BIG difference in this year......

[mauconnfan]

vs last year was apparent again last night. The guards might cheat and look to strip the other teams but they all get to the shooters faster than the last couple of years. They do a great job of closing on 3 pt shooters and making them shoot off pace or put the ball on the ground and wait for help. Much faster to the ball and even the help is quicker and hands are more active.

You can't tell me we win this game last night with last years team......just seemed like the quickness of UConn was so superior on both ends vs the Cuse.

And do they ever play hard!!!!! great stuff............

 

[Migs]

I'll always remember after the '11 Championship game, Brad Stevens attributing our win to our close out defense. Good to see the intensity back.

The difference on the offensive end came from the zone busting plays we ran. I was screaming in the stands for Boat and Bazz to find Omar in the corner. Once they did, things opened up. Last year's squad would have jacked up 40 threes using the 35 second windshield wiper offense.

 

[upstater]

I'll always remember after the '11 Championship game, Brad Stevens attributing our win to our close out defense. Good to see the intensity back.

The difference on the offensive end came from the zone busting plays we ran. I was screaming in the stands for Boat and Bazz to find Omar in the corner. Once they did, things opened up. Last year's squad would have jacked up 40 threes using the 35 second windshield wiper offense.

People seem to miss how great UConn's D was in 2011. I think SI's Chad did a breakdown that showed it was a performance for the ages. Coach K. called it one of the greatest defensive performances ever. That Roscoe Smith kid was a big key, adn Kemba was no slouch. People also forget that UConn held hot-shooting Arizona to under 30% shooting and Kentucky to 35% shooting, so the final shutdown of Butler was no fluke. Not to mention the fact that UConn's cold first-half shooting was a result of 4 starters sitting with 2 fouls for the last 8 minutes. In the second half, UConn shot 50%.

 

[UConn77]

If you watch the Butler game, it became rather obvious in the second half that Butler wanted not part of UConn. They were completely intimidated, took bad shots and rushed their offense. UConn's defensive intensity in that game was in large part responsible for this. This year's team, while not at that level, definitely gets "it" when it comes to defense.

 

[James]

I would say our ability to take on the personality of our coaching staff is some vintage uconn stuff. omar/Giffey took the challenge of guarding bigger and higher regarded players such as fair and Sunderland. I've always said omar has the body to lend himself to being an elite defender. Olander and Daniels really showed toughness man. Heck Daniels was guarding their lottery 4 grant.