Lunardi Disses UCONN's 7

[Greathusky]

Can you say you had the same confidence that Kemba and Bazz could lead UConn to the championship "before they actually did it". I had more confidence in the post Emeka/Gordon team that lost to George Mason and the Caron team that lost to Maryland.

UConn is as good as any 7 seed relative to the field as could be expected. Have an Arizona 3 drop or Amida not get a late offensive rebound, score and make free throw and UConn is only one championship ahead of Fruit U.

Play smart, coach smart, and play your roles as well as you can and UConn will be in a position to beat any of these teams. Oh, and make free throws.

I had confidence in Emeka and Gordon too but that loss was an aberration against nature. But I have to be honest that the Kemba, Bazz, Gordon/Emeka teams did inspire more confidence than this Bouk-led team does now. Part of that feeling is that he is not a 100% healthy. No fault of his own!

I am happy where we are after a journey through hell for the past 5 years but I am a realist who will root like hell for our boys to go all the way but also is thrilled that we are where we are right now.

 

[Greathusky]

Guards bring championships. Bouknight is better than Bazz. Cole is as good as Boatright. We have a great chance to get by Maryland and Alabama. Then who knows. (What will we say when Alterique Gilbert takes Wichita State to the Sweet 16?)

Have to disagree that Cole is better than Boat. Boat was a tough defender with incredible hops and speed on offense. Cole is a pure scorer but lacks on the defensive end especially against a big guard. Boat used to eat those guys up.

 

[Waterbury]

should be a rule that you have to post a link to the video or tweet of lunardi in the original post. highly annoying to come in here and see no proof of this.



see how easy this is @jibsey

 

[Nostical]

.Have to disagree that Cole is better than Boat.

I never said Cole is better than Boat. As for Bouk, he's a more talented player than Bazz (ask the NBA scouts who have him in the lottery) but I'll concede Bazz was a better leader on the court---so far. Let's see how things go vs Maryland and Alabama, then we can reassess.

 

[Greathusky]

I never said Cole is better than Boat. As for Bouk, he's a more talented player than Bazz (ask the NBA scouts who have him in the lottery) but I'll concede Bazz was a better leader on the court---so far. Let's see how things go vs Maryland and Alabama, then we can reassess.

My bad! I read it wrong. Agree that Bouk is more talented than Bazz but Bazz was a better leader.

 

[polycom]

I never said Cole is better than Boat. As for Bouk, he's a more talented player than Bazz (ask the NBA scouts who have him in the lottery) but I'll concede Bazz was a better leader on the court---so far. Let's see how things go vs Maryland and Alabama, then we can reassess.

so you watched the games? Or just read the box score. Bazz was a way better college basketball player than bouk. How can you even come to this conclusion?

 

[tzznandrew]

I never said Cole is better than Boat. As for Bouk, he's a more talented player than Bazz (ask the NBA scouts who have him in the lottery) but I'll concede Bazz was a better leader on the court---so far. Let's see how things go vs Maryland and Alabama, then we can reassess.

Who will have a better NBA career? Barring injuries, Bouk. No question.

There's nothing Bouk can do to make himself a better college player than what Bazz did. He was a better player and a better leader while here. It's not even close.

 

[uconngb]

I never said Cole is better than Boat. As for Bouk, he's a more talented player than Bazz (ask the NBA scouts who have him in the lottery) but I'll concede Bazz was a better leader on the court---so far. Let's see how things go vs Maryland and Alabama, then we can reassess.

The talent question is one of those arguments that's difficult to make either way. However, Bazz clearly demonstrated the swagger, ability and desire to step up and carry (and sometimes WILL) his team that Bouk has not yet. Would be great to see that come out of James over the next couple of weeks, but I'm not sure he has it in him. Bazz had it even when he didn't have it......if you know what I mean.

 

[3RingsCT]

Yes, I think this team is more talented than our 2014 team. I loved our 2014 team, and thought we could make noise, but that team got very hot and played above their level a bit I think. Never thought about Elite 8 or Final Four, especially after the Louisville loss.

