Preseason Talk on the Huskies | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Preseason Talk on the Huskies

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nomar said:
Let me get this straight. We were ranked *this* year for stretches -- we beat, among others, Michigan State, Syracuse and Notre Dame -- and I think there would be a consensus that we were in the top 40 or so teams (certainly good enough for an at-large bid had we been eligible).

This despite having no front-court to speak of. Now, we return the entire team (the very one that knocked off MSU, SU and ND, and won 17 other games), including one of the best back-courts in the country and a player in DeAndre Daniels who took his game to the next level starting in February, and bring in two guys who might be raw offensively but who will address the team's biggest flaw (defensive rebounding), and we're supposed to not improve at all? Yeah, right.
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Obviously you and I don't equate the loss of RJ the same way these gurus equate his graduation.
 
http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-col.../9148570/kentucky-wildcats-rise-2013-14-ncaab

Not necessarily rankings, but mentioning UConn as one of five teams that are on the rise for 2013:
The case for an improved UConn in 2013-14 is simple. Everyone will be back, or at least I trust everyone will be back. It's always possible that a player will take a chance at pro ball, but with the 2013 mock draft boards completely Connecticut-free (even in the second round) at this late date, such a development would at least qualify as something of a surprise.

If everyone stays put, you're looking at a second consecutive season where the offense revolves around Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels, with Omar Calhoun and Tyler Olander lending support. Napier in particular had a strong junior season. Depending in part on what Louisville's Russ Smith decides to do, the UConn senior could contend for the inaugural American Athletic Conference player of the year award.
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I think this team could be incredible next year. we may not be the the biggest team but we are going to have some SERIOUS SCORING POTENTIAL! DD,SN,RB and OC are all guys who can put up 25 points on any given night. i think there will be nights where all those guys are hitting shots an we just run teams out the gym. this team will defend and score points and with such a deep and talented backcourt they will be a problem for any team come march. i fully expect this team to win 25 games next season. no doubt.
 
There us another little thing to account for. The league we will be in just ain't the Big East. That could cut 2 ways. We could win more but we might get less respect for it. How league members do against the better (or worse) OOC teams wil affect perception of the teams in the league. Might have to be on Gonzaga or Butler winning territory with the advantage of better name recognition as a winner.
 
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Not necessarily true. It did not hurt Gonzaga as they eventually became ranked #1 and got the #1 seed.
 
DanDar said:
Not necessarily true. It did not hurt Gonzaga as they eventually became ranked #1 and got the #1 seed.
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Zags have built a rep over a loooong period of time. It took them a while to be considered the same as a major conference program.
 
Harvard is on the OOC schedule next year per Rothstien. Some people think they are a top 25 caliber team.
 
DanDar said:
Not necessarily true. It did not hurt Gonzaga as they eventually became ranked #1 and got the #1 seed.
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As I said, we start from a better place than Gonzaga, but the new league just doesn't come close to the BE. LVille is in for only one more year. I hope for the same for us.
 
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cohenzone said:
As I said, we start from a better place than Gonzaga, but the new league just doesn't come close to the BE. LVille is in for only one more year. I hope for the same for us.
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In my dream of dreams I'm hoping the AAC comes out strong in major sports and takes it to the ACC with UCONN LEADING THE CHARGE! There would be nothing sweeter imo, to make the fools who overlooked UConn (ESPN, NBC, Swofford, BCU, Miami, Cuse, Pitt, Florida State, the NCAA, Emmert and any of the other entities who had a hand in matters) experience the pain of their actions. And then I want UConn to be chosen by the B!G conference and we all hold up our middle digit to these folks.
 
fleudslipcon said:
In my dream of dreams I'm hoping the AAC comes out strong in major sports and takes it to the ACC with UCONN LEADING THE CHARGE! There would be nothing sweeter imo, to make the fools who overlooked UConn (ESPN, NBC, Swofford, BCU, Miami, Cuse, Pitt, Florida State, the NCAA, Emmert and any of the other entities who had a hand in matters) experience the pain of their actions. And then I want UConn to be chosen by the B!G conference and we all hold up our middle digit to these folks.
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Ah, the perfect world. But if the world really were perfect, we'd still have the real BE, but I'll settle for your alternative.
 
cohenzone said:
Ah, the perfect world. But if the world really were perfect, we'd still have the real BE, but I'll settle for your alternative.
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In a perfect dream we'd still have the rendition of the BE of 2010. But that dream turned into a nightmare so I'm starting a new dream.
 
