Fun V. The Weight Of Expectations

[oldude]

I have mentioned this before. I inherited my love of UConn WBB from my mother, part of a legion of older Italian-American women in CT, who absolutely adored Geno and the Huskies. Mom never missed a UConn game, curling up in her chair in front of the tv. She wouldn’t even answer the phone if it rang during a game because she was “locked in.”

Mom was always nervous during a game unless and until UConn got up by 20+ points, at which point she would relax and enjoy the game. I never really understood that until mom passed away in 2012 and I started watching “mom’s team” with decidedly more interest and emotion. That season, the first of 4 straight national championships, I was an emotional wreck. To this day, much the same as mom, I need that 20 pt cushion to relax.

As many BY’ers know, a few seasons ago I started writing up postgame comments which I submit in a thread almost immediately after the end of the game. In order to do that I write up and edit comments throughout the game. I have found that putting together postgame comments during the game does relieve some of the stress of a competitive UConn game by creating a useful distraction.

 

[Centerstream]

@oldude I for one look forward to seeing your Postgame threads knowing how interesting each one will be.
I kinda consider your postgame thread, being posted almost immediately after the clock reaches 00:00, a BY Tradition.
Also, I often refer to it before I watch the replay.

 

[Stagnant]

Winning last year changed everything for me as a fan. I have a very satisfied feeling and I think I can be a lot more relaxed watching the team this year.

 

[Bone Dog]

I kinda consider your postgame thread, being posted almost immediately after the clock reaches 00:00, a BY Tradition.

Me too. Once or twice last season you were a bit late in posting it (maybe 20 mins or so) and it kinda freaked me out. Keep up the tradition!

 

[Bigboote]

I watch every game expecting UConn to win. If they lose I'm disappointed but it's not the end of the world. If the other team outplays them, kudos to the other team. If UConn lost because they didn't play "their" game, then it cheeses me off.

I was an avid Red Sox fan (till they traded Mookie Betts); I stuck with them through Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner Aaron Boone, and all that. If my team losing was a problem, well, I'd have a really big problem.

 

[Bone Dog]

(till they traded Mookie Betts)

What on earth were they thinking?

 

[BBallF]

This year is very different for me because I have an almost intellectual curiosity about how this team will turn out. By that I don't mean the ultimate result in April, although every year there is an intensity and expectation about that. The curiosity this year is what the final form of this team will be. Who will it be? What will the "attack" teams be like small ball was last year? Will there be big ball? Will there be more of an outside-inside game? How will Geno handle the substitution patterns? Will this team become a great team? So I am watching the development more this year than any other because I think the possibilities, permutations and combinations are so vast and so fluid with the different players and skills available. While I will probably still live and die with every basket vs turnover I will just try to be a little more detached- until the Tennessee game!

 

[Bone Dog]

I think the possibilities, permutations and combinations are so vast and so fluid

If only it were possible to quantify the possible permutations

 

[rugbymate]

“Uneasy is the head that wears the crown” (Willie Shake, Henry IV)…..teams will be more fired up than usual to play us this year….a loss or two before March shouldn’t burden we fans… one can expect us to win it all but that doesn’t mean there won’t be bumps along the way…the key is staying positive

 

[Centerstream]

One thing that I am really wondering about relates back to last season. Many of the players and coaches consistently have said that the loss to the Lady Vols is what made the players gel and they all realized that they had to give a little bit more every day in order to win the 12th. Mission accomplished.
Is this team going to be able to continue this mindset, relying on the veterans to get the newbies into this (winning) mindset from game #1.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

What on earth were they thinking?

Short answer, "They" weren't thinking!

 

[The CDR-Ret]

This year is very different for me because I have an almost intellectual curiosity about how this team will turn out. By that I don't mean the ultimate result in April, although every year there is an intensity and expectation about that. The curiosity this year is what the final form of this team will be. Who will it be? What will the "attack" teams be like small ball was last year? Will there be big ball? Will there be more of an outside-inside game? How will Geno handle the substitution patterns? Will this team become a great team? So I am watching the development more this year than any other because I think the possibilities, permutations and combinations are so vast and so fluid with the different players and skills available. While I will probably still live and die with every basket vs turnover I will just try to be a little more detached- until the Tennessee game!

I also like the time to build up to a test (top 10 from preseason rankings), another build to a test, another build to a test (UTenn), time to fine tune the lineup & know substitution options, then the BE Tourney, and then the main event: 6 games that really matter to be at the top of one's game and win each possession.

Last year had many tests and December was ridiculous, and the visit to the Evil Orange Empire rekindled the old rivalry, BUT more importantly caused many of the players to learn to trust (PB said love) each other. Without PB to save the day, I believe the progression to "loving each other" will occur quicker this year, as more will be required of each of the starters and the rotation players. This "love story" is what will make this year's edition to Husky lore worth paying attention.

