Expectations

[Danzz]

Last year expectations were reasonable: hold our own in the BE, win a few games in the BE tourney, make the NCAA tournery and maybe make the sweet 16. We ended up with a NCC.
This year we get Boatright, , Daniels and finally Drummond and all of a sudden our expectations are through the roof despite losing our leading scorer, leader, best point defender, crunch time go to guy and probably the best college player in the country.
I'm trying to curb my expectations but it is damn hard with this group.

 

[CL82]

Last year expectations were reasonable: hold our own in the BE, win a few games in the BE tourney, make the NCAA tournery and maybe make the sweet 16. We ended up with a NCC.
This year we get Boatright, , Daniels and finally Drummond and all of a sudden our expectations are through the roof despite losing our leading scorer, leader, best point defender, crunch time go to guy and probably the best college player in the country.
I'm trying to curb my expectations but it is damn hard with this group.

+1

 

[RuffRuff]

I just this is the kind of season everyone has to be able to enjoy no matter what happens - all should be gravy after a run like last year and it's just the kind of season you sit back and enjoy. It'd be great to see some repeats, but in one and done formats, so much can happen.

 

[hooskies]

I see us winning the NBA championship

 

[EricSD]

i expect top 4 in the big east and elite 8 in the NCAA's. i'd truly be disappointed with anything less. you can't add a guy like Drummond, and have the core group coming back, like we do, and not have high expectations.

 

[ctchamps]

I've decided to go full steam ahead. My expectations are extremely high. I want to savor every moment of the season and that includes the preseason.

I made a similar decision before the anouncement by AD regarding his intentions this summer. I was psyched, and determined to be positive he was UConn bound. For a week I played it that way. And then he announced it was W&M. No big deal. I switched gears and got excited about Dunn. And then he announces he's PC bound.

Was I devastated. Heck no. Why should I have been. We still have JC. We still have 3 NC's. No one is taking them away. I've got my trophies. I'm satisfied. Everything else is icing on the cake.

I'm through playing it safe. I've got a good dose of Makers Muppet in me. And now that AD is in the fold I can look back and always know that I have one week up on most UConn fans in being positive about Andre. Can people who played it safe say that? no.

I'm through with waiting until the season is over before I let my emotions run wild. No more pressure. No more performance hang ups. No more downplaying my expectations to the cautious. The idiots who will scream bloody murder at the team should expectations fall short will do so whether we give them advice or not. So I'm not letting this type of fan impact me for one second.

I've joined the Kentucky fans, put on my bib overalls and unbuckled one of the straps. Ain't no one getting in my way for me to be rootin and tootin for my people. (Big wad of spit hitting the spittoon with that declaration). Heck if you have to be stupid to be excited, I'm joining the stupid clan. That clan makes the most out of life. If my cousin Spooner's still goes down, I'm headin across the border to rob a liquor store of its Jack Daniels. I'll just pour the bottle into one of my jugs and pretend it ain't crap.

You think it's smart to laugh at rednecks who holler and hoot about any and everything? I don't. How can it be smart spending a lot of energy fighting happiness. That's got to be one of the dumbest things man ever invented. So I'm telling my fellow Boneyarders, wake up every morning and read Maker Muppets post. Get it into your system. Start the refrain "I'm excited as hell and I'm not going to be a pansy ass about my teams anymore!"

And while your at it make a toast and take a swig from the jug for the greatest sports fan that ever set foot on this planet - RutgersAl. Can anyone claim they know someone who is more excited and ridiculous about the teams he roots for. He's my hero. He should be yours as well.

Yesiree, Southern fans, RutgersAl and Makers Muppet. Let them be your role models and not some whiney prepubescent fan who's got a turd stuck up his *ss because he was taught early in life that Spock is the role model and Dr. McCoy was blasphemy to the human race. I've got a secret folks. Spock is the alien.

Fight your habit of playing things safe. Let your emotions run through you. If the team and season fall apart, what is the worse that can happen to you. Your male part won't go flaccid because the team ts. You did that. If this season ends bad move on. If you carry it with you who is the moron. Not RutgersAl. Not some whiskey swigging hick. You are. If the season goes bad, take a good swig and begin the process of looking forward to next season or your next drink. It's that simple.

