Happy for Larranaga

[superjohn]

I know the ACC sucks and Miami is a dirty program but I'm still happy for Jim Larranaga, the guy is a damn good coach.

 

[stick]

What? Are you really a UConn fan? The George Mason loss might be the toughest in UConn history.

 

[Danzz]

Great job by Larranga turning Miami into a contender. He graduates (or out of eligability) most of his team so next season doesn't look great but he did an outstanding job.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Larkin is a soph but might springboard on to pros. So Miami wins regular season & ACC title, they have to get a better seed than Dook

 

[traitor71]

Larkin is a soph but might springboard on to pros. So Miami wins regular season & ACC title, they have to get a better seed than Dook

This won't surprise anyone, but before the game Vitale said that Miami should get a number one seed if they won...over Kansas. Dook was "totally deserving" of a number one in his opinion and should be affected by the Miami result.

 

[huskiesnyc]

I know the ACC sucks and Miami is a dirty program but I'm still happy for Jim Larranaga, the guy is a damn good coach.

The worst loss in our programs history was with him at the helm. I don't think so

 

[Husky1964]

Was present for that UGLY weekend in D.C. but I still rooted for Larr. today. Good guy, even though he went to PeeCee!!!

 

[Dogdeacon]

This won't surprise anyone, but before the game Vitale said that Miami should get a number one seed if they won...over Kansas. Dook was "totally deserving" of a number one in his opinion and should be affected by the Miami result.

If Dook did what Miami did they'd be #1 overall for sure. But Miami has a decent draw and Dook isn't in NC or East Rutherford so whenever they miss their 3's they fall.

 

[BearJWS]

I know the ACC sucks and Miami is a dirty program but I'm still happy for Jim Larranaga, the guy is a damn good coach.

I can't root against anyone that looks like my father. Besides we all share a wonderful first name!
Jim L. has done great things at Miami. He's a good egg too.

 

[Gurleyman]

If Dook did what Miami did they'd be #1 overall for sure. But Miami has a decent draw and Dook isn't in NC or East Rutherford so whenever they miss their 3's they fall.

I've always looked at George Mason as the mojo tradeoff for 3 titles. It used to be we never lost to anyone worse than a 5 seed and never made a Final Four. Now we've won three titles, and we got punked once by some scrubs on a magic carpet ride playing over their heads. The highs and lows of the NCAA experience - when you're in it often enough, you get both sides of it.

 

[Waquoit]

Was present for that UGLY weekend in D.C. but I still rooted for Larr. today. Good guy, even though he went to PeeCee!!!

Y'know PeeCee wanted him to coach there but he told 'em to get lost.

 

[BearJWS]

Y'know PeeCee wanted him to coach there but he told 'em to get lost.

Jim L is a PC Alum, so it wasn't a stretch.... but if you're close to retirement, Miami or Providence? Not a tough call. LOL

 

[Dogdeacon]

I've always looked at George Mason as the mojo tradeoff for 3 titles. It used to be we never lost to anyone worse than a 5 seed and never made a Final Four. Now we've won three titles, and we got punked once by some scrubs on a magic carpet ride playing over their heads. The highs and lows of the NCAA experience - when you're in it often enough, you get both sides of it.

I think the George Mason loss is a lot harder for two particular groups of UConn fans;
1. Fans that began early 90's, for them just as you described UConn didn't get upset in the tourney so a loss to a double digit seed was simply unfathomable.
2. Fans that didn't recognize that team's major shortcoming discussed ad nauseum here, in short no one capable of more than one reliable dribble after Marcus Williams.

It has also dissipated because GMason making the final four helped usher in the era of Butler and VCU. So GMason is at most mentioned casually as the springboard and the massive upset spin has faded from everyone's mind but UConn fans or haters.

 

[Waquoit]

I think the George Mason loss is a lot harder for two particular groups of UConn fans;
1. Fans that began early 90's, for them just as you described UConn didn't get upset in the tourney so a loss to a double digit seed was simply unfathomable.
2. Fans that didn't recognize that team's major shortcoming discussed ad nauseum here, in short no one capable of more than one reliable dribble after Marcus Williams.

It has also dissipated because GMason making the final four helped usher in the era of Butler and VCU. So GMason is at most mentioned casually as the springboard and the massive upset spin has faded from everyone's mind but UConn fans or haters.

You missed a few groups: Fans that became used to UConn playing team ball. Fans that bought into that fact that UConn teams weren't going to be outworked. Fans that believed that a UConn team cared about winning. Fans that had never seen their best player yawn in the middle of the biggest game of the season.

The massive upset wasn't spin, it was fact. Calling it spin is massive denial. GM was the last team in and they beat a team that had 4 1st round draft picks.

 

[tzznandrew]

You missed a few groups: Fans that became used to UConn playing team ball. Fans that bought into that fact that UConn teams weren't going to be outworked. Fans that believed that a UConn team cared about winning. Fans that had never seen their best player yawn in the middle of the biggest game of the season.

The massive upset wasn't spin, it was fact. Calling it spin is massive denial. GM was the last team in and they beat a team that had 4 1st round draft picks.

And UNC. And Michigan State. And a Wichita State that took out #2 seed Tennessee. These guys weren't really scrubs.

