A Lot at Stake (Beyond the Obvious)

[Tenspro2002]

Yes, the prospect of #7 makes every Tournament high-stakes, though frankly how little that's being discussed despite being a wire-to-wire top 10 team and #2 seed shows how uneasy people feel about this team, our accomplishments, and our potential this month.

There's quietly a lot at stake here for the narrative of this season and the trajectory of the program going forward.

If we make a respectable run, say a close game against Duke in the Elite 8, or beyond, that would validate our season as a success, with some bumpiness along the way, but generally support that we're on the right track. You could argue our program has made an intentional decision to optimize our roster and style of play for out of conference success at the beginning and end of the year, conference results be damned. We can expect small tweaks and replacements and generally chug along.

If we stumble in the first weekend, that would cast a cloud on the whole season, with the uneven BE results not an aberration, but reflecting stagnation in the program, and our win total looking like a mirage based on weak BE competition. It would be hard to look back on this season fondly. This would cause some serious introspection and may lead to bigger changes in how we do things. Hurley has already shown the capacity to evolve and may do so again.

 

[InKembaITrust]

IF HEALTHY, I have all the faith in the world in this team. We thrive with more freedom of movement in the national tourney. Although we drew the most difficult region, we don't have a horrible road to the elite 8 and get to play in the east.

IF our bench plays above expectations, Final Four or bust.

Hoping Braylon catches fire and shows the nation how special he is offensively.

 

[RuffRuff]

From my perspective, a run answers the question on whether Hurley is designing rosters knowing they are built for OOC & March, less so competing with StJ for the BE title & dealing with BE reffing.

If they flame out, needs to get back in the lab and make serious adjustments. If they make a run, we as fans have to buy into his roster building and understand the intent is built for March, not Jan/Feb and be patient.

There isn't a whole lot of pressure on Hurley/program as a only 2 years away from a B2B. Last year was a full pass, this year still feels like some trial & error. Next year, I'd say he really needs to start righting the ship if we don't fare well. So tourney outcome & ensuing portal recruitment feel really big. If this team flops, I would hope he makes wholesale changes, looking past loyalty. My lone concern is that in this landscape of P4 dominance and NIL, Hurley doesn't lose any steam.

Coaches with pressure - pretty good:

 

[BFieldHusky]

From my perspective, a run answers the question on whether Hurley is designing rosters knowing they are built for OOC & March, less so competing with StJ for the BE title & dealing with BE reffing.

If they flame out, needs to get back in the lab and make serious adjustments. If they make a run, we as fans have to buy into his roster building and understand the intent is built for March, not Jan/Feb and be patient.

There isn't a whole lot of pressure on Hurley/program as a only 2 years away from a B2B. Last year was a full pass, this year still feels like some trial & error. Next year, I'd say he really needs to start righting the ship if we don't fare well. So tourney outcome & ensuing portal recruitment feel really big. If this team flops, I would hope he makes wholesale changes, looking past loyalty. My lone concern is that in this landscape of P4 dominance and NIL, Hurley doesn't lose any steam.

Coaches with pressure - pretty good:

I feel like this whole post is one giant contradiction.

 

[RuffRuff]

I feel like this whole post is one giant contradiction.

How?

 

[Lafayette]

yes how? if we make it to the 2nd weekend stat is progress. E8 game would be even better.

Also conference money is at stake as conferences thrive when their teams go far but that cannot be only on us.

 

[Inyatkin]

There's a lot riding on it because it's the NCAA tournament.

Losing early would not prove we need a radical rethink. Literally every top program and great coach has years they lose early. It's the nature of the tournament.

It's the need for everything to be the MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER that makes people think otherwise.

Of course I'd be mad if it happens. I'd hate it. We have the talent to go far. That is no guarantee, and years like 2024 are incredibly rare.

I'd like to be at a point where we can enjoy good years and not constantly feel like the ground has shifted under us and we'll never have success again. That's what drives these conversations, and there's no basis for it.

 

[Tenspro2002]

From my perspective, a run answers the question on whether Hurley is designing rosters knowing they are built for OOC & March, less so competing with StJ for the BE title & dealing with BE reffing.