Laugh at 2006 and 2010. happens. Let George f#%@ing Mason be a celebration and not a dagger in your heart. Liquor is always better when we're happy. Think of 2006 and 2010 as karma. Spin those seasons this way. The gods were setting up all the JC naysayers who were celebrating his misfortunes. Whose laughing now.

So who is joining the redneck hillbillies, RutgersAl, the demi -god "Makers Muppet", Bluto Blutarsky, and myself, in getting excited about this season? Who feels like I do that this season is ours? Who is willing to put their necks on the line, hanging wise, and take the heat if the season craps out and be castigated as the anti mojos? Who understand that the only reason Makers Muppet is a hero is because fate let the team win in an extraordinary fashion? And had that not happened Makers Muppet would have been looked at like Gary Pariah Parrish? If you have the guts, then join me and be excited.

 

[Danzz]

Your post is Dog worthy in length!

 

[ctchamps]

Your post is Dog worthy in length!

Just consider it an anti tweat. Never say anything in 140 characters or less if you can say it in 5000!

Bottom line is I'm not holding back on my exuberance. I was playing it that way before the addition of AD. So I'm not about to let logic get in my way now.

 

[jibsey]

Team oozes talent and po, but one remaining question is who gives us Kemba's "man of steel" impersonation. Who gives us his motor his sheer will and toughness. That's how lots of Big East games swing, not always to the most talented. I am hoping RB supplies maybe some of it. Big names don't guarantee we win games. I don't like this top 5 stuff.

 

[hooskies]

I doubt Boatright will come in as a frosh PG and give us the 'man of steel' type...I'd much rather see AO continue to step up as a leader and Shabazz come through as our floor general. Team captains for a reason.

 

[RichZ]

Above all else, I'm a UConn Men's Basketball fan. I proudly slip on my National Flag Blue tinted glasses to read the schedule when it's announced, and every year, I look at each game as "we can win that one". I don't EXPECT to win 'em all. But I don't EXPECT to lose any, either. That's most seasons. This year, my expectations are higher. Why not?

 

[uconnfan68]

I just this is the kind of season everyone has to be able to enjoy no matter what happens - all should be gravy after a run like last year and it's just the kind of season you sit back and enjoy. It'd be great to see some repeats, but in one and done formats, so much can happen.

For me, it will only be enjoyable if we repeat. We EXPECT improvement in the team, based on experience and the added players, but seem to forget what we've lost. We NEED leadership, chemistry, and unselfishness, in addition to playing their guts out. If they can band together, leave all the egos outside the door, and apply themselves, I think they expect a repeat too.

 

[DogMania]

Last year expectations were reasonable: hold our own in the BE, win a few games in the BE tourney, make the NCAA tournery and maybe make the sweet 16. We ended up with a NCC.
This year we get Boatright, , Daniels and finally Drummond and all of a sudden our expectations are through the roof despite losing our leading scorer, leader, best point defender, crunch time go to guy and probably the best college player in the country.
I'm trying to curb my expectations but it is damn hard with this group.

Yeah, I hear ya. I'm finding it hard to hold back as well. Last year was such a pleasant surprise. This upcoming season could set up many for disappointment if they don't live up to expectations. Eric has the bar at top 4 BE and E-8. I agree anything less than that would seem like a disappointment. I'm hoping for top 2 BE and an F-4. Of course I want to see us win the BE, BET and NCAAs and be a repeat national champion. The addition of Drummond certainly put that a greater possibility than it was, even though I still liked our team w/out AD.

I'm not about to predict anything but I am hopeful. A lot of things have to happen in one's favor to win it all. That's what happened last season. For it to happen back-to-back simply doesn't happen that often. It's not like UConn has a dominant team. There are a few equally if not more talented teams. That doesn't mean JC can't weave his magic again.

 

[Clockshop]

A final 4 would be outstanding. A repeat would be beyond words.

 

[mauconnfan]

Whatever happens will be enjoyable. The NC last year was unexpected and wonderful and at least for me takes the pressure off this still very young team. They have an assortment of athletes, shooters, speed, defenders, size etc etc but they are still somewhat untested. None of them have played without Kemba yet and let's not diminish his value to that team. While I believe their depth and frosh can overcome many things KW brought to the table they need to see who can step up to put them on their shoulders when things aren't good.

