Why is everyone freaking out this season?

[HuskyNan]

I don't remember ever seeing so much angst over an undefeated, #1 ranked team that's put on so many dominating performances in my life. I really do not get why some see disaster in every missed shot, impending doom in every turnover, and the team's imminent fall from the pinnacle with every narrow 30 point win. It's confounding.

Did these folks watch the games on tv this past week? How many of those other top 10 teams played a perfect game every single time? That's a rhetorical question because none of them did. The UConn team, and all of the teams, are made up of human beings who have good days and bad, just like you and me and every other person on this earth. If we expect them to be perfect every time, well, that's just unreasonable. Yet, invariably UConn fans will freak out if someone makes a mistake. It's stunning to me that we would expect 18-22 year old kids to be more perfect than we are ourselves.

I just don't get it.

 

[terif831]

Amen, Sistah! Preach!

 

[HuskyBandDad]

One word. Spoiled.

 

[eebmg]

I think alot of us have our nerves on edge after last year's loss. Makes sense that every warning sign is discussed and assurances given. The fact that MSU looks better than last year is also on my mind at least.

 

[cohenzone]

I think alot of us have our nerves on edge after last year's loss. Makes sense that every warning sign is discussed and assurances given. The fact that MSU looks better than last year is also on my mind at least.

MSU, the UConn of tomorrow? Perish the thought. It is our sacred and exclusive right to be terrific.

But seriously, GA has sometimes made going unbeaten look normal when it is very hard. If we lose, hopefully it won't be during the tournament. But as Nan said, humans aren't perfect and getting a ball to go through a hoop more than the other team is not guaranteed. The amazing thing about Geno's records is how really rare it is for them to suffer a really unexpected loss to a team that doesn't figure to belong on the same floor. We are lucky.

 

[oldude]

Worrying is a function of age to a degree, and some of us here on the BY are a bit long in the tooth.

Nowadays, I worry about my family, my health, a growing list of domestic and global problems and whether UConn’s recent blowout win masked some underlying problem with the team.

When I was younger, my biggest worries were whether or not I had a clean pair of underwear and where to go drinking that night.

 

[augustaTC]

I don't get it either. Frankly, it wouldn't bother me a bit if the Huskies lost tonight, or next week, if they learn something from it and gets them better prepared for March. That's. Why. Geno. Schedules. Tough. Teams. I could care less who gets however many minutes because I'm not qualified to make that kind of a judgement. And I'm certainly not so presumptuous as to wail about Geno's lineups, substitution patterns or recruiting. Yes it's fun to speculate. I do get that. But the hand wringing, teeth gnashing, we-must-be-perfect-mania is silly.

 

[ChicagoGG]

Rock on, Nan! One of the reasons I am not around here very much any more, is that it makes me sad that grown adults think nothing of tearing down young women and their coaching staffs for not perfectly living up to their arm-chair prognostications. Like you said, they are human, they are also students, they have families and concerns. All we can ask is that they do their best, which 99.4% of the time, they do. In spades.

is it legit to criticize? Yes, don't get me wrong. But some people on this board revel in misery and negativism.

 

[Huskee11]

When I was younger, my biggest worries were whether or not I had a clean pair of underwear and where to go drinking that night.

Presumably not in that order.

 

[Charliebball]

the team's unprecedented record of success over the past years has made many of us incredibly spoiled......................a really terrific season for most teams is a winning record and a trip to the NCAAs...............Geno & Co have set the bar so high that even one regular season loss is a disaster and not winning an NC unthinkable.......................perhaps a couple of regular season losses per year would be beneficial for the team and the BY...................

 

[mdakota]

Thank you Nan. I know people like to debate, and I find most dialog interesting and informative. But recently, there's so much nit-picking... It's not as enjoyable to come to the site. How can there be so many negatives when we are undefeated, and winning each game by a large margin??

Have a great week everyone Go Huskies

 

[Jeff H]

Worrying is a function of age to a degree, and some of us here on the BY are a bit long in the tooth.

Nowadays, I worry about my family, my health, a growing list of domestic and global problems and whether UConn’s recent blowout win masked some underlying problem with the team.

When I was younger, my biggest worries were whether or not I had a clean pair of underwear and where to go drinking that night.

Old or young, is it just sports related human nature to look for something to worry about? Since unlike most fans we essentially don't have to worry about losses we end up digging a little deeper to find something.

Personally, after the second game of the season I figured this team had about a 90% chance of winning it all and I've been on cruise control ever since.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I think it's because it doesn't look as good as it did the last couple of years with the big three. It may never look that good ever again, so people need time to get used to that.

 

[eebmg]

It's the human condition since Mt. Sinai and the crossing of the red sea.

