What is your definition of success for the 25/26 season?

[Waquoit]

UConn women have done it six times. Why not the men’s team?

When the women did it, they only played 2 or 3 good teams all year.

 

[ucp990411]

I just hope everyone has fun

Reminds of a story from when I coached. Our best returning player was a junior and before the season he told me he just wanted to have fun. Having fun to him meant taking dumb shots, not working at his game, not hustling and so on. About 10 games into the season he wasn’t starting because winning was not as important to him as having fun. He realized what I told my players - WINNING IS FUN!!! and came back his senior year and he had a very good senior season.

 

[RuffRuff]

Bounce back year, calibration. Great roster, filled in the blanks with a complete portal season. Final 4 minimum.

 

[RuffRuff]

I chose the 2nd weekend - ie. sweet 16 as my definition of a successful season. Doesn't mean I don't think we can do better.

Last year, the STAFF bandied about the 3-peat, the players were on board, and fan expectations thru the roof, preseason we were ranked #3. Fast forward - Mahaney was far less than thought/hoped, Karaban had a below average (for him) year, Ross was nowhere near the player the staff raved about in practice, our guards struggled to keep players in front of them, and the disastrous trip losing to Memphis, Dayton, and Colorado (and Seton Hall later) set us on a low path seed and we ended up losing to the national champs in round 2.

So yeah I'm cautiously optimistic. Will Demery be great, very good, good, or average? How about our back up PG Malachi? Will Karaban get back to the Alex we know he can be? I know we expect a lot out of the freshmen, but just how good will they be? Ball has already stepped up as has Reed, but what about Stewart and Ross? Too many questions at this time, and I'm not ready to jump back on the hype bus till we know more about what we have this coming season.

Agree with this in general, my faith is in this very smart staff properly adjusting off a poor overall recruiting cycle last year (HS and portal). Of the HS and portal class we busted on 3/5, another was an adequate OAD, and Tarris is TBD as the real pay off will be next season.

 

[cap10dingus]

Back to Back Championships or it's a lost season