anyone want to argue now?

[CL82]

This team just does not make clutch, winning plays. Certain guys and certain teams have a sense of "what do I do right now that's going to maximize our chances of winning this game?". Our team does not. Whether it's Drummond trying turn-around jumpers on the baseline or Bazz jacking up 3's early in the shot clock or Boat trying for a steal or Lamb failing to close on a shooter.

These are small, subtle plays that players with high IQ's recognize as having resounding impacts on the game, but our guys don't have the innate sense of "what do I do right now that's going to win us this game".

Think that having all underclassman except 1 player might have somthing to do with that?

I haven't given up on this season yet, but I realize that these young kids are gaining experience with every game. Next year, teams like Syracuse will lose their vets and we'll bring back a solid core. The predictions of our demise are, as always, premature.

 

[uconngb]

Whether the referees ultimately decided the winner, no one can say.

But what drove me up the duck*ing wall was that they affected the outcome. They tilted the competitive balance of the game towards one team. And when you give a team as good as Marquette a clear edge, you create a very bad situation for the opponent.

Whether or not you like to hear about the refs doesn't change that there was something seriously amiss with the way today's game was called.

fair enough. the refs were bad, but it's not something that was insurmountable. Have seen plenty of poorly reffed games before where the aggrieved team still won the game. Could have happened today too, but this team is just missing that certain something that allows them to overcome challenges (whether it be the other team, the refs, or whatever). I would have liked to have seen Blaney's pulse rate increase above 50 at some point....he just sits back and takes it like he's on his rocking chair down in FL sipping tea....which is where he hopefully is next year. Nice guy and all, but couldn't be more opposite than JC (which may make him great as an assistant but as a head coach, the game has passed him by)

 

[Fishy]

AD needs to be coached up desperately. He has no idea of what is a good shot vs. not and those 2 possessions were killer. Has more raw athletic ability than we may ever have seen in a UConn uniform, but it's clear he's still learning the game. Can't see how he's a lottery pick right now, but if so....he should definitely jump at it

I agree - those two possessions were disastrous.

I think they'll read "Drummond, missed jumpshot from 10'" and "Drummond, missed hook shot from 8' ". Neither shot should ever be attempted ever again.

But he's millionaire already. When he makes basketball his full-time job, egad.

 

[Kitaman]

I blame the refs.

... and Blaney and the players. Their tallest man was 6'7" and this was the gameplan?

 

[uconngb]

Think that having all underclassman except 1 player might have somthing to do with that?

I haven't given up on this season yet, but I realize that these young kids are gaining experience with every game. Next year, teams like Syracuse will lose their vets and we'll bring back a solid core. The predictions of our demise are, as always, premature.

um, last year's team was all underclassmen except for one player...and by the way, today was the 26th game of the season. i don't see Kentucky struggling

 

[Burnsbros23]

We dont have a guy who can just score in the post. They were the mismatch not us. We needed Roscoe to guard Crowder somewhat effectively and he couldn't. Crowder took our big guys outside and killed us we needed to make an adjustment. Shouldnt of played Drummond and Oriakhi together today very much just doesnt work vs Marquette.

 

[Fishy]

fair enough. the refs were bad, but it's not something that was insurmountable. Have seen plenty of poorly reffed games before where the aggrieved team still won the game. Could have happened today too, but this team is just missing that certain something that allows them to overcome challenges (whether it be the other team, the refs, or whatever). I would have liked to have seen Blaney's pulse rate increase above 50 at some point....he just sits back and takes it like he's on his rocking chair down in FL sipping tea....which is where he hopefully is next year. Nice guy and all, but couldn't be more opposite than JC (which may make him great as an assistant but as a head coach, the game has passed him by)

I like George Blaney, but I can't even think about him anymore. Our coaching situation is just not good right now. We have four head coaches on the staff right now and I think the reigns have been given to the fourth best option right now.

