I truly believe we can win it all

[LStudfellow]

Agree to disagree. I don't think there's a great chance, but I definitely think they have a chance.

2011 we started Roscoe Smith, Alex Oriahki, Olander, Lamb and Kemba.
2014 we started Nolan, DeAndre Daniels, Boatright, Giffey and Napier.

You're dead wrong if you don't think we're better than either of those teams.

We are better at certain positions, yes. But are we better overall than the 2006 team, for example (a much more apt comparison)? No. And what was their fatal flaw? Similar to the current team, their guard play was not championship caliber. @kobebeanbryant is right.

Hey, I am all good with Scrappy's, yours and anyone else who wants to be wildly optimistic about this year's team Deepster. The team's play since the St. John's game has gone up a notch and it has rightly given some optimism to our chances going into the post season.

But if you can't see the biggest difference between the 2011, 2014 and this year's team I don't know what to tell you.

Kemba and Shabazz were obviously the best guards in each of those respective tournaments. It made all the difference in the world. We don't have that this year (with all do respect to both Diarra and Ball). Not by a long shot. And it will be our fatal flaw.

I am not being negative, just honest. I bet on us to win it all last year in February. No way am I making a bet on us this year.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

Take the best versions of our guys this year and put them together.

Solo shooting lights out. Tarris double-double machine. Hass steady with the ball and continuing his magic with Samson. McNeeley late shot clock heroics. JStew and Mahaney providing spark off the bench. And AK doing a bit of everything and hitting crunch time threes

I don't particularly care if it's not realistic. I'm not some ESPN talking head, I'm a UConn fan. I believe

 

[Umami Zen]

FWIW -Bilas thinks that Karaban's productivity is our X factor and the key to our post season. Still considers us a dangerous team.

 

[80shusky]

If we don't win it's fraud and we should march on the NCAA office in Indianapolis.

 

[cordeodato]

Why not us ?

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I feel we have much more than others think we have.
Defense and rebounding trending up
I believe our center position is top 5 of 68
We have 3 legit scorers
2 bench players I feel will have a more polished game than the reg season in Mahaney and Stewart
And a healthier Diarra

I like the optimism. I feel this team has a lot more to give.

Its a whole new season. The BET is a great opportunity

 

[Deepster]

We are better at certain positions, yes. But are we better overall than the 2006 team, for example (a much more apt comparison)? No. And what was their fatal flaw? Similar to the current team, their guard play was not championship caliber. @kobebeanbryant is right.

Hey, I am all good with Scrappy's, yours and anyone else who wants to be wildly optimistic about this year's team Deepster. The team's play since the St. John's game has gone up a notch and it has rightly given some optimism to our chances going into the post season.

But if you can't see the biggest difference between the 2011, 2014 and this year's team I don't know what to tell you.

Kemba and Shabazz were obviously the best guards in each of those respective tournaments. It made all the difference in the world. We don't have that this year (with all do respect to both Diarra and Ball). Not by a long shot. And it will be our fatal flaw.

I am not being negative, just honest. I bet on us to win it all last year in February. No way am I making a bet on us this year.

I don't feel like I'm "wildly" optimistic and I don't think they're near a favorite to win it.

But a core of this team has been there.
The coaches have been there.
You don't know our draw, region or who we'll end up playing and how they match up with our strengths.

As far as differences from those prior teams? This place was shovelling dirt on both their caskets at this point heading in. We used a set of testicles for the 2014 team's mojo because that team had no balls and got blown out by Louisville leading up to the BET. And it's not a player by player matchup. No doubt Napier and Boatright were phenomenal. But I'll take Diarra, Ball and our 2 centers vs DeAndre Daniels and Phil Nolan down low. And Karaban/McNeeley are a completely different animal to match up against than either the 2011 or 14 team had.

 

[RuffRuff]

FWIW -Bilas thinks that Karaban's productivity is our X factor and the key to our post season. Still considers us a dangerous team.

I'd have to agree, because we all know that Dan is going to live & die with him. You can't expect Alex to go out his last year as a quiet sidepiece, he's got a lot of bad basketball to make up for and is finally coming around. Legacy will be important to him, and Hurley in how he goes out. Dan is going to ride him even if he goes 0-20 in the BET.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Agree to disagree. I don't think there's a great chance, but I definitely think they have a chance.

2011 we started Roscoe Smith, Alex Oriahki, Olander, Lamb and Kemba.
2014 we started Nolan, DeAndre Daniels, Boatright, Giffey and Napier.

You're dead wrong if you don't think we're better than either of those teams.

Those teams had the best player on the court every game, regardless of the opponent.

This team is lucky to have the 3rd best.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Those teams had the best player on the court every game, regardless of the opponent.

This team is lucky to have the 3rd best.

You're not exactly going out on a limb to say that this team is unlikely to see a Final Four this year, but I genuinely don't know how anyone who's watched college basketball for the last 20 years or so can say there is "no chance" of anything happening. Unless you thought NC State was going to end up in the Final Four when they finished 4 spots behind Syracuse in the ACC.

 

[Jaydumo20]

The one main reason I feel UConn has an advantage is experience in playing under the big lights of the NCAA tournaments. No other team playing has been to as many tournament games, especially the final two weekends, as has UConn in the last few years. How much of an advantage does it make? I am not sure, but it has to count for something more than a slight edge.

