Aiming Higher

[JS]

The sights of UConn fans seem to have moved higher since the start of the season.

Then the debate was whether the Huskies could make the Final Four. Most thought they had a shot at it, some thought Elite Eight would be more realistic. In either case, the drag was the loss of a superstar and too many question marks, including youth, people coming back from injuries, people with something yet to prove.

Fast forward. A grating second loss. Yet the discussion even among the {sometimes tongue in cheek} skeptics is "How we gonna win the national championship when [we're playing four guards] [we have two losses][____________].

So I'd say the squad has shown us something and sights on this site have subtly shifted.

 

[alexrgct]

I think the issue is that the losses were so close and UConn had the W in their grasp. That gives people cause to criticize rather than think it's actually pretty amazing that they're squarely in the picture to compete for F4/NC distinction to begin with.

If this team makes the F4, it might just be the best coaching job Geno has ever done. But I'm sure people will still have axes to grind if we get there and lose.

 

[Kibitzer]

Potentially the "best coaching job Geno has ever done"? If so, you must factor in all the expert criticism and advice he has received here on the Boneyard.

 

[meyers7]

The sights of UConn fans seem to have moved higher since the start of the season.

Mine haven't, if we make the FF I will be very happy. Anything after that is icing in the cake.

 

[Sonny44]

I think the issue is that the losses were so close and UConn had the W in their grasp. That gives people cause to criticize rather than think it's actually pretty amazing that they're squarely in the picture to compete for F4/NC distinction to begin with.

If this team makes the F4, it might just be the best coaching job Geno has ever done. But I'm sure people will still have axes to grind if we get there and lose.

I GUESS THEY WOULD BE HAPPIER IF WE GOT CREAMED.

 

[alexrgct]

I GUESS THEY WOULD BE HAPPIER IF WE GOT CREAMED.

In a weird way...maybe. In that case, you could just say, "Well shoot, we lost Maya, we've got a lot of underclassmen, but we'll be older and deeper next season with a hell of a class coming in." But because UConn is tantalizingly close, it's easier to point to a couple decisions made or plays and say, "If we'd only done this, we'd have won."

 

[MilfordHusky]

Maybe I was unrealistic, maybe I am lucky, but the team is just about where I thought they would be. Some details have definitely surprised me, but I thought the 2 losses would be the tough games. I expected that we would probably lose 1, maybe both. I think, if healthy, we run the table over the rest of the regular season, but the ND game and a few others will be tough. I think the next loss, if any, comes in the BET or Final Four. I hope we learn and can snatch those 50-50 games. We need a lot to break right to win it all, but I think we will be in the mix.

 

[FairView]

They lost two heartbreakers. Both could have been won. While it's frustrating to feel the loss, I am thrilled with the potential. UConn has the potential to do something very special this year. We'll learn a lot about how each of the athletes on this team reacts, adjusts and performs -- both individually and as part of the team unit. I was hoping FInal Four from the start. I am still thinking that's our destiny this year. And I can't wait to see the look on Skylar's mother's face when we win the important games this year.

 

[wes33]

Dolson is your MVP in my book, she does not have the sparkle of some but what a blue collar worker.

 

[Timeout]

Hope springs eternal in husky land. I think that after we beat Stamford, and so early in the season, that we really started to like our chances. It's hard as a husky fan not to think in the great positive of this team's possibilities. Geno is preparing, bringing along and instilling the confidence needed in each of his players. He appears to have made his peace with Buck - what he will get out of her - and now we hear that he is going to play Banks and Stokes a lot tonight. This is going to be an even more exciting and formidable team come the NCAAs and Faris will lead the way. Go Huskies!

 

[meyers7]

Hope springs eternal in husky land. I think that after we beat Stamford, and so early in the season, that we really started to like our chances.

I don't think beating Stamford (not that we did), would really show us much about our chances.

 

[HuskyNan]

I don't think beating Stamford (not that we did), would really show us much about our chances.

How about if the Huskies beat Trumbull?

 

[ed4ourgirls]

They've got no chance because Geno yells at them, leaving
them all humiliated and demoralized.

 

[Bestiarius]

Perhaps we need a 15 or so loss season to put things back in perspective.

 

[Tonyc]

We did come close againest Baylor and ND. We will be much improved when we meet them again and I think that along with not having to play them on their home court, will be the difference in UConn winning. We will be deeper with more height and more scoring options. Heather will be better and Kiah more experienced. Both losses were wake up calls and exposed what we need ot work on. We will, Geno will make sure of that. I expect Stef and Kiah to score more and I would expect KML to get open more and hit some shots. I would also expect ND to commit alot more fouls or should I say get called for alot more fouls the next time we meet. UConn will be prepared for Diggins and Novosel driving and pushing off when their dribbleing. A couple of flops should handle that.

If we do go undefeated the rest of this season then when will we lose????? In a year or two we may be looking at 4-5 AAs most of which will be starting.

 

[Sonny44]

We did come close againest Baylor and ND. We will be much improved when we meet them again and I think that along with not having to play them on their home court, will be the difference in UConn winning. We will be deeper with more height and more scoring options. Heather will be better and Kiah more experienced. Both losses were wake up calls and exposed what we need ot work on. We will, Geno will make sure of that. I expect Stef and Kiah to score more and I would expect KML to get open more and hit some shots. I would also expect ND to commit alot more fouls or should I say get called for alot more fouls the next time we meet. UConn will be prepared for Diggins and Novosel driving and pushing off when their dribbleing. A couple of flops should handle that.

If we do go undefeated the rest of this season then when will we lose????? In a year or two we may be looking at 4-5 AAs most of which will be starting.

Not all the kids mature at the same time or rate. Others may catch up.
The big challenge for Geno will have next year will be managing all that talent. The gals on the bench now are ok with that. Next year we'll have ten players or so whomay not handle sitting for long stretches that well.

 

[Icebear]

Not all the kids mature at the same time or rate. Others may catch up.
The big challenge for Geno will have next year will be managing all that talent. The gals on the bench now are ok with that. Next year we'll have ten players or so whomay not handle sitting for long stretches that well.

Geno has rarely had a problem with that because of the kids he recruits and how he informs them before they arrive.

 

[Sonny44]

Geno has rarely had a problem with that because of the kids he recruits and how he informs them before they arrive.

I know, but this is an unusually high-powered bunch, a challenge. So I hope you are correct.

 

[Icebear]

I know, but this is an unusually high-powered bunch, a challenge. So I hope you are correct.

I'll put it this way. I would rather have Geno be the one dealing with the problem than any other coach I can think of.

 

[Wonkster]

Perhaps we need a 15 or so loss season to put things back in perspective.

.
If we lose 11 and win the NC, then we will have topped Tennessee's improbable NC in 1997 after losing 10 games.
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