And the Worst Fans in America are....

[Kevin G]

Some on this board used to mock another board when it crucified its players for the better part of 4 years when they didn't live up to their hype and lost critical games. It's the pot calling the kettle black i think...

THANK YOU!!!!!!

 

[CCinCT]

the word "Fan" is short for fanatic. Sure "the fans" voice their displeasure regarding the play of some of the players on this current version of the Huskies team but that doesn't mean that they aren't still die-in-the-wool Huskie fans. This is what message boards are for...the back and forth banter of fans who thinks they know why their team didn't perform the way they think they should have. No, they don't make the big bucks so they meet with similar minded folks on cyber media and exchange ideas...if they made the buck to do what Geno does they would have no reason to be here as they would be dealing with the issues face to face with the players themselves. I myself am guilty of being a fan...I also do not agree with those who claim that the refereeing did not have a deleterious affect to the negative against UConn in this past game. I find the referees affected the play of UConn especially in the first half. It was the combination of calls against UConn and the no-calls against Notre Dame that prevented UConn from getting into their rhythm and getting out and run. The no calls on the reach-ins by ND were appalling while every single call went against UConn in the first half. I was hard-pressed to find calls that went against ND in the first half. Someone mentioned that the calls favored UConn because Achonawa sat the bench with foul trouble...well, she should have sat the bench...none of her fouls were questionable. We must remember that it only took Bria Hartley 4 minutes to find her way to the bench with foul trouble. The second half with the exception of only a few instances, the calls were fairly consistent. The fact that the referees decided to swallow their whistles when Skylar had the ball with seconds remaining and was dribbling up the side-line before she got the ball to Achonawa for the game winner was in fact a game changer. It is totally acceptable basketball strategy for teams who have fouls to give to foul to use clock and it is common practice for referees to do their job and make the call. Not calling the fouls when Diggins was clearly being fouled especially after the ticky-tac foul at an inconsequential time that they called on Dolson in the second half for simply touching her opponent was mind-numbing and it did impact the game. If the foul is called UConn can get into its half-court set and more than likely we have an over-time game...not a loss in regulation.

With regards to the fans at last nights game...I was there and they were awesome...the noise level was the loudest I had heard the Civic Center in a long time. Fans were rising to their feet...they were encouraging the team...you couldn't have asked for a better fan reaction than you got yesterday at the civic center

Now some can say you can't blame the refs... I say, Why? Why can't we as fans point out in a game of magnitude when the calls or lack of calls impact a game? It is after all a facet of the game isn't it? It isn't bad sportsmanship to point out bad refereeing if it is you true opinion just as it isn't wrong for those to disagree to voice their disagreement to those observations. Can anyone here really stipulate that inept refereeing has never impacted or influenced the outcome of a game?

Somewhere on this board is a tweet from Swin Cash (might be a little biased, but I think she knows a little about hoops) in the stands that says ND was grabbing/holding jerseys - Not one call regarding this that I saw. Tell me that didn't impact KML getting free for a 3 somewhere along the line.

 

[WNBARookFan]

Woman up.

If Ryan Boatright made the same type of turnovers repeatedly or if Kevin Ollie made some of the same strategic end of game errors that have now been a trademark over every single close last possession game over a now 2 year span than they'd be crucified. And I don't think many here would object to it.

But because the girls are girls we have to turn another cheek? Than the women's basketball haters are right. It's not a sport to be taken seriously.

Ding ding ding.

Don't get me wrong, some of the comments here go too far, and those posters have been identified. However, it's equally insulting to imply that just because someone doesn't feel that the decisions by the coach were in the best interest of the team, or if there are certain plays that are made repeatedly by certain players that need to be criticized, that we are any less of a "fan." I've been a fan since my dad first took me to a game in the fieldhouse in my stroller. I'm not entitled-I'm just of the opinion I have seen enough basketball (especially UConn basketball) to know the difference between good play and bad play.

Personal attacks against players (and coaches) are in poor taste and should not be allowed. However, if something appears to be tactically wrong with how the game was coached or how the players played, then someone should feel comfortable talking about that in a public forum without being labeled as spewing "vitriol" or not being a "real fan."

