I hate this place after losses

[Towney007]

99% of the time, fans aren't in a position to question effort on the court.

To me - this team looked utterly unprepared and helpless. And their coach was nowhere to be found to help them.

 

[champs99and04]

I’d normally agree. But today was different. As fans we can tolerate losses and even disagree on what needs to be done to win. But what we can’t start to except is being non-competitive. We got embarrassed tonight and we didn’t even seem like we wanted to compete. That was a first for me. I always hung my KO hat on KO being able to get his teams to play hard. But tonight? Was completely and utterly embarrassing and unacceptable. That wasn’t UConn heart or basketball. We as fans can crap on Amida, Rodney, and Kentan all we want but I’ve never seen them look that pathetic. IMO JA, TL haven’t proven to have half the heart those guys had. On a night like tonight I missed amida’s energy and Rodney’s constant positive energy. This team has some soul searching to do after tonight from KO to the 15th man. Is this the legacy they want to leave? UConn fans are not pleased right now and with good reason. They disrespected the program tonight

I think you'd really have to abuse the powers of hindsight to say, just a day after people were saying the complete opposite, that this team has no heart. I mean, I'm just as baffled as everyone else, but we can't pretend the last two games didn't happen. They did scrap. They did fight. They did compete in those games. Their competitive qualities weren't just passable but they drew explicit praise from a lot of people, myself included.

Sorry, but "on a night like tonight I missed amida's energy and Rodney's positive energy" is either reactionary nonsense or a major exception to the fan consensus. The idea that people are now longing for the Purvis/Brimah days is hysterical even beyond the standards of this board.

 

[superjohn]

lol piss off mau. we could have air bud as the head coach and I'd be fine with it as long as we were winning and showing promise.

Just as I told you. Nothing surprises me anymore with this place.

 

[KingAG]

I'll repeat. People complained ad nauseum last year about lack of effort. And in a number of other years as well. (2010).

People always look like they aren't trying when they're getting beat. Unless they're fighting. I coach, I know. When one team is winning big, the other team looks like bums who don't care.

Amida never looked like he didn’t care. Rodney would beat himself up if he wasn’t playing well. You can’t convince me that those 2 guys ever played like they didn’t care. It isn’t true

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

This was an embarrassing game, for sure.

BUT one result doesn't make things that different. This is the same team that needed late heroics to beat Stony Brook, played well against what will be a borderline tournament team (Oregon), and played well again MSU for a half.

This was a crappy game in particular, but people are making way too much out of one game. Progress isn't linear, and we have some pieces.

We're also going to lose some more frustrating games. But people here can't keep expectations consistent from one game to the next. Many here though we'd be 1-2, with our 1 win against DePaul.

Embarrassing loss and all, this team is what it was a week ago: a bubble NCAA team that has a decent ceiling but needs to grow.

(And among those who 'need to grow' includes, of course, our 44-year-old head coach)

Your Subject line for sure. Actually, the whole post.

And your avatar always brings a smile to my face.

This is a game better forgotten*, and if there are steadily more like it (yep, there could be), then I'll pull the plug at some point. Just not yet now.

Meantime, there are too many posts and threads to follow, and I'll consider that a blessing and not even try any more than I already have.

* If I remember it, it will be as a 40-point loss.

 

[mauconnfan]

lol piss off mau. we could have air bud as the head coach and I'd be fine with it as long as we were winning and showing promise.

Good for you. We are where we are, it ain't pretty and I can even agree with some of your frustrations but don't be so happy about a loss it's not at all a good look.

 

[KingAG]

I think you'd really have to abuse the powers of hindsight to say, just a day after people were saying the complete opposite, that this team has no heart. I mean, I'm just as baffled as everyone else, but we can't pretend the last two games didn't happen. They did scrap. They did fight. They did compete in those games. Their competitive qualities weren't just passable but they drew explicit praise from a lot of people, myself included.

Sorry, but "on a night like tonight I missed amida's energy and Rodney's positive energy" is either reactionary nonsense or a major exception to the fan consensus. The idea that people are now longing for the Purvis/Brimah days is hysterical even beyond the standards of this board.

