- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 6,374
- Reaction Score
- 16,572
No Joy in Mudville ...
My weird academic path portrays a singular mission. I chose UConn as a NYer because they had athletic teams that competed; UALBANY and Binghamton didn't (and as an older son in a family of 6 ... Cost of attendance was important). Then I chose UCLA over Northwestern for MBA out of GE. Why? That's obvious.
Do you know what UCLA basketball felt like in the mid 80s after not winning for a decade? Can you imagine what their corporate older fans were saying? Or ... The Urgency of the students? Did they suck? Nope. Jim Harrick brought in great All-Ratings rosters. And fun style. But you would think they were Paul Anka on the Strip next to Cirque du Soleil.
This Kevin Ollie year brings me back. There are many many posts saying KO can't develop players. I'm ready for my Lewis Black rant: did you frigging remember Neils Giffey or DeAndre Daniels when they first stepped into the 06268? Are you not aware of the Kentan Facey story? Rodney Purvis arrived a Ferrari; but he was a stud like that in Middle School. Brilliant athletic gifts; but Rodney wasn't going to have a high potential with simply that.
When we get 8-10 kids coming on ... I believe Ollie will - once again - pull UConn to top of conference and dangerous in March.
The concern is each of us. Where's the Joy. We won 4 NC and we take pride in the WBB and Brand. The Joy in CBB has to be watching young develop ... as well as dominating the Conference or wins in March or the first week of November. UCLA, btw, was 15 & 17 in 2015-2016; but acknowledged widely as the fun winning Team to watch. Their Hamilton brother stayed to play this year. I believe that has everything to do with the buzz in LA of the coming recruits and what was possible; people were really down on Alford. At UConn, we need to find the energy to drive this Program to greater years. I believe that will come as the current list of new guys arrive and play. You all need to look at the broad Horizon. This goes for UConn Football as well. I don't care about the Clemsons frankly. I care about being damn good and filling the RENT again.
Will 2009 be the last Powerhouse UConn MBB team? Sheesh. Possibilities exist.
My weird academic path portrays a singular mission. I chose UConn as a NYer because they had athletic teams that competed; UALBANY and Binghamton didn't (and as an older son in a family of 6 ... Cost of attendance was important). Then I chose UCLA over Northwestern for MBA out of GE. Why? That's obvious.
Do you know what UCLA basketball felt like in the mid 80s after not winning for a decade? Can you imagine what their corporate older fans were saying? Or ... The Urgency of the students? Did they suck? Nope. Jim Harrick brought in great All-Ratings rosters. And fun style. But you would think they were Paul Anka on the Strip next to Cirque du Soleil.
This Kevin Ollie year brings me back. There are many many posts saying KO can't develop players. I'm ready for my Lewis Black rant: did you frigging remember Neils Giffey or DeAndre Daniels when they first stepped into the 06268? Are you not aware of the Kentan Facey story? Rodney Purvis arrived a Ferrari; but he was a stud like that in Middle School. Brilliant athletic gifts; but Rodney wasn't going to have a high potential with simply that.
When we get 8-10 kids coming on ... I believe Ollie will - once again - pull UConn to top of conference and dangerous in March.
The concern is each of us. Where's the Joy. We won 4 NC and we take pride in the WBB and Brand. The Joy in CBB has to be watching young develop ... as well as dominating the Conference or wins in March or the first week of November. UCLA, btw, was 15 & 17 in 2015-2016; but acknowledged widely as the fun winning Team to watch. Their Hamilton brother stayed to play this year. I believe that has everything to do with the buzz in LA of the coming recruits and what was possible; people were really down on Alford. At UConn, we need to find the energy to drive this Program to greater years. I believe that will come as the current list of new guys arrive and play. You all need to look at the broad Horizon. This goes for UConn Football as well. I don't care about the Clemsons frankly. I care about being damn good and filling the RENT again.
Will 2009 be the last Powerhouse UConn MBB team? Sheesh. Possibilities exist.