If they flame out, needs to get back in the lab and make serious adjustments. If they make a run, we as fans have to buy into his roster building and understand the intent is built for March, not Jan/Feb and be patient.

There isn't a whole lot of pressure on Hurley/program as a only 2 years away from a B2B. Last year was a full pass, this year still feels like some trial & error. Next year, I'd say he really needs to start righting the ship if we don't fare well. So tourney outcome & ensuing portal recruitment feel really big. If this team flops, I would hope he makes wholesale changes, looking past loyalty. My lone concern is that in this landscape of P4 dominance and NIL, Hurley doesn't lose any steam.

Coaches with pressure - pretty good:

Basically what I said.

I agree with the loyalty comment. We had a lot of turnover in the 2022 offseason and people were concerned. Then what happened?

 

[Tenspro2002]

There's a lot riding on it because it's the NCAA tournament.

Losing early would not prove we need a radical rethink. Literally every top program and great coach has years they lose early. It's the nature of the tournament.

It's the need for everything to be the MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER that makes people think otherwise.

Of course I'd be mad if it happens. I'd hate it. We have the talent to go far. That is no guarantee, and years like 2024 are incredibly rare.

I'd like to be at a point where we can enjoy good years and not constantly feel like the ground has shifted under us and we'll never have success again. That's what drives these conversations, and there's no basis for it.

No, it's not that if we lose early we'll never have success again. This isn't like the KO years where we had to fight to stay relevant and there actually was a lot at stake for the program on a decadal timescale. Hurley has earned a lot of credibility and we'll keep that for a while.

But the "how" of our future success depends a lot on what happens this month.

If we win 3-4 games, it'll be an Elite 8/Final Four year where we weren't quite at the level of other contenders, but showed our formula still gets it done in March and is worth staying the course.

If we get bounced this weekend, that would make for two underwhelming years in a row that warrants some course correction.

 

[imno1]

Just a reminder. We have 2 of the last 3 championships. We are 29 -5. That 24 team really spoiled us.

 

[RuffRuff]

Basically what I said.

I agree with the loyalty comment. We had a lot of turnover in the 2022 offseason and people were concerned. Then what happened?

It worked out great, but NIL & Portal have come a long way since then. I don't look at 2022 as a good example of how to build teams on the go forward.

This will be an interesting tournament, first year out of COVID as well. No more super old guys like Juwan Roberts and Broome. It's much cleaner.

If teams with continuity (Purdue), make deeper runs than expected, the continuity thing holds. If teams like AZ, UM hold serve, then not so much as both of those teams have a ton of new parts. I see it as an evolving sport as so many things are changing year to year.

 

[Inyatkin]

No, it's not that if we lose early we'll never have success again. This isn't like the KO years where we had to fight to stay relevant and there actually was a lot at stake for the program on a decadal timescale. Hurley has earned a lot of credibility and we'll keep that for a while.

But the "how" of our future success depends a lot on what happens this month.

If we win 3-4 games, it'll be an Elite 8/Final Four year where we weren't quite at the level of other contenders, but showed our formula still gets it done in March and is worth staying the course.

If we get bounced this weekend, that would make for two underwhelming years in a row that warrants some course correction.

The Big East is subpar, I get it, but there are a whole bunch of teams that didn't go 17-3 in conference and win 29 games who would love to be underwhelmed like we are

 

[Punkbo]

No matter how things play out, I have no problem with the performance of our coaches this year. This team is very talented and has the ability to be a national champion.

In my mind, our success or failure will fall on the shoulders of players who have everything to play for in this tournament: AK, Reed and Mullins. No excuses. This tournament is extremely important for their future trajectory. I expect them to play up to the moment. I hope I’m right.

 

[80shusky]

Expectations by the fans about the program are unrealistic as we know. I think most of us would want the program to be more consistent in getting to the NCAA tournament every year or most years as opposed to the sort of hit or miss history we have. More consistent trips to the tournament are going to lead to getting knocked out more. Fans have to expect that. It will also lead to more opportunities to go to a Final Four. They aren't just going to get in there and win a championship every year even though that's the goal and that's what we want. This year they have one of maybe 8 teams that could win it. So we want a nice long run hopefully ending in a championship.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Some of you guys need to touch grass.

The program has won more titles in the last 3 years than Kansas in nearly 40 years.

