You never want to be the guy who follows the guy.

[Palatine]

You want to be the guy after the guy who follows the guy.

At least, that has been the conventional wisdom on following Hall of Fame head coaches. You don't want to follow Wooden or Smith or Calhoun. You wanna follow the dude who tried to live up to their legacies.

HOWEVER...... it looks like KO is turning that on its head. The exception that proves the rule.

Of course, the only thing that matters in college basketball is the dance. You're only as good as your run in the NCAA Tourney. KO has yet to walk out on the court in round one. I think he'll do well. That he will break all the precedents.

It sure creates a lot of excitement.

 

[B1GEast]

You do, only if you know, you're the right guy

 

[Excalibur]

You want to be the guy after the guy who follows the guy.

At least, that has been the conventional wisdom on following Hall of Fame head coaches. You don't want to follow Wooden or Smith or Calhoun. You wanna follow the dude who tried to live up to their legacies.

HOWEVER...... it looks like KO is turning that on its head. The exception that proves the rule.

Of course, the only thing that matters in college basketball is the dance. You're only as good as your run in the NCAA Tourney. KO has yet to walk out on the court in round one. I think he'll do well. That he will break all the precedents.

It sure creates a lot of excitement.

I hear what you're saying, but Louisville did an OK job replacing Denny Crum.

 

[UChusky916]

Where are the people on this board who doubted Ollie?

Freescooter?

Gotta give partial credit to JC for persuading the university. IN JC I TRUST so therefore IN OLLIE I TRUST

 

[Kitaman]

Well, its still very early in his coaching career.......................................and that's the great part! We get years and years of enjoying him.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Well, its still very early in his coaching career.......................................and that's the great part! We get years and years of enjoying him.

Totally agree. The guy is young, and potentially could be at UCONN for 20+ years if all goes well. So glad it worked out the way it did.

 

[Palatine]

Remember Mike Davis? Followed Knight at IU. The streets are littered with these guys. Doesn't bother KO a wit.

 

[tzznandrew]

I hear what you're saying, but Louisville did an OK job replacing Denny Crum.

To be fair, Denny Crum had fallen on hard times--it was almost as if he replaced himself with a less effective version of himself. So in that sense, Pitino (already a very good and successful coach) was in good shape. The four years before Pitino, Crum didn't get to 20 wins, and twice finished under-.500. It meant there really wasn't a ton of pressure on Louisville in those first few years, and a 19-13, NIT season was seen as an improvement.

 

[GlastonTim]

Not to be a debbie downer, and I love KO. but 1 year and 6 games aren't enough time to tell if he'll be successfull long term. I happen to think he will be, but we don't have crystal balls.

 

[pj]

Not to be a debbie downer, and I love KO. but 1 year and 6 games aren't enough time to tell if he'll be successfull long term. I happen to think he will be, but we don't have crystal balls.

I have a crystal ball. He'll be successful.

 

[sdhusky]

Not to be a debbie downer, and I love KO. but 1 year and 6 games aren't enough time to tell if he'll be successfull long term. I happen to think he will be, but we don't have crystal balls.

Yeah. All this over-the-top love makes me think that there will be a ton of blowback once we lose a few games that we think we should win.

 

[Kitaman]

Not to be a debbie downer, and I love KO. but 1 year and 6 games aren't enough time to tell if he'll be successfull long term. I happen to think he will be, but we don't have crystal balls.

Why do you inject rational thinking in the middle of a beer pong party?

 

[Gurleyman]

Izzo is one exception. Perhaps Bill Self, but you'd have to question whether Roy was at KU long enough to reach legendary status there.

 

[ctchamps]

Yeah. All this over-the-top love makes me think that there will be a ton of blowback once we lose a few games that we think we should win.

Previous guy got some of that not long after the 2nd NC. He got plenty before the first one. A lot of us fans are head cases. So yep, there will be blowback by some fans. It's a guarantee. But why worry about it. I've enjoyed the transitional ride up to this point. With a little luck this team will propel UConn and KO into a long and wonderful future.

 

[phillionaire]

Not to be a debbie downer, and I love KO. but 1 year and 6 games aren't enough time to tell if he'll be successfull long term. I happen to think he will be, but we don't have crystal balls.

how do you know about my balls?

 

[HuskyJJ]

That whole statement can go for Shabazz as well.

 

[GlastonTim]

Why do you inject rational thinking in the middle of a beer pong party?

Oops, sorry.

 

[HuskyBlue08]

Jud Heathcote:Tom Izzo :: Jim Calhoun:Kevin Ollie

Hopefully that comparison holds true

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Not to be a debbie downer, and I love KO. but 1 year and 6 games aren't enough time to tell if he'll be successfull long term. I happen to think he will be, but we don't have crystal balls.

well if 247sports can do it I can too. I predict Ollie will be successful and win at least 1 NC before he's done...and if he doesn't I'll just change my prediction

 

[jleves]

well if 247sports can do it I can too. I predict Ollie will be successful and win at least 1 NC before he's done...and if he doesn't I'll just change my prediction

Hate to feel too entitled, but if it's only one title, it's a serious letdown. I'm thinking 4 in 25 years as the standard of replacing a hall of famer with a hall of famer.

 

[David 76]

Notice how every "Debbie Downer" statement in this forum is preceded by "Not to be a Debbie Downer"?
There are coaching attributes that Ollie easily surpasses Calhoun already: role model, communicator, disciplining players, not humiliating players on national TV, etc.
I hope all the Ws come, and so far so good. But I'm also happy our b'ball players are students too, that players that that are violent with their female interests are denied scholarships and the likes of Nate Miles has not been recruited.
I understand and appreciate all JC did for our program. I graduated during the Yankee Conference days (76) and watched us be the doormat of the BE. I know what JC accomplished. But I saw his faults and I saw them get worse.
KO is not a guilty pleasure.

 

[UConnDad]

Notice how every "Debbie Downer" statement in this forum is preceded by "Not to be a Debbie Downer"?
There are coaching attributes that Ollie easily surpasses Calhoun already: role model, communicator, disciplining players, not humiliating players on national TV, etc.
I hope all the Ws come, and so far so good. But I'm also happy our b'ball players are students too, that players that that are violent with their female interests are denied scholarships and the likes of Nate Miles has not been recruited.
I understand and appreciate all JC did for our program. I graduated during the Yankee Conference days (76) and watched us be the doormat of the BE. I know what JC accomplished. But I saw his faults and I saw them get worse.
KO is not a guilty pleasure.

No coment

 

[CL82]

You want to be the guy after the guy who follows the guy.

Unless you are a leader and not a follower. It's always the right time then.