Newsflash....Nobody gives a crap if you think games are "boring, pathetic, embarrassing"...

[Wonkster]

... still wished and so stated that every effort should be made find potentially more viable opponents.
We don't choose all our opposing teams.

We should be mindful of the potential for an imbalance so severe that the media will speak of nothing else.
What a peculiar perspective - why don't we just throw some games to give the media something else to talk about?

But it would be more palatable if the opponent was ND, UTenn, Cal, Kentucky, Nebraska, LSU, Duke, Georgia, the big state U's and all so-called woman's basketball powers; even some of our long-time foes in the Big East that in the past were known in the past to give us a game.

Surely such a schedule should be able to be accomplished.
Shirley, the cross-eyed bear.

Do I think the results will be significantly different? No.
But Shirley will be a happier bear.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

UConn beat Kentucky's proverbial brains out in the last 2 NCAA regionals, LSU has slipped beneath the waters of excellence, CAL is not there yet and there are about 100 teams who plan and scheme not to get challenged but to eek out another win and get into the NCAAS or get in as a 7 rather than a 9 or a 14 and not a 16. And God forbid a team that might be very good and would play UConn but two other teams really close to them in rankings year in and yea r out are on UConn's schedule and if they lose by more than those two other teams what will the NCAA committee do (lions and tigers and bears Oh My.).

There is no NCAA downside to playing UConn. None. And no coach thinks there is. It is a "good" loss and boosts the RPI.

That said, there are reasons for not playing UConn, of which 2 stand out. For many weak teams, including some you get stuck playing, the talent just isn't there to beat a really decent team (never mind UConn). So the benefit of playing a good team (faster, crisper, better execution and better players which can prepare you for facing teams like that later on) isn't there, because it won't help.

Likewise, for a team that hopes to challenge UConn, there are some who feel that there can be a benefit if you haven't played each other before. Whether that is always true of not is arguable, but it is a belief.

And there can be a psychological downside to getting pasted by UConn. It has even been known to throw teams off their next game.

OTH, you have coaches like Vivian that, in general, believe that "to be the best you have to play the best". But even she has adjusted the schedule, probably for a variety of reasons, but one probably encompasses trying to develop her team and not lose a lot of games doing so. For Viv's teams, even in the more outstanding seasons, they never played well early and there were always losses to tough teams.

 

[meyers7]

And there can be a psychological downside to getting pasted by UConn. It has even been known to throw teams off their next game.

But those are normally teams that think they can play with UCONN. They find out differently.

 

[semper]

Oh, yeah, the Dixon classic. I see it now. Thanks. Got my classics mixed up there...which wasn't very classy.

 

[Icebear]

It is really very simple.

Learn from the best, play the best, beat the best, be the best.

Very simple but very hard to do.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I'm very happy to be "bored" watching a game in which the outcome is never in doubt. We had 6 exciting games with ND over 2 seasons. And lost 5 of those. I don't miss that at all.

When we play poorly, I don't like to see it. I just love when we have our A game, whether it's for 4 minutes or 40. I know we don't always have our A game, but it's a beautiful thing, whether we beat Duke by 30 or lesser competition by 60.

If we beat the crap out of everyone else, that's on them. They need to recruit better, coach better, and play harder.

 

[tomcat]

There's a difference between whining about the boring games (I don't share that opinion) and thinking that if possible, UConn should increase the level of competition, which I happen to believe. I know, it's not easily done, but when possible, they should go for something more challenging than Monmouth. I think that at least some of us who are perceived as complaining about runaway victories are merely hoping to see UConn be challenged just a little bit more in some of these games. And yes, I know UConn plays a very strong schedule and not every team it plays can be a Stanford or a Duke.

This will become even more important going forward as UConn settles into its existence in a mid-major league.

 

[Tonyc]

Great post.. I record every game and watch them a million times. I at most of the games except during tax season. Many times I don't know the score I just watch how UConn executes. Geno is the conductor and the team plays the music.