I think they have the right attitude and will work hard. They will need to gain some sort of chemistry early on and that will not be easy as JC will be at his finest with the rope on the sidelines - after all look at the depth - the rope will be possibly shorter than ever. A nice easy OOC schedule is required to mature and it's there that helps. BUt it could also hurt this team as they need to be tested to see where they stand. As we know the BE will do that but there are many good teams.

Expectations - a solid season in the BE and a run in both tourney's is fine. Good fun basketball is all I ever want but as usual as they continue to win the expectations rise. Sweet 16, Elite 8 FF whatever as long as they play hard, grow and are fun to watch I'm good. They're kids - things happen on the way expecially when the expectations are too high.

 

[champs99and04]

I've decided to go full steam ahead. My expectations are extremely high. I want to savor every moment of the season and that includes the preseason.

I made a similar decision before the anouncement by AD regarding his intentions this summer. I was psyched, and determined to be positive he was UConn bound. For a week I played it that way. And then he announced it was W&M. No big deal. I switched gears and got excited about Dunn. And then he announces he's PC bound.

Was I devastated. Heck no. Why should I have been. We still have JC. We still have 3 NC's. No one is taking them away. I've got my trophies. I'm satisfied. Everything else is icing on the cake.

I'm through playing it safe. I've got a good dose of Makers Muppet in me. And now that AD is in the fold I can look back and always know that I have one week up on most UConn fans in being positive about Andre. Can people who played it safe say that? no.

I'm through with waiting until the season is over before I let my emotions run wild. No more pressure. No more performance hang ups. No more downplaying my expectations to the cautious. The idiots who will scream bloody murder at the team should expectations fall short will do so whether we give them advice or not. So I'm not letting this type of fan impact me for one second.

I've joined the Kentucky fans, put on my bib overalls and unbuckled one of the straps. Ain't no one getting in my way for me to be rootin and tootin for my people. (Big wad of spit hitting the spittoon with that declaration). Heck if you have to be stupid to be excited, I'm joining the stupid clan. That clan makes the most out of life. If my cousin Spooner's still goes down, I'm headin across the border to rob a liquor store of its Jack Daniels. I'll just pour the bottle into one of my jugs and pretend it ain't crap.

You think it's smart to laugh at rednecks who holler and hoot about any and everything? I don't. How can it be smart spending a lot of energy fighting happiness. That's got to be one of the dumbest things man ever invented. So I'm telling my fellow Boneyarders, wake up every morning and read Maker Muppets post. Get it into your system. Start the refrain "I'm excited as hell and I'm not going to be a pansy ass about my teams anymore!"

And while your at it make a toast and take a swig from the jug for the greatest sports fan that ever set foot on this planet - RutgersAl. Can anyone claim they know someone who is more excited and ridiculous about the teams he roots for. He's my hero. He should be yours as well.

Yesiree, Southern fans, RutgersAl and Makers Muppet. Let them be your role models and not some whiney prepubescent fan who's got a turd stuck up his *ss because he was taught early in life that Spock is the role model and Dr. McCoy was blasphemy to the human race. I've got a secret folks. Spock is the alien.

Fight your habit of playing things safe. Let your emotions run through you. If the team and season fall apart, what is the worse that can happen to you. Your male part won't go flaccid because the team ts. You did that. If this season ends bad move on. If you carry it with you who is the moron. Not RutgersAl. Not some whiskey swigging hick. You are. If the season goes bad, take a good swig and begin the process of looking forward to next season or your next drink. It's that simple.

Laugh at 2006 and 2010. happens. Let George f#%@ing Mason be a celebration and not a dagger in your heart. Liquor is always better when we're happy. Think of 2006 and 2010 as karma. Spin those seasons this way. The gods were setting up all the JC naysayers who were celebrating his misfortunes. Whose laughing now.

So who is joining the redneck hillbillies, RutgersAl, the demi -god "Makers Muppet", Bluto Blutarsky, and myself, in getting excited about this season? Who feels like I do that this season is ours? Who is willing to put their necks on the line, hanging wise, and take the heat if the season craps out and be castigated as the anti mojos? Who understand that the only reason Makers Muppet is a hero is because fate let the team win in an extraordinary fashion? And had that not happened Makers Muppet would have been looked at like Gary Pariah Parrish? If you have the guts, then join me and be excited.

