TheOpenThread: Harvard at UConn
by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 6:17 PM EST
in UConn Huskies Football
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PrintHarvard Crimson at Connecticut Huskies, Dec 8, 2011 7:00 PM EST
Well, lookie here. If it isn't a quality non-conference basketball game at Gampel Pavilion, pre-New Year's.
That's more of a happy coincidence than anything else; this is the third straight year UConn has scheduled Harvard as part of Jim Calhoun's annual "F--k You, Other New England Schools" pre-January march of terror. (The Huskies scraped by in a six-point game in 2009-10, and blew out a 23-win Crimson team last year by almost 30 points.)
It just so happens that this year's Harvard team looks to be one of the better Ivy League teams of recent history, and an apparently legitimate Top 25 team, considering Tommy Amaker's group won the Battle 4 Atlantis - AKA the early-season tournament UConn did not win - beating Florida State (in an all-time ugly game) and Central Florida (which handed the Huskies their only loss thus far) to get the job done.
KenPom rates the Crimson at #37 in his rankings, and judging by the Four Factors (eFG%, turnover%, offensive rebound% and FT rate), they are quite the nasty little defensive team (39th overall). Though it seems they've benefited greatly from the best free throw defense in America (opponents are shooting 54% from the line against Harvard).
Amaker's gameplan has involved just throwing a bunch of 6-5 to 6-8 guys on the floor, led by leading scorer Keith Wright (11.4 per). But don't sleep on Laurent Rivard, which is the most Harvard name ever, who is shooting 40% from 3 this year.
As for the Huskies, this will be the final game before their 10-day winter break for finals, meaning basically this is the last night before the season really begins. Ryan Boatright has been a revelation in early action, Andre Drummond is starting to figure out where the beast mode switch is, and Jerebazz Lampier continues to rock our collective worlds while not even planning to call us back in the morning.
So let's see if the Huskies can't beat this bunch of eggheads before hitting the books.
It's a rare UConn-Mid Major game on ESPN2 tonight; tip is at 7 p.m., and this will be your open thread. Use it wisely.
Go Huskies.
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<3
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
Shabazz cut his rattail. Must be a formal occasion playing Harvard.
ANOTHER TURNING POINT A FORK STUCK IN THE ROAD
TIME GRABS YOU BY THE WRIST DIRECTS YOU WHERE TO GO
SO MAKE THE BEST OF THIS TEST AND DON’T ASK WHY
IT’S NOT A QUESTION BUT A LESSON LEARNED IN TIME
IT’S SOMETHING UNPREDICTABLE BUT IN THE END IT’S RIGHT
I HOPE YOU HAD THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
/sobbing
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
at the game
Any other folks here? Tell Papa Orhiaki I’ll buy him a hot dog at half time.
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 6:45 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
hahvad
There’s some dickhead Harvard fan is wearing one of those body suits that covers all over even the face. I should thank him for covering up his acne ridden never got laid face.
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 6:50 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Is he like the green man that shows up at hockey games?
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
GO HUSKIES!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
'Scoe with the start
wonder if that’s a response to Daniels’ slower performance of late, or maybe a reaction to Wright.
Last UConn non-conference loss in Storrs
1973 vs. Holy Cross.
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It is so weird
to see a UConn post player finish with a strong dunk when he’s underneath the basket.
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Defense mostly not good
Though I like Olander so far.
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Oh that happened like one time
He’s just your average terrible ref.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
So I feel like if Harvard's game plan is to attack Drummond
That will not be a very good game plan.
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popping in to say 2 things
Holy shit Tyler can hit threes?!?!
Does kenpom or someone keep stats for number of passes per possession? Harvard is up there, andthey are looking good doing it
Marching to the beat of a different Drummond
Who Doesn't Like Icecreamcake?
by 1c3creamcake on Dec 8, 2011 7:12 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Seems to be their best asset
Gotta be very disciplined on defense to handle that.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Whew
This feels like an NBA game so far, except with guys who got a 2200 on the SATs.
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Nice incorporation of the updated score system
though all my students tell me the writing section is meaningless.
I believe it
I’ve seen the writing of some of the kids they let into college.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:16 PM EST up reply actions
Superb defense on that possession a couple possessions ago
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At the game!
Olander is doing pretty amazing early on..
UConn Huskies hold the record for most hate against a D1 university over a one year timespan. See: Our football and women's basketball teams.
by lookitsnikole on Dec 8, 2011 7:17 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Good lord Drummond
I really think he’s going to sit down on the rim one of these games.
