The MSG experience. A primer.

[shadow]

No doubt he is a love him or hate him guy. "Get off of my lawn!" But maybe the cynic in me realizes that much like politicians, being a high profile NCAA coach is peopled by a certain kind of person. And that person more often than not is not going to be found walking the streets of Calcutta. The new normal, moral relativism, whatever cute nomenclature to describe playing in a billion dollar industry.

I think Knight just has an angry personality. Calhoun? Not angry, just a competitive, out to prove the world wrong kind. Not a dime back, instead of a chair fling.

I'm not so sure. When I lived out in Connecticut back in the early 2000's, he really didn't like Hartford Courant writer Jeff Jacobs because Jacobs would call him to the mat on things. He reminds me more of Paterno in the "I rule the campus and no one should dare question me about anything" kind of way.

 

[UCONNonasunnyda]

I'm curious what makes you say that? I was thinking they'd be more on UConn's side.

Iowa State- clean, wholesome. Silos, John Deere. Blonde blabe floating on an tractor tube down a river chewing on a stalk? of wheat. UCONN dirty. Already tasted success. Honestly, if I wasn't a UCONN fan, I'd root for you guys. You guys are the higher seed, and while Vegas is scoring it a pick 'em, it will be easier for a neutral fan to come around to root for you. This will supercede the "we matchup better with team x" thinking.

 

[ThurgoodMarshal]

Two serious questions....

Which team is better:
2012 ISU or 2014 ISU without Niang

Which team is better:
2012 UConn or 2014 UConn

I like this post. IMO, 2014 ISU Team > 2012 ISU Team. However, the 2012 team had Royce White and, at the time, he was the best player on either team.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Its been remodeled twice since then FYI.

And in pretty spectacular fashion if I remember right. A lot of money poured into it.

 

[mj4cy]

Let's be honest. Both Virginia and MSU fans will be rooting like hell for Iowa State. Down a man which means an easier matchup for them, AND they don't have to play a team close to their home. I have talked to many people taking the trip out East, and I'm sure ISU has sold out their allotment, or will by the time the ball is thrown in the air.


Yes, Uconn will have more fans, but it won't be a true road game for us. Plus, if we get up early, it'll can neuter the crowd.

 

[CloneJob]

Fred scored his first professional points at MSG. Very ironic.

 

[UCONNonasunnyda]

I can't answer the former, but chemistry wise UCONN 2014 is 1000x the team of 2012. And it takes a team to win a hoops game. The 2012 team was beset by infighting between our starting forward, Oriakhi, Calhoun, Drummond. Lamb (deservedly so) was looking for his pay day. Players were looking to bolt (Roscoe, Bradley). During the season Oriakhi's Dad and Oriakhi were publically bad mouthing Calhoun. Those days were dark.

Two serious questions....

Which team is better:
2012 ISU or 2014 ISU without Niang

Which team is better:
2012 UConn or 2014 UConn

 

[ThurgoodMarshal]

Iowa State- clean, wholesome. Silos, John Deere. Blonde blabe floating on an tractor tube down a river chewing on a stalk? of wheat. UCONN dirty. Already tasted success. Honestly, if I wasn't a UCONN fan, I'd root for you guys. You guys are the higher seed, and while Vegas is scoring it a pick 'em, it will be easier for a neutral fan to come around to root for you. This will supercede the "we matchup better with team x" thinking.

Haha I always love an outsiders opinion on the state of Iowa.

 

[Dandy]

I like this post. IMO, 2014 ISU Team > 2012 ISU Team. However, the 2012 team had Royce White and, at the time, he was the best player on either team.

I say if you look at the overall talent each team had then and now, 2012 UConn is better than 2014 UConn and 2014 ISU (w/o GN) is better than 2012 ISU even with Royce. Well, 2012 ISU beat 2012 UConn so...

 

[mdk2isu]

To say that UCONN has had a chip on their shoulder (and its fans) does a disservice to mica. UCONN has a boulder on their shoulder.

They might want to drop the boulder they are carrying. It will be hard for them to keep up with our fast pace carrying that. Those thongs are heavy!

 

[HFCS]

Is their any footage of their degenerate inbred fanbase assaulting our mascot?

My coworker who grew up and lived in NYC most of his life told me the vision people have of Connecticut (suburban yuppie types) is completely inaccurate and he can't think of a trashier set of people. Wasn't surprised at all when I told him their fans assaulted a mascot, said it seemed very typical Connecticut behavior. I already had him leaning toward Cyclone fandom and he is PUMPED for us to play UConn because he hated them for years.

