Let's temper expectations a bit

[superjohn]

I know we have the talent to be a versatile and great team but I think it's time to temper our expectations a bit. Take a look at the Seattle Seahawks, they are loaded with talent but are now just a .500 football team. We've seen it before coming off our past championships, it can be difficult when everyone is gunning for you and you have the bullseye on your back. We have the talent to be special by the end of the year but we are replacing arguably the best Husky ever and some other really good pieces. Brimah will be great but don't get bummed out when he doesn't perform like Lou Alcindor, Lubin is a very strong kid but he's not going to come in and play like Dejuan Blair. My point is there are most likely going to be a couple of WTF losses as we figure out who we are. The good news is the transition should be smoother than other years coming off of a title because we have Boatright's senior leadership at point and I'm confident Ollie simply won't let us get drunk off of success. I'm sure most fans know all of this but this board will still turn into an insane asylum after our first WTF loss.

 

[aceboon]

I really hope you're not looking at scrappy2.0's posts as a realistic snapshot of the fanbase

 

[superjohn]

I know he's not representative of most of us but after seeing that post, combined with the Lubin madness, combined with Omar looking explosive and starting, combined with Purvis being one of the best guards we've ever had etc. I just hope we are prepared for some growing pains and don't go batsh&t crazy after our first loss.

 

[scotty0330]

I know we have the talent to be a versatile and great team but I think it's time to temper our expectations a bit. Take a look at the Seattle Seahawks, they are loaded with talent but are now just a .500 football team. We've seen it before coming off our past championships, it can be difficult when everyone is gunning for you and you have the bullseye on your back. We have the talent to be special by the end of the year but we are replacing arguably the best Husky ever and some other really good pieces. Brimah will be great but don't get bummed out when he doesn't perform like Lou Alcindor, Lubin is a very strong kid but he's not going to come in and play like Dejuan Blair. My point is there are most likely going to be a couple of WTF losses as we figure out who we are. The good news is the transition should be smoother than other years coming off of a title because we have Boatright's senior leadership at point and I'm confident Ollie simply won't let us get drunk off of success. I'm sure most fans know all of this but this board will still turn into an insane asylum after our first WTF loss.

you are introducing logic to this board...STOP IT. That has no place on a fan forum. We predict bowl games for UCONN football teams here....it is only natural we predict back to back national championships as well. We need to be consistent and overact to everything....heck there is already a thread calling for a 30 pt 15 rebound game from Amida...good grief

 

[johnhuskies95]

In reality Boatright is the only truly proven contributor we have coming back. It's really hard to tell how good this team will be.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I know he's not representative of most of us but after seeing that post, combined with the Lubin madness, combined with Omar looking explosive and starting, combined with Purvis being one of the best guards we've ever had etc. I just hope we are prepared for some growing pains and don't go batsh&t crazy after our first loss.

Of course, I expect some losses, just like in our other national championship seasons. Hell, the 2010-11 team was awful for a decent stretch of time. I doubt that this team will be that bad.

 

[J-dog]

Expectations are mighty lofty on this board, & why not… I prefer a positive take…

We know how difficult it can be the year after a championship.

I am typically pretty guarded with my own take on what we can expect in a new season. Especially coming off a championship & losing a big-time player(s)…

The thing is, this program has exceeded expectations time & again… After 2011 & 2o14, nothing would surprise me.

 

[Palatine]

Our season starts at the Sweet Sixteen --as always.

That is an average year for the Huskies.

Out before that is a disappointment.

Make the Elite Eight is a good year.

The Final Four is a great year.

Win it all is heaven.

 

[ASweet3781]

The 3 previous seasons following a championship were filled with ups and downs and highs and lows (2000, 2005, and 2012).

 

[Jaker]

I expect us to make the final4 every year, after all, we are UCONN

 

[Scot-e]

I am looking forward to watching players develope and being king all season -no matter what the outcome may be. I plan on enjoying it.

 

[OkaForPrez]

My personal hype sensor:

Boatright: Buying - he can and will be a leader on this team.
Purvis: Selling - I think he's going to be a good player on this team, not the great one some are predicting
Sam Cassell Jr: Buying - I think he will play significant minutes and be a calming force
Hamilton: Buying - I like Ollie's comments on him so far. I think come march he sees a lot of playing time at the 4.
Lubin: Selling - Solid role player will see limited minutes -Marcus White type role.
Facey: Selling - Defense and rebounding specialist and will give way to Hamilton at the 4 down the stretch
Brimah Buying - I think Brimah is going to break out early and often this year. If we play up tempo he will be the beneficiary of a lot of those manufactured easy buckets. His offensive talent was there last season but was buried deep on our threat list, not so much this year. More mpg with less foul trouble also equals more opportunity. He's going to be a great, great player.
Omar: selling - I would love to be proven wrong, rooting for omar.
T Sam: Buying - Will be great this year in 6 man role again.
Phil: Hold - I dont think anyone is really hyping Phil.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think most people are in the same expectation range that this is a Sweet 16ish caliber team that could make a deeper run or get knocked out earlier depending on matchups and who gets hot.

