Jim Calhoun: UConn is going to be better than people think next season.

[UConnSwag11]

 

[B1GEast]

Great. That's all this board and fan base need right now is more Kool Aid

 

[jibsey]

After last season most basketball experts probably think we are going to be not good so this is not exactly a high bar to jump, but I bet he believes in the talent and the better coaching we have.

 

[ASweet3781]

Great. That's all this board and fan base need right now is more Kool Aid

I find the attempt to try to throw cold water on any optimism over next year to be really really weird. It's been going on for a few weeks. Seems to be some preemptive lowering of expectations for Hurley's first year. I'm not buying it. I don't think Calhoun or Hurley are either. We we're bad last year. Very bad. But we were worse than we should have been and a lot of the reasons for it are gone.

 

[CL82]

I find the attempt to try to throw cold water on any optimism over next year to be really really weird. It's been going on for a few weeks. Seems to be some preemptive lowering of expectations for Hurley's first year. I'm not buying it. I don't think Calhoun or Hurley are either. We we're bad last year. Very bad. But we were worse than we should have been and a lot of the reasons for it are gone.

Agreed, but at the same time that all doesn't magically go away with a coaching change. Getting back to where we expect to be is a process. It will take time.

 

[ASweet3781]

Agreed, but at the same time that all doesn't magically go away with a coaching change. Getting back to where we expect to be is a process. It will take time.

I agree. It will take time. And I think and 8-10 seed should be the goal for next year based on the roster. That's why I find some of the rather transparent attempts to lower the bar for next year to be....interesting. Calhoun didn't get the memo. I agree with him.

 

[CL82]

I agree. It will take time. And I think and 8-10 seed should be the goal for next year based on the roster. That's why I find some of the rather transparent attempts to lower the bar for next year to be....interesting. Calhoun didn't get the memo. I agree with him.

So my take is that absent catching lightning in a bottle we may be a bit short of that. That's not me deliberately trying lower expectations. That's my optimism being a bit damaged from the last two seasons. There are just too many unknowns and new faces. For instance, will Gilbert, will be healthy? Will he be able physically and mentally to play like the kid recruited? Will the new kids fit together well with last year's team? Will CV be okay in an reduced role? Is Tarin going to be as good as advertised? Are we going to have a credible 5 or 4 break out of the pack? I don't know what the answers are, but it seems unlikely that we strike gold on all of them.

20 wins would be a good first season for Hurley, but that may not get into the NCAAs absent winning the AAC tournament.

 

[JMick]

I agree. It will take time. And I think and 8-10 seed should be the goal for next year based on the roster. That's why I find some of the rather transparent attempts to lower the bar for next year to be....interesting. Calhoun didn't get the memo. I agree with him.

People aren't lowering the bar. They're looking at the last two years and they see a whole bunch of questions marks. If one or two things don't go our way then people who 100% expect a tournament berth are going to be disappointed. 20 regular season wins would be a huge improvement but it's probably not enough to make the tournament

 

[Jay-Bone]

I agree. It will take time. And I think and 8-10 seed should be the goal for next year based on the roster. That's why I find some of the rather transparent attempts to lower the bar for next year to be....interesting. Calhoun didn't get the memo. I agree with him.

The last few years many of us have gone into the season with higher expectations than reasonable (myself included) and this board has become an absolute dumpster fire once things don't pan out. It might be time to let things progress themselves. Maybe enough with the Ajou Deng, Purvis the Ferrari type hype and let the wins do the talking.

But I do like the optimism.

 

[cohenzone]

A team that plays consistent, smart, energetic team D and some sort of recognizable O is what I want. I have zero expectations about wins or losses or tournaments. If the effort and smarts are where they need to be,the record hopefully will reflect it.

 

[Chief00]

Calhoun loves Gilbert. Since he’s been injured much of the time it’s more about the type of person he is, work ethic and a guy who loves to talk basketball. But, make no mistake he can play when healthy, especially if he develops a better shot.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I always qualify this. I am a KO guy...thought he deserved another year. Having said that, I think the team fell short of capabilities last year. With everyone back, and the respectable recruiting class....I think DH can get the team to overachieve a bit. Oh heck, it's less than 6 months.

