It feels like we lost - but we're 1-0.

[dandar]

I understand what you're saying and kind of agree with you that it doesn't feel as satisfying as it would've felt if the game ended at 10 minute mark. Maryland definitely got a moral victory there. Having said that, a road victory (cause this game definitely felt like a road game to me, with referee home cooking, one-sided fans, etc.) against a mid-range power conference team which came off of NIT semifinal and expected to be in NCAA tourney this year is always a good win. At the end of the year, it will be counted as a W on our record and that is pretty much the only stat that counts.

 

[pj]

It was a very good learning experience, especially for the coach. He has to get all his players involved (since they all have talent) and he has to find their roles. What is Deandre's role? He seems uncertain about it. How does the Giffey/Kromah/Calhoun rotation get sorted? How do you get Giffey the minutes he needs while letting Calhoun develop? Is Kromah's role defense at 3 perimeter positions? How do you develop Brimah who will be the best center in March while getting the best out of Nolan, who gets ignored offensively and isn't the strongest defensively? What can Boatright improve about his perimeter play, and how does the team need to play when its best player Napier is on the bench? They seemed lost without him. I hope KO gets his coaches and Calhoun together for a real brainstorming and planning session. If he doesn't solve these problems well he risks having some disaffected players at the end of the bench, because minutes are going to be hard to come by and if the coaching doesn't optimize the team, players who don't play and know the coaching is suboptimal will be dissatisfied.

I'm confident he will solve them however. It is going to be an exciting year. Glad Maryland's last shot didn't go in because a loss would have been a huge letdown.

 

[SixRings]

I agree with sheep. Tough opponent - big, long and good amount of talent. I thought we played very well until the T. In fact, I can't remember an opening game that we have looked so ready for. The troubling part for me is that no Bazz = lousy play. Boat has to step up and run the team better when Bazz is on the bench. I didn't see him do anything wrong, in particular. But the team couldn't come together in the last 5 min under him. Maybe somebody else has some better insight into the last 5.

 

[Husky]

Suspect? What was suspect about it?

The epic collapse at the end of the game?

Missing key free throws?

Daniels not playing any defense?

Shabazz fouling out?

Olander bailing the team out with a ....3? lol

 

[UCHuskies08]

After watching college basketball my entire life, I don't see how people can get so worked up because Maryland went on a run in the last 10 minutes. It's basketball. Every team makes a run. We still have a lot of new pieces we're working in, and we got out with a win in a national TV game against a good opponent. I was feeling pretty pumped about it. It's one of those situations where we won, but Ollie has plenty of material to harp on to keep everyone grounded. Bring on the Bulldogs.

 

[aceboon]

The epic collapse at the end of the game?

Missing key free throws?

Daniels not playing any defense?

Shabazz fouling out?

Olander bailing the team out with a ....3? lol

...and with all of that they never trailed or were even tied in the game. There is nothing suspect about a wire to wire win.

 

[Husky1972]

...and with all of that they never trailed or were even tied in the game. There is nothing suspect about a wire to wire win.

Right, with two exhibition games that were of less benefit than a Blue-White scrimmage, 1st game out of the box, on the road, not against the usual cupcake, but a quality opponent, I'll take it.

Geez, if the last 50 years has shown me anything about a basketball season, it's a progression to the sustaining of quality play over the complete 40 minutes. To do it for 30 was a pretty good start.

Look at the Celtics trying to establish roles and fit in lots of new players, two big leads blown in the 4th quarter. Then win their last two games, one on the road coming from far behind.

It's a process, can't expect March basketball on November 8th.

 

[Gurleyman]

The epic collapse at the end of the game?

Missing key free throws?

Daniels not playing any defense?

Shabazz fouling out?

Olander bailing the team out with a ....3? lol

Boat needs to make his (he's done it before in big spots - including 3 vs Florida State). Can't say I expected Samuel to make his first collegiate FT in that spot. He grabbed a big rebound in traffic right before that with our big man out of position going for a block, so call it a wash. Brimah's was meaningless - he was better off missing so the clock would run out anyway.

Bazz fouling out is an unusual development, and contributed to Maryland's comeback. He's the guy we want to manage the game late and he was in and out of the lineup down the stretch.

Olander's hitting a three? Great. Next time we are in that situation, Olander's man might be a little more reluctant to leave him open and perhaps a wider driving lane will open up.