I didn’t say I miss the days of Rodney and Amida. I said on a night like tonight you miss those qualities. I praised them for battling mich st for a half. But that then excuses this performance tonight? I’ll never except not playing hard idc what you’ve done in the past. Tonight they did not play hard

 

[HuskyHawk]

This was an embarrassing game, for sure.

BUT one result doesn't make things that different. This is the same team that needed late heroics to beat Stony Brook, played well against what will be a borderline tournament team (Oregon), and played well again MSU for a half.

This was a crappy game in particular, but people are making way too much out of one game. Progress isn't linear, and we have some pieces.

We're also going to lose some more frustrating games. But people here can't keep expectations consistent from one game to the next. Many here though we'd be 1-2, with our 1 win against DePaul.

Embarrassing loss and all, this team is what it was a week ago: a bubble NCAA team that has a decent ceiling but needs to grow.

(And among those who 'need to grow' includes, of course, our 44-year-old head coach)

I’m not giving up on the season, but that was humiliating in so many ways. The players didn’t give the effort, the coaches didn’t prepare them, the coaches didn’t make adjustments and nobody showed any leadership. I would have been happier if I saw some players taking ownership of this, taking charge and saying “this isn’t acceptable “. I didn’t. Seemed like nobody even cared that we got taken apart on national TV.

I do think we overreact to most losses. I’m not sure it’s possible to overreact to this loss. That said, we move on and try to win the next one.

 

[Walker11]

I'll repeat. People complained ad nauseum last year about lack of effort. And in a number of other years as well. (2010).

People always look like they aren't trying when they're getting beat. Unless they're fighting. I coach, I know. When one team is winning big, the other team looks like bums who don't care.

I agree that its usually a cop out to blame a loss on the team having a lack of effort. But I'm going there tonight. Especially when its in such stark contrast to the way the team got after Oregon. Maybe the lack of pressure was a part of it was the game plan? The staff not wanting to speed up an already fast team, etc. but Oregon plays very fast too. It doesn't help that Arkansas shot lights out and that must have demoralized the kids but the 1v1 perimeter defense was just entirely different tonight. And how many times did Arkansas get easy looks and buckets off delayed fast breaks off missed shots? Possessions like that are unacceptable. I'm kinda at a loss for what I saw tonight.

Troy Brown is supposed to be an elite attacker. Pritchard is a very good and crafty guard. These guys could not create Spartacus and our guards were causing absolute mayhem 2 nights ago. And today we saw blow by after blow by after blow by.

 

[JMick]

Good for you. We are where we are, it ain't pretty and I can even agree with some of your frustrations but don't be so happy about a loss it's not at all a good look.

yes, the people complaining are happy we lost. good grief.

 

[cohenzone]

Hear hear TZZ

Actually, what has been the performance issue under KO has been a constant. Inconsistency on both sides of the ball within games and from game to game. That is especially hard to explain on D. I didn’t see the Arkansas game or any recent game, coming home today from China. I don’t want his head, I want better coaching. I’m a UConn fan and if KO isn’t the guy, then he isn’t. We all want him to succeed, but even during his NC year the team was inconsistent and only a Brimah miracle enable the final run where the team, to his credit, played great D.

He got a pass for last year, so many injuries. But he can’t keep getting passes and if the intensity is erratic, that’s on him. If they don’t run an offense,, who do we attribute that to? Our league isn’t great or lousy, but if we can’t get above middle of the pack this year, what does Benedict do? I hope KO can get it done.

Calhoun did us no favors by putting Manuel in a position where we didn’t do the national coaching search the program deserved. My attitude then was , do a national search and if KO was the winner, fine. We would have done due diligence. We all know what a well coached team looks like.

 

[mauconnfan]

yes, the people complaining are happy we lost. good grief.