Go Huskies!!!

 

[WiseWillie]

While reading through these comments some intended to be humorous, others maybe not so much, the picture of some of us peeking at the screen through a blanket overhead is, well, more than a little funny. Come on BY'ers! Time to man - or woman - up.

(As a brief but interesting interlude here, if you want to use someone as an example look at CD during a game. While she's busy taking notes she has an extremely calm demeanor whether we are up by 20 or down by 10. It's the same calm, unruffled look while coach is pacing or has his hands in the air after a flubbed assignment or switch not made and meantime the assistant coaches clapping, standing, shouting encouragement. During all of this CD sits quietly and let's the game unfold from her seat except when she must get up to hold back coach from charging at a ref to complain after a bad or no call. But there's no jumping up and down. No flailing arms. Just a calm professional presence. How she does it is amazing when I'm watching on tv or at Gampel clapping, standing, shouting and high fiveing. It must be a very practiced skill. Besides, of course, Geno, CD over 40 years has been the steady presence that has helped guide 160+ players. Kudos to her.)

OK, now back to the Fun V The Weight of Expectations.

 

[Skeets]

Winning last year changed everything for me as a fan. I have a very satisfied feeling and I think I can be a lot more relaxed watching the team this year.

Exactly the opposite for me. If UConn was a .500 team, I'd be a lot more relaxed. As it is, if they are not up by at least 10 in 1Q I start to get very nervous. Down at the half? Ger the defibrillator...

 

[BBallF]

If only it were possible to quantify the possible permutations

It probably would be interesting and entertaining to just keep track of the permutations in the first game against Louisville. It might be a fun thread on the Boneyard. Every substitution is a different team. I think Geno is going to have an absolute ball this year.

 

[BBallF]

Winning last year changed everything for me as a fan. I have a very satisfied feeling and I think I can be a lot more relaxed watching the team this year.

I agree and I feel the same way right now. Let’s see how we feel in the first game. Relaxed? Detached? Laid back? Channel surfing during time outs and foul shots? Or, screaming at the TV like me?😂

 

[WiseWillie]

One thing that I am really wondering about relates back to last season. Many of the players and coaches consistently have said that the loss to the Lady Vols is what made the players gel and they all realized that they had to give a little bit more every day in order to win the 12th. Mission accomplished.
Is this team going to be able to continue this mindset, relying on the veterans to get the newbies into this (winning) mindset from game #1.

The driving, coalescing force after the loss to the Lady Vols was due to one person: Paige. She set the tone for the rest of the season and watching her on the floor pushing them when needed and after a successful stop or score congratulating her teammates was just Paige showing her innate leadership qualities. Who will step up to be that winning personality and voice this year? IMO I think Caroline has the personality to be that leader. While she may not be on the starting five just her presence and kind personality can be the "right stuff" pushing or congratulating as needed whether on the floor or while on the bench.

 

[msf22b]

I read the posts on this thread with both incredulity and bemusement.
Geno and UConn have accumulated one of the most gifted and balanced teams
in living memory..."What me worry?"

Perhaps they won’t, but they have the talent to steamroll their way through an amazing season (notice, I didn’t say perfect or guarantee a NATY).

It’s now up to the staff to blend this formidable mix of potential into a juggernaut.
Isn’t that what they’re best at?

In recent seasons, we always coveted an inside presence; one who could score, rebound and defend...finally, we have one. That and Sarah’s growth (seems almost like a joke) and Blanca’s potential surely will compensate for the graduation of Paige, Not to mention Azzi, the junior guards and even a Chen lookalike + the likelihood of one or more of the previous walking wounded to reemerge.
Not to mention the freshman.

C’mon, guys and gals...give me a break...This is a season to sit back and enjoy the mayhem that UConn brings to Woman’s college basketball.
Warm up your popcorn, sit back and relax

This is the re-birth of UConn is bad for the sport...Very bad.

 

[WiseWillie]

I have mentioned this before. I inherited my love of UConn WBB from my mother, part of a legion of older Italian-American women in CT, who absolutely adored Geno and the Huskies. Mom never missed a UConn game, curling up in her chair in front of the tv. She wouldn’t even answer the phone if it rang during a game because she was “locked in.”

Mom was always nervous during a game unless and until UConn got up by 20+ points, at which point she would relax and enjoy the game. I never really understood that until mom passed away in 2012 and I started watching “mom’s team” with decidedly more interest and emotion. That season, the first of 4 straight national championships, I was an emotional wreck. To this day, much the same as mom, I need that 20 pt cushion to relax.

As many BY’ers know, a few seasons ago I started writing up postgame comments which I submit in a thread almost immediately after the end of the game. In order to do that I write up and edit comments throughout the game. I have found that putting together postgame comments during the game does relieve some of the stress of a competitive UConn game by creating a useful distraction.

