We got punched in the face

[AdamaNation]

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.

We lost. We didn’t cower away! Why is this being said. The only bullying we saw was in SJs first scoring possession. We scrapped for the whole game. We just lost. My God.

 

[Hoophound]

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

It’s not an overreaction. They were in the lead the majority of the game and we were always struggling to match their intensity. Yes, it was a close game. That’s because we have a nice collection of talent and good coaches, but they were the better team. More athletic, faster, bouncier and more prepared to execute their game plan.

The only real excuse we can have is the foul shot disparity, which was unfair but we should be used to it at this point.

 

[uconngb]

It’s not an overreaction. They were in the lead the majority of the game and we were always struggling to match their intensity. Yes, it was a close game. That’s because we have a nice collection of talent and good coaches, but they were the better team. More athletic, faster, bouncier and more prepared to execute their game plan.

The only real excuse we can have is the foul shot disparity, which was unfair but we should be used to it at this point.

Careful you are going to anger 99% of this board who can’t handle the truth. ABOUT THIS ONE GAME

 

[Kemba15]

It’s not an overreaction. They were in the lead the majority of the game and we were always struggling to match their intensity. Yes, it was a close game. That’s because we have a nice collection of talent and good coaches, but they were the better team. More athletic, faster, bouncier and more prepared to execute their game plan.

The only real excuse we can have is the foul shot disparity, which was unfair but we should be used to it at this point.

Newsflash: when you play a really good team in front of an amped up crowd on the road in a prime time spot, the home team is probably going to play with more tenacity. That’s sports and it’s not unique to UConn last night. And yet it was still a great and close game—I guess our “good coaches” who have won 13 tournament games since 2023 were the reason why!

 

[Padutch5]

It’s not an overreaction. They were in the lead the majority of the game and we were always struggling to match their intensity. Yes, it was a close game. That’s because we have a nice collection of talent and good coaches, but they were the better team. More athletic, faster, bouncier and more prepared to execute their game plan.

The only real excuse we can have is the foul shot disparity, which was unfair but we should be used to it at this point.

It’s not an overreaction. They were in the lead the majority of the game and we were always struggling to match their intensity. Yes, it was a close game. That’s because we have a nice collection of talent and good coaches, but they were the better team. More athletic, faster, bouncier and more prepared to execute their game plan.

The only real excuse we can have is the foul shot disparity, which was unfair but we should be used to it at this point.

When the refs walked onto the floor,Those of us who have followed UCONN closely, knew it was going to be a difficult night to get a fair game. Two of those refs are notorious anti UCONN. And to all of you who will start the mantra ‘the refs are fair, it’s not their fault”. Bull s’’’’’.

 

[Jaydumo20]

They aren't a better team. They are a very good team. That's actually good for us. We know this. We pretty much called for this loss. It still sucks but it doesnt sum it up.

24 got beat by a worse team than this.

 

[SwingDog]

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.

Good post. I think if we're to be honest, we all knew we had been playing with fire. We did get punched in the face, but we also punched back, but it wasn't enough. Yeah, we beat Xavier and Creighton handily coming into this game, but we knew St. John's was a different caliber. Adversity can build character, and this loss is absolutely a humbling opportunity (for both coaches and players) to learn and improve, and I really believe this team will.

You articulated all the points so well, I can't really add any more to it. The only thing I will somewhat disagree with is the notion that Tarris and Solo can't get better and shake those bad habits. I believe they can. We've seen better from them. They just have to lock in on a daily basis mentally and physically. I am looking forward to the remainder of the season.

 

[KingAG]

Everyone is so dramatic

It’s hilarious. We just lost a game lmao. That tends to happen

 

[Inyatkin]

It’s hilarious. We just lost a game lmao. That tends to happen

The best is getting yelled at for not panicking

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Admittedly I haven’t been here long but a lot of the complaining after a loss seems to be from people whose handles I’ve never seen. This isn’t a loss to DePaul or an even worse team (looking at you, Cuse). St John’s is a good team playing at home with a great vampire coach. It’s a process. We need to clean up some stuff but we’re fine.

 

[uconngb]

Admittedly I haven’t been here long but a lot of the complaining after a loss seems to be from people whose handles I’ve never seen. This isn’t a loss to DePaul or an even worse team (looking at you, Cuse). St John’s is a good team playing at home with a great vampire coach. It’s a process. We need to clean up some stuff but we’re fine.

Which is what most people are saying. Again, I have not seen anyone say we suck, or let’s cancel the season cuz we lost one game. All you complaining about the people pointing out our weaknesses need to get a grip. Hurley is doing the same thing, I promise you.

 

[Hoophound]

People aren’t really complaining. We got outplayed by a team that looked better than us. That doesn’t mean we won’t beat them by 20 in Storrs. Last night was disappointing and it confirmed what we were all starting to recognize, we aren’t playing our “A game”. We’ve got work to do.

After last night, I’d consider St John’s a pick’em in Storrs and I’d give them the edge in the BET. I don’t really care what anyone else thinks. We’ll just play the games and hope for the best. I’m not being negative or overreacting, but nothing I saw last night would make me think we’re better than SJU.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Which is what most people are saying. Again, I have not seen anyone say we suck, or let’s cancel the season cuz we lost one game. All you complaining about the people pointing out our weaknesses need to get a grip. Hurley is doing the same thing, I promise you.

I’ve seen you post so it wasn’t directed at you. My point is some d..bags only come out from under their rocks to complain after a loss. I look at this site multiple times a day so I know who the regulars are.

 

[Horatio]

We lost to a rival in our 2nd loss of the season and first loss at full strength. We’re currently 22-2 and our coach now has 2-3 issues to push the 22-2 team harder in practice. We’ll be fine.

 

[uconngb]

We lost to a rival in our 2nd loss of the season and first loss at full strength. We’re currently 22-2 and our coach now has 2-3 issues to push the 22-2 team harder in practice. We’ll be fine.

THIS

 

[caw]

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.

TO's, FT% and total FTs were the difference. TOs and FT disparity can be cleaned up a decent amount but the refs did have a hand in some of it also.

Not saying the refs are out to get UConn but rather the way the game was called was detrimental to UConn, and it was mostly called the same way on both ends. It's the same stuff we've seen for years in the BE. Off ball grabbing/holding just isn't called in the BE, whereas driving and initiating contact is. The off ball grabbing/holding is a cause for the FT disparity and some of the TOs. Hurley will need to adjust a bit but it's less of a concern OOC/in the NCAAT.

The FT% is a bigger issue than the other two IMO. Especially the front-ends being missed.