Andy Katz discusses UConn at Atlantis | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Andy Katz discusses UConn at Atlantis

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Tenspro2002 said:
I would rather enter the Tournament at #1 and the overwhelming favorite.

This isn't like an ambush, where being unnoticed and having the element of surprise is an asset.

If we're going to be underrated in November, I would rather that misperception be rectified in December, with questions about our staying power answered resoundingly in January and February. I would rather not stumble through the regular season again and hope to catch lightning in a bottle in mid-March.
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I agree. I think the program needs a season where they are on the national radar all season, and the subject of the talking heads. Especially being in a wasteland of a conference.

Don't get me wrong, I, like any fan, would take a repeat of 2013-14 in a heartbeat. It's just been awhile (2008-09) since we were a player (top 10) throughout the season. And, I'm not asking for top 10 throughout, but a great start, climb, and consistently top 10-15 season (and hopefully very magical run at the end). Would be nice, just sayin'.
 
Huskies4ever said:
I agree. I think the program needs a season where they are on the national radar all season, and the subject of the talking heads. Especially being in a wasteland of a conference.

Don't get me wrong, I, like any fan, would take a repeat of 2013-14 in a heartbeat. It's just been awhile (2008-09) since we were a player (top 10) throughout the season. And, I'm not asking for top 10 throughout, but a great start, climb, and consistently top 10-15 season (and hopefully very magical run at the end). Would be nice, just sayin'.
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Isn't that what happened in 2011?

UConn was ranked 7th in the first week, then 6th, then 4th, 4th, 4th, 8th, 10th, 8th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th, then 9th in the final poll before the NCAA tourney.
 
upstater said:
Isn't that what happened in 2011?

UConn was ranked 7th in the first week, then 6th, then 4th, 4th, 4th, 8th, 10th, 8th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th, then 9th in the final poll before the NCAA tourney.
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Is that 2010-11?.
 
upstater said:
Isn't that what happened in 2011?

UConn was ranked 7th in the first week, then 6th, then 4th, 4th, 4th, 8th, 10th, 8th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th, then 9th in the final poll before the NCAA tourney.
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We didn't start the year ranked. Burst in to the top 10 after winning Maui.

We were slumping hard going in to the BET. A lot of people thought we were somehow trending down. We finished the season very weak, losing 7 of our last 11 after losing just two games before that. And then the doubt came as to whether or not Kemba and co. could keep it going as long as they ended up going.

Closest thing since 08-09 of course
 
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The top 20 comment is just setting us up for the BS treatment we'll get all season. Going into January we will be at worst 7 wins (Maine, UNH, Furman, Sacred Heart, UMass-Lowell, CCSU, and at least one win at Battle 4 Atlantis). The other 5 games (2 at B4A, Maryland, Ohio State, @Texas) will be tough, but let's say we go 3-2. Then we're sitting at 10-2 with three quality wins and we're maybe top 20? Even 9-3 has to put us close**... It's just easier for them to say the AAC is bad when they set us up like we aren't a good team from the beginning. Confirmation bias once we drop a tough game here or there.

**Just for measure, last year in the Dec 29th poll, there was three 3-loss teams:
#18 Oklahoma (8-3)
#19 North Carolina (9-3)
#25 Georgetown (8-3)
 
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Rocktheworld said:
We didn't start the year ranked. Burst in to the top 10 after winning Maui.

We were slumping hard going in to the BET. A lot of people thought we were somehow trending down. We finished the season very weak, losing 7 of our last 11 after losing just two games before that. And then the doubt came as to whether or not Kemba and co. could keep it going as long as they ended up going.

Closest thing since 08-09 of course
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We were in the first post preseason poll, so UConn wasn't ranked before any games were played, but they were ranked after the first preseason poll.

And even though UConn dipped, it still stayed in the rankings. UConn averaged top 10 all year.
 
upstater said:
We were in the first post preseason poll, so UConn wasn't ranked before any games were played, but they were ranked after the first preseason poll.

And even though UConn dipped, it still stayed in the rankings. UConn averaged top 10 all year.
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Just go look up the rankings. We got a few votes the first few weeks were not ranked.

