Abu on UConn and Ollie

[champs99and04]

A little early to say Ollie isn't landing them don't you think? In his first offseason recruiting as head coach in this new conference he has gotten a 5 star transfer and a 5 star shooting guard who is one of the best scorers in the country. It's a very small sample size, he's only been recruiting without restrictions for 2 months. We missed out on AMA so what. Some of us believe there was other stuff going on with his recruitment. Who knows if we will find out, it took some time before the truth came out about Durand Scott. I don't believe conference affiliation has much to do with College basketball recruiting. For the most part kids are looking for the school that helps them get most ready for the NBA. We're very lucky Purvis and Hamilton don't know we play in the AAC, hopefully Robinson and Colson also don't find out.

I think you and fishy are both right - the conference affiliation does not help the situation, and Abu is the first recruit I think we might have landed if we were still in the Big East (Perkins and McLaughlin weren't leaving the West Coast either way). Most recruits - especially kids like Abu who may stick around four years - want to play in environments conducive to big time competition and great atmospheres. I think you're being a bit naieve if you don't believe the opportunity to play at Cameron Indoor, the Carrier Dome, and the Dean Dome is appealing to kids like Abu.

You're right, though. In most cases, getting to the NBA is going to priority one, two, and three for an incoming recruit. It's why, like it or not, Kentucky can pretty much have their hand-pick of recruits. Unfortunately for UConn, the shift to the AAC occurred at the worst possible time - in the midst of the best program builder in the history of college basketball retiring. Ollie, while extremely personable and a guy most eighteen-year-old kids will run through a brick wall for, doesn't have the track record or cache Calhoun did. It will take a while for Ollie to develop the reputation of a guy who can get you to the NBA, but that's why Hamilton and Purvis are two of the biggest recruits in this programs history - they have NBA aspirations and if Ollie can get them there he's going to start pulling in big time recruits at a high rate, AAC or not.

 

[Rico444]

Deandre is an excellent player, but he really isn't a 4, except by default. If there was a Freeman or Adrien on this roster, Deandre would be playing small forward.

Sure, and he wouldn't be nearly as effective on the offensive end.

DeAndre is a stretch 4; he doesn't have the handle to play the 3 in college.

 

[Hoophound]

If the AAC has anything to do with it, the OOC needs to make up for it. Right now, it does. Just keep scheduling tough and winning games. The NYC connection needs to get stronger and stronger as well. Family being able to get to UConn easily is a major selling point. The AAC television exposure is great for us, so once kids see just how good it is, that will help alleviate concerns too.

Memphis has recruited very well from CUSA so I just don't think it's that big of a deal. However, our coaches need to be selling it properly so that prospects can't be swayed by negative recruiting. A strong, professional pitch needs to be made to recruits and parents. Most importantly, we need to stay on top for now to prove that the AAC will not hurt UConn basketball.

 

[DreamSeason]

Think horses, not zebras.

The world loves Kevin Ollie. Kevin Ollie is getting onto the short list for a ton of players....but he's not landing them.

Either there is a new jobs initiative out there or kids would rather take road trips to Michigan, Duke or North Carolina instead of Tulsa, East Carolina and the University of Orlando Airport.

Explain Memphis recruiting or Mudaiy going to SMU. I don't buy the conference talk yet. If kids want exposure ....you get plenty at UCONN. Making the tourney brings the most exposure and thats something we do well. I think the problem is other coaches are most likely saying Ollie is unproven....but that will change in time IMHO. Oh and by the way other top programs are also striking out on top recruits. Florida just lost to NCSt and Kentucky to Smu.

 

[DreamSeason]

I think you and fishy are both right - the conference affiliation does not help the situation, and Abu is the first recruit I think we might have landed if we were still in the Big East (Perkins and McLaughlin weren't leaving the West Coast either way). Most recruits - especially kids like Abu who may stick around four years - want to play in environments conducive to big time competition and great atmospheres. I think you're being a bit naieve if you don't believe the opportunity to play at Cameron Indoor, the Carrier Dome, and the Dean Dome is appealing to kids like Abu.

