Remember 2011?

[phillionaire]

Donnell Beverly ain’t walkin through that door

 

[Robrio89]

I felt the same too while we were all riding the high that the back 2 back gave us. Felt like anything was possible with Hurley at the helm. I still believe that but this teams expectations were set very high by Hurley, when in fact these guys had to have been showing some weaknesses earlier than just now. I really doubt they didn’t see any of this in practice earlier on.

 

[UConnSwag11]

This team went from having the same struggles as the 2023 to now AK being the next Kemba. Sheesh

 

[AllHusky]

I agree that I don’t see a Kemba on this team. I just hate to see the downright bashing that they are getting after this game. Who knows? Half the team could be sick right now.
We’ve seen McNeeley, Solo, AK, and others have great games this season. It’s still possible that they could gel at the right time (Aka March)

I'm going with Jersey Flu, yeah yeah thats right, Jersey Flu. All better!!

I was joking on the Chat when I said Hurley was going for his 3rd consecutive Seton Hall Hoops Alumni of the Year for his annual contribution, but......WTF happens when we go to South Orange?? What Conference team have we lost to on the road 3 years running? You really can't explain this with X's and O's and effort, while valid, they don't explain this glaring anomaly.

 

[Travelman6]

Realistically I don’t expect to see UConn anywhere near the final four this year. Holding out hope for a win in the first weekend, which is more than what I saw in another post crying about how the season is over after last night. IMO, that was a bit dramatic.

After a loss like that it's natural people will over react, my knee jerk reaction was a little over the top. Let's see what they do vs Nova

 

[Scoe]

I get the OP wants to be positive, you yourself has already answered your own questions. If people wanna vent let them.

 

[Scott2Tate]

I get the OP wants to be positive, you yourself has already answered your own questions. If people wanna vent let them.

I’m venting as well. I guess we all need to let off some steam.

As @Travelman6 said above, let’s see what they do against Nova

 

[bfs3]

Hear me out. Yes, this loss to SH was horrendous. As a Xennial, I remember the 2011 Kemba season miraculous run to the NC (They had 9 losses that season, and as I recall only got into the tournament bc they won the BE tournament). Do I think this team can do the same and win the NC? Realistically not, but who knows? I’ve been shocked before (the first time literally is the reason behind my name). Do I think they are as terrible as so many have posted since the game? No!
Perhaps I’m a glass half full kinda person, but this is when our team needs our support, not a total dragging. Bright spot for all of the AK haters? He started hitting his 3s again. I’ll take that as a win. (And will now brace for all the BYers who will inevitably tell me what an idiot I am…)

Okay, but what’s an Xennial?

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Hear me out. Yes, this loss to SH was horrendous. As a Xennial, I remember the 2011 Kemba season miraculous run to the NC (They had 9 losses that season, and as I recall only got into the tournament bc they won the BE tournament). Do I think this team can do the same and win the NC? Realistically not, but who knows? I’ve been shocked before (the first time literally is the reason behind my name). Do I think they are as terrible as so many have posted since the game? No!
Perhaps I’m a glass half full kinda person, but this is when our team needs our support, not a total dragging. Bright spot for all of the AK haters? He started hitting his 3s again. I’ll take that as a win. (And will now brace for all the BYers who will inevitably tell me what an idiot I am…)

Forgetting everything else, we were a three seed in that tournament (which means we would have been at worst the 12th team on the committee's S curve when they filled out the field). As 37 schools received at-large bids that year, we would have had to have jumped at least 25 spots if we weren't in the tournament prior to the BE tournament.

Additionally, eleven BE schools made that tournamrnt. We were the ninth seed in the BE tournament, which, if no non-conference results were considered we still would have been in. In non-conference play that year we were undefeated and won the Maui Invitational, beating Michigan St & Kentucky, who both were ranked the entire season and spent time in the top five.

We were nowhere near the bubble when that BET started.

 

[homunculus]

Donnell Beverly ain’t walkin through that door

Tyler Olander ain’t walking through that door.

 

[USNavyDog]

I'd say this years Uconn team has a probability being closer to last years North Carolina State Wolfpack final 4 team that went a wild "26-15" record.