 

[doggydaddy]

There's a difference between whining about the boring games (I don't share that opinion) and thinking that if possible, UConn should increase the level of competition, which I happen to believe. I know, it's not easily done, but when possible, they should go for something more challenging than Monmouth. I think that at least some of us who are perceived as complaining about runaway victories are merely hoping to see UConn be challenged just a little bit more in some of these games. And yes, I know UConn plays a very strong schedule and not every team it plays can be a Stanford or a Duke.

This will become even more important going forward as UConn settles into its existence in a mid-major league.

Once more, Uconn didn't pick Monmouth. Have you not read that the 20 other times this was posted?

 

[calpedaler]

Once more, Uconn didn't pick Monmouth. Have you not read that the 20 other times this was posted?

I think for some people complaining is their default position.

 

[Joe6cats]

I'm sorry if this comes out too harsh, but I think it is sad to witness UConn fans writing in to say this weekend's games were "boring, embarrassing, pathetic and counter productive." How many UConn players do you think feel that way? UConn players LOVE games. Games, against ANY opponent, are the reward for hours and hours of practice, lifting weights and pushing their bodies to the limit. The idea that any player would prefer practice, in an empty gym, against themselves, over a real game in front of 6,000 fans is laughable. Players LIVE for games. They live to put on the uniform, play a real opponent and hear the cheers from 6,000 fans, regardless of the margin of victory.

UConn players don't make the schedule. Even if every good team could be scheduled, there would still be blowouts. UConn is that good and works that hard. Their effort is never boring, pathetic or embarrassing. Most UConn players would probably prefer a hard fought close victory over a quality opponent. Some players might prefer a one-sided romp so they could embellish their statistics. But, those players don't go to UConn.

Next time you are "bored" at a game, watch the enthusiasm and joy on the UConn bench with every basket or blocked shot. Look at how excited the veterans get when TLaw nails 3. Learn to enjoy the players getting rewarded for all the hours of hard work, sweat and sometimes tears. If that doesn't work, go watch NASCAR. There is bound to be a wreck that will ease your boredom. Go Huskies..!!

Great post! Far from being boring, Geno's comments after the Bonnie game point up what a real challenge going against an inferior opponent is to the team. Not winning, that's a given, but playing with focus and intensity in respect for the opponent and the game of basketball. To play down to an opponent would be insulting, and this team is too well coached, has too much pride, to do that. It is hard. No wonder overmatched teams like to play the Huskies, before fans who can appreciate their efforts. As David said, these contests have their own rewards.

 

[tomcat]

Once more, Uconn didn't pick Monmouth. Have you not read that the 20 other times this was posted?

Would it have mattered if I'd said, "UConn should have tried to enter a tournament whose other entrants were likely to offer more of a challenge?" Granted, that is literally the case, but as it turned out, it amounted to the same thing as what I wrote. Of course they didn't pick Monmouth. I don't know if it was posted 20 times, but I personally saw it at least a half-dozen, and while my aging mind may be failing a little, I generally can remember something after I see it two, three times.

Just seems that if all you can find to bellyache about in the post is my characterization of how UConn came to play Monmouth (which, by the way, is still better than playing Fairleigh for-cryin'-out-loud Dickinson), well, I'm not going to worry about it much.

 

[tomcat]

Great post.. I record every game and watch them a million times. I at most of the games except during tax season. Many times I don't know the score I just watch how UConn executes. Geno is the conductor and the team plays the music.

Do I ever envy your ability to see most of the games. Back when I lived in New England, sure I wanted to see the ones we all knew would be close, but I went to any for which I could scrounge tickets. I remember taking a friend down from the North Shore of Boston to Storrs for the infamous game against Quinnipiac which UConn won by something like 120-25 and, to make matters worse, Quinnipiac lost one of its players to a serious knee injury. I have a feeling that their coach would be one of the few who, after all was said and done, probably couldn't say it was worth playing UConn. Anyway, going to the easy games is just part of being a fan. There's always something to watch, especially when the team is executing at a level close to perfection (which I've seen only a couple of times).

