I like this team

[nelsonmuntz]

The team lost by 4 points to a decent Xavier team on the road without a key starter. I think we are overreacting a bit. This team is not a Final Four caliber team with everyone healthy.

Maui was a bad tournament for UConn and has really hurt our metrics. If we had beat Colorado, the computer rankings would be a lot better because the third game would have been Iowa State, which would not have hurt us even if we lost. We all knew that Colorado loss would age like milk left on the counter in July, and that is exactly what happened.

I kind of like this team. They are flawed and still working things out, but they play hard, there is talent on the roster, and they are young with room for improvement. If you really need to root for a title contender, you are going to have to pick a new team. If you want to ride a fun roller coaster of a squad that I think is capable of some highlights and maybe a big upset or two before they are ultimately knocked out, then buckle up.

 

[Travelman6]

Colorado was a brutal loss but that Dayton loss doesn't look all that great either. Memphis is still playing well.

Anyway, Hurley will iron things out and have it figured out by Feb 7 vs St. Johns, I am sure. I am looking at that game as the potential game where UConn turns the corner similar to how they turned the corner around the same time 2 years ago vs Marquette 87-72 (despite the 3 pt @Creighton loss a few days later).

Don't forget 2 years ago, not only losing 5 of 6 and 6 of 8 but they looked subpar in that 68-62 win over a terrible GTown team directly after that 2-6 stretch. it took them 10 games to fully regain their confidence after the 83-73 @Xavier loss.

 

[uh-no]

I love the fight. I hate the stupid mistakes. mahaney simply stepping out of bounds? diarra having it slapped away while just standing there? The really bad reach in fouls and bringing arms down on shots.

Liam or no, our losses are self inflicted, and not by our ability or capability.

 

[Fan1978]

I love the fight. I hate the stupid mistakes. mahaney simply stepping out of bounds? diarra having it slapped away while just standing there? The really bad reach in fouls and bringing arms down on shots.

Liam or no, our losses are self inflicted, and not by our ability or capability.

Mahaney was fouled and pushed out of bounds

 

[Waquoit]

What's not to like?

 

[HuskyHawk]

They have UConn on the jersey, so it's my team. Players are young guys doing their best. I will always appreciate and support that.

 

[housekeys]

I think we are overreacting a bit.

"a bit"? I think you are under-reacting to the overreacting, lol.

 

[AntG168]

There are about 3 maybe 4 teams that I don't think we can beat healthy. Everyone else is fair game. SDSU, NC State, Miami all made final 4's in the past 2 years as teams that were not at all dominant. If we get the right draw the magic could be there. No one thought we were serious title contenders in 2014 either. We know how that ended. Hurley's offense is hard to gameplan for in the tournament and our offense normally looks better outside of BE officiating. Just enjoy the ride.

 

[uh-no]

Mahaney was fouled and pushed out of bounds

there have been multiple instances of him unforcedly being out of bounds.

 

[superjohn]

There are about 3 maybe 4 teams that I don't think we can beat healthy. Everyone else is fair game. SDSU, NC State, Miami all made final 4's in the past 2 years as teams that were not at all dominant. If we get the right draw the magic could be there. No one thought we were serious title contenders in 2014 either. We know how that ended. Hurley's offense is hard to gameplan for in the tournament and our offense normally looks better outside of BE officiating. Just enjoy the ride.

Throwing out our record IMO we're a borderline tournament team at the moment with McNeeley out and a top 15 team with him, he's that good and that important.

The season is going to depend on when he comes back and if he's right back to what he was at the moment of injury.

 

[superjohn]

There are about 3 maybe 4 teams that I don't think we can beat healthy. Everyone else is fair game. SDSU, NC State, Miami all made final 4's in the past 2 years as teams that were not at all dominant. If we get the right draw the magic could be there. No one thought we were serious title contenders in 2014 either. We know how that ended. Hurley's offense is hard to gameplan for in the tournament and our offense normally looks better outside of BE officiating. Just enjoy the ride.

Throwing out our record IMO we're a borderline tournament team with McNeeley out and a top 15 team with him, he's that good and that important.

The season is going to depend on when he comes back and if he's right back to what he was at the moment of injury.

 

[EnochRoot]

There are about 3 maybe 4 teams that I don't think we can beat healthy. Everyone else is fair game. SDSU, NC State, Miami all made final 4's in the past 2 years as teams that were not at all dominant. If we get the right draw the magic could be there. No one thought we were serious title contenders in 2014 either. We know how that ended. Hurley's offense is hard to gameplan for in the tournament and our offense normally looks better outside of BE officiating. Just enjoy the ride.

