Left on The Table

[ABLCommenter]

Yes, it’s a one game shot, but sometimes you are so much more talented that you should win regardless of what happens in that forty min. Here is what I have broken down to torture myself:

2009-10: very likely we left the ring on the table, at the very least an appearance in the last game. Damn Joey Mazz

2010-11: this team overachieved IMO. Loved the Ohio State win in Newark. Did not leave on the table.

2011-12: would have been beyond embarrassing if a Kansas team with Thomas Robinson as their best player won. Fair play. We got the ring.

2012-13: Honestly, it would have been interesting if Nerlens didn’t get hurt. Ceiling was probably a lucky Sweet 16.

2013-14: Tough to say whether we left it on the table. We won some games we absolutely should not have, but on paper we had more talent than the Napier UConn team. But then you can say Wisconsin was a better team in terms of cohesion. Combine this with 2010-11 and we left a ring on the table.

2014-15: Yeah. Left on the table.

2015-16: Got knocked out a game early.

2016-24: only team I think that could have done it was the 2019-20 team.

2.5-3 rings left on the table, and this is being conservative.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

I don’t think you can argue 66 for Rupp but he was legit robbed of a title by the NCAA. He should have won one with Issel

I can go either way on 75 but Joe B absolutely should have won in 84.

Tubby should have won in 2003.

 

[ABLCommenter]

I don’t think you can argue 66 for Rupp but he was legit robbed of a title by the NCAA. He should have won one with Issel

I can go either way on 75 but Joe B absolutely should have won in 84.

Tubby should have won in 2003.

Yup. Honestly once you get to the second weekend, at least 35% of it is just luck. Like the 2015 Wisconsin shot clock thing.

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

10-11 definitely on the table for me. We were a zone defense away from winning a championship. Why even try to guard that backcourt? Limit penetration and you win.

 

[OmahaCats]

Yes, it’s a one game shot, but sometimes you are so much more talented that you should win regardless of what happens in that forty min. Here is what I have broken down to torture myself:

2009-10: very likely we left the ring on the table, at the very least an appearance in the last game. Damn Joey Mazz

2010-11: this team overachieved IMO. Loved the Ohio State win in Newark. Did not leave on the table.

2011-12: would have been beyond embarrassing if a Kansas team with Thomas Robinson as their best player won. Fair play. We got the ring.

2012-13: Honestly, it would have been interesting if Nerlens didn’t get hurt. Ceiling was probably a lucky Sweet 16.

2013-14: Tough to say whether we left it on the table. We won some games we absolutely should not have, but on paper we had more talent than the Napier UConn team. But then you can say Wisconsin was a better team in terms of cohesion. Combine this with 2010-11 and we left a ring on the table.

2014-15: Yeah. Left on the table.

2015-16: Got knocked out a game early.

2016-24: only team I think that could have done it was the 2019-20 team.

2.5-3 rings left on the table, and this is being conservative.

2017 team with Fox, was very capable.

 

[wccat2969]

Just goes to show that regardless how talented your team is, you have to have some luck. And on any given night you can be going home. Shots not falling, the opposing teams shot is falling, a bad play at the wrong time, a bad call, etc....the reasons go on and on.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Look forward brother. Doing the what ifs all the time will depress you.

 

[JonathanW]

16-17 definitely could have

21-22 and 24-25 was there before injuries, but injuries happen

 

[jedwar]

During my fandom. IMO we should have 4 more minimum.

75
84
93
97
03
10
11
14
15
17

 

[FirewithFire]

You can easily look at injuries for some of those loses. In 2014 if Stein isn't injured UCONN's point guard can't just stand outside and bomb three pointers. In 2015 if Poy was playing he could have shut down Decker. 2003 Bogans. 1997 Anderson. I would add this year to that list. We had a legit shot until half the team went down.

After 2000 the only injury that slowed us down was Cal.

 

[FtWorthCat]

We clearly were the best team in 2010. Florida was far and away the best team in the country in 2014. They beat us 3 times, couldn't beat UConn either. We weren't the best team in the country in 1998, but won the tournament. We were probably top 5, but not the best.

 

[AJG-15]

Or for every 17 FF appearances we win won 8 times. That’s 47% percentage winning once we reached FF. That’s almost a coin flip.

So the goal should be let’s get to FF and since in our the last 2 appearances we didn’t win one, we are due a title in our next FF.

 

[TopCatCal]

Yes, it’s a one game shot, but sometimes you are so much more talented that you should win regardless of what happens in that forty min. Here is what I have broken down to torture myself:

2009-10: very likely we left the ring on the table, at the very least an appearance in the last game. Damn Joey Mazz

2010-11: this team overachieved IMO. Loved the Ohio State win in Newark. Did not leave on the table.

2011-12: would have been beyond embarrassing if a Kansas team with Thomas Robinson as their best player won. Fair play. We got the ring.

2012-13: Honestly, it would have been interesting if Nerlens didn’t get hurt. Ceiling was probably a lucky Sweet 16.

2013-14: Tough to say whether we left it on the table. We won some games we absolutely should not have, but on paper we had more talent than the Napier UConn team. But then you can say Wisconsin was a better team in terms of cohesion. Combine this with 2010-11 and we left a ring on the table.

2014-15: Yeah. Left on the table.

2015-16: Got knocked out a game early.

2016-24: only team I think that could have done it was the 2019-20 team.

2.5-3 rings left on the table, and this is being conservative.

2014-15..... With 2 future Hall of Fame players (Devin Booker & Karl-Anthony Towns) & a roster full of other McDonald's All-Americans. Only John Calipari & Jon Scheyer could have messed that team up.

 

[FatestCat]

2017 team with Fox, was very capable.

Absolutely, everyone knew it was between UK and UNC that year and they put us in the same damn bracket.