We got punched in the face

[uconngb]

We all knew it was coming, I’m sure Dan Hurley did too. We clearly weren’t ready for it, which is disappointing. But certainly not the end of the season.

Now let’s see the response. Dan Hurley has been preaching tenacity and urgency through all these cupcake conference games we squeaked out. The half full crowd said “who cares, we’re winning”. The half empty crowd was saying “it will catch up to us against better competition. I guess both were right.

But it’s clear we have to step up our collective game. Too much complacency and poor fundamental play. Missed FTs, lazy passes, pure bonehead plays. I would have hoped that a lot of that would have been coached out of certain players by now. Im concerned about continued bad habits out of a couple very key players (Reed, Ball) because I am afraid they are who they are.

Ultimately it will come down to matchups and we are always going to struggle with hard nosed, physical teams because that’s just not who we are. I do believe we have enough to be dangerous, just need to cut down on these low BBIQ plays. And dammit work on the FTs.

 

[jibsey]

Agree. We got punched in the face and the refs let it slide. 31-12.

 

[uconngb]

Agree. We got punched in the face and the refs let it slide. 31-12.

We did not lose because of the refs. We turned the ball over too much and shot 40% free throws. SJU took it to us and we wilted.

 

[Kemba15]

Agree with some of your points but I’m not sure losing to a good team on the road is getting “punched in the face.” We were also down 11 with 10 to go and got it down to 1 with 5 to go. So that clearly shows fight. We’re not a flawless team, losses will happen

 

[Inyatkin]

Everyone is so dramatic

 

[uconngb]

Agree with some of your points but I’m not sure losing to a good team on the road is getting “punched in the face.” We were also down 11 with 10 to go and got it down to 1 with 5 to go. So that clearly shows fight. We’re not a flawless team, losses will happen

True….just seemed like SJU took the game to us more than vice versa

 

[uh-no]

Agree. We got punched in the face and the refs let it slide. 31-12.

the reffing last night didn't push us to #263 in the country in FT rate....unless there is a conspiracy with refs across the country, we actually and consistently just suck at generating FTs.

 

[Hoophound]

The problem is nuanced when it comes to the refs. When an opponent is allowed to bully you, it often results in bad passes, mental mistakes and missed shots. Its hard to play well being grabbed, pushed and elbowed on both ends.

Just one example, but in the low post, SJU could have been called for 5+ offensive fouls. They were bumping, forcefully putting their shoulders into our chests and pushing hard. Whenever the whistle blew, somehow it was on us. It is hard to reconcile what exactly you should do when you are getting beat up but the foul is always on you.

I am coming around to the idea that these games really help us in the tourney. The Big East is tough and in terms of physicality, SJU is as tough as it gets. They just don't allow this in other conferences.

All that said, I thought St John's looked great last night and the atmosphere was fantastic. It was a battle.

 

[AllHusky]

Henny Pennys

 

[auror]

Agree with some of your points but I’m not sure losing to a good team on the road is getting “punched in the face.” We were also down 11 with 10 to go and got it down to 1 with 5 to go. So that clearly shows fight. We’re not a flawless team, losses will happen

Bingo. St. John's made the plays down the stretch. They played physical, but we were driving to the hole more than usual and didn't play soft.

Darling hit the step back 27 footer. Mitchell made that awesome tip putback. Demary missed the front of 1&1 down 4 with 1:17 left. Demary threw the ball away on the press instead of calling TO.

Then we had to foul. Very easily could have been a tie game with a minute left.

 

[2014DualCs]

I find it hysterical that after a loss there’s 17 diff threads about what happened, what needs to be done, and will we ever recover.

It was their Super Bowl. They had it circled on the calendar for months. We played awful and still had a shot to win which shows we’re a good team.

Share your thoughts in the post game thread. Your thoughts aren’t more relevant than anyone else’s…so let’s not post a separate thread because you believe your thoughts deserve to be more front and center and not buried in 400+ responses.

 

[uconngb]

I find it hysterical that after a loss there’s 17 diff threads about what happened, what needs to be done, and will we ever recover.

It was their Super Bowl. They had it circled on the calendar for months. We played awful and still had a shot to win which shows we’re a good team.

Share your thoughts in the post game thread. Your thoughts aren’t more relevant than anyone else’s…so let’s not post a separate thread because you believe your thoughts deserve to be more front and center and not buried in 400+ responses.

lol…..the internet police are now on the scene

 

[Hoophound]

I find it hysterical that after a loss there’s 17 diff threads about what happened, what needs to be done, and will we ever recover.

