CBS- Shabazz Napier's return makes UConn a likely NCAA tourney team

[Husky25]

Sweet 16 is what you would expect based on what we've experienced as fans but saying its a "given" is a bit much.

What kind of a limb is merely saying UConn is a tourney team? That's no fun.

My band marches on despite the moisture in the air. Rusty sousaphones be damned.

 

[60'sfan]

I WAS IN THE POOL!!!!!

Is that you, George?

 

[champs99and04]

Thanks for raininig on my parade. You must be a joy at parties.

This team was a bubble team team this year and with two wins in the BET, a sure fire NCAA tourney team. They lose one contributor whose main contribution came in practice and the lockerroom and they add a couple of front court guys plus experience. Barring the unforseen, I will be floored if this team loses before the second weekend.

You must be new to college basketball. To reach the second weekend means you have to win two games in the NCAA Tournament, with at least one of them coming against a pretty damn good team. In the last four years alone, eight teams seeded first or second in their regional have bowed out before the second weekend - that's 25%. And those are the teams that solidified themselves as the cream of the crop during the regular season - we aren't even sure how good UConn is going to be yet. So you're looking at a three and four shot at best to get out of the first weekend, and a significantly lower chance at worst. Given the wildy unpredictable nature of the NCAA Tournament, nobody is going to be shocked to see anybody trip up before the second weekend unless your 1990 UNLV or 1999 Duke.

If I had to bet my life on it today, I'd wager there's about a 55-60% chance UConn manages to advance to the sweet 16 this year, and that's probably eering on the optimistic side. I understand UConn fans have been spoiled - especially the younger ones - but the "Final Four or bust" mentality certain posts seem to infer is way too heavy a burden to place on a team whose key players, for the most part, haven't won an NCAA Tournament game in their career. Point is, reaching the sweet 16 is a tremendous accomplishment that should be cherished rather than expected.

 

[M_Funkhauser43!]

Point is, reaching the sweet 16 is a tremendous accomplishment that should be cherished rather than expected.

Quite frankly, I agree.

 

[Gurleyman]

The key is - how will freescooter react? I think this is our sliding scale:

No bid/first Round loss = constant diatribe
Round of 32 loss = righteous scolding
Sweet 16 loss = passive-aggressive swiping
Elite Eight loss = muffled displeasure
Final Four loss = relative indifference
NC loss = constant harping on perceived coaching blunder that cost us title, ad infinitum
NC win = witness protection program


I think the best we can hope for, other than an NC, is an Elite Eight or Final Four loss where we are beat by a better team and Ollie's coaching decisions aren't a factor. Something like UNC '98, Maryland '02 or Texas '04.

 

[Kitaman]

3 Seniors with Championship rings, along with a very good supporting cast and Coach Ollie = Final Four.

 

[Kitaman]

The sweet 16 is never a given.

I think we are all on crack today for one day. We can come down over the weekend. These are just good times right now (after last year for sure).

 

[zls44]

I understand UConn fans have been spoiled - especially the younger ones - but the "Final Four or bust" mentality certain posts seem to infer is way too heavy a burden to place on a team whose key players, for the most part, haven't won an NCAA Tournament game in their career.

I think you are wildly under rating Niels and Shabazz's NCAAT experience.

 

[Husky25]

You must be new to college basketball. To reach the second weekend means you have to win two games in the NCAA Tournament, with at least one of them coming against a pretty damn good team. In the last four years alone, eight teams seeded first or second in their regional have bowed out before the second weekend - that's 25%. And those are the teams that solidified themselves as the cream of the crop during the regular season...

That 1st sentence must be written in jest. By the way, if 25% of the top 2 seeds didn't make the Sweet 16 (I'm not going to check your work), that means that 75% did. The law of averages does not work in your favor here.

- we aren't even sure how good UConn is going to be yet. So you're looking at a three and four shot at best to get out of the first weekend, and a significantly lower chance at worst.

