Impressions of UConn: The March To Madness

[Jimbo]

If you notice the credits at the end of the show, both ESPN & SNY provided film to HBO and the Huskies radio network provided audio as well, so it appears to me that HBO could basically include coverage of any game they wanted in the documentary.

I get that, and I imagine that's why they were able to toss in a few highlights of some other games such as win #91 at SMU and the last game at USF. From that standpoint, they certainly could have included some game highlights from Florida State or Tulane as well.

But I don't buy the theory that HBO simply recycled SNY's behind the scenes footage from the Huskies All-Access show and stuck it in The March to Madness. First, we don't know for sure that SNY granted HBO access to every piece of film that SNY shot all season; SNY's permission could have been limited to game footage. Second, SNY had tons of behind the scenes footage from the Florida State game, probably the most thrilling game UConn has played all season, so it would strike me as a very odd choice if HBO had permission to use all that stuff and left it out anyway. Third, even when SNY and HBO showed the same exact same locker room speech, the footage is different. Take the video ochoopsfan posted above and pause it at 14:43, and then pause the SNY All-Access video here at 34:54.



That's the same sentence in the same halftime speech, but clearly shot by two different cameras. I think it's safe to conclude that SNY and HBO both had cameras in the room. (I suppose it's theoretically possible that SNY had multiple cameras there, both trained on Geno at the same time, but I find that unlikely.)

So that's why I believe HBO sent its camera people to a select few games and, as a result, focused disproportionately on those games in the first episode of The March to Madness. There are ESPN/SNY highlights from other games here and there but, tellingly, no behind the scenes things.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

The best part was CD goading Geno to screw with Danger. "Notice how she never picks up full court?" "Yeah." "Hey Crystal, why don't you pick up full-court. You just run down to the other end because it is easy.."

The look on her face like "what the hell just happened" was classic!

Didn't he finish with : 4 years of full court (Mo), now we get this. Ouch! But we know already that Dangerfield has had difficulty accepting the need for total commitment in practice. In some respects her performance in the Baylor game may have confused her on that score.

 

[oldude]

Chris Dailey looks tired to me. I hope she is ok health wise.

After watching CD go toe to toe with Geno to prevent him from getting T'd up in the MD game, it's no wonder that she's tired. I suspect part of her job description includes "lion tamer."

 

[my2cents]

I thought the dinner that Gabby and Lou made looked really delicious.
Also, wondering why the pre game instructions on the "whiteboards" were blurred out?

 

[Scotter]

I don't think HBO itself started filming until after the Baylor game and before the Notre Dame game. The HBO show was announced on 12/6 and the Notre Dame game was 2/7 and the HBO cameras were traveling with the team to Notre Dame. So they used SNY footage exclusively for the Baylor game and preseason that we had already seen.

The focus on the series is obviously now March Madness itself so the first show was designed as an introduction.

 

[Bliss]

I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next installment.

 

[Lynx23]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode and have watched it several times thanks to DVR. I know some BY's have expressed disappointment that certain players were not given greater exposure and I can see why. On the other hand, this is supposed to be a documentary of sorts with "behind the scene" access as the team continues its quest for a another national championship. To get viewership (which pays the bills) one needs to sell the product and you do that in large part through the personalities of its participants. That's what appeals to the casual viewer. This is what happens when game show participants are selected. So who are the most demonstrative personalities on the Huskies? Kia and Lou lead the pack in my opinion, with Gabby not far behind. Pheese and Saniya tend to be on the quiet side, or at least appear to be. Crystal's segment was a nice little side story. Poor kid, probably still trying to figure out how she can get hugged one minute and lambasted the next. It this were "30 on 30", the documentary might have handled things a little differently with more emphasis on who is the team leader, who is the best offensive or defensive player, or who made the most important shot to win the most important game, etc? We're not likely to get that. Instead, we get a fairly long segment on Kia's photo shoot which I'm sure may seem gratuitous to some, but when she is injured in the USC game her loss is simply dismissed as "collateral damage" without any further comment. Welcome to world of entertainment. It is what it is. Frankly, I'm fortunate enough to be able to catch all the SNY shows and am familiar with all the locker room rhetoric and understand each player's contributions to this wonderful ride, etc. I enjoy seeing something a little different, perhaps more so through the general public's eyes. And that's what will sell the product to the casual fan, hopefully bringing in new fans in the process. BTW, for all the complaining about the absence of certain players, I thought the contributions of Shea and Marissa were very much underrepresented. Based upon this episode the public is still wondering who they are and why they're there.