Where do I sign up? Sports should be fun. They shouldn't eat away at your soul like a national tragedy.

 

[connectikev]

Personally - I subscribe fully to Bill Simmons and his "5 Year" theory. That being - Once a team has won a Championship, that they get a 5 year pass from the fans.
That said - Of course I am excited by the collection of talent assembled at Storrs for the upcoming season. The questions don't seem as numerous going into the season.

However, there are questions....

- How many of the incoming Frosh are going to be able to play defense the way JC demands - Not a simple task and one that will have significant ups and downs
- With so many scoring options - who will become the end of shot clock, half, and game shooter; and how successfully
- Who will have the hardest time adjusting to the demands of BE play (of the frosh mostly)
- Will there be enough playing time to go around to keep everyone happy (Chemistry Chemistry and Chemistry)
- Who (and it is always who, not if) ends up in JC's doghouse this season
- Given the early season schedule, how ready for BE play will the entire team be (and they were well battle tested last year going into BE Play)

Look I realize that there are multiple answers for each and every one of these questions, but I will watch and enjoy the team this season - because it is the how of the answering of those questions that I will follow most closely. The wins will come (easily at first, perhaps less so once BE play starts) but JC develops teams to be ready for March. Unfortunately that is what every team gets measured to (cheapening the regular season and conference standings).

As a fan since the freshman season of Corny Thompson, I have seen many different team compositions - This one is potentially stronger than any I have seen, maybe rivaling the 2006 squad (Gay, et all) and that team gave us one of our more painful losses. (and don't get me started on the Ray Allen UCLA game or Miss St or Florida, or (gasp) 1990's Dream Season)

 

[champs99and04]

Personally - I subscribe fully to Bill Simmons and his "5 Year" theory. That being - Once a team has won a Championship, that they get a 5 year pass from the fans.
That said - Of course I am excited by the collection of talent assembled at Storrs for the upcoming season. The questions don't seem as numerous going into the season. quote]

I guess it depends on what kind of fan you are. Some fans expect to win it all every year and anything else is a massive disappointment. You would know this if you were a Yankee fan. Technically, you'd figure your teams obligation (in the pros anyway) would be to win the title once every 30 years or so, depending on how many teams are in the league. Thirty years ago, UConn would be beyond thrilled to witness a national championship just once in their life time. Now we are disappointed if we don't win one every five years or so. I guess that's what happens when you win three national championships in thriteen seasons. The bar is raised

 

[jollari]

I see us winning the NBA championship

this.

 

[emac]

The only thing that tempers my expectations just a little is the fact we are giving the full reins to a soph at the point. I think Bazz will struggle a bit early and get into a groove later in the season. Taliek, Marcus, Ollie, Kemba all had growing pains in their second seasons.

 

[Brochacho]

I've gotten more excited every day since AD committed. Anything less than another championship would be disappointing to me. Not nuclear meltdown disappointing, just the plain old "coulda had that". Everybody on this forum knows that this team has more than enough talent to win it all, and this is our most talented team yet in my opinion. Yes we have lost our best Husky ever, but we have another potential Husky great in RB, and two players I believe will be top line NBA guys after their time here.

 

[TheChamps990411]

I dont think we`ve ever seen a uconn team bring back so much talent and then add such an elite recruiting class on top of it. i absolutely cant wait to see what this team is going to look like in action. i have visions of fastbreaks,blocked shots and alley oops dancing in my head.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

Last year expectations were reasonable: hold our own in the BE, win a few games in the BE tourney, make the NCAA tournery and maybe make the sweet 16. We ended up with a NCC.
This year we get Boatright, , Daniels and finally Drummond and all of a sudden our expectations are through the roof despite losing our leading scorer, leader, best point defender, crunch time go to guy and probably the best college player in the country.
I'm trying to curb my expectations but it is damn hard with this group.

i don't think the expectations you listed for LAST season were all that reasonable. i personally did not expect them to even MAKE the tournament. for really the first time in his career, calhoun showed he could take a team of mostly freshmen and be successful. take all the support players from THAT team and add boatright, daniels, and drummond, and given the success calhoun had last year with young players, i think sky-high expectations are quite reasonable.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