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what a difference!
This must be the Drummond that all the scouts told us about!
Marching to the beat of a different Drummond
Who Doesn't Like Icecreamcake?
by 1c3creamcake on Dec 8, 2011 7:20 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I do not like our chances if Harvard’s going to shoot 100 percent on in-rhythm mid-range jumpers. Which they might do.
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This is my personal number 1 basketball skill.
This is harvard’s number one basketball skill.
therefore, I am harvard.
uh oh
I’m sitting next to the Harvard student section. I’m with my wife’s co-workers. I’ve been told not to embarrass her. This can’t end well.
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 7:20 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
The dreaded atomic wedgie
awaits some unlucky Harvard kid.
/because they’re NERDSSSSSS
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
Ahahah
Next to them as well, and they’re behind us..
UConn Huskies hold the record for most hate against a D1 university over a one year timespan. See: Our football and women's basketball teams.
by lookitsnikole on Dec 8, 2011 7:22 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Maybe you are one of fcmonk’s wife’s co-workers…?
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
BOAT SHOW
Is it me or does he look a lot like Kemba out there? Build-wise, at least.
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Harvard kids are smart
He KNEW that Shabazz was gonna alley oop that.
Also, that’s a goddamn foul.
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holy crap
Shabazz slammed his head pretty hard.. Definitely heard that one
UConn Huskies hold the record for most hate against a D1 university over a one year timespan. See: Our football and women's basketball teams.
by lookitsnikole on Dec 8, 2011 7:26 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
god they're obnoxious
It’s great that Harvard has student support. At least until we’re winning by twenty. Then it’s just a wasted trip to Storrs.
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 7:27 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
I like that the "connecting Calhoun & Amaker" graphic
references only the 1986 NCAA Tournament, and not the 90 million times we beat Seton Hall when he was there.
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Drummond!
SHABAZZ~!
Sweet little run of play here. Harvard going zone now, though…
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Not a whole lot
Saw he had a big block at about the 10 minute mark, and he started. Maybe 5-6?
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:33 PM EST up reply actions
Alright, this won't be fun
Drummond out for the last 4:30, we can’t hit a shot, and Harvard’s just raining 3s now.
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I mean
He probably got fouled. But he just does not look right.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:36 PM EST up reply actions
At least he didn't follow it up
but taking a rebound away from his teammate and turning it into a loose ball…. oh wait
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 7:38 PM EST up reply actions
Did the crowd just boo Oriakhi?
UConnHuskies tweeter feed made it sound like they might be booing a no-call on a foul, but it was another missed bunny
dummies
These Harvard kids know nothing. They keep heckling Lamb calling him “number 3.”. Must be their first game. How cute.
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 7:39 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
I can only hear every Harvard insult
in Conan O’Brien’s parody of a nerd voice.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:40 PM EST up reply actions
LOVE
I’ve had like 30 of them this season.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:42 PM EST up reply actions
"week"
not season.
And really, “day”, not “week.” Addictive.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:42 PM EST up reply actions
Halftime
UConn 30, Harvard 28.
Seems like it’s not that close, but I guess not scoring in the last 5 minutes will do that.
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We need to unlock the code that gives Drummond unlimited fouls
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:51 PM EST up reply actions
We could
tie his hands behind his back every time he leaves the paint…that would probably do the trick…
That's crazy enough to work!
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:53 PM EST up reply actions
But it's so amazing here!
It’s just a loop of Trajan Langdon tripping at the end of the ‘99 final, only in Calhoun’s dreams it’s because he’s hitting him over the head with a steel chair.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
So, this Chris Paul trade
OK, whatever. The Lakers gave up two very good players (although split among two teams) and got one great one back.
Why do people think that the Lakers are going to get Dwight Howard for Bynum + scrubs? Or, flashing forward to the future because the Lakers are the goddamn trade wizards, how did the Magic accept Bynum + scrubs for DWIGHT M’FING HOWARD?
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Dwight howard better go
As I’ve expressed elsewhere in my life, I want an NBA made up entirely of Thunder-like teams and Heat-like teams.
If CP3 goes to the laker, they need a big 3rd.
Now the knicks need an outstanding point guard.
Oh, the Lakers would love him
Which is why I’m curious why Orlando would create SuperTeam II.
