Hiring is a crapshoot kinda like hoops recruiting. It’s often unpredictable how some hires will turn out from an interview, a resume or a reference. But I would never hire an obviously arrogant know it all. Before I was a division head I sat in with my boss in the interviews of people who would be working with. One of them was obviously bright but to me came off as potentially difficult with a huge ego. For particular reasons i knew the person would be favored because they met a certain demographic. I told my boss what i thought but he did the hire. I was right as rain and of course when my boss moved on, i was hired to take his place and for a time was stuck with the person. As i said, a smart person, but to put it into UConn recruiting terms, didn’t fit the rather collegial culture of our department.
For our pal navery, if was Castle or any kid who was about to have several million thrown at them by some employer, I would leave too if they felt my flaws could be worked on with their help rather than in school. A no brainer. Of course it does’t also necessarily mean staying in school another year is dumb either. I actually wouldn’t care if kids were drafted right of hs if scouts think them ready. Cuts the pretense of student athlete, even more of a pretense with NIL (not against it) and the transfer portal free for all, that i think could use some refinement.
What i will never agree with, but it’s only my dumb opinion, is that it benefits UConn if a terrific player gives us one or two years when their best collge days are likely still to come. Notice I didn’t say they are dumb for leaving although it isn’t the easiest life for a 19 or 20 year old, aside from whether or not they are mature enough to handle it. Seems now that anytime one of our young guys had a good game people are speculating on how soon they are draftable. I have this terrible habit from a managerial point of view of looking forward beyond the immediate gratification. Obviously i hope we win it all this year and if we do, the 2 guys most likely to go pro early, SC and DC, will have been critical. But probably not making us a big winner without Newton, Spencer and Diarra, our most experienced players. I can’t see Karaban being ready yet and think he will stay but again, I’m no NBA GM. So looking ahead to next year, if Newton, Spencer, Diarra whom we seemingly aren’t sure will leave, plus SC and DC gone, how good will it be that SC and DC left.
People need to be ready for rebuilding unless we strike gold in the portal. Where i
i think navery is off the rails and dumber than I, is that and I think it was him, maybe you too. who think great hs potential 1 and dones will be attracted because a player like Castle shows it can be done from UConn, if I understand the premise and that is good for the program. I think winning is good for the program. First of all that’s a total unknown. Castle committed before Hurley had shown anything except disappoint per BY world by us getting bounced in round 1 two years in a row. And following Castle’s commitment with you and the rest of the world saying he was one and done AND we had won the NC, not only did we not get any apparent early draftees, but we could’t woo one of the supposed best New England kids ever away from a program and coach everyone on the BY likes to trash, could’t get the cousin of a commit who also went to that other trashed program, and lost the supposed best in-state recruit to Cincinnati where only the ghost of the Big O is a winner. Further, if it starts to look a tiny bit like UK, folks should remember that they are in a freqent state of rebuild.
Now, you like to take shots at me regarding the NBA. I’m not sure if you notice the difference, but I have zero interest in the NBA and a lot of interest in UConn. As I said, I know why kids are attracted to NBA money and it’s their life. You are the one who brings up the NBA. You can love the NBA all you like with my utter approval. But I know i an not alone in finding the games boring and repetitive. Obviously there are a load of really talented players. But it is neither a valid or invalid state of mind to like or not like the modern NBA. Nor is it dumb, I suggest, that UConn would likely be better off next year with both SC and DC.
FWIW ( for an ancient SOB i do know some internet shorthand) I like your talent evaluations. I just don’t get thrilled with early departures, being neither the family or agent of any of them. God bless the portal.
