Five Worst UConn Losses Ever | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Five Worst UConn Losses Ever

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nelsonmuntz said:
It is worth mentioning regarding the 2000 Tennessee game that KEA actually sprained his ankle with 90 seconds left against Utah State in the previous game. I think UConn was only up 12 or 14 when the injury happened, but they were up enough that putting KEA on the bench was an option, and one I wanted Calhoun to do at the 2 minute mark. KEA had played a mountain of minutes that season, and we had no plan B if he got hurt, as we proved.
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Yeah, and they would have gotten a mediocre (8-seed) UNC in the S16--and 7-seed Tulsa in the E8! Then 5-seed Florida in the Final Four.

That was a bracket our team could have waltzed right through with a healthy KEA. They probably don't beat MSU in the title game if they got that far, but never bet against JC with time to prepare.
 
Don’t thi
kelde1wd said:
MSU in the 2009 FF was another tough one for me. Even without Dyson, that team was loaded enough to win the title.
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i often thought about this one. I don’t think we had an answer for Ellington without Jerome.
 
1) Mason
2) Mason
3) Mason
4) TX in 2003
5) Florida 1994
6) UCLA 1996
7) Mason
8) Mason
9) Mason
10) Mason

season ending elimination games bother me most, especially when you expect more

Duke 90, UNC 98, Twerps 2002 and MSU in 09 didn't bother me as much, I was happy with the season

You have to learn to enjoy the ride
 
huskyrob1 said:
Calhoun has said in interviews that his 94 team was certainly one of his best teams. Thought they had as good a chance as any to win it all that year.
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I was absolutely convinced we were winning it all that season. I think i spent a week after we lost walking around in a haze. Also that 95 team was incredible and its no coincidence that UCLA won the national title that year. I remember a lot of people thought the winner of that game would win it all. As it was Ucla cut down the nets. Its amazing to think if it werent for a free throw here, a missed shot there, an injury there and we could be sitting on 6 National Titles right now.

I think our worst loss has to be GMason. I still dont understand how that team lost that game. I just remember GMs post players scoring at will in the post.
 
1990 - Duke /Dream Season / heart wrenching loss. The reason I hate Duke and Laetner.
1994- Florida / free throws/unbelievable loss
1996 - Miss. St / such a strong team with Ray Allen
2002- Maryland / Caron Butler was absolutely dominant, a beast and completely embodied what UCONN basketball was all about. It was extra tough because it was his last game as a Husky and a sophomore. Probably my favorite Husky.
2006- George Mason / Rock Star team with no true dominant Alpha. One of the most disappointing, That year should’ve been title number 3.

Honorable mention / 2009- Michigan State- With Dyson we win Title number 3 here and should have been title # 4.
 
The 2006 team is a much discussed paradox. Tremendous individual talent that never gelled. I don't like to blame that team's problems completely on chemistry because we only had one ball handler, and that was a problem.
 
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nelsonmuntz said:
The 2006 team is a much discussed paradox. Tremendous individual talent that never gelled. I don't like to blame that team's problems completely on chemistry because we only had one ball handler, and that was a problem.
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I was not a fan of the Rudy/Charlie teams. Never felt like true UConn/JC squads. Can't say I wasn't surprised UConn didn't get to an FF in those years. Those were not "hungry Huskies".
 
mpfitz85 said:
It always sucks to lose a tournament game, but the Elite Eight losses in 95, 98, and 02 don't really stick in my craw as bad losses, seeing as in all three of those seasons, the UConn teams pretty much hit their potential and went down going toe to toe with opponents that were better than them. I look back with a "what could have been" attitude toward Tyus Edney going coast coast against Mizzou more than any one thing about the game with UCLA. In 98, I'm more mad about getting put into that region with UNC, with the regional being in Greensboro, when I think we were the best 2 seed that year.

Given my age, being born in 85, here are the 5 that were the most brutal for me...

