Ive never seen the board this down [merged thread]

[the Q]

Love a former (never an ex) Marine who faces reality, much like this old Army dogface. Let's get real: this team was never going to be as accomplished as past champions. No height, no bulk, little experience, and yes...…………...as some have pointed out, the competition in the women's AAC (Almost Always Crappy) is an impediment to in-season improvement. Accept that getting to the Elite Eight would be a major achievement. I don't think we'll advance beyond the Sweet Sixteen, and hope I am wrong. Geno was candid in his preseason assessment. Jamelle Elliot, where are you?

the biggest surprise is the absolute lack of shooting.

 

[tower1]

Uconn's game against Baylor Oregon and South Carolina has been ineffective due to those teams having stronger inside players. To be fair, Liz has not been productive against those teams, averaging 6 ppg. If you neutralize the inside game Uconn becomes a jump shot team, against these level teams. The fast break and inside penetration game hasn't shown up, as much as needed, against the 3 best teams. Uconn against the AAC teams makes them look much better, but you wont see those type of teams after round one or two of the NCAA'S.
Makes you really appreciate how good Phee and Lou were to the team.

I think the problem is we are too soft, we need a couple of fighters on the team. We get punched and we turn the other cheek no fighting back Like Diana, Rizotti, Elliot, Sue Bird and allot of tough players we have had.

 

[j66kicker]

It looks like lots of the BY faithful have thrown in the towel for this year. Me, I think the fun is just beginning. The team will make the NCAA tournament and then will only have to win 6 games. Don't know how far they're go but lets enjoy this team while we can and not think about next year.

Don't worry, the towel is only thrown in til the next game. After we blitz through the remaining AAC schedule, beating everyone by 40 or 50, we'll be back to thinking we have deserving All-Americans and are worthy of a 1 seed (Hey - is anyone else outside the top 3 really any better?). And if we somehow get put in the Fort Wayne region, it's totally realistic we'll make it to the FF.

 

[Martin]

With the board this down maybe it’s time for a song thread. In lieu of that I’ll take this opportunity to toss in a song. I just learned that this group was on active duty in the Marines when they recorded Easier Said Than Done.

[/https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zcveGZv799w

 

[Aluminny69]

Jonathan's 2 through 13 were white. The first and current Jonathan's were the more typical husky.

I don't know what number he was ( 1966-70), but I met him, a very friendly dog. Of course, I love dogs.

Wasn't there a period of time when there was no mascot? Not politically correct, or some such nonsense.

 

[Jbigfan]

Well said OD, Hoping that one or two of the new players coming in will have that "take charge" mentality. No matter what the talent level is on the floor it needs discipline and direction and it has to be on the floor, not from the bench.

I thought what the team really lacked in OR and SC gms was a vocal leader on the floor. In Both games, each player looked lost and we needed one ‘leader’ to step up...there wasn’t one. As great a player as Crystal is, she doesn’t seem to be a verbal leader.

 

[Bigboote]

It is the delusional entitlement disorder.

It reminds me of a quote from Ted Turner: I felt sorry for myself after I lost my movie studio. Then I met a guy who didn’t have a sports team.

 

[uconnfan68]

Jonathan's 2 through 13 were white. The first and current Jonathan's were the more typical husky.

They were Samoyeds, not Huskies.

 

[browns]

Christyn Williams and Meg Walker were also supposed to be "elite" players. Most of those South Carolina players aren't going anywhere for a long time.