Part of playing in the tournament is the occasional upset.

If you think the staff doesn't understand what the weaknesses are based on whether UCLA, Michigan State or Duke takes them out I don't know to tell you.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Can we have just one game where the conference situation is not life and death?

 

[storrsroars]

From my perspective, a run answers the question on whether Hurley is designing rosters knowing they are built for OOC & March, less so competing with StJ for the BE title & dealing with BE reffing.

If they flame out, needs to get back in the lab and make serious adjustments. If they make a run, we as fans have to buy into his roster building and understand the intent is built for March, not Jan/Feb and be patient.

So if we win 2 games vs lower seeds, then meet SJU and lose, what will you have learned?

 

[Palatine]

The bottom line is the NCAA is the only thing that matters. Conference titles are nice to have.

How did you feel when were 9-9 in the conference and NCAA champs?

How would you feel if we win the conference and lose game #1 in the NCAA?

When did UConn get put on the map? Betting Clemson and moving onto the Elite Eight. There stakes are huge in tourney. Job one is getting to the second week end.

 

[RuffRuff]

No, it's not that if we lose early we'll never have success again. This isn't like the KO years where we had to fight to stay relevant and there actually was a lot at stake for the program on a decadal timescale. Hurley has earned a lot of credibility and we'll keep that for a while.

But the "how" of our future success depends a lot on what happens this month.

If we win 3-4 games, it'll be an Elite 8/Final Four year where we weren't quite at the level of other contenders, but showed our formula still gets it done in March and is worth staying the course.

If we get bounced this weekend, that would make for two underwhelming years in a row that warrants some course correction.

One of the items that we are competing with that almost all other top programs aren't is conference affiliation. We are disadvantaged on that end, so maintaining hold as an individual program in that landscape is all the more challenging and we have less room for error. Need to keep our edges sharpened and never lose momentum.

For two years running we put 6 kids into the draft, last year was one, this could be a small number. Key is having the ability to attract top talent, sometimes for reasons that aren't entirely $$.

So if we win 2 games vs lower seeds, then meet SJU and lose, what will you have learned?

That will require 3 wins vs lower seeds to get there. If we get to the Elite 8, I see that as a solid season. If we happen to meet StJ and the reffing allows for what they do, and we lose, then it's a crummy draw. Playing a team for a 4th time when your system is designed to take teams off guard, isn't ideal.

 

[RuffRuff]

Some of you guys need to touch grass.

The program has won more titles in the last 3 years than Kansas in nearly 40 years.

Part of playing in the tournament is the occasional upset.

If you think the staff doesn't understand what the weaknesses are based on whether UCLA, Michigan State or Duke takes them out I don't know to tell you.

I'm going to be really interested to see how many upsets there really are and how scratch this tourney is, after last year. It feels more open.

 

[CL82]

So if we win 2 games vs lower seeds, then meet SJU and lose, what will you have learned?

That deepster is an ass hat?

 

[boba]

That deepster is an ass hat?

I believe we need to win 3 games to see SJU once more.

 

[CL82]

I believe we need to win 3 games to see SJU once more.

To be honest, I kind of want that game, even though they are built well to attack our weaknesses.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Either a few here had too much to drink on St Patrick's day or they didn't have enough to drink.

I don’t know how to break it to some of you but this isn't the 1960's and this isn't the women's game.

Hell, Wooden had a few years where he fell short as has Geno.

Tell me, at the moment what program would you rather be (I am specifying program, not team, as chosing Michigan or Arizona for example would include trading recent pasts and foreseeable futures with that school).

Yes, this current team has flaws. Every team out there has flaws. We aren't going to see a team like what we had two years ago for many years, and, when the next team at that level shows up, it may not be at UConn.

We're going to play this tournament. We may win a game or two; we may win more. Regardless the program will be among the very few elite programs when this tournament is over.

 

[Tuna]

Pretty simple, 3/19 and 3/24 3 pt shooting nights down the stretch cast extra doubts on how far this team can go. First half against Xavier on Thursday, they looked absolutely championship caliber.

What adjustments do people here want Hurley to make if we "flame out" in the first weekend? Get more one year mercenaries going forward? I personally love that this team has so many multi-year players on it.