What's the proudest/most satisfied you've been as a fan after a loss?

[champs99and04]

Piggybacking off that other thread, I've generally found that as a sports fan, I sometimes gain more respect/admiration for a team in defeat than I ever could in victory. Unfortunately, most of the time it seems that those spirited efforts in defeat are marred by all sorts of other factors. I know I wouldn't have thought any less of this most recent UConn team if they had lost somewhere along the way, and I'm sure many of you feel the same way.

Personally speaking, maybe it's recency bias coming into play, but I've never been more satisfied with the efforts of a UConn team than after the heartbreaking double OT loss to Georgetown last year. It wasn't a particularly well-played game, but I'll always remember sitting in Gampel, watching them fall behind by double digits as Georgetown shot the lights out in the second half, and thinking there was no way we'd make a game of it. By that point in the season, the team was basically limping towards the finish line. Calhoun was playing with an injured wrist, Napier had just badly turned his ankle, Wolf had been suspended leaving us with no post depth whatsoever, and guys like Nolan weren't quite ready to contribute yet. But from about the ten minute mark in the second half forward, and unit consisting of Napier, Boatright, Calhoun, Daniels, and Giffey simply poured their guts out and willed us back into the game before a few costly mistakes hurt us late in double overtime. Live, it was remarkable to watch - here were a group of kids playing at a considerable height and girth disadvantage clawing their way back into the game through sheer determination and hustle. And they had absolutely nothing to play for. From that point forward, I knew we would never see a more inspiring core of Huskies again.

I'm curious to hear what others think on this.

 

[CAHUSKY]

The Fiesta Bowl in PHX. I never could have fathomed in a million years we would be playing Oklahoma in a BCS bowl but we did. And, contrary to media reports, we had a ton of fans there. Although the game wasn't all that close, i was extremely proud that UCONN was there and that I was among the faithful cheering them on. ( I went with a football game as I've never felt anything positive after a hoop loss)

 

[dogpause]

When I was drunk and at a buffet.

 

[TheRogers]

1998 NCAA in Greensboro vs UNC - played tough in a "neutral" floor
1996 shoot out vs UCLA

 

[dsturdy5]

Caron's final game-couldn't ask for more from that group.
6 OT game-I think I was just glad it was over
Final Four in 09-everything was against a team that had a ton returning the next year.

 

[FeedTheDove]

6 OT game for sure.

Satisfied with a 6 OT game? Could be the biggest understatement of all time.

Yeah, sure it was Cuse. But that game epitomized the greatness of the Big East and put it on a pedestal for the entire country to see. It represented what college basketball is all about. Most of all, after the game was over around 2 a.m. you knew you had watched something truly special - a legendary game that will be talked about for years. I'm really glad that we were a part of that.

 

[boog204]

A few of mine...

1) 6 OT vs. Cuse
2) 95 shootout vs. UCLA. Ray drops 36- I thought Toby Bailey and Ray would be the faces of basketball after this game.
3) 03? vs. Maryland. Caron's last game, best player on the court, left it all out there.
4) 97 vs. Kansas. Kansas was #1 in the country, this was our first game without Ricky and Kirk King. We were up most of the 1st half and despite the loss I knew that that group would be the first UConn team to get to a final four. We started 3 frosh and Rash Jones and played our balls off.
5) 90 vs. Duke. Heartbreaking on many levels, but that game (and loss) to Chrissy and Rat Face showed the nation that we did in fact belong. And if Tate could've just held onto the damn ball, we go to the final four. Although, I have to admit even now, I think we would've been annihilated by UNLV had we met up with them.
6) 09 vs. MSU. Thought we were beaten by the better team and for whatever reason, that year, and only that year, I was just happy to be in the Final Four. The other 4 trips to the FF would've been a massive disappointment had we lost.
7) Mid 80s Tim Coles vs. Patrick Ewing. I have only vague memories of these games because I was only 5 or 6. But I still remember my dad explaining how mental toughness can sometimes overcome physical strength. Coles was maybe 6-6 and he battled Ewing to an even draw in most of their meetings. Coles was my first favorite UConn player.
8) Late in JC's first year... Gamble and Uncle Spliffy had already been suspended and Greg Economou became our starting 2G. Then he started hitting 3's and even though we were crazily undermanned, we still battled.

 

[Danzz]

Kansas game @ HCC when Ricky Moore and Kirk King were suspended and we gave Kansas all they could handle. Don't remember the year.

 

[Migs]

Kansas game @ HCC when Ricky Moore and Kirk King were suspended and we gave Kansas all they could handle. Don't remember the year.

I second this. 1996-97 season with freshman Rip, K Free, and Jake "The Snake." That game has been mentioned several times when discussions regarding loudest crowds ever start up. One of the best low-highs I can remember.

 

[8893]

I don't understand the question.

 

[Waquoit]

1998 NCAA in Greensboro vs UNC - played tough in a "neutral" floor

That did it for me. We went toe-to-toe with Carter and Jamison. Came away knowing we were going to be a top contender the next year.

 

[7774]

I can't believe so many people mentioned the 6 OT game. We played so incredibly badly, especially in regulation, and the only reason we even got it to overtime was that Syracuse also played poorly.

