Calhoun doing a sitdown with Bob Ryan

[HooperScooper]

Ask him how the duck* we're going to get out of this conference and where will we end up? And when.

He thinks in 5-6 years the football playing schools (said about 115 schools) will break away from the NCAA and UConn will be included in that because they have a very large athletic budget that compares with the best schools (it's up there but not at the Ohio St., Michigan, Texas, etc. level).

Talked a little about the new conference and tried to pump it up by saying Memphis and Temple are good programs and that Houston could get back to the Phi Slamma Jamma level if the school makes the commitment. You could tell he doesn't believe all this but has to say positive things since he knows UConn may be stuck there for a while.

 

[HooperScooper]

do a shot or pound a beer every time he says...."Quite frankly", you'll be hammered in no time!

"Point being..." was clearly the winner. I wouldn't have been able to drive home doing a shot every time he said that!

I finally figured out why he says that all the time. He talks so much and goes off on tangents answering every question that "point being" is his way of steering the answer back to the original question.

 

[HooperScooper]

JC mentioned he spoke to Shabazz and said he should announce soon that he is coming back.

Someone asked him what recruit he most regretted not getting. Said Billy Curley because he liked the way Curley had so much passion for the game. Said his father wanted him to stay home and convinced him at the last second to go to BC.

Told a funny story about recruiting Travis Knight. He asked Knight if distance would be a factor in his recruitment. Knight said, "Yes, it will be." JC thinks to himself, "Damn, we're not going to get this kid." Knight adds, "I want to be as far away from this place (Sandy, Utah) as possible." JC elated thinks to himself, "We're going to get this kid!"

 

[61cygni]

JC mentioned he spoke to Shabazz and said he should announce soon that he is coming back.

YES!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Told a funny story about recruiting Travis Knight. He asked Knight if distance would be a factor in his recruitment. Knight said, "Yes, it will be." JC thinks to himself, "Damn, we're not going to get this kid." Knight adds, "I want to be as far away from this place (Sandy, Utah) as possible." JC elated thinks to himself, "We're going to get this kid!"

"Point being, quite frankly, Utah blows."

 

[Rico444]

As soon as I read last week that he was still in the boot, I knew Shabazz would be back. His only real shot at the NBA would be to go to workouts and dazzle scouts, and now that opportunity's been taken from him.

 

[Waquoit]

Someone asked him what recruit he most regretted not getting. Said Billy Curley because he liked the way Curley had so much passion for the game. Said his father wanted him to stay home and convinced him at the last second to go to BC.

Very ironic reading this quote coming from an interview with Bob Ryan. I remember reading a column by Ryan the Sunday before Curley's announcement where Ryan stated that if BC doesn't land Curley they should give up basketball. Of course, if he came to UConn he would have fit like a glove and we would have made at least 2 Final Fours. He would have been the inside scorer that UConn never had during the Donyell years, as well as being a great rebounder and passer. Curley himself would be an Connecticut hero instead of a BCU footnote.

 

[HooperScooper]

One more thing I forgot to mention. JC said he's really excited for Kentan Facey to get to UConn. It was his recruit, remember. Said the first time he watched Facey play within only 5 minutes he determined they had to get him. Usually JC is pretty good with those assessments. Please don't mention all the spring reaches because those aren't analogous.

 

[aceboon]

One more thing I forgot to mention. JC said he's really excited for Kentan Facey to get to UConn. It was his recruit, remember. Said the first time he watched Facey play within only 5 minutes he determined they had to get him. Usually JC is pretty good with those assessments. Please don't mention all the spring reaches because those aren't analogous.

Not surprising to hear this, watching him play he just seems like the classic UConn recruit that is under the radar and will outperform his ranking.

 

[Vuce]

He thinks in 5-6 years the football playing schools (said about 115 schools) will break away from the NCAA and UConn will be included in that because they have a very large athletic budget that compares with the best schools (it's up there but not at the Ohio St., Michigan, Texas, etc. level).

Talked a little about the new conference and tried to pump it up by saying Memphis and Temple are good programs and that Houston could get back to the Phi Slamma Jamma level if the school makes the commitment. You could tell he doesn't believe all this but has to say positive things since he knows UConn may be stuck there for a while.

I dont like reading this. It really sounds like even JC is sort of resigned to the fact that we are stuck here for the time being. And the fact that he said in about 5-6 years the split will happen could mean 15 to 20 years in Calhounspeak.