The UConn Fast Break - 10/24/2023
Another brutal loss for football, with a mixed bag for men's hockey on the road.
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Another brutal loss for UConn football
UConn football has been losing in many painful ways this season, from first-half collapses to late-game gaffes and everything in between. The USF game, where they came back from an early deficit to take a double-digit fourth-quarter lead and then blow it, is just the latest.
At 1-6 with road games against James Madison and Tennessee left to go, making a second straight bowl game for the first time since 2010 is likely out of reach, but a respectable season is still a possibility. They still have plenty to play for this weekend. Boston College is a regional rival that the Huskies beat for the first time ever last year. That game means a lot regardless of the teams’ records. Boston College is having a better-than-expected season but still is no juggernaut.
A 3-9 record doesn’t need to be a step backward for Jim Mora’s team. With respectable and competent performances the rest of the year as Ta’Quon Roberson gets more comfortable under center, the Huskies can feel good about 2024 and Year 3 in the Mora era with a strong finish. If things go sideways in the balance of this season, we’ll have a lot more to worry about than just the lack of progress.
Weekly Rewind
Men’s Basketball
Sanogo’s NBA prospects ($) - The 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player is getting a good look with Chicago.
Women’s Basketball
Opponent preview: The contenders - As always, UConn’s non-conference schedule is stacked at the top.
UConn WBB Weekly - This week’s newsletter looks at the return of Paige Bueckers and her impact on practice.
Why Aubrey Griffin came back ($) - The wing is using her final year of eligibility and still has room to grow.
Nika Muhl: The chameleon ($) - Every year, the guard seems to have a new role.
Men’s Hockey
A much-needed win - The Huskies responded to a Friday losswith a 5-0 win on Saturday, with 69 shots on goal. | Photos
Weak series opener - UConn was lifeless in the series opener against Union, losing 4-1. | Photos
Huskies not panicking - It has been a rough start for Mike Cavanaugh and Co., but they’re not feeling the pressure, yet.
Podcast ($) - The crew is back to look at last weekend’s sweep t the hands of Holy Cross.
Football
Huskies blow late lead - USF was down 11 points in the final quarter but was able to complete a comeback.
Postgame spread - UConn had the victory, but it slipped away. What’s next?
Future opponents - Boston College took a victory, while Sacred Heart went to overtime.
Should UConn join a conference? - Jim Mora certainly thinks so.
Women’s Soccer
Photos - The Huskies beat Villanova on Thursday, with another victory over Providence on Sunday, with just one regular season game left.
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Highlights
Ta’Quan Roberson showed off his running ability to get UConn on the board in the second quarter with a 24-yard touchdown run, beating the defender to the edge and crossing the goal line.
Memory Lane
While the Huskies lost to USF on Saturday, let’s look back at brighter times against the Bulls.
The year was 2007, one of the most chaotic seasons in college football history. Michigan lost to Appalachian State in Week 1, the first of a record 59 upsets, according to the AP Poll. The No. 2 team in the poll also lost seven times in the final nine weeks.
The date was October 27 and USF was No. 11 in the AP Poll when the Bulls visited East Hartford. The game was selected for network television, airing at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. This was the first time that the Huskies were showcased with such wide reach.
They took advantage, as the home team was up 16-0 at the half and held on for a 22-15 victory as a Matt Groethe pass fell incomplete in the end zone for the final play of the game. It was UConn’s first win over a ranked opponent in program history, which vaulted them into the AP Poll at No. 16 the following week, which was also a first for the Huskies.
The full broadcast, courtesy of UConn Husky Games, is below.
UConn, Great Pic
Saturday was much better than Friday in Schenectady for the Huskies, as they secured a 5-0 win over Union, the day after a 4-1 defeat.
Some of Ian Bethune’s best from the day.
Parting Thoughts
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