TheOpenThread: UConn vs. Syracuse
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 12:01 PM EST
in UConn Huskies Basketball
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PrintConnecticut Huskies at Syracuse Orange, Feb 11, 2012 1:00 PM EST
Yesterday's news wasn't good, but let's not dwell on that here because UConn has a date with some traitorous bastards in the snowbound hellscape known as Syracuse, New York. Things haven't been cheery around here at late, far from it in fact, but that could all change with a win today.
The more I think about it, the more willing I am to buy into a "Everyone on UConn got cold all at once" theory. Am I grasping at straws? Maybe, but according to KenPom's efficiency numbers UConn's defense has actually improved over this interminable cold snap and I simply refuse to believe a player as talented as Jeremy Lamb is going to shoot 21% from 3 (5-23 in his last three games) forever. And Shabazz, well Shabazz always took dumb shots, but he used to hit some of them, so hopefully that comes back. As for Andre Drummond, well you have to figure he'll get under the hoop at some point, if only by accident.
The point is that this team, as incredibly frustrating as it has been to watch, still has oceans of talent, and I, for some reason unknown to myself, still have hope.
Today is big, not only to shake off the distractions of the past week, but also to give Syracuse a much deserved what-for. All 32,000 residents of Syracuse are going to be at the game today, and there is a decent chance it could be UConn's last ever visit to the Carrier Dome, so it'd be nice to leave with a win.
The game tips at 1 on CBS from the Carrier Dome. CBS has TV coverage, and we'll be having fun down in the comments. I'm also doing my best to troll anything and everything Syracuse on twitter, so check in there for some fun. Let's go Huskies.
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Kill it with fire!!!
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
Verne Lundquist
is a fake bake away from doing a spot on Otto the Orange impesonation
And a big shout out
from CBS for showing it from a camera in Rochester
any thoughts on the
New York’s college team writing on the court?
Well if it says it on the court
it must be true
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
Drummond shoots
like he’s trying to make a chest-pass.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:13 PM EST reply actions
His actual pass there was nice and fancy
just too bad it was to someone from Syracuse
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
and now he looks right at Olander
and decides to hold it instead
Nor is it effective
blind squirrel, acorn, etc
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
Jeremy Lamb's knee pads
are pretty sweet.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:19 PM EST reply actions
I hope they
hit a roller derby joint before they leave.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Those ladies
will crush him
Drummond...
Just fucking dunk buddy
Ball movement!
It’s a helluva thing
Did you see the part where we passed the ball
and then shot the ball and it went in the hoop?
That was my favorite part.
Nice look by bro
but I’m not even threatened by the routine passing at the top of the key.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:20 PM EST reply actions
Cuse really pushing this "New York's team" thing.
Apparently they haven’t heard about our SNY deal~!
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:25 PM EST reply actions
Three guys on Drummond
so he decides to take it up. Nice.
Also, does he dribble with his head down?
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:25 PM EST reply actions
He's regressed over the past month
become a lot more tentative and it’s incredibly frustrating
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Screw that turnaround
he dunked from that part of the floor against Rutgers. There was a game two weeks ago where he went 0-6, all of them jumpers
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
He looks to have very little confidence in anything he does
and seems almost nervous when he gets the ball down there. Like he’s screaming, PLEASE STOP THIS. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. OH, FUCK IT — SHOT!
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
How is it that
we are bad at three point defense?
I mean that sincerely. We are genuinely and consistently bad at 3 point defense. Is there something that we do not do that most teams do?
Cover the perimeter?
It’s been a feature of Calhoun teams forever. At least for the past decade the defense is designed to funnel guys into the paint and take care of them there. I’m assuming if you get too aggressive on the perimeter that falls apart
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
I'll buy that.
They do love to funnel, and Drummond isn’t the eraser some other centers have been for Cal. So maybe they’re caught between habit (funneling) and making sure to prevent drives.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
At least he's there
unlike 2010 where it was only Oriakhi and all the upperclassmen had forgotten how to play defense because of Thabeet
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
Right.
But maybe Cal went back to stressing the funneling because there’s at least a 7-footer there? Seems like he’d do it based on principle, and to force Drummond to be better (which doesn’t seem to be in his personality). Not sure.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
Was that a charge or a block?
On Lamb?
Charge
but after the basket according to my twitter feed
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
Nice move by CBS
not to replay or clear it up. Instead more of Fab Melo’s hideous teeth
Scoe
Needs to play more.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
Calhoun's revocery time
just doubled.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
by DouglasQuaid on Feb 11, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
Nice take by Bazz
I’ve been waiting months to say that
Shhh
don’t let the team here you, they might stop
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
Ugh…I wish listening to WTIC online was real time.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
I'm at work
It is online somewhere?