 

[B1GEast]

Understand this, the fans don't set expectations, the program does. When you win a title every 4 to 5 years, that's just what's going to be expected.

 

[jibsey]

A big question this year is long range shooting IMO. Last year we had it in spades with Napier and Giffeye and it's an element that is needed come tournament time. But we are a long way from that so there's no sense worrying about it now, also between now and then it's going to become apparent just who gets those shots. I'll wager that KO doesn't even know that yet right now. He will see who can handle the game situation pressure besides Boat.

 

[Inyatkin]

My personal hype sensor:
...
Lubin: Selling - Solid role player will see limited minutes -Marcus White type role.
...
Phil: Hold - I dont think anyone is really hyping Phil.

Marcus White was our second-leading rebounder and de-facto starting power forward in 2003. Lubin won't do that.
And allow me to hype Phil. He's going to do all the good things he did last year but with more made layups.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Marcus White was our second-leading rebounder and de-facto starting power forward in 2003. Lubin won't do that.
And allow me to hype Phil. He's going to do all the good things he did last year but with more made layups.

yeap, shrink white's 2003 minutes in half and you get 2ppg and 3+ rpg. I think that's what you get out of Lubin.

 

[upstater]

Boatright: Buying
Purvis: Buying
Sam Cassell Jr: Selling
Hamilton: Buying
Lubin: Hold (He is what he is; if Mike Hayes played, Lubin plays)
Facey: Hold (He plays by default)
Brimah Buying
Omar: Selling (the game is mental here, he had a tortuous season)
T Sam: Buying
Phil: Buying (He gained several Hilton units, and I expect a Hiltonian transformation)

 

[3rdbass]

A

My personal hype sensor:

Boatright: Buying - he can and will be a leader on this team.
Purvis: Selling - I think he's going to be a good player on this team, not the great one some are predicting
Sam Cassell Jr: Buying - I think he will play significant minutes and be a calming force
Hamilton: Buying - I like Ollie's comments on him so far. I think come march he sees a lot of playing time at the 4.
Lubin: Selling - Solid role player will see limited minutes -Marcus White type role.
Facey: Selling - Defense and rebounding specialist and will give way to Hamilton at the 4 down the stretch
Brimah Buying - I think Brimah is going to break out early and often this year. If we play up tempo he will be the beneficiary of a lot of those manufactured easy buckets. His offensive talent was there last season but was buried deep on our threat list, not so much this year. More mpg with less foul trouble also equals more opportunity. He's going to be a great, great player.
Omar: selling - I would love to be proven wrong, rooting for omar.
T Sam: Buying - Will be great this year in 6 man role again.
Phil: Hold - I dont think anyone is really hyping Phil.

I agree on most but I would put a hold on Facey as I haven't seen enough of him to say yeah or nay. If he is starting he will have his opportunity. Phil I'm buying as I think he understands his role and with the added beef and inside moves I saw on that tape in Milwaukee I think he will contribute. T. Sam not sure as he might get lost in the shuffle and I'm not sold on his handle yet. He had both Boat and Shabazz helping him out last year.

 

[CallMeBruce]

yeap, shrink white's 2003 minutes in half and you get 2ppg and 3+ rpg. I think that's what you get out of Lubin.

White averaged more than 13 rebounds/40min his freshman year. If Lubin is anywhere near that, I want him getting 25+ minutes/game.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think most people are in the same expectation range that this is a Sweet 16ish caliber team that could make a deeper run or get knocked out earlier depending on matchups and who gets hot.

Of course this is perfectly accurate. That being said, there is something in the water in Storrs. This team consistently overachieves in the tournament. I can't explain it, but I'm happily along for the ride. Since I said mid season last year (and since then) that I think this team is more talented than last year, it is only natural to have high expectations.

 

[OkaForPrez]

White averaged more than 13 rebounds/40min his freshman year. If Lubin is anywhere near that, I want him getting 25+ minutes/game.

I think you'll get similar numbers out of Facey who will play in front of Lubin.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I think you'll get similar numbers out of Facey who will play in front of Lubin.

If Facey can get his fouls down from the insane 10/40min that he sported last year, I suspect he'll have a strong season. His offense was above-average, his shotblocking was very good, and his rebounding off the charts. He just needs to cut his foul rate literally in half, and he'll be golden.

 

[UConnSwag11]

yeah seriously, why are you guys getting excited for the season? dont support the players especially omar, sheesh... this is why i hate the offseason..../s

 

[OkaForPrez]

If Facey can get his fouls down from the insane 10/40min that he sported last year, I suspect he'll have a strong season. His offense was above-average, his shotblocking was very good, and his rebounding off the charts. He just needs to cut his foul rate literally in half, and he'll be golden.

Definitely seems the pivot point in Ollie's up tempo strategy. Can Facey and Brimah stay on the floor? Do we have enough depth at the 4/5.