No but Harris is ..not to mention Harrigan..Harris is the glue to that team..look what happened when Uconn was finally able to play some D..she made 2 or 3 baskets in a row to make things right again.Dawn knows how important she is..saying she should be POY not just in the SEC but nationally ahead of Sabrina..she will be sorely missed

For me the downer is thinking maybe some of our number 1 recruits, who we drool over when they commit, just aren't playing like it, and maybe they can't. We keep hearing the lines about they are only freshmen, freshman hit a wall, the sophomore jump, etc. Seems like other teams somehow have freshmen playing fine, like 3 for SC last night, how come they don't have to wait for a sophomore bump? Boston had a double double in her first game, not sure against who. Hailey Jones steps in and she was doing well until the knee. The team just doesn't seem to have the passion and energy of the past, except for Crystal, and she is gone next year. For us to rise again next year I think we are going to need a lot of help from the freshmen. Can Page replace Crystal, a freshman but supposedly a once every 10 years one. She is also about 5 inches taller, and height seems to have been an issue for Crystal. But for the other spots I don't think we can count on everyone growing up by next year. I think we have Page at point, with Muhl at backup. Evina at the two with Williams as backup, and hope Evina is as good as the number 2 person in a class is supposed to be. We Likely need Edwards at the 4, another freshman, with maybe Griffin and Mir as backups. Griffin seems very athletic but she just can't seem to hit free throws, 3 pointers, layups in traffic. Hopefully Meg can get confident and play the 3, with Anna as her backup, or maybe they each get about 20 minutes. Liv at the 5, with a summer spent lifting weights, shooting free throws, 10 and 12 footers, and hope our 6-5 newbie can give us 5 to 8 minutes a game of at least holding the fort even though she is supposedly quite raw. And I don't see that lineup competing with SC next year. Dawn has too much talent on the bench to replace the two seniors. And she may pick up another grad transfer. But maybe with the backups we can press more and that makes a difference.

 

[willtalk]

They were Samoyeds, not Huskies.

They could be Huskies if they identified as Huskies.

 

[SCGamecock]

I keep seeing posts like "just wait, SC's freshmen will start playing like freshmen soon" and to be honest, if you're making a post like that then you're obviously not watching SC close enough. The truth is that our 3 freshmen starters play like freshmen several times every game. They make boneheaded mistakes, take bad shots and occasionally are out of place on defense. What works for them is that they're smart, fearless and tough. They've learned from experience. Dawn allows them to play through their mistakes and they have two seniors on the floor with them that's literally coaching them through games at times. Our freshmen have started every game this season and they've played big minutes in big games... so they're a little mentally tougher than most freshmen because they're experienced. But if you watch our earlier games, that wasn't always the case. SC hit the jackpot by having a freshmen class with a high basketball IQ and with 3 players that were ready to start... but that's not to say there aren't freshmen on other teams that aren't "playing like freshmen".. look at Rickea Jackson. It's all about experience. These freshmen are tested.

 

[SimpleDawg]

I keep seeing posts like "just wait, SC's freshmen will start playing like freshmen soon" and to be honest, if you're making a post like that then you're obviously not watching SC close enough. The truth is that our 3 freshmen starters play like freshmen several times every game. They make boneheaded mistakes, take bad shots and occasionally are out of place on defense. What works for them is that they're smart, fearless and tough. They've learned from experience. Dawn allows them to play through their mistakes and they have two seniors on the floor with them that's literally coaching them through games at times. Our freshmen have started every game this season and they've played big minutes in big games... so they're a little mentally tougher than most freshmen because they're experienced. But if you watch our earlier games, that wasn't always the case. SC hit the jackpot by having a freshmen class with a high basketball IQ and with 3 players that were ready to start... but that's not to say there aren't freshmen on other teams that aren't "playing like freshmen".. look at Rickea Jackson. It's all about experience. These freshmen are tested.

I never had that thought process. I just think chances of Dawn being down 3 years in a row is not too likely. I do consider Wilson's senior year kind of a down year for SC. Maybe SC fans here disagree, but I don't think that SC team looked like the SC teams of years previous.

Anyways, I think one difference between Dawn and Vic is that while Dawn lets her freshman play through their mistakes, Vic automatically substitutes anyone showing clears signs of not getting it. And since he has such a full bench, he can afford to roll the dice a lot.

Rickea Jackson has a very varied offensive arsenal, and she stretches well. feet and mind often in sync. But interesting thing is nobody in Starkville expected anything less from her at the onset. 47% field goal percentage is impressive for a freshman. And plays 29 minutes and leads the team in shots.

