We are who we are and the sky isn't falling

[05Alum]

1) We have one of the best coaches and coaching staffs in the country
2) We are flawed and deserving of an 8-10 seed
3) Nagging injuries (Karaban, Diarra) have hampered our play and slowed development of our most prized recruit
4) Just like any other team in the tourney, any team can go on a run and we have the benefit of item #1
5) The team doesn't quit
6) The team can be fun to watch, and frustrating to watch
7) A "bad" year is still, as of now, getting us into the tournament. We couldn't say that five years ago
8) We have a top five recruiting class next year and a coaching staff that eats and sleeps basketball.
Let's all enjoy the rest of this season and sleep well that we have meaningful games to get us through the rest of winter, and a promising season ahead.

 

[jibsey]

1) We have one of the best coaches and coaching staffs in the country
2) We are flawed and deserving of an 8-10 seed
3) Nagging injuries (Karaban, Diarra) have hampered our play and slowed development of our most prized recruit
4) Just like any other team in the tourney, any team can go on a run and we have the benefit of item #1
5) The team doesn't quit
6) The team can be fun to watch, and frustrating to watch
7) A "bad" year is still, as of now, getting us into the tournament. We couldn't say that five years ago
8) We have a top five recruiting class next year and a coaching staff that eats and sleeps basketball.
Let's all enjoy the rest of this season and sleep well that we have meaningful games to get us through the rest of winter, and a promising season ahead.

Very well said!

 

[ctbro1999]

Not a 100% match, but this gif comes to mind reading the title of this thread.

 

[Old blue]

I agree, sky isn't falling. I was at the game yesterday. Flew in from Columbus and met 8 other family members at the game. I'd say the crowd was about 60/40 st johns. From the outset it was evident they were just more athletic, bigger and skilled at every position. The 8 point swing around the flagrant 1 was a game killer. But they're 3 pt shooting in the 1st half truly put the game away. If we had not gone 1-7 from 3 in the 1st we might have had a chance. The other thing that became obvious was Karaban just trying to do too much. At least 4 times I could see he mishandled the ball looking ahead to pass before he had the ball. You can't do that with the on ball pressure st johns brings. All in all st johns is not 20 pts better then Uconn, but I do think they have a aura that Uconn just doesn't have this year. Its evident when watching up close. I have only the expectation they make the tournament and win 1 game at this point. Looking forward to that and next year. Thankfull for all Uconn basketball has done for their fans over last 30 years. GO UConn!

 

[Austin316]

7) A "bad" year is still, as of now, getting us into the tournament. We couldn't say that five years ago

This. I try not getting too down and remember how bad it was pre-Hurley.

That being said I miss the Rocky I and Rocky II versions of Hurley. I want that back.

 

[boog204]

It's a wonderful problem when this year is such an outright "mess" as some have said. We've known since Maui this was a potentially flawed team and most of those "worries" at that point have come to fruition (defense, lack of athleticism, lack of ballhandling, lack of creators, toughness, guard play), etc. All of that was brought up back then. Everyone involved knows this was a poorly constructed team and that certain guys have not lived up to (unrealistic?) expectations. It is what it is. I still think we can beat a lot of people and unfortunately lose to almost anyone depending on the matchup.

Moving forward, I believe the staff will reflect and adjust accordingly and recognize how the roster needs to be altered. This unfortunately includes knowing what players just are not going to work out and tweaking their recruiting philosophy. We cannot just think we can take finesse players and make them tough defensive players. We cannot think the system/culture will always surmount athleticism and toughness.

 

[Methalius]

As I had stated in August of 2024 when people were throwing out predictions of winning a 3rd title in 3 years, we need to have patience with this team. Yes, this team has been a disappointment. Yes, this team has flaws and arguably could be considered under achieving but do not write off Ross and Stewart and the Freshmen other than McNeeley. Give them all time to develop and grow into big time players. A lot of kids who can score end up being considered "big time" recruits and are expected to come in immediately and to replicate their High School or Prep performance in College. Everyone matures and grows at their own pace. Not every young man can be Stephon Castle and immediately be the player that everyone is expecting or projecting them to be. A lot of the Underclassmen were asked to do things that perhaps is not something that they suited for. Clearly Aiden Mahaney is one of them. He might perform well in a St Mary's environment where there is no spotlight but coming to UConn and being expected to defend and run the offense? Clearly he is overmatched.

Everyone has a down year. This is UConn's. Despite their disappointing season, it's not over. They can still make a run. Do I expect it? Absolutely not. I am giving Hurley and his staff a pass. You can't win every year. I firmly believe that they will end up being a National Title Contender in 2025-26.

