AP Poll 12/2 - UConn #25

[gsmooth]

Yeah, I'm surprised too. Almost certainly a few voters threw us a bone because we are the 2-time defending champs.

That's exactly what it is. UConn remains in the Top 25 off of reputation.

 

[Staven]

The season is long and with a new roster of players everyone needs to settle in and find their role including coach Hurley who needs to reel in his energy and focus on getting this group going in the right direction. Being restrained by your coaches is not going to help a team defense that is ranked #185. Time is the best medicine and there is no need to panic. This team will be there when it counts the most. Have faith.

 

[superjohn]

A couple rankings that standout - Kentucky & Memphis now 4 & 16 respectively, and built entirely off transfers. Does make you wonder to the buy versus vs build approach in setting up a roster. The trickiest season to assess may be one like this, where you are counting on and staying loyal to a group of sophomores to make a leap. Could Hurley have had a better overall team if he blew some things up? Very likely, the portal was loaded. So then his loyalty is about culture setting and long term, even in a three-peat opportunity year.

Marquette has 3 seniors in their starting 5, 2 juniors. I'm not sure what is coming in behind those three seniors next year that looks promising. Most of the top teams are lead by older guys.

UConn had one transfer come in last season and that turned out to be the best college basketball team of the modern era. UConn had two transfers come in this season and they're 0-3 against real teams.

 

[RuffRuff]

UConn had one transfer come in last season and that turned out to be the best college basketball team of the modern era. UConn had two transfers come in this season and they're 0-3 against real teams.

3 of top 6 players last year were transfers. Arguably 2 of the top 3 most important players were transfers. We’re currently not starting any transfers.

UConn is also a small sample, looking more at how it’s working best across the landscape. Scheyer blew up his entire roster to essentially start over with 3 frosh and 3 transfers, pushing out a number of 5 stars. I tend to think the HS recruiting is a lot harder than the portal, so you’ll get it wrong more often. As Kenny Rogers greatly said, have to know when to hold them and when to fold them.

Great evaluation is as important as ever, and you have to evolve with the environment. Beli was once able to take one teams trash and turn it to gold, and find obscure draft picks, till he couldn’t.

 

[superjohn]

3 of top 6 players last year were transfers. Arguably 2 of the top 3 most important players were transfers. We’re currently not starting any transfers.

Yes, as I said we had two transfers come in this season and one transfer come in last season.

Hurley hyped up the three-peat all off-season, he hyped this team as his deepest team ever, he hyped the sophomores up, and he had Mahaney as his starting point guard.

We're all well aware none of it is working at the moment.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yes, as I said we had two transfers come in this season and one transfer come in last season.

Hurley hyped up the three-peat all off-season, he hyped this team as his deepest team ever, he hyped the sophomores up, and he had Mahaney as his starting point guard.

We're all well aware none of it is working at the moment.

Not really looking at this from a this years perspective as much as what the best approach is year over year.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yeah, I'm surprised too. Almost certainly a few voters threw us a bone because we are the 2-time defending champs.

I thought so too at first. But then I remembered that we took Memphis to OT. We lost to Colorado by 1 on a somewhat controversial last second play. So those losses are by 3 points. The Dayton game was a mess but that team lost to UNC by 2 and Iowa State by 5. So the gap between all those teams in Maui was closer than it appears.

 

[superjohn]

I thought so too at first. But then I remembered that we took Memphis to OT. We lost to Colorado by 1 on a somewhat controversial last second play. So those losses are by 3 points. The Dayton game was a mess but that team lost to UNC by 2 and Iowa State by 5. So the gap between all those teams in Maui was closer than it appears.

Colorado stinks though.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Shocker. I feel we should not even be ranked in the top 25.

 

[LIuconn]

We've only beaten the dregs of the sport.

Certainly do not deserve a top 25 rank on 12/2.

Close losses in the upcoming tough stretch don't mean we should be ranked 50+ either, but we will need impressive wins considering the big east isnt loaded this year. This is likely our best chance to build a resume

 

[HuskyHawk]

Colorado stinks though.

Worst team in the field for sure, but one we beat if the McNeeley call is made correctly. I'm not saying UConn looks like a top 25 team, but that the close losses work in our favor in the NET.

 

[HuskyinWRNY]

Time to begin our rise to the top again.

 

[SwingDog]

I agree this is an absolute gift and is only due to the past two years. We will get there at yearend, but we have some work to do

Is it a gift or is because we lost the first two games at Maui by razor thin margins? I don't whether those voting only look at wins and losses or if they consider scores also. I'm pretty sure Memphis and Dayton were quad 1 or 2 losses, the Colorado loss I would think hurts more.

 

[Icehawk]

Not really looking at this from a this years perspective as much as what the best approach is year over year.

Define best. For me it isn't JUST about winning everything as much as possible, this is still supposed to be a university/represent CT so growth, education, and culture are important too. IMO, UConn should seek a balance between these two, sometimes contradictory, goals. I want to win but not at the cost of who we are. I think Hurley has done a good job balancing over the last few seasons a very difficult task.

Happy to see us still ranked, can't wait for the team to show their mettle.

 

[jake14mw]

Very surprised by this

 

[1999GoodSon]

Makes sense. It's early December. Conference play hasn't started. Subjectively, we are the 25th best team. We do have a good team in there somewhere. I'm buying it.

WEDNESDAY.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Memphis... quality loss baby!!

 

[TheChamps990411]

Ouch! But oh well. Time to start the climb.

 

[TheChamps990411]

I don't understand why so many are surprised about being ranked. First, 2 time defending champs with our Coach Hurley at the helm. Second, perhaps these voters watched the Maui and formed their own opinions about the officiating, drawing their own conclusions. Who else belongs above UConn. Michigan State? Arkansas? Drake? You, Lt. Weinberg?!

Not sure what he has to do with any of this but is Drake still making music?

 

[1999GoodSon]

Not sure what he has to do with any of this but is Drake still making music?

The only thing I know about Drake is I'm addicted to their coffee cakes.

 

[TheChamps990411]

The only thing I know about Drake is I'm addicted to their coffee cakes.

So you like Drakes cakes? Not my thing but im not judging.

 

[RuffRuff]

The Titus take. Ex Player, excellent view.



Full episode

 

[BFieldHusky]

The Titus take. Ex Player, excellent view.



Full episode

Do people care what other teams and their fans think of Hurley?

 

[RuffRuff]

Do people care what other teams and their fans think of Hurley?

If you’re purely myopic to UConn, maybe not. If you’re interested in a macro level view of college hoops, I would think so. I enjoy seeing the full picture.

 

[Huskyforlife]

If you’re purely myopic to UConn, maybe not. If you’re interested in a macro level view of college hoops, I would think so. I enjoy seeing the full picture.

you consume a lot of cbb content.