That team had problems. At times, they were outworked. The team cared about winning, though, and suggesting otherwise because someone yawned? I mean, geez. Their loss against Syracuse was in OT, their loss against GM was in OT, and their near loss against Washington was in OT. They clearly didn't give up.

 

[BearJWS]

You missed a few groups: Fans that became used to UConn playing team ball. Fans that bought into that fact that UConn teams weren't going to be outworked. Fans that believed that a UConn team cared about winning. Fans that had never seen their best player yawn in the middle of the biggest game of the season.

The massive upset wasn't spin, it was fact. Calling it spin is massive denial. GM was the last team in and they beat a team that had 4 1st round draft picks.

In all fairness to UConn, it was a close game & I don't think UConn played poorly. It was a great offensive game, with lots of tough shots made by both teams. George Mason also upset Michigan State & UNC prior, so they were hot. GM had numerous Seniors on that team & still won 27 games that year. It is what it is. There have been worse losses in my opinion.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Ugh,

You missed a few groups: Fans that became used to UConn playing team ball. Fans that bought into that fact that UConn teams weren't going to be outworked. Fans that believed that a UConn team cared about winning. Fans that had never seen their best player yawn in the middle of the biggest game of the season.

The massive upset wasn't spin, it was fact. Calling it spin is massive denial. GM was the last team in and they beat a team that had 4 1st round draft picks.

Ugh, I agree it was an upset so we are talking about the definiton of massive. You didn't disagree with my basic flaw for that team, just rattled off a half-dozen more. To me that loss is actually less painful than 96* or 94** mostly because those were in the "will UConn ever make the final four" era. Like girly-man said to some extent you are eventually going to have a bad loss to endure as karmic payback for getting a few good bounces.

Maybe I could have made a 3rd category of UConn fans that don't still dwell on that loss because they knew they couldn't win it all? I don't think your harsh characterizations of the team are inaccurate, I just think they were doomed anyway so I thought I captured all of that with a basketball reason.

* most analagous since once those Huskies were without Ricky Moore it felt like they were incomplete although in a different way than 06

** Not sure if Donyell yawned, but given the two missed free throws & his NBA party lifestyle the conspiracy theory about him being out late the night before seems likely true

 

[sparky]

Great for Miami and Jim. He is a very good coach and uses his timeouts efficiently. They will probably lose Larkin to the nba and from there I think life will get tough again for the U.

 

[BearJWS]

Great for Miami and Jim. He is a very good coach and uses his timeouts efficiently. They will probably lose Larkin to the nba and from there I think life will get tough again for the U.

Larkin said he would be back already. But you know that could always change.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...urn-miami-hurricanes-2013-14-according-report

 

[MattMang23]

After the Rutgers game last year, Andre Drummond was coming back, too.

 

[tzznandrew]

Maybe I could have made a 3rd category of UConn fans that don't still dwell on that loss because they knew they couldn't win it all? I don't think your harsh characterizations of the team are inaccurate, I just think they were doomed anyway so I thought I captured all of that with a basketball reason.

I do think those losses were worse. I think 1994, if they won, makes the Final Four. Tough game against Duke in the FF then...

1996...health issues. They likely get to the title game, though. But Kentucky was really really good.

1995 was their year--No Tyus Edny and they win the whole thing.

On 2006: they most definitely could have won it all, flawed or not. Florida's strength was their interior. UConn could have neutralized them. And Corey Brewer could only guard Marcus or Rudy. I think we'd have had a good chance of beating them and UCLA. Oh well, though.

 

[MattMang23]

I see 2011 as making up for the GMU loss in 2006. My wounds were healed two years ago.

 

[sparky]

Larkin said he would be back already. But you know that could always change.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...urn-miami-hurricanes-2013-14-according-report

Any idea what their recruiting class is like? I can't imagine he'd come back if they are not going to be a pretty good team. Jim does play alot of guys, but Reggie baby better lose a few lbs.

 

[Inyatkin]

I do think those losses were worse. I think 1994, if they won, makes the Final Four. Tough game against Duke in the FF then...

1996...health issues. They likely get to the title game, though. But Kentucky was really really good.

1995 was their year--No Tyus Edny and they win the whole thing.

On 2006: they most definitely could have won it all, flawed or not. Florida's strength was their interior. UConn could have neutralized them. And Corey Brewer could only guard Marcus or Rudy. I think we'd have had a good chance of beating them and UCLA. Oh well, though.

Health issues or no, I still put 1996 as the worst loss of the Calhoun era, over 2006. We went into the NCAAs with a record of 30-2. We knew there was a mass exodus after the season. And there was all that no-Final-Four history, which was at a fever pitch by then.
I remember watching Syracuse take apart that Mississippi State team in the Final Four and thinking, there's no way this is the same team that beat us.
Also, good coach or not, I will not be happy for Larranaga, thank you.

 

[BearJWS]

Any idea what their recruiting class is like? I can't imagine he'd come back if they are not going to be a pretty good team. Jim does play alot of guys, but Reggie baby better lose a few lbs.

I think most of their good players are Seniors, so probably rebuilding. Reggie should gone too. They are losing a lot of size too... I had to look up their incoming class, doesn't look like much size.
http://espn.go.com/colleges/basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/2390/class/2013