Was this the most surprising UCONN championship run ?

[Marat]

In 1999, we had a veteran terrific team that was ranked #1 for part of the season, and only Duke stood in the way. But it was the 1st one so it was shocking to actually be on top of the mountain.

In 2004, we knew the team was stacked and was not suprising at all to win it .

In 2011, I guess you could say it was surprising to others but once the team won the BET 5 in 5 days, then you could anticipate the run.

In 2014, yes that was surprising - didn't expect to win it all .

This 2023 team - given the previous 2 ncaa endings, Hurley, and mediocre mid-season swoon, it was surprising. The experts said there isn't dominant team, and they were wrong. You can argue that this championship run was even more surprising than our other runs, due to how dominant this team became vs non conference opponents.

 

[husky429]

2014 and 2011 were more surprising. 2014 especially.

 

[DC-Husky]

2014 and 2011 were more surprising. 2014 especially.

Agree - this was not even close in comparison to 2011 or 2014. Doesn't make any less perfect.

 

[elmcityboy]

it has to be 2014.

after the PK85 and the 14-0 start, it felt like this team could cruise to a title. the 2-6 swoon was more surprising than the final result.

 

[UConnSwag11]

2014 and 2011 were more surprising. 2014 especially.

Yes. Both of those much more surprising

 

[Fishy]

I would say 2014, definitely.

Not sure there is a case for anyone else.

2014 lost by 35 or so at UL to end the regular season and then got smashed again in the AAC championship game. (Lost by 10, but it was a blowout.)

 

[my2cents]

Absolutely no one picked us to beat Duke in '99. Somewhat of a surprise, and our first.
2004 , not a surprise.
2014 biggest surprise.
This year we showed that we could dominate teams, so not a surprise at all.

 

[UCHuskies08]

I said to my dad last night, I would have been surprised in late January that we won, but when we were #2 and undefeated OOC, I wouldn't have been surprised then.

I think 2014 was the most surprising, being a #7 seed, DeAndre Daniels playing out of his mind for 3 weeks, Tyler Olander having more national championships than Syracuse....

 

[G0UCONN]

Has to be 2014 followed by this one and then 2011.

 

[businesslawyer]

I would say 2014, definitely.

Not sure there is a case for anyone else.

2014 lost by 35 or so at UL to end the regular season and then got smashed again in the AAC championship game. (Lost by 10, but it was a blowout.)

Clearly not as surprising as 2014. Hard to distinguish between '11 and this year. In both years we went undefeated OOC, struggled in conference and were seeded at a level where making the Final Four was not shocking but there were other teams with a better chance of going all the way than us.

The '11 team played far more competitive games in the tournament, three of which could have easily gone the other way, but there was faith in that team being able to win a close game because of Kemba and the Big East tournament, whereas when SD State cut it to 5 this year I can't have been the only fan beyond nervous because I didn't want to see us have to make good decisions down the stretch.

 

[Kenny11]

2014 for sure.

 

[BugsyCT]

This season itself as a whole was a surprise. Not so much the tourney because we knew by that point what they were capable of once they got rolling.

Both 2011 and 2014 they struggled through the regular season. Nobody saw the 5 wins in 5 days coming (wherever MakersMuppet is, you're forever in Boneyard lore). Once we did that, they carried that momentum into the tourney as a 3 seed and Kemba took us to the promised land.

But 2014? We'd just lost to Louisville again in the AAC final, and went into the dance as a 7 seed. Don't think many people saw us repeating 2011. But Bazz was the man that year and once we got to MSG for the regionals, you could feel that March magic coming back again. This was the most surprising of our titles IMO.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

2014, not even close. This was a great team, I'd put the 2023 and 2011 in the same category.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Going from being banned to winning the next year is probably one of the most improbable championships ever. Hard to beat.

This one means we’re back though. And going to be here for AWHILE.

 

[Old blue]

In a word, Yes.

 

[upstater]

2014.

I was not surprised at all by 2011. I felt the same way I felt this year. Crazy Big East reffing shackled us in the conference regular season. We are a combined 35-0 OOC and 22-16 BE reg. season for 2011 + 2023. EYE POPPING.

I really like all the players on this team, and I love the way they play offense. It's really pleasing. That being said, based on the context around them and being left for dead in the AAC, the banning because of APR in 2013, and the vindication at MSG, that 2014 may always be my favorite championship team.

 

[UCTitleTown]

If not for Brimah, 2014 would've been done before getting off the ground and KO was coach, so definitely the most surprising. I'd say 2014, 2011, 2023, 1999 and 2004.

 

[Travelman6]

Most suprising
2014
2023
2011
1999
2004
"Least" suprising

 

[UCTitleTown]

Going from being banned to winning the next year is probably one of the most improbable championships ever. Hard to beat.

This one means we’re back though. And going to be here for AWHILE.

And didn't some players bail the year we got banned? Yet we came back and won soon after.

 

[cohenzone]

2014 and i don’t think it’s close. Totally erratic all season long. But Boatwright and Napier especially jelled during the BE tournament and the team as a whole steadied. Still needed a miracle here and their. Having two effective guards at the right time was huge.

 

[Chin Diesel]

No. 2014 was most surprising.

This team showed it was elite in non-conference games and righted the ship during conference season.

Computer metrics were high on this team all season and a good case could be made UConn should have been a 3-seed.

2014 most surprising
2011 second most surpising
2023
1999/2004. Not surprising at all.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Certain "fans" on this board would have to say its 2023.

Because they were absolutely, positively, 100% convinced that Hurley would never be able to win in March.

Turns out, he can win just fine in both March and April.

 

[uconn_jack]

2023 was only a suprise because of the PTSD the fan base has had because of the last 9 years.

 

[Irvine]

Surprising? Quite a few experts predicted UConn to reach the Final Four this year.

 

[ctchamps]

2014 hands down. This year we had one starter who fasted and one who was struggling with a stomach ailment. In 2014 all the starters and players were hungry!