TheOpenThread: UConn football vs. Cincinnati, Arkansas vs. UConn basketball
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 11:26 AM EST
in UConn Huskies Football
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PrintConnecticut Huskies at Cincinnati Bearcats, Dec 3, 2011 12:00 PM EST
I'm sorry I can't provide much of a preview today, law school remains a consistent presence in my life, which is usually rather grand, but becomes very troublesome when my professors decide I should have to take "exams." But, in short, here is what's at stake today:
The football team is travelling to Cincinnati for a shot at a .500 record and bowl eligibility. More importantly it'd leave me (and hopefully a lot of you) feeling pretty good about the first year of the Paul Pasqualoni era. Sure, there were disappointments along the way, but a win today means the Huskies will have won three of their last four regular season games and have a nice boost going forward.
As for basketball, the team has had a week off after escaping Florida St. in overtime and today they're taking on Arkansas in the Big East/SEC challenge. So far the Big East has been doing well, and hopefully UConn continues that trend. Worth noting: this is Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson's first year with the program. You'll remember him as the coach of the Missouri team that UConn played in the 2009 Elite 8. He calls his system the "fastest 40 minutes in basketball" and it involves lots of pressing and lots of running. The Huskies will almost certainly have to go small to counter it. Expect to see a lot of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright playing together, but watch out late because fatigue could easily become an issue.
Football kicks off at noon, basketball tips at 3:30. Both games are on ESPN. I'll be in and out, but leave your thoughts in the comments. Go Huskies.
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Let’s go Huskies!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
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1967: Embrace it
Today's contribution
I’m going to sleep through the football game and watch the basketball game. It’s really the only way.
So I'm here for a half before I have to work
Let’s not be losing by 35 by the time I leave.
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
Nope, we're probably gonna be down by 35
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
Please...
tell me why you think we will do that well?
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Lucky interceptions, of course!
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
I was hoping...
that we would have a good game, come out firing on all cylinders; I think I am reduced to snarky season ending responses.
I think I need to start drinking, it will help with my hangover.
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Oh good lord
This offense is an absolute mess.
McEntee has given them two touchdowns in the first quarter, for christ sakes.
SOMEONE, ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE.
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
Cincinnati doesn't even really have much to play for
A third of the Big East title and the Charlotte bowl?
Piss-poor effort so far.
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Good point
Tackling dummies would be up 14-0, assuming the tackling dummies had wheels on them.
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
Looks like my luck of not watching isnt working this game
Lulz McEntee
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
by derbyguy on Dec 3, 2011 12:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I'm sad that I actually am watching
There’s so many other things I could be doing today, like not watching terrible football.
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 12:54 PM EST up reply actions
it's like
a bus accident In more ways than one…
you stare in fascination as you go by…
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
I mean, apparently there's an awesome basketball game on CBS
But I simply can’t turn away from the train wreck.
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
Not for long!
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
apparently
not quite ready for that option playbook..
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Let's just kick the FG now
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
Would've saved McEntee a hit
FIRE EVERYONE
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 3, 2011 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
hmm,
seems like they are playing faster suddenly?
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
What in gods name are we doing on defense
3rd and 17, 3rd and 13, 3rd and 10.
CAN ANYBODY ON THIS TEAM DO ANYTHING RIGHT?
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
Aaaaaaaand on that note
I must be off. Porter will be around for the hilarity of the second half, and for the Arkansas game.
Thoroughly enjoying life atop whatever conference UConn is in today.
30 minutes to go...
please, let this clock run…
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Hey everyone
checkin in here live from the D’Angelo Law Library. Sounds like I shouldn’t bother with the second half today.
not really
we are showing more life, but it smells of desperation and dead fish.
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
even the ESPN camera guys are drifting
off the shots and missing the plays.
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
nearly done here...
what station has the hoops?
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
ESPN
don’t even have to change the channel
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
Sweet!
pretending to work so better that I maintain my slothness
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Do we have to wait until the football game is over
to see the basketball game?
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:17 PM EST reply actions
Are the UConn muckety-mucks
praying for a loss in football here? Can’t imagine anyone’s traveling to a bowl.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:22 PM EST reply actions
Is the Pinstripe Bowl
in play? Because that’d be convenient
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
And either way I think they want the win
the bowl allocation for a minor game isn’t nearly as bad as the BCS junk. It’s also good for recruiting and the team in general.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
I suppose
I don’t really buy that minor bowls help at all in terms of recruiting
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
i think it will be funnier if we still lose
if only so Louisville fans can further hate us
Great fastbreak
Boatright with the nifty dish to Oriakhi for the and-1
football season over!!
thank you seniors for the ride over the last few years!!!
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Banks~!