Daniels wasn't a major problem on D. Smotryz wasn't much of a factor in the second half. He did get beat once late, leading to Boat sagging to help, leading to a Faust three, but that's one snapshot.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

The epic collapse at the end of the game?

Missing key free throws?

Daniels not playing any defense?

Shabazz fouling out?

Olander bailing the team out with a ....3? lol

As expected, it takes exactly one game (a WIN!) for the dip**** brigade to come out in force.

Hostile environment, freshmen get big minutes, pull out a win over an ACC team that WILL win some big games this year, with their best player on the bench. You gotta be a complete a**clown to be down on them today.

 

[UConnDad]

After watching college basketball my entire life, I don't see how people can get so worked up because Maryland went on a run in the last 10 minutes. It's basketball. Every team makes a run. We still have a lot of new pieces we're working in, and we got out with a win in a national TV game against a good opponent. I was feeling pretty pumped about it. It's one of those situations where we won, but Ollie has plenty of material to harp on to keep everyone grounded. Bring on the Bulldogs.

Like you having watched college bball and a UConn fan my entire life watching a 17 point lead evaporate with an arena full of screaming Md fans in your ear let me tell you YOU CAN GET PLENTY WORKED UP! Add the missed 1 and 1 free throws and the anxiety level was right up there. The rest of your post I completely agree with. SO READY FOR ANOTHER GAME!!!

 

[Scot-e]

I felt like I gave birth after watching the last 10 minutes.

 

[cordeodato]

This team has the potential to be an offensive powerhouse. Top to bottom they
have guys that can fill up the basket. The biggest problem right now is for Ollie
to get a handle on his rotations. I am sure he is well aware of that, and
just needs to see them in game competition to see where the pieces fit.
I was disappointed with our defense last night. Lot of open looks for Maryland. Way too
many. Hopefully that is a function of the rotation problem as well. Guys need to work
together under game conditions. We have a lot of talented people on this roster,
sometimes that can be a problem as there are so many minutes.
I read a few threads criticizing Ollie for his substitutions. It is easy to substitute
when you have 7 or 8 guys and a few of them have defined roles. It is going to take
longer for a roster like this to come together. When it starts to mesh we could have a monster
year.
In some ways this could be a tougher coaching assignment for Ollie than last year.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

[You te="Palatine, post: 743630, member: 974"]So congrats to the Huskies!!! Win and survive.[/quote]

So congrats to the Huskies!!! Win and survive.

Opening night for a fairly young team, on national TV, in NYC. I am glad it wasn't a blowout. Gives KO and the staff ammo to use during practice. A win is a win.

 

[tzznandrew]

[You te="Palatine, post: 743630, member: 974"]So congrats to the Huskies!!! Win and survive.

Opening night for a fairly young team, on national TV, in NYC. I am glad it wasn't a blowout. Gives KO and the staff ammo to use during practice. A win is a win.[/quote]
This isn't that young a team. The best five players on the team are (in some order): Napier, Daniels, Boatright, Giffey, and Calhoun. 2 seniors with a title, 2 juniors, and a sophomore. Add in 5th year senior Kromah, and our only area of inexperience is at the 5 (where, off the bench, we have a senior with national championship experience).

These guys have been through wars.

 

[Deepster]

It's a process, can't expect March basketball on November 8th.

This was a good win. A champion needs to learn how to get out of a less than stellar effort with a W and that's exactly what they did. They will only get better. I really liked what I saw.

 

[Waquoit]

This was a good win, like that Wichita State game in 2010 perhaps.

 

[gtcam]

Right, with two exhibition games that were of less benefit than a Blue-White scrimmage, 1st game out of the box, on the road, not against the usual cupcake, but a quality opponent, I'll take it.

Geez, if the last 50 years has shown me anything about a basketball season, it's a progression to the sustaining of quality play over the complete 40 minutes. To do it for 30 was a pretty good start.

Look at the Celtics trying to establish roles and fit in lots of new players, two big leads blown in the 4th quarter. Then win their last two games, one on the road coming from far behind.

It's a process, can't expect March basketball on November 8th.