 

[vtcwbuff]

Maybe its time for two Boneyards. One for fans of WOMEN's basketball where the game, the play and the winning - or losing, can be freely discussed.

The other could be reserved for fans of girl's basketball where topics could be restricted to more positive things like feelings, and effort and maybe uniforms and hairstyles.

 

[Kibitzer]

My personal rule about posting remains the same: Never post a thought about a player or person that I would not express face-to-face to that person.

That said I believe that in those critical waning seconds of the game, UConn (five players on the court) did not adhere to guidance on the wall of their locker room -- they did not "play smart." The passing, the movement (or lack thereof) and the failure to call "time out" were not smart.

The failure ot the officials to call a foul (closing seconds) when Kelly did everything but mug Diggins was inexcusble.

As for the game? A brutally disappointing result. ND exploited the weakness in our guard play and we were unable to take advantage of our taller lineup.

We have more individual talent than ND but our pieces don't quite mesh, particularly because we simply do not have a "quarterback" type point guard (like Jen or Sue or Renee were). Moriah? Not just yet. Kelly or Bria? Not their role.

I have heard Geno say, "Every time we had the best point guard in the country, we won a national championship." Look at the (only) two teams ahead of us. Baylor has Sims and ND has Diggins. I believe that is the difference.

 

[Icebear]

And the boards only acceptible response is to make only positive comments, pat the girls on their back and joyfully send them on their merry way?

Not at all, but like criticism be real critique with understanding not just moaning and groaning.

Noting errors is a critical part of the process of making corrections. Too often I see too little of that here. I posted earlier a criticism of the defense played against ND and McBride in the last regular season game. Folks suggested that all sorts of ways to extend the blame onto individuals including KML, Geno, etc. I think that a week after the game today I was the only one to make a suggestion as to how the defense needed to be set and why. Seeing what failed is easy, understanding and teaching clearly how to prevent it is what changes the future.

So I pose to you and everyone this question what happened at the end of the game and why and what should be done next time to avoid it. There are at 4-6 things to be addressed.

 

[vtcwbuff]

My personal rule about posting remains the same: Never post a thought about a player or person that I would not express face-to-face to that person.

That said I believe that in those critical waning seconds of the game, UConn (five players on the court) did not adhere to guidance on the wall of their locker room -- they did not "play smart." The passing, the movement (or lack thereof) and the failure to call "time out" were not smart.

The failure ot the officials to call a foul (closing seconds) when Kelly did everything but mug Diggins was inexcusble.

As for the game? A brutally disappointing result. ND exploited the weakness in our guard play and we were unable to take advantage of our taller lineup.

We have more individual talent than ND but our pieces don't quite mesh, particularly because we simply do not have a "quarterback" type point guard (like Jen or Sue or Renee were). Moriah? Not just yet. Kelly or Bria? Not their role.

I have heard Geno say, "Every time we had the best point guard in the country, we won a national championship." Look at the (only) two teams ahead of us. Baylor has Sims and ND has Diggins. I believe that is the difference.

Kibitzer - Sometimes its all about choice of words that fires people up. Your "they did not play smart" could be a less tactful poster's "they played dumb." Or "ND exploited the weakness in our guard play" could be "Hartley and Faris really stunk on defense" in somebody else's vocabulary.

My recollection of the Geno quote is a bit different, but I have heard him say that on a couple of occasions.

 

[Kibitzer]

Kibitzer - Sometimes its all about choice of words that fires people up. Your "they did not play smart" could be a less tactful poster's "they played dumb." Or "ND exploited the weakness in our guard play" could be "Hartley and Faris really stunk on defense" in somebody else's vocabulary.

My recollection of the Geno quote is a bit different, but I have heard him say that on a couple of occasions.

I was careful to NOT say that they played "dumb" or that they "stunk." I understand that the sign in the locker room urges them to "Play Hard. Play Smart." Something like that. I thought it fair to refer to that. As for the Geno quote, perhaps I should have added the customary, ". . . or words to that effect."