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Would it have mattered if I'd said, "UConn should have tried to enter a tournament whose other entrants were likely to offer more of a challenge?" Granted, that is literally the case, but as it turned out, it amounted to the same thing as what I wrote. Of course they didn't pick Monmouth. I don't know if it was posted 20 times, but I personally saw it at least a half-dozen, and while my aging mind may be failing a little, I generally can remember something after I see it two, three times.

Just seems that if all you can find to bellyache about in the post is my characterization of how UConn came to play Monmouth (which, by the way, is still better than playing Fairleigh for-cryin'-out-loud Dickinson), well, I'm not going to worry about it much.

Why not just turn the TV off, read a book or do something else, instead of taking the time to keyboard redundant whines that are w/o effect.

 

[reno tony]

A team does not have to be very far down in the standings to be outclassed by UCONN. Do any of you think there are Maryland players that think they seriously stand a chance against UCONN once they get back KML and Tuck? How about Penn State? I know all the games so far haven't been against ranked opponents but I still remember a quote from Geno during the Maya/Tina era. "These teams really aren't as bad as we make them look." Just the price you pay playing UCONN. Same price you pay being a UCONN fan. There are going to be a lot of lopsided victories and they can even be against top notch teams. So if watching your team go on to overwhelming victories bores you, then do what I did..... become a St. Louis Rams fan.

 

[Zorro]

Right, Reno. "Top 25" is relevant in the men's game, but not at all in the women's. Even the top ten, this year at least, doesn't mean squat. Other than Duke, and maybe ND, LVll. and Stanford, (and I say maybe), even with our currently depleted roster no other team has a realistic chance against the UConn juggernaut. Does anyone seriously believe that, even on an outstanding day, Nebraska, say, would be able to stay within 20 points if Geno chose to go full-tilt-boogie for the entire game? To ask the question is to answer it.

UConn is simply, as has been said, in a league of their own. And, since the Huskies show absolutely no signs of getting anything but even stronger, the only solution to the imbalance problem, if there is a solution, is for the handful of other schools that take wcbb seriously to drastically increase their efforts to improve their programs. Since that also seems unlikely, UConn fans had better try to adjust to watching blowouts, for lack of alternatives. Most of us already have.

 

[semper]

Yeah, but when we lose, we go utterly bonkers. At that, we're not so good.

 

[Paul1969]

The Duke game won't be boring!

 

[tomcat]

Why not just turn the TV off, read a book or do something else, instead of taking the time to keyboard redundant whines that are w/o effect.

It's wonderful how some people get an idea stuck in their head (i.e. some other people are just whiners) and decide to just go with whatever misconception crawl into their brains, regardless of what someone else might have written. So, I guess you didn't read what I actually wrote, which was that I enjoyed those games, and, back when I lived in New England, would attend even the ones expected to be lopsided, because UConn was the best women's basketball available.

So suggesting I turn off my television, in addition to being unkind, would not solve the problem, because I specifically said I liked watching these games, regardless of how one-sided they might be. I don't know if it's the influence of Fox News or what, but it seems to me that too many people are anxious to slam somebody else for what they want to have heard them say, rather than what they provably did say. Reminds me of what Einstein once said: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

 

[doggydaddy]

Would it have mattered if I'd said, "UConn should have tried to enter a tournament whose other entrants were likely to offer more of a challenge?" Granted, that is literally the case, but as it turned out, it amounted to the same thing as what I wrote. Of course they didn't pick Monmouth. I don't know if it was posted 20 times, but I personally saw it at least a half-dozen, and while my aging mind may be failing a little, I generally can remember something after I see it two, three times.

Just seems that if all you can find to bellyache about in the post is my characterization of how UConn came to play Monmouth (which, by the way, is still better than playing Fairleigh for-cryin'-out-loud Dickinson), well, I'm not going to worry about it much.

Would it have been better? Maybe. At least it wouldn't have been the same whining.

Point is, you didn't say that. You said the same thing that several other posters said.