You're right, though. In most cases, getting to the NBA is going to priority one, two, and three for an incoming recruit. It's why, like it or not, Kentucky can pretty much have their hand-pick of recruits. Unfortunately for UConn, the shift to the AAC occurred at the worst possible time - in the midst of the best program builder in the history of college basketball retiring. Ollie, while extremely personable and a guy most eighteen-year-old kids will run through a brick wall for, doesn't have the track record or cache Calhoun did. It will take a while for Ollie to develop the reputation of a guy who can get you to the NBA, but that's why Hamilton and Purvis are two of the biggest recruits in this programs history - they have NBA aspirations and if Ollie can get them there he's going to start pulling in big time recruits at a high rate, AAC or not.

Didn't see this...like it better than what I posted.

 

[mauconnfan]

Somewhere between champs and Fishy lies some answers........I am not at all sold that KO will lose due to the AAC but I am sold on the requirement for him to have a solid year this year and a tourney run. As long as you can honor the commitment to being a huge player for national titles I think it will matter less what conference you do it from. An off year this coming year will fuel the negative recruiting as well as the KO to prove himself.

All ten toes in here......we'll be fine!

 

[cohenzone]

Has to be. Doesn't make sense on any other level.

I guess if a coach is a lovely guy, he would land every kid were it not for the league he's in. Calhoun didn't land every kid he coveted and lost some either to lesser programs or lesser leagues. Other than the implication some folks make about bribes, kids actually prefer other schools for their own reasons, and somtimes they are reasons that make perfect sense to a teen. Seems like KO has reeled in some possible gems despite the AAC.

 

[husky99]

We where out of the abu race becasue we opted to play clean. Pc is in the same ship. Hands where out and some of these teams reached into their pockets

 

[UConn990411]

Explain Memphis recruiting or Mudaiy going to SMU. I don't buy the conference talk yet. If kids want exposure ....you get plenty at UCONN. Making the tourney brings the most exposure and thats something we do well. I think the problem is other coaches are most likely saying Ollie is unproven....but that will change in time IMHO. Oh and by the way other top programs are also striking out on top recruits. Florida just lost to NCSt and Kentucky to Smu.

If Ollie is as good a coach and recruiter as we think he is, the AAC shouldn't prevent him from getting top talent to come to Storrs. It will have a disastrous effect on the football team, but the Memphises, Xaviers, Butlers, VCUs and Gonzagas of the world have shown us that you can still be a very good program in a midmajor conference.

But right now, the conference realignment dust is still in the process of settling. No one has seen the AAC in action yet (I'm being liberal when I use the world "action" to describe this conference) and Louisville is still on the way out, so you can bet your a** the conference is a drain on UConn's recruiting at the moment.

I think a year of being highly ranked and (hopefully) a deep tourney run will put a lot of those concerns to rest, at least from UConn's standpoint. We'll probably have a much clearer picture of Ollie's recruiting ability a year from now.

 

[husky99]

Aac is a short term and long term issue...

 

[babysheep]

Not sure how anyone can be concerned when KO, despite the circumstances in which he entered this job a year ago, has pulled in multiple top 20 recruits. Imagine what he can do once he actually gets a track record beyond a win over MSU and Cuse; once he can actually take his team to the tournament. As far as the conference concerns, look at Few and Gonzaga. They don't even dream of having the pedigree UConn has, yet they consistently recruit and get exposure (and you might recall their #1 seed this tournament). In the WCC.

 

[CTBasketball]

Aac is a short term and long term issue...

We're stuck in the AAC unless the football team starts winning. Since that's not the case we may be here for a while.

 

[mauconnfan]

We're stuck in the AAC unless the football team starts winning. Since that's not the case we may be here for a while.

That's not going to happen soon CT.......they're lucky to beat Buffalo this year and get 1 win with that guy at the helm.