Weren't those teams' average age like 24 years old though? I'm too lazy to look it up, but I recall there being much more veteran presence throughout those rosters than on this current UConn team.

As for 2014? The Shabazz Napier-type baller aint on this squad.

 

[Jaydumo20]

The team lost by 4 points to a decent Xavier team on the road without a key starter. I think we are overreacting a bit. This team is not a Final Four caliber team with everyone healthy.

Maui was a bad tournament for UConn and has really hurt our metrics. If we had beat Colorado, the computer rankings would be a lot better because the third game would have been Iowa State, which would not have hurt us even if we lost. We all knew that Colorado loss would age like milk left on the counter in July, and that is exactly what happened.

I kind of like this team. They are flawed and still working things out, but they play hard, there is talent on the roster, and they are young with room for improvement. If you really need to root for a title contender, you are going to have to pick a new team. If you want to ride a fun roller coaster of a squad that I think is capable of some highlights and maybe a big upset or two before they are ultimately knocked out, then buckle up.

I agree with most of this except the ending.
I love you @nelsonmuntz but I don't trust any predictions that the BY makes, myself included.

If we compiled all of our predictions about the reg season, our recruits, the transfer portal, who will give us trouble in the tourney etc.
We'd collectively be waaaaay below the Mendoza Line.

To quote the great Robert California "I'm starting to think we don't know [this program] at all"

 

[Frank06830]

The team lost by 4 points to a decent Xavier team on the road without a key starter. I think we are overreacting a bit. This team is not a Final Four caliber team with everyone healthy.

Maui was a bad tournament for UConn and has really hurt our metrics. If we had beat Colorado, the computer rankings would be a lot better because the third game would have been Iowa State, which would not have hurt us even if we lost. We all knew that Colorado loss would age like milk left on the counter in July, and that is exactly what happened.

I kind of like this team. They are flawed and still working things out, but they play hard, there is talent on the roster, and they are young with room for improvement. If you really need to root for a title contender, you are going to have to pick a new team. If you want to ride a fun roller coaster of a squad that I think is capable of some highlights and maybe a big upset or two before they are ultimately knocked out, then buckle up.

Thank you for talking me off the ledge. I’m hoping Hurley Moore et al have something up their sleeves that will address their ability crank up their defensive intensity and ability come March. Time for adjustments as opponent coaches have made their adjustments on how to defend UConn. I think we will see that. There is not one team out there that is 100% can win six in row this year. All beatable IMHO

 

[alphasigko]

I like this team with a healthy McNeeley... Not so much without him. Hoping that he gets back into action sooner than later.

 

[ctchamps]

I like the Wizard of Oz. I like the Tin Man.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

 

[djct1999]

Sure, there is a lot to like with this team, both individually and collectively. Sure, with Liam, we are a much better team, top 12 even. Truth is, this team at its best still doesnt defend close to well enough to make the deepest of runs come March. And thats ok. Doesn't take anything away from the magical run of the last two years, whats now, and certainly the future.

 

[RuffRuff]

I will say this, if you’re a believer in this team with McNeeley, no better time to throw a future on them as stock has likely bottomed out.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Mahaney was fouled and pushed out of bounds

Yes, it seemed to have influenced the play (sarcasm), and it qualitatively differed from when he went backcourt or stood out of bounds earlier in the season.

 

[Drame]

Hey if we're a 5 or 6 seed, I like our chances. Never won a title at those seeds. If we can win won as a 7 then anything is possible.

 

[El Obrero]

With a name change or two, this OP could’ve been lifted from a bunch of threads in 2012 and 2014.
So, if it’s okay with you I think I’ll hang onto my national championship aspirations without choosing another program to root for. Thanks though…

 

[uconn_jack]

there have been multiple instances of him unforcedly being out of bounds.

Yeah, not Rodney Purvis level, but he does seem to do it more often than he should.

 

[navery12]

We've been spoiled the last 2 years, and even moreso last year, but the reality is that this is what being a fan of a college basketball team is like.

Is our defense good enough to win a championship right now, probably not. But outside of Auburn I don't think there's any team that's head and shoulders above the field, so anything can happen. There's not gonna be any easy matchups in March at this point, but there's also not gonna be a matchup that I don't think we can win

 

[AntG168]

Weren't those teams' average age like 24 years old though? I'm too lazy to look it up, but I recall there being much more veteran presence throughout those rosters than on this current UConn team.

As for 2014? The Shabazz Napier-type baller aint on this squad.

Your last point is revisionist history. You say that now because of what he did in tourney. There's time for someone to have their run. None of us were saying that when we got smacked by Louisville heading into the tourney.