We certainly have an idea. They lose one player with significant minutes (Evans) off a 20-10 team that had nothing to play for but themselves. They gain size up front, and aside from the incoming freshman, they gain experience. They beat 3 ranked opponents, and lost to another (#7 Gtown) in 2OT without any front court of which to speak highly.

Given the wildy unpredictable nature of the NCAA Tournament, nobody is going to be shocked to see anybody trip up before the second weekend unless your 1990 UNLV or 1999 Duke.

You forgot a few teams. Namely 2009 UNC, 1999, 2004, and 2006 UConn, 1990-93 Duke, 2003 Cuse. This is just off the top of my head. I don't have the time nor inclination to research it further. It's 5:30 on a Friday and I have better things to do.

If I had to bet my life on it today, I'd wager there's about a 55-60% chance UConn manages to advance to the sweet 16 this year, and that's probably eering on the optimistic side. I understand UConn fans have been spoiled - especially the younger ones - but the "Final Four or bust" mentality certain posts seem to infer is way too heavy a burden to place on a team whose key players, for the most part, haven't won an NCAA Tournament game in their career. Point is, reaching the sweet 16 is a tremendous accomplishment that should be cherished rather than expected.

Again, I'm not new to college basketball and I'm not young (well maybe comparatively), and I also never said Final 4 or bust. I said the National Championship should be the goal. If we're betting with your life, I'm all in baby. This doesn't mean anything. Its a gut feeling. UConn will get to the Sweet 16 in 2013. There is very little doubt in my mind. Whether they win that game is a different story and yes, I consider the Thursday-Friday rounds the weekend.

Being ultra-conservative about your prediction, doesn't make you right or smarter. It just makes you ultra-conservative in your prediction.

 

[Husky25]

Point is, reaching the sweet 16 is a tremendous accomplishment that should be cherished rather than expected.

This is why many outside of New England made fun of Connecticut for throwing a parade for the Whalers when they merely won a playoff series. In homage to HFD, it's small-time mentality. 1990 may have been the start of UConn being included in the national discussion, but I've personally long since stopped referring to it as the "Dream Season." 1999 took care of that for me...

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Barring the unforseen, I will be floored if this team loses before the second weekend.

Well, guy, it's the unforeseen that usually gets you.

Putting to the side the understandable overrating that's going on around here today - someone said Nolan showed NBA caliber ability down the stretch - I don't see how anyone who has ever watched the NCAA tournament could say the second weekend is a "given."

 

[Pudge]

This notion Goodman is promoting is inane. UConn was a notable Team in 2012-2013. The conversation about Ollie's coaching talent was a big topic. This Team beat Michigan State & Syracuse when they were highly promoted. In a BE whereby a handful of Teams were contenders (and one was the Champ), Goodman is just pissing on us for fun.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Didn't find anything to really complain about, but the last line... "Now with Napier back in the fold, there's no reason to believe the Huskies won't be back in the NCAA tournament next season." was kind of like saying "Newsflash - water is wet"...

Someone else also correctly pointed out they were a NCAA team this past year. He might have gotten a bit more mileage if he'd said "There's no reason to believe the Huskies won't be able to make a run at the final 4"... Not predicting a final 4 for them, but they will have the talent to compete for it...

By the way I also disagree with is characterization that no one outside Connecticut talked about UCONN last year. Certainly the Ollie situation, and finally announcement in December that he was officially going to succeed JC, was newsworthy. As was the fact that the team played some fantastic games and had a great effort all year. I'd go so far as to say more people nationally talked about UCONN than they did Seton Hall, Providence, Depaul and USF combined...

 

[Husky25]

Well, guy, it's the unforeseen that usually gets you.

Putting to the side the understandable overrating that's going on around here today - someone said Nolan showed NBA caliber ability down the stretch - I don't see how anyone who has ever watched the NCAA tournament could say the second weekend is a "given."

The negativity on the board has reached a baffling level. That is my prediction. That is my expectation. My name is on it. I'll be happy to watch next year to see if they can achieve it...Guy.

 

[champs99and04]

I think you are wildly under rating Niels and Shabazz's NCAAT experience.

