Here's why it's Okay.

[Prezidint]

It's ok.

It's ok for many reasons, but the main reason is because I have eaten well for a long time now, I have recently been to a wonderful, weeks long feast, I had my fill, my belly is near bursting, and I can't complain that the hopes of another feast, offered while I am digesting the last, may be dwindling.

As a college basketball fan, I'm a fat man in the world of the starving.

It may sound silly and minor and cherry picked, but watching Roscoe Smith hit the opening shot and watching the Boat Show feeding Drummond, repeatedly, to start the game forced me to stop feeling sorry for myself.

This is a reminder that we are living in superbly abundant times. Last year's feast came on the heels of a short fast, but only a short fast. And, better yet, it was unexpected. Caterers showed up at our door, and delivered fare unmatched in all of sports.

We don't have it good. We have it great. All but a few teams in the country would trade their success for our success over the last couple of decades. That is sumptuous.

So it's ok. Whether it stays the same, gets better, or gets worse, don't forget that we've eaten well, and going a bit without more consumption will simply make the next meal even more fulfilling, as the hungry enjoy the meal more so than the sated.

If you insist on giving up on this team. If you aver that you will stop watching them. Stop supporting them. If you constantly lament how bad things have gotten. Insult the coach, who was substantially responsible for all you have already eaten. Insult the players, who supply your food. Cry that this team is a "disgrace," and lament that we may not make it back to the big table this year to again stuff our voracious pie holes.

Then please understand that you're a Kentucky fan and you just haven't figured out yet that your team plays in a different state.

 

[caw]

I want to agree with that post, but this team is just frustrating to watch because they are so talented and the potential is there.

The Dyson/Stanley team's flaws could be pointed out easily (no depth and if Dyson was off the game was over). This team just is harder to spot why they are not good.

 

[champs99and04]

Unfortunately the players on the team seem to see things just the way you do.

 

[nomar]

I want to agree with that post, but this team is just frustrating to watch because they are so talented and the potential is there.

The Dyson/Stanley team's flaws could be pointed out easily (no depth and if Dyson was off the game was over). This team just is harder to spot why they are not good.

I *do* agree with that (it's great to be a UConn fan and I wouldn't trade spots with anyone), and I'm still frustrated.

If you tell me that you can watch the team's last 4 games and not be really ticked off with the team's effort and execution, then I'll call you a liar.

 

[Kitaman]

We all will be okay if we lower expectations a little. That's not a diss but applying survival instincts for the rest of the season.

 

[freescooter]

It's ok.

It's ok for many reasons, but the main reason is because I have eaten well for a long time now, I have recently been to a wonderful, weeks long feast, I had my fill, my belly is near bursting, and I can't complain that the hopes of another feast, offered while I am digesting the last, may be dwindling.

As a college basketball fan, I'm a fat man in the world of the starving.

It may sound silly and minor and cherry picked, but watching Roscoe Smith hit the opening shot and watching the Boat Show feeding Drummond, repeatedly, to start the game forced me to stop feeling sorry for myself.

This is a reminder that we are living in superbly abundant times. Last year's feast came on the heels of a short fast, but only a short fast. And, better yet, it was unexpected. Caterers showed up at our door, and delivered fare unmatched in all of sports.

We don't have it good. We have it great. All but a few teams in the country would trade their success for our success over the last couple of decades. That is sumptuous.

So it's ok. Whether it stays the same, gets better, or gets worse, don't forget that we've eaten well, and going a bit without more consumption will simply make the next meal even more fulfilling, as the hungry enjoy the meal more so than the sated.

If you insist on giving up on this team. If you aver that you will stop watching them. Stop supporting them. If you constantly lament how bad things have gotten. Insult the coach, who was substantially responsible for all you have already eaten. Insult the players, who supply your food. Cry that this team is a "disgrace," and lament that we may not make it back to the big table this year to again stuff our voracious pie holes.

Then please understand that you're a Kentucky fan and you just haven't figured out yet that your team plays in a different state.