My only point is that if you asked me at the beginning of March to put money on this roster or our 2014 roster to win the championship, I’d go with this roster.

Having said that, I think this team has like a 10% chance of going to the Final Four.

A bit of a side point here, but I think our fanbase underrates how difficult it is to win a national championship, because we’ve had so many great teams AND have been quite fortunate. It’s all about getting hot, having fortunate matchups and elite on court leadership.

I disagree with the talent assessment. I believe 2014 had more talent.

Bazz, Boat, Giffey, Daniels I’d take over Bouk, Cole, Martin, Whaley

2014 had a horrible interior. That’s 2021’s only advantage, IMO.

I’m not so sure this team makes it past Maryland. If they do beat them, I don’t see them getting by Alabama. I put their chances of seeing the second weekend at 10%.

It’s incredibly hard to win a NT. I 100% agree. I think we were blessed with 2 unexpected runs in 4 years, which I believe resonates in comments about who we are as a program. Those were unexpected. I doubt we see that again.

I always thought 99 and 04 would win from the begining of the season. Even as inconsistent as 04 played, they had so much talent, I knew if they played their game, they were unstoppable.

 

[3RingsCT]

There's nothing Bouk can do to make himself a better college player than what Bazz did. He was a better player and a better leader while here. It's not even close.

Bazz was a 1st team All-American. Bouk didn’t make the 3rd team. That settles that.

Not to mention all Bazz’s accomplishments that dwarf anything Bouk has done.

Bouk has NBA potential. That’s about it. He might even flame out it the NBA. You never know.

 

[DanDynasty]

Not sure if this was posted but...
Over seeded?! Losing to the terps?! Come on, I hope you know better Joe.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I never said Cole is better than Boat. As for Bouk, he's a more talented player than Bazz (ask the NBA scouts who have him in the lottery) but I'll concede Bazz was a better leader on the court---so far. Let's see how things go vs Maryland and Alabama, then we can reassess.

It's sort of an insult to Shabazz to say he's just a "better leader on the court." Go back and watch those 2014 tourney games. He was a pitbull who hit huge shot after huge shot. Bouknight will have a better NBA career because Shabazz is my height but it wasn't just leadership he was bringing to the table. I don't know if a kid was ever a first team all-american just by being a good leader.

Edit: come to think of it, Shabazz had a huge set of balls as a freshman, too. Some kids are just born with it.

 

[8893]

Lunardi Disses UCONN's 7

Says Bouk is no Kemba or Bazz. They were uninjured junior and senior. I realize that no one cares what he says but it was on so it's fair game. We'll see I guess but it does help to have Lamb and Boat. This is where his legacy will be made, it's a pretty big lift.

the-boneyard.com

It's not the craziest thing in the world to predict us losing to Maryland. We are favored by 2.5 points and a little more than 48% of those filling out brackets have picked us to lose that game.

Of course I have us winning our fifth National Championship, but I am a bit biased.

 

[7774]

Just once I wish someone would post "Lunardi is an idiot! He has us as a 5 seed when we're clearly a 7!"

This whole _________ is an idiot because he doesn't think we're as good as the Boneyard does is never interesting.

Plus, we've screwed up the mojo so badly this year we have a great chance of losing to Maryland.

 

[UConnDad]

Guards bring championships. Bouknight is better than Bazz. Cole is as good as Boatright. We have a great chance to get by Maryland and Alabama. Then who knows. (What will we say when Alterique Gilbert takes Wichita State to the Sweet 16?)

If Bouk and RJ play better than Bass and Boat we’re winning it all.

 

[Chasm64]

So, if you swapped Bouknight and Shabazz on their respective teams who would you take to win ?

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Going into the NCAAs, 2011 was a 3 seed and one of the most popular picks to win the title.

2014, on the other hand, was not. We had some hope that if we got to MSG we might be able to get to the Final Four, but anyone who confident that UConn team was going to win the title was crazy. They had just gotten clobbered by Louisville.

Still, the 7 was an under-seed IMO and they were clearly a better team than this team, particularly as they had beaten the overall #1 in Florida.

