This is when we usually gel, isn't it?

[dogpause]

Seems to me that historically, we've had our WTF losses in early January, but then began to put it together at the end of the month.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Let's see if the data bear that out. Going back 12 years (thank you, ESPN), here are our records in January and in February:

2013 -- Jan: 4-3; Feb: 5-3
2012 -- Jan: 2-5; Feb: 3-6
2011 -- Jan: 6-2; Feb: 4-4
2010 -- Jan: 4-5; Feb: 4-4
2009 -- Jan: 9-0; Feb: 7-1
2008 -- Jan: 6-3; Feb: 7-1
2007 -- Jan: 2-7; Feb: 4-4
2006 -- Jan: 8-1; Feb: 6-1
2005 -- Jan: 4-4; Feb: 7-1
2004 -- Jan: 7-2; Feb: 6-2
2003 -- Jan: 5-3; Feb: 5-3
2002 -- Jan: 8-2; Feb: 6-2*
*We played a lot better late Feb-March, so this is a little misleading

Over those 12 years, I count 3 years when I'd say we were demonstrably better after late January -- 2002, 2005, and 2008. Those were sophomore-led teams that grew up dramatically and went on to earn protected seeds.

More often than not, teams that were decent in January stayed decent in February but didn't dramatically improve (2003, 2011, 2013), teams that were dominant in January stayed dominant in February (2004, 2006, 2009), and teams that were lousy in January remained lousy in February (2007, 2010, 2012).

By and large, the "UConn always gets better in February" narrative is overblown, at least over the last decade. While we have looked a bit better of late, I wouldn't hold out for a drastic improvement from this extraordinarily veteran bunch.


Other items that jump out at me: (1) It's been almost 5 years since we had a truly UConn-caliber regular season where we dominated wire to wire (2009); those used to be frequent occurrences, but nothing close to that lately. (2) How in the hell did we manage to go 5-11 in January and February in 2012 and still be a lock for the NCAA Tournament come Selection Sunday? I had forgotten/didn't remember just how putrid that team was.

 

[dogpause]

Geez, I didn't expect anyone to actually research this. I was just trying to post a feel good thread. Nice work, BTW.

 

[willie99]

the 2002 team was unranked until they went unbeaten from mid-Feb until the Elite 8, all of a sudden Caron was a lottery pick
03 was steady, still played it's best in March making it to the BET finals and losing to 1 seed TX in TX in the S16
04 Calhoun won "uncoach of the year", that had to be before winning the BET and NC
05 Chaz was the most overrated player JC ever coached (his words), before going on a tear beginning in Feb and leaving a lottery pick
06 solid start to finish
07 young start to finish
08 won ten straight beginning in Feb and finished 13-2 down the stretch. AJ's ACL ended their tournament dreams
09 solid start to finish
10 maybe the most disappointing team ever start to finish
11 can anything actually suggest we didn't jell late?
12 this team had issues, such as bad chemistry, JC's health and JC uncertain future
13 a great season despite all the obstacles and a depleted roster became even more depleted down the stretch

I would say we played significantly better in 5 seasons, 02, 04, 05, 08 and 11. Played better in 03 and in 06 and 09 we couldn't improve because experienced teams played well all season

07 a bunch of freshmen hit a wall, this is also a trait of ours (93, 97, 01,), 2010 has been expunged from my memory and 2012 was a nightmare

I would suggest we were better down the stretch in 6 seasons and we couldn't play better in 3 seasons (including 2013)

yes, our tradition is to play best down the stretch and to play best when it matters most

 

[willie99]

NCAA tournament record since Calhoun era 48-15

I agree with the OP, everything about our program is about winning late

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Let's see if the data bear that out. Going back 12 years (thank you, ESPN), here are our records in January and in February:

2013 -- Jan: 4-3; Feb: 5-3
2012 -- Jan: 2-5; Feb: 3-6
2011 -- Jan: 6-2; Feb: 4-4
2010 -- Jan: 4-5; Feb: 4-4
2009 -- Jan: 9-0; Feb: 7-1
2008 -- Jan: 6-3; Feb: 7-1
2007 -- Jan: 2-7; Feb: 4-4
2006 -- Jan: 8-1; Feb: 6-1
2005 -- Jan: 4-4; Feb: 7-1
2004 -- Jan: 7-2; Feb: 6-2
2003 -- Jan: 5-3; Feb: 5-3
2002 -- Jan: 8-2; Feb: 6-2*
*We played a lot better late Feb-March, so this is a little misleading

Over those 12 years, I count 3 years when I'd say we were demonstrably better after late January -- 2002, 2005, and 2008. Those were sophomore-led teams that grew up dramatically and went on to earn protected seeds.

More often than not, teams that were decent in January stayed decent in February but didn't dramatically improve (2003, 2011, 2013), teams that were dominant in January stayed dominant in February (2004, 2006, 2009), and teams that were lousy in January remained lousy in February (2007, 2010, 2012).

By and large, the "UConn always gets better in February" narrative is overblown, at least over the last decade. While we have looked a bit better of late, I wouldn't hold out for a drastic improvement from this extraordinarily veteran bunch.
Yes this is a veteran group except for the 5
The improvement of Brimah and Nolan will allow our veterans to play to their potential. It's a lot easier to play outside when your inside keeps the other team honest.


Other items that jump out at me: (1) It's been almost 5 years since we had a truly UConn-caliber regular season where we dominated wire to wire (2009); those used to be frequent occurrences, but nothing close to that lately. (2) How in the hell did we manage to go 5-11 in January and February in 2012 and still be a lock for the NCAA Tournament come Selection Sunday? I had forgotten/didn't remember just how putrid that team was.

That team had at least 2 maybe four or 5 NBA players on the roster.
One of the best pure talent teams in our history. Maybe JC stayed a year too long.
KO might have been a better choice.
That team was lost, In fact calling it a team stretches the definition of that word.

 

[Matrim55]

We're UConn. We play our best in March.

 

[UConnDad]

Maybe JC stayed a year too long. Is this sarcasm? I am slow on occasion.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

That team had at least 2 maybe four or 5 NBA players on the rooster.

We had a team that had a rooster?

 

[HuskyBoi]

We had a team that had a rooster?

LOL

 

[Vancat]

Seems to me that historically, we've had our WTF losses in early January, but then began to put it together at the end of the month.

Thanks for spelling "gel" right!

 

[Inyatkin]

03 was steady, still played it's best in March making it to the BET finals and losing to 1 seed TX in TX in the S16

"Steady" is about the last word I would use for a team that got blown out by Virginia Tech halfway through the season and was among the nation's elite by the end of the year.