VPDcurt said:
Ahh yes, embarassing to say the least. A very sad day in CT. I have never seen a UConn team play with so little heart and a lack of enthusiasm. It was disgusting. In a strange way, I am glad that they lost for two reasons. First, I think they needed to learn a damn lesson. They were running around like idiots out there and Marcus Williams was the only one trying at all. Second, I don't think any players are going to the NBA after that performance. There was a lot of talk about Rudy Gay, Charlie V, and Josh Boone going in the first round of the draft. That won't happen now. With no seniors on the starting 5 this year (1 freshman, 2 sophs, and 2 juniors), UConn should be a good team next year (top 10). It was the worst game I have seen since they played Syracuse in the Big East tourney. Absolutely vile - there is no excuse for that kind of nonsense. I can't complain too much though - 2 national championships in 6 years gives me a grace period of 7 years during which I am not allowed to be pissed off at my team (according to a friend at least).
It was embarassing, and brought back a feeling we UConn fans haven't really had for a long time. Until today, what was Calhoun? 13-0 in the first round and 10-2 in the second? Too many things went wrong with this team this year, and it culminated in a horrid last 4 games of the year. Charlie's defense down the stretch was just ridiculous...and I'll say this: Rudy Gay and Charlie may be solid NBA players someday, but if either of them leave this year they are committing career suicide. Rudy is too skinny and not assertive/polished enough, and Charlie just doesn't play defense or recognize the need for fundamentals over highlights consistently.
That being said, this game definitely proved the need for guards in college basketball. When your point guard turns the ball over seemingly every other possession, and you essentially have no functional shooting guard, you're most likely not going to win an important college basketball game. Marcus Williams is special, but he has to take better care of the ball. Rashad Anderson gets a pass, Denham Brown has a busted knee too and just hasn't been the same. Very strange to see a UConn team with no shooting guard, and you see the results.
Still...when you look at next year, they shouldn't lose anybody, they bring in another 7 footer, AJ Price will give backcourt depth, and hopefully the shooting guards will be healthy....and no one will have any brushes with death! They'll be one of the top teams next year, but this was an extremely disappointing way to end this one.
I won't say anything bad about Kansas, or any other school for that matter...but c'mon, it's pretty hard to get on UConn and their fans at this point. They've been one of the preeminent teams for the past decade, and one known for getting it done when it counts...but this just wasn't one of those years. Sickens me to lose to a guy like Hodge though...
"Get ready to score a career low"--Julius Hodge, to UConn's Caron Butler in the 2002 NCAA tournament, before Butler scored a career high 34 points in UConn's win