I hope what you're saying here is that it is disgraceful UConn players are not committed to becoming seniors and graduating. You can't possibly be saying that somehow a 25% rate is somehow OK because most players never get to their senior years. Well, there is a reason why they don't get to their senior years. NOT that they are going into the NBA which accounts for a handful of players. But rather, the basketball program has a *y culture engendered by our head coach in which academic achievement is laughed at.
Believe it or not guys, in this BIG time basketball program called UConn the players get something called scholarships. Which means they actually go to school, learn something and have the chance to graduate with a degree if their NBA careers don't pan out. Calhoun should be telling them that a degree is that much more important because he knows full well most of his players won't be playing in the NBA. A degree is that much more important.
JC can't go to class for his players but the program can encourage a culture of academic achievement - that it is something AS IMPORTANT AS PLAYING BASKETBALL.
This will prove to be the worst part of Calhoun's legacy as coach, nothing else comes close. And it is all happening at the end of his career and not at the beginning.
Who wants to take bets that the next hoop coach will have academic progress metrics in his contract. *ty academic performance like we are witnessing today will not be tolerated or the coach will be given the door with no exit money. This will be the case if Herbst has the focus and commitment I believe she does.
For one prospective coaching candidate this isn't an issue. Brad Stevens' program at Butler has a PERFECT 1.000 APR. Sounds like the perfect fit for UConn.
I take big issue with this post.
First of all, who says UConn recruits aren't committed to becoming juniors and seniors? Why stay to make the university happy when you may have a better opportunity elsewhere? To think that UNC and UK recruits are more committed to graduating is laughable. Guess what, it isn't the 1940's anymore, kids come to UConn because they think it offers them their best opportunity to forge a career in basketball, not because they want to graduate.
The "Calhoun promotes a poor culture" is just a load of . How do you know what Calhoun is telling these players? Did he not hold them accountable enough? That can't be true, because the majority of them slacked off academically after their careers had ended (Adrien/Gavin). There isn't much Calhoun can do at that point besides encourage them to get their degree, and even then, if they want to prioritize basketball--their immediate future--over academics, their distant future.
Just because a player left without his degree does not mean their academic experience at UConn was insufficient. Why can't people understand this? People go to college to get their degree, and if you don't need it to make a living, you are going to prioritize it accordingly.
Again, a player not receiving his degree does not in anyway mean he did not strive to achieve as much as he could academically. There just comes a time when you need to put off your degree until tomorrow so you can pursue your dream of becoming a professional basketball player. For others, they simply transferred because they felt they their was a better opportunity elsewhere.
Butler having a better A.P.R. does not necessarily equate to a better promotion of academic achievement, as you would say. It means Butler has a low turnover rate, it means they don't take a chance on questionable character kids, and it possibly means that their players enroll in softer classes than a student at UConn might (see UNC fiasco).
Ideally every player would get their degree, but life is about choices, and no matter what Calhoun tries to promote, players aer going to make the best decision for them. Those of you condemning Calhoun for it are simply missing the point.