If Olander missed that one, he was getting pulled.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:33 PM EST reply actions
And now Drummond has 2 personals
so we’ll see him in the second half
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions
Looks like Oriakhi
will get his desired minutes
Drummond all over the place
What’s the point of that reach? And yet, he doesn’t take fouls when he should.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:37 PM EST reply actions
Oh, right
They have the Mizzouri coach. Good memories.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:38 PM EST reply actions
I get that Mike Anderson is an Arkansas guy
(he was an assistant under Richardson), but I still don’t quite get the move there from Mizzou. Seems almost like a step down.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
I mean, that's a bad shot
Doesn’t matter if he makes it.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:40 PM EST reply actions
Don't worry
he’ll fall in love with it and miss 2 or 3 down the stretch…
I feel like he makes an unnaturally high
percentage of his terrible shots, and then misses more appropriate shots than he should.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 3:42 PM EST up reply actions
Jerome Dyson if Jerome Dyson was good
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:44 PM EST up reply actions
Who, btw, I heard is killing it in the D-League.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:45 PM EST up reply actions
I've never seen a D-League game
but I can’t help but think it’s just 10 guys gunning for their own stats to get to the NBA. Seems like it was perfectly made for Dyson.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
Shabazz Napier
hits a 30-footer, which is awesome, though it’s going to inspire about 3 terrible shots later on
that's because
all bad football season mojo done, the floodgates can open
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Shabazz
now trying to out-fancy-pass Boatright. Gotta wonder if he’s feeling some pressure for his job. Still think he works best at the 2 and is safe there for now (and likely for a while), but if anyone steps up on the wings, it would create an easier-to-swallow backcourt in terms of size, which will matter more during Big East play.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:49 PM EST reply actions
I think I like this team most
because I can question every position and player at all times.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
Is it safe to come out yet?
I slept through the entire football game. It was like my body was protecting me from the pain.
This has just been a
BLITZKRIEG last 10 minutes!
Giffey/Enosch
If the blitzkrieg continues, we may actually see them toward the end.
Beautiful entry pass
and Oriakhi flubs it. Sounds about right.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:54 PM EST reply actions
Who does more damage to the front of the rim?
Drummond on a dunk or Oriakhi on one of his hook shot-puts?
If only Oriakhi was a little bit taller. Sigh …
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
3 more inches
in the legs or arms and he’d be unstoppable inside. I’m really hoping he has a great game today though. It would be nice to see him get rolling (just in the rebounding/toughness dept)
Andddd the miracle halftime heaves streak ends
Falling apart as the half progresses, as per usual.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 4:08 PM EST reply actions
Drummond's FT shooting
just went back to ugly-ugly
You have to at least hit the rim
Also, he’s really struggling offensively. Not going up strong and looks very tenative.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
Ok I can finally watch
How have they looked?
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
The usual
great when they’re running, which, thanks to Arkansas’ style, they’ve done a lot.
Not at all great when things slow down. They’ve worked the ball inside but the bigs aren’t scoring.
Boatright has looked fantastic outside of one really bad play to end the half.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
True..
However, they’re circulating the ball a little better. Mostly thanks to Boatright.
I would say
they’ve moved the ball as well as they have all year. Also, I hope we get pressed every game…
Thanks
I just wan to see them not collapse in the 2nd half again.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
One concern
especially with both Boatright and Napier in, is how UConn’s going to look in 10 or 12 minutes. They’re running a lot and I wouldn’t be surprised to see fatigue become a problem.
Another concern..
Will there be many games covered by Raftery. The inane comments the guy pours out during the game is embarrassing his partner.
Eh
I love Raftery, he’s like Dick Vitale’s good twin
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
I like Rafftery
but I will say he’s better with Bilas to be a counterpoint to his goofiness
I concur with this.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
Definitely will
Seems like he does every Big East ame.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
FYI
Tomorrow’s soccer game is streaming online. I’m currently planning on having an OpenThread for it.
Whoever said Boatright looks like Kemba as a freshman
Made a very good comparison I think.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
He's shot better early
Rafftery certainly likes the comparison because he busted out his Kemba favorite, “lingerie on the deck” for Boatright’s drive
With this lineup*
which might be UConn’s best, that really shouldn’t be the case
by Andrew Porter on Dec 3, 2011 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
Until Justin brought it up earlier
I hadn’t thought about Boatright challenging Napier’s job, but he is playing really, really, really well.
14 point lead, wooo!
U!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
maybe..
just maybe a hand in his face would help…
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi have combined for six points and seven rebounds.
Tyler Olander has 12 points and six boards on his own.
Yikes
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
Oh, my.
I check out for 20 minutes and Ryan Boatright is going nutso.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 4:56 PM EST reply actions
Oriakhi loses the ball in the post again
His starting against a fast pressing team like Arkansas didn’t make a ton of sense to begin with and Olander has badly outplayed him.
In his piece last week Justin said it better than I ever could, but it really doesn’t make sense for him to be starting anytime soon.
With Calhoun talking about his confidence...
I almost wonder if Oriakhi got the start in the hopes of boosting his confidence, similar to how Denham Brown started over Rashad Anderson in ’06 even though Rashad played starters minutes off the bench.
OT
Was going to tell you that the link in your sig doesn’t work. But I see you took it out now.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
stop being a mumu
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
c'mon
I’ve been resisting that all day
kinda like that player with the attitude… he dad’s gonna get a phone call to meet by the flagpole
call me at 1-800-328-7448! and really, have a NICE day!
I probably should have resisted also
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
I think that last shot illustrates why Calhoun prefers Drummond at center.
Don’t think Tall, Nondescript White Guy gets that off on Drummond because, well, he’s tall. And Cal loves tall.
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 5:04 PM EST reply actions
Commercials
Why is The General’s sidekick a penguin with 3D glasses on?
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
I'm surprised llimllib hasn't made an appearance yet
Usually he pops back up with the start of bball season.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
Another win
and another position battle. Hurray interesting pre-Big East season!
by UConnBlog Justin on Dec 3, 2011 5:16 PM EST reply actions
Your final 75-62
Boatright was amazing, Tyler Olander had a very, very good game and the bigs disappeared. To be fair, Arkansas style cuts down on what the bigs can do, but it’s notable.
The Big East has now clinched the BE/SEC challenge, which would be notable if anyone cared about it.
Soccer tomorrow, join us if you can.
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