People weren't ready for a rebuild. We have a terrible fan base that doesn't know anything about sports.
UConn fans are the best in the Country if you ask me. Its a reason I'm on the Board.
What you have to realize is that a lot of fans here have long memories, mostly of the good times. We have high expectations, in September think all of our players are potential All Conference and have the best roster in the conference. Fans here have a Championship pedigree, not just National but many Conference titles. Fans here have seen quite a few All Americans (1st team always), NBAers and quite a few rags to riches (my man Hilton). We fans knew Calhoun would one day leave, but with the immediate Championship thereafter we were fooled. We thought the program wouldn't miss a beat, and therefore reality was replaced with fantasy. To add to that we brought in an inexperienced coach who we thought with an NBA pedigree would bring recruits and teach our players how to get to the next level.
Now we have a new coach and we are fooled again, mainly because of his immediate success, the play of our players against cupcakes and of course his name brand.
We all know that Hurley will need time, that this year was not to be a instant championship year. But we fans have passion, high expectations and a keen interest in making sure our players know they can't fail. We expect effort with talent or not. We expect to compete against anyone regardless or the opponents rank. We never expect to be punked. And we expect our players to never give up until the final whistle. That's our brand and it worked for 3 stars and 5 stars players to success.
So yeah rebuilding sucks, its unfamiliar and to impatient and high expectation fans its painful. So we stay in denial and begin each new season with thinking our players will blow threw the Conference.
This is a long way of saying UConn 'basketball' fans don't know what rebuilding looks like, never had to. We had stability, pedigree and a succession of Calhoun coaches out there to continue forward what he built.
I'm old school and even tonight, this fan in denial will turn on the TV and will leave reality in the remote, and cheer our team on with the expectation that we will win, regardless of our record, our marginal roster and our brand new Coach. Its not easy living in tomorrow, when you have a potential to have a surprising and uplifiting
today tonight.
Just some may have low basketball IQ, but I read the posts and chat rooms and I can say the majority of fans weren't ready for this and want it to end (real soon). Until then we are stuck, in denial and wishing our change comes sooner than later. I'd want it no other way, I'm proud to be a Husky fan with all my fellow Yarders. Many of my friends and associates have moved on, hopped off the bandwagon or simply glance and see what's happening and to decide if its time to jump back on. They are the fans who have adjusted to rebuilding and made a decision to eliminate the pain.
Lets get through this together, I certainly can't do it alone. I believe that's why the Yard exist in full force and vibrant today as it was when we were Big East Champs. Honestly there is no difference in activity even though posters have changed.
This is my attempted 'muppetmaker' post for my fellow fans.
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