 

[ctbro1999]

Honestly, a 3-peat was probably a pipe dream (I still hold out Jim Carey "so you're saying there's a chance" meme hope though). I mean there's a reason no one has 3-peated in college bball since the John Wooden era. Didn't the last 2 teams to 2-peat not even make the tourney?
All I'm expecting ROS is to win the games we're supposed to win, get in the tourney as a probably 7 or lower seed, and then hope for the best.
You 100% know if we are seeded 8 or 9, we are getting put in Duke's region. Honestly, if we are gonna be lined up opposite a 1 seed, I'd prefer it be Duke.

 

[Marat]

No, the sky is not falling. It just stinks knowing we most likely won't be kings of college bball again - for 2025. Let's see if anything good happens rest of way and I'm excited to see what happens in the portal for us.

 

[August_West]

It's a wonderful problem when this year is such an outright "mess" as some have said. We've known since Maui this was a potentially flawed team and most of those "worries" at that point have come to fruition (defense, lack of athleticism, lack of ballhandling, lack of creators, toughness, guard play), etc. All of that was brought up back then. Everyone involved knows this was a poorly constructed team and that certain guys have not lived up to (unrealistic?) expectations. It is what it is. I still think we can beat a lot of people and unfortunately lose to almost anyone depending on the matchup.

Moving forward, I believe the staff will reflect and adjust accordingly and recognize how the roster needs to be altered and unfortunately what players just are not going to work out and also tweak their recruiting philosophy. We cannot just think we can take finesse players and make them tough defensive players. We cannot think the system/culture will always surmount athleticism and toughness.

" You dont need a Point Guard in todays College Basketball" - Dan Hurley

I bet he changes that thinking. If he doesn't he should.

We are going to be looking at an entirely new roster next season. I dont know if that is a good thing or bad. If we get one or two back that will be more than I am expecting. I absolutely love our recruits coming in next year.Already one of my favorite classes ever, but Im a little wary about talent besides Solo not developing and getting no return on any of those players before they move on.

 

[UCan3]

This. I try not getting too down and remember how bad it was pre-Hurley.

That being said I miss the Rocky I and Rocky II versions of Hurley. I want that back.

I thought he should have earned a tech yesterday. Liam was mauled a couple of times with no calls and was held for most of the game.

Give me the old Hurley! This 2.0 version looks a little too content LOL

 

[Iluvsuebird]

" You dont need a Point Guard in todays College Basketball" - Dan Hurley

I bet he changes that thinking. If he doesn't he should.

We are going to be looking at an entirely new roster next season. I dont know if that is a good thing or bad. If we get one or two back that will be more than I am expecting. I absolutely love our recruits coming in next year.Already one of my favorite classes ever, but Im a little wary about talent besides Solo not developing and getting no return on any of those players before they move on.

If Alex is the Alex we all expected this year, and Liam does not get hurt, if Reed, Jr. was consistent, and if we had not been so completely OFF on 3 players (Ross, Stewart and Mahaney), we have 20+ wins and a very solid seed in March, even with suboptimal PG play.

But all those things happened. And we are still at 18 wins with 4 to go. All I am saying is that from where we are to where we need to go, its not that far.

 

[boog204]

If Alex is the Alex we all expected this year, and Liam does not get hurt, if Reed, Jr. was consistent, and if we had not been so completely OFF on 3 players (Ross, Stewart and Mahaney), we have 20+ wins and a very solid seed in March, even with suboptimal PG play.

But all those things happened. And we are still at 18 wins with 4 to go. All I am saying is that from where we are to where we need to go, its not that far.

This was the #2 rated team in the country and DH was pissed we were not #1. All of the "ifs" from above, if they all were positive, would have us in the convo for a three-peat. We're nowhere near that. We've still had, all things considered, a solid year. There are a ton of teams that would love to win 20 wins and get to "dance." But we're better than that. We're where we were pre-championships. And that is okay and I'm hoping this is the dose of humility/reality DH and whoever returns needs to remember that it's not all a given and it wasn't supposed to be as easy as it was the latter half of 23 and all of 24. But we certainly have several things that need to be changed/altered if we aspire to be a final-four team again.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

If Alex is the Alex we all expected this year, and Liam does not get hurt, if Reed, Jr. was consistent, and if we had not been so completely OFF on 3 players (Ross, Stewart and Mahaney), we have 20+ wins and a very solid seed in March, even with suboptimal PG play.

But all those things happened. And we are still at 18 wins with 4 to go. All I am saying is that from where we are to where we need to go, its not that far.

Why are you blaming guys like Ross and Mahaney who barely play for the recent losses?

