Post Game Thread - Thank You, Alex, Tarris, and Malachi

[JoeyBuckets]

To All the Players, Coaches, and Fans. Thank you for a great season.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Dang so this is what losing a national title game feels like. Gotta say it sucks.

I've experienced every ncaa tournament loss since Corny's freshman year (1979, listened on radio). This one sucked the least.

 

[Kowalski]

This.

I view UConn’s overall grade yesterday as a B minus. They dictated pace, played hard & crashed the boards but also missed a lot of decent looks & made several ill advised attempts to go straight up against their trees down low.
With all that they had to overcome including the officiating, they needed more like a B plus performance.

 

[RuffRuff]

Crucial moment down the stretch, Solo can't finish the layup on the break, turn around and overplays the pass to McKinney and gives up the open three. I know he was banged up this year and gutted it out, but we really need a better Solo next year if Hurley commits to him at the two.

 

[Donyell 360]

I've experienced every ncaa tournament loss since Corny's freshman year (1979, listened on radio). This one sucked the least.

If you've got to lose, this is the way to lose. I think his point was that we hadn't lost a championship game previously. Definitely not as good as winning, but that's obvious. A deft use of understatement.

 

[uconn_jack]

I was complaining last night while watching the game and my wife tried to console me assuring me that all the players were doing their best. In one sense she is right. Of course everyone wants to do well and is trying to do well. No one on that stage says, "I don't really care if I play well." Did you here Yaxel's comments at halftime? He was despondent that despite trying his best it wasn't enough. Sure he could blame his injury but that was no consolation just as it is no consolation for me when I am reminded that they are all trying their best. It is just part of the competitive spirit to be demanding. Look at our coach! He is the most neurotic obsessed critic you will find but it is only because he cares so much. I appreciate the reminder to not be too hard on our guys. As Hurley has learned (or is trying to learn), you have to channel your anger in constructive directions. But let's not be naive and think they did everything they could. That game was winnable which is what makes it so hard to accept. Today is not the day to pass out blame but it is unavoidable to imagine what could have been with a few more made shots or a few less fouls. It was a missed opportunity and it is normal to be upset about that.

Nobody had every done "everything they could", its part of being human. Did they do everything that could be reasonably asked of them, especially by fans? Yes, and loads more.