My point about the refs is this - UConn had enough adversity in this game. Marquette is a deservedly top-15 club. They have two great senior players who scored about 55 of MU's 79. It was already uphill for UConn...the refs needlessly and inexplicably made the slope steeper. We went from a blue square to double black diamonds with about eight minutes left in the first half.

 

[uconngb]

I agree - those two possessions were disastrous.

I think they'll read "Drummond, missed jumpshot from 10'" and "Drummond, missed hook shot from 8' ". Neither shot should ever be attempted ever again.

But he's millionaire already. When he makes basketball his full-time job, egad.

when he gets the ball 10 feet from the hoop, he acts like it's a ticking bomb. you can kind of see the hamster going around on the wheel, but he needs to understand patience. I'm fair enough to realize he's only 18 and he has WORLDs of potential, but he could really benefit from several months of big man school. As you say though, he will get the $ regardless...i would really love to see him on the college level with a full year of coaching under his belt, but i don't think that will happen

 

[Kitaman]

If their RPI and SOS stay strong, they're in easily (8-9 seed) as long as they don't totally crap the bed.

If they win out (obviously less confident about this today) and win a game in the BE, they'll be a 5-6 seed.

Yeah but what is the expectation if they get in? I don't see a NC in our future this year.

They are too accepting of losing.

 

[caw]

We dont have a guy who can just score in the post. They were the mismatch not us. We needed Roscoe to guard Crowder somewhat effectively and he couldn't. Crowder took our big guys outside and killed us we needed to make an adjustment. Shouldnt of played Drummond and Oriakhi together today very much just doesnt work vs Marquette.

Look at the score of the game when Drummond and Oriakhi were in the game. They weren't the problem. The problem was when both got in foul trouble in the first half. 23-20 when they were both in the game, 20-9 run with them both on the bench. Blaney made a horrid call of putting Olander and Wolf in together. Drummond and Oriakhi was OK, because Drummond could defend Crowder. Crowder scored most of his points on Giffey/Olander. The problem with having both Drummond and Oriakhi out there was that the refs called some questionable calls on both of them which sent them to the bench.

 

[StongingtonBob]

There are always poorly officiated games. It's too easy for a frustrated fan of a struggling team to blame the refs. Are you used to getting the calls at home?

 

[tzznandrew]

This team can play with the best. Are they going to win the title? Probably not. But that they won the title last year was almost entirely luck. They played the 5 seed in the Elite 8. They were the highest-seeded team in the Final Four.

If they go on a bit of a run, and get in as a 5-6 seed, they can go further in this tournament than we are giving them credit for. Unless they play like they did against Louisville and parts of today.

 

[uconngb]

I like George Blaney, but I can't even think about him anymore. Our coaching situation is just not good right now. We have four head coaches on the staff right now and I think the reigns have been given to the fourth best option right now.

My point about the refs is this - UConn had enough adversity in this game. Marquette is a deservedly top-15 club. They have two great senior players who scored about 55 of MU's 79. It was already uphill for UConn...the refs needlessly and inexplicably made the slope steeper. We went from a blue square to double black diamonds with about eight minutes left in the first half.

I'll agree on that as far as the refs and about Blaney. Nothing against him personally, at JC's side, I think he has definitely been an asset. When JC first took leave, I was the first to say KO should get his shot if he is truly being groomed as HC in waiting. I don't think we'd be any worse if he had and he would have gotten "thrown into the deep end" experience.

I think you put it well about adversity, just said it differently than me. This group of kids, for whatever reason, needs to have a LOT go right to win. I don't know if they hate each other off the court, are fat and happy from last year, or are just thinking about themselves. But there is zero sense of urgency and zero sense of energy for more than 1-2 minute snippets. Not enough for them to overcome everything working against them (including the refs today)

 

[UCFBfan]

Think that having all underclassman except 1 player might have somthing to do with that?

I haven't given up on this season yet, but I realize that these young kids are gaining experience with every game. Next year, teams like Syracuse will lose their vets and we'll bring back a solid core. The predictions of our demise are, as always, premature.