Actually the turning point of the season was the Louisville game in the Big East tourney. They had absolutely annihilated at their place
They jumped on us in the first half and were prepared to rout us but we fought back out scoring them in the second half. Any other coach but Pitino and you could say he had his team put on the brakes. However the team , some wise Boneyarders ,and even some knowledgeable Louisville fans took us more seriously after that game. You see putting on the brakes is not in his Rick’s DNA . I think that half against the defending NC and top ten team who was as good as anyone we were going to meet in the tourney gave that team tremendous confidence.
Maybe the fans weren’t confident but that team knew they were real good. That team was a confident as any UConn team ever.
People tend to forget StJoe’s was hot as pistol winning a very good A10 that year ,beating a great Dayton team.
Also 2014 l
was a great shooting team not very physical down low but guys like Giffey seemed to alway be first to a loose ball , also guards who were beasts and could get into your head
that core was together for 3-4 years.
This is a strange team in a strange year. Much better on the interior
i don’t think they hit their potential and they may not. And the disturbing thing is when counterpunched that don’t seem to respond well.
I will predict if Polley makes 3 or more 3‘s we will win.
This team makes a huge leap when Cole ,Polley ,or better both are hitting threes .

 

[HuskyHawk]

So, if you swapped Bouknight and Shabazz on their respective teams who would you take to win ?

Shabazz was on both.

 

[tzznandrew]

Actually the turning point of the season was the Louisville game in the Big East tourney. They had absolutely annihilated at their place
They jumped on us in the first half and were prepared to rout us but we fought back out scoring them in the second half. Any other coach but Pitino and you could say he had his team put on the brakes. However the team , some wise Boneyarders ,and even some knowledgeable Louisville fans took us more seriously after that game. You see putting on the brakes is not in his Rick’s DNA . I think that half against the defending NC and top ten team who was as good as anyone we were going to meet in the tourney gave that team tremendous confidence.

We outscored them in a similar way as Georgetown outscored us in the final game. It was essentially between 14-20 the whole second half, and then at the 2:19 mark we went on a 6-1 run. And we outscored them in the second half by 4.

We didn't get beat by 30+ like we did on the road, but it wasn't like we roughed them up in the second half.

 

[Chasm64]

Shabazz was on both.

Uhh, no

 

[superjohn]

I don't like the guy because he's a total putz and his entire job is filling out brackets, it has nothing to do with what he thinks of UConn.

There's also a bunch of other guys who are much better at analyzing resumes and picking teams, once all the teams are picked by the committee Lunardi is out there saying he got everything right. He reminds me a lot of XLCenterFan.

 

[tzznandrew]

joe lunardi burner account? jk but you seem to be on a personal crusade against us homers here. at this point i associate lunardi more with talking heads like bilas than stat guys like jerry palm. are you just defending him for the sake of it or do you actually like/respect the guy?

He's thoroughly mediocre at what he does. But his take here on both counts is perfectly reasonable (the 8 seed and the Maryland pick)

Further, we're UConn. We're one of the best programs out there. And yet our fans get their panties in a bunch anytime anyone doesn't agree 100% with their own takes. It just seems so beneath us to GAF what a dude like this says and to get so consistently triggered.

EDIT: I'll also add that the consistent and thorough belief in conspiracies against us and a continued buy-in to victimhood are emblematic of two things I find as markers of issues that speak to the state of the world well beyond UConn basketball.

 

[CL82]

should be a rule that you have to post a link to the video or tweet of lunardi in the original post. highly annoying to come in here and see no proof of this.



see how easy this is @jibsey

Is Lunardi wearing a toupee? I mean it is incredibly lifelike. Really you can't notice it at all.

 

[CL82]

Lunardi Disses UCONN's 7

Says Bouk is no Kemba or Bazz. They were uninjured junior and senior. I realize that no one cares what he says but it was on so it's fair game. We'll see I guess but it does help to have Lamb and Boat. This is where his legacy will be made, it's a pretty big lift.

the-boneyard.com

It's not the craziest thing in the world to predict us losing to Maryland. We are favored by 2.5 points and a little more than 48% of those filling out brackets have picked us to lose that game.

