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I had that "feeling" in November, but finally stuck my neck out here:I recently made a comment a bit tongue in cheek about nobody thought before the season that a title was realistic. I heard a lot of S16, some E8 predictions and some 2nd round exit expectations. Now once the season started it didnt take long for this team to show that it was a legit title contender but then they went into that horrible January slump and things looked pretty dicey for awhile. I must admit i lost faith in the dream of a title during that time and was simply hoping we could win a game or two which would at least be progress. But the moment that sticks out for me where i said to myself this team is cutting down the nets and there isnt a damn thing any team in this tournament can do about it was the opening of th second half of the Gonzaga blow out. I completely believed then and there it was over not only for the Zags but for everyone else in the tournament. Sure the Zags werent the Zags of previous seasons but that was a really good team that was in the top 10 most of the season and could score with anybody and they were shut down to 59 points. I had the same feeling in 2011 when we beat Arizona and in 2014 when we beat MSU.

Ah yes the Harrison twin massacre. Most satisfying win over UK/Squid of the two in the tourney. Watching their hyped backcourt absolutely terrorized by Bazz and Boat was beautiful.I was extremely confident after we blasted Arkansas. When we were in the process of pasting Gonzaga and the guy next to me at the bar who put a ton of money on the Zags turned to me and said he had no idea how good we were and walked out it felt pretty damn good. Didn't know for certain but I didn't really feel any nerves for the final 4 games like I normally do...
The only other times I felt like that were in 2004 after getting through Duke (I've never been that nervous for a game in my entire life and I had every emotion from despair to ecstacy during that game.) That was the title game and there was no way we were losing to Georgia Tech again. I felt that same way in 2014 when we easily beat Florida in the semis. Had zero nerves playing Kentucky and treated the Florida win like it was the national championship
Being in the moment is always a feeling you can never describe.Lol the best part of that realization is that you can't actually say it out loud. You just kind of think it to yourself. [Holy sh.it, we could win this whole thing!]
I think a bunch are you are mistaken.
In January I responded a few times in a thread which was predicting disaster after our losing streak. My point was the Kemba team had a similar rough period and that it was way too early to give up on the team.
Boy did I catch hell for my posts, most saying no one is like Kemba and this year’s team is flawed. I recall only 1 or 2 other posters agreeing with my position.
I bring this up not to brag, but to remind many that they in fact lost faith in January.
That said I do realize no one ever makes mistakes on an anonymous internet board.
Could. But the question is when did you know?Pre season I told all within earshot that team could win it all.
Yup. I was terrified of Iona and St Mary’s because I felt like Hurley just had to get the monkey off his back. Once we got past them and blasted Arkansas I knew we were going all the way
Once Creighton got eliminated
Yes. About ten minutes into the Arkansas game I was convinced nobody would stop us.
By the end of the Gonzaga game I was afraid we'd break the damned tournament.
And even then, I think UConn would've beaten Creighton in the finals. In fact they should've beaten Creighton in Omaha for the season sweep.A WVU buddy asked me what I thought about their chances after selection Sunday and I told him, “They could win it all or they could lose to Iona.” After the Gonzaga beat down, I didn’t think there was a team that could stay with them…except Creighton. When Creighton lost, I knew.
Way to back it up! All others are pretenders.I had that "feeling" in November, but finally stuck my neck out here:
Dean Wormer
One for the thumb!
That’s my theme for this season. We’re gonna get better and better, and we are winning it all."
You're welcome!![]()
Same, I honestly told everyone I knew since November we had the type of team make up that could win it all which is why all of the frustrating losses later on in the season made me rip my limited hair out and post some salty stuff during game chats. I didn’t think we would mop the floor with anyone in our path in the tourney, however.Phil Knight Tournament for me.
I completely underestimated how good Bazz was - I was spoiled by Kemba a few years earlier, and he never seemed close to Kemba in my mind. And during the NCAA’s - I just kept expecting them to finally lose. Don’t get me wrong, I watched them, but that’s the one title team that I will tell you I’d be bullshitting if I said I thought they could go through Iowa state and Michigan state. Florida was obviously possible, but I still look back at that team as overachievers.In 2013-2014 they started 12-1 with only loss by 2 to Stanford and only had 8 losses total. Yet you never felt it - even during the NCAAs? Must be KO hate syndrome
It's interesting you say that along with others. I saw that Miami-Houston game and then the Miami-Texas game. I didn't think UConn caught any break even with Houston and Texas having a home court advantage so to speak. Especially after the Houston game, I kept thinking and was concerned how UConn would handle Miami. Miami's offense and their unconventional style scared the hell out of me.Once Miami knocked off Texas. The thought of a home crowd like MSU in 09 (plus a potentially healthy Disu) was the only thing I could see stopping the party.
Yes, that is exactly it. I did not want to say it out loud or to write it b/c was afraid to jinx us. In fact when I thought about it I thought quietly.Lol the best part of that realization is that you can't actually say it out loud. You just kind of think it to yourself. [Holy sh.it, we could win this whole thing!]
I get that. I just saw how much UConn struggled in true road games and wanted to avoid anything like one at all costs. Neutral court, I would’ve taken them against anyone the way they were playing.It's interesting you say that along with others. I saw that Miami-Houston game and then the Miami-Texas game. I didn't think UConn caught any break even with Houston and Texas having a home court advantage so to speak. Especially after the Houston game, I kept thinking and was concerned how UConn would handle Miami. Miami's offense and their unconventional style scared the hell out of me.