Taking a Break After a Heartbreaking Loss

Time to chill (Jonathan Kulakofsky | Daily Campus)
Time to chill (Jonathan Kulakofsky | Daily Campus)
Time to chill (Jonathan Kulakofsky | Daily Campus)

After UConn’s loss to SMU in the AAC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon, it felt like everyone needed a break. And I mean everyone. Ryan Boatright was so out of gas during the game that he turned in one of the poorest performances of his career (1-12 shooting, seven points, one rebound, one assist). He needs a break. He kind of got one when he fouled out of the game with 46 seconds remaining — the first time he’s committed five fouls in a game during his four-year career.

We’ll save the Ryan Boatright retrospectives for when his UConn tenure is officially over, but anyone overly critical of him after this performance needs a good, solid dose of perspective. The guy has given as much of himself to his team as anyone who’s come before him and anyone who will follow. He spent as much time laying on the court injured as he did sitting on the bench. If his critics took the kind of physical punishment that Boatright has endured, they wouldn’t leave their homes, let alone play a basketball game. He’s allowed a bad game. It’s unfortunate it came at such an inopportune moment.

Kevin Ollie needs a break. The emotions of a tough season caught up with the third-year coach during the last few days. He fought back tears on Saturday night while describing the emotional trials of Daniel Hamilton, whose grandmother passed away earlier in the week. Following the loss to SMU, Ollie heaped praise on Boatright like a proud father. For all of his X’s-and-O’s shortcomings, and we’ll touch on those this offseason as well, there isn’t a coach in American who cares more about his players than Ollie. It’s a familial love that is obviously reciprocated by his players and helps explain the level of effort they display even in poor performances.

Even the fans need a break. This whole season has been frustrating, the result of a post-championship hangover coupled with some heartbreaking early loses. The boring, directional-Florida-riddled conference schedule didn’t help. Neither did an offense that averaged just over 64 points per game. The A Dime Back staff isn’t immune to it — hence the fake postgame recap more than 24 hours after the final whistle. UConn missing out on the NCAA Tournament is deflating, especially after being so close, but fans should take a moment to collect their thoughts and then show up to Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday night to give Boatright the send off that he deserves.

Separation makes the heart grow fonder, and this team will prove that especially true. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a college basketball fan is watching young men develop into near-finished products. When the final buzzer sounds on the 2014-2015 season, fans will feel disappointment in an unsuccessful season, but they should have optimism for the future, and appreciation for the effort and dedication shown by the developing young players and their captain, Boatright, who have represented their university with dignity and class.

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Up Next:

UConn will take on Arizona St. in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday night in Gampel Pavilion. Tip is at 7pm and the game will be on ESPN2.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I attended UConn in the mid-60s on a basketball scholarship so i have always been a champion of UConn basketball . . . even back then when they were in the Yankee Conference. While I have suffered thru this season because i was stuck on the high of their championship last season. But being an ex-baller, i saw how Boatright poured his heart out in trying to get this team back to the tourney this year. I have nothing but respect for the young man who kept a team together, even to the bitter end. Ryan has no reason to hang his head nor explain to anyone why this team came oh so close to once again let the world know of that UConn pride. I wish Mr. Boatright all the success in his pro career because he will play in the NBA.

  2. AGREED. Boatright was/is such a crucial piece to this programs history. He stayed when he could’ve easily gone pro. By him doing that, he acted as a stopgap for this year and next. Without Boatright this team wins 10 games- maybe. This will allow the rest of the players back to further develop, and with an influx of young talent (Jalen Adams, Steve Enoch, and hopefully Diamond Stone) coming in next year, we should be right back in the Dance come this time next March. Fast forward TWO years from now…
    Jalen Adams as a seasoned sophomore running point.
    Rodney Purvis as an All American potential senior.
    Danny Hamilton as an All American potential junior (if he doesnt go pro)
    Kenton Facey, Brimah, whoever else up front.
    And not including any stud recruits that we get in the next year or two.
    That, and Ollie getting a couple more years to really dial in his in-game management.
    The Program is in good hands. This year was a disappointment, but this is what UConn does. The highest of the highs every couple years, followed by a year or two of building it back up…

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