Maybe a another NC will help the big guys forgive the football team? LOL

 

[mauconnfan]

We where out of the abu race becasue we opted to play clean. Pc is in the same ship. Hands where out and some of these teams reached into their pockets

If true 99 then we really don't need a kid who can't make his own decision and needs to follow the gift trail with his slimy AAU coach........not strong enough mentally for Storrs!!

 

[CTBasketball]

That's not going to happen soon CT.......they're lucky to beat Buffalo this year and get 1 win with that guy at the helm.

Maybe a another NC will help the big guys forgive the football team? LOL

Hopefully you're right. I want them to win as much as those on the football board, after all it is UConn. But the guy at the helm is doing the state a disservice.

And I have a feeling Ollie won't get a top frontcourt recruit until either Nolan, Facey, Brimah, etc. get drafted. Our history of turning out good big-men was primarily with Calhoun and that skill cannot carry over to a new coach. It may be a few years until we get a blue-chip forward/center. But that's just my opinion. Ollie will certainly reel in the guards though, he will have no problem with that.

 

[mauconnfan]

Hopefully you're right. I want them to win as much as those on the football board, after all it is UConn. But the guy at the helm is doing the state a disservice.

And I have a feeling Ollie won't get a top frontcourt recruit until either Nolan, Facey, Brimah, etc. get drafted. Our history of turning out good big-men was primarily with Calhoun and that skill cannot carry over to a new coach. It may be a few years until we get a blue-chip forward/center. But that's just my opinion. Ollie will certainly reel in the guards though, he will have no problem with that.

As long as we get serviceable bigs who do their job and continue to get the guards, swings and hybrids you can win. There's more Jake Voskhul's out there and a few Deandre's out there as well who are long enough to play the 4 with other good wings in the lineup. While I am a proponent of being a national leader in plus rebound average as long as you have people who can fill it up and rebound a little you can win games. I hope you're wrong about the bigs and PF's but you do have a point!!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I've been fascinated by Abu's interview demeanor from the start. Both in the style of his answers to questions and the words that he chooses, he shows the signs of someone holding back information, or not giving the whole story. It's easy to attribute that style during the recruitment phase to playing it close to the vest, and that may be so...

I only mention this because of the speculation on what was deficient about UConn. I'm sure the AAC doesn't help, but be wary of giving credence to reasons that in reality factored very low in his decision.

Anyway, Abu is still answering questions like he's holding something back. He could very well mean everything he is saying, but we'll never get the whole picture, at least not from him.

 

[3uconn]

If true 99 then we really don't need a kid who can't make his own decision and needs to follow the gift trail with his slimy AAU coach........not strong enough mentally for Storrs!!

You guys have to understand that this happens with 60% or more of top 100 players. Coaches have to find out who the decision maker is out of the recruits group. Sometimes it's actually the recruit, sometimes the dad, mom, guardian, AAU coach, or high school coach. Usually whoever finds out first is in the drivers seat. Once you find it out its often times critical to have a better relationship with the decision maker than the recruit himself.

 

[mauconnfan]

You guys have to understand that this happens with 60% or more of top 100 players. Coaches have to find out who the decision maker is out of the recruits group. Sometimes it's actually the recruit, sometimes the dad, mom, guardian, AAU coach, or high school coach. Usually whoever finds out first is in the drivers seat. Once you find it out its often times critical to have a better relationship with the decision maker than the recruit himself.

C'mon 3 I think we ALL know that one..........and I am sure KO and staff knew who it was. But "all in" with the decision maker could mean multiple things!! How you get yourself to the drivers seat is also different in all of these recruits to as some play by the books and others may not!

 

[Palatine]

Losing is losing. We wanted Abu and didn't land him. Period.

However, many times in the past we have found players that have exceeded the targets we lost. We'll see.

 

[DreamSeason]

Losing is losing. We wanted Abu and didn't land him. Period.

However, many times in the past we have found players that have exceeded the targets we lost. We'll see.

