How long have you been a UCMBB fan?

[cohenzone]

Fred Shabel era. Wes B, Tom
Penders and Bill Holowaty were my classmates.

 

[Robertelamin]

My family had UConn and UHart season tickets at the Civic Center in the 80's but I was too young to really remember or care until 1989-90. The first game I remember being there was Georgetown in 1990 and I've been hooked ever since. I guess I became a fan when UConn really came to power but I attended games obliviously for a few years beforehand.

 

[jdb50]

Hey jdb 50. Did you see my earlier post? That was my first game also! I think I could tell you the numbers worn by every player since 1963. I have lived and died with every game since then. The most emotional moment I have had after a game was after beating Gonzaga in 1999 to make the final 4. I cried like a baby.

That's an odd coincidence, I kept the program for a while but it got lost with all the moves after leaving home. Remember sitting a couple rows up behind the New Hampshire bench. Went to see the team off at Gampel when they went to that Final Four in 99. The fan support was insane back then.

 

[Robertelamin]

I also remember going to Women's games in the very early 90's at Gampel. I don't know how much tickets were then, maybe $5? I think children may have even gone in for free. The crowd was well, way different than it is now. Much more Woman focused. Anyways it was a good time especially when I got pulled out of CCD to go.

 

[UConnNick]

Oops, I forgot to add the great Wes Bialiasuknia, "the Poughkeepsie Popper" to the starting five (six). A layup to Wes was a shot from the top of the key. I remember listening on WTIC as he played Maine and scored 52points. The second he stepped over the half court line he could stop and pop. Usually making the shot. If he had the advantage of a 3 point line he could have scored 75 to 80 points.

There's no question in my mind that if the three point line had existed during Bialosuknia's three season career, he would still be the leading scorer in school history, even though many that have followed had the benefit of four year eligibility. He was the "Pistol" Pete Maravich of the Northeast. Wes still holds the record for the all time UCONN single season scoring average. He scored over 28 ppg during his senior season. That average would have easily been 35+ if Wes was shooting with the three point arc. He routinely hit several shots per game from three point territory.

 

[DefCONNOne]

1997 when 96.5 TIC-FM did one of their UCONN montage songs and it was the Women's team only. I decided that my hatred of the local college team was severely misplaced and jumped on the bandwagon.

 

[husky8273]

Fall, 1976

 

[UConnNick]

Started listening and going to games when I was in high school, 1963-65. Loved listening to WTIC but it was like fingernails on a chalkboard whenever George Erlick (SP) referred to the team as "the UConn's" instead of "the Huskies"

That may not have been entirely Ehrlich's fault. He would have been more than old enough at the time to remember the era when the uniforms the BB team wore had "UConns" emblazoned across the chest, 1940's I believe.

I agree it didn't make a whole lot of sense, unless perhaps the uniform manufacturer screwed up and they didn't want to bother, or didn't have the time to change them. Maybe someone here knows the real story behind that.

I have a friend that spells it UCons, as in convicts. He's just scratchy because he's an Arizona alum. I can find no evidence that Arizona has ever defeated any UConn team in any sport, a fact I point out to him every chance I get. Poor Loren Woods is probably still recovering from the tread marks Okafor left up and down his back.

 

[ConnEd]

I started listening to games on WTIC radio in the Joey Whelan, Tony Hanson, Jim Abro days under Dee Rowe. We got the Waterbury paper in my house, and Hanson playing there was a big deal. Later, when Aleksinas transferred in, my fandom was cemented since he's from my home town and was kind of a big (pun intended) deal around there.

 

[filthy beast]

Hugh Greer was my Dad's chemistry teacher and coach at Ellsworth High School in South Windsor. Dad held him in the highest regard. We followed UConn from the moment Mr. Greer was hired. Wife and I had seasons tix from 1970 - 2004.

 

[Earls & Kings]

Pre-Perno.....back before mosh-pits, when a friend could be passed up and down the bleachers, over our heads, in the field house.

 

[Waquoit]

Started paying attention in the year of the NIT championship. First game was against Syracuse in 1988. Tie game with 8 seconds left. Jeff King can't get the ball in bounds, and throws it up for grabs. Steven Thompson intercepts and gets a breakaway dunk to win the game. I was 11.

I never saw a player look more dejected than Jeff King looked after he threw that pass. That's why I was so happy he played so well in the NIT. My favorite picture in Gampel is one with him and Gamble sitting on the backboard in MSG after the title win.

 

[JMick]

Freshman year in 2010. I didn't really follow basketball before then. Started going to games since I won the ticket lottery and then I was hooked. I was very spoiled getting two championships while I was at school.

 

[ucp990411]

I started listening to games on WTIC radio in the Joey Whelan, Tony Hanson, Jim Abro days under Dee Rowe. We got the Waterbury paper in my house, and Hanson playing there was a big deal. Later, when Aleksinas transferred in, my fandom was cemented since he's from my home town and was kind of a big (pun intended) deal around there.

 

[ucp990411]

Please it's Joe Whelton. Randy Smith of the JI started calling him Joey. For those of us who know him it's Joe. Also what's up with Jimmy Calhoun. Nobody calls him Jimmy. It is Coach. And Ray Ray?

 

[mauconnfan]

Please it's Joe Whelton. Randy Smith of the JI started calling him Joey. For those of us who know him it's Joe. Also what's up with Jimmy Calhoun. Nobody calls him Jimmy. It is Coach. And Ray Ray?

They called him Joey on radio and TV though for those of us who weren't as fortunate to know him. Conn Ed is fine.