 

[j66kicker]

Didn't he finish with : 4 years of full court (Mo), now we get this. Ouch! But we know already that Dangerfield has had difficulty accepting the need for total commitment in practice. In some respects her performance in the Baylor game may have confused her on that score.

Practice???

We're talkin' about practice???

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Practice???
View attachment 20282
We're talkin' about practice???

LOL.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Also, wondering why the pre game instructions on the "whiteboards" were blurred out?

They are in SNY footage too. Why would you let ND, Maryland or Baylor see you scouting report on them?

 

[my2cents]

I guess. Box out, make the extra pass, hustle, etc should remain top secret......lol

 

[JustinesGuy]

Wonderful special and really a tribute to what Geno and CD built.

Only one major complaint, no Justine! Justine is a huge part of this season.

 

[oldude]

Wonderful special and really a tribute to what Geno and CD built.

Only one major complaint, no Justine! Justine is a huge part of this season.

Down boy! Easy now!

 

[DefenseBB]

Down boy! Easy now!

Oldude, good try but just look at his monicker...not going to happen, and to be honest, I don't blame him. If only the Yankees would hire her instead of who we currently have...

 

[MilfordHusky]

Coaching Crystal seems straightforward:

Tell her, "Crystal, win this game for us" and ensure that her parents are there watching.

 

[Ron and Vida]

LOL. I guess I've finally found a benefit within those so called "Golden Years".

Another casualty of the Golden Years is the effect on our hearing. For example when my wife doesn't listen to a thing I say these days it really is because she can't hear me.....

 

[JustinesGuy]

Oldude, good try but just look at his monicker...not going to happen, and to be honest, I don't blame him. If only the Yankees would hire her instead of who we currently have...

Do we still have Meredith knockaknockavich?

Kim Jones was amazing it was a huge loss.
I would certainly welcome Justine to Yankees. Looks like Comcast is gettin YES again. Thank god.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Just dug up Bob Seger's Turn the page:

Here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
Here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
Turn the page

 

[JordyG]

Another casualty of the Golden Years is the effect on our hearing. For example when my wife doesn't listen to a thing I say these days it really is because she can't hear me.....

What was that?

 

[augustaTC]

If I am running another program.....I would be pissed!! This will go out to thousands of families and live On-Demand virtually forever.

Expect a 353 page protest to NCAA from Tennessee!

 

[tonehill68]

I really liked the episode. We get to see what this season was about minus the All-World players that graduated last year. The show also showed us how versatile Gabby is in life too with her leadership role, cooking, etc. Didn't expect anything else from her . I've also learned Crystal (like many before her) is a tough cookie. She's doing and going through her freshman season alone (class wise) and it's definitely difficult. She will be better for it next year.

 

[huskiemaniac]

The HBO presentation of UCONN basketball is extraordinary, as the producers correctly discerned that Gestalt(whole more than the sum of the parts)is indeed real story line. Singular individual snippets of life on and off the court were woven into the “we” fabric, wining was neatly made the servant of hard work and team success, while players past and present were seen as a community with sustained culture. Coaching was established as the glue holding all together, adding context and perspective along with demand for excellence. Final goals were characterized as the byproduct of team effort, not as individualized road to victory. What a fun watch!!!

I'm with you...I loved it and thought it was exceptional! Focus on what's there, not what isn't. There is still more to come.

 

[CL82]

View attachment 20249

I feel like one of nan's earliest avatars might have been Julie Newmar. If so, she's come full circle. Still, she should throw an Eartha Kitt in there.