The Real narrative: we are the matchup problem

[Jaydumo20]

Before every tourney game there are a bunch of us who like to say why the future opponent is gonna pose a problem for UConn. However, a team hasn't posed a problem for UConn yet. Dan Hurley is overly confident. Jay Wright, Seth Greenberg, Jay bilas, Kenny Smith, Barkley, SVG, Mick Cronin, Mark Few etc. etc. are all in awe of this team. The narrative is "how do you beat this UConn team?"

Why do we have to hedge our feelings by imagining ways we can lose to the next team? When do we get to enjoy being the best team in ncaa bball? After the tourney? Illinois is a really good team, but they're not entering the game as a favorite.

Let's be respectful, good sportsmen, but let's show some guts: WE are the matchup problem for THEM.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Why do we have to hedge our feelings by imagining ways we can lose to the next team.

Because we are doomed

 

[JCisthegoat]

Agree. Deth Savis was trying to say Illinois could be a matchup problem for us cuz they have Size we haven’t seen.

They haven’t seen anything like our team. Not even Purdue

 

[Jaydumo20]

Because we are doomed

Yeah. But aside from that, I feel good.

 

[Inyatkin]

All true. But it's not a seven-game series. It's a one-and-done, and there's only good teams left. Better teams can lose. That's why we don't act like the 2018 Warriors or whatever

 

[phillionaire]

Terrance shannon is actually lebron james, we're doomed

 

[CL82]

When do we get to enjoy being the best team in ncaa bball?

April 8, after the game, hopefully. Until then...

 

[Hi-Low]

 

[jibsey]

Before every tourney game there are a bunch of us who like to say why the future opponent is gonna pose a problem for UConn. Yet, a team hasn't posed a problem for UConn yet. Dan Hurley is overly confident. Jay Wright, Seth Greenberg, Jay bilas, Kenny Smith, Barkley, SVG, Mick Cronin, Mark Few etc. etc. are all in awe of this team. The narrative is "how do you beat this UConn team?"

Why do we have to hedge our feelings by imagining ways we can lose to the next team. When do we get to enjoy being the best team in ncaa bball? After the tourney? Illinois is a really good team, but they're not entering the game as a favorite.

Let's be respectful, good sportsmen, but let's show some guts: WE are the matchup problem for THEM.

Agree 100% but.... we don't go into these games overconfident. We respect our opponents and don't F with the MOJO.
If we do what we do there's plenty of chance to spout off...after the game, but I'm happy with the talent and coaching we bring to the floor Saturday night.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Agree 100% but.... we don't go into these games overconfident. We respect our opponents and don't F with the MOJO.
If we do what we do there's plenty of chance to spout off...after the game, but I'm happy with the talent and coaching we bring to the floor Saturday night.

Well put. I'm not discounting Illinois' ability to win. Although, if Dan Hurley were a poster on the BY he'd have been 'hanged' after that villanova press conference!

 

[Deepster]

Because we are no longer doomed

Fixed.

 

[Deepster]

Terrance shannon is actually lebron james, and they’re still doomed.

Fixed.

 

[phillionaire]

Fixed.

JR Smith ain't walkin through that door!

 

[Tenspro2002]

It's because everyone is searching for the edgy hot take that lets them stand out from the crowd.

You see this in political commentary too -- it's not interesting to say "bad person is bad" so they contort themselves into any other framing.

It's the same here. "Illinois hasn't dealt with a team like UConn all year" is too straightforward, so they turn it around. It's true that we haven't faced a team with the firepower of Illinois, but that's a lot less important to how this game is going to play out.

(By the way, Vegas agrees, we're like a 3:1 favorite.)

 

[nomar]

Before every tourney game there are a bunch of us who like to say why the future opponent is gonna pose a problem for UConn. However, a team hasn't posed a problem for UConn yet. Dan Hurley is overly confident. Jay Wright, Seth Greenberg, Jay bilas, Kenny Smith, Barkley, SVG, Mick Cronin, Mark Few etc. etc. are all in awe of this team. The narrative is "how do you beat this UConn team?"

Why do we have to hedge our feelings by imagining ways we can lose to the next team? When do we get to enjoy being the best team in ncaa bball? After the tourney? Illinois is a really good team, but they're not entering the game as a favorite.

Let's be respectful, good sportsmen, but let's show some guts: WE are the matchup problem for THEM.

Everybody here already thinks that.

Everyone here is very confident. Also everyone here has repeatedly seen the presumptive favorite lose. If you want to think we're a 100% lock, go ahead. I have more optimism than I've ever had in a tournament but I'm still trying to be realistic that we've got to beat 3 good teams.

 

[Excalibur]

We're blowing teams out and aren't playing well. If we have a B/B- game and a good opponent is on fire Creighton style, we can lose.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Terrance shannon is actually lebron james, we're doomed

C'mon now, Lebron wishes he had Shannon's talent.

 

[Inyatkin]

It's because everyone is searching for the edgy hot take that lets them stand out from the crowd.

You see this in political commentary too -- it's not interesting to say "bad person is bad" so they contort themselves into any other framing.