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
by DouglasQuaid on Feb 11, 2012 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
THAAAAAAANKS
Thanks.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
by DouglasQuaid on Feb 11, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
Blaney arguing with the refs
So cute
Strong move by Scoe there
but you have to pass that to Brolander. Also, not travel
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:52 PM EST reply actions
We're 215th in A/FGM
Which is the least surprising thing in history. No one on this team knows how to pass.
And it’s not like the ball sticks much. They just can’t execute clean passes when it’s there.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
Bad end to the half
but I feel pretty good about how we’re playing. They can’t shoot like this forever
Cuse shot 65% in the half
Also, only 7 UConn turnovers, two or three of which were super questionable.
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
Foul trouble with Oriakhi and Drummond
could really damn us.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
by DouglasQuaid on Feb 11, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
It did already
we were off to a nice start before those two bs fouls on Oriakhi slowed us up. Not saying the shooting drought was because he wasn’t there, but Syracuse’s scoring was helped by his absence
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
Ahhhhh
I just got back from a nice walk in the woods. Nice crisp air, relaxing babbling brook, just a slight hint of a breeze. Then I came back. To this.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
Jesus Andre
two point blank looks
Andre?
It’s like Drummond has completely forgotten how to play basketball. It’s stunning.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
My god
Someone needs to remind Drummond that he’s good.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
My god part 2
Looks liek Blaney’s halftime speech has worked wonders yet again.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
They're going to tell Drummond to keep shooting
Which is the right thing for his development, wrong thing for winning games.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:14 PM EST reply actions
THERE IT IS ANDRE!
THANK YOU
See Andre
Good things happen when you take the ball strong to the rack like a manbeast.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
I don't want to take away anything from Drummond
but he got kinda lucky there. Had no idea Melo was behind him and almost got rejected.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:16 PM EST reply actions
Right…nothing intended. He just brought his arm down on andre’s face.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
howdy from the west coast
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
BEAUTIFUL post move
See, I think that’s more impressive.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:18 PM EST reply actions
DRUMMOND GETTING POSITION!!!
Looks a little tired tho.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:19 PM EST reply actions
This is a HUGE development
Also grabbed a 3rd foul for Melo
They're going to play through him no matter what, it seems.
Which I think is great, because it’s the best thing for him. I’m sure his camp was worried that he’d have to curtail his individual development to fit in with the team, which is why going to prep school made a little sense (somewhat). But the coaching staff is doing right by him.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
we can't just let them get easy threes like that
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
lulz
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
by DouglasQuaid on Feb 11, 2012 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
Curious
Have any of you ever been to Syracuse? I went years ago. What a shithole. The snow was grey.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
I've been to Syracuse once.
I drove through it on the way to the 2009 final four. Not a lot of Cuse cars on the highway that day.
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
True story
A guy we knew up there took us on a tour of places Derrick Coleman beat his girlfriend. Tour took an hour. Truth.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
Questionable musical choice going to commercial
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
It's all grammy-nominated songs
hence my playing Kickstart My Heart on repeat in the porter household
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
To recap:
Melo blocked Drummond.
Drummond got angry.
Good things happened.
by Truffle Shuffle on Feb 11, 2012 2:23 PM EST reply actions
Has Drummond ever gotten angry? Maybe if someone sullied his Gumby costume, or something.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
shit
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
zydrunas ilgauskas basketball
“turn around and throw it at the backboard as hard as you can… see what happens”
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
holy guacamole Olander!
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
BOATRIGHT
Going coast-to-coast like a spinning top.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:28 PM EST reply actions
Best part
Was the beginning. Grabbed the ball, got hit by a diving SU defender (would’ve been a clip in football), fell to one knee, kept his dribble, got up, moved down court. Insanity
What a strange game this is.
We just keep hanging around. Effort is there. You have to figure one of these days we can turn hanging around into tangible results.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
HansbrOlander
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
that was not defense
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
Giffey
with the loudest miss in history.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:32 PM EST reply actions
This has all the makings of a stomach punch game.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
by DouglasQuaid on Feb 11, 2012 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
got away with a little push there, I'll take it
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
since when is our transition defense so bad
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
Love Boat
Defender puts a hand in his face, Boat slaps it away.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:39 PM EST reply actions
Napier rallying the troops
“Hey, quick ill-advised threes are my job!”
by Truffle Shuffle on Feb 11, 2012 2:40 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
hahahah nice
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
No didn't you hear
Boatright self-annointed himself the new “leader”, so he gets to take the dumb shots
I'm nauseous.
This team has everything it needs. TAKE IT.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
Win coming.
Soon.
Fold the football program, and deposit monies previously budgeted for said program into a savings account in Coach Calbertus Magnus's name.
its the name
there was a zero percent chance he was going to be a smart player with that name.
