AP Poll Feb 10th - Unranked

[DogMania]

As much as DH patted himself on the back for winning B2B titles he needs to own this debacle for completely misreading the portal…. badly and not bringing in any players of note after winning the first championship. Our two freshmen have offered pretty much nothing. Combined with losing 4 players to the NBA ( not his fault) we replaced them with TR. The talk about 3 peat was overblown and put unrealistic expectations on these players. That and DH still hasn’t lost the stubborn habit of playing players out of loyalty when they’re playing terribly ( AK, Mathaney ) and burying other players on the bench for entire halves after they played well in the first half (JS). And last but not least DH’s reputation for losing close games whether deserved or not is happening with increased regularity unfortunately and turning literal blowouts into almost nail biters ( Providence ) which is affecting some of the computer models negatively for no good reason ( I think we scored 4 points in the last 8 minutes), there’s taking the air out of the ball and there’s standing around for 35 seconds on not trying to score and having a poor shooting point guard hoist up a desperation heave as the shot clock goes off and playing matador defense on the other end allowing a 20+ lead dwindle to 4? points. I’m seriously concerned about missing the tournament or having to win the BE tournament to get in. Rant over JMHO

Um, I think you forgot about one of our freshmen, namely Liam McNeeley. Granted, failing to add ready to contribute PG help was a big fail. But the addition of McNeeley and Reed Jr have been big.

As much as this team has its shortcomings, imagine what the record and ranking would be if Karaban played up to his capability? And even more so, if Liam didn't injure his ankle?

Of all the hiccups, most that I think can be addressed, the PG dilemma with Diarra's chronic knee problem has me most concerned. Though we did manage to beat MU with a hobbled Hass and turning it over and over and over.

I just don't know what to expect. I guess we'll learn a little more tomorrow.

 

[freescooter]

Maybe this is the incentive of the coaches and team to play deep and strong. We have the talent to be nasty going forward.

Yeah, we really don’t. Our only proven point is injured. Karaban is struggling. It is a difficult transition year. Saying we have talent doesn’t make it so.

 

[uconngb]

The one thing this team and staff can not think about is a ranking. They need to ascertain what the hell is going on and what can they do to remedy the situation to ensure a NCAA bid.

Im pretty sure the coaches aren’t thinking about our ranking. Anyone that cares what a bunch of out of touch sports writers think is an idiot.

 

[RuffRuff]

Houston, St, Johns and Texas A&M are not winning the national title this year. I'm leaning toward Bama winning.

Bama was my preseason pick, but they don’t fall into the KP 20/20 principle. That thing has been rock solid. I still like Oates, he’s clinical. Has a surgical quality about him a little less heartfelt than DH. He sat Sears in a game earlier this year to prove a point. It’s kicked them into a new gear. Florida may have the two most impressive wins of the year smoking Auburn on the road and destroying Tennessee at home. Still think there are 7-8 teams that can win it. Will depend on how brackets fall.

 

[SYF75]

5 weeks to go and a bubble team is definitely still in the cards. I think at this point they can beat anyone left on schedule or lose the way this is shaking out. Hope for the best and analyze all you want, but have to get Ws simple as that. I remember seeing someone saying conf. schedule is weaker second half no chance in the BE. I will still say soft and young overall, but dangerous and no excuses at this point are what they are. Hope they get some wins.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

As much as DH patted himself on the back for winning B2B titles he needs to own this debacle for completely misreading the portal…. badly and not bringing in any players of note after winning the first championship. Our two freshmen have offered pretty much nothing. Combined with losing 4 players to the NBA ( not his fault) we replaced them with TR. The talk about 3 peat was overblown and put unrealistic expectations on these players. That and DH still hasn’t lost the stubborn habit of playing players out of loyalty when they’re playing terribly ( AK, Mathaney ) and burying other players on the bench for entire halves after they played well in the first half (JS). And last but not least DH’s reputation for losing close games whether deserved or not is happening with increased regularity unfortunately and turning literal blowouts into almost nail biters ( Providence ) which is affecting some of the computer models negatively for no good reason ( I think we scored 4 points in the last 8 minutes), there’s taking the air out of the ball and there’s standing around for 35 seconds on not trying to score and having a poor shooting point guard hoist up a desperation heave as the shot clock goes off and playing matador defense on the other end allowing a 20+ lead dwindle to 4? points. I’m seriously concerned about missing the tournament or having to win the BE tournament to get in. Rant over JMHO

Get some fresh air. What’s going on with Autry’s crew in Southern Canada is a “debacle.” Have a little perspective.

 

[Mike Honcho]

As much as DH patted himself on the back for winning B2B titles he needs to own this debacle for completely misreading the portal…. badly and not bringing in any players of note after winning the first championship. Our two freshmen have offered pretty much nothing. Combined with losing 4 players to the NBA ( not his fault) we replaced them with TR. The talk about 3 peat was overblown and put unrealistic expectations on these players. That and DH still hasn’t lost the stubborn habit of playing players out of loyalty when they’re playing terribly ( AK, Mathaney ) and burying other players on the bench for entire halves after they played well in the first half (JS). And last but not least DH’s reputation for losing close games whether deserved or not is happening with increased regularity unfortunately and turning literal blowouts into almost nail biters ( Providence ) which is affecting some of the computer models negatively for no good reason ( I think we scored 4 points in the last 8 minutes), there’s taking the air out of the ball and there’s standing around for 35 seconds on not trying to score and having a poor shooting point guard hoist up a desperation heave as the shot clock goes off and playing matador defense on the other end allowing a 20+ lead dwindle to 4? points. I’m seriously concerned about missing the tournament or having to win the BE tournament to get in. Rant over JMHO

Wow. This is what people mean when they talk about UConn fans being entitled.

