A little concerning we seem to be coming up 2nd or 3rd in recruiting

[djct1999]

You're jumping the gun quite a lot with this.



Go smoke a doob or take a pill or do whatever it is that chills you out, but chill out nonetheless. Please.

At last, some sound advice!

 

[mcs333]

Wow, we have a top25 team, with RP and Dan Hurley coming in the future looks solid. Remember we signed some of our top players in the spring. Next year we should have a VG team with RP,Dan Hurley, OC, Nolan etc. another top 25 team. We also could return DD aand RB. Also next year we will have a new practice facility to show off. No reson for UCONN not to remain elite. The future is bright!!!

 

[upstater]

i do not think for one minute it was purvis' presence that made larrier look the other way. you said it yourself, there is a plenty of playing time. regardless of position, larrier has to beleive and made belive that he will see more floor time than samuel. my guess is ollie is telling the likes of larrier, hamilton, robinson, that purvis will be our pg.

I didn't say it was Purvis's presence that did that. I said there is plenty of playing time.

But you're missing the whole point of what I wrote. I said that we keep mentioning Purvis for the simple reason that his presence here impacts the recruitment of ANY wing player. If you don't think Larrier took that into consideration, I'd say you're intentionally obfuscating the relevance of Purvis's transfer.

 

[aceboon]

Hamiltons older brother, in a similar way we got Purvis. People on this board keep saying that UConn is being mentioned by top recruits, well so to is Minnesota. Pitino is on par in that department. Groce is doing things at Illinois as you acknowledged. I did not say Brown is new, I said he is in a new place and landed an absolute stud going head to head with Kentucky.

Alford has two guys, we got 2 guys, and he also has over a decade of head coaching experience and he's at a blue blood. Pitino hasn't actually landed anyone so KO is a little bit ahead of him. Groce has 2 guys and is off to a great start with his class, same as KO, and he also had years spent with Thad Matta as the lead recruiter next to him so he is probably ahead of KO in regards to how play this game. Larry Brown is a HOF and has won championships at both the CBB and NBA level, it is even comical to include him in this group regardless of where he is coaching at. If its the end of the fall and spring signing periods and all we have in the bag is Hamilton and Purvis then yes, you're more than welcome to go into panic mode. I just don't understand how you and the rest of the sour hour crew have already predicted the demise of UConn basketball in September of 2013, most programs have 2-3 committments(Indiana and Mich St have ZERO) so we're pretty much in the same group as others. Our misses are just more magnified because UConn is in on so many kids, Borges did a good job of bringing this point up in his recent article.

 

[upstater]

Hamiltons older brother, in a similar way we got Purvis. People on this board keep saying that UConn is being mentioned by top recruits, well so to is Minnesota. Pitino is on par in that department. Groce is doing things at Illinois as you acknowledged. I did not say Brown is new, I said he is in a new place and landed an absolute stud going head to head with Kentucky.

I'm waiting for the end of the recruiting season to make a judgement. Nothing except Abu has surprised me so far, that and Hamilton's commitment.

At the beginning of all this in the spring, I had UConn getting Chukwu, Abu and Carrington. McGlaughlin was the PG but I thought that would be a very tough get. That's it. And maybe a player or two I hadn't heard of. If at the end of the day we land Newberry, Colson, Hamilton and Robinson instead, we will have exceeded my expectations.

 

[uconNYC]

Think recruiting will really trend up after KO takes us to the Sweet16 or further this year.

 

[djct1999]

I didn't say it was Purvis's presence that did that. I said there is plenty of playing time.

But you're missing the whole point of what I wrote. I said that we keep mentioning Purvis for the simple reason that his presence here impacts the recruitment of ANY wing player. If you don't think Larrier took that into consideration, I'd say you're intentionally obfuscating the relevance of Purvis's transfer.

I got the point, I just don't agree with it.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Jim Calhoun signed only one top 20 recruit as early as this in his entire career*. Think about that.

*Alex Oriakhi.

 

[djct1999]

I'm waiting for the end of the recruiting season to make a judgement. Nothing except Abu has surprised me so far, that and Hamilton's commitment.

At the beginning of all this in the spring, I had UConn getting Chukwu, Abu and Carrington. McGlaughlin was the PG but I thought that would be a very tough get. That's it. And maybe a player or two I hadn't heard of. If at the end of the day we land Newberry, Colson, Hamilton and Robinson instead, we will have exceeded my expectations.

I agree and I have said countless times the sky hasn't fallen yet. I would be thrilled with that class. I do find , however, this simple complacent trust that things will be fine infuriating. Haven't we learned our lesson? We all shared that same attitude in thinking we were a lock for the next invite to the ACC. We all know how that ended so if we can continue to think like this.....well, you know.

 

[Waquoit]

Think recruiting will really trend up after KO takes us to the Sweet16 or further this year.

That's the hope and that's what going to keep me going. But our two gets come with asterisks as far as the recruiting process is concerned. And losing guys we really wanted to a non-entity like NCST or a mid-major like VCU hurts, a lot.

 

[upstater]

That's the hope and that's what going to keep me going. But our two gets come with asterisks as far as the recruiting process is concerned. And losing guys we really wanted to a non-entity like NCST or a mid-major like VCU hurts, a lot.