For the Knicks, would you settle for a defense-first center, creating the weirdest frontcourt ever?
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions
It'd be like UConn's frontcourt
but if the defensive-minded center could dunk.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:07 PM EST up reply actions
Our energy has been very, very good tonight
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"WE CAN'T HEAR YOU"
Seconds later, Doug Gottlieb: “Student section trying to get the crowd to stand up here…”
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Very little offensive flow here.
or made free throws.
Nothing jump shots can't fix!
Or crazy-ass defense from a 7-0 freshman.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
Clever Wordplay there by Gottlieb
Keith Wright and Boatright both end in “right”. Also, there’s a word “right”. Cue hilarity.
HAHA!
/pays you six figures to watch basketball
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:10 PM EST up reply actions
true story
Some Harvard dick starts yelling at a Uconn fan about us having trouble beating nerds. The guy he was yelling at is an engineering TA who has never been to a game before. Ivy League don’t buy you class.
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 8:11 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
There we go Shabazz
I feel like that’s the first time we’ve won one of those loose balls.
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We've been pretty good
at having two guys get there at the same time and prevent each other from getting it though.
Question about that play there.
So, it’s 100% in practice to call a time out any time you get a loose ball.
And similarly, football players always call a timeout when they have an undesired formation.
Is it understood that this is the right call 100% of the time? Is it ever better to save the time out and take the 5 yard penalty, the change of possession, so that you can better control the end of the game?
Or is this an acknowledgement that time left on the clock is meaningless—it’s only about total possessions/total yards? Hindsight 20/20 ish?
I tend to think it changes situationally
and that it’s often dumb in football. The extra timeouts in basketball doesn’t hurt me though — if it’s in the first 30 minutes and you still have 5 or 4 timeouts, I’d rather keep the ball.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:18 PM EST up reply actions
Well for football it depends too
Like, when it’s 3rd & 20 and they call timeout, that’s a waste. I mean, you’re probably not making it anyway.
But yeah, basketball having so many timeouts makes it usually OK until you’re down to 1 or 2 with more than 5 or 6 minutes left.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
Interesting point
Some Twitterers have noted that we’re at our best with Lamb, Napier and Boat Show on the court at the same time. It’s probably true…
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It worked last year...
We were definitely better with Bazz/Kemba/Lamb, so it makes sense. I also wonder how much of a function it is on just having Boatright on the floor.
Yeah
It just seems like a waste given all the supposed talent we’ve got in the frontcourt. Although I suppose outside of AD and TO, that’s mostly potential.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:18 PM EST up reply actions
Harvard is Butlering right now
And we look great on offense for the moment.
Of course, being up double digits with about 12 minutes left is like our fucking kryptonite.
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And there's that kryptonite...
It sort of seems like Shabazz wants so badly to be the dagger man, he loses sight of everything else…
My television
will undoubtedly be a mid-season casualty of his quick trigger.
OH WE DO THIS EVERY GAME COME ON
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I'm going to go with
fatigue. Shabazz has played 28 minutes so far. That’s insane. I know the offense runs well with him and Boatright in, but he needs more rest.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:24 PM EST up reply actions
It's the same thing every single time
legs get tired, poor decisions get made. Cut his time by five minutes and it’ll make a huge difference.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:25 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks for Clarifying Doug
I was totally thinking Ben Bernanke was a power forward
I don't think we're going to have another good offensive possession again
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Although I guess Drummond dunking on everyone counts as good
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:28 PM EST up reply actions
I'll score that as a win
DRUMMOND!
And Lamb with the transition 3!
And Jeremy Lamb
but really Drummond, who brought some sanity back to Gampel
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:28 PM EST up reply actions
YES!
Though it makes me said Honey Coombs is a thing of the past…
Am I the Only One waiting
for Niels Giffey’s defining moment so someone can create Animated Niels .Giffey
by CJ17098 on Dec 8, 2011 8:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
NAY
REC THIS MAN
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
It is the kind of
joke my Dad would appreciate. Once I explained to him what it meant
god
The Harvard fans are so quiet. What happened! Jeremy Lamb happened!
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 8:29 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
In all seriousness...
I did appreciate Gottlieb’s replay breakdown showing Oriakhi screening for Drummond’s baseline dunk, both because I actually do think Gottlieb does well breaking down X’s and O’s and because I get giddily excited when I see Oriakhi do something well this year…
Yeah
I wish we could get more of those X-and-O breakdowns. I know most people aren’t terribly interested in going that deep, but I think you could easily make it entertaining. Think NFL Matchup.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
I would watch
No doubt. But only if Ron Jaworski’s “professional” voice was involved
FACTORBACK
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
you know
I’m an asshole and all but screaming swears with a four year old kid in front of you is bullshit.
