Jesus, Matt....our team lost, our dog didn't die.
The art of the message board faux-sympathy offering....
Good luck against Kansas State.
Yet another early flameout would be a crippling blow to your program and probably further demoralize the already-stricken residents of central New York. I can only hope that the myriad of scandals and looming departures facing your program won't drive Jim Boeheim into retirement and leave you in the shaky, sweaty hands of an unproven assistant coach.
I might be better at it.
Well, Fishy, I sincerely did want to see you guys play Kentucky, because I think you had the personnel to match up with them and maybe knock them out. Seriously. I have a couple friends who are UK fans, and it would have given me good ammunition for smack talking them.
And while you know that I hope UConn's program dies a slow lingering death in the new new new Big East, it's only out of jealousy at how well and how consistently Calhoun teams show up and win tournaments, while our team usually underachieves and blows golden opportunities. (And I do recognize that you guys are likely to end up in the ACC on the next turn of the crank ....)
Both our programs are facing tough times ahead. Granted, we were in Pittsburgh, but there was some simmering hatred among the neutrals out there - it wasn't just cheering for a generic upset. These last couple PR disasters have painted us as the new UNLV to some people, and I'm troubled by that.
On the other hand, I think that Boeheim is in better shape to stay around for a while and get past this mess than Calhoun is. I'll bet that they revisit the whole APR thing and change the rule that if a guy goes pro, it won't count against your score, as opposed to guys who flunk out.
I'll be surprised if UConn's post season ban actually happens, or if SU and half a dozen other high profile schools get kicked out of the 2014 tournament. I don't think television interests want that.
All of that said, I think it will be very tough for Calhoun to come back with the state of his health, the back problems will be difficult for travel purposes, and if the team faces a post-season ban, and Lamb and Drummond go pro - yikes. Is he really going to want to drag his body thru a season when he has a team like the ones he used to coach at Northeastern? That's a tall order. Plus you've got a new president and a new AD, and lots of press calling for him to retire (which, frankly, he should have done after Kemba delivered your third championship last year).
You guys are good fans. Your team has a great history. I have a personal feeling for UConn that rivals the strong feelings I felt about Georgetown, back when the big man was still coaching. For me, Calhoun has been the new JT II, the coach that I love to hate for the past 20 years - ever since Donyell Marshall.
You, as well, are a really class guy, and a hell of a smart observer of basketball. Best of luck to you all. One more go-round for the conference before we're off to the ACC. Happy summer.