 

[huskeynut]

Nan - you got it right!!!!!!

We seem to have a "new" crop of posters who do not understand UConn basketball and its history. The angst over who plays and who doesn't, why aren't the frosh getting more minutes, questioning Geno's coaching techniques and a lot of other stupid stuff. I sometimes wonder if these negative posters have ever worked with children and young adults. I suspect the answer is no. And that it was irks me the most!

BTW - I'm with oldude, except I don't worry about some underlying problem with the team.

 

[eebmg]

I really do not understand the angst some have with "angst". I assume we want all our girls to experience the maximum of growth and reach the pinnacle of their sport (NC) so if we rightly or wrongly see potholes and barriers to these goals ,I do not think it is wrong to show concern. I believe I am always very appreciative of their efforts and the wonderful program that has been built and we are definitely spoiled but if Geno can feel angst at times, so can I.

 

[rugbymate]

Expectations are an odd thing...last year this team exceeded expectations and could do very little wrong...this year, expectations are so high that the slightest bit of un-UCONN type play raises questions....no worries on my end...

 

[augustaTC]

for not perfectly living up to their arm-chair prognostications

Great post...well said.

 

[Orangutan]

The only way to avoid the disappointing end to last season is to complain about Geno's substitution patterns on a message board. Clearly.

 

[EricSD]

I really do not understand the angst some have with "angst". I assume we want all our girls to experience the maximum of growth and reach the pinnacle of their sport (NC) so if we rightly or wrongly see potholes and barriers to these goals ,I do not think it is wrong to show concern. I believe I am always very appreciative of their efforts and the wonderful program that we built and we are definitely spoiled but if Geno can feel angst at times, so can I.

I tend to agree. Also, however, there is a big difference between pointing our "less than" performances by players compared to some of the angst that Nancy is alluding to.

For example, while everyone would generally agree that Crystal has taken a HUGE step forward and is a much better player in every aspect than last year, it's also fair to point out that Collier seems to have taken a step backwards and is not the same player she was last year. While Lou has made strides again this year, and Nurse is even better than last year, Gabby seems to struggle with picking up fouls which has limited her effectiveness on the floor.

Then there are the freshmen - Walker seems to have hit the wall, Coombs is struggling for consistency, Gordon is having typical freshman issues, and Espinosa-Hunter is gone - I would assume for academic issues since she has enrolled at a community college.

My point, in general, is that even Geno has been critical of the team at times this year. Most recently, he was not happy at all with the effort from all the starters in the first half vs. UCF - and that was less than a week ago. So I totally agree - don't get the angst, but I do get the criticism of poor play - heck, if Geno can lament it, then so can we!

 

[diggerfoot]

There's both a social and health difference between constructive criticism and fretful negativism. I used to fret about some of the negative posts and posters, but now I rather constructively point out that they reveal people with greater statistical risk for hypertension, headaches, fibromyalgia, arthritis and other afflictions.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I don't remember ever seeing so much angst over an undefeated, #1 ranked team that's put on so many dominating performances in my life. I really do not get why some see disaster in every missed shot, impending doom in every turnover, and the team's imminent fall from the pinnacle with every narrow 30 point win. It's confounding.

Did these folks watch the games on tv this past week? How many of those other top 10 teams played a perfect game every single time? That's a rhetorical question because none of them did. The UConn team, and all of the teams, are made up of human beings who have good days and bad, just like you and me and every other person on this earth. If we expect them to be perfect every time, well, that's just unreasonable. Yet, invariably UConn fans will freak out if someone makes a mistake. It's stunning to me that we would expect 18-22 year old kids to be more perfect than we are ourselves.

I just don't get it.

My working hypothesis: the oxymoron: social media. It is impersonal, anonymous and increasingly snarky. We are a stressed out and polarized society in which we react before we think as often as not.

 

[Oldbones]

Rock on, Nan! One of the reasons I am not around here very much any more, is that it makes me sad that grown adults think nothing of tearing down young women and their coaching staffs for not perfectly living up to their arm-chair prognostications.

Oh, on the Men's board we tear down young men with equal equanimity.

 

[Los24]

Old or young, is it just sports related human nature to look for something to worry about? Since unlike most fans we essentially don't have to worry about losses we end up digging a little deeper to find something.

Personally, after the second game of the season I figured this team had about a 90% chance of winning it all and I've been on cruise control ever since.

Although I have not lived in CT for nine years remember a couple things regarding sports. When I left there were not pro teams in the state, so just like Alabama the college scene becomes the focus of many more sports fans. Secondly it was a war zone between Yankee and RedSox fans since it sits between the two teams/states.