What nonsense. this is big time college basketball, not the local 9-10 year old girls rec league. And while it is nice to appreciate what we've had for 2 decades under Calhoun, it is very much about what have you done for me lately, too. At this level, we keep score. And care about winning. And lately they have been hideous. You want to wax poetic about what happened last year or in 1988 or in 1964, you probably ought to think about rooting for Weslyan or Conn college or Rutgers. UCONN plays in the Big East, plays at the highest level of college basketball and comes out looking for a national championship every year. And when they don't challenge for that, especially when they supposedly have very talented players, it isn't just disappointing. It is bad. Very bad. and not acceptable to real UCONN fans. And fans do and should demand that. We shouldn't accept that the caterer brings us Mcdonalds bugers, just because last year he brought filets. We know the difference. Hell kentucky fans know the difference and that's why they ran off Tubby Smith despite the fact that he won a National title and never missing an NCAA tournament. Watch what happens to Calipari if he doesn't get a championship in the next year or two. They won't accept it. UCONN fans shouldn't either. The days of the Yankee Conference, when expectations were not that high are long long gone.

 

[imno1]

What nonsense. this is big time college basketball, not the local 9-10 year old girls rec league. And while it is nice to appreciate what we've had for 2 decades under Calhoun, it is very much about what have you done for me lately, too. At this level, we keep score. And care about winning. And lately they have been hideous. You want to wax poetic about what happened last year or in 1988 or in 1964, you probably ought to think about rooting for Weslyan or Conn college or Rutgers. UCONN plays in the Big East, plays at the highest level of college basketball and comes out looking for a national championship every year. And when they don't challenge for that, especially when they supposedly have very talented players, it isn't just disappointing. It is bad. Very bad. and not acceptable to real UCONN fans. And fans do and should demand that. We shouldn't accept that the caterer brings us Mcdonalds bugers, just because last year he brought filets. We know the difference. Hell kentucky fans know the difference and that's why they ran off Tubby Smith despite the fact that he won a National title and never missing an NCAA tournament. Watch what happens to Calipari if he doesn't get a championship in the next year or two. They won't accept it. UCONN fans shouldn't either. The days of the Yankee Conference, when expectations were not that high are long long gone.

Now if our team was half as tough as this post ...

 

[Prezidint]

. . . and comes out looking for a national championship every year. And when they don't challenge for that, especially when they supposedly have very talented players, it isn't just disappointing. It is bad. Very bad. and not acceptable

We should challenge for a NC every year. And if we don't it's not acceptable? God that is stupid. If you jest, well done. Otherwise . . .
FREESCOOTER LINK

 

[whaler11]

What nonsense. this is big time college basketball, not the local 9-10 year old girls rec league. And while it is nice to appreciate what we've had for 2 decades under Calhoun, it is very much about what have you done for me lately, too. At this level, we keep score. And care about winning. And lately they have been hideous. You want to wax poetic about what happened last year or in 1988 or in 1964, you probably ought to think about rooting for Weslyan or Conn college or Rutgers. UCONN plays in the Big East, plays at the highest level of college basketball and comes out looking for a national championship every year. And when they don't challenge for that, especially when they supposedly have very talented players, it isn't just disappointing. It is bad. Very bad. and not acceptable to real UCONN fans. And fans do and should demand that. We shouldn't accept that the caterer brings us Mcdonalds bugers, just because last year he brought filets. We know the difference. Hell kentucky fans know the difference and that's why they ran off Tubby Smith despite the fact that he won a National title and never missing an NCAA tournament. Watch what happens to Calipari if he doesn't get a championship in the next year or two. They won't accept it. UCONN fans shouldn't either. The days of the Yankee Conference, when expectations were not that high are long long gone.

Not acceptable? It's not like it changes based on people's message board protests. What do you want to do? Hold Jim Calhoun's feet to the fire? Burn Napier at the stake? Send Lamb to bed with no dinner?

It sucks that they are playing terrible basketball, but this isn't the UCLA era - you don't get to win every year - and no single program 'deserves' to.

Kentucky is no different, they can demand anything they want - if they are stupid enough to run Calipari off it doesn't make them a great fanbase - it makes them morons.

When you've won a national championship within the last 10 months - I'm pretty sure you don't get to play the 'what have you done for me lately' card.

 

[BarkingDog]

I totally agree with prez. I take even an even wider view: I grew up in Connecticut a fan of the Yankees, Giants and Knicks and went to UConn. I feel fortunate that for 15 years at least one of my teams wins a championship every two or three years. And someone's playing in a championship game even more frequiently.
The run by UConn last march and the Giants run to 46 this january has kept me from freaking out over the recent poor play. Last I checked, we're still defending national champs.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I totally agree with prez. I take even an even wider view: I grew up in Connecticut a fan of the Yankees, Giants and Knicks and went to UConn. I feel fortunate that for 15 years at least one of my teams wins a championship every two or three years. And someone's playing in a championship game even more frequiently.
The run by UConn last march and the Giants run to 46 this january has kept me from freaking out over the recent poor play. Last I checked, we're still defending national champs.