1) Sweet 16 1996 vs. Mississippi State - This is the only sporting event I remember crying over the result of.
2) Elite Eight 2006 vs. George Mason - I know this team had issues with compete level and mental toughness, and they probably would have lost to Florida, but damn what an embarrassing loss.
3) Sweet 16 1994 vs. Florida - This is one of my earliest memories as a sports fan, it was the first season I really followed the program. This one really hurts, because the path was laid for that team to go really deep.
4) Second Round 2005 vs. NC State - A portent of things to come the following year. Bounced because they couldn't get up for an inferior opponent.
5) Second Round 2000 vs. Tennessee - Missin' you Khalid...

Honorable mention to the AJ Price ACL game (I'm sure it would be on this list had I not been in France on a college trip at the time, and unable to watch the game. I refuse to watch any footage from this game) and the Syracuse 6-OT Big East Tourney loss.
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Same age. Good list but I’m putting that loss to a clearly inferior Michigan st on there in 2009.

2008 first round only hurts because they blew 2 calls against us to get the game to OT. Dyson grew a great charge on an inbounds and they called a goaltend on Thabeet that was simply not a goaltend.

But that game just showed our 2 bigs weren’t as tough as advertised. A short fat kid threw them around.
 
mpfitz85 said:
It always sucks to lose a tournament game, but the Elite Eight losses in 95, 98, and 02 don't really stick in my craw as bad losses, seeing as in all three of those seasons, the UConn teams pretty much hit their potential and went down going toe to toe with opponents that were better than them. I look back with a "what could have been" attitude toward Tyus Edney going coast coast against Mizzou more than any one thing about the game with UCLA. In 98, I'm more mad about getting put into that region with UNC, with the regional being in Greensboro, when I think we were the best 2 seed that year.

Given my age, being born in 85, here are the 5 that were the most brutal for me...

1) Sweet 16 1996 vs. Mississippi State - This is the only sporting event I remember crying over the result of.
2) Elite Eight 2006 vs. George Mason - I know this team had issues with compete level and mental toughness, and they probably would have lost to Florida, but damn what an embarrassing loss.
3) Sweet 16 1994 vs. Florida - This is one of my earliest memories as a sports fan, it was the first season I really followed the program. This one really hurts, because the path was laid for that team to go really deep.
4) Second Round 2005 vs. NC State - A portent of things to come the following year. Bounced because they couldn't get up for an inferior opponent.
5) Second Round 2000 vs. Tennessee - Missin' you Khalid...

Honorable mention to the AJ Price ACL game (I'm sure it would be on this list had I not been in France on a college trip at the time, and unable to watch the game. I refuse to watch any footage from this game) and the Syracuse 6-OT Big East Tourney loss.
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I’m still baffled how poorly coached mizzou was in that situation. They literally did everything wrong on that play.
 
1. Tate having the ball go out of bounds. Nothing compared to the energy that team brought to the State after being an afterthought on the National scene for decades.
2. George Mason. Being Goliath and being knocked off was not a good feeling.
3. UCLA. That was a team that really played great basketball and it seemed like Bailey just had a game that we couldn't overcome.
4. Mich St. In the Final 4 as an away game. Losing to Izzo.
5. Miss St. What a total letdown. Were we ever in it.
 
The 2009 Final Four lose was particularly painful. Spent much of the game telling Michigan State fans that Michigan State is a school for those didn't get into Michigan. Was a long roadtrip back to NYC.
 
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2009 Michigan State would have to be the worst for me. We drove 10 hours from CT. Really thought we would at least make the title game.
 
NYCHusky said:
The 2009 Final Four lose was particularly painful. Spent much of the game telling Michigan State fans that Michigan State is a school for those didn't get into Michigan. Was a long roadtrip back to NYC.
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You weren't wrong.
 
George Mason is #1 and it's not even close. No way the talent on that squad should lose to a mid-major en route to another championship.

Not top 5 but this was awful. Feb 20, 1988. Tied with cuse at home with maybe 6 seconds left with a chance to win. Jeff King throws the in-bounds pass away and su gets the easy layup to win by 2. Watching Ron Seikely running off the court is about as bad as it gets.

That said, here is the W on 1/16/1988 at the dome.


 
Kolumbo said:
George Mason is #1 and it's not even close. No way the talent on that squad should lose to a mid-major en route to another championship.