It was their Super Bowl. They had it circled on the calendar for months. We played awful and still had a shot to win which shows we’re a good team.

Share your thoughts in the post game thread. Your thoughts aren’t more relevant than anyone else’s…so let’s not post a separate thread because you believe your thoughts deserve to be more front and center and not buried in 400+ responses.

We didn’t play awful, they bullied us and controlled pretty much the entire game. They did it to us.

 

[Kemba15]

We didn’t play awful, they bullied us and controlled pretty much the entire game. They did it to us.

They were more physical but this is a pretty wild overreaction. It was tied at half and it was a 1 point game with 5 to go

 

[Windham4th]

Uconn should drop all athletics after this loss.

Intramurals and Oozeball only

 

[gtcam]

If Read can't give a total effort this team will go nowhere.
There are times when I feel the team runs it's offense better with Reibe in there, plus I feel more comfortable with Eric on the free throw line.
Ball is inconsistent at best and he needs to drive to the hoop or pull up at make those middies.
UConn did not look like a team that was ready to come out in their biggest game season to date and make a statement- this one is on the whole team - including Dan Hurley
Men vs boys was the scene at MSG last night
Yes, the poor officiating played a part but stupid mistakes and the deer in the headlight appearance had zero to do with the officials. The fact is that Pitino knows how to work the refs and Dan Hurley knows how to piss them off.
UConn can beat this SJ team but the entire UConn MBB program has to look at themselves in the mirror and discover if they have the stuff to play with fire and tenacity.
They can start with finding a way to get BM at least 20 clean looks at the rim every night. A talent like him is a shame to ignore.
Time to get off the mat, dust off and come out like one of the top 5 programs in the nation every game.

 

[gtcam]

I find it hysterical that after a loss there’s 17 diff threads about what happened, what needs to be done, and will we ever recover.

It was their Super Bowl. They had it circled on the calendar for months. We played awful and still had a shot to win which shows we’re a good team.

Share your thoughts in the post game thread. Your thoughts aren’t more relevant than anyone else’s…so let’s not post a separate thread because you believe your thoughts deserve to be more front and center and not buried in 400+ responses.

and you are now the BY posting sheriff appointed by whom?

 

[jibsey]

They had 1 less game in the last week or so. Hurley actually mentioned that not as an excuse but he held back on practice. This is not a catastrophe but we need to attack weakness. The free throw thing is a problem that defies a quick solution.

 

[blkknight1]

I said it last night that St. John’s came out right from the start playing bully ball and there is only one way to respond to that you gotta punch the bully right back in the mouth.

They dictated to us how we were going to we never forced them out of the way they wanted to play.

 

[FightOnCT]

I get airing out thoughts, frustrations and all, I do it too, but must every loss be an existential crisis?

 

[uconngb]

I said it last night that St. John’s came out right from the start playing bully ball and there is only one way to respond to that you gotta punch the bully right back in the mouth.

They dictated to us how we were going to we never forced them out of the way they wanted to play.

Agreed

 

[TheShot1990]

Everyone is so dramatic

Dude. We’re all logged into a website called “the boneyard.” You too.

 

[HuskyBoi]

This place is something else. I mean we just lost our second game of the season. The second. We are 22-2 and people acting like we are a 7-8 loss team . News flash - losing happens. Team looks great overall all season except a few unexpected close ones in January. That was their best game of the season. We get them back at home

 

[jdb50]

We had the long win streak but St Johns was on a roll and I did not think we would win this one at their place. Knowing we could face them in the BET as well as the game at PBA I could live with it. We were in the game late and responded to small deficits but known problems for us raised their heads. Solo's wrist injury affecting his play? Free throw shooting by everyone. Inbounds issues vs pressure. Tarris vs a great offensive center. The home game will tell us the most about where we stand. Every player better be ready. St Johns has depth and they played well Friday night.

 

[uconngb]

This place is something else. I mean we just lost our second game of the season. The second. We are 22-2 and people acting like we are a 7-8 loss team . News flash - losing happens. Team looks great overall all season except a few unexpected close ones in January. That was their best game of the season. We get them back at home

So I guess we should all just “no comment” after a loss”” or say “good effort boys??”

Lot of thin skins on this board. I don’t think one person that commented on the game last night is suggesting the rest of the season should be canceled.