 

[hjoerring]

Tonyc, you are a true fan of our program, and your ever positive thoughts are soothing. But there is the team we have in our head-- the one we are accustomed to seeing, and there is the 'actual' team that have played since the season started. We are not alone with this duality. I have watched a replay of the SC game and it struck me that the two commentators kept talking about 3 teams on the floor-- SC, a Uconn team and another Uconn team that was there in expectation; that is, "this is how we that Uconn team would have played." In fact, they seemed a lot more interested in that version than the one on the floor.

I have never seen this team as a top 5, but more towards the bottom top 10. So I am not distraught. What I am surprise about is their seeming lack of ability to move. So I went back to older games with these players and voila: individually, they have not been quick and perpetually moving players. That is not their game. All of this was lost last year and the years before because those other players excelled at moving thus hiding the current ones. They are all talented, but their style clashes with the standard flow-offense. To this must be added the question of how much sophistication they have with the plays, spacing, etc., in the Uconn system. I'm not convinced that this is a problem only for the two freshmen. As for the latter, Anna may have played professional in Poland, but we shouldn't confused that with professionals in other parts of Europe and may I say USA. I seriously doubt she has experienced players so quick, skilled and tall. Aubrey needs a longer rope. She probably has more shot-making skills than shown. If SC can develop their Freshmen to the level they are now, we should learn something.
If we played BU, OR and SC as if we were afraid, as the coach and others here are saying, it is because we cannot play the style of play that is necessary to compete-- moving.
What happened to ND and Uconn this year? Have we spend too much time on getting the right bouquet (of flowers/roses) instead of cultivating fruits and vegetables?

 

[MSSportsGuy]

I did not watch the game but read the commentary and while I can tell fans are greatly disappointed, I still think UConn is one of the 5 best teams in the country if their best four play their A game, which doesn't look like it's happened in the losses. For a program that is accustomed to having their best players come up huge in big games, I can understand how it's bothersome.

UConn does bring in a loaded recruiting class next year and will have Westbrook so if everyone is healthy then the size and depth problem from this season is a non issue. I do think SC will be here for the next few years to give everyone some tough battles.

 

[Aluminny69]

They were Samoyeds, not Huskies.

Not true. The UConn logo was a Samoyed, but the actual Jonathan ( the real live dog) was indeed a husky.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Have we spend too much time on getting the right bouquet (of flowers/roses) instead of cultivating fruits and vegetables?

Interesting way of putting it, but you may be right. On paper, just based on their high school recruiting rankings, our starting lineup should be a juggernaut by now.

 

[the Q]

Interesting way of putting it, but you may be right. On paper, just based on their high school recruiting rankings, our starting lineup should be a juggernaut by now.

and the delta in the expectations to the reality is why this thread exists.

 

[HopJim]

Frustration is tied to expectations. I also view UConn being a 5-10 ranked team so have not jumped off any tall buildings. I remain concerned at the lack of overall team recruiting. We have gone several years with thin recruiting classes and after Paige, forecast it will be 2+ years before this coming class will be a full speed. Since per Geno we don't have the talent of past teams, also continue to wonder why we run the same system as the past 10+ years. Not working against top teams. I continue to arrange my week to watch every UConn game and am thankful for the team, coach, etc. but will smile more when we get back to top 4 status.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Not true. The UConn logo was a Samoyed, but the actual Jonathan ( the real live dog) was indeed a husky.

Exactly. Confirmed by my book on the history of the University of Connecticut. (I know, I have a problem)

 

[Buzzyboy]

I expected some lean years after Stewart left. I did not anticipate wandering in the wilderness for five years or longer.
Winter has come. Spring is lagging far behind.

A ridiculous post! Five years wandering in the wilderness?????? Nuts.

