achilles. which is even worse to come back from than ACL in basketball. All credit to Moore, incredible bounce back. You should've have waited until seeing the results of the Nova game and THEN puffed your chest. Because if we don't, I now have this thread saved
We can certainly win Saturday, but It's going to be a big lift. If we do win it will absolutely be our biggest win of the year. 2nd place isn't even particularly close. Alabama was a great win, but not as important (or as difficult) as this one. Let's go get it.
It's gratifying to see that as I'm reading this, the OP and the two who first Liked it are not in opposition to your post. Add me as well, only withholding my agreement that the OP "should've waited" until AFTER the game on Saturday.
The OP wasn't so puffed-chest boastful as it was hopeful and self-accountable, in addition to being realistic about the challenge and acknowledging that today's Nova isn't the one that was taking it hard without Moore and Whitmore in the early days of a new coach taking over for a Hall of Famer.
Anybody stepping in prematurely with the pre-filled bucket of cold water, or waiting until Saturday night to dump it will not be offering anything that you, I,
@Umami Zen ,
@karstenkibbe , or
@husky429 haven't already seen and don't already know.
I haven't yet read past your post, and only have a bit of pop-up awareness that
@superjohn has weighed in, and I've found his takes on the past 3 games all notably informed, balanced, well-presented, and strong. The team is pretty much at the place we would want it to be at this point. Now, next, are the games themselves.
I don't know Diarra's current condition and response to efforts to have him able to contribute to his best ability. I similarly don't know if yesterday's shooting performance and late game limp by Hawkins is the subject of continued concern.
The uncertainties regarding possible physical compromises are the greatest single factor in reserving confidence right now. That has always been a factor in the single elimination tournaments at season's end. I'm not going to focus my energies & attention there; nothing good can come of it.
There will never be anything to satisfy those who hold (and choose to play) any trump card that catalogs past failures, previously unattained successes, lucky/unlucky bounces, poor seeding, questionable scheduling, weak performance in or out of conference, suboptimal decisions at key moments, uncharacteristic or simply poor performance. This bundle faces every team, every year.
And yet, every year, one team surmount these challenges. That's how it works. Every year.
Will UConn win on Saturday night? I don't know.
Will UConn win zero or 1 or 2 or 3 BET games? Again, I don't know.
Will UConn win zero or 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 NCAA Tournament games? Surprise, surprise, I don't know.
Am I certain that UConn CANNOT win all 10 possible games? THIS YEAR, I am not certain of that. The last time I held that highly specific (and weirdly phrased) uncertainty was 2011. I really did not think that UConn could beat Louisville in 2014.
I'm here throughout with my initial, pre-season "realistic" hopes that the team completes the season with fewer than 10 losses, at least reaches the Big East Finals, advances to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and does not end the season with a miserable-looking/embarrassing loss.
ALL of those remain available and possible. NONE of them are GUARANTEED. And, I have not ruled out even better outcomes, up to and including the very best of them all. That's a pretty great place to be, great enough for me to have no interest in compromising my ability to cheer with single purpose for victory in each game, as it comes, yep,
One
Game
At
A
Time
(Now I get to see what others have been writing, and I will not rebut or attempt further in this thread to persuade anyone to adopt my point of view. I've already done my best on that count.
I'm on board with the OP. I do not call the plays. I don't take or make the free throws. And I can't bend anyone else to my will or wishes. It's challenge enough to be myself.
Thanks for reading.
Now's the time.
Go Huskies.)
