Awkward feeling of being historic prohibitive favorite.

[Improviser]

Take nothing for granted.

Play with a chip on the shoulder.

Respect your opponent.

Take care of business.

Then celebrate.

 

[Deepster]

It’s very strange heading to the game today and thinking of us as favorites- I like the giant killer role better- feels more familiar/comfortable. Im used to UConn fans being the only ones who believe we will win. On a side note I have a feeling Purdue fans are going to be some of my least favorite in resent memory.

It feels more comfortable because it's okay if you lose. That's a loser mentality. Well...we weren't supposed to really win anyway. Oh well! Maybe next year.

I like being the King of the Hill. We're no paper tiger that got there in an unjust manner. We earned every bit of it. So come and knock us off if you can.

 

[Deepster]

While I hate it from the mojo stand point (everyone will be channeling their energy against us) and from the stand point that the crowd will be very anti-UConn, this team has mentally played with a target on their back all season. So the pressure on them will be nothing new.

You really think "America" would get behind Purdue in that matchup? I don't. I think we have a far more watchable and likable team/brand. Edey has opened his mouth and sounded like a doofus the last 2 weeks.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

It was a 50-50 game. Which is exactly how I view Purdue - UConn if it happens. It really should be a toss-up like that game was. We aren't and shouldn't be prohibitive favorites, because Purdue has been just as good all along.

I have heard others say that. I honestly do not get the take. They have a tall dude who dominates 6'9 guys. We have a tall dude who dominates everyone defensively. Why can't our tall dude negate their tall dude? I am not ready to concede that. Point of fact, I think Edey will have to adjust to the length of DC, and that will not be easy. And if Edey is negated, is anyone going to make the argument that the rest of the squads match up???? I dont see that.

 

[husky429]

I don't feel this way, but I get why people do. EVERY team in the Final Four (and really anything past the sweet-16) is good and could beat each other on any given night. Basketball isn't Pokemon; great teams lose all the time. Success is fickle, even with the same team.

If Alabama gets deadly hot from 3, and we have 3-4 guys having a poor game, we lose. An untimely injury, we lose. Our margin for error is greater than most, but the chance of losing is ALWAYS there.

Our staff knows this; our players know this. We have an underdog mentality as the #1 overall seed, and will be prepared.

 

[Tenspro2002]

If we go on to win, I will have loved being the celebrated favorite who rampaged through the Tournament.

If we lose, I will hate having been hyped to the point that a Final Four season is deemed disappointing.

 

[Waquoit]

I thought we addressed this pre-tourney. The only way to handle this is to lean into it. Yeah, we’re gonna stomp our next two opponents.

 

[uconnfan68]

There should've been nothing shocking about UConn beating Duke in '99. That was the somewhat rare time Vegas got it completely wrong. They play that game 10 times and UConn wins 6 or 7 of them.

JC outcoached K. That’s how we won. They probably had more talent, which is what everyone else thought all year.

 

[gsmooth]

If we go on to win, I will have loved being the celebrated favorite who rampaged through the Tournament.

If we lose, I will hate having been hyped to the point that a Final Four season is deemed disappointing.

the proper mantra, that I will repeat often, is UConn and their fans should ..

Respect all, but fear none.

 

[Scoe]

We need to play our best basketball of the season and will have to sacrifice blood so let’s do it.

 

[Kenny11]

It really doesn’t matter how we feel, but the pressure the players are feeling must be immense. Possibly why we haven’t shot well from deep? But we are so good that it might not matter

 

[Scot-e]

I have heard others say that. I honestly do not get the take. They have a tall dude who dominates 6'9 guys. We have a tall dude who dominates everyone defensively. Why can't our tall dude negate their tall dude? I am not ready to concede that. Point of fact, I think Edey will have to adjust to the length of DC, and that will not be easy. And if Edey is negated, is anyone going to make the argument that the rest of the squads match up???? I dont see that.