 

[Cycsk]

True. But without that narrative my dramatic build up would have been not-so-dramatic!

For those of you lucky enough to attend the game, the atmosphere at MSG is just so different than the rest of the country. I've seen UCONN play in the NCAA tournament in tons of arenas- domes (minn, st. pete, houston), in hostile territory (Anaheim with AZ and I believe we will win this game SDSU), greensboro/UNC, and in arenas that completely turned on UCONN (DC/George Mason). The arenas get loud, some louder than MSG.

But none compares to playing a game in the center of the world, but mostly in the center of my mind. It is electric.

And realistically, the Garden seats 19,000 for NCAA hoops, a 1/4 of which is doled out to the schools. Another 1/4 reserved for corporates. UVA and MSU fans will be rooting for you. Add the swiss fans that will choose during the course of the game, it'll be rocking and rolling for both sides.

FIFY. Sure MSG will be a good environment for you, but I think you are seeing this through your UConn "sunnyda" glasses. If it is "rocking and rolling for both sides," then what is your point? Are you telling us to expect a great environment? If so, we are familiar with that. Or are you telling us that this will be a hostile environment? If so, I don't think it will be as bad as you think, but regardless, we have handled that also.

 

[mdk2isu]

Fred scored his first professional points at MSG. Very ironic.

Now he gets to punch his first trip to the Final Four as a coach there. Special place for him.

 

[Cycsk]

Iowa State- clean, wholesome. Silos, John Deere. Blonde blabe floating on an tractor tube down a river chewing on a stalk? of wheat. UCONN dirty. Already tasted success. Honestly, if I wasn't a UCONN fan, I'd root for you guys. You guys are the higher seed, and while Vegas is scoring it a pick 'em, it will be easier for a neutral fan to come around to root for you. This will supercede the "we matchup better with team x" thinking.

Tell that to Kane as a BYU center and he will poke your eyes out!

 

[mj4cy]

Someone give me a reason why VA and MSU fans shouldn't root for ISU.

 

[Leebo]

Is their any footage of their degenerate inbred fanbase assaulting our mascot?

My coworker who grew up and lived in NYC most of his life told me the vision people have of Connecticut (suburban yuppie types) is completely inaccurate and he can't think of a trashier set of people. Wasn't surprised at all when I told him their fans assaulted a mascot, said it seemed very typical Connecticut behavior. I already had him leaning toward Cyclone fandom and he is PUMPED for us to play UConn because he hated them for years.

Since we're making sweeping generalizations, I can see that my impression of people from Iowa as being thoughtful and measured in their responses to trolling is spot on.

 

[HFCS]

Since we're making sweeping generalizations, I can see that my impression of people from Iowa as being thoughtful and measured in their responses to trolling is spot on.

My recent experiences are:
dominated UConn in NCAA tournament
won a road football game where our mascot was assaulted
arrogant post to start this thread

Then my coworker comes in telling me how horrible he thinks the people of the state are before I even tell him they assaulted a guy in a bird suit. Good luck, we know it's a road game for us but we're used to it in tournament play.

 

[Bret44]

I liked our one NCCU Fan who swung by, but I like having multiple UConnites? UConnioans? UCons? Swinging by.

 

[Leebo]

My recent experiences are:
dominated UConn in NCAA tournament
won a road football game where our mascot was assaulted
arrogant post to start this thread

Then my coworker comes in telling me how horrible he thinks the people of the state are before I even tell him they assaulted a guy in a bird suit. Good luck, we know it's a road game for us but we're used to it in tournament play.

I completely agree that your hatred for 3 million people is justified on the basis of these experiences.

 

[Agclone91]

Since we're making sweeping generalizations, I can see that my impression of people from Iowa as being thoughtful and measured in their responses to trolling is spot on.

Iowa State- clean, wholesome. Silos, John Deere. Blonde blabe floating on an tractor tube down a river chewing on a stalk? of wheat. UCONN dirty. Already tasted success. Honestly, if I wasn't a UCONN fan, I'd root for you guys. You guys are the higher seed, and while Vegas is scoring it a pick 'em, it will be easier for a neutral fan to come around to root for you. This will supercede the "we matchup better with team x" thinking.

Pot; meet kettle.