A Dime Back: Firing Kevin Ollie Will Not Fix UConn’s Biggest Problem

[uconnfan68]

This is wrong. He lays it out with numbers and everything if you want to check out the article.

The American is a mid-major league, and the Big East has been one of the top leagues in the country each of the last few years. There's really no comparing the two,

And we can’t win in this league... thats the point.

 

[Storrs South]

As long as UConn is in the AAC, our next coach is not going to be in the $3 mil / year category. If you want that caliber of MBB head coach, you want to be in the Big East. The next AAC contract is going to disappoint a lot of people, even if we get our Tier 3 back.

We already got our Tier 3 rights back last year

 

[whaler11]

Can’t win. Don’t try.

 

[gtcam]

Taking his entire schtick into account, it's actually pretty obvious.

Only because you want it to be taken the way you desire
I thought it was down the middle of the road
I was/am still in the KO camp while he is here - he was handed a whole bunch of issues that he is struggling to get out of. There are a lot of folks across this country that know the sport, coaching and environment better than any poster here who feel the exact same way that the author writes it to be.
Is he a JC caliber coach? No but who is?
This conference will not allow UConn to attract any upper echelon coach and the up and coming coaches out there know it. It has become the rest home for those who got sacked in other places and are near retirement.
I have said before, if AD David Benedict deems it time for KO to leave the program, I am all for it. If he feels KO deserves another year or whatever, I am behind that too.
It just leaves me shaking my head when info like this article comes out and the KO bashers come out of the woodwork to bash it and stutter - it's the coaching
Replacing KO for the sake of replacing him will not make things ok - the new guy inherits all the crap thrown at KO- who the heck wants to deal with it?

 

[whaler11]

we used to argue about whether to drive 4 hours to New Orleans or 5 to Houston FOR DINNER.

That’s an extremely stupid thing to do nevermind argue about.

 

[whaler11]

I call bull. No way you’re driving 5 hrs for dinner lmfaoooo. That’s like from CT to Maryland

You guys wanna go to Buffalo Wild Wings?


NO! We are going to BUFFALO!

 

[Marty Jackson]

What take? Did you actually read the article? He doesn't make an argument in either direction on keeping/firing Ollie. The argument is even if Ollie WAS winning, being in the AAC limits the amount of winning on a national scale that can be done.

Hardly... The entire premise of the article is that uconn can't win because of the conference. If uconn was winning, it wouldn't be an issue.

A league that has Uconn, Memphis, Cincy, Temple, SMU, and Houston playing good basketball isn't bad. Problem is, Uconn has stunk up the joint along with Memphis for the past 3 seasons.

If you blame the conference, you have to give Ollie a pass.

Here is what these people don't understand. Uconn doesn't have a choice if it wants to remain relevant on the national scene for athletics. Villanova, Georgetown, PC, Seton Hall, Xavier vs Uconn, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Boston College. Perception is critical and Uconn, even though they are in the lesser league still wants to be perceived as the latter group. Joining the Big East, a league where Uconn's athletic budget is probably 2-3 times larger than the next biggest school is not a fit.

People don't go to games because uconn isn't even competitive. Remember way back when a ranked team would come in to town and you couldn't wait for them the get a dose of uconn toughness. when is the last time that happened? When was the last time uconn beat a ranked team mid-season?

Ollie hasn't forgotten how to coach. He is simply coasting. And when he won the NC he did so without having to build the team. So yes, he coached his but off for that run. But since then, he hasn't been able to build a team let alone a program.

Bottom line, there are two camps. those that want to blame the conference and those that believe ollie should take much of the blame here.

 

[whaler11]

We already got our Tier 3 rights back last year

You have a source on that?

 

[Jaker]

As long as UConn is in the AAC, our next coach is not going to be in the $3 mil / year category. If you want that caliber of MBB head coach, you want to be in the Big East. The next AAC contract is going to disappoint a lot of people, even if we get our Tier 3 back.

yup, couldn't agree more. The program won't be spending Ollie kind of money on the next coach, so our next coach will more then likely be unproven.

 

[Storrs South]

You have a source on that?

