Seasons you've most anticipated heading into them?

[alexrgct]

So, we all know Uconn will be the consensus #1, probably unanimous #1, heading into the 2013-14 season. Many of us believe Uconn will dominate en route to a repeat championship. A lot to look forward to indeed.

This all got me to thinking, could this be the most anticipated season ever? The last times I was this confident Uconn would win a national championship were heading into 2000-01 and 2009-10. There were a number of other years in which it seemed possible, but those two seemed the most likely. In fact, Uconn cruised to the NC in 2010 and fell short in 2001 due primarily to injuries.

Anyway, one of the reasons I'm really looking forward to 2014 is that I'm fascinated to see HOW good this team can be. What makes this team so intriguing is the number of kids who were underclassmen this past season. There are so many directions this team can go depending on who blossoms and how. And btw, the old guard, Bria and Stef can be better than they were this past season as well. By contrast, I knew heading into 2009-10 that Maya was Maya, and as long as Tina's performance in the tourney represented how she was ready to play for an entire season, Uconn was repeating. In short, lots of fun, but not very suspenseful as to who the stars were going to be.

What were some of your most anticipated seasons, and why (likelihood of winning the NC doesn't have to be the only criterion, obviously)? How does 2013-14 compare?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Without question for me it has to be DT & Cos threepeat season. Could they pull it off. As the season progressed DT was all but gang tackled about every game and the refs had swallowed their whistles. There has never been a UC team which was so dependent on one member and never before or since a case where so much was delivered by such a team leader.

 

[JellyBean]

For me, it is hard to pick just one or two. Because each year there is always some magic with our program. But if I had to pick a few, for me one, without question is our '88 season (my sophomore year at UConn). You could feel the energy levels rising, slowly, in '87. Things were moving and shifting. But in 1988, when Kerry Bascom came to UConn, I could not wait until the season started for that 1988 team. The energy level was off the chart. Kerry brought a little magic to the program. So 1988 is one. A few more that jump out at me are:

Our 1996 season. Hey we had just won a title in '95..why not?

I gotta add the Taurasi years. Those were always exciting. I could not wait for the season to start because it was Diana, even as a freshmen!!!

The Maya Moore/Tina Charles/Renee Montgomery years.

But that 1988 season is pretty high on my list.

 

[Zorro]

All of them!

 

[rocky rococo]

This one comes in about fourth for me. The disappointing end to 2001 was so sharp that I simply was om edge until 2002 began. It delivered beyond my wildest dreams. Then there were the two potential "three-peat" years, the Diana one which worked out and the Maya one that didn't. And then this coming year. As someoone else noted, it's the question of just how good is this team? Is it really as dominant as the team that swept through the NCAAs? Even better with growth and healing? Or was that magic like the last men's championship team? Next year will tell that tale, and I'm excited to find out.

 

[Wally East]

The '94-'95 season. Getting everyone back after an Elite 8 loss to UNC plus getting Nykesha. I was really excited.

The '01-'02 season. I was excited to see how good that class would be as seniors.

This coming season is exciting, too. Maybe just a notch below those two.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Off the top of my head, which seems to be the only place thoughts reside nowadays:

There have been a few seasons when we have won the prior year and had considerable talent returning, so expectations were very high in 2001, 2004, and 2010. In 2010, there was the additional question of whether another 39-0 season happen.

There have been years when we did not win the prior year, but were close, and had enough talent returning to challenge. Given that I hate to see ESPN openings that show another team celebrating with a trophy, the off-season goes far too slowly, and I become anxious for the next season to start so that things can be set right with the world. Those seasons include 2002, 2009, 2012, and 2013.

I think, though, the season that I anticipated most was 2008. DaddyChoc was kind enough to send me a DVD of the high school tournament in Seattle in December of the prior year. Collins Hill defeated Winter Haven with Tiffany Hayes and St. Elizabeths with Khadijah Rushdan in consecutive games. In the first game, Maya could not buy a basket. Her legs were dead, following a long flight from the recently concluded Nike TOC, which her team won. However, she did what her team needed to get the win, including a key block, steal, rebound, and basket in the closing minutes. This was a precursor to the DePaul game her freshman year, when she and Ketia stole victory from the jaws of defeat. In the second game, Maya went off for over 30 points at halftime. Here's a typical sequence: Maya Moore for three; Maya Moore intercepts the inbounds pass and lays it in; Maya Moore steals the inbound, turns, and hits a three. It was Jordanesque to the extreme--the most dominant basketball sequence I think I've ever seen. So when Maya got to UConn, could she do those things at the next level? You know the answer: classic form on a jumper, making 3-pointers look easy in a 50-point win over Purdue; steals when lob passes looked to be on target but were not adjusted to account for her leaping ability; weak-side blocks when a shooter seemed to be open, but the ball impossibly wound up in the stands; and that scoop shot on layups that no one else does. Watching Maya Moore for 4 years was an absolute pleasure. She came in with a huge amount of hype, but as Doug Bruno said to Geno, "Tell me the truth. She's even better than you thought, isn't she?" Yes, indeed!

 

[Vowelguy]

The seasons I tend to anticipate the most are the ones with great frosh -- I'm anxious to see just how good they are. So ironically I probably was most looking forward to the ill fated 98-99 team, which marked the TASSK debut.

 

[reno tony]

The next one.

 

[hoopsdiva]

I usually look forward to a season based on expectations for one or two players. Last year, even with all the heralded freshmen coming in, I was anticipating Kelly's senior year (albeit with some regret that it would be her last) because I was sure she would make it special. After Tina's monster game in the NC against Louisville (2009?) I was anxious to seeing her build on that, and be the dominating player Geno always said she should be.

Next season, I'm looking forward to seeing Stef's continued evolution in the post, and to Brianna Banks coming back. I'm also eager to see Saniya Chong play, but since she's an unknown quantity at this point, I would say that's a lesser reason for me to be looking forward to next season.

 

[baggerbob]

The Title for next year [ you ain't seen nothing yet].

 

[EasyEd]

I took Geno at his word after the 2000 Championship, he promised one for 2001. I even signed up for NCAA final 4 tickets in St. Louis for my daughter and I. After injuries to Shea and Svet, I was pleasantly surprised to be able to root for them in the final 4. Was really bummed out about the second half implosion against ND, but the season almost lived up to expectations even with the devastating late season injuries.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I took Geno at his word after the 2000 Championship, he promised one for 2001. I even signed up for NCAA final 4 tickets in St. Louis for my daughter and I. After injuries to Shea and Svet, I was pleasantly surprised to be able to route for them in the final 4. Was really bummed out about the second half implosion against ND, but the season almost lived up to expectations even with the devastating late season injuries.

Great nickname, as in Easy Ed Mccauley, St Louie born if I recall correctly.