You and others seem to not appreciate how tough it is to put together a schedule.

 

[tomcat]

Oh, come on. It's one thing to wish, as we did, that UConn could up the level of competition in non-league games. It's another to complain about the games themselves. I believe that at every turn I have acknowledged that what I'd like in an ideal world might not be possible precisely because of the difficulty in creating a schedule (I did a previous post that talked about the problems finding teams that want to schedule one-offs instead of home-and-home series). So to say that I have ignored the problems that the team has scheduling games is just plain wrong.

My initial premise was this (direct quote -- see above): "There's a difference between whining about the boring games (I don't share that opinion) and thinking that if possible, UConn should increase the level of competition, which I happen to believe."

Apparently our disagreement is whether that point of view, longing for tougher games but appreciating what we have -- which I know is shared by some BYers -- is the same as whining about blowouts against teams like Monmouth. I think it's quite different from the person who complains he/she was bored at the game and is bored with all such games.

You know, I'm the person who posted this reply to Tony a few posts back -- direct quote again: "Back when I lived in New England, sure I wanted to see the ones we all knew would be close, but I went to any for which I could scrounge tickets. I remember taking a friend down from the North Shore of Boston to Storrs for the infamous game against Quinnipiac which UConn won by something like 120-25 and, to make matters worse, Quinnipiac lost one of its players to a serious knee injury. I have a feeling that their coach would be one of the few who, after all was said and done, probably couldn't say it was worth playing UConn. Anyway, going to the easy games is just part of being a fan. There's always something to watch, especially when the team is executing at a level close to perfection (which I've seen only a couple of times)"

If you cannot see that there is a difference between that attitude and mindless whining about boring games (for which the answer -- yes -- is to shut off the TV) then there is nothing I can do to demonstrate the contrary. I'm going to stop posting about this now. With all the things that people can legitimately slam me for, it is stupid to have to respond to people who attack me for things I don't believe. DD or someone else who feels a compulsion to have the last word, have at it.

 

[boontonbomber]

David

I agree that the passage you quoted does not represent the largest majority of the subscribers to this board.
I enjoyed the weekend games as much as anyone and admired the precision and artistry with which the team played.

But still wished and so stated that every effort should be made find potentially more viable opponents.

I say potentially because blow-outs will still occur.
Add the brilliance of next years recruiting class to our present roster and with the addition of some skilled bigs over the next one or two recruiting classes, it will be difficult for anyone to keep up; perhaps only a handful of teams will be able to give us a meaningful game.

We should be mindful of the potential for an imbalance so severe that the media will speak of nothing else.

We saw an inkling of that in the opening run of the St Boneventure game.
Midway through that segment, the Bonny's could barely get the ball over the half-court line, while our offense was clicking on every possible cylinder; baseline drives, transition, Mo, Banks and Stewie for 3's, Stef scoring in the post.

It was almost a relief that Bria's long-range shots were a bit off and that the game's ultimate high-scorer hadn't even entered the game.

Few if any teams 2 to 300 could withstand that excellence.

But it would be more palatable if the opponent was ND, UTenn, Cal, Kentucky, Nebraska, LSU, Duke, Georgia, the big state U's and all so-called woman's basketball powers; even some of our long-time foes in the Big East that in the past were known in the past to give us a game.

Surely such a schedule should be able to be accomplished.

Do I think the results will be significantly different? No.

But some of the onus will shift to their ineptitude and inability to develop a program such as our's

I'm sorry if this comes out too harsh, but I think it is sad to witness UConn fans writing in to say this weekend's games were "boring, embarrassing, pathetic and counter productive." How many UConn players do you think feel that way? UConn players LOVE games. Games, against ANY opponent, are the reward for hours and hours of practice, lifting weights and pushing their bodies to the limit. The idea that any player would prefer practice, in an empty gym, against themselves, over a real game in front of 6,000 fans is laughable. Players LIVE for games. They live to put on the uniform, play a real opponent and hear the cheers from 6,000 fans, regardless of the margin of victory.