 

[SwingDog]

2) We are flawed and deserving of an 8-10 seed
5) The team doesn't quit
6) The team can be fun to watch, and frustrating to watch

With 4 regular season games and the Big East tournament remaining, I really don't care about seeds.

I love that this team doesn't quit, which was evident yesterday, but the pattern of W, L, W, L, W, W, L, W, L, W, L is incredibly frustrating indeed. Aside from the winning stretch coming out of Maui, this is the way the season has been. They haven't been able to build on great victories and sustain any kind of momentum. It must be that the injuries and roster deficiencies are just too much to overcome. That said, as difficult as it is to see, maybe we put it together and go on a post season run but based on the body of work thus far my hopes aren't high.

 

[bendm]

Why are you blaming guys like Ross and Mahaney who barely play for the recent losses?

Because we were relying on them and they’ve done jack? If you hadnt noticed we don’t have a backup PG

 

[amishboy]

Why are you blaming guys like Ross and Mahaney who barely play for the recent losses?

Maybe because, looking back, the expectation was that they all WOULD be playing, i.e., they’d at least be in the rotation and contributing on a regular basis? Instead, after 26 games, we’re still trying to figure out what’s “reality” and what’s “illusion” with them.

 

[SwingDog]

Let me add, after this season I think all UConn fans could probably benefit from attending a bipolar support group.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Whenever I get bummed about UConn Basketball, I either look back at the last two championships or look forward to:

 

[uconndogs]

Whenever I get bummed about UConn Basketball, I either look back at the last two championships or look forward to:
View attachment 107242

In pursuing national championships I'm not sure what's more imortant:

Going to the portal with lots of money to attract the best proven talent in the country....or

Recruiting at a high level assuming talent won't jump ship as it is developed.

I know it's a combination of the two, but with the right amount of money you can build very good teams with talent that is developed and proven at this level.

 

[SwingDog]

Maybe because, looking back, the expectation was that they all WOULD be playing, i.e., they’d at least be in the rotation and contributing on a regular basis? Instead, after 26 games, we’re still trying to figure out what’s “reality” and what’s “illusion” with them.

Great point. When we look at the teams from the past two season with the bench depth, everyone was contributing. You could almost swap out 5 players for a fresh 5 and hardly skip a beat. This season it just hasn't been the case and I don't think we were expecting that.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Moving forward, I believe the staff will reflect and adjust accordingly and recognize how the roster needs to be altered. This unfortunately includes knowing what players just are not going to work out and tweaking their recruiting philosophy. We cannot just think we can take finesse players and make them tough defensive players. We cannot think the system/culture will always surmount athleticism and toughness.

I agree that the sky is not falling. The obvious flaw is what stated above. With only 4 games remaining very little adjustments have been made with respect with the current personell.

 

[ctbro1999]

With 4 regular season games and the Big East tournament remaining, I really don't care about seeds.

I love that this team doesn't quit, which was evident yesterday, but the pattern of W, L, W, L, W, W, L, W, L, W, L is incredibly frustrating indeed. Aside from the winning stretch coming out of Maui, this is the way the season has been. They haven't been able to build on great victories and sustain any kind of momentum. It must be that the injuries and roster deficiencies are just too much to overcome. That said, as difficult as it is to see, maybe we put it together and go on a post season run but based on the body of work thus far my hopes aren't high.

Yeah, look at Illinois. That team totally quit against Duke getting blown out by 43. If we get matched up with Duke 2nd round, it would be a huge stretch to think we could win but we won't get blown out by 40+.

 

[Connecticut13]

The sky isn't falling, but I unfortunately don't think there's any real hope for a run this season. We just don't have any ball handling guards, other than a hobbled Diarra. Nearly impossible to beat any top team without that. When we went on unexpected runs in 2011 and 2014, we had excellent ball-handling guards (Kemba/Lamb, Napier/Boatright).

I didn't expect a three-peat before the season, but I was hopeful that we'd be a top 15, or at least a top 25, team all season. A season like this, where we're not really in the national conversation anymore, hurts us. With our coaching staff, I was expecting to be nationally relevant, even in a down year. Clearly, I was expecting too much.

 

[SwingDog]

In pursuing national championships I'm not sure what's more imortant:

Going to the portal with lots of money to attract the best proven talent in the country....or

Recruiting at a high level assuming talent won't jump ship as it is developed.

I know it's a combination of the two, but with the right amount of money you can build very good teams with talent that is developed and proven at this level.

Yes, but in this day and age it seems like we all want instant gratification. It's incredible how much things have changed to the point we are no longer patient enough for even a two season rebuild- we want it NOW. And seeing how Pitino went shopping in the portal to build his roster so quickly only ups the ante. I'm not saying it's right or that I like it (actually, I don't), but that's suddenly the way it is now.