I was looking at prices and was thinking of just going Saturday if they win tomorrow. But screw it. 1st time playing in Boston for the NCAAs I don't want to miss it so I'm in the building tomorrow night.
23-24 UConn Basketball: Stephon's Castle
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
I've been to two Sweet 16s and a Final Four. It's a fun time. I don't think you'll regret it, unless UConn loses, especially since they are playing in the first game. All three times I've gone my team has lost, but at least it's been in the second game, so I could enjoy the first game.
Can't fucking wait to see TD Garden all white tonight. Storrs North, South, East, and hopefully next week West.
Couldn't pull the trigger.. I sat in Loge 7 and we paid $360 . Good seats and right now they're listed at $530. I'm sure prices are going to drop but just couldn't do it. We had a great time and sort of kicking myself for blowing my budget on Sweet 16 .
I thought it was crazy how half empty the arena was during the Arizona Clemson game. It started during Los Angeles commute time, but clearly lots of UNC fans bought tickets just to see their team play and they were not interested in the other games. UNC and Arizona fans probably had 80 percent of the tickets and did not stick around on Easter weekend.
Welp, here I am. I did not like the bracket. The bracket did break a little bit favorably but man did they drive a truck through it.
So in their last 9 tournaments (or more accurately I guess 8 plus four games), Connecticut are 28-5. Cherry picking and you can only lose once per year at most, but even with those caveats that is pretty good.
At this point except for money and playing time, why would anyone choose Kentucky over UConn? Uconn wins way more. They pump out tons of pros. They play in front of big and great crowds. Kentucky does too but they don’t win as much. They probably pay more though.
After the plane disaster, the uh hotel accommodations between NC State and UConn don't appear to be quite on the level. I'm sure 7'2 Clingan will sleep just fine in that child sized bed...
Question going around on Instagram: Could UConn cover a +35 point spread against the Wizards? Obviously they'd get killed. But could they cover a 35 point spread?
College: 40 min games 30 second shot clock = 80 possessions a game (yes there's more than that but this is the math)
NBA: 48 min game, 24 second shot clock = 120 possessions a game (same as above)
Those extra 40 possessions would make a world of difference. I still say the Wizards beat UConn by at least 50. So what would the appropriate point spread be between the teams, and let's say that both teams have vast financial incentives to try to beat the spread, so the Wizards aren't taking it easy on them, but are playing hard.
What's the right spread? 40? 50? 60?
College: 40 min games 30 second shot clock = 80 possessions a game (yes there's more than that but this is the math)
NBA: 48 min game, 24 second shot clock = 120 possessions a game (same as above)
Those extra 40 possessions would make a world of difference. I still say the Wizards beat UConn by at least 50. So what would the appropriate point spread be between the teams, and let's say that both teams have vast financial incentives to try to beat the spread, so the Wizards aren't taking it easy on them, but are playing hard.
What's the right spread? 40? 50? 60?
UConn has 2 surefire NBA first round draft picks and a couple guys in Karajan and Newton who might have G League/Europe careers. I think the biggest issue is foul trouble. If the UConn starters can stay out of foul trouble, I think they could hang for a bit. But the issue comes from when they’re out, which is where the Wiz NBA advantage really comes in. I think the spread would need to be north of 30 but UConn has the ability to cover it in a single game given their defensive ability.
But the variability would be huge. They could also lose by 50 if the Wiz 3’s are dropping. Not sure UConn could shoot well from NBA range.
Good question although I think Wiz would benefit from either. If college rules, they would be draining 3’s all over the place and Clingan would be susceptible to foul trouble, which would screw UConn.
If NBA rules, not sure UConn would hit many 3’s because their shooters aren’t that impressive and a college underdog would have little chance against an NBA team trading 2’s for 3’s.
Kelvin Sampson named AP coach of the year. I guess losing 3 starters to the the NBA, getting picked to finish 3rd in the Big East preseason, and then proceeding to blow everyone out all year as the #1 overall seed wasn't worthy.
The ultimate matchup has come to fruition. As it is in these types of matchups of epic stars, it’s the supporting casts who will decide the game. I’m confident that ours is better than theirs.
An early congrats to UCONN. I've been watching this program since Karl Hobbs & Co were just trying to compete with Pearl/ Cuse. I don't want to hear about Blue Blood nonsense, UCONN is THE modern hoops dynasty (Men/Women).