RIGHT ON THE MONEY

We came into the game untested and not an easy opponent to get your feet wet
This will prove to be the best stepping stone in years-education wise for team and coach
I hate to sound like a complainer but had the officiating been even- the final score would have been double figures
One official made 75% of calls and seemed to enjoy listening and interacting with the Maryland bench
All you could here from the MD bench when UCONN had ball was "hand check hand check" while when we drove all I heard was slaps

 

[caw]

...and with all of that they never trailed or were even tied in the game. There is nothing suspect about a wire to wire win.

It was 0-0 for a minute or two. LoL

 

[Skies17]

Where was Facey? Didn't play a single minute. Big surprise to me.

 

[Gurleyman]

Where was Facey? Didn't play a single minute. Big surprise to me.

Maryland had a perimeter shooting 4, so Daniels and Giffey took all the minutes there. And we went 3 deep at the 5 with Nolan, Brimah and Olander.

Brimah's emergence has the potential to squeeze Facey out of the rotation this year - but Facey could easily be our starting 4 next year if DD leaves. He'll just have to be patient and work hard - which based on his character, seems to be nothing we have to worry about.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Opening night for a fairly young team, on national TV, in NYC. I am glad it wasn't a blowout. Gives KO and the staff ammo to use during practice. A win is a win.

This isn't that young a team. The best five players on the team are (in some order): Napier, Daniels, Boatright, Giffey, and Calhoun. 2 seniors with a title, 2 juniors, and a sophomore. Add in 5th year senior Kromah, and our only area of inexperience is at the 5 (where, off the bench, we have a senior with national championship experience).

These guys have been through wars.[/quote]
"Young TEAM" beyond their classifications, they are new to each other (beyond the 5 you mentioned). If you want to feel like an opening nightwin is a loss I can't stop you. The team I support is 1-0. Your team feels like 0-1.

 

[ctchamps]

This isn't that young a team. The best five players on the team are (in some order): Napier, Daniels, Boatright, Giffey, and Calhoun. 2 seniors with a title, 2 juniors, and a sophomore. Add in 5th year senior Kromah, and our only area of inexperience is at the 5 (where, off the bench, we have a senior with national championship experience).

These guys have been through wars.

"Young TEAM" beyond their classifications, they are new to each other (beyond the 5 you mentioned). If you want to feel like an opening nightwin is a loss I can't stop you. The team I support is 1-0. Your team feels like 0-1.[/quote]
This new format is tricky. I'm not sure if we are in agreement with one another. I believe you were disagreeing with another poster who called this team a veteran team as opposed to you calling this team a veteran team.

In terms of how long players have been with the program, the team is a veteran team. In terms of game experience this is a team that is somewhere between a veteran team and a young team.

RB missed a third of his freshman season. DD played scrub minutes his freshman season. Both these players are juniors at school who could be consider sophomores in game experience. This isn't the Khalid led team that won the first NC in which, by the RM's senior year, you had the principal players playing 3 and 4 years of significant game experience together. Nor is it like the KW team in which you had one upper class men leading a bunch of newbies.

I expect some rough patches early in the season because of three things. First some of the primary players need additional time to work on their game. I would say only SN and NG are players who have reached their college potential. Second, the early season is a testing period for rotations. KO can stick with a set line up and shorten the bench or he can work in various rotations, lengthening the bench, but in doing so, increase the period before the players become seamlessly familiar with one another. I expect KO chooses the latter. Third, KO could choose to keep the play book simple and develop a refined but limited playing team that will mature quicker or he could extend the teams play book causing a delay in a refined team. I expect KO chooses the latter.

 

[tzznandrew]

"Young TEAM" beyond their classifications, they are new to each other (beyond the 5 you mentioned). If you want to feel like an opening nightwin is a loss I can't stop you. The team I support is 1-0. Your team feels like 0-1.

??? They're not a young team. I get what fleudsipcon is saying, but disagree. They have a year together, many two years, and some three. This is a more veteran team than won the NC in 2011, and, by my calculation, may be more experienced than the 2009 Final Four team.

That said, I have no idea why you think I am not happy with the win, or what gave you the idea that it felt like a "loss." You are reading too much into something, somewhere.

 

[CL82]

I'm a little late to the party on this thread but I thought the win was perfect. For 30 minutes we showed how good this team can be and then the guys got a reminder that no one is going to hand them anything. A great lesson in focus and playing for a full 40 minutes and we still ended up with a win.

This team thinks it's good (and I agree) but with focus and discipline, it can be great.