June 29, 2017: The Huskies have a lucrative TV deal with SNY (about $1 million a year) and a media rights deal with IMG (bringing in about $9 million a year, and set to expire after 2017-18) that is one of the best in the nation. The SNY money had gone directly to the AAC and then split among all member schools, but UConn argued during recent conference meetings that it should keep that money. Athletic directors voted in favor of that proposal, and UConn will retain about $3.1 million over the next three years because of it.

Source: As Big East Money Dries Up, UConn Must Create Fresh Revenue Streams

 

[BlueDogs]

I have more faith in Football rejuvenating the UConn brand than basketball if KO is at the helm... which would be utterly inconceivable if the program wasn't in utter free fall. I can even get my head around how badly KO screwed the golden goose handed to him.

 

[intlzncster]

An up and comer? Name one "up and comer" that we will pay 1.5million a year for that this fan base will feel great about from day 1. Danny Hurley isn't an "up and comer" nor is he coming here for a few 100k more a year so please keep him off that list.

Hurley is coaching in the A10. By definition he's an up and comer. Up and comer's aren't guys with just have a few years of experience.

I agree that UCONN won't offer $3mil per year, but I bet it will end up being north of $2mil.

 

[whaler11]

June 29, 2017: The Huskies have a lucrative TV deal with SNY (about $1 million a year) and a media rights deal with IMG (bringing in about $9 million a year, and set to expire after 2017-18) that is one of the best in the nation. The SNY money had gone directly to the AAC and then split among all member schools, but UConn argued during recent conference meetings that it should keep that money. Athletic directors voted in favor of that proposal, and UConn will retain about $3.1 million over the next three years because of it.

Source: As Big East Money Dries Up, UConn Must Create Fresh Revenue Streams

Those aren’t games though right?

That’s like the Geno show. The games that get to SNY are sublet from ESPN.

UConn doesn’t own tier 3 game inventory they can go out and sell. They just convinced the league that some non-game revenue isn’t tier 3 and didn’t need to be shared.

 

[Storrs South]

Those aren’t games though right?

That’s like the Geno show. The games that get to SNY are sublet from ESPN.

UConn doesn’t own tier 3 game inventory they can go out and sell. They just convinced the league that some non-game revenue isn’t tier 3 and didn’t need to be shared.

Maybe. I didn't read it that way but I'm no expert on this either. I thought the games that end up on SNY qualify as Tier 3 rights. If you look at the previous deal that's the impression I get at least: UConn Women's Games Move to SNY

 

[djct1999]

Hurley is coaching in the A10. By definition he's an up and comer. Up and comer's aren't guys with just have a few years of experience.

I agree that UCONN won't offer $3mil per year, but I bet it will end up being north of $2mil.

Hurley was an up and comer when he left Wagner. He has developed into a top 20 coach nationally who will have multiple offers from high majors. This idea that he is a lock for UConn is delusional. To get him, it will have to be north of 2. Not sure if DB is willing or able to go that high.

 

[Alum86]

Plus we recr

Anyone with a twitter account knows that ADB/No Escalators is a card-carrying Ollie apologist. This take is not surprising.

seems to be. This sh#tshow has nothing to do with A-A-C and all to do with K Ollie. Cincy gets it. SMU gets it. Coaching matters.

 

[Fishy]

Those aren’t games though right?

That’s like the Geno show. The games that get to SNY are sublet from ESPN.

UConn doesn’t own tier 3 game inventory they can go out and sell. They just convinced the league that some non-game revenue isn’t tier 3 and didn’t need to be shared.

It’s for stuff that falls below the tier 3....the remnant stuff that ESPN can’t sell.

It’s mostly women’s hoop games.

But because ESPN technically owns it, they actually make the SNY games available on ESPN3 out of market.

 

[whaler11]

It’s for stuff that falls below the tier 3....the remnant stuff that ESPN can’t sell.

It’s mostly women’s hoop games.

But because ESPN technically owns it, they actually make the SNY games available on ESPN3 out of market.

Yeah that’s what I suspected based on the local Watch ESPN blackouts.

So SNY pays UConn a pittance for those games and then pays ESPN to produce them?

 

[Milo65]

Two Words: Mick Cronin

 

[Fishy]

Yeah that’s what I suspected based on the local Watch ESPN blackouts.

