The Golden Era of UConn WBB?

[alexrgct]

Let me get this straight: Uconn has been known to enjoy some very happy times. In 1995, UConn established itself as a major player in the national landscape, recruited accordingly and paved the way for a real golden age of UConn WBB. From 1999-00 to 2003-04, you know the drill: five seasons, four NCs, five Final Fours, a 70-game win streak, three different seasons with the NPOY. Yes, that's a golden era.

But folks, this isn't any old golden era; it's THE Golden Era.

From 2008-09 to 2013-14, we have already enjoyed it all: six seasons, four NCs, three undefeated seasons, six trips to the Final Four, a 90-game win streak, four seasons with the NPOY, and ANOTHER 46 game winning streak that may just be extended all the more.

By next season, UConn will be the clear preseason #1 and have the personnel to go wire-to-wire as the leader in the clubhouse. At this point, what more can you ask of an era? UConn is giving us a masterpiece of an era, one that this time, we may actually not see again. Yeah, we know: whatever UConn does, we always see it again. This time is as bright a moment in the history of UConn or any program, for that matter.

If you see a rose, smell it, my friends. This May, UConn women's basketball is fully in bloom.

 

[UcMiami]

Alex - just one quibble - you really need to extend it back one year 2007-8 - 7 seasons, four NCs, three undefeated seasons, seven trips to the FF (an ongoing record!), a 90 game win streak (#1) and a 46+ game win streak (#4), and 4 NPOY (5 if you count both Maya and Tina as they split the awards one year!)
And ... if we win our first 9 games next year, Uconn will have the three longest winning streaks in WCBB! (LaTech currently at 54)
One of the overlooked aspects of the NC game win was it broke a tie between Uconn and TN not just for NCs but also for the 4th longest win streak in WCBB history - TN is now in sole possession of the #5 longest streak.

 

[Kibitzer]

Excellent OP and follow-up. Permit an addendum.

Yesterday the Red Sox got swept in a doubleheader. Lost two games in one day.

Loss of two games in succession (or losing streaks measured in weeks) is commonplace in professional sports, since the customary expectation is that all baseball teams (or franchises, but not programs) will lose 50+ and their hockey and basketball counterparts will each lose about 20 (extremely rare exceptions). In most places, most sports, it's a frequent occurrence in amateur sports.

There are exceptions (e.g., UNC soccer, PSU volleyball, Iowa wrestling). But then there is UConn wcbb, out there with immortals like Cy Young (511 total wins) or Edwin Moses (122 victories in a row).

Last time Geno's Huskies lost two in a row was 1993. It doesn't seem likely that they will lose two in a row -- certainly not in the same day! -- for the forseeable future. (I've lost count.) Simply mind-boggling.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Edwin Moses had 122 straight wins. 1,122 would require a career longer than many lifetimes. That would truly be immortal.

I like the lack of consecutive losses stat. It's now over 21 years, which must cover over 700 games. Number of times with 2 wins in a row: over 600. Number of times with 2 losses in a row: 0.

 

[alexrgct]

UConn came dangerously close to losing two games in a row at one point since the loss to Louisville in 1993. Specifically, on December 1, 2004, UConn finally manged to pull away from USF in overtime. This was the game after losing to UNC. That whole season, in fact, might be considered a dark era, not a golden era. However, UConn still enjoyed a 25-win season, a BET championship, an advance as far as regional semifinals, and a top 10 ranking in the final polls. As it happens, 25 wins, a Sweet 16 or better finish, and a top 10 ranking, has been the result of every season from 1993-94 on. So as dark eras go, this period had a silver lining. And that silver lining would burgeon into The Golden Era.

 

[Samanthabrown3]

Alex, when I saw the name of the thread, my first thought was the early 2000's. Then I thought, No, now is the golden age.

Great minds.

 

[MilfordHusky]

UConn came dangerously close to losing two games in a row at one point since the loss to Louisville in 1993. Specifically, on December 1, 2004, UConn finally manged to pull away from USF in overtime. This was the game after losing to UNC. That whole season, in fact, might be considered a dark era, not a golden era. However, UConn still enjoyed a 25-win season, a BET championship, an advance as far as regional semifinals, and a top 10 ranking in the final polls. As it happens, 25 wins, a Sweet 16 or better finish, and a top 10 ranking, has been the result of every season from 1993-94 on. So as dark eras go, this period had a silver lining. And that silver lining would burgeon into The Golden Era.

Geno spoke about that season, saying that record would get many coaches a contract extension but it might get him fired and hung in effigy.

I recall the ND game in which they couldn't score on our half-court defense, but we made just enough sloppy passes on the perimeter to give ND steals and uncontested layups to get a narrow victory. The worst UConn basketball of 2 decades.

 

[Kibitzer]

Geno spoke about that season, saying that record would get many coaches a contract extension but it might get him fired and hung in effigy.

I recall the ND game in which they couldn't score on our half-court defense, but we made just enough sloppy passes on the perimeter to give ND steals and uncontested layups to get a narrow victory. The worst UConn basketball of 2 decades.

ahem.

Hanged in effigy. Don't ask me to explain.

 

[alexrgct]

ahem.

Hanged in effigy. Don't ask me to explain.

A man is hanged. A picture is hung.

And if a man is hung, well, let's just say he's very fortunate...

 

[Samanthabrown3]

A man is hanged. A picture is hung.

And if a man is hung, well, let's just say he's very fortunate...

Ah, but can a picture be hanged?

 

[jimazee]

Similarly, is Effigy in CT?