That said, UConn fans are passionate and seem to be in the same mold as many SEC College fans that just love their respective teams and spend a lot of time thinking about them. A casual fan doesn't get into the level of thought and diagnoses as a passionate fan. So sometimes folks may come off as a little critical but I take it that they are just sharing more of their thoughts that run through their brain on a subject they think about more, in this case UConn Women's BB, and want to hear feedback from others because its interesting to them more than the casual fan. Heck, the only reason I even pay for ESPN is so I can watch most of the UConn games.

 

[DefenseBB]

I think it's because it doesn't look as good as it did the last couple of years with the big three. It may never look that good ever again, so people need time to get used to that.

I beg to differ on that. Go back and look at the game scores and the comments. This is almost Exactly like it was with the big 3's Soph, Jr and Senior year.
Honestly, the only "hiccup" was the first 3Q's of the ND game. Other than that, we parse every motivating quote Geno puts out as "our concerns" as well. Think of the Stanford game "hiccup" that Stewie and group had and how did they respond? How is that any different than this?
Personally, I think this team is better-deeper, more talent across and more tested against more ranked teams.
Eebmg hit the nail on the head-we are a bit spooked from last year with how much we dominated in an unexpected fashion and then lost. We are cautious.

 

[MilfordHusky]

One word. Spoiled.

Or 2 words: Itty Bitty. The memory of the end to last season underscores how fragile things can be.

 

[NewCorn]

I think it's because it doesn't look as good as it did the last couple of years with the big three. It may never look that good ever again, so people need time to get used to that.

If this team is not as good as the big three, they seem awfully close to me. The core four and Crystal make a remarkable team. When they are at their best, they are dazzling. Z is not Stewie, but she is a major offensive force. Nobody in wcbb has a Stewie. Z, the sophomores, and the freshmen are the second best ream in the AAC. Any team can lose on a given night. But I'm wouldn't bet against UConn any night this year.

 

[msf22b]

The answer to your question Nan, is found in last year's history, combined with
Rugby's concept of expectations.

As we all recall, not so much was expected of last season's group.
The big three had graduated en masse; the hope that Morgan would stay was dashed
and we all (including Geno) had considerable trepidation or perhaps better, reasonably tampered down expectations. We anticipated losses, an improving team, perhaps a run at the final 4 if things worked out.

But what actually happened; a couple of close calls; extraordinarily rapid improvement; Chong grew up, KLS, Pheesa and Gabby became stars, Kia overcame the shock of the loss of her support mechanisms and finally grasped that she didn't have to do it all herself; the team gelled and won.

And then because of tradition and trust in the (relative) infallibility of Geno and the staff, the singular UConn sensation welled up in fandom (an absolute unique sensation in modern day sports...believing that your team cannot be defeated) : The team is infallible, Geno is infallible, we can't lose; won't lose, National championship is in the bag.

Well...it didn't work out that way, did it?

And the hangover of that singular loss persists...complete trust is gone, worry and concern are evident at the least hiccup.

"Mighty Casey has struck out."

And that Nan, is the cause for the excessive (minor) hysteria exhibited this season.

 

[JoePgh]

Maybe another factor is that the way the schedule has worked out, UConn hasn't yet had to face any REALLY good opponents. Notre Dame looked good when UConn played them, but the additional injury to Lili Thompson and the blowout loss to Louisville have put a shadow on their quality. UCLA, Stanford, and Maryland haven't proven to be world-beaters in their non-UConn schedule either. Texas does not look so great, and anything less than a 20-point victory tonight will be concerning. South Carolina is not looking great either. The best "other" teams in the nation seem to be Mississippi State, Louisville, Tennessee, and maybe Baylor, and UConn hasn't played any of them.

At least Louisville is on the schedule. That may shape up as #1 vs. #2 and a battle of the unbeaten. If UConn wins, and certainly if they win convincingly (far from certain), then they will have established some real credentials. So far, they haven't done that.

 

[eebmg]

Maybe another factor is that the way the schedule has worked out, UConn hasn't yet had to face any REALLY good opponents. Notre Dame looked good when UConn played them, but the additional injury to Lili Thompson and the blowout loss to Louisville have put a shadow on their quality. UCLA, Stanford, and Maryland haven't proven to be world-beaters in their non-UConn schedule either. Texas does not look so great, and anything less than a 20-point victory tonight will be concerning. South Carolina is not looking great either. The best "other" teams in the nation seem to be Mississippi State, Louisville, Tennessee, and maybe Baylor, and UConn hasn't played any of them.

At least Louisville is on the schedule. That may shape up as #1 vs. #2 and a battle of the unbeaten. If UConn wins, and certainly if they win convincingly (far from certain), then they will have established some real credentials. So far, they haven't done that.

I agree in general except for the implication that TN is better than Baylor. My current ranking is UConn, MSU, Baylor, Louisville