They're the one's we don't see unless they lose or do you have a better theory? LOL

 

[JMick]

Just as I told you. Nothing surprises me anymore with this place.

just wait. people are mad that others are complaining. if this trend continues there will be no fans left to complain. they can then proceed uninterrupted with their circlejerk of positivity

 

[JMick]

They're the one's we don't see unless they lose or do you have a better theory? LOL

well you lumped me in there and I spend more time on this board than most. and don't say I haven't been consistent.

 

[scotty0330]

I am guessing roll call for Columbia is gonna be light...

 

[KingAG]

I am guessing roll call for Columbia is gonna be light...

No I’ll still be uber excited to watch that game because the fan in me says it’ll click on Wednesday night. I’m a slave to the love of UConn Basketball lol

 

[mauconnfan]

just wait. people are mad that others are complaining. if this trend continues there will be no fans left to complain. they can then proceed uninterrupted with their circlejerk of positivity

I'm not at all positive Mick where have you seen that? I'm not mad at anyone complaining actually I'm a little embarrassed about those who gloat in the negativity of the day. Congrats for being one of those you should be very proud!

 

[mauconnfan]

Just as I told you. Nothing surprises me anymore with this place.

You surprise me, nah you don't you're one of those I guess after all.

 

[upstater]

WRONG. They played with like 6 players and no point guard. That isn’t remotely similar to just bullish!tting on the court for 40min

Yes, it is similar. Very similar. This Arkansas team is 10x the team that Houston team was. Losing to Houston while having no idea what to do on offense was a huge embarrassment. Houston!! This Arkansas team is a returning tourney team with better players. Houston?

 

[upstater]

Actually, what has been the performance issue under KO has been a constant. Inconsistency on both sides of the ball within games and from game to game. That is especially hard to explain on D. I didn’t see the Arkansas game or any recent game, coming home today from China. I don’t want his head, I want better coaching. I’m a UConn fan and if KO isn’t the guy, then he isn’t. We all want him to succeed, but even during his NC year the team was inconsistent and only a Brimah miracle enable the final run where the team, to his credit, played great D.

He got a pass for last year, so many injuries. But he can’t keep getting passes and if the intensity is erratic, that’s on him. If they don’t run an offense,, who do we attribute that to? Our league isn’t great or lousy, but if we can’t get above middle of the pack this year, what does Benedict do? I hope KO can get it done.

Calhoun did us no favors by putting Manuel in a position where we didn’t do the national coaching search the program deserved. My attitude then was , do a national search and if KO was the winner, fine. We would have done due diligence. We all know what a well coached team looks like.

Q: would you have traded the 2014 championship for a better coach?

 

[KingAG]

Yes, it is similar. Very similar. This Arkansas team is 10x the team that Houston team was. Losing to Houston while having no idea what to do on offense was a huge embarrassment. Houston!! This Arkansas team is a returning tourney team with better players. Houston?

It isn’t. That team was undermanned. Tonight we were out played and outclassed. Arkansas isn’t 40 point better than us. We had no idea what to do on offense because we literally had no pg. what was our excuse tonight??

 

[upstater]

I'll repeat. People complained ad nauseum last year about lack of effort. And in a number of other years as well. (2010).

People always look like they aren't trying when they're getting beat. Unless they're fighting. I coach, I know. When one team is winning big, the other team looks like bums who don't care.

True, and in Oriakhi's last year under Calhoun too. 2012.

This is in stark contrast to some very mediocre teams, such as the 2015 team which played with a lot of heart when Boatright was a senior.

 

[upstater]

It isn’t. That team was undermanned. Tonight we were out played and outclassed. Arkansas isn’t 40 point better than us. We had no idea what to do on offense because we literally had no pg. what was our excuse tonight??

Undermanned or not, they had a lot of talent out there to not go down like that. Do I need to remind you the score was 36-12 at the half before they let up?

And undermanned or not, they had 7 core players all getting double digit minutes. You can even say they had MORE experience than this year's team. Purvis, Vital, Brimah, Facey, Jackson, Durham, Enoch.