 

[Buzzyboy]

For me the downer is thinking maybe some of our number 1 recruits, who we drool over when they commit, just aren't playing like it, and maybe they can't. We keep hearing the lines about they are only freshmen, freshman hit a wall, the sophomore jump, etc. Seems like other teams somehow have freshmen playing fine, like 3 for SC last night, how come they don't have to wait for a sophomore bump? Boston had a double double in her first game, not sure against who. Hailey Jones steps in and she was doing well until the knee. The team just doesn't seem to have the passion and energy of the past, except for Crystal, and she is gone next year. For us to rise again next year I think we are going to need a lot of help from the freshmen. Can Page replace Crystal, a freshman but supposedly a once every 10 years one. She is also about 5 inches taller, and height seems to have been an issue for Crystal. But for the other spots I don't think we can count on everyone growing up by next year. I think we have Page at point, with Muhl at backup. Evina at the two with Williams as backup, and hope Evina is as good as the number 2 person in a class is supposed to be. We Likely need Edwards at the 4, another freshman, with maybe Griffin and Mir as backups. Griffin seems very athletic but she just can't seem to hit free throws, 3 pointers, layups in traffic. Hopefully Meg can get confident and play the 3, with Anna as her backup, or maybe they each get about 20 minutes. Liv at the 5, with a summer spent lifting weights, shooting free throws, 10 and 12 footers, and hope our 6-5 newbie can give us 5 to 8 minutes a game of at least holding the fort even though she is supposedly quite raw. And I don't see that lineup competing with SC next year. Dawn has too much talent on the bench to replace the two seniors. And she may pick up another grad transfer. But maybe with the backups we can press more and that makes a difference.

I'm expecting Paige to instill some energy and attitude that UConn seems to be sorely missing. There's no real animated driving force to this team. A little cockiness would surely go a long way and this team has none of that. The fact that next year there will be more bodies to fall back on and the bench should be appreciably stronger is a good start. She's so gifted that she's going to be a dilemna for opposing defenses with her ability to distribute and to score, her size and her court vision.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Christyn Williams and Meg Walker were also supposed to be "elite" players. Most of those South Carolina players aren't going anywhere for a long time.

If Christyn and Meg were making shots and the team wasn't playing so sloppily against South Carolina, particularly early in the game, it could have been a much different outcome. At the very least, it would have not looked so terribly ugly. South Carolina was playing poorly too and giving the Huskies an opportunity to put them on their heels but brick after brick after brick allowed South Carolina to eventually build a substantial lead, even while playing mediocrely, at best. Eventually, that comfort level helped them to start playing a lot better and building an even bigger lead. UConn could have had a nice lead at the end of the first quarter instead of a 10 point or so deficit if they just shot the ball DECENTLY, not great, just decently. As we all know, that didn't happen. The pressure of a big game has seemed to DOOM the Huskies into playing tight and not making shots. No confidence in their abilities in those big games.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Frustration is tied to expectations. I also view UConn being a 5-10 ranked team so have not jumped off any tall buildings. I remain concerned at the lack of overall team recruiting. We have gone several years with thin recruiting classes and after Paige, forecast it will be 2+ years before this coming class will be a full speed. Since per Geno we don't have the talent of past teams, also continue to wonder why we run the same system as the past 10+ years. Not working against top teams. I continue to arrange my week to watch every UConn game and am thankful for the team, coach, etc. but will smile more when we get back to top 4 status.

Geno had less than elite players in the late 80's and early 90's but they were playing hard and smart and with confidence and they had pretty darn good success, even in the NCAA tournaments. This team has often played with little or no confidence and often strayed from basic fundamentals. That is not a winning formula and I think the next couple of recruiting classes have some players that reek of confidence and passion and a willingness to take charge on the court, things that this team seems to be sorely lacking. These kids are good kids, obviously and have some talent but I'm amazed how pathetically they've performed in the big games. I can't see any reason that you tend to fall apart and play so poorly, even if your opponent is more talented. They haven't even given themselves an opportunity, playing so badly in the early going that they've almost lost before some people have gotten to their seats. You can't do that at any time, particularly if you're playing a talented team. It's not so much a lack of talent as it is lacking the ability to force your will on your opponent. If you have no confidence, you're in some serious trouble. I think it's getting to the point where other really good teams are only going to have to wait for UConn to shoot themselves in the foot and take themselves out of games. The Kia Nurse's, the Maya Moore's, Caroline Doty's, Kelly Faris and others were tough minded kids who had grit and confidence and brought passion to their teams. Obviously there were others and yet this team seemed totally intimidated in their three losses.