AtlHusky said:
Good point...UConn needs to start building a solid rep ASAP. If only we could have played in a highly rated conference for last 30+ years. :cool:
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I swear I typed something about us being close to a blue blood and not a fun-hating mid major. Dunno what happened to that part. My post reads so wrong right now. Embarrassing. smh
 
intlzncster said:
I swear I typed something about us being close to a blue blood and not a fun-hating mid major. Dunno what happened to that part. My post reads so wrong right now. Embarrassing. smh
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We forgive you.... :D
 
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UConn is stll under valued by most media pundits in my opinion for 2013-14. I think that will be the norm leading into the fall and the first AP poll. If Smith and GD (not sure if he officially declared yet) leave I would rank Michigan State #1 pre season with Kentucky in my Top 4 but not #1. MSU loses Nix and if Payne returns with Harris they are my #1 pre season. UConn beat them as we all know on a neutral court with everyone returning in 2013-14. So with MSU minus Nix playing UConn on a neutral court this year I like out chances again. For these reasons I think UConn can make a big run next March.
 
BLUEDOGHOUSE said:
UConn is stll under valued by most media pundits in my opinion for 2013-14. I think that will be the norm leading into the fall and the first AP poll. If Smith and GD (not sure if he officially declared yet) leave I would rank Michigan State #1 pre season with Kentucky in my Top 4 but not #1. MSU loses Nix and if Payne returns with Harris they are my #1 pre season. UConn beat them as we all know on a neutral court with everyone returning in 2013-14. So with MSU minus Nix playing UConn on a neutral court this year I like out chances again. For these reasons I think UConn can make a big run next March.
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This is the position from which we do our best work imo. Especially with this crew.
 
If Burke is the only Michigan player to leave, I'm calling a UK/Michigan/MSU/UConn FF.
 
Lefty2one said:
I'm generally a pessimistic fan ... Boat worries me a little, hopefully his decision making dramatically improves.
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That being said, I'm glad we're unranked and not even in the 'others receiving votes' section of some polls. More to fuel the motivation.
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Keep in mind that this was Boat's first full year at the point. His decision making should take a quantum leap forward, just like Bazz did (and just like Kemba did.) This team will play with a chip on their shoulder for much of the start of the season. That's a good thing. The pollsters are, albeit unknowningly, setting it up for greatness.

...of course... we are dooomed!
 
"play with a chip on their shoulder" I think any good coach will use last years tournament ban as motivation to inspire the team.

Good points also on BoatShow.

 
CL82 said:
Keep in mind that this was Boat's first full year at the point. His decision making should take a quantum leap forward, just like Bazz did (and just like Kemba did.) This team will play with a chip on their shoulder for much of the start of the season. That's a good thing. The pollsters are, albeit unknowningly, setting it up for greatness.

...of course... we are dooomed!
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Well, Boat started off at the point, but Bazz quickly took over the primary point guard responsibilities. I wonder if his sharing or being secondary point guard to Shabazz might slow his progress. I hope he can learn to slow down a bit, keep his head up, learn to create more space to get his shot of easier, and start off trying to be more of a pass first player when at the point. I know he had to try to be a scorer last year, but I think he would develop better if he worked on distributing first.
 
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Dogbreath2U said:
Well, Boat started off at the point, but Bazz quickly took over the primary point guard responsibilities. I wonder if his sharing or being secondary point guard to Shabazz might slow his progress. I hope he can learn to slow down a bit, keep his head up, learn to create more space to get his shot of easier, and start off trying to be more of a pass first player when at the point. I know he had to try to be a scorer last year, but I think he would develop better if he worked on distributing first.
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True enough, Dog but I think that Ryan's decision making and vision is only going to improve. Bazz struggled with score/distribute dichotomy his soph year as well. I could be wrong and Boat could stagnate, but I doubt it.
 
Goodman,Parrish or whatever other genius that does the CBS rankings doesn't know what he's talking about. Quite possibly the best backcourt in the nation returning with DD and Kelis Fisher coming in. Only question is the 5 spot with Kelis Fisher and Olander ect. Uconn should definitely be ranked to start next year, and could get as high as top 5 if all the pieces drop in place. Bazz should be in consideration for All American next year and hell with him and boat i could see a very deep run in march.
 
DanDar said:
The bigs take longer to develop and the ones we bring in are raw and not highly ranked. We're fans so we're optimistic but I can understand the pessimism. Having said that, now that UConn will be in the AAC, the schedule should be quite easier. We're getting Cinicy, UL, Memphis and Temple as the hard games, then a bunch of mid-majors. I'd be shocked if UConn has more than 5 losses next year.
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Do you remember that OOC sched for 13/14??? It could be a tough row to hoe through that and conf. games with 5 losses only. Hope you're right!
 
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