 

[champs99and04]

I didn’t say I miss the days of Rodney and Amida. I said on a night like tonight you miss those qualities. I praised them for battling mich st for a half. But that then excuses this performance tonight? I’ll never except not playing hard idc what you’ve done in the past. Tonight they did not play hard

It doesn't excuse anything. Losing like they lost today is a rough look for any college athlete that's on scholarship. My biggest problem is with fans - and this is virtually everybody, myself included - who feel the need to apply a narrative to every entry of data. Sometimes we just don't know. That doesn't mean you can't guess, but I also think it's OK to sit here right now and admit to being really freaking confused. That is the result of conflicting data. The first three halves of this tournament we played at the level of a top 25 team, the fourth, fifth, and sixth halves we were thoroughly embarrassed and noncompetitive. I can't explain it.

Now, we're building towards a large enough sample with Ollie where some judgement is warranted. I simply find it very difficult to extract anything related to the players' character when my interpretation has diametrically changed from the first game of this tournament to the last.

Best case scenario for us, the players boarded the plane expecting to win the tournament, emptied the fuel tank on Thursday and Friday, sulked for 36 hours, and then came back and moped around like they'd rather have been back on campus than playing in a third place game on Sunday. That wouldn't exactly be unprecedented.

There are real questions for Ollie to answer to. I'm not there yet when it comes to interrogating the competitiveness of the current players. They're badly outmatched in the front court, they're not very deep, and their schemes rely on a couple of players to do a lot on both ends of the floor. Maybe it's unrealistic to compare them to Kemba or Shabazz, but if last years team is our reference point then I think we're getting carried away.

 

[cohenzone]

Q: would you have traded the 2014 championship for a better coach?

Did you read what I wrote? Have you loved how his teams play? The NC was great. But his teams perform consistently inconsistently. I suspect you know that.

 

[KingAG]

Undermanned or not, they had a lot of talent out there to not go down like that. Do I need to remind you the score was 36-12 at the half before they let up?

And undermanned or not, they had 7 core players all getting double digit minutes. You can even say they had MORE experience than this year's team. Purvis, Vital, Brimah, Facey, Jackson, Durham, Enoch.

Ok you’re going to make believe that team wasn’t severely undermanned against a good Houston team. Cool. There is nothing further to discuss here

 

[upstater]

Did you read what I wrote? Have you loved how his teams play? The NC was great. But his teams perform consistently inconsistently. I suspect you know that.

I was responding to the part of your post in which you said Manuel should have ignored Calhoun and hired another coach through a national search.

 

[upstater]

Ok you’re going to make believe that team wasn’t severely undermanned against a good Houston team. Cool. There is nothing further to discuss here

The part I take issue with is "a good Houston team." Not in the same universe as Arkansas.

 

[Milo65]

Either our players aren’t good enough or our players were not prepared or they lacked effort... All of these excuses fall on KO. Wrong recruits, losing recruits, unprepared teams, offensive and defensive strategy. Use all the excuses that you want, but don’t give me the AAC excuse. It doesn’t work for Cincy, Witchita State, SMU or UCF who seem to be able to win and recruit in this league. KO’s NC won’t save him. He needs to win or he is gone.

 

[superjohn]

You surprise me, nah you don't you're one of those I guess after all.

Do you seriously think people are happy that we aren't any good? I have something like 20 or 30K posts on this board, I haven't missed a Uconn game I had the ability to watch in close to 30 years. It freaking kills me that we are no longer relevant, that blowouts, and losses to former cupcakes have somehow become tolerated, and most of all it kills me that Ollie isn't the guy.

I'm a Giants fan, I rooted for McAdoo too but it became pretty clear he isn't up to the task. I care way less about McAdoo the human being than I do Kevin Ollie the human being but that doesn't change my feelings that Ollie isn't up to the job. As much as I like Ollie as a person I care more about Uconn basketball than I do about hurt feelings.

Some people won't recognize the situation no matter how how many times they are hit over the head and shown how bad it is but none of that really matters, I'm confident Benedict knows what's going on and will deal with it.

But to pretend that any Uconn fanatic is happy or celebrating any of this is farcked up.