Final Preseason: N/A in the AP; no votes in ESPN
Week 2: 13th in "received votes" effectively ranked 38th in the AP; no votes in ESPN
Week 3: 11th in "received votes" effectively ranked 36th in the AP; no votes in ESPN
Week 4: 7th overall in the AP; 9th overall in ESPN

In the Week 4 rankings, we were 5-0. Guess which two wins were numbers 4 and 5. Winning Maui put UConn on the map, as early as it was. but it still took 4 weeks, and nobody saw it coming before it happened.
 
Need a guy who can step up at critical junctures. Get his own shot when necessary. Doesn't need to be 15 or 13, but every good team needs a dependable go to guy.

We don't have one yet. Plenty of candidates for the job, but right now we don't know if any of them will consistently make big shots. Everything else looks to be pretty good.
 
upstater said:
We were in the first post preseason poll, so UConn wasn't ranked before any games were played, but they were ranked after the first preseason poll.

And even though UConn dipped, it still stayed in the rankings. UConn averaged top 10 all year.
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Trending in the opposite direction. Would rather the team move up and stay than drop like a stone. We looked awful going into the Big East Tourney, but the rest is history:)
 
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KOisKing said:
The top 20 comment is just setting us up for the BS treatment we'll get all season. Going into January we will be at worst 7 wins (Maine, UNH, Furman, Sacred Heart, UMass-Lowell, CCSU, and at least one win at Battle 4 Atlantis). The other 5 games (2 at B4A, Maryland, Ohio State, @Texas) will be tough, but let's say we go 3-2. Then we're sitting at 10-2 with three quality wins and we're maybe top 20? Even 9-3 has to put us close**... It's just easier for them to say the AAC is bad when they set us up like we aren't a good team from the beginning. Confirmation bias once we drop a tough game here or there.

**Just for measure, last year in the Dec 29th poll, there was three 3-loss teams:
#18 Oklahoma (8-3)
#19 North Carolina (9-3)
#25 Georgetown (8-3)
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If we want the recognition that everyone on this board thinks we deserve, the worst we can do in these games is go 4-1. Not saying we shouldn't be a top 25 team if we go 3-2 and are sitting at 10-2, but many here think we are a top 5/10 team (and I agree, talent wise). To get the respect we want, go 4-1 in those games.
 
We have to do damage against good competition before January hits because climbing those rankings from our conference is tough. It's going to be the same every year unless the AAC turns into the ACC.
 
jibsey said:
We have to do damage against good competition before January hits because climbing those rankings from our conference is tough. It's going to be the same every year unless the AAC turns into the ACC.
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True last season. Not necessarily true this season.
 
Quite frankly, there are some teachable items here:
1) Ignore preseason polls - I don't read them
2) Given the schedule the team would have to come out of the gates fast; fair or unfair that's what they will be judged on given AAC conference schedule. If you beat Michigan, Syracuse, MD early - you will get ranked. If you lose to top teams early it's a tough hole to dig out of.
I hope this helps.
 
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It's a combination of the fact that UConn was out of the spotlight all last year in addition to the fact that most of these guys who do polls don't have a full appreciation for how much we've added for this season.

From a talent standpoint we have to be Top 15, and that may be kind of conservative with ballers like Dham, Gibbs and Adams.
 
The Top4 in the AAC can play with the top4 in any conference in 2015-16. As long as the BearCats do their part and smack down the Cyclones the AAC will have 4 Sweet16 caliber teams and 2 or 3 serious contenders for the Final4. The conference took a hit when AN left Memphis but our top4 can throw a very serious knockout punch at anytime against anyone.

Next year may be another story...

JMHO
 
Tenspro2002 said:
I would rather enter the Tournament at #1 and the overwhelming favorite.

This isn't like an ambush, where being unnoticed and having the element of surprise is an asset.

If we're going to be underrated in November, I would rather that misperception be rectified in December, with questions about our staying power answered resoundingly in January and February. I would rather not stumble through the regular season again and hope to catch lightning in a bottle in mid-March.
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This isn't college football, though, so public opinion doesn't matter as much (is it still a recruiting boon to be ranked in the top ten all season, sure).