No other school got more screwed by the Old Big East than UCONN. They went out and built a decent football program from scratch & for that, they got left at the alter on Conference realignment by all their "Big East partners". Between BC preventing them from ACC acceptance to Syracuse/Pitt ditching them for the ACC money grab, Notre Dame's unapologetic self-interest tour, and the other Big East powers (GTown/Nova) not building Division 1 football programs.
Good for UCONN, as the rest of those schools now live in hoops (sports) mediocrity. Hope they win it all on Monday.
No other school got more screwed by the Old Big East than UCONN. They went out and built a decent football program from scratch & for that, they got left at the alter on Conference realignment by all their "Big East partners". Between BC preventing them from ACC acceptance to Syracuse/Pitt ditching them for the ACC money grab, Notre Dame's unapologetic self-interest tour, and the other Big East powers (GTown/Nova) not building Division 1 football programs.
Good for UCONN, as the rest of those schools now live in hoops (sports) mediocrity. Hope they win it all on Monday.
We are better than everyone else at everything and the Big East is better too.
GIVE ME THE THREEPEAT
GIVE ME THE THREEPEAT
Our guards are just so much better than theirs.
This is just surreal. It’s more relief than joy considering we knew we were the best team since about Thanksgiving.
The Holy Trinity of UConn basketball: ‘99, ‘04, ‘24. The three greatest teams in program history.
Just amazing how much confidence they had in their plan. Edey was eating them up but they just kept running their other four off the line and had the confidence to weather the storm. They knew they had 10 fouls to give, and the personnel to run that sick double team with the small lineup. They just bided their time and hung with it. The idea that with Edey in the game they could throw a five minute scoreless streak at them in the second half was almost unimaginable.
If you told me before the game that Johnson would have 5 fouls in 5 minutes but would still make major contributions, and that they would outrebound Purdue by 7 and win by 15, I would have laughed in your face.
Also, in addition to filling up the box score, Newton was just the glue all game. So calm. Just uses the whole clock to dissect and never panics.
If you told me before the game that Johnson would have 5 fouls in 5 minutes but would still make major contributions, and that they would outrebound Purdue by 7 and win by 15, I would have laughed in your face.
Also, in addition to filling up the box score, Newton was just the glue all game. So calm. Just uses the whole clock to dissect and never panics.
Another incredible aspect of this particular tournament run: They just barely shot 30% from three on 23 attempts per game. For a team that shot 36-37% from three on the year and to still dominate the point differential the way they did while not shooting well at all, it's mind boggling.
They never shot well from three in any game and they still beat the shit out of everyone in this tournament. Like, what the fuck?
It was the perfect plan.
Threepeat is so on.
Edit: Borges also reporting that Kimani Young said he's coming back too.
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The eye test might be playing tricks on me but it just felt like every time they missed a three, they either got the rebound or got a stop. And the thing was they just did not allow any transition. None. Not off threes. Not ever. I feel like UConn scored more off offensive rebounds on missed threes than their opponents did on their possessions after defensive rebounds.
No turnovers. No transition after missed threes. You could not punish them for mistakes.
The Issue isn’t the coaching staff. It’s losing Clingan and Castle and Newton and Spencer.
So fucked up that we have had six of these Tuesdays. When I went to see UConn play as a kid it was to watch the good big east players come and beat us. This was unimaginable.
Need to get into the portal and pick up some scoring. Would like to see them get one of Ballo(AZ), Goldin(FAU), or Bradshaw(Kentucky) to replace Clingan and keep Samson in that bench role. I really hope Boogie Fland re-opens his recruitment as UConn was hot and heavy on him before he committed to UK.
Assuming Clingan and Castle do, in fact, leave for the NBA, that makes four huge contributors (I'd argue the four best players on the team) gone: Clingan, Newton, Castle, and Spencer. They represent:
66% of the team's scoring
61% of the team's rebounding
66% of the team's blocks
76% of the team's assists
60% of the team's steals
That's...um...a lot to replace. And as fun as Samson Johnson was to watch, he isn't going to fill those shoes. They'll need some new guys to really step up.
I do not expect UConn to be a contender for the national championship next year.
66% of the team's scoring
61% of the team's rebounding
66% of the team's blocks
76% of the team's assists
60% of the team's steals
That's...um...a lot to replace. And as fun as Samson Johnson was to watch, he isn't going to fill those shoes. They'll need some new guys to really step up.
I do not expect UConn to be a contender for the national championship next year.