 

[FearThePups]

In an era where you can buy players, he with the gold rules.

Really? Tell that to Kansas and Kentucky. I’ll give Pope a pass as it’s his first year, but Self has done so little with so much talent and huge NIL bags.

 

[FearThePups]

Deserved. Need to finish strong or we going to be on the bubble.

We’re already there.

 

[ValleyGuy]

I see those guys as secondary ball handlers with a healthy Hass, but u use what u got.

Can we do a mid season trade with Yale for Mbeng or are we passed the deadline ?

 

[storrsroars]

We’re already there.

Nah.

 

[JungleLobo]

6 point loss to 1st place St John’s and now the sky is falling.

Win at Creighton and anyone would have taken the 2 aways of the last 3.

 

[ctbro1999]

Winning convincingly @Marquette and losing a close game at home to St. Johns....seems too severe to drop us from #19 to completely out. But whatever, only poll that matters is the final one of the season.

 

[ctbro1999]

Wow. This is what people mean when they talk about UConn fans being entitled.

We have the best of fans, we have the worst of fans...

 

[AntG168]

Win tonight and this thread will be hilarious in retrospect

 

[ctbro1999]

Win tonight and this thread will be hilarious in retrospect

Some of the more irrational UConn fans:

 

[HuskyHawk]

Really? Tell that to Kansas and Kentucky. I’ll give Pope a pass as it’s his first year, but Self has done so little with so much talent and huge NIL bags.

I've been saying all season something nobody really wants to accept. Nobody is really all that good. This is one of those years where a surprise team wins because any of the last three national champions would destroy any team in college basketball this year.

I think it's a hangover from Covid and the stupid 5th year rule combined with the portal. Development of young players hasn't happened as it should at major programs. Major programs think it's smarter to grab some 3 star kid who was good a mid major rather than give their 4 stars minutes to develop. The talent is down as a result. Playing Mahaney over Nowell is an example of what happens and not just here. Mahaney was #143 recruit in his class, Nowell is #35. Experience is helpful, but Nowell has a much higher ceiling.

As for Kansas, Elmarko Jackson out for the year and Jamari McDowell redshirted to fit in quick-fix transfers. So nobody from the 2022 or 2023 classes are on the team. The ran off Udeh and Zuby EJiofor (St. Johns). They have two guys from 2021 but Clemence barely plays. Nobody from 2020. It's a disaster of failed development of recruits aside from Braun and Dick who went to the NBA.

 

[RuffRuff]

I've been saying all season something nobody really wants to accept. Nobody is really all that good. This is one of those years where a surprise team wins because any of the last three national champions would destroy any team in college basketball this year.

I think it's a hangover from Covid and the stupid 5th year rule combined with the portal. Development of young players hasn't happened as it should at major programs. Major programs think it's smarter to grab some 3 star kid who was good a mid major rather than give their 4 stars minutes to develop. The talent is down as a result. Playing Mahaney over Nowell is an example of what happens and not just here. Mahaney was #143 recruit in his class, Nowell is #35. Experience is helpful, but Nowell has a much higher ceiling.

As for Kansas, Elmarko Jackson out for the year and Jamari McDowell redshirted to fit in quick-fix transfers. So nobody from the 2022 or 2023 classes are on the team. The ran off Udeh and Zuby EJiofor (St. Johns). They have two guys from 2021 but Clemence barely plays. Nobody from 2020. It's a disaster of failed development of recruits aside from Braun and Dick who went to the NBA.

Self hasn’t been able to figure out the portal - this year he nailed Mayo, bombed on Storr and Griffin. It feels like he over indexed on it out of frustration after he got punted by Arkansas in 23 and is now trying to figure out how to meld it together on the fly. His system has always been built on development and I think he was showing he could adapt, hasn’t worked.

I do agree that the science of developing vs buying talent is really tricky. You have to be patient to develop, and in a win now landscape it’s hard at times. Also why you really need to nail your portal grabs, as it can not only sink or swim you, but also take away minutes from a developmental player.

I don’t know if I necessarily agree on a surprise team winning it this year. I see a discernible gap, and I think in the world of analytics it makes it even that much harder for a surprise team to run 6. This Auburn team is full of old guys with talent, and a great big. Florida is one of the few matchup issues out there for them. That said the teams that feel like they separate are few, maybe 5-6. If they do somehow get knocked out, could see it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Self hasn’t been able to figure out the portal - this year he nailed Mayo, bombed on Storr and Griffin. It feels like he over indexed on it out of frustration after he got punted by Arkansas in 23 and is now trying to figure out how to meld it together on the fly. His system has always been built on development and I think he was showing he could adapt, hasn’t worked.

I do agree that the science of developing vs buying talent is really tricky. You have to be patient to develop, and in a win now landscape it’s hard at times. Also why you really need to nail your portal grabs, as it can not only sink or swim you, but also take away minutes from a developmental player.

I don’t know if I necessarily agree on a surprise team winning it this year. I see a discernible gap, and I think in the world of analytics it makes it even that much harder for a surprise team to run 6. This Auburn team is full of old guys with talent, and a great big. Florida is one of the few matchup issues out there for them. That said the teams that feel like they separate are few, maybe 5-6. If they do somehow get knocked out, could see it.

Mayo is a local kid he should have recruited to begin with. Griffin is ok, but he's a 6th man type. The problem isn't really those guys, it's Harris and Adams plus not having Jackson. Jackson should be the starting PG, Harris should have used eligibility. Adams is limited, better in a bench role.

 

[DMIL]

Maybe this is the incentive of the coaches and team to play deep and strong. We have the talent to be nasty going forward.

Not without consistent descent guard play which is required for a tournament run. Coach Hurley knows it. Effective, consistent guard play makes the rest of the talent sing. There is no getting around it.