Uconn could finish a lowly 18-13, 10-10 in the big east. Win 4 in a row to win the Big East tourney...and they go 22-13.

They become a 10 or 11 seed in the NCAA tourney. They get to the final 4 and finish with a record of 26-14.

Thought?

 

[djct1999]

Yesterday was an embarrassing loss and the worst loss in years. That said, nothing changed. On any given night, we can beat Auburn or lose to DePaul.

 

[TroyHall98]

The comparison to 2011 is a tough one. That squad had a generational talent, a physical low post defender, a good rotation of wing players, and role players who did their job well. Also, they showed glimpses of how great they could be by winning a tough Maui slate at the start of the season.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Hear me out. Yes, this loss to SH was horrendous. As a Xennial, I remember the 2011 Kemba season miraculous run to the NC (They had 9 losses that season, and as I recall only got into the tournament bc they won the BE tournament). Do I think this team can do the same and win the NC? Realistically not, but who knows? I’ve been shocked before (the first time literally is the reason behind my name). Do I think they are as terrible as so many have posted since the game? No!
Perhaps I’m a glass half full kinda person, but this is when our team needs our support, not a total dragging. Bright spot for all of the AK haters? He started hitting his 3s again. I’ll take that as a win. (And will now brace for all the BYers who will inevitably tell me what an idiot I am…)

Is it possible we get to the Elite 8, yes but very unlikely. It’s possible because in any given game Karaban or Solo or Diarra could have terrific breakout games, it’s possible because Mahaney could come off the bench to add 20 points or Tarris with the game going down to the wire makes big bucket after big bucket, or McNeeley scores 45, or Stewart makes 5 three’s in a row. It’s possible, but don’t bet on it. On the flip side, maybe it’s not possible because Karaban still can’t make an inbounds pass, or McNeeley or Samson go into halftime with 4 fouls, or Diarra hurts his knee again.

 

[Stinger92860]

Uconn could finish a lowly 18-13, 10-10 in the big east. Win 4 in a row to win the Big East tourney...and they go 22-13.

They won’t sniff the tournament with this record.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Forgetting everything else, we were a three seed in that tournament (which means we would have been at worst the 12th team on the committee's S curve when they filled out the field). As 37 schools received at-large bids that year, we would have had to have jumped at least 25 spots if we weren't in the tournament prior to the BE tournament.

Additionally, eleven BE schools made that tournamrnt. We were the ninth seed in the BE tournament, which, if no non-conference results were considered we still would have been in. In non-conference play that year we were undefeated and won the Maui Invitational, beating Michigan St & Kentucky, who both were ranked the entire season and spent time in the top five.

We were nowhere near the bubble when that BET started.

That was ESPN and the rest of the medias narrative. We were a lock to be in

 

[Dogfish]

Hear me out. Yes, this loss to SH was horrendous. As a Xennial, I remember the 2011 Kemba season miraculous run to the NC (They had 9 losses that season, and as I recall only got into the tournament bc they won the BE tournament). Do I think this team can do the same and win the NC? Realistically not, but who knows? I’ve been shocked before (the first time literally is the reason behind my name). Do I think they are as terrible as so many have posted since the game? No!
Perhaps I’m a glass half full kinda person, but this is when our team needs our support, not a total dragging. Bright spot for all of the AK haters? He started hitting his 3s again. I’ll take that as a win. (And will now brace for all the BYers who will inevitably tell me what an idiot I am…)

The coaches should make everyone who may possibly bring the ball up court watch tape of Kemba breaking a double team. He was absolutely flawless at doing so and usually ended up on a 5v3 situation in our favor.

 

[Dove]

2011. 2011. What happened in 2011? Its here somewhere...but where?