For me, it will only be enjoyable if we repeat.

that sentiment is flat out ridiculous. the season starts in early november and doesn't end - based on your expectations - until the first week of april. you won't even know if your expectation can be met until after 5 months of basketball.

i'm flabbergasted at that statement.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

The only thing that tempers my expectations just a little is the fact we are giving the full reins to a soph at the point. I think Bazz will struggle a bit early and get into a groove later in the season. Taliek, Marcus, Ollie, Kemba all had growing pains in their second seasons.

el amin won it all his second season. just sayin

 

[Chief00]

We have the talent - but repeating is very difficult. You are everyone's big game and we lost K-Walk. Besides being talented you also need luck - foul trouble, injuries, bad shooting games, etc.......can all bounce you from the tournament.

Having said that we will be in the hunt......and that is all a fan can ask at this point.

 

[lavuuk153]

The biggest issue with the team is PG. Bazz hasn't run a team yet and no one knows if Boatright can play at this level. The good news is they have all year to develop as there is enough talent on this team to be a top 6 BE team even if they do struggle. I'm expecting AO to really put it together this year and having that animal line up next to him will give everyone we face fits. It's always nice when I don't fear getting pushed around in the paint by Pitt.

 

[Kitaman]

How can one have high expectations after losing the best player in the nation who happened to be a point guard. Sure the roster is loaded and the coaching staff is the best, but Kemba is, well, like no other. He bailed us out last year time and time again. This is 'After Kemba'.

My expectations are that they will compete for the BE Title and of course the BET tournament (expect them to get a bye). I certainly don't expect them to be a middle of the pack team again. Also I don't know if this non-BE schedule helps or hurts. The 'Maui' confidence last year was a huge factor in knowing what this young team can do. With this schedule we won't really know until January.

So do we have addition by subtraction? Meaning is Kemba is less than AD, DD,RB and a complete year's experience with championships, I hope so. But damn Kemba was, well you know................

I hope I am not putting to much focus on Kemba but he was so special and so good last year. Bazz has some big shoes to fill, he doesn't have to fill them this year. Maybe this will be Ollie's defining moment.

BTW its amazing how only Alex has been here longer than Coach Ollie. Kevin is in a good place with good timing.

 

[caw]

I don't know if UConn has been in better shape to defend a National Championship, which is just awesome to be able to say. I thought pre-Drummond UConn was a contender, though probably an outside contender. Now they are one of 4-5 favorites going into the season. I think it's realistic to expect a elite 8 for this team. No team should ever expect a NC or final four with how the tournament works. A ton could happen between now and the NCAA's though, and UConn has a lot of question marks (players in new roles).

 

[ctchamps]

that sentiment is flat out ridiculous. the season starts in early november and doesn't end - based on your expectations - until the first week of april. you won't even know if your expectation can be met until after 5 months of basketball.

i'm flabbergasted at that statement.

We are an eclectic bunch.

I read in one of your other posts you left scout because of all the vitriol directed at the 2006 team by posters. You may want to be prepared that some people can get nasty on this board. I'm not of fan of posts that are venomous to players or teams. But there is no way of stopping it. Just know that most posters are reasonable.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

We are an eclectic bunch.

I read in one of your other posts you left scout because of all the vitriol directed at the 2006 team by posters. You may want to be prepared that some people can get nasty on this board. I'm not of fan of posts that are venomous to players or teams. But there is no way of stopping it. Just know that most posters are reasonable.

yeah, that kind of sentiment scares me. how many "lamb is just thinking about his position in the draft" posts are we going to see if they lose to a mid level BE team in january ?

you would think at this point, after 3 national championships and 4 final fours that they could get the benefit of the doubt

 

[emac]

el amin won it all his second season. just sayin

El Amin was BE rookie of the year and starter as a frosh. Bad comparison. He WAS in his second year though. He was a exception. Hopefully, Bazz is just like him.

 

[ctchamps]

yeah, that kind of sentiment scares me. how many "lamb is just thinking about his position in the draft" posts are we going to see if they lose to a mid level BE team in january ?

you would think at this point, after 3 national championships and 4 final fours that they could get the benefit of the doubt

The only logic to this is that we are who we are. Some people are more forgiving. Some are less forgiving. Some are more demanding. Some are less demanding. Some people are laid back and happy no matter what happens. Others are miserable unless things go their way. And some poor critters are miserable no matter what. My advice is learn to ignore people who see the world differently than you do.