Not top 5 but this was awful. Feb 20, 1988. Tied with cuse at home with maybe 6 seconds left with a chance to win. Jeff King throws the in-bounds pass away and su gets the easy layup to win by 2. Watching Ron Seikely running off the court is about as bad as it gets.

That said, here is the W on 1/16/1988 at the dome.
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Lindsey Hunter drops 39, only 5 at the half.

3/19/1993 - UConn vs. Jackson State (NIT - First Round)
 
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Kolumbo said:
Not top 5 but this was awful. Feb 20, 1988. Tied with cuse at home with maybe 6 seconds left with a chance to win. Jeff King throws the in-bounds pass away and su gets the easy layup to win by 2. Watching Ron Seikely running off the court is about as bad as it gets
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I was at that game as a 10 year old, above the tunnel, watched my old man practically stick his middle finger in Seikely’s face as he ran off that night. Brutal finish.
 
Last edited:
#1 George Mason: It was an embarrassing loss with what might have been our most talented yet perplexing team.
#2 Florida: That team may have been our best overall team. 'Yell just had made 20 of 20 the week before. Total choke when it counted the most.
#3 Miss St.: They bullied us all over the court and we shot like 30% as a team. I remember Ray just standing still on offense more often than not and I think he was 9-26 that game. Awful.
#4 Duke: It was an awful loss b/c that was such a magical season and it was just so close. But, the saving grace is that absolutely obnoxious Duke team got absolutely throttled by UNLV the next week. That game still makes me happy.
#5: San Diego: First (and only time) we were upset in the tourney.
#5a: Providence, 2010?: They dunked on us 3287 times that game and we completely quit. One of the worst performances I can remember.
#5b: Kansas, 1995: Nationally televised, we were ranked in the top 5, undefeated (I think) and they beat us by 30+.

Honorable Mentions!
  • G-Town when Brian Fair threw a perfect lead pass (off his head) to Joey Brown for a game winning layup.
  • Miami when Tooles threw Darius Rice a perfect chest pass for the game-winning 3.
  • NC State 2005 when we never really showed up to play.
  • Texas, 2003, Marcus White... Ugh.
  • Ohio State 1993... Smitty's last game and he got benched and we were crushed in the 2nd half.
  • Losing to Yale in 2015?
  • Losing to Wagner and Northeastern 2017
  • Iowa State thoroughly embarrasing us in 2012. Opening tip Royce White dunking on us and then they hit every open 3.
 
boog204 said:
#1 George Mason: It was an embarrassing loss with what might have been our most talented yet perplexing team.
#2 Florida: That team may have been our best overall team. 'Yell just had made 20 of 20 the week before. Total choke when it counted the most.
#3 Miss St.: They bullied us all over the court and we shot like 30% as a team. I remember Ray just standing still on offense more often than not and I think he was 9-26 that game. Awful.
#4 Duke: It was an awful loss b/c that was such a magical season and it was just so close. But, the saving grace is that absolutely obnoxious Duke team got absolutely throttled by UNLV the next week. That game still makes me happy.
#5: San Diego: First (and only time) we were upset in the tourney.
#5a: Providence, 2010?: They dunked on us 3287 times that game and we completely quit. One of the worst performances I can remember.
#5b: Kansas, 1995: Nationally televised, we were ranked in the top 5, undefeated (I think) and they beat us by 30+.

Honorable Mentions!
  • G-Town when Brian Fair threw a perfect lead pass (off his head) to Joey Brown for a game winning layup.
  • Miami when Tooles threw Darius Rice a perfect chest pass for the game-winning 3.
  • NC State 2005 when we never really showed up to play.
  • Texas, 2003, Marcus White... Ugh.
  • Ohio State 1993... Smitty's last game and he got benched and we were crushed in the 2nd half.
  • Losing to Yale in 2015?
  • Losing to Wagner and Northeastern 2017
  • Iowa State thoroughly embarrasing us in 2012. Opening tip Royce White dunking on us and then they hit every open 3.
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Wagner and Northeastern are officially on the board!
 