It's the same here. "Illinois hasn't dealt with a team like UConn all year" is too straightforward, so they turn it around. It's true that we haven't faced a team with the firepower of Illinois, but that's a lot less important to how this game is going to play out.

(By the way, Vegas agrees, we're like a 3:1 favorite.)

I don't think it's this. It's that even a 3:1 favorite will lose sometimes, and you only get one game. It's very random, which is partly why people love the NCAA tournament. The NBA with all those seven-game series makes it much harder for a worse team to advance.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I found the idea a bit humorous that because they have a three man backcourt that can match the size of our three man backcourt, it could be a problem for us. Wouldn't it also be the case that because our three man backcourt can match the size of their three man backcourt, it could be a problem for them?

 

[uconnfan68]

Agree. Deth Savis was trying to say Illinois could be a matchup problem for us cuz they have Size we haven’t seen.

They haven’t seen anything like our team. Not even Purdue

I checked there roster and no one is over 6’10”. Tallest starter is 6’9”. Couple at 6’6”, but our guards average 6’5”.

 

[FearThePups]

View attachment 98423

I am the one who knocks

 

[Samoo]

 

[Jaydumo20]

I found the idea a bit humorous that because they have a three man backcourt that can match the size of our three man backcourt, it could be a problem for us. Wouldn't it also be the case that because our three man backcourt can match the size of their three man backcourt, it could be a problem for them?

View attachment 98439

Yes

 

[superjohn]

Before every tourney game there are a bunch of us who like to say why the future opponent is gonna pose a problem for UConn. However, a team hasn't posed a problem for UConn yet. Dan Hurley is overly confident. Jay Wright, Seth Greenberg, Jay bilas, Kenny Smith, Barkley, SVG, Mick Cronin, Mark Few etc. etc. are all in awe of this team. The narrative is "how do you beat this UConn team?"

Why do we have to hedge our feelings by imagining ways we can lose to the next team? When do we get to enjoy being the best team in ncaa bball? After the tourney? Illinois is a really good team, but they're not entering the game as a favorite.

Let's be respectful, good sportsmen, but let's show some guts: WE are the matchup problem for THEM.

Agreed, I've been saying all year if we're healthy and Clingan stays on the court we aren't losing on a neutral court. Not exactly going out on a limb considering this team hasn't lost on a neutral court in two seasons and we've wrecked the field by an average of 23 points in the tournament over two NCAA tournaments.

It will take injury or Clingan being plagued by foul trouble early on for anyone to have a chance of beating us. With this team they'll most likely find a way to even overcome that

I'm enjoying the hell out of it, this is an all-time great college team and we're probably witnessing the best two year run in the modern era.

 

[tzznandrew]

Agree. Deth Savis was trying to say Illinois could be a matchup problem for us cuz they have Size we haven’t seen.

They haven’t seen anything like our team. Not even Purdue

Right. Purdue's guards are good, but small. UConn is the first team they'll have played that truly matches them up size-wise to give them problems on both sides of the ball.

 

[Inyatkin]

Right. Purdue's guards are good, but small. UConn is the first team they'll have played that truly matches them up size-wise to give them problems on both sides of the ball.

I sometimes think commentators just need a new angle, because this relative size thing can go either way. We heard so much about the size of our guards all through the 2014 tournament, as though it was going to kill us. Our guards dominated that tournament. An exception, maybe, but when you're good enough I'm not sure relative height matters as much as we think.

 

[dennismenace]

I found the idea a bit humorous that because they have a three man backcourt that can match the size of our three man backcourt, it could be a problem for us. Wouldn't it also be the case that because our three man backcourt can match the size of their three man backcourt, it could be a problem for them?

View attachment 98439

It could well be that they match the size of our backcourt but our backcourt has an All American stat sheet stuffer and MVP of last years NC title game, the number one offensive player in college ball this year and a lottery pick tough as nails lockdown defender who was Big East rookie of the year. Looking forward to just how well they "match" our backcourt tomorrow night.

 

[Jaydumo20]

We're blowing teams out and aren't playing well. If we have a B/B- game and a good opponent is on fire Creighton style, we can lose.

Right. I never said we couldn't lose. It seems that sometimes the narrative is that we have an unfavorable matchup. I agree with @Inyatkin that commentators need an angle, but I believe that the fanbase looks at the negative to soften the blow if a loss comes, but we pass the hedging off as "mojo". My friend, for instance, comically never says anything good about his teams because he fears that he will be trashed if they lose. Instead, if they lose, he can at least say he called it, so that will be 'one little victory'

 

[1999GoodSon]

Their game last night reminded me of a upper middle BE game, a battle of attrition won by the team that sucked less. Unless my eyes are too starry, about 18 hours ago SDSU was a matchup problem for us too. We still haven't played our best game, not by a long shot. If you had access to both locker rooms for tomorrow's tip, who do you think would be more worried about who?
It's do or die for them, for us it's just the next step.

 

[jibsey]

Commentators have to make it a game in buildup, but I expect a battle with them, especially if they’re making 3s and we are not. I want to keep at 37% or better.