Words can hurt, but only if we allow them to hurt. Since the other guy isn't likely to change, the only option is to change ourselves. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Waquoit]

This team should start at least 15-0 with that schedule. 15-0 will get those expectations going.

 

[Scot-e]

I agree we should start 15-0 or somewhere close if we have a WTF game and someone gets super hot- but looking at those games I see no one until BE play that can do that.

As for all this talk of NC or bust- I recommend you go back and watch ANY Uconn game from last year and see what we are missing this year with Kemba in the NBA. His hand was in 60% of all our offense. Add to that what he did on the D side- his leadership and you have something that is way out of the ordinary- just like our 11-0 run last year. We did not lose our best player- we lost the guy who made just about everything happen and made everyone better.

AD is the type of player that will make everyone better as well- in a different way - but much better. His addition certainly should help us have a chance to get through the first couple of rounds of the NCAA- once that happens - who knows. But this year there are teams that are going to play on a much higher level then last year. UNC is stupid good, Uk will be better for the sole reason a few players stayed in school for once and they reloaded, OSU is balanced and very good, Lville is about as deep a team as I have seen outside of this years UNC team in some time and they have maybe the best point guard in the BE this year, Quse has all the pieces to beat us- PITT is there to= the list goes on and on this year and those are just the big boys.

If everything works out the way we hope it will-meaning- the sophs all improve dramatically- SN is steady and makes great choices at the PG spot and can drain the open JSs, RS has added a bit more O to his game and continues to be a stopper on D, NG gains confidence and also can now be a steady shooter form the outside, TO can play solid minutes and score 4-6 a game and help hold done the middle, JL is the beast we have been hearing about all summer and can pull it off with teams keying on him. Ad to that AO having a monster year looking toward joining Kemba in the NBA and plays like he did in the NCAAs, RB is a capable sub at PG, DD is a stud and no one gets hurt. We have as good a shot as any at making the FF.

Sound like a lot? It is.

WE ARE SO DOOOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tykurez]

Not sure about anyone else, but I was hoping for a shot at the NIT title last year ... maybe an NCAA berth but wasn't counting on it. Maybe it was just a bad taste from 09-10 in my mouth, but all I really wanted was to see the young kids play and show some improvement. Never in my wildest dreams did I consider them having a shot at the title. I was fully ready to enjoy a .500 season just having fun watching young kids grow and learn.

That said, my expectations are slightly higher this year. They should absolutely make the NCAA tournament, and I'd like to see them win a couple games there. But I can't forget that they lost arguably the best leader they've had in a Husky uniform. And that they are playing with 1 upperclassman. Sure the schedule looks easy, but I've learned throughout the years to never take any of these teams for granted. I'm excited (again) to watch a bunch of young kids having fun and (hopefully) improving throughout the year.

 

[gibhunter]

Bazz and Boat should be very good guards. They won't be KW, but they don't have to be. Last year KW carried the team and needed double/double from AO to beat top 20 teams. This year our guards just need to distribute and make open shots which both guys can do and then some. We have JL, RS, DD on the wings and AO doing his thing and a great passing big man in AD. There is plenty of scoring to go around, all we need is a point that can distribute. This team is loaded and that's why to me anything less than another FF will be a disappointment.

 

[Waquoit]

My only worry, and it isn't much of one, is that the team doesn't play team ball and forgets the great defense they played in the post-season. That defense wasn't just Kemba.

This team should have high expectations. Bazz was the PG for much of the Final Four, AO was the best big man and Lamb was money from outside. That's a good team right there. Add the most explosive recruit with two other blue chippers to the returning role players with rings and your HOF coach is primed for another run. I won't be disappointed if we don't win again, winning championships is hard. I will be disappointed if we don't give it a good run.

 

[jibsey]

How many minutes total do we need to get out of Bradley and Wolf now that we have Drummond?

 

[ctchamps]

How many minutes total do we need to get out of Bradley and Wolf now that we have Drummond?

20 minutes

Bradley and Tyler will probably get 5-15 minutes between them depending on AD getting into foul trouble.