UConn players don't make the schedule. Even if every good team could be scheduled, there would still be blowouts. UConn is that good and works that hard. Their effort is never boring, pathetic or embarrassing. Most UConn players would probably prefer a hard fought close victory over a quality opponent. Some players might prefer a one-sided romp so they could embellish their statistics. But, those players don't go to UConn.

Next time you are "bored" at a game, watch the enthusiasm and joy on the UConn bench with every basket or blocked shot. Look at how excited the veterans get when TLaw nails a 3. Learn to enjoy the players getting rewarded for all the hours of hard work, sweat and sometimes tears. If that doesn't work, go watch NASCAR. There is bound to be a wreck that will ease your boredom. Go Huskies..!!

one thing you were certainly wrong about, david, is that folks here don't give a crap about the fact that some people here were far from excited about the weekend games. for more than 3 days now the crap has flowed endlessly. what might we expect if people did give a crap.

 

[msf22b]

one thing you were certainly wrong about, david, is that folks here don't give a crap about the fact that some people here were far from excited about the weekend games. for more than 3 days now the crap has flowed endlessly. what might we expect if people did give a crap.

Mais, mon frère, there is always tomorrow…see you all in Springfield.
(Perfectly, right on the way in the direction of the NorthEast Kingdom for some early skiing…thinking of Olde Coach)

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;

 

[boontonbomber]

Oh, come on. It's one thing to wish, as we did, that UConn could up the level of competition in non-league games. It's another to complain about the games themselves. I believe that at every turn I have acknowledged that what I'd like in an ideal world might not be possible precisely because of the difficulty in creating a schedule (I did a previous post that talked about the problems finding teams that want to schedule one-offs instead of home-and-home series). So to say that I have ignored the problems that the team has scheduling games is just plain wrong.

My initial premise was this (direct quote -- see above): "There's a difference between whining about the boring games (I don't share that opinion) and thinking that if possible, UConn should increase the level of competition, which I happen to believe."

Apparently our disagreement is whether that point of view, longing for tougher games but appreciating what we have -- which I know is shared by some BYers -- is the same as whining about blowouts against teams like Monmouth. I think it's quite different from the person who complains he/she was bored at the game and is bored with all such games.

You know, I'm the person who posted this reply to Tony a few posts back -- direct quote again: "Back when I lived in New England, sure I wanted to see the ones we all knew would be close, but I went to any for which I could scrounge tickets. I remember taking a friend down from the North Shore of Boston to Storrs for the infamous game against Quinnipiac which UConn won by something like 120-25 and, to make matters worse, Quinnipiac lost one of its players to a serious knee injury. I have a feeling that their coach would be one of the few who, after all was said and done, probably couldn't say it was worth playing UConn. Anyway, going to the easy games is just part of being a fan. There's always something to watch, especially when the team is executing at a level close to perfection (which I've seen only a couple of times)"

If you cannot see that there is a difference between that attitude and mindless whining about boring games (for which the answer -- yes -- is to shut off the TV) then there is nothing I can do to demonstrate the contrary. I'm going to stop posting about this now. With all the things that people can legitimately slam me for, it is stupid to have to respond to people who attack me for things I don't believe. DD or someone else who feels a compulsion to have the last word, have at it.

your first two paragraphs sum up my feelings precisely, and probably those of most of the so-called "whiners" here. thank you for that concise statement.

 

[calpedaler]

one thing you were certainly wrong about, david, is that folks here don't give a crap about the fact that some people here were far from excited about the weekend games. for more than 3 days now the crap has flowed endlessly. what might we expect if people did give a crap.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

 

[vtcwbuff]

I'm sorry if this comes out too harsh, but I think it is sad to witness UConn fans writing in to say this weekend's games were "boring, embarrassing, pathetic and counter productive." How many UConn players do you think feel that way? UConn players LOVE games. Games, against ANY opponent, are the reward for hours and hours of practice, lifting weights and pushing their bodies to the limit. The idea that any player would prefer practice, in an empty gym, against themselves, over a real game in front of 6,000 fans is laughable. Players LIVE for games. They live to put on the uniform, play a real opponent and hear the cheers from 6,000 fans, regardless of the margin of victory.