 

[freescooter]

Hear me out. Yes, this loss to SH was horrendous. As a Xennial, I remember the 2011 Kemba season miraculous run to the NC (They had 9 losses that season, and as I recall only got into the tournament bc they won the BE tournament). Do I think this team can do the same and win the NC? Realistically not, but who knows? I’ve been shocked before (the first time literally is the reason behind my name). Do I think they are as terrible as so many have posted since the game? No!
Perhaps I’m a glass half full kinda person, but this is when our team needs our support, not a total dragging. Bright spot for all of the AK haters? He started hitting his 3s again. I’ll take that as a win. (And will now brace for all the BYers who will inevitably tell me what an idiot I am…)

Do you remember that UConn played 11 games against ranked opponents in the BE conference and tournament alone including 5 against the #5 and #6 teams? And 3 non-conference games against teams that were ranked? And that 4 others in conference were against teams in the “others receiving votes” category? And despite losing 9 league games we ended the year ranked #9 in the AP poll? To say nothing of having the best player in the country. If this team makes a run in the NBE it will more resemble Georgetown’s than the 2011 UConn. That team played an absolutely brutal regular season to the point where the NCAA tournament seemed like a vacation.

 

[jibsey]

2011. We were losing games ( 9 regular season) and there was plenty of talk about whether we were making the tournament that year or not PLUS fans were so aggravated they was little enthusiasm to go to the BE tournament.

That of course spawned Makers Muppet, the best post in UConn board history up to then and now and forever, and the magic ensued.
We then went through a strong BE tourney field playing and winning 5 games, the highlight being Kemba’s step back breaker against hated Pitt. But we pulled a 3 seed by virtue of that BE performance beating AZ and KU on the way to Butler.

But I think everyone here is right that we dont have the strong guard play and toughness to repeat that scenario.
To repeat that we would have maybe 1 more game to lose and then run the BE and that probably doesn’t get but a 5 seed.

 

[Get a Job]

They won’t sniff the tournament with this record.

They would get an automatic bid in that scenario.

 

[Scott2Tate]

Geeeezuuuzz. I was not comparing every single detail and member of the 2011 team to this team, I was only trying to bring some hope to fellow Husky fans after such a crappy loss.

I remember the 2011 team was pretty low in the BE standings, which forced them to go through 5 games to win the BET, and then unbelievably went on to win the championship. As I said, I thought I remembered that they had to win the BET to get into the NCAAs. I was clearly wrong (it has been 14 years…I’m not perfect). My apologies and I guess thanks for pointing out the multiple errors I made by not checking the details first.

My point is that I don’t think anyone foresaw what was coming in the run to the BE and championship, even with Cardiac Kemba leading the team. My hope is that perhaps this team can find some of the same magic and have a respectable end to the season. I’d be happy with a win in the first weekend.

 

[freescooter]

2011. We were losing games ( 9 regular season) and there was plenty of talk about whether we were making the tournament that year or not PLUS fans were so aggravated they was little enthusiasm to go to the BE tournament.

That of course spawned Makers Muppet, the best post in UConn board history up to then and now and forever, and the magic ensued.
We then went through a strong BE tourney field playing and winning 5 games, the highlight being Kemba’s step back breaker against hated Pitt. But we pulled a 3 seed by virtue of that BE performance beating AZ and KU on the way to Butler.

But I think everyone here is right that we dont have the strong guard play and toughness to repeat that scenario.
To repeat that we would have maybe 1 more game to lose and then run the BE and that probably doesn’t get but a 5 seed.

All true. But we also played an absolutely brutal schedule. The Big East was incredibly deep. Plus we played I think 3 other ranked teams, not to mention 2 games against teams that were ranked when we played them but subsequently fell out, and 3 Big East teams that were ranked for most of the year but ultimately ended up just outside the top 25. If you put that schedule in front of Hurley he, and most current coaches honestly, would go hide under their beds.

 

[uchusky32]

Who's Kemba on this team?

 

[jibsey]

All true. But we also played an absolutely brutal schedule. The Big East was incredibly deep. Plus we played I think 3 other ranked teams, not to mention 2 games against teams that were ranked when we played them but subsequently fell out, and 3 Big East teams that were ranked for most of the year but ultimately ended up just outside the top 25. If you put that schedule in front of Hurley he, and most current coaches honestly, would go hide under their beds.

Yes you are right about the schedule then. I remember a home game we lost to Marquette I think. The crowd was not happy.
We need some magic to happen. Anyone know where Makers is?