 

[the Q]

This team can almost certainly win 20 games.

After that we are just quibbling.

 

[MattMang23]

Great. That's all this board and fan base need right now is more Kool Aid

At least this Kool Aid is sourced with real ingredients.

 

[4UConn]

I'm counting on the likelihood that our defense will be much, much better. That alone will give us some more wins.

 

[Huskybass]

If they play hard and smart consistently, I will be happy with that. Meaningful progress is all I am looking for in year one. By year 2 or 3 I am hoping that we are back to being a tournament team the vast majority of the time. I think Hurley can do great things, butI think 2 to 3 seasons is realistic and fair to be truly back at an elite level.

 

[RichZ]

Great. That's all this board and fan base need right now is more Kool Aid

And it's my favorite flavor!

 

[Son of Robert]

A little bump from Calhoun.

 

[intlzncster]

I agree. It will take time. And I think and 8-10 seed should be the goal for next year based on the roster. That's why I find some of the rather transparent attempts to lower the bar for next year to be....interesting. Calhoun didn't get the memo. I agree with him.

I mean, we had the worst season in UCONN history last year. To go from that to an 8 seed would be one of the great turnarounds in NCAA history.

 

[ASweet3781]

I mean, we had the worst season in UCONN history last year. To go from that to an 8 seed would be one of the great turnarounds in NCAA history.

No it wouldn't. It would mean Gilbert made it through the year, Jalen showed improvement, and we tried to run an offense and play a style that fit our personnel.

 

[August_West]

People aren't lowering the bar. They're looking at the last two years and they see a whole bunch of questions marks. If one or two things don't go our way then people who 100% expect a tournament berth are going to be disappointed. 20 regular season wins would be a huge improvement but it's probably not enough to make the tournament

Lol.
I can't even.
I won't

 

[willie99]

Good Ole Jimmy better start reading the BY, because it's obvious he's out of touch

Then again, maybe he is reading the BY and he's just trying to educate



PS: College basketball is all about dramatic changes from season to season, especially following an injury plagued season, especially when two of your highest rated recruits are wearing street cloths all season, especially when you were playing a bunch of freshmen

 

[Doctor Hoop]

I mean, we had the worst season in UCONN history last year. To go from that to an 8 seed would be one of the great turnarounds in NCAA history.

No it wouldn't. It would mean Gilbert made it through the year, Jalen showed improvement, and we tried to run an offense and play a style that fit our personnel.

I gotta go with Sweet here. The talent is better than many are giving credit for, and Calhoun, whose ability to construct a team should be unquestioned, knows it. Reasonable optimism is warranted. The coaches used the talent poorly last year. That doesn’t tell you much about what they’re capabilities are.

Now, I wrote ‘reasonable’. Anyone who thinks we’ll run the table in the AAC is hallucinating.

 

[willie99]

1998-99 Ohio State
1997-98: 8-22
1998-99: 27-9 (NCAA Final Four - vacated)

2003-04 Texas-El Paso
2002-03: 6-24
2003-04: 24-8 (NCAA First Round)

1999-00 Iowa State
1998-99: 15-15
1999-00: 32-5 (NCAA Elite Eight)

This type of list can go into infinity and beyond, it happens on a regular basis

How about this doozy?

Loyola Chicago
2016-2017 18-14
2017-2018 32-6 Final Four

 

[JMick]

1998-99 Ohio State
1997-98: 8-22
1998-99: 27-9 (NCAA Final Four - vacated)

2003-04 Texas-El Paso
2002-03: 6-24
2003-04: 24-8 (NCAA First Round)

1999-00 Iowa State
1998-99: 15-15
1999-00: 32-5 (NCAA Elite Eight)

This type of list can go into infinity and beyond, it happens on a regular basis

How about this doozy?

Loyola Chicago
2016-2017 18-14
2017-2018 32-6 Final Four

you should look up what survival bias means