Yeah....its time to move on. I doubt we'll even remember this in 2014

 

[RMoore1999]

We where out of the abu race becasue we opted to play clean. Pc is in the same ship. Hands where out and some of these teams reached into their pockets

What emerged from those pockets? Permissible promises to help out the aau club, or something more sinister?

 

[upstater]

The AAC of course plays a role, but you have to go beyond the conference and look a little closer. Why do we prize conferences?

1. TV exposure
2. Better competition

Is there any other benefit to being in a conference? Only one.

3. Money.

Let's assume Abu doesn't care about how much TV money that NC State is getting relative to Florida or UConn.

If #3 isn't a consideration, then you have to look closely at #s 1 and 2.

When it comes to #1, UConn blows away NC State.

When it comes to #2, yes of course I'd trade away UConn's schedule for NC State's (largely for the opportunity to play Duke, UNC and old rivals Pitt and Cuse), BUT the new ACC isn't what the old one used to be. NC State has 3 games against Duke and UNC. 1 against Cuse.

Overall, NC State is playing 7 games against team that are ranked in preseason top 25-35 polls, whereas UConn has 9 on the schedule.

What may hurt UConn is that the bottom of the conference schedule is much less glamorous, but if I'm playing more top games against more top teams, and have a lot more TV exposure, the last thing I'm concerned about is the quality of the bottom third of the conference.

In short, I don't buy this statement about head coaches. The #1 thing I worry about if I'm a recruit is, #1 playing time. #2 coaching and the prospect of improving my game, #3 TV exposure.

He has it in his head that NC State gives him the best opportunity to play and improve, that's it. The AAC hurt, but it's minor. It's an excuse.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the players are not yet clued in to the fact that UConn is going to be on bigtime TV a heckuva lot. That could be.

 

[upstater]

My big fear is that we'll become another NC State with a championship last won 30 years ago, a school forever in search of new coaches because our current one can't cut it, a school that cycles through Les Robinson, Sidney Lowe, Herb Sendek, Mike Gottfried, and doesn't turn out pros. That's my nightmare.

Some schools might be satisfied with landing in big conference for the cover it gives them (Rutgers, BC, etc.) but if you're irrelevant and struggling, then what good is it? Hope springs eternal I guess.

 

[RMoore1999]

The AAC of course plays a role, but you have to go beyond the conference and look a little closer. Why do we prize conferences?

1. TV exposure
2. Better competition

Is there any other benefit to being in a conference? Only one.

3. Money.

Let's assume Abu doesn't care about how much TV money that NC State is getting relative to Florida or UConn.

If #3 isn't a consideration, then you have to look closely at #s 1 and 2.

When it comes to #1, UConn blows away NC State.

When it comes to #2, yes of course I'd trade away UConn's schedule for NC State's (largely for the opportunity to play Duke, UNC and old rivals Pitt and Cuse), BUT the new ACC isn't what the old one used to be. NC State has 3 games against Duke and UNC. 1 against Cuse.

Overall, NC State is playing 7 games against team that are ranked in preseason top 25-35 polls, whereas UConn has 9 on the schedule.

What may hurt UConn is that the bottom of the conference schedule is much less glamorous, but if I'm playing more top games against more top teams, and have a lot more TV exposure, the last thing I'm concerned about is the quality of the bottom third of the conference.

In short, I don't buy this statement about head coaches. The #1 thing I worry about if I'm a recruit is, #1 playing time. #2 coaching and the prospect of improving my game, #3 TV exposure.

He has it in his head that NC State gives him the best opportunity to play and improve, that's it. The AAC hurt, but it's minor. It's an excuse.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the players are not yet clued in to the fact that UConn is going to be on bigtime TV a heckuva lot. That could be.

Most recruits will trade 3-5 games vs. UNC, Duke and Cuse and the ACC tourney, for 16 games on ESPNU vs. Cincy, SMU, ECU, USF, UCF and a couple of nice games w/ Memphis. 17 yr olds care more about marquee matchups vs. brand names, than they do about the actual relative competitive reality of aac v acc.