People love the phrase "catch lightening in a bottle," but is that really what happened? Because that logic would tend to ignore the development curve of the regular season, the curve that college basketball is predicated on more than any other sport if for no other reason than that every team is in it until the last second. I had a lot of questions about Duke's staying power when they were getting trashed at home by Miami last year, but that didn't matter much when they were winning the title. And yes, I know they were a one seed and in contention all season, but the pattern of tribulation and then gradually gaining strength from it is familiar to all college basketball teams, and it is one I would argue is far more important than where you are ranked in January or even February.

We're discussing 19-22 year old kids, and so the drilling of essential habits tend to resonate a lot more in defeat than in victory. By no means do I hope we're 17-15 going into the tournament again, but we play a very tough schedule and we are going to lose games.
 
BLUEDOGHOUSE said:
The Top4 in the AAC can play with the top4 in any conference in 2015-16. As long as the BearCats do their part and smack down the Cyclones the AAC will have 4 Sweet16 caliber teams and 2 or 3 serious contenders for the Final4. The conference took a hit when AN left Memphis but our top4 can throw a very serious knockout punch at anytime against anyone.

Next year may be another story...

JMHO
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I would like to believe the AAC has 3 serious contenders for the F4 but Chief must be frank with the fans - that won't happen.
 
Chief00 said:
I would like to believe the AAC has 3 serious contenders for the F4 but Chief must be frank with the fans - that won't happen.
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Oh man I'm totally digging the in 3rd person schtick you've adopted Chief. Never content to rest on your laurels, you perpetually innovate.
 
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lange10 said:
If we want the recognition that everyone on this board thinks we deserve, the worst we can do in these games is go 4-1. Not saying we shouldn't be a top 25 team if we go 3-2 and are sitting at 10-2, but many here think we are a top 5/10 team (and I agree, talent wise). To get the respect we want, go 4-1 in those games.
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Agree on all accounts, except the last part - and I think that's what is most frustrating. Whether it's voters unfamiliarity with our new talent, bias against a supposed weak AAC, or a combination of both, we're UConn dammit. All these other schools get the benefit of the doubt, and we still get very little respect despite what we've done. Seeing teams like Dayton, Syracuse, BC, and Siena in Katz's early top 25 (especially those last two) and not even mentioning us - that's a ridiculous oversight. I'm not saying we should be fawned over like UK or Duke, but we have to go 10-2 to be top 15 ... we're treated like a Mid-Major and we're not.
 
cohenzone said:
First of all, the great thing about sports is that you actually have to play. Predictions mean nothing. If predictions float someone's boat, so far as I understand math (not a strength), Top 20 could be anywhere from 1 to 20, so it's picking a fight where there isn't one to say Katz should be riding the BY bandwagon. We all have great expectations, but the parts still have to work together and of all the great point guards we've had, only one was really ready to drive the bus from day one and that was a long time ago. It will great if Adams can jump in and lead from the get go.
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I agree. Predictions are like when you were in High School and you talked about how good you were in bed with women. Sure it makes you feel good and some are foolish enough to believe you but at the end of the day all the talk didnt matter when Tina sweet ti.t.s dropped her pants on prom night.
 
If you like it or not, preseason polls do matter. If you start unranked, it will take UConn going nearly undefeated in the early season to be ranked. If you start ranked, you can afford a couple of losses.
UConn has the skill to go far in the NCAA tournament, but can't rely on winning from a 7th seed. We need to be a top 3-4 seed, like everyone else
 
When it comes to UConn basketball and the polls - it's where you finish up at the end that counts and UConn has finished #1 four times since 1999
Are there any other teams that can claim that honor?
I've decided that the poll watching just ends up giving me an ulcer - I'm done with it
 
TheChamps990411 said:
I agree. Predictions are like when you were in High School and you talked about how good you were in bed with women. Sure it makes you feel good and some are foolish enough to believe you but at the end of the day all the talk didnt matter when Tina sweet ti.t.s dropped her pants on prom night.
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Why was your prom date wearing pants?
 
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