Huskies playing a tourney in the Caymans this Thanksgiving

[HuskyNan]

 

[HuskyNan]

Some great teams in the field

2023 Teams - Cayman Islands Classic

caymanislandsclassic.com

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Is it permitted to say: Beat LSU!!!!

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

I hope we can handle Niagara!

 

[Blond D.]

If its a first-ever can it be called a classic?

 

[meyers7]

If its a first-ever can it be called a classic?

First is just for the women. The "classic" has been around a few years.

 

[SCspur]

Will it be a bracket like the Men or a boring round robin field?

 

[hoopsfan22]

Will it be a bracket like the Men or a boring round robin field?

It's just eight teams that agreed to play two games against predetermined opponents in this one "tournament."

 

[Bone Dog]

Is there any chance we’ll play LSU?

 

[JonathanXIV]

Some great teams in the field

2023 Teams - Cayman Islands Classic

caymanislandsclassic.com

Is Niagara looking around and wondering if they are at the right tournament?

 

[SCspur]

It's just eight teams that agreed to play two games against predetermined opponents in this one "tournament."

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[MooseJaw]

Is it permitted to say: Beat LSU!!!!

Sure go ahead, let if out.

 

[Carnac]

Is it permitted to say: Beat LSU!!!!

Absolutely!! A real test against a top-tier opponent right off the bat. There will be no doubt about how good or formidable our team is after this game.

Even though it’s early in the season, you can believe LSU will be ready. I would like to and them to our “regular” OOC schedule every year. It would be good for both programs.

 

[Carnac]

If its a first-ever can it be called a classic?

I can be if UConn and LSU play each other. I see no reason the two best teams in this “showcase” can’t play each other. It’s the game everyone wants to see. Matching these two against each other is a no-brainer.

 

[cabbie191]

The cynic in me was wondering if Geno was paid a special consultant promotional fee for his plug but I see that Niagra’s coach is also very excited to be competing in this first ever tournament.

 

[Carnac]

Absolutely!! A real test against a top-tier opponent right off the bat. There will be no doubt about how good or formidable our team is after this game.

Even though it’s early in the season, you can believe LSU will be ready. I would like to and them to our “regular” OOC schedule every year. It would be good for both programs.

This was a part of my comment. I wrote this on my iPhone. Somehow it got severed from the rest of my comment. It was not my complete thought here. Below is the rest of it.

If you want to be "perceived" as the best, you must play and defeat the best. LSU is the "reigning" national champion. You can't ask for more than a shot at the top-ranked team in the country. LSU and UConn will be the two highest-ranked teams in this showcase. Why not match them up?

It's the game everyone wants to see, and all of the players want to play. It doesn't make any difference who UConn plays in the second game. An early preseason game against LSU will tell us a lot about our team and theirs. A lot of questions will be answered during that game. No doubt UConn should see LSU again come March/April. This matchup would be the highlight of UConn's pre-season schedule. C'mon organizers, make this trip worth UConn's time and effort to get there. Match these two up.

 

[Alydar]

Absolutely!! A real test against a top-tier opponent right off the bat. There will be no doubt about how good or formidable our team is after this game.

Even though it’s early in the season, you can believe LSU will be ready. I would like to and them to our “regular” OOC schedule every year. It would be good for both programs.

This tournament is old news. The announcement in the OP was dated April 11. And from memory the 1st question was "will UConn play LSU"? and the answer was "no".

 

[Alydar]

I like having 2 games. I would prefer three but not three games in 3 days. By the 3rd game legs are tired, no one can make a 3 and in general they are not well-played games.

 

[hoopsfan22]

The "tournament" provides for a nice little trip to somewhere sunny and warm at a time when the weather in Storrs is cold, gray, and rainy/snowy. Secondly these tournaments provide a way to push the NCAA cap on maximum number of games the same way a football game against University of Hawaii doesn't count against the number of games limit.

 

[Carnac]

This tournament is old news. The announcement in the OP was dated April 11. And from memory the 1st question was "will UConn play LSU"? and the answer was "no".

Talk to Husky Nan. She posted this yesterday. Pardon me, but I did not see that question or the response. It's only old news to those that know about it. You can't assume that everyone here knows that. I have not seen any announcement of the pairings yet. Again......talk to Nan.

 

[Bald Husky]

The goal of our team is to be the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. I want them to be ranked #1 during the season, but if we are forced to play LSU before the team has jelled then we could lose that game. Remember a few years ago when both UConn and Notre Dame were undefeated going into the tournament. We ended up winning the NC and knock off undefeated ND in one swoop. So, I would like the two teams NOT to meet in the Caymans. Besides, a game against Virginia Tech or a very talented UCLA team would also be great theater. Let's get through the season with the great teams we are already scheduled to meet and worry about LSU at the best opportune time later on.

 

[Audi1954]

Am I correct to assume that these are all preseason games and do not get added to their win/loss record for the year? In other words, a win or loss in these games will not matter?

 

[Alydar]

Talk to Husky Nan. She posted this yesterday. Pardon me, but I did not see that question or the response. It's only old news to those that know about it. You can't assume that everyone here knows that. I have not seen any announcement of the pairings yet. Again......talk to Nan.

Sorry, not meant as a criticism. You were hoping for an LSU/UConn game and back in April that was put to bed specifically. I would love to see them play and I would think that ESPN would love to show the game but that isn't going to happen.

 

[Alydar]

Am I correct to assume that these are all preseason games and do not get added to their win/loss record for the year? In other words, a win or loss in these games will not matter?

They count.

 

[Bone Dog]

The goal of our team is to be the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. I want them to be ranked #1 during the season, but if we are forced to play LSU before the team has jelled then we could lose that game. Remember a few years ago when both UConn and Notre Dame were undefeated going into the tournament. We ended up winning the NC and knock off undefeated ND in one swoop. So, I would like the two teams NOT to meet in the Caymans. Besides, a game against Virginia Tech or a very talented UCLA team would also be great theater. Let's get through the season with the great teams we are already scheduled to meet and worry about LSU at the best opportune time later on.

I share your concern about this matchup, and your conclusion about the value of a UCLA game instead. But I imagine LSU fans (and even Kim) have the exact same concern with such a matchup early on. And Geno has never shied away from tough early opponents, even if Kim has.