Tournament experience in general probably isn't incredibly important, and I agree, the fact that our senior PG, who is also our best player, has won a national championship and endured more battles in his three year career than most players do in four, is hugely critical. Let's be cautious, though - it isn't as if this team is coming off an elite eight appearance (though who knows how far they would have advanced had they been eligible and healthy last season) or even a tournament appearance. Winning just one tournament game would be uncharted water for 80% of the starting lineup (I'm not counting Wolf since he didn't play in 2011). And that isn't to say I don't think this team is going to be very good, because I do think they'll compete for a championship.

 

[champs99and04]

That 1st sentence must be written in jest. By the way, if 25% of the top 2 seeds didn't make the Sweet 16 (I'm not going to check your work), that means that 75% did. The law of averages does not work in your favor here.



We certainly have an idea. They lose one player with significant minutes (Evans) off a 20-10 team that had nothing to play for but themselves. They gain size up front, and aside from the incoming freshman, they gain experience. They beat 3 ranked opponents, and lost to another (#7 Gtown) in 2OT without any front court of which to speak highly.



You forgot a few teams. Namely 2009 UNC, 1999, 2004, and 2006 UConn, 1990-93 Duke, 2003 Cuse. This is just off the top of my head. I don't have the time nor inclination to research it further. It's 5:30 on a Friday and I have better things to do.



Again, I'm not new to college basketball and I'm not young (well maybe comparatively), and I also never said Final 4 or bust. I said the National Championship should be the goal. If we're betting with your life, I'm all in baby. This doesn't mean anything. Its a gut feeling. UConn will get to the Sweet 16 in 2013. There is very little doubt in my mind. Whether they win that game is a different story and yes, I consider the Thursday-Friday rounds the weekend.

Being ultra-conservative about your prediction, doesn't make you right or smarter. It just makes you ultra-conservative in your prediction.

I have no issue with anybody predicting big things for this team. I have high expectations myself. I just found it odd that you would have so surprised by an exit in the first weekend when even the favorites only advance that far 75% of the time.

 

[blackbird]

I don't really care what he wrote.

Bazz is coming back. That's all that matters.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

The negativity on the board has reached a baffling level. That is my prediction. That is my expectation. My name is on it. I'll be happy to watch next year to see if they can achieve it...Guy.

It's not negativity to say it's not a "given" that they'll make the Sweet 16, just like it's not a prediction to say "it's a given that they'll make the Sweet Sixteen" - it's an opinion. If your prediction is that they'll make the Sweet 16, then great, mine is too. But that's not the same thing. Not sure what it is about that that eludes you.

 

[UC990411]

Thanks for raininig on my parade. You must be a joy at parties.

This team was a bubble team team this year and with two wins in the BET, a sure fire NCAA tourney team. They lose one contributor whose main contribution came in practice and the lockerroom and they add a couple of front court guys plus experience. Barring the unforseen, I will be floored if this team loses before the second weekend.

Are you talking about Providence?

 

[Brochacho]

If half the team didn't get injured to end the year, we end the season 23-7. Pretty amazing for a squad without a competent big man or a reliable third guard, both of which we should have next year.

 

[Palatine]

We're UConn, the Sweet Sixteen is our birthright. It's where the tournament starts.

 

[UC990411]

We're UConn, the Sweet Sixteen is our birthright. It's where the tournament starts.

This is the truest thing ever said

 

[Marty Jackson]

is nolan no longer on the team... thought he made some decent strides at the end of last season as well and gave some valuable minutes.

 

[ASweet3781]

is nolan no longer on the team... thought he made some decent strides at the end of last season as well and gave some valuable minutes.

Why would you think he's no longer on the team?

Ollie just tweeted about him yesterday.

Kevin Ollie ‏@CoachKO_UConn 17h
Congrats go out 2 Phil Nolan, Named Student- Athlete of the Month.. Very proud of you Philly!! TEAM US.. #Believe pic.twitter.com/vGMbcx6ycO

 

[61cygni]

A team that would have made the post-season last year is likely to make the post-season next year with all players returning? INCONCEIVABLE!