@ USF on Sunday, @ S Carolina 2/8...

[alexrgct]

Looks to me like those are the two biggest roadblocks to extending the winning streak this much further and marching inexorably towards another NC.

The USF game would be win #51 in a row and would get UConn only four wins away from the third-longest winning streak in WCBB history. As I've mentioned ad nauseum, Uconn already has the two longest streaks at 90 and 70. 55 wins in a row would be #3 in this sport.

The South Carolina game would extend the streak that much further if it's still active by then, but it also would put UConn in a position for the 2015-16 season where it has no more worlds to conquer after an already-stellar schedule. NC #11 would not be guaranteed, especially with the upcoming competition in the NCAA tourney, but likely.

If UConn truly was able to win out after USF Game# 1 and South Carolina, the win streak wold go up to 75. Obviously, that'd be the second-longest streak in WCBB and 16 away from the magical record.

Hell, I'd be more than happy with 11 NCs, even with a broken winning streak, but this is a LOT to track and look forward to...

 

[Roundball fan]

South Carolina doesn't scare me very much, I think UConn will run them till they drop. SC is big but I don't think Coates and Wilson can run with the Big Dogs. Time will tell.

 

[JavaMan]

Looks to me like those are the two biggest roadblocks to extending the winning streak this much further and marching inexorably towards another NC...

Well... the two biggest VISIBLE roadblocks anyway. While I like to think of myself as a positive type fella, I wouldn't rule out the possibility (all-be-it a SLIGHT possibility) of encountering an invisible sinkhole come late March or early April. After all, spring is a time for new beginnings. But, I do like your inference!

 

[donalddoowop]

Does anyone know if the game on Sunday will be televised? I can't find it scheduled on my cable stations or on ESPN3.

 

[ChicagoGG]

UConn schedule shows it on ESPN/ESPN2 but my cable company doesn't seem to have it listed either....Bueller??

 

[j66kicker]

My cable company (Cox) doesn't show it either. Shows UNC at ND on ESPN2 at 1:00 (ET) and Maryland at Iowa on ESPN2 at 3:00, then nuthin'. The msn guide for my cable provider doesn't show it either.

However the WatchESPN "Upcoming" schedule for Sunday does our game to be on ESPN. ????

 

[alexrgct]

Sunday's game is on ESPN (main channel) at 5:00 PM ET. It will also be on ESPN3/WatchESPN.

 

[alexrgct]

South Carolina doesn't scare me very much, I think UConn will run them till they drop. SC is big but I don't think Coates and Wilson can run with the Big Dogs. Time will tell.

If Butler and Stewie are able to go health-wise, we've got GREAT size to hang with the Gamecocks.

 

[Tonyc]

SC does not have a lot of reliable outside shooters. Their bigs are not great ball handlers and are not very quick. UConn is very quick, has size and can handle the ball. UConns has two very good outside shooters in Stewie and MoJeff. Katie Lou has of late shown signs of catching fire from deep. So we will see. Uconns quickness and press should give SC fits. It should be pretty hard for SC to get the ball inside as UConn will pack it in much like last season, and play Mitchell one on one. Im not to concerned about this game barring any southern cookin on fouls.

 

[Carnac]

Well... the two biggest VISIBLE roadblocks anyway. While I like to think of myself as a positive type fella, I wouldn't rule out the possibility (all-be-it a SLIGHT possibility) of encountering an invisible sinkhole come late March or early April. After all, spring is a time for new beginnings. But, I do like your inference!

Invisible sinkholes are like black ice. You can't see either of them coming, but when you encounter one, it can be devastating. Because of the way Geno and staff approach each game (play against the game or the fundamentals, not the other team), it's difficult for UConn to fall into a trap game. Our girls are trained and drilled to play the same way every time, one game at a time, no matter the opponent, or which one of our girls (starters or bench) are on the floor.

That's how Stanford lost to Texas last year right after beating UConn. They got up for the huskies, they did not for the Longhorns. The Longhorns snuck up on them while they were still celebrating (and the campus was still buzzing) 3 days after beating us. Stanford didn't get serious about winning that game until halftime. It was too late then. Texas had their foot on Stanford's throat by then, and was not going to let up. If Stanford had played Texas like they played us, they would have easily won that game. That was very embarrassing for Stanford. IF.......If UConn wins that game, they would be riding the crest of a 141 game win streak. Talk about records that will never be broken!!!

USF is not exactly setting the world (or WCBB) on fire. USF has only played 2 ranked opponents (#5 Baylor & #8 Miss. St.) to this point, and lost to both of them, and to St. John's. They are 9-3 as of today. They are ranked (as of today) #22 (AP), # 18 (USA today). I'm not suggesting that we can or should take them lightly. That would be a mistake. I'm betting that Maryland and ND gave UConn a better game than they will, and UConn has already weathered those storms (without Butler).