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
Come on
Are we allergic to putting a hand in a guys face when he puts up a three?
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
again...
bad defense allowing wide open threes to kill our runs
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
Is anyone else getting the thing
where the Joker takes over the TV to tell us about his plans for us?
Fold the football program, and deposit monies previously budgeted for said program into a savings account in Coach Calbertus Magnus's name.
CBS is broken I think.
Send Verne out to wind the crank on the transmitter again.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
?
Has there been a nuclear attack that is destroying the communications network? Should I be running to the basement?
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
my game is on...
west coast :)
Bazz just went one of two from the line
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
followed by a Cuse and-one on the other end by Waiters
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
10 point lead
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
ok you guys have tv again
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
Jeremy Lamb with the dumbest shot in history... Cuse ball
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
Yeah so this is over I guess
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
If you can hold cuse to like, 50%
maybe they’re beatable.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
Drummond
Could be a little better down the stretch
by Kemba & the Bobcats on Feb 11, 2012 2:55 PM EST reply actions
i have seen better UConn games in my day.
however… I have also seen worse. So there’s that.
"I suggest more bike" ~KSK
"The Red Sox and Yankees are playing as I type but I don't know who's winning because I don't watch Arena League baseball." - the genius TTG
Destroying your facts with opinions
True, this isn’t like the Louisville game at least. Though it may end up being a 20-point game.
by Kemba & the Bobcats on Feb 11, 2012 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
Oh my, Drummond
I would rather send Red Panda out there in crunch time.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 2:57 PM EST reply actions
Allows a layup, commits an offensive foul, then turns the ball over. Nice little run there.
by Kemba & the Bobcats on Feb 11, 2012 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
I gave up
Nothing that we did, but the fucked up signal was giving me a headache.
2011 InterUniversal College Pick 'Em Champion. Ask around. I'm the best.
Well
if another team shoots 60% from 3 you’re not winning, but I do feel good coming out of this. Also, we’re beating Syracuse by 20 when they come to Gampel for gameday
... What is there to feel good about?
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Three-point defense is a major concern. Not like things are gonna get much better.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
It's always a concern
they shot 60% from 3, they can’t do that in practice. With a healthy Drummond and regression to the mean we win today.
by Andrew Porter on Feb 11, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
Sports don't really work like that.
Like, yes, Syracuse is normally a pretty poor 3-point shooting team. But you can’t completely discount the fact that it is playing against another team (as opposed to playing Strat-o-matic or something, where you load the percentages in and calling it a day), one that doesn’t guard the 3-point line well. Which means that, even though Syracuse shoots poorly from 3, they are bound to have more success. If you give trained, skilled basketball players open looks, they are bound to hit more, no?
It’s similar to when you bring up “cold slumps.” Maybe it is just some weird cosmic fluke. But it’s more likely that Lamb (a very efficient player) shooting 5-for-23 over three games (a small sample, but enough for at least a possible trend) is the direct result of something. Maybe he’s forcing things because of how poorly things have gone? I don’t know. But it’s certainly not the result of some vague unexplainable force. He had 18 points today; cool. But he still shot only 40%. Something is not right.
And Drummond … I mean, did you see him today? He had some good moments, but the dude kills far more possessions than he helps (he missed eight shots in 28 minutes) and tires easily.
by UConnBlog Justin on Feb 11, 2012 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
So...2/25 At Gampel, eh?
How much will it cost to make 200 of those giant head signs with this image? 
Could our program collapse for a few seasons because of this APR thing?
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
Because I'm freaking out right now.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
by DouglasQuaid on Feb 11, 2012 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=GVNIB8dOkn8
*sucks thumb.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well not just the Cube's, but Chris Daughtry, Jeff Probst, super chef Bobby Flay. I mean, it was insane, it was almost too much.
Decent basketball for 35 minutes.
Only problem was the game went on for another 5 and we forgot. Drummond’s twisted ankle really killed our momentum: We were doing a good job of getting him the ball, which is something I don’t think I’ve thought yet this season. So that’s my positive for the game. If we can defend the 3 pt line better, I think we’d have won at least 3-4 more games thus far. That’s literally one thing we have to do better to finish the season. I’ll mark that as another positive.
From the dome
If you missed the last five minutes, consider yourself lucky.
by zls44 on Feb 11, 2012 3:49 PM EST via Android app reply actions
Wow
This is the worst troll we’ve ever had. Congrats MM_KOS.
Get well soon Coach!
2011 National Champs in Men's Basketball
FIRE DeLEONE
Eat a bagel (like a mumu)
#TeamKuechly
1967: Embrace it
Nothing like
showing up after the game to pepper the fame thread with insults.
“In 300 years they’ll assume my witty quips were well timed!!”
by CJ17098 on Feb 11, 2012 5:26 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
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