 

[dennismenace]

Since the late 70's. Perno into the Big East era. Got into it listening to the Arnold Dean show. This was during the great Yankee/Red Sox rivalry and there was always
something on that topic year round. But UConn BB got to be interesting talk and I started getting into it, especially with the Big East and getting Corny Thompson. I think they had Marty Glickman (Knick Legend announcer) doing the radio the first season. Dean had Rita Napolitano of Eastern basketball on a lot and they would go over the other teams in depth as well as UConn. Along with the baseball rivalries I usually listened to that show every night. With the advent of Jim Calhoun, what can you say? His "us against the world" attitude and love for UConn has even eclipsed the Yankees in my life as a fan. (btw it was Bill Raftery who called him " Jimmy"). He and those teams turned the tide
and the rest is history. Hope KO gets the ship get righted and can find a way to pull these guys together.

 

[mauconnfan]

Since the late 70's. Perno into the Big East era. Got into it listening to the Arnold Dean show. This was during the great Yankee/Red Sox rivalry and there was always
something on that topic year round. But UConn BB got to be interesting talk and I started getting into it, especially with the Big East and getting Corny Thompson. I think they had Marty Glickman (Knick Legend announcer) doing the radio the first season. Dean had Rita Napolitano of Eastern basketball on a lot and they would go over the other teams in depth as well as UConn. Along with the baseball rivalries I usually listened to that show every night. With the advent of Jim Calhoun, what can you say? His "us against the world" attitude and love for UConn has even eclipsed the Yankees in my life as a fan. (btw it was Bill Raftery who called him " Jimmy"). He and those teams turned the tide
and the rest is history. Hope KO gets the ship get righted and can find a way to pull these guys together.

Remember going to "Coaches" and the Arnold Dean show was in the booth next to the main bar.

 

[BUConn10]

Always considered myself a "fan" as someone whose parents both went to UConn in a state with no other college sports draw. Yet the "obsession" became real in 2009 when we did our first "NCAA bracket pool" amongst our 11th grade selves. I remember having UConn in the title game and watching them storm to the FF was an incredible experience. Seeing the team you picked to win it all, knocking opponents out one by one in the biggest college basketball event of the year was spectacular, until that MSU game of course.

 

[elmcityboy]

damn, didn't realize how many long-timers there were here. cool thread!

my dad was class of '75. i was born in 1991 and my first uconn memory is my dad screaming celebrating the '99 championship. by the time okafor, gordon, and '04 came around i was hooked. i graduated in 2014 and managed to experience two mbb championships in my time on campus.

 

[EBonz30]

Since Donyell Marshall, being a New York kid and Knicks fan, didn't really have much guidance or options at the college level.

So when I was 7 or 8 years old, three college players caught my eye....

Calbert Cheaney
Isiah Rider
Donyell Marshall

The final decision was made to be a Husky fan was because their uniforms, still think they have the best looking uni's in the sport.

Plus I hate red, #Indiana & UNLV

 

[Petero]

It started in 1961 rooting for Ed Slomcenski. Dad and I listened religiously on WTIC. Toby Kimball was a god. Hugh Greer was the coach. Class of 71 (good education...great wife.. class of 74) season tickets for years ... there the night the Civic center collapsed. Remember listening to games on WTIC on hill tops in Ontario on business trips. Moved west of SYR in 89 and threatened to put "SUcks" on the end of our barn but decided to be neighborly and still regret it. Raised 3 sons who are loyal and proud. Thank god for cable..especially SNY. UConn forever!

 

[ConnEd]

Please it's Joe Whelton. Randy Smith of the JI started calling him Joey. For those of us who know him it's Joe. Also what's up with Jimmy Calhoun. Nobody calls him Jimmy. It is Coach. And Ray Ray?

Sorry on Whelton. I typed it up from memory, and I should know better than to trust my memory. I do, however, pretty clearly remember the 'TIC game crew calling him Joey. I'll be sure to call him Joe should I ever meet him though.

 

[mauconnfan]

Born in 1959, used to listen on my Grandmother's radio. You turned it on and it took about 5 minutes to warm up. Remember first teams had Bob Stack, Bob Boyd and Ron Hrubala (sp). Also have a vague recollection that one of the announcers would call the Husky dog the Husky Bear. Not even sure if that really happened , but again I vaguely believe it did.

Fell in love with junior college transfer Jimmy Foster and have never stopped following them. Went to UConn and graduated in 82. Have had only 1 bet in my life ( wife's idea), and I named it Calhoun

Staak and Boyd threw a lot of jump shots out in my driveway they just don't know it LOL and Jimmy Foster was the reason I had a pretty good left hand from my junior days in the driveway - born '59 also so our memories very similar for sure.

 

[bpear1600]

Been a fan since radio days.

 

[BugsyCT]

Came from a family of UConn alums. First game I went to was in '81 vs St. John's at the Civic Center. (UConn won by a point, & didn't beat the Johnnies again for 8 years.) Really started to follow them closely around 1983-84.

One thing about Perno that made a difference during the Calhoun transition - he drafted Cliff Robinson.

 

[mauconnfan]

Came from a family of UConn alums. First game I went to was in '81 vs St. John's at the Civic Center. (UConn won by a point, & didn't beat the Johnnies again for 8 years.) Really started to follow them closely around 1983-84.

One thing about Perno that made a difference during the Calhoun transition - he drafted Cliff Robinson.

Yep he recruited Cliffy but it took JC to figure out how good he was. Dom drove me crazy taking him out of the game for the dumbest things his freshman year, it seemed he did not know the talent this kid brought to the program! But both Cliff and Phil did help JC for the NIT title.