I like UConn's approach of playing through their schedule, knowing everyone of their opponents would give a king's ransom to knock them off. UConn's approach: "respect every opponent, and adopt the mindset that the most important game on your schedule is "THE NEXT GAME". i.e.; play every game like the opponent is Notre Dame. UConn Nation knows how the huskies get up for the Irish.....and they get up for us.

This may sound a bit cynical, but I'm going to say it anyway. WCBB is a lot more afraid of UConn, than UConn is afraid of it (David vs Goliath). Everybody wants UConn to lose, but not many are willing to try. They fear a 30-40+ point loss. NO team wants to be in UConn's bracket come March. The only way a team wants to meet UConn is for the national championship.

There's only 3-4 teams that have a real legitimate chance of beating UConn in the tournament. Anyone outside of those 3-4 teams thinking about defeating the Huskies is pure folly. The last two years, UConn has had only 1 or 2 competitive games (Dayton, BYU, ND) during the tournament. IF UConn encounters those 3-4 teams at all, it won't be until games 4,5, or 6. By the time the final four meet in Indianapolis, most of the would be "Davids" will have knocked each other off then. Assuming UConn goes all the way, UConn will only see two of them. UConn should be on a roll by then. Go Huskies.

 

[pacific 44]

You say you are a "positive type fella'there JavaMan.If i saw you in a dark alley,that's the first thing i would say."Now there's a positve type fella if i ever saw one".lol

 

[JavaMan]

You say you are a "positive type fella'there JavaMan.If i saw you in a dark alley,that's the first thing i would say."Now there's a positve type fella if i ever saw one".lol

Wow! Thanks for the flowers. BTW, stay out of dark alley's, you never know what you might encounter.

 

[Zorro]

Invisible sinkholes are like black ice. You can't see either of them coming, but when you encounter one, it can be devastating. Because of the way Geno and staff approach each game (play against the game or the fundamentals, not the other team), it's difficult for UConn to fall into a trap game. Our girls are trained and drilled to play the same way every time, one game at a time, no matter the opponent, or which one of our girls (starters or bench) are on the floor.

That's how Stanford lost to Texas last year right after beating UConn. They got up for the huskies, they did not for the Longhorns. The Longhorns snuck up on them while they were still celebrating (and the campus was still buzzing) 3 days after beating us. Stanford didn't get serious about winning that game until halftime. It was too late then. Texas had their foot on Stanford's throat by then, and was not going to let up. If Stanford had played Texas like they played us, they would have easily won that game. That was very embarrassing for Stanford. IF..If UConn wins that game, they would be riding the crest of a 141 game win streak. Talk about records that will never be broken!!!

USF is not exactly setting the world (or WCBB) on fire. USF has only played 2 ranked opponents (#5 Baylor & #8 Miss. St.) to this point, and lost to both of them, and to St. John's. They are 9-3 as of today. They are ranked (as of today) #22 (AP), # 18 (USA today). I'm not suggesting that we can or should take them lightly. That would be a mistake. I'm betting that Maryland and ND gave UConn a better game than they will, and UConn has already weathered those storms (without Butler).

I like UConn's approach of playing through their schedule, knowing everyone of their opponents would give a king's ransom to knock them off. UConn's approach: "respect every opponent, and adopt the mindset that the most important game on your schedule is "THE NEXT GAME". i.e.; play every game like the opponent is Notre Dame. UConn Nation knows how the huskies get up for the Irish.....and they get up for us.

This may sound a bit cynical, but I'm going to say it anyway. WCBB is a lot more afraid of UConn, than UConn is afraid of it (David vs Goliath). Everybody wants UConn to lose, but not many are willing to try. They fear a 30-40+ point loss. NO team wants to be in UConn's bracket come March. The only way a team wants to meet UConn is for the national championship.

There's only 3-4 teams that have a real legitimate chance of beating UConn in the tournament. Anyone outside of those 3-4 teams thinking about defeating the Huskies is pure folly. The last two years, UConn has had only 1 or 2 competitive games (Dayton, BYU, ND) during the tournament. IF UConn encounters those 3-4 teams at all, it won't be until games 4,5, or 6. By the time the final four meet in Indianapolis, most of the would be "Davids" will have knocked each other off then. Assuming UConn goes all the way, UConn will only see two of them. UConn should be on a roll by then. Go Huskies.

Uh, Carnac...check the high-level teams that have agreed to play the Huskies next season.

 

[Carnac]

Uh, Carnac...check the high-level teams that have agreed to play the Huskies next season.

Ahhh...Don Diego my man, I didn't say "everybody is scared", I said "not many are willing to try". Thank goodness there are some programs willing to accept the challenge. Stanford, ND, Baylor, South Carolina, Ohio State, DePaul, Maryland etc. We need the high level competition we'll get from those games.

I think that with the departure of Stewart and Jefferson, some coaches may think that the Huskies will have lost a lot of their "bite", and may be more willing to schedule them.