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 8:32 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
A Harvard kid did that?
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
well
They’re jaw-jacking with other people and there’s kids in the way. Still, children should hear swearing like that. They should learn it at home from their embittered fathers. What?
by fcmonk on Dec 8, 2011 8:40 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Should eh?
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
by derbyguy on Dec 8, 2011 8:50 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
We will never make these games easy
Remember when we were on pace to score 80, like an hour ago? And when we were up 15, like a minute ago?
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Sadly
3-pointers are worth more than 2-pointers
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
I don't understand Olander
nor do I get why Calhoun recruited him (not a knock, it’s just that the guy couldn’t be less of a Calhoun-type player). But I do love him.
Well, Calhoun's type of player
got us that bizarre 09-10 team. I seem to recall Olander (and the Germans) being kind of a response to that, although maybe I just made that up.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:41 PM EST up reply actions
Oriakhi looking much better
Encouraging. Although obviously without Drummond on the court.
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Harvard's brilliant FT defense continues
54 percent against all season; UConn is 4-8 so far.
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It's unreal
They do play tough D, so maybe they harass the percentage down. Bazz and Boatright probably made a dent in it though
67-53 final
I have to think we’re all pretty happy, no?
—Drummond was a monster
—Ryjerebazz Bolambpier is going to be tough for anyone to match
—We responded to a couple of little runs in the second half
Hooray!
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Yep
I’d still like the rotation tweaked so Bazz and Lamb play four or five less minutes a game (they both had 37 tonight). But a 14-point win over a ranked team is always a plus.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
Also
Olander hit a three’11 Alex Oriakhi
-We got a fleeting, late-game, glimpse of ’10
-DeAndscoe Danmith managed to contribute 5 points in their extremely limited minutes
Big fan of the name "DeAndscoe"
The alternative would be “Roscre Smithiels.”
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:59 PM EST up reply actions
We are happy.
Both with the win, and with Gottlieb saying UConn could “get out of town with a win,” tonight. At Gampel.
Well hey
Some of the players might live in Mansfield, technically.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
I could see them being ranked
their schedule is very soft, which hurts, but they could easily be 22-2, which is tough to vote against.
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
After their next game (against a solid Boston U team)
KenPom has Harvard favored with a roughly 80% chance to win for every game until late January. They’ll probably be 27-3, 26-4 when the tournament rolls around. Not too shabby.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
Victory!
Too bad I missed the game. :( Real life is really getting in the way of my basketball watching this year this far.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
by derbyguy on Dec 8, 2011 8:52 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Me too
Real life sucks.
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by Kevin Meacham on Dec 8, 2011 8:59 PM EST up reply actions
Back from the Gampel
My observations? Shabazz slipped back into Shabazz-ness. Lamb should have scored 100. If we didn’t get outrebounded it sure as shit seemed that way. Apparently, being an Ivy League school student doesn’t mean you’re clever. Or classy. And waiting until you’re down 10+ to chant state school is dumb. If I went to Harvard, I would have been chanting it walking into the building an hour before tip. I don’t know what was more pathetic: That they didn’t know the names of any UConn players, or that they were heckling the UConn fans in my section who were all from the Engineering department, were only there because the tickets were free, and have never been to a basketball game in their lives. And they still housed those rich bastards.
I also regaled the people around me with my stories of becoming the reigning The UConn Blog InterUniversal College Football Pick ‘Em Heavyweight Champion of the World. I’m getting the title belt made as we speak.
You'll get your glory post
sometime after my copyright final tomorrow
by Andrew Porter on Dec 8, 2011 9:52 PM EST up reply actions
I really want to see what you come up with for a sig so...
1. Click on your name in the top left on the black bar.
2. Click on “Edit Profile” near the top right.
3. Fill in the “Signature” box.
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
And while I'm giving step by step instructions on signatures
to people who probably know how to do it… This is for you CJ…
Follow the instructions I gave fcmonk and then paste the code below in your “Signature” box.
<a href="http://uconnbythenumbers.com/" target="new">UConn By the Numbers</a>
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
START McCUMMINGS
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
18-1
1967: Embrace it
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