Of course I have us winning our fifth National Championship, but I am a bit biased.

Picking UConn to win the whole thing has been good to me over the years.

 

[ucp990411]

Lunardi Disses UCONN's 7

Says Bouk is no Kemba or Bazz. They were uninjured junior and senior. I realize that no one cares what he says but it was on so it's fair game. We'll see I guess but it does help to have Lamb and Boat. This is where his legacy will be made, it's a pretty big lift.

the-boneyard.com

It's not the craziest thing in the world to predict us losing to Maryland. We are favored by 2.5 points and a little more than 48% of those filling out brackets have picked us to lose that game.

Of course I have us winning our fifth National Championship, but I am a bit biased.

I have us winning it also. I have made quite a bit of $ over the years. Never been a tournament we were in that I have not picked us to win. Don't know how anyone could actually pick us to lose. We could have played the dream team in 1992 and I would have picked us.

 

[tzznandrew]

So, if you swapped Bouknight and Shabazz on their respective teams who would you take to win ?

This isn't a particularly useful game to play if you believe—as I do—that the 2014 team is significantly better than the 2021 team.

Watch:

So, if you swapped Bouknight and Rip Hamilton on their respective teams who would you take to win?
So, if you swapped Bouknight and Ray Allen on their respective teams who would you take to win?
So, if you swapped Bouknight and Ben Gordon on their respective teams who would you take to win?
So, if you swapped Bouknight and Caron Butler on their respective teams who would you take to win?
So, if you swapped Bouknight and AJ Price on their respective teams who would you take to win?

 

[superjohn]

Going

He's thoroughly mediocre at what he does. But his take here on both counts is perfectly reasonable (the 8 seed and the Maryland pick)

Further, we're UConn. We're one of the best programs out there. And yet our fans get their panties in a bunch anytime anyone doesn't agree 100% with their own takes. It just seems so beneath us to GAF what a dude like this says and to get so consistently triggered.

EDIT: I'll also add that the consistent and thorough belief in conspiracies against us and a continued buy-in to victimhood are emblematic of two things I find as markers of issues that speak to the state of the world well beyond UConn basketball.

UConn has been d1ked over in the past like no other because of Emmert but there 's always been a weird inferiority complex even though UConn has been one of the greatest programs in college basketball history. I think part of it is in general Connecticut people have a weird inferiority complex of being located in between NYC and Boston.

 

[gsmooth]

I try not to listen to any of that BS. One of the guys on CBS said we were underseeded, so i’m not sure how we could be under and over seeded at the same time.

These guys are literally paid to over analyze every single thing until they beat it to the ground. It’s not even worth thinking about. They just continue to push the same narrative over and over and people buy into it. Just gotta focus on Maryland and nothing else right now and let the outsiders think what they want to think.

exactly. I don't get caught up in the predictions nor do I take them personally in any way. I know people hated on Bilas for picking Maryland, but so what if he did? Bilas when talking about the best teams in the 2000-2010 chose UConn 2004 and frankly that's tough to argue.

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[Nostical]

Bazz was a 1st team All-American. Bouk didn’t make the 3rd team. That settles that.
He might even flame out it the NBA. You never know.

This is silly. Bazz made the AA team in his senior year. He was stellar and seasoned. Bouk played half of this stop and start sophomore season and was injured for most of it. Bazz was a great player. So is Bouknight. I agree the time is now for him to show it. This team is special. They learned a lesson last week. I see a big run coming.

 

[uconngb]

It's sort of an insult to Shabazz to say he's just a "better leader on the court." Go back and watch those 2014 tourney games. He was a pitbull who hit huge shot after huge shot. Bouknight will have a better NBA career because Shabazz is my height but it wasn't just leadership he was bringing to the table. I don't know if a kid was ever a first team all-american just by being a good leader.

Edit: come to think of it, Shabazz had a huge set of balls as a freshman, too. Some kids are just born with it.

Wow you actually agreed w me on something. Did lightning strike you?? 😎