The description of your Mom, OD, and the Italian-American women loving to watch a good-looking Italian-American young coach with a full head of wavy hair was excellent. Brought back many memories of my heritage. Keep up your postgame writing. They are usually spot on and enjoyable reading even if sometimes a little windy but which we all will excuse. 😄

 

[MooseJaw]

If all else fails, stay in the moment and frozen shots of Grey Goose.

 

[oldude]

even if sometimes a little windy

Windy???? I resemble that remark…… 😉

 

[Skeets]

It probably would be interesting and entertaining to just keep track of the permutations in the first game against Louisville. It might be a fun thread on the Boneyard. Every substitution is a different team. I think Geno is going to have an absolute ball this year.

Didn't someone figure out there were something like 3,003 possible permutations? We should start a pool as to how many of those permutations Geno will use during the year. Volunteers to keep track of this? 😊

 

[HopJim]

Thanks. I actually never saw this. I saw the pair before the Final 4 started. Fantastic analysis.

Wish Lisa and Renee could announce our games. I got more value listening to them for a few mintes than an entire game from recent announcers.

 

[oldude]

Didn't someone figure out there were something like 3,003 possible permutations? We should start a pool as to how many of those permutations Geno will use during the year. Volunteers to keep track of this? 😊

That was me. There is a mathematical discipline called combinatorics that gives us the “combination formula” which essentially counts all the possible combinations and permutations of a problem like, ”How many different 5 player combinations are possible with a 15 player roster?”

It would have taken me a good amount of time to calculate the answer myself. However, I just asked my I-phone the question and AI calculated the answer in a few seconds. 😎

 

[BBallF]

Didn't someone figure out there were something like 3,003 possible permutations? We should start a pool as to how many of those permutations Geno will use during the year. Volunteers to keep track of this? 😊

I will volunteer to keep track for the Louisville game and make it a thread after a sufficient number of replies (probably in excess of 100) to oldude's post game thread have taken place. It would be even more interesting to see how the 3003 different combinations fare in terms of + - points in a given game. I am sure one of our talented algorithmic BYers can figure that out. I think the pool should be how many combinations are predicted for an upcoming game. For example, 10 in the Louisville game? 15? 25? Remember each substitution is a new combination.

 

[FanSince17]

Wish Lisa and Renee could announce our games. I got more value listening to them for a few mintes than an entire game from recent announcers.

NBA TV used to have a weekly broadcast that they called "Players Only". TNT picked up on it too. Don't know why it went away. Everything was players- broadcasting, interviews, everything. Fantastic. They watched the game though, unlike these offshoots- D and Sue, Eli and Peyton. (yes, I love all 4 of them but they don't watch the games)

 

[Bone Dog]

I will volunteer to keep track for the Louisville game and make it a thread after a sufficient number of replies (probably in excess of 100) to oldude's post game thread have taken place. It would be even more interesting to see how the 3003 different combinations fare in terms of + - points in a given game. I am sure one of our talented algorithmic BYers can figure that out. I think the pool should be how many combinations are predicted for an upcoming game. For example, 10 in the Louisville game? 15? 25? Remember each substitution is a new combination.

Isn’t there a stat service that already tracks this information? Her Hoop Stats or someone like that.

 

[FanSince17]

That was me. There is a mathematical discipline called combinatorics that gives us the “combination formula” which essentially counts all the possible combinations and permutations of a problem like, ”How many different 5 player combinations are possible with a 15 player roster?”

It would have taken me a good amount of time to calculate the answer myself. However, I just asked my I-phone the question and AI calculated the answer in a few seconds. 😎

Reminds me of my spectacular undergraduate career. I ended up with a BA in Psych instead of a BS, because of having to take a real Statistics class a million times. My lifestyle at the time was not conducive to daily study, which that course demanded. Now, 40 years later I have the BY as a tutor.

 

[Skeets]

I will volunteer to keep track for the Louisville game and make it a thread after a sufficient number of replies (probably in excess of 100) to oldude's post game thread have taken place. It would be even more interesting to see how the 3003 different combinations fare in terms of + - points in a given game. I am sure one of our talented algorithmic BYers can figure that out. I think the pool should be how many combinations are predicted for an upcoming game. For example, 10 in the Louisville game? 15? 25? Remember each substitution is a new combination.

I'll participate. It'll be a fun thing to do. However, after thinking about it for about 30 seconds, it could get a little messy. Not all substitutions would be a "new" combination. Some substitutions will be a previous used combination. The easiest example: the original starting 5 coming out to start the second half. Counting just the unique combinations, and counting them just once, won't make the job any easier.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Now this is not thread drift, it's genetic mutation!