UConn players don't make the schedule. Even if every good team could be scheduled, there would still be blowouts. UConn is that good and works that hard. Their effort is never boring, pathetic or embarrassing. Most UConn players would probably prefer a hard fought close victory over a quality opponent. Some players might prefer a one-sided romp so they could embellish their statistics. But, those players don't go to UConn.

Next time you are "bored" at a game, watch the enthusiasm and joy on the UConn bench with every basket or blocked shot. Look at how excited the veterans get when TLaw nails a 3. Learn to enjoy the players getting rewarded for all the hours of hard work, sweat and sometimes tears. If that doesn't work, go watch NASCAR. There is bound to be a wreck that will ease your boredom. Go Huskies..!!

David - If you don't mean to be harsh - then don't be. Why not just accept that people have differing opinions. Make your arguments on the merits of your position not "nobody gives a crap". People like you crack me up. Every time some one posts something that you can misconstrue as negative you run to the ramparts to defend "your girls" from attack. The comment about boring games was not critical of the team - it was a comment about non competitive mismatches and the state of wcbb disparity in general. Many board members recognized that and most disagreed - however they did it in a civil manner and countered with positions that I can understand and respect.

"UConn players LOVE games. Games, against ANY opponent, are the reward for hours and hours of practice, lifting weights and pushing their bodies to the limit. The idea that any player would prefer practice, in an empty gym, against themselves, over a real game in front of 6,000 fans is laughable. Players LIVE for games. They live to put on the uniform, play a real opponent and hear the cheers from 6,000 fans, regardless of the margin of victory."

Don't you think that statement is a little presumptuous? Again, that type of comment from the peanut gallery cracks me up. How do you know that to be true? Are you a member of the team or staff? I think I could make an argument that in the case of the games last weekend they did not face a "real" opponent.

BTW - My wife is very in to watching the player's "enthusiasm and joy". I am not - at least when the team is up by 50. She thinks the hi fives after a made 3 are cool. I think they are embarrassing for the player relegated to that role. I offer that as an idea how fans can differ in how we see the game. While she is most attentive to the game, I'm usually reading a book during the snooze fests. Last weekend midway through the Monmouth game she was shoe shopping at Zappos on her I pad. Her comment "this is awful."

 

[Zorro]

Actually, I think you can pretty accurately infer David's premise from the actions, expressions and (dare I say it) "deportment" of the players, both on the court and in their interviews. I hope your book is educational and/or enjoyable. I too read during the games, perforce, switching from gamecast (to tell who is on the court) to gametracker (for the "instant" stats to the gamethread (for the insights of the faithful.) I wish sincerely I didn't have to.

 

[calpedaler]

Her comment "this is awful."

I agree some of the products at Zappos are awful.

 

[DavidinNaples]

vtc...I welcome your opinion and accept that others have different opinions. My opinion is that it is sad when games are called "boring, pathetic, embarrassing and counter productive." Why do you not accept that? In addition:
1. I meant to be harsh, just not "too harsh."
2. I didn't "misconstrue" comments as negative, they were negative.
3. My statement that players LOVE games is based on 15 years of playing sports and 30 years of coaching up through college level. Maybe some prefer practice, never ever met one.
4. I think the player giving high fives after 3's is a volunteer, not "relegated."
5. I'm delighted I "crack you up." Drinks on me at the NC tournament.
6. Yes, guilty of loving and defending "our girls"....and I do reside in the "peanut gallery."
7. I'm not on staff or member of the team, but I drank a bottle of Geno's wine...does that count?
Go Huskies..!!

 

[semper]

All I would want to contribute to this long thread is how lucky you are who can actually SEE the games either in person or on media. Some of us don't have that privilege, and it's really tough. I don't know if I can keep going as a fan if I can never see the games. Sigh.