Calhoun lost recruits to NC St. UConn was on Larrier very late. I can remember the day just a couple months ago when they first saw him play--the first they'd seen him!

Not sure what asterisks you're referring to with Hamilton.

 

[upstater]

I agree and I have said countless times the sky hasn't fallen yet. I would be thrilled with that class. I do find , however, this simple complacent trust that things will be fine infuriating. Haven't we learned our lesson? We all shared that same attitude in thinking we were a lock for the next invite to the ACC. We all know how that ended so if we can continue to think like this.....well, you know.

"Haven't we learned our lesson?"

Do you remember what people said about the Giffey, Napier, Lamb and Roscoe Smith class? It was way way way worse than this. The mood on the board after that class was signed was morose, dead, disastrous.

 

[upstater]

Jim Calhoun signed only one top 20 recruit as early as this in his entire career*. Think about that.

*Alex Oriakhi.

I think you're saying that only one of the top 20 recruits committed early.

That's a good bit of info.

 

[upstater]

About Daniel Hamilton, realize that Isaac Hamilton and Trevon Blueitt will both begin playing the SG/SF positions at UCLA in 2014. I would be a little leery of Hamilton's commitment were it not for that fact.

 

[aceboon]

"Haven't we learned our lesson?"

Do you remember what people said about the Giffey, Napier, Lamb and Roscoe Smith class? It was way way way worse than this. The mood on the board after that class was signed was morose, dead, disastrous.

Posters were demanding the firing of Sellers and LaFleur after that one.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I think you're saying that only one of the top 20 recruits committed early.

That's a good bit of info.

I said, "signed," but "verballed" is the accurate term.

Donyell, Rip, Khalid, Caron, Charlie, Rudy - all late verbals.

Nadav, Scotty, Travis, Ray, Doron, etc. so many, not top 20 recruits and also verballed late.

This is how we roll apparently.

 

[Waquoit]

Not sure what asterisks you're referring to with Hamilton.

He committed to another school and our main competition backed off. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome get and great piece of recruiting. But the circumstances to me make it a bit of a one-off. Now I know JC got some great gets in a similar fashion. But he was coaching a top team in the top league when he did so. KO is doing a great job. We can't hope for anyone better. But losing straight-up battles to who we are losing to is disheartening.

 

[aceboon]

He committed to another school and our main competition backed off. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome get and great piece of recruiting. But the circumstances to me make it a bit of a one-off. Now I know JC got some great gets in a similar fashion. But he was coaching a top team in the top league when he did so. KO is doing a great job. We can't hope for anyone better. But losing straight-up battles to who we are losing to is disheartening.

Huh? Hamilton never committed to another school.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Frankly, we should be partying. We've never had two players the caliber of Purvis and Hamilton already in the fold this early before. If we sign Robinson...whoa boy...this class leaps right to the front in terms of possible best ever class.

And yes, Purvis has to count. Its ridiculous to think otherwise. UConn was in his head for a long time, and the chance to play here was never really gone from it. That's recruiting that did that.

 

[James]

Huh? Hamilton never committed to another school.

I think he's saying some school backed off dham, therefore it doesn't really count that Ollie signed him... Haha. anyway, it wasn't easy for purvis to leave nc and come here, I'm sure it had to do with the effort Ollie put in back when he was in hs. honestly the fact that people are complaining is kind of insane. They're also the same people who think our freshman aren't d1 caliber.

 

[diggerfoot]

I agree and I have said countless times the sky hasn't fallen yet. I would be thrilled with that class. I do find , however, this simple complacent trust that things will be fine infuriating. Haven't we learned our lesson? We all shared that same attitude in thinking we were a lock for the next invite to the ACC. We all know how that ended so if we can continue to think like this.....well, you know.

Please don't take this personally, because this can be said about many posters in regards to many topics. You've acknowledged both causes for concern and hope over matters we cannot affect, which means the debate is not whether one or the other only applies, or what we should do about it. Your assertion, similar to many on the Boneyard and Internet in general, is that we should choose concern when there is a choice in the matter. Perhaps you think it is better to be in a negative frame of mind ahead of time to lessen the shock of disappointment later on. The trouble with that strategy is that disappointment still comes as hard, perhaps even harder, to those who have prepared themselves negatively rather than positively in advance. Thus in reality you ... and many others on the Boneyard/Internet ... find it "infuriating" that others choose a route better for overall mental health.

 

[caw]

He committed to another school and our main competition backed off. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome get and great piece of recruiting. But the circumstances to me make it a bit of a one-off. Now I know JC got some great gets in a similar fashion. But he was coaching a top team in the top league when he did so. KO is doing a great job. We can't hope for anyone better. But losing straight-up battles to who we are losing to is disheartening.

I will echo the huh?

Hamilton never verballed anywhere. As for main competition. It was UTEP before Isaac decommitted, Daniel verballed to UConn before then. UTEP never backed off, they kept recruiting him after his verbal to UConn and at least up until Isaac decommitted. USC and UCLA are still after him also. Now he may deserve an asterisk if you think he may switch to UCLA, but I'm pretty sure he won't.

