After selling refrigerators to Eskimos the past two seasons, can JC sell them to Sasquatch?

[DogMania]

You're probably wondering where the h*ll am I going with this one?!?!

Assuming JC sticks around for another year or two, can he again bring in some talented recruits with ever increasing obstacles? I'm the first to admit that I was shocked that he was able to bring in the likes of Lamb, Napier, Roscoe, Boatright, Daniels and Drummond, to name a few with all the bad press UConn was facing coming out of the Miles and APR messes and all the rumors of his impending retirement.

The question remains, is his latest bout with physical adversity and the impending exclusion from the 2013 NCAA Tournament (unless the NCAA either changes the way they calculate the APR or grants UConn a waiver down the road) the two straws that break the camel's back? It just seems whenever I count this staff out, they keep on finding and bringing in talented players.

I'm just not sure this staff can overcome these two new additions to UConn's barrage of negative poop that continues to flow their way. But if they do end up bringing in a few highly talented 2012 recruits, and JC is still at the helm, I'm crediting the old tough SOB of a Southy (I think I got the right end of Boston there?) Irishman of backing up that 18 wheeler full of fridges to Big Foot's front door and driving away with a signed invoice.

 

[TheRogers]

One thing negative publicity can't take away from JC is his 3 NCAA championships and his NBA alumni. So potential recruits would be born around 1995 ought to be aware of those tangible achievements. A new practice facility can also go a long way especially if the recruit can play pick-up with the likes of Rip, Rudy, Ray, and/or Ben.

 

[RuffRuff]

If ever a time they need to get that facility moving it's now - need to tit for tat some of this crap out there so it's not all a defensive sell when sitting with recruits - get it done.

 

[Palatine]

Yes, let's all doubt Jim Calhoun's ability as a coach and program builder. He has done absolutely nothing to justify any faith in him that he can overcome obstacles.

 

[businesslawyer]

I am not sure a one year tourney ban is such a big deal to recruiting If you're an almost NBA-ready recruit, playing in a tourney has to be secondary to how are you being developed for the draft. If it was about getting to win a championship, they wouldn't all want to play for Kentucky. And if you're a four-year guy, who loves the game and hopes to sneak into the NBA or play overseas, we're looking at a ban your freshman year and then done.

Look at Drummond. I don't expect him to be back, but if he's rational his decision will be how much more money can I make, and what are the odds of getting it, if I play one more year in college and improve instead of taking what I can get in next year's draft. That is a hugely important, life-altering, multi-million dollar decision. The fact that I can't play in the NCAAs at the end of the year would suck, but doesn't in any material way change the economic decision I have to make.

 

[jibsey]

I am not sure a one year tourney ban is such a big deal to recruiting If you're an almost NBA-ready recruit, playing in a tourney has to be secondary to how are you being developed for the draft. If it was about getting to win a championship, they wouldn't all want to play for Kentucky. And if you're a four-year guy, who loves the game and hopes to sneak into the NBA or play overseas, we're looking at a ban your freshman year and then done.
Correct. drummond is a different player at the end of next year and he's 20. He has his whole life to get on planes and sleep in hotel rooms, but the fear of injury derailing it is a problem. How much would an insurance policy help?
Look at Drummond. I don't expect him to be back, but if he's rational his decision will be how much more money can I make, and what are the odds of getting it, if I play one more year in college and improve instead of taking what I can get in next year's draft. That is a hugely important, life-altering, multi-million dollar decision. The fact that I can't play in the NCAAs at the end of the year would suck, but doesn't in any material way change the economic decision I have to make.

 

[ruskin]

I think I get the thread title. . . .for a second there I thought we were making an ill-advised reference to the new Lew Perkins-sized AD, the former Michigan d-lineman.

 

[Palatine]

Didn't Seth Davis already post this article? I just think that UConn has way too many pluses to be bad for very long.

Money. Donors. Corporate sponsors.
Strong support of the university administration and community
Strong fan interest
Strong media coverage
A national reputation as a winner highlighted by numerous NCAA banners
A strong and deep athletic department that produces multiple national championships in multiple sports
World class facility coming on-line
A string of NBA alumni and first round draft choices
Located in the basketball rich northeast just hours from New York, Boston, Philly recruiting grounds
An ascending academic reputation

None of these go away with a one year tourney ban. None go away when JC leaves. I believe the camel's back is very strong and can stand many, many more straws without flexing.

 

[huskyharry]

Rather than gloom and doom, what about projecting a different next year?

