Can/will this team beat PC?

[Palatine]

Or will we have a big letdown? With this group anything is possible. For the second game in a row they went down 17 points. The barely won one. They barely lost the other. But truthfully, Nova is flat out awful. On talent, that night, we were 20 points better.

And we have seen the opposite from this team, going up 17 points and losing focus, then the game. The droughts often last 7 or 8 minutes. The transition defense is very weak. We don't box out. Everyone wants to take positives from the SU game. But that's only watching half the game.

At this point, anyone who can predict how the Huskies will play is a genius. I'll watch and root and hope. But no outcome will surprise me.

 

[hoopsknowitall]

Providence game will not be easy. They play pretty much everyone tough though they usually lose.

 

[willie99]

they can, they better, they should, but they may not

they still have an easy path in, but losing to PC changes all that

 

[Henry]

The problem I see with this team is that one game does not seem to carry over to the next. Even though this is almost the same team as last year's, without Kemba they are learning how to win on their own. He bailed them out time and again last year and now they are the ones that have to do it. As a very young team they also seem not to know how to play a whole game. They either start strong and fade or start poorly and make a mad sramble at the end. Even when they get close they do not know how to get over the hump. If miraculously, Lamb and Drummond come back I believe that aspect of the team's game will improve.

 

[UConnDan97]

Yes / yes.

 

[Yonick]

We are going from Big Monday @ Villanova and Gameday hosting the #2 team in the nation, to a place called the Dunkin Donuts arena in beautiful Providence, Rogues Island!!! Plus, Providence is coming off an earth shattering 2 point win over powerhouse DePaul!!!
All systems are go for a letdown for UConn. If we have that letdown @ PC two things happen. First, UConn doesn't deserve to go to the NCaa's. Second, FriarJ, Sean, Conn Friar, Windy Friar, Gillen, The Godfather, and the rest of the PC faithful will have their bubblebath, and remind us that they are catching up to us, etc. etc.
To avoid this, the team needs to show up ready to play and win. If not it'll be a long, long offseason.
Am I wrong FriarJ??

 

[bpear1600]

Not unless they play hard like they did in the second half last night.

 

[Kitaman]

Who the hell knows? I often wonder how UConn bettors fared this season.

 

[Huskybass]

If UConn plays like it did in the second half yesterday, it will be a double digit win.

 

[UCweCONN]

You can bet that PC will be pumped to knock us out of tourney contention. We had better bring our A game for the full 40 minutes. We can't keep spotting all if these teams double digit leads and trying to fight back. We haven't been very successful doing so this season. If we could have pulled out a few of the close games we lost, we wouldn't be talking about needing the PC game.

 

[jibsey]

Step on their neck early.

 

[tykurez]

I'm worried about the game because:
a) the Syracuse game was HUGE. Not in the sense that it was a must win, but just the emotional run-up to the game, Gameday, the crowd, etc.
b) the result was a tough pill to swallow. The team fought back valiantly and had a huge opportunity. The result was a letdown. Most of us know how that feels.

I'm worried about them recovering emotionally and bringing the intensity back. Providence is a middling team and kids have trouble getting up for those types of opponents.

 

[RuffRuff]

All I can say is they better - or else dire straits on that NCAA bid. Even though this rivalry lingers and it's never an easy place to play, this is a 3-13 BE team we're talking about. This is must win. The nice comeback against Syracuse only strikes value if they can follow up with wins in two games that they should win.

 

[OkaForPrez]

 

[Yonick]

That's 3 over the last 12 years for NE hoops

 

[bobbygt]

Anyone watching Pitt vs Louisville? Pitt is no Depaul or Villanova. They are going to be a tough out.

I also think PC will be tough at home.

It's gonna be an exciting and nervous week!

 

[rw005]

There's no can and wills in this so called rivalry, it's a matter of UCONN SHOULD!

 

[champs99and04]

It's simple: Play as hard as they did in the second half against Cuse (or 90% as hard) and they should win. If not, they really don't deserve to defend their title.

 

[djct1999]

uconn is very fortunate. in years past, they would not get so many opportunities to play themselves in. the bubble is that soft. if they can't play aggressive and hard from the start, if they decide to not play with any urgency, if they can't play together as a team......................they don't belong in the dance. if they do, the sky is still the limit. the frustrating thing to me is i still believe in this team even though they have given me little reason to do so. they have the talent to make a deep run in the big east tourney and the ncaa.......but their postseason starts tuesday...... win and advance.

 

[Jimdish255]

I'm hoping Boat can start to assume more of a role in these next 2 games. It appears he's close to being the guy we need on top and penetrating after missing those games. A little more time to mesh with the bigs and making some good decisions will help us immensely. I wonder what could have been. That said, a bunch of guys have been erratic and he can't fix that by himself.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Anyone watching Pitt vs Louisville? Pitt is no Depaul or Villanova. They are going to be a tough out.

I also think PC will be tough at home.

It's gonna be an exciting and nervous week!

You guys really ought to beat both of them. You have too much talent to not be playing better. I know you've had Boatright on and off the team, and that's disruptive, and of course Calhoun missing. I wrote you guys off for dead last year, and you went and won a championship. I won't make that mistake again. You're certainly capable of beating anyone, and that's all you can ask for. After that, it comes down to hard work and playing as a team.

 

[spoop]

Rumor has it there's going to be a white splotch in the DD Center blackout.

 

[seanmc94]

We are going from Big Monday @ Villanova and Gameday hosting the #2 team in the nation, to a place called the Dunkin Donuts arena in beautiful Providence, Rogues Island!!! Plus, Providence is coming off an earth shattering 2 point win over powerhouse DePaul!!!
All systems are go for a letdown for UConn. If we have that letdown @ PC two things happen. First, UConn doesn't deserve to go to the NCaa's. Second, FriarJ, Sean, Conn Friar, Windy Friar, Gillen, The Godfather, and the rest of the PC faithful will have their bubblebath, and remind us that they are catching up to us, etc. etc.
To avoid this, the team needs to show up ready to play and win. If not it'll be a long, long offseason.
Am I wrong FriarJ??

I know that Providence is no Storrs, CT; but we will try to be accomadating hosts. The mayor is having cow dung brought in from the sticks and ordering the dancers at local clubs to black out every other tooth so you guys will feel right at home.

Don't forget your fannypack