The Deep, Dark Forest

[M_Funkhauser43!]

This isn't the first time we've seen a UConn team out in a deep, dark forest in some god-forsaken and foreboding place like the outskirts of Syracuse, with the sun seemingly setting, half a roll of toilet paper in their possession and nothing else apparent that will help them find their way.

For each team that didn't manage to emerge from the wood, three more did.

• 01-02 lost three of four from January 30-February 9. After that came a 12-game winning streak that finally ended in what amounted to a road loss in the tourney to eventual champion Maryland.
• 03-04 won 14 of its last 15, the lone loss being on the road against Cuse, w/Mek barely able to stand.
• 04-05 went 4-4 in January, then reeled off nine wins in 10 games to finish the regular season, with the lone loss being to eventual champs NC. True, they nose-dived into March, but the point is they still gave fans something to be excited about heading into the post-season.
• 07-08 lost three of four in January before putting together a 10-game win streak. They stumbled again at the end of the season, but that was still a Sweet 16 team if AJ hadn't gone down.
• Then, of course, there was last year when they lost four of five to close the regular season and then decided to kick ass in the post-season and win 11 straight.

A lot of the teams above had less talent than this year's edition and a few of them had no greater amount of experience either. For anyone who's down on AD, I remember how disappointed everyone was with Charlie V at a similar juncture in 04-05 and then the kid played himself into a top-ten draft pick.

This team now has an eight-day break to find itself with some hard practices. Hopefully that will also be enough time to also put RB back in uniform. If they come out flat against ND, then it might be time to settle in in the deep, dark forest. Until then, I can't imagine a team with two lottery picks and a handful of proven role players not getting itself at least a 3-seed in March.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Since Calhoun has become unable to coach an offense, we need to get back to the basics and win with our defense. Last year's formula for success was suffocating defense, few turnovers, free throw shooting, and timely buckets.

In short, we won because we played smarter and tougher than our opponents. Can that philosophy be imposed on this team over the next 6 weeks? Right now there are way too many loose plays on defense and on the boards.

 

[huskyharry]

Very good perspective! Thanks

 

[wpq4elamin]

Since Calhoun has become unable to coach an offense, we need to get back to the basics and win with our defense. Last year's formula for success was suffocating defense, few turnovers, free throw shooting, and timely buckets.

In short, we won because we played smarter and tougher than our opponents. Can that philosophy be imposed on this team over the next 6 weeks? Right now there are way too many loose plays on defense and on the boards.

in short, we won because we had kemba and the other team didn't

we did play great defense and had fewer turnovers, but those "timely" buckets came, for the most part, from kemba walker

i still like this team and think there's time to pull some things together once boat is back, but let's not forget the leader and reason we were tougher and smarter than our opponents last year... that counts a ton in those close games

 

[CL82]

If nothing else, this year's team should make us all appreciate Kemba and last year's run all the more. We arguably have more talent this year, but, at least at this juncture we have less (insert trite over used modifier here "heart" , "moxy", "stones", whatever). Kemba, put this team on his back and carried us in clutch spots, that's true, but he also made them believe that they were destined to win, and as is often true in sports, belief becomes reality. It was a epic performance.

 

[UC990411]

I like where you're coming from. I don't mean to discount your post, but there are reasons why this team isn't similar to a lot of those teams
.

• 01-02 lost three of four from January 30-February 9. After that came a 12-game winning streak that finally ended in what amounted to a road loss in the tourney to eventual champion Maryland.

That Maryland game was in Syracuse, no? That '02 team was also similar to last years in the sense that we had a ton of young talent and Caron who could easily carry us for long long stretches

• 04-05 went 4-4 in January, then reeled off nine wins in 10 games to finish the regular season, with the lone loss being to eventual champs NC. True, they nose-dived into March, but the point is they still gave fans something to be excited about heading into the post-season.

We lost to NC State, they didn't win a national championship. We also lost to them in our backyard in Worcester

• 07-08 lost three of four in January before putting together a 10-game win streak. They stumbled again at the end of the season, but that was still a Sweet 16 team if AJ hadn't gone down.

Unfortunately I think this year's team is most similar to that '08 team. Tons of talent, little experience on how to play well togehter which ended up in more losses than should have been.

• Then, of course, there was last year when they lost four of five to close the regular season and then decided to kick ass in the post-season and win 11 straight.

Problem is Kemba Walker isn't coming back to this team in March.

 

[M_Funkhauser43!]

I like where you're coming from. I don't mean to discount your post, but there are reasons why this team isn't similar to a lot of those teams
.
That Maryland game was in Syracuse, no? That '02 team was also similar to last years in the sense that we had a ton of young talent and Caron who could easily carry us for long long stretches


We lost to NC State, they didn't win a national championship. We also lost to them in our backyard in Worcester


Unfortunately I think this year's team is most similar to that '08 team. Tons of talent, little experience on how to play well togehter which ended up in more losses than should have been.

Problem is Kemba Walker isn't coming back to this team in March.

You gotta look at the big picture here (I stand corrected on the 02 regional being in DC, though). Yeah, this team isn't similar to any of the ones I listed, but which of the teams I listed is similar to another one on the list?

The point is that all of those teams put together big win streaks late in the season and gave fans a reason to be excited going into the post-season. Since you can't expect your team to win it all every year and probability tends to smack more than a few teams in the face each year, having a team that has the potential to do some bracket damage is really the best you can hope for.

Sure, I have my concerns that this team won't find its way. Am I a little disappointed that they're already just about out of position for a one-seed? Absolutely, but just because that looks unlikely at this point doesn't mean I've given up hope that this team can be dangerous when the post-season arrives.

 

[jibsey]

I see some of Kemba in Bazz, and we are going to need a bunch more of it down the stretch, but seriously as thin as we are at the point, we know we have to have Boatright. We are losing 9-10 ppg and 2-3 assists, so like 16 ppg. and our current offense shows it.