So SNY pays UConn a pittance for those games and then pays ESPN to produce them?

No - I think SNY produces it.

ESPN technically owns the rights, so they push on the digital platforms. It’s basically found content for them.

I’m not sure it’s a pittance...it’s usually 15 women’s basketball games that would have zero value.

SNY pays a $1M+ a year for it and effectively gives the school a NY broadcasting home.

 

[whaler11]

No - I think SNY produces it.

ESPN technically owns the rights, so they push on the digital platforms. It’s basically found content for them.

I’m not sure it’s a pittance...it’s usually 15 women’s basketball games that would have zero value.

SNY pays a $1M+ a year for it and effectively gives the school a NY broadcasting home.

Interesting. I guess I don’t get why if the games have enough commercial value for UConn to get paid their $1MM why ESPN doesn’t ultimately get that revenue.

I guess if SNY pays for the production and they get the out of market rights it comes out in the wash.

 

[Tuna]

I have more faith in Football rejuvenating the UConn brand than basketball if KO is at the helm... which would be utterly inconceivable if the program wasn't in utter free fall. I can even get my head around how badly KO screwed the golden goose handed to him.

Unless this has something to do with how important football is to getting into a P5 conference you should be really worried about your judgement.

 

[BlueDogs]

Unless this has something to do with how important football is to getting into a P5 conference you should be really worried about your judgement.

Only way to P5. Basketball success (even like being the best program over 2 decades) doesn't move the needle in CR as proven. But I'll take Edsall over KO for competence in talent selection, teaching and execution any day of the week. KO is a disaster approaching Diaco levels with exception I don't think KO is a fundamentally dishonest guy.

 

[HuskyHawk]

thoughts?

Firing Kevin Ollie Will Not Fix UConn’s Biggest Problem - A Dime Back

Blamed the conference. Complete fail.

 

[HuskyHawk]

What take? Did you actually read the article? He doesn't make an argument in either direction on keeping/firing Ollie. The argument is even if Ollie WAS winning, being in the AAC limits the amount of winning on a national scale that can be done.

And that assertion is completely wrong. Witness, Gonzaga. In a much worse conference.

 

[Palatine]

If the ACC is the prolem, the article fails to address how Cincinnati is so successful and why UConn is less successful than Houston or SMU.

 

[Fishy]

If the ACC is the prolem, the article fails to address how Cincinnati is so successful and why UConn is less successful than Houston or SMU.

There is an old aphorism that says, when you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.

People are predisposed to coming up with complex explanations for simple problems.

UConn basketball is poorly managed and poorly coached. That’s the horse.

The conference and the travel and whatever else is the zebra.

 

[Tuna]

Only way to P5. Basketball success (even like being the best program over 2 decades) doesn't move the needle in CR as proven. But I'll take Edsall over KO for competence in talent selection, teaching and execution any day of the week. KO is a disaster approaching Diaco levels with exception I don't think KO is a fundamentally dishonest guy.

So were you referring to P5? Or were you saying if we are in the AAC long term and have Ollie as our coach, football will be better for the brand than hoops? If it's the latter, like I said you should be really worried about your judgement because you've lost your marbles.

 

[UCDaveD]

People tell me I'm not a real UConn fan for suggesting that we value our tradition and history more than the average coaching candidate might, so there's that.

No, people tell you that you're not a real UConn fan because your biggest wet dream fantasy involves UConn firing Ollie, hiring a no name scrub out of the Horizon League, and tanking further into oblivion, all so you can come back here and pound your chest about how right you were.

 

[Fishy]

Interesting. I guess I don’t get why if the games have enough commercial value for UConn to get paid their $1MM why ESPN doesn’t ultimately get that revenue.

I guess if SNY pays for the production and they get the out of market rights it comes out in the wash.

It’s content that ESPN has passed on.

Whatever ESPN doesn’t want to broadcast, it will seek to sell. They’ll produce it, but someone else can broadcast it - that’s why we’re forever trying to remember where CBSSportsNet is on the dial.

This is stuff they could not sell - it’s essentially been returned to us. We can sell the broadcast rights to it, but because of the overall deal for our rights, ESPN retains the ability to show it out of market. (They get the feed and push it out on ESPN3.)