If that post-season ban holds we won't have much of a core left either. Who wants to stay another season to just play during the regular season? Lamb and Drummond will be gone and others might transfer if Calhoun decides this is it too. Burke did really nail it when she said that this program is at a very fragile point right now....

 

[Burnsbros23]

Look at the score of the game when Drummond and Oriakhi were in the game. They weren't the problem. The problem was when both got in foul trouble in the first half. 23-20 when they were both in the game, 20-9 run with them both on the bench. Blaney made a horrid call of putting Olander and Wolf in together. Drummond and Oriakhi was OK, because Drummond could defend Crowder. Crowder scored most of his points on Giffey/Olander. The problem with having both Drummond and Oriakhi out there was that the refs called some questionable calls on both of them which sent them to the bench.

Drummond and Oriakhi had a hard time guarding Crowder. We needed Roscoe to guard him effectively. And like u said the Wolf Olander frontline was Horrid. Oriakhi and Drummond are just so uncomfortable guarding anyone on the perimeter that they help then crowder gets an open 3.

I just thought we really needed Roscoe to play well today and he got in foul trouble and never contributed much.

 

[caw]

There are always poorly officiated games. It's too easy for a frustrated fan of a struggling team to blame the refs. Are you used to getting the calls at home?

I've said this in another thread, and usually I agree. Usually when there is bad officiating it goes both ways. I mean theoretically when a game is called poorly, it is called poorly both ways. Not in a way that favors one team by more than a call or two. This game was a +5 in bad calls going Marquette's way. In fact, I would love for you to tell me if there were any questionable calls made in UConn's favor? I didn't see any.

If it was one or two extra questionable calls that went against UConn, it doesn't make a difference. When it's 5 or more differential it completely changes the game and makes it virtually impossible for UConn to win.

Like Fishy said, Marquette is a good team. They have the ability to beat UConn at UConn without the refs help. The refs help changed the odds of UConn winning from maybe 33% to 2%.

 

[willie99]

arguing with a cement wall is a waste of time, why bother?

 

[spoop]

I'm almost always one to say it's not the ref's fault, but holy that that was AWFUL reffing. From where I was standing in the front of the student section there were lots of obvious blown calls. Like, extremely obvious, no other way about it.

 

[Chief00]

The Refs made a major difference. They were really bad - out of position on many calls, rabbit ears on Boatshow, etc.

 

[huskymagic]

Boeheim was right....punch UConn in the face, and they'll lay down. No blame on the refs in this one...this team has the uncanny ability to make the wrong play at the wrong time more consistently than i've ever seen before. It's actually what they do best. A taunting technical foul (which was absolutely the right call) after you've made up 10 points of a deficit and the crowd going crazy?? game went from 4 to 9 in a matter of seconds. AD with two horrible shots just when we needed good possessions....it goes on an on.

Whatever the opposite of intangibles is, this team has it in spades.

You have a point because every time we had chances we made the wrong play and made some of the stupidest decisions I have ever seen from a UCONN team. However, the referees made sure that the game was decided by their hands calling every against UCONN and making every call for Marquette it was embarrassing and shameful, no doubt to the delight of Mark Emmert. Boatright's technical was a game changers and a 5 point swing that we never really recovered from. No only that, but guys like Daniels and Olander are playing minutes they should not be playing. Daniels is an awful player and someone who I have constantly contributes nothing more than turnover for us when he is in the game. I have never seen a player ranked that highly who has absolutely no impact on the game. Olander as well who is a limited player and athlete is playing way too much. His lack of quickness, toughness, and athleticism is getting exposed in Big East conference play. Olander is ok but he is not ready to be playing this many minutes he needs another year or two before he can be a very good player. Rosoce Smith needs to be playing way more minutes and starting if necessary. Our two little guard lineup was as I predicted once again exposed defensively. We cannot continue to go this small with Napier and Boat because the marquette guys were killing them all game long. We need their scoring but not at the expense of being atrocious on defense.

