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 .