Haha, same as me! Knicks have sucked the past 10 years, but the other teams have been awesome to follow.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

if we didn't have this much talent then sure, let's take a year off and let them develop. but this is the rare type of team with championship caliber talent, and they are wasting it.

i think that is what bugs most people. if everyone was playing hard and smart and we were still losing, then i could accept that. when they waste away their talent by making the same stupid mistakes and not playing as a team, it can be very tough to stomach as a fan.

i think the point is that as fans, we all REALLY care. when it seems like the team doesn't care as much as we do, then we understandably get pissed.

 

[BarkingDog]

Haha, same as me! Knicks have sucked the past 10 years, but the other teams have been awesome to follow.

It's hard to believe that just before the run by all the other teams, the Knicks were good and played in a championship series.

 

[UC990411]

I don't agree at all. We have not had success since 2006 when we lost in the elite 8. In 2007 and 2010 we did not make the tournament, those are disappointments, in 2009 we made a final four and in 2011 we won a championship. In 2008 we lost in the first round of the tournament, i consider that a draw. That gives us 2/5 successes, 2/5 disappointments and 1/5 being a draw. We're a mediocre program at best from this point on.

Now look at it if we lose in the first round of the NIT this year, 2/6 successes, 3/6 disappointments, 1/6 draw. Scary to think but we aren't the elite team we were from 90-2006.

 

[champs99and04]

Here's my take: Last years run provided me with the same level of joy most programs do not get to experience in a single decade. There is really no way you can match the smiles on the faces of every UConn fan after we won eleven straight when people had left the team for dead. The team not only provided me with entertainment and happiness every time they played, but they also lifted my spirits on a daily basis. Every time I wanted to slack off or take a nap instead of doing my homework, I said, "Jim Calhoun would not be happy with me", or "Kemba wouldn't put up with this type of effort". So when a sports team plays in a way that you can model your life after, that is more than you can expect as a fan. It would be an understatement to say that we as UConn fans have been spoiled, which is why it feels like they haven't won a game in six months. If these kids were making money, I might feel differently, but this is a college basketball team full of many kids who can't even drink yet. They don't owe us anything, and really, the happiness and entertainment they provided us in just their first year should really earn them a pass.

On the other hand, this is one of the rare opportunities in college sports where a team has a legitimate chance (or so I thought) to defend a title. Don't get me wrong, winning even one championship is amazing in its ownright, but to win two? That is taking your game to a level of greatness that very, very few athletes in this country have in them. These guys may or may not pan out in the NBA, but to win back to back titles would show me that they have reached the pinnacle of competitive greatness. An extremely talented team such as this one can win one title, but to hang on to the heavy weight belt when you've got 300 men in the ring trying to strip it from you shows me that you have a level of ferosiousness matched by very few.

So I guess in a way it is disappointing that these kids don't seem to have that Jordan-like drive in them to become the best and stay the best, but what can you expect? Take one of the best twenty players of all-time in Dirk. Even HE became complacent and arrived at came pout of shape. And guess what? People give him a pass because of what he accomplished last season. And this is a guy getting paid an unthinkable amount of money to play basketball. So maybe the expecetations were not unrealistic in terms of talent, but there is no way we could expect kids 18-21 years old to have this level of mental resolve and competitive fire. They are kids. They love basketball, but it may not completely consume them in a way it consumes Kobe or Jordan. Human nature.

 

[champs99and04]

I don't agree at all. We have not had success since 2006 when we lost in the elite 8. In 2007 and 2010 we did not make the tournament, those are disappointments, in 2009 we made a final four and in 2011 we won a championship. In 2008 we lost in the first round of the tournament, i consider that a draw. That gives us 2/5 successes, 2/5 disappointments and 1/5 being a draw. We're a mediocre program at best from this point on.

Now look at it if we lose in the first round of the NIT this year, 2/6 successes, 3/6 disappointments, 1/6 draw. Scary to think but we aren't the elite team we were from 90-2006.