First- We are DOOOMED. Hypothetically if is there is a match up-Edey historically has not gotten into foul trouble. DC because of his more mobil style of play is more prone to pick up fouls then Edey. I think if he can stay on the floor (key in any game we play) he will do a good job limiting his effectiveness. Unfortunately we have no chance beating Alabama so this conversation is moot.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

This fanbase somehow combines the most obnoxious fans on earth (tied with Syracuse) with the most woe is me little engine that could guys too.

We've won 5 national titles in 24 years, who in the world thinks that the underdog label fits at all for us?

 

[HuskyHawk]

If we and Purdue make it, it will be similar to '99 in that the two obviously best teams all season long (sorry, Houston) are playing for the title.

That was true a few years ago with Baylor and Gonzaga as well.

 

[SubbaBub]

If it helps, Purdue still has to get by a double digit seed trying to emulate Kemba and Company. Let focus on game tomorrow.

 

[gsmooth]

This fanbase somehow combines the most obnoxious fans on earth (tied with Syracuse) with the most woe is me little engine that could guys too.

We've won 5 national titles in 24 years, who in the world thinks that the underdog label fits at all for us?

This is very true. In 1999, UConn had all the pressure in the world to get to the Final Four and they and Duke were the only teams to be ranked #1 for every week of that year. In 2004, UConn was the preseason #1. They ended up being one of only a few teams to start the season as #1 and win the championship.

UConn is no cinderella and they are not the little engine that could. As another poster said here, if that is what fans want, go root for another program. It's time for UConn fans, and better yet the players on this team to have this attitude (especially 40 second mark):

 

[superjohn]

That was true a few years ago with Baylor and Gonzaga as well.

If it's UConn Purdue that's how I view the game, I don't see it as a 50/50 matchup. If Clingan doesn't get taken out of the game by the refs I don't them hanging with us. Clingan can keep Edey somewhat in check even though Edey will still get his and then there's matchup problems for Purdue all over the court.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

If Clingan doesn't get taken out of the game by the refs

Pretty much my only fear from here on out. They’ve been letting A LOT go but who knows if/when they flip the switch.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Luckily for us, UConn is playing a university and a program that is so widely loathed that we should still have the crowd on our side despite being a double digit favorite.

 

[AdamaNation]

It's pretty clear that UConn's best is much better than everybody else's but that doesn't mean the 3 opponents left can't win. It's a one game tourney and we have shocked the world before ourselves. It is odd being on this side of the pendulum though. I am talking myself down more often then up this week.

We have 1 hopefully 2 games left to play our best/most complete game of the tournament. I’ve penned karaban as ff mop. He’s bout to go off!!!!

 

[whosurdaddy2720]

I came into this season with low expectations. Not because I didn't think we were any good but because we had literally just won a Natty and nearly all teams have a pullback after a championship year so I told myself nothing that happened this year could possibly be considered disappointing.

I love all the exposure and respect UConn is finally getting but the hype has reached a point that anything short of another championship will likely be seen as a failure and even if we win, many people will shrug their shoulders and say that's what they should have done. I don't like that aspect of it.

 

[Tenspro2002]

It really doesn’t matter how we feel, but the pressure the players are feeling must be immense. Possibly why we haven’t shot well from deep? But we are so good that it might not matter

I was a little worried about pressure in the Elite 8 game. What happens when our offense isn't working? Do we panic? Get off our game and devolve to iso stuff (which our guys aren't suited for)?

No, we just eventually got it going.

 

[Scot-e]

Pretty much my only fear from here on out. They’ve been letting A LOT go but who knows if/when they flip the switch.

I only fear today is losing to Alabama tomorrow.

 

[CL82]

 

[AdamaNation]

the proper mantra, that I will repeat often, is UConn and their fans should ..

Respect all, but fear none.

I’d rather drive my enemies before me
And hear the lamentations of the women