Creighton has our number

[HuskyHawk]

It didn’t seem like Bouk was full strength tonight. Idk something seemed off.

Mahaney is what was off. Mahaney is a very good defender, quick enough to guard Bouk, but bigger and stronger. Bouk did a good job getting the ball to others early and rebounding.

People saying Jefferson had a good game? He was 3/12 when he was shooting those late FTs. Martin did to him what Mahaney did to Bouk. Polley couldn’t guard him. Martin‘s missing jump shot kills us because we play Polley too much as a result and our D and rebounding suffer.

Cole had a bad night shooting the ball. Zegs is just better. Gaffney also couldn’t shoot and struggled on defense. We played way too slow for much of the first half.

We have said it before, when our jump shots fall, we are hard to beat. If you have to guard us outside Sanogo will score at will.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Sums out droughts lol

 

[huskyfan224]

I hate Creighton

 

[8893]

That’s basketball Susan

No, this is basketball Susan:

 

[Dibbie]

They are an older team who have been playing together for years. 3 of our starters weren’t here last year. Makes a big difference in crunch time.

 

[bendm]

how far does creighton have to make it before you stop reciting this? sweet 16 should do it since finishing in 2nd place in the BE wasnt enough...

Considering they haven't made the Sweet 16 since 1974, yeah probably.

so how good is creighton now?

 

[jibsey]

so how good is creighton now?

They have Zegarowski a tough savvy kid and they’re good, but we thought Maryland was great and look what Bama is doing to them. Better matchup I guess.

 

[superjohn]

They have Zegarowski a tough savvy kid and they’re good, but we thought Maryland was great and look what Bama is doing to them. Better matchup I guess.

I thought Maryland sucks and still think they suck.

 

[jibsey]

I thought Maryland sucks and still think they suck.

Well then what does that make us? A heck of a lot worse than most of this board thought all year which was a top 25 team, sort of.

 

[Kitaman]

Well then what does that make us? A heck of a lot worse than most of this board thought all year which was a top 25 team, sort of.

That's what I don't understand about this Board. Its like every team sucks but us. Or no one can beat us but ourselves. Meanwhile while we remain legends in our own mind, those sucky teams are still playing for a Championship. We were never a top 20 team, in any of the polls.

Villanova and Creighton beat us and are in the Sweet 16. They clearly were better than we were and now have post season successes to go along with the scoreboard to prove it.

If Maryland sucks then we must suck a hell of a lot more, unless we want to make excuses or play the 'what ifs'. Perhaps its me, but I have no problem admitting that Maryland does not suck, because a team that sucks will never beat us, no matter how bad we play.

 

[huskyfan224]

UConn held Maryland to 63 points and they careered it from the field. Scoring 54 points and shooting like Helen Keller on 22 more attempts is just plain bad. Being at the game and looking at stats it’s the definition of beating yourself.

 

[superjohn]

Well then what does that make us? A heck of a lot worse than most of this board thought all year which was a top 25 team, sort of.

A team with no real identity/lost it's identity that plays to what other teams want to do instead of dictating the terms. UConn never should have lost to Maryland. UConn had the superstar player and the better athletes and yet they walked the ball up the court most of the game and clanged shots in the halfcourt. Hurley went into that game worried about matchups and it showed, UConn should be the ones instilling fear in the other team.

 

[8893]

A team with no real identity/lost it's identity that plays to what other teams want to do instead of dictating the terms. UConn never should have lost to Maryland. UConn had the superstar player and the better athletes and yet they walked the ball up the court most of the game and clanged shots in the halfcourt. Hurley went into that game worried about matchups and it showed, UConn should be the ones instilling fear in the other team.

When I read all those quotes from Hurley praising UMD's players, coaching and experience and explaining about the match-ups he feared and for which he had no answer or game plan whatsoever, all I could think about was when they asked Calhoun and Khalid about how they would deal with the '99 Duke match-up, especially Elton Brand, and both responded to the effect that Duke should be concerned about matching up with us.

And obviously they had a plan for Brand.

 

[superjohn]

When I read all those quotes from Hurley praising UMD's players, coaching and experience and explaining about the match-ups he feared and for which he had no answer or game plan whatsoever, all I could think about was when they asked Calhoun and Khalid about how they would deal with the '99 Duke match-up, especially Elton Brand, and both responded to the effect that Duke should be concerned about matching up with us.

And obviously they had a plan for Brand.

I don't like this but I agree, we should have an agree button.

 

[8893]

I don't like this but I agree, we should have an agree button.

 

[Kitaman]

A team with no real identity/lost it's identity that plays to what other teams want to do instead of dictating the terms. UConn never should have lost to Maryland. UConn had the superstar player and the better athletes and yet they walked the ball up the court most of the game and clanged shots in the halfcourt. Hurley went into that game worried about matchups and it showed, UConn should be the ones instilling fear in the other team.

There is where not having a floor leader/general hurt us (along with inexperience).

Our UConn teams with Bazz, Kemba, Khalid (and others) were at times overmatched in the Tourney. I know we had a HOF coach, but these leaders would not allow other teams to dictate the game off of personnel regardless of what the Coach thinks. More importantly these leaders knew their team and how to utilize the players on the floor to our advantage or settle their nerves when overwhelmed or losing focus. They were going to lead their teams to victory.

Doesn't have to be guards, but someone who gains the respect of the team, and the team will follow.

This was sorely missing this year, and I really hope next year does not repeat this void.