what conclusions to draw about what such a loss means in weighing the team's future chances.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

My perspective is ...I fully expect BS to fulfill her promise in post season games...

 

[doggydaddy]

My perspective is ...I fully expect BS to fulfill her promise in post season games...

There is plenty of examples in post season history in more than just WCBB where this happens. It's treated like a new season and a new start for players. Some react very well and embrace that thought.

I sure hope you are right about Stewart! We have only seen glimpses of what she can bring to the table for this team.