My only feeling after that game was terror that we were going to flame out of the NCAAs in the first round, but then we went out and played 4 of our best games of the year in a row and went to the FF. If we had played against Syracuse like we played in any of those 4 games we would have beaten them by 20+. We were way, way better than them that year.

 

[BoatShow]

Leaving Gampel after GTown last year didn't even feel like a loss.

 

[bobbygt]

I can't believe so many people mentioned the 6 OT game. We played so incredibly badly, especially in regulation, and the only reason we even got it to overtime was that Syracuse also played poorly.

My only feeling after that game was terror that we were going to flame out of the NCAAs in the first round, but then we went out and played 4 of our best games of the year in a row and went to the FF. If we had played against Syracuse like we played in any of those 4 games we would have beaten them by 20+. We were way, way better than them that year.

At some point during the OT, maybe 3 or 4, I was thinking it might be better to lose. I know it's Syracuse we're talking about, but I was thinking that a loss would allow them to rest a bit before the tourney (of course my Tired theory was debunked by Kemba and the Youngsters!).

I knew that team was not going to lose early, not with AJ, HT and Adrien.

So, in a sense, it wasn't the worst of losses for me at the time.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Last years team was special ,that might be the most overachieving team ever.
With injuries ,suspension,and nothing to play for it was something I'll never forget.
That's why this years success should have come as no suprise.

 

[David 76]

As hard as it was, to bring Duke to overtime and lose on a last second shot in 1990 was a loss I was proud of. We came so far in that year, from doormat to Big East Champs and an NCAA #1 seed. I was so proud of those guys.

 

[ju6381]

Kansas game at HCC was the loudest I have ever heard that building.

 

[Husky999]

Far and away, the Uconn Maryland game in 2002. Maryland was the best team in the nation that year and the eventual champion. Our 2nd option was..... Johnnie Selvie. Johnnie fuc@ing Selvie, or Trob depending on how u look at it. We were a BS Steve Blake 25% 3 point shooter, 3, (his only bucket of the entire game) from making the final 4. He misses that shot and we have a shot to tie it up or win at the buzzer. I believe we were down 2 when he hit the shot with roughly 30 seconds on the clock. I left the Carrier dome knowing Caron was gone but that we had an amazing nucleus coming back, and we would be a force to be reckoned with down the road. I was so proud of that team. They had absolutely no business being in the elite 8. Caron was just an absolute beast in that game..... 32 points. 26 in the second. Damn near won the game for us by himself. Seriously the only time I've ever been to a UCONN loss and been satisfied upon leaving.

Someone here mentioned the 1990 Duke game. We were a better team than Duke that year and we should have beaten them. I left Brendan Byrne arena pissed. Definitely not proud right after the game (although ultimately so proud of the season when they came home) .... Felt we let one get away and remember thinking it could take a very long time before we got another shot at the final 4.

 

[ASweet3781]

2002 vs Maryland.

We beat any other team in that tournament that day. That was the National Title game that year.

Ditto 1998 vs UNC. We we're tied with them with 4 to go on that neutral Greensboro floor. They had by far the best team that year even though they blew it vs Utah.

 

[Kitaman]

I would say after the Jim Calhoun loss. So proud and certainly most satisfied.

 

[willie99]

two Elite Eight games

Dook 1990

Twerps 2002

both runs came out of nowhere, couldn't be happier with our season and our status

drove home with a big smile on my face, despite two heartbreaking losses

in a way, they parallel 2011 and 2014, but just fell a little short

 

[Hoophound]

Definitely after Carolina in 98'. I was at that well known sports bar in Farmington (name escapes me) watching with a gorgeous girl I had met a week or so before in Simsbury. We watched the game and drank beers. To my surprise, she became very in the parking lot when we were leaving and let's just say, I was very proud and satisfied after the loss.

 

[pnete]

Day I lost my cherry.

 

[mauconnfan]

2002 Caron and 1995 UCLA………just got beat by really good teams but went down with bleeding blue!

 

[Point6]

Far and away, the Uconn Maryland game in 2002. Maryland was the best team in the nation that year and the eventual champion. Our 2nd option was..... Johnnie Selvie. Johnnie fuc@ing Selvie, or Trob depending on how u look at it. We were a BS Steve Blake 25% 3 point shooter, 3, (his only bucket of the entire game) from making the final 4. He misses that shot and we have a shot to tie it up or win at the buzzer. I believe we were down 2 when he hit the shot with roughly 30 seconds on the clock. I left the Carrier dome knowing Caron was gone but that we had an amazing nucleus coming back, and we would be a force to be reckoned with down the road. I was so proud of that team. They had absolutely no business being in the elite 8. Caron was just an absolute beast in that game..... 32 points. 26 in the second. Damn near won the game for us by himself. Seriously the only time I've ever been to a UCONN loss and been satisfied upon leaving.

This is the one for me. Caron is one my favorite Huskies of all time probably because of how he played in this game. That, and my perception of how much he wanted it for JC. I bet JC gets a bunch of calls today (father's day) including one from Caron.