boog204 said:
#1 George Mason: It was an embarrassing loss with what might have been our most talented yet perplexing team.
#2 Florida: That team may have been our best overall team. 'Yell just had made 20 of 20 the week before. Total choke when it counted the most.
#3 Miss St.: They bullied us all over the court and we shot like 30% as a team. I remember Ray just standing still on offense more often than not and I think he was 9-26 that game. Awful.
#4 Duke: It was an awful loss b/c that was such a magical season and it was just so close. But, the saving grace is that absolutely obnoxious Duke team got absolutely throttled by UNLV the next week. That game still makes me happy.
#5: San Diego: First (and only time) we were upset in the tourney.
#5a: Providence, 2010?: They dunked on us 3287 times that game and we completely quit. One of the worst performances I can remember.
#5b: Kansas, 1995: Nationally televised, we were ranked in the top 5, undefeated (I think) and they beat us by 30+.

Honorable Mentions!
  • G-Town when Brian Fair threw a perfect lead pass (off his head) to Joey Brown for a game winning layup.
  • Miami when Tooles threw Darius Rice a perfect chest pass for the game-winning 3.
  • NC State 2005 when we never really showed up to play.
  • Texas, 2003, Marcus White... Ugh.
  • Ohio State 1993... Smitty's last game and he got benched and we were crushed in the 2nd half.
  • Losing to Yale in 2015?
  • Losing to Wagner and Northeastern 2017
  • Iowa State thoroughly embarrasing us in 2012. Opening tip Royce White dunking on us and then they hit every open 3.
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There's a few separate categories here:

A) Heartbreaking/gut-punch losses where we gave it our all and either lost painfully or lost to a superior or equal opponent; they hurt, but we can feel proud about the performance (Duke 1990, UCLA 1995, UNC 1998, Maryland 2002, Texas 2003)
B) Embarrassing losses to inferior or equal opponents or where we played horribly, choked, or quit; there's no silver lining here (Florida 1994, MSU 1996, NC State 2005, Mason 2006, ISU 2012, most of the late KO years)

Some are in the middle or had extenuating circumstances (Tennessee 2000, SD 2008).
 
Tenspro2002 said:
There's a few separate categories here:

A) Heartbreaking/gut-punch losses where we gave it our all and either lost painfully or lost to a superior or equal opponent; they hurt, but we can feel proud about the performance (Duke 1990, UCLA 1995, UNC 1998, Maryland 2002, Texas 2003)
B) Embarrassing losses to inferior or equal opponents or where we played horribly, choked, or quit; there's no silver lining here (Florida 1994, MSU 1996, NC State 2005, Mason 2006, ISU 2012, most of the late KO years)

Some are in the middle or had extenuating circumstances (Tennessee 2000, SD 2008).
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Indeed... I never looked at Maryland, UCLA, or MSU as "bad" losses as I felt like we played well but lost to a team that was as good as if not better than us. Especially maryland and UCLA. The first Duke game would qualify here as well except I was 10 and cried after we lost. Thus it deserves a top 5 ranking.
 
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Waquoit said:
So you're not a big Gay guy?
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I’ll echo those who mentioned the ‘95 UCLA game. Aside from the poor first half UCLA played v Missouri earlier in the tournament, nobody really was good enough to beat them. It took their team effort of 54.5% FG shooting to outlast UCONN, who were actually built to run with them (few, if any, were).

I initially thought about George Mason, but it sadly, wasn’t that surprising that they’d get burned. Easily the worst 30 win team I can recall.
 
Everyone knows the main ones but I’ll list some others:

1. Georgetown 2008 when Roy Hibbert hit that 3.
2. Maryland 2002 and Caron’s presser after. Crushed me.
3. San Diego 2008 just awful.
4. Notre Dame 2011 on Kemba’s senior night.
 
Man this thread is really trudging up some bad memories... thanks... i think the mojo god's are pleased now.

Worst L's
1) Mason
2) Duke Elite 8 1990
3) Miss St.
4) UCLA
5) Mich St
 
kelde1wd said:
MSU in the 2009 FF was another tough one for me. Even without Dyson, that team was loaded enough to win the title.
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MSU saved us from being smoked by UNC. Nobody was beating them the way they were playing in March that year.
 
KemBaller said:
MSU saved us from being smoked by UNC. Nobody was beating them the way they were playing in March that year.
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Thabeet would’ve had hasnbroughs lunch. That was the exact guy he had no answer for.
 
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