My comments were not mean-spirited or personal. I believe they accurately reflected how we went from "last shot to win" to crushing turnover that led to ND winning very late. I tried to focus on Why That Happened. Just an old fan's perspective.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Please under

I was careful to NOT say that they played "dumb" or that they "stunk." I understand that the sign in the locker room urges them to "Play Hard. Play Smart." Something like that. I thought it fair to refer to that. As for the Geno quote, perhaps I should have added the customary, ". . . or words to that effect."

My comments were not mean-spirited or personal. I believe they accurately reflected how we went from "last shot to win" to crushing turnover that led to ND winning very late. I tried to focus on Why That Happened. Just an old fan's perspective.

Please understand, I did not disagree with a single thing you said. My intent was to point out that not everyone has the same vocabulary. Other's see absolutely nothing wrong with the use of dumb instead of not smart or stunk instead of weakness. That's what generates a lot of the back and forth between posters.

.

 

[Forty_four]

Not at all, but like criticism be real critique with understanding not just moaning and groaning.

Noting errors is a critical part of the process of making corrections. Too often I see too little of that here. I posted earlier a criticism of the defense played against ND and McBride in the last regular season game. Folks suggested that all sorts of ways to extend the blame onto individuals including KML, Geno, etc. I think that a week after the game today I was the only one to make a suggestion as to how the defense needed to be set and why. Seeing what failed is easy, understanding and teaching clearly how to prevent it is what changes the future.

So I pose to you and everyone this question what happened at the end of the game and why and what should be done next time to avoid it. There are at 4-6 things to be addressed.

Your viewpoint is well stated and commendable. But purely from a fans perspective, very few posters watch the game through a "coachs eye". Most posters comment on what they saw, not what can be done about correcting it, correcting it, teaching for the next occassion is Geno's and his staff job.

Most posters on a forum like this only want to state what they saw and directly state the obvious, they are not attempting to eloquently make their comments. Most statements are reactions to the disappointing loss in the heat of the moment. Hours and days later most of the negative comments vanish or are very few, and less harsh in their tone.

Fans/posters making negative comments does not make them disloyal or less passionate about this team. They will probably watch/attend the next game and root just as hard for a victory. We all know that games are not won or lost in the last 18.4 seconds but it is the final moments that become etched in peoples minds and when mistakes are made, comments will be made by fans. Geno has stated that this team is not smart enough to win these games yet, and he can include himself in this particular loss when he did not call one of his 2 remaining time outs when things were breaking down.

As much as I wanted to win this game, for a title and the players peace of mind and confidence that they can win this type of game, I still believe we can beat ND and we are the only team capable of beating Baylor!

 

[ed4ourgirls]

Like all fans, I am disappointed that our kids were unable to win
these very winnable games against Notre Dame.

But I feel certain that my disappointment is as nothing compared
to the disappointment felt by the team and the coaches.

Clearly, any carping by me as to what might have been done differently
or done better isn't going to benefit the team, and (for me at least) it
won't fill any psychic need or otherwise benefit me.

So I'll just state my belief that our kids will get to the final four and
get there rather easily. Once there, I think we have a better chance
of beating Baylor than ND has. I do not believe that our team has
no chance against either of those teams. Anything can happen.

Bottom line: Win or lose I love our girls, and I appreciate all the hard
work they have done in providing us with such an entertaining season.

 

[CTBasketball]

Is this the first season that this behavior has happened? I'm guessing you weren't around the men's board last season...

 

[hoopsdiva]

Like all fans, I am disappointed that our kids were unable to win
these very winnable games against Notre Dame.

But I feel certain that my disappointment is as nothing compared
to the disappointment felt by the team and the coaches.

Clearly, any carping by me as to what might have been done differently
or done better isn't going to benefit the team, and (for me at least) it
won't fill any psychic need or otherwise benefit me.

So I'll just state my belief that our kids will get to the final four and
get there rather easily. Once there, I think we have a better chance
of beating Baylor than ND has. I do not believe that our team has
no chance against either of those teams. Anything can happen.

Bottom line: Win or lose I love our girls, and I appreciate all the hard
work they have done in providing us with such an entertaining season.

+1

Great post.