However, I have seen good things and progress from this past couple of games and there are things we can build on.

 

[fortebleedsblue]

Referees did not decide the game....please. Were they bad? yes. was the game still there to be win if this team could just figure out a way to make some winning plays? absolutely. I hate people that blame refs, other than when they truly decide a game in the last several seconds (ala John Clougherty). Refs may have influenced the game today, but they certainly didn't decide it. Marquette made winning plays, UConn didn't...plain and simple

Get over yourself with your holier than thou attitude.

 

[Brochacho]

If you flipped the calls UConn got vs Marquette's, UConn would have won by 15. +/-30 point swing.

 

[caw]

If you flipped the calls UConn got vs Marquette's, UConn would have won by 15. +/-30 point swing.

It wasn't nearly that bad. It was a 15 or so point swing at the most, if you assume UConn takes advantage of the calls.

 

[Henry]

If their RPI and SOS stay strong, they're in easily (8-9 seed) as long as they don't totally crap the bed.

If they win out (obviously less confident about this today) and win a game in the BE, they'll be a 5-6 seed.

Win out? When we still have to play Syracuse. We still need 3 wins but the way they are playing, it is not likely. This game could have been won but the way they played, exposes them as a team without toughness or an ability to play smart basketball.

 

[huskymagic]

Also the moron Blaney plays Wolf and Olander to together and thinks its a good idea against a small quick team like marquette. I actually want to see more of Wolf but not together with another unathletic player like Olander. Roscoe and Wolf should have been on the court together at that point and that would have been acceptable. Wolf should get more minutes at the expense Daniels and Olander for sure and I am all for that. You cant blame Blaney for this one despite this folly. He tried something anything to try to get us back min the game, and the team responded well in the second half in general.

 

[Henry]

I like George Blaney, but I can't even think about him anymore. Our coaching situation is just not good right now. We have four head coaches on the staff right now and I think the reigns have been given to the fourth best option right now.

My point about the refs is this - UConn had enough adversity in this game. Marquette is a deservedly top-15 club. They have two great senior players who scored about 55 of MU's 79. It was already uphill for UConn...the refs needlessly and inexplicably made the slope steeper. We went from a blue square to double black diamonds with about eight minutes left in the first half.

You earn the calls from the refs. The way we have played this year we have not earned the right to get the benefit of the doubt from the ref. And I'm the biggest whiner of them all so it's hard for me to admit that.

 

[James]

Blaney can't coach and the refs blew. Drummond shouldn't have been on the floor a whole bunch, and then giffey gets thrown into the fire against a rolling Crowder.

 

[CL82]

um, last year's team was all underclassmen except for one player...and by the way, today was the 26th game of the season.

Alex Oriaki does not = Kemba Walker.
1. Kemba was a once in a generation player. Everyone knew who was getting the ball at crunch time and there wasn't anything they could do about it.
2. Leadership from the guard spot > senior from a power forward playing at center.
3. Having an upper classman scorer is > than having an upper classman role player.

I'm not knocking Alex but anytime you compare anyone to Kemba they are likely to come up short.

 

[CL82]

If that post-season ban holds we won't have much of a core left either. Who wants to stay another season to just play during the regular season? Lamb and Drummond will be gone and others might transfer if Calhoun decides this is it too. Burke did really nail it when she said that this program is at a very fragile point right now....

Agree, though I'm hopeful that NCAA will figure out that using old data to exclude us when current data is available and would allow us to qualify isn't justifiable.

 

[dpross]

Regarding the defense, understanding that a zone is very anti-JC, but the thought occurred to me our players may be more suited to play zone defenses. Our big guys are being abused.

I had the same thought while watching the game today. Maybe a zone would help , at least as a change of pace for the other team.

And yes, the refs were dreadful. It isn't an excuse when it is an astute and justified observation.