This 100%
It is not a slight edge. It's a huge edge.
Mentality is so huge. Once again, many posters only go by what they can physically see.
Doctors have known for over a decade that the mind can cause and cure many diseases, yet for some reason the mind can't win a basketball game???
Mojo is invisible and more powerful than our teeny brains can comprehend.

VII

 

[Deepster]

Those teams had the best player on the court every game, regardless of the opponent.

This team is lucky to have the 3rd best.

Because you know who'll be on the other side of the court....

 

[Rondogg]

If 2 out of 3 guys shoot well AK LM Ball shoot well, we beat most teams. All 3 shoot well, we beat anyone.

And we can lose to any team in the tournament field.

The last couple games we have been rebounding great. That adds another layer to our ability to win.

Also would be nice if every contested inbound wasn't an Odyssey...

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Because you know who'll be on the other side of the court....

I’m just speaking generally. If we were to advance deep in the tournament we would eventually be playing top 10 caliber teams. And that’s roughly how I think our roster stacks up.

My general point is that while 2011 & 2014 weren’t “great” teams, they had arguably the best player in the country. We don’t even have a 1st team all conference guy on this roster.

 

[Jaydumo20]

I’m just speaking generally. If we were to advance deep in the tournament we would eventually be playing top 10 caliber teams. And that’s roughly how I think our roster stacks up.

My general point is that while 2011 & 2014 weren’t “great” teams, they had arguably the best player in the country. We don’t even have a 1st team all conference guy on this roster.

I get you. Although Not having a 1st team all conference guy just means we don't have anyone who was consistently great all year. But right now we have a few guys playing at that level, and March > November.

Also, in march I'd rather have karaban than anyone on that 1st AC line. And that's by a mile

 

[FlexOnEm]

This is by far the most inconsistent team of the Hurley era. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if we’re completely outclassed in the first round. And if everything goes right (Ball/McNeeley/Karaban hitting from 3, improved team defense, solid play from Johnson/Reed, and serviceable minutes from Mahaney/Stewart) it wouldn’t shock me to make the Final 4. I’m most likely expecting a round of 32 or Sweet 16 exit. We shall see.

 

[Deepster]

I’m just speaking generally. If we were to advance deep in the tournament we would eventually be playing top 10 caliber teams. And that’s roughly how I think our roster stacks up.

My general point is that while 2011 & 2014 weren’t “great” teams, they had arguably the best player in the country. We don’t even have a 1st team all conference guy on this roster.

Napier wasn't even a Naismith finalist....but you can keep up your end of this argument if you'd like.

 

[JesusAllen11]

Solo , Liam , alex, Samson\Reed. We need these four to perform. If they all show up , we can def best anybody.
3/4 we have a good shot-
2/4- we probably lose in first round.

 

[boog204]

Napier wasn't even a Naismith finalist....but you can keep up your end of this argument if you'd like.

He wasn't. But was there any doubt that he was the most dangerous player on the court for that entire run? His confidence and swagger were next level, and he backed it up.

I think the simple fact about the 2011 and 14 was not just "the best player" but that we had dominant guard(s) who could make plays. That is the one missing ingredient for this team. 11 and 14 you knew that Kemba, Bazz, or Boat could make a play with the ball in their hands.

 

[jibsey]

Beating St. John’s would have been a help in boarding that Karabandwagon.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Napier wasn't even a Naismith finalist....but you can keep up your end of this argument if you'd like.

Do you really disagree that Shabazz was “arguably” the best player in the country that year?

I would take Shabazz over any of those guys that made Naismith finalist.

Anyways, we are derailing…my point is that this year’s team has no “great” player, so I don’t see how any comparison to 2011/2014 makes any sense.

 

[Deepster]

He wasn't. But was there any doubt that he was the most dangerous player on the court for that entire run? His confidence and swagger were next level, and he backed it up.

I think the simple fact about the 2011 and 14 was not just "the best player" but that we had dominant guard(s) who could make plays. That is the one missing ingredient for this team. 11 and 14 you knew that Kemba, Bazz, or Boat could make a play with the ball in their hands.

I agreed to that....and we're much stronger at center and from the forward position than either of those teams.

And just for kicks? In his last 10 regular season games, Napier scored single digits twice (7 and 9) and between 16-18 pts 6 times. In the 3 BET games, he scored 11, 15 and 16 pts heading into the NCAA's. He was not torching the nets by any means leading up to the 6 NCAA games. No reason to think some combo of Ball, Alex and Liam couldn't more than carry the load for us.

 

[uconnyankee]

Agree to disagree. I don't think there's a great chance, but I definitely think they have a chance.

2011 we started Roscoe Smith, Alex Oriahki, Olander, Lamb and Kemba.
2014 we started Nolan, DeAndre Daniels, Boatright, Giffey and Napier.

You're dead wrong if you don't think we're better than either of those teams.

Didn’t we have Senor Testiculo on one of those team? That’s a big advantage

 

[CL82]

am not being negative, just honest.

 

[David54]

Imagine being a one seed and you have to play UConn the first weekend.