 

[Waquoit]

I think he's saying some school backed off dham, therefore it doesn't really count that Ollie signed him... Haha. anyway, it wasn't easy for purvis to leave nc and come here, I'm sure it had to do with the effort Ollie put in back when he was in hs. honestly the fact that people are complaining is kind of insane. They're also the same people who think our freshman aren't d1 caliber.

It's not complaining and of course it counts and the guy looks great. And now I remember that while Hamilton did not commit, other schools assumed he would and backed off, giving us the opportunity. What I think is insane is the feeling that "all is well" and "and this is the same as when JC was the coach". It's not and it isn't. What good is posting these feelings? I don't know. What good is posting anything, why do we even have a board if not to give and respond to opinions?

 

[James]

It's not complaining and of course it counts and the guy looks great. And now I remember that while Hamilton did not commit, other schools assumed he would and backed off, giving us the opportunity. What I think is insane is the feeling that "all is well" and "and this is the same as when JC was the coach". It's not and it isn't. What good is posting these feelings? I don't know. What good is posting anything, why do we even have a board if not to give and respond to opinions?

Don't you think youre being a little impatient? this isn't the JC era of recruiting you can't compare the two. we have an overload of information and updates that weren't available before.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

What I think is insane is the feeling that "all is well" and "and this is the same as when JC was the coach". It's not and it isn't. What good is posting these feelings? I don't know. What good is posting anything, why do we even have a board if not to give and respond to opinions?

Again, we are one player away from a class that pretty much looks exactly "the same as when JC was coach." And Ollie will be in his living room later today.

 

[Gurleyman]

It's not complaining and of course it counts and the guy looks great. And now I remember that while Hamilton did not commit, other schools assumed he would and backed off, giving us the opportunity. What I think is insane is the feeling that "all is well" and "and this is the same as when JC was the coach". It's not and it isn't. What good is posting these feelings? I don't know. What good is posting anything, why do we even have a board if not to give and respond to opinions?

Why do you think this is different than the JC era? We never had more than two McD's guys at the same time in those 25 years. We won title 1 with an unrated center and a point guard who decommitted from Minnesota that we signed last minute. We won title 2 with a low rated spring signing at center after we lost guys to Arizona and Cal in the fall, and a 2-guard who was our Plan B after the higher rated Kelvin Torbert went to Michigan State (and if Duke had offered Gordon, we don't get him). Plus CV was a spring signing from out of the blue after he decommitted from Illinois. Title 3 was won with a group of freshmen that was considered a disastrous class, led by a point guard who was our Plan B (and a back up point guard who reclassified after we whiffed on all of our top targets).

Larrier is probably the first time we lost someone to a mid-major, but we recruited him so late that it is hard to put much weight on that. Larrier stayed loyal to the program he favored all along - some kids do that. Even so, Hamilton and Purvis is an outstanding nucleus of two top-20 guys. If we don't get a couple other guys rated lower around #50, meh - we move on. Like we always have.

I do agree there is some uncertainty moving forward - Ollie is still relatively new to this and our league is a bit of a handicap. Had we not gotten two top 20 guys already, there would be cause for concern, and we will probably need a blue-chipper or two in 2015 (especially if Facey has lingering issues). But I like our team right now for the next two years.

 

[upstater]

Larrier is probably the first time we lost someone to a mid-major, but we recruited him so late that it is hard to put much weight on that. Larrier stayed loyal to the program he favored all along - some kids do that. Even so, Hamilton and Purvis is an outstanding nucleus of two top-20 guys. If we don't get a couple other guys rated lower around #50, meh - we move on. Like we always have.

Larrier had other major offers as well. It's not like UConn was his only offer, and judging by his interview, UConn was nowhere even close to landing him. He wanted VCU over all others.

 

[aceboon]

Larrier had other major offers as well. It's not like UConn was his only offer, and judging by his interview, UConn was nowhere even close to landing him. He wanted VCU over all others.

Had Florida after him as well, they have 2 high commits for '14 just like us and have swung on and missed on a number of kids because they have a wide net just like UConn. Larrier, Abu, Black, and there are probably more I'm not aware of, yet no one is signaling the demise of their basketball program.

 

[Palatine]

We have a brand new coach (i.e. no collegiate record to market) everybody. I'd say he's doing quite well. The glass is half full my friend, and he's just getting started.

That's a little disingenuous, I mean, he just took over a program that has won 3 of the last 13 NC's. Shouldn't we expect to do a little better than a half full glass?

 

[IMind]

Everything old is new again... I had to sit through years of posts about how Calhoun should retire and he couldn't recruit anymore... all while pulling in better recruiting classes than he ever did when he was younger... now I have to listen to whining about Ollie not recruiting well when he's got two 5 stars already in the class... (Purvis counted. He couldn't have transfered anywhere. He chose UConn.) all while being at a recruiting disadvantage due to NCAA sactions.

Of course if you point out that Ollie is at a disadvantage, or that he's pulled in some good kids, or that we've never had kids this good this early, or there's a log jam at a position... then you're told that you're not a realist or you're a homer.

Some people are just never happy.