2008 Woodie Awards
UConn Basketball Losing Its Luster
John Frascella
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
|
Now, as I prepare to graduate and move on from UConn, I'll be left with four years worth the frustrating memories - concluding with a step-back, game-winning jumper by San Diego's De'Jon Jackson that bounced the Huskies from this year's tourney.
Thanks UConn, I thought you were a "basketball school."
To be honest, though, this time around, I'm not too upset about the loss. I received phone calls from friends at universities all across the country that sounded like this:
"Hey! UConn lost! You guys are awful. Can you believe it?"
My response was universal:
"I'm not surprised at all."
And I really wasn't. Last week I wrote that the Huskies could easily be upset in an early round, and that they definitely wouldn't get deeper than the Sweet 16. But let's be serious - did it really take Nostradamus to predict that?
UConn was horrific with this particular group last season, and despite improvement from A.J. Price and Hasheem Thabeet, there was no reason to be especially confident in them this year. OK, I'm not going to talk about this year's team anymore. I've wasted far too many words on them already.
My animosity toward UConn basketball began when a Huskies team featuring five NBA draftees - Rudy Gay, Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong and Denham Brown - lost a heartbreaker in the Elite Eight to a tenacious group of no-names from George Mason.
Unacceptable. George Mason was lights out, and I take nothing away from them, but that UConn roster boasted the most talent of any team in the past decade, including back-to-back National Champion Florida Gators led by Joakim Noah and Al Horford.
The difference between the successful Gators and the disappointing Huskies? The Gators played with passion and intensity every night for two straight seasons, and the Huskies carried themselves like a bunch of prima donnas that had nothing to prove.
I was so sure that UConn would win a national championship that year that it's been difficult to have the same enthusiasm since. I found myself assuming the worst for the majority of the past two seasons - and for the most part, I did so with good reason.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 9
Walter Rescorla
posted 3/26/08 @ 2:26 PM EST
You're most likely a Yankee fan too. How many national championships did Bob Knight win after Indiana? How succesful was Duke in the recent years? Hopw many national championships has North Carolina had since Dean Smith? And how many titles has UCLA won in succession since the days of the "wizard of Westwood?" It is increasingly more difficult to win national championships each year. (Continued…)
Ed Petrino
posted 3/26/08 @ 4:55 PM EST
Great commentary. I've been a big follower of Uconn hoops since the 70's and used to live and die with every win and loss. When the Big East first began most people used to make fun of Uconn and me and those that rooted for them. (Continued…)
Steve Platt
posted 3/26/08 @ 8:35 PM EST
I understand someones displeasure in going to Uconn and the team having a "disappointing" season, but being disappointed in that is a true sign that you are not a fan. (Continued…)
Frascella Sucks
posted 3/26/08 @ 9:10 PM EST
Quit your crying Frascella you make me sick. The squad had a much better than expected regular season and will be returning almost everyone with the one exception of Thabeet (who should come back). (Continued…)
Michael Brady
posted 3/27/08 @ 1:35 AM EST
Huge UConn fan going back to Corny Thompson days. Any way, I was uneasy all year even after they started winning, they have pieces but not sure where Dyson's heart is, and why Robinson cannot put back to back games together (was hoping he would turn it on like Butler did). (Continued…)
Kim Abery-Lyman
posted 3/27/08 @ 5:25 PM EST
Calhoun recruits a different kind of player now. Gone are the Ricky Moores, Donny Marshalls and Lyman DePriest types. They are replaced by guys that just want to mail it in. (Continued…)
UConn Sucks
posted 3/27/08 @ 10:56 PM EST
Lets be honest, I am a senior and in the past 4 years I don't think I can be proud of one UConn team. Ok, when the football team went to the bowl game freshman year we were proud because lets be honest, our football team sucked so we had something to be proud of. (Continued…)
Andy Starbuck
posted 4/03/08 @ 3:15 PM EST
We don't want you as a fan. Newsflash, only one team wins the NC each year. None in the last four years and this dillhole is jumping ship. Do you like sports in general? Do you understand them? Horrible article, unfortunately this is what you get from a student publication. (Continued…)
Post a Comment