I like what I see from this team. They are growing...

[CallMeBruce]

I'm going to assume you're a bit of a front-runner fan. Apologies if that's not the case.

We've dealt with rebuilding years before in the not-so-distant past, and usually they're train wrecks. We've stuck with 2 top-10 teams in this young season, and yes, this is a young team. Hamilton will be a stud, but he's raw talent right now. Brimah is potentially the best center we've had since Okafor (relax, everyone. I'm not comparing him to Okafor I'm saying he might be the best we've had since Okafor). Purvis needs to learn that he's not a shooter and get to the rim and draw fouls, but he's clearly very good as well. Facey is surpassing everyone's expectations.

We might not make the tournament this year, but then again, the AAC tourney is in Hartford. The way I see it we control our own destiny.

We've had garbage seasons in the past when we beat great teams. And this team isn't built on freshmen like some of those were.

 

[upstater]

We've had garbage seasons in the past when we beat great teams. And this team isn't built on freshmen like some of those were.

It's built on a lot of players who have only 6-8 games at UConn under their belt.

Yes, Boatright is a holdover but...

Facey, Purvis, Hamilton, Brimah, Samuel and Cassell are clearly on the early side of their UConn careers AND they are still feeling each other out.

 

[3rdbass]

We gave great effort tonight it is just sad to see how limited we are offensively right now without outside shooting. I hope someone can step up but I don't see it right now.

 

[amory]

We've had garbage seasons in the past when we beat great teams. And this team isn't built on freshmen like some of those were.

I'm not sure what your point is.

If you didn't expect a rough start to this season I don't know what to tell you. There was an outside chance that Purvis or Cassell or Hamilton would immediately step up and be Robin to Boatright's Batman, but by no means was that a given. And Boat, though I fully expect him to be in the Huskies of Honor sometime soon, isn't Kemba or Shabazz. He just isn't.

Winning this game was always going to be a long shot. Did we play great? No. And yet still, that was one of the teams that is supposedly head and shoulders above everyone else, and we gave them a game.

 

[Inyatkin]

We've had garbage seasons in the past when we beat great teams. And this team isn't built on freshmen like some of those were.

Have we? Garbage seasons I think 1997 and 2007. In '07 we beat Syracuse, who was good but not great, and that's it. In '97 we beat a good BC team twice.
If you're talking 2010, yes, they beat a few top teams. Was a frustrating year, not quite garbage.

 

[3RingsCT]

UCONN will find a way into the sweet sixteen with this team full of grinders... We just need them to be smarter with the ticky tack fouls

Unless UConn rolls the pathetic AAC, there will be no tournament, let alone the Sweet 16.

 

[August_West]

And Boat, though I fully expect him to be in the Huskies of Honor sometime soon, isn't Kemba or Shabazz. .

I don't know he did a pretty good Bazz/Kemba impression tonight and has all season with a lot less help than those two had.

Boats fully won me over. He's the real deal. He deserves better this year.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I won't all the posts beyond the original but right now the players I enjoy watching are Boat, Facey and Hamilton for all the reasons stated.

Facey's bounce is fantastic. He catches in traffic, holds the ball high and finishes around the rim.

 

[8893]

I don't know he did a pretty good Bazz/Kemba impression tonight and has all season with a lot less help than those two had.

Boats fully won me over. He's the real deal. He deserves better this year.

No question. Give him even an average sidekick and then let's make the comparison.

 

[amory]

I don't know he did a pretty good Bazz/Kemba impression tonight and has all season with a lot less help than those two had.

Boats fully won me over. He's the real deal. He deserves better this year.

He's an amazing player. I just don't see him as a transcendent player the way Bazz and Kemba were. But like you said, he probably doesn't have the guys around him to prove otherwise. He's in a tough spot.

Right now the most frustrating thing about Boatright is he's missing free throws. He's cost us 2 games missing clutch free throws. Kemba and Bazz made those shots.

 

[uconnfan68]

Upstater makes all valid points but this is the simplest solution. Find a shooter and everything becomes easier.

Find 2 or 3 and we'll have a chance. We have 1-1.5 now. I've never seen such poor shooting from so many players.

 

[CTBasketball]

Find 2 or 3 and we'll have a chance. We have 1-1.5 now. I've never seen such poor shooting from so many players.

2009-2010 was pretty bad too...

 

[CAHUSKY]

I'm encouraged by tonight. If Hamilton matures and becomes a more consistent scorer and we don't shoot 20 less free throws than our opponents and Brimah doesn't get in immediate foul trouble this can be a very good team. Omar or purvis becoming a third scorer makes us really good. We just need to beat fla or Stanford and have a good run in the AAC and we will be a threat in March.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Right now the most frustrating thing about Boatright is he's missing free throws. He's cost us 2 games missing clutch free throws. Kemba and Bazz made those shots.

I don't get this sentiment. Kemba and Shabazz both had to carry teams on their back, but neither one to the extent that Boat is this year. Kemba had Shabazz, Lamb, Niels. Shabazz had Boat, DeAndre, Niels. Boat has . . . . Hamilton? I have a really hard time putting any loss on a missed free throw by Boatright given that he's basically what's keeping this team from getting rolled every night.

 

[housekeys]

Unless UConn rolls the pathetic AAC, there will be no tournament, let alone the Sweet 16.

I don't think it is that bad. The top 2 teams will have a good chance of going dancing, especially if the second team happens to be the defending national champ Huskies. However, the AAC is putrid, and it is essential that the top team(s) clearly and decisively distance themselves from the pack. So here's hoping it is a top-heavy conference and we are one of the heavy-weights.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Im very encouraged by last nights game. Dook and especially ok4 are legit and we play3d them close. If we hit a couple 3's in the first half and hit our free throws we coulve had a different outcome. I think this team will get better from this game.