NCAA continues to be vengeful, self-righteous, unreasonable tools and UConn is banned (double jeopardy etc). But JLamb and AD both stay. Chemistry issues are worked out. Omar Calhoun is a great addition. AO becomes the steady, consistent player that we all know he can be. TO continues to develop. RS keeps the intensity but finds his jumpshot again. SN is the player we saw dominate at times at the beginning of the year. DD and NG get stronger and make consistent, effective plays. RB also gets stronger and improves his decision making and outside shooting and it all comes together. UConn roles to an undefeated regular season and the NCAA is exposed as the unfair tools that we all know they are. With every dominant UConn win, the ban becomes a stronger story and many neutral fans around the country embrace UConn as the mal-treated underdog.

 

[caw]

There are just too many unknowns to project anything about next year or further down the line.

1. Calhoun may or may not be back
2. UConn may or may not be banned from the 2013 NCAAT
3. UConn may or may not get scholarships back, not likely
4. Lamb may or may not leave/stay
5. Drummond may or may not leave/stay
6. Oriakhi may or may not leave/stay (huskymagic shout out)
7. UConn may or may not start work on the practice facility next year (until they start digging, I'm keeping this as an unknown)
8. UConn may or may not move to another conference (not looking good right now)
9. Ray Allen may or may not retire (not likely) which would mean UConn loses it's best known face in the NBA

If any of the first two happen:

1. Ollie may or may not be up for the new head coaching spot
2. Omar Calhoun may or may not be let out of his commitment
3. Blaney may or may not be back (likely not in case of point 1)

On the plus side, since this time last year off the court:

1. UConn has finally hired a new AD
2. UConn has hired someone to get donations
   • Huge donor contributions received
   • UConn has seriously started discussions on the practice facility
3. The Nate Miles scandal has been ruled on fully (Feb 22nd 2010) and all penalties and length are known
4. Hathaway was let go

Even in the worst case scenario with Calhoun/Blaney/Drummond/Lamb and Calhoun leaving who knows how good the team will be. There have been cases of a team pulling together with an undermanned roster and playing extremely well with a first year head coach (Missouri for example). It's surely not the norm but who knows at this point. Or in two years UConn will probably have a senior ladden team regardless.

 

[CL82]

I am not sure a one year tourney ban is such a big deal to recruiting .

It furthers the false but growing impression that UConn is an outlaw program. That will give every competing coach another tool to recruit against us.

 

[Gurleyman]

Every time I wonder if we can recover from some of our current problems, I look at Baylor consistently in the top ten for the last few years. They overcame a player murdering another and the head coach trying to plant drugs on the victim. Slightly bigger scandal than Jonathan Mandeldove not going to enough classes.

 

[Palatine]

The media tries to make seem that having two lottery picks would hurt our recruiting.

I mean, think about that for a second.

 

[DogMania]

Some interesting points made in this thread. Note that I'm not trying to cast gloom and doom, but simply wondering if JC can yet again overcome the landslide of negativity and adversity.

As much as some are pointing to the UConn pluses that a recruit can hang their hat on, you have to realize that most of these talented recruits (Note, I'm not saying top rated recruits) have a lot of good options to consider other than UConn. If I was a parent of a recruit or the recruit himself, and was constantly hearing all this bad stuff, plus all the negative recruiting that they're getting an ear full...if you don't think that happens you're gravely mistaken!...I'd be having second thoughts about committing to UConn. Now, I'm implying here that many of them are not away of how much smoke is being blown up the asses of those who read these articles and/or hear these sports commentators spout things that aren't the full situation or even true.

Those of us who follow UConn and understand the injustice and misinformation taking place, know that UConn is a great place for these recruits to develop their game and mature as young men. But with that said, there are other programs that have a lot to offer and less baggage making their decision to become a Husky a very hard one.

Those who think that playing for a program that will miss the 2013 tourney regardless if they are good enough to qualify is not a big deal, IMO is gravel mistaken. This would be the case for any player who thinks he's a one or two-and-done player. These kids want to be on TV. They want the NBA Scouts and GMs to take notice. This is a very big deal.

Add the fact that they don't know if JC will even be around next season or the one after that is a concern for many of the recruits.

But I still hold out hope that JC and the staff will again get it done (recruiting) like they did in 2010 and 11. If they do...well that was the whole point of my post and title.

 

[Palatine]

The recruits have few options that produce as many NBA first rounders as the Huskies. Only a handful of schools can compete with the Huskies success producing pros and that is probably the #1 thing an elite recruit looks at.