 

[chrissaran]

The board is not down. People are being realistic. UConn is not an elite team this year. However, they are one of the better teams.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Really? Read the post immediately prior to yours.

 

[Viet Vet]

UConn is not a bad team, they are good. Baylor, Oregon and SC are great. The disparity between them and the abysmal competition in the AAC (coupled with past successes of former UConn GREAT teams) has lead to unrealistic expectations this year.

Do not be surprised if USF gives us a very tough game.

 

[Buzzyboy]

It looks like lots of the BY faithful have thrown in the towel for this year. Me, I think the fun is just beginning. The team will make the NCAA tournament and then will only have to win 6 games. Don't know how far they're go but lets enjoy this team while we can and not think about next year.

I really do hope this team rallies and starts playing tougher against tougher competition once the NCAA tournament starts. It's one thing to lose but to not give yourself a chance to win is what is disheartening. Hopefully, sometime between now and the tournament, these kids (really nice, talented kids) start playing with confidence and toughness and even if (or when) they eventually lose, lose because the other team beat you, not because you beat yourself. That would be something to take into next year for everyone outside of the seniors. I can't believe anyone on this team felt good about their team performance against Baylor, Oregon or South Carolina. Remember, I said the team performance, though we had a couple of good individual performances in those games. Everyone knows this team isn't of the same caliber as those recent UConn teams but that doesn't mean that they can't play tough and smart and confidentally.

 

[Dokey]

Remember: Evina Westbrook will be also eligible to play next year and bring a lot of experience to the Team. With the new recruits and a core group of players remaining, it seems that next year's team will be more competitive giving the ones who defeated UConn this year a run for their money next year.

Remember that Evina, if she makes starting lineup, would be replacing Crystal and I am not sure that’s an upgrade.

 

[SCyankee]

I really do hope this team rallies and starts playing tougher against tougher competition once the NCAA tournament starts. It's one thing to lose but to not give yourself a chance to win is what is disheartening. Hopefully, sometime between now and the tournament, these kids (really nice, talented kids) start playing with confidence and toughness and even if (or when) they eventually lose, lose because the other team beat you, not because you beat yourself. That would be something to take into next year for everyone outside of the seniors. I can't believe anyone on this team felt good about their team performance against Baylor, Oregon or South Carolina. Remember, I said the team performance, though we had a couple of good individual performances in those games. Everyone knows this team isn't of the same caliber as those recent UConn teams but that doesn't mean that they can't play tough and smart and confidentally.

I'm a diehard fan but I have seen no evidence that we can improve enough this year to be able to defeat any combination of Oregon, Baylor and Carolina in consecutive games. I'll consider changing my opinion if we dominate all the AAC games, but I fear we will have more trouble than a champion should against weak competition.

 

[cabbie191]

I'm half pleased, half frustrated with the year thus far.

Granted that we are spoiled by incredible history and therefore perhaps unrealistic expectations but good grief, 20 - 3 is a record most teams would die for, and all our losses are to teams we widely concede are better than the Huskies.

What's disheartening to me this year is the inconsistent play. Even some of our wins have not brought me joy.

Somehow, almost everything seems a half step off with this team. Even when Dangerfield is a dagger on the 3's, the drive and off balance scoop shots she routinely made the past three years aren't dropping this year.

There have been too many games where I don't see the drive and passion that I've come to expect.

But I'm still hoping there will be a turn around at the end of the season.