I don't know about you, but I'll gladly take a final four and a National Title every six years if it means we have to settle for the NIT a few times.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

We should challenge for a NC every year. And if we don't it's not acceptable? God that is stupid. If you jest, well done. Otherwise . . .
FREESCOOTER LINK

My goodness, prez has gone from Frank Ivy fame to become a voice of reason on The Boneyard. And if that can happen, other things can change as well. I shook my head wondering if freescooter was kidding, then sadly concluded he was dead serious.

 

[Bezzz]

Here's what's keeping me sane. We've lost four games in a row, while playing some of the worst, most painful, torturous basketball I've ever had to sit through.

And we've lost each game by one bucket.

There is hope.

 

[UC990411]

Here's what's keeping me sane. We've lost four games in a row, while playing some of the worst, most painful, torturous basketball I've ever had to sit through.

And we've lost each game by one bucket.

There is hope.

last night's loss was by only a bucket? man i turned it off too early i guess...

 

[Gurleyman]

I don't agree at all. We have not had success since 2006 when we lost in the elite 8.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this. I'll try to chalk it up to just a poster not articulating a point well.

 

[champs99and04]

Here's what's keeping me sane. We've lost four games in a row, while playing some of the worst, most painful, torturous basketball I've ever had to sit through.

And we've lost each game by one bucket.

There is hope.

This is a good point. On a scale of 1-10, the execution is about a -12 right now. Likewise for the intensity and chemistry. Fortunately for us, defense has been keeping us in games. Last I checked, opponents are only shooting about 37% on us this season. The one issue continues to be the inability to guard the three point line. If we can correct that, execute at least somewhat better on offense, and play with consistent intensity, our length and athleticism can keep us in games against good teams.

 

[willie99]

I concur with the OP. Stated differently, we should have thick skin by now, but many don't.

 

[wpq4elamin]

I don't agree at all. We have not had success since 2006 when we lost in the elite 8. In 2007 and 2010 we did not make the tournament, those are disappointments, in 2009 we made a final four and in 2011 we won a championship. In 2008 we lost in the first round of the tournament, i consider that a draw. That gives us 2/5 successes, 2/5 disappointments and 1/5 being a draw. We're a mediocre program at best from this point on.

Now look at it if we lose in the first round of the NIT this year, 2/6 successes, 3/6 disappointments, 1/6 draw. Scary to think but we aren't the elite team we were from 90-2006.

You can't be serious.... you don't think 2 final fours and a NC in 5 years is a good thing?!?!? what planet are you from? how do you know what we will or will not be "from this point on"?!?!? shouldn't you consider last year a mediocre year because we were only 9-9 in conference?!?!? lol

 

[Walker11]

I agree fully with OP.

Last year was as good as it gets as a sports fan. The feelings we experienced as fans are feelings some fans never have the chance to experience in their lives. There is absolutely nothing better in sports than having your team win it all as a huge underdog, when absolutely no one believes it can happen.

5 games in 5 nights? Absurd. People were calling that one of the greatest tournament accomplishments in NCAA history, then the kids decided to just win the whole damn thing.

This team has left me incredibly frustrated but they have one of the most deserving mulligans I can imagine. What drives me crazy is when people act like last year never happened. Some nitwit even said that Alex Oriakhi has sent the program backwards and (I think) he was serious. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have been able to experience the joy of last year. He has been brutal this year and incredibly disappointing but have some perspective. We are all disappointed but many of us are spoiled, $hitty fans.

 

[freescooter]

I totally agree with prez. I take even an even wider view: I grew up in Connecticut a fan of the Yankees, Giants and Knicks and went to UConn. I feel fortunate that for 15 years at least one of my teams wins a championship every two or three years. And someone's playing in a championship game even more frequiently.
The run by UConn last march and the Giants run to 46 this january has kept me from freaking out over the recent poor play. Last I checked, we're still defending national champs.

You're not a Yankee fan. No way in hell are you a Yankee fan. Yankee fans would understand exactly what I'm saying. They expect an apologey fromownership when they fail to make it to the World Series.Not the playoffs...the World Series. They expect to win. Every year. No excuses. So would Giant fans. Giants win the Super Bowl this year then start 1-3 they will be calling for Coughlin's head by Columbus Day. Here's a guy who has a record as good as Bill Parcell had if he wins Sunday, and if they start 1-3, the fans will be calling for his head. I can believe you're a Knicks fan, though. They just want to be seen...

Maybe you folks can go root for Rebecca Lobo's St Mary's Elementary School2nd grade girls team. Winning isn't a priority there. UCONN fans should expect their team to be good and when it is not, they should be very unhappy. Last year is last year.