Calhoun is no longer an X's and O's coach

[Tenspro2002]

For a guy who once diagrammed aggressive presses and utilized the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game, Calhoun has utterly abandoned in-game strategy. It's clear we have none.

Calhoun is still great at imposing a philosophy of toughness on his teams (see our defense in last year's Tournament), but his ability to adequately coach in-game, or to develop offensive sets over the course of a season, deserves some serious criticism.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

For a guy who once diagrammed aggressive presses and utilized the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game, Calhoun has utterly abandoned in-game strategy. It's clear we have none.

Calhoun is still great at imposing a philosophy of toughness on his teams (see our defense in last year's Tournament), but his ability to adequately coach in-game, or to develop offensive sets over the course of a season, deserves some serious criticism.

What's more likely, Hall of Famer Calhoun has forgot how to coach after 3 National Titles, or we have two inexperienced PGs that can't run the offense?

 

[Tenspro2002]

What about our success last year suggests that Calhoun's offensive strategy had anything to do with it? We scored a total of 109 points in the Final Four. We won on toughness and defense, which Calhoun still can instill. We did not win on offensive strategy, which I question whether Calhoun has the interest or ability to implement.

 

[boog204]

not to be that guy, but was he ever a great in-game coach? i still recall watching us force johnny flynn to the left for 6 overtimes wondering when we'd realize that that strategy did not work. we also have gone under screens for the last 9 years and have wondered when he'd realize that that just gives up pen looks. JC is fantastic at the motivation/toughness factor. He also is a very good game planner. But, he's never been a true in-game adjustment guy. You just see the same stuff over and over. When it works, it's beautiful. When it doesn't, it is heinous.

Also, not to diminish the game plan or anything, but double teaming Elton Brand was far from "the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game." It seems pretty obvious to me. It was the execution and aggressiveness of the double that made all the difference.

 

[UConnSwag11]

i remember someone at the cinci game from 09/10 yelling out retire calhoun... what happened the next year? yeah i guess he's no x and o coach... maybe its bazz not wanting run the offense or run the break, and lamb not liking contact running to get open, theres a lot more then calhoun not being an x and o coach... and if you want an example of a great in game coach just to name one, check the nc game last year first half and second and listen to steve kerr talk about the adjustments

 

[ConnHuskBask]

not to be that guy, but was he ever a great in-game coach?

Are you fcking kidding me?

 

[UConnSwag11]

What about our success last year suggests that Calhoun's offensive strategy had anything to do with it? We scored a total of 109 points in the Final Four. We won on toughness and defense, which Calhoun still can instill. We did not win on offensive strategy, which I question whether Calhoun has the interest or ability to implement.

we scored more points than our opponents right?

 

[jorge34]

Who the hell told Napier is a superstar, lead guard, who dominates the ball? Cause that is what he is trying to do in style, but certainly not execution.

If I had to watch one more time him dribbling at the top of the key doing nothing, then giving to an out of position Lamb to create, I would have smashed the tv

 

[Prezidint]

we scored more points than our opponents right?

Nobody has ever confused me with a basketball genius, but I'm quite sure that this is the ultimate measure of success. Quite sure.

 

[Tenspro2002]

we scored more points than our opponents right?

If we won 2-0, we scored more than our opponents. Does that mean our offense was brilliant?

There's nothing wrong with winning on the strength of your defense (obviously). But when we've scored 48 and 44 points our last two games, it's a legitimate point of criticism whether Calhoun has the ability to coach offense.

 

[4UConn]

The reconstruction of this team starts at the defensive end. Calhoun has always relied on a transition offense coming from defensive stops. This team is lacking rebounding, block shots and perimeter defense.

 

[Gurleyman]

When he stands around dribbling - watch off the ball. Usually we are trying to run Lamb off some screens (against a man, anyway - against a zone, we are more prone to standing until a big flashes to the foul line). But our off-ball offense is as bad as our on-ball offense right now, so Lamb doesn't come open enough for the shot, Napier doesn't pass to him, Lamb doesn't keep working, and then we go the clearout -- for guys who have been ineffective on clearouts all season.

My feeling, with the way the offense has gone all trainwreck of late, is that Lamb should get that pass even when he's covered (obviously not so covered that the other team steals it), and then Lamb can try to make a move slashing to the basket off the catch against a defense that isn't fully set, rather than trying to make a move against a defense in place. Then maybe we get Lamb to shoot some midrange shots in rhythm, or throw a dump-down pass to a screener, or a kickout to an open Bazz/Boat if the defense helps. Then we can run some of the same stuff for Boat and he can attack off the bounce from the wings.

With Napier completely off the rails on offense, Lamb fading in and out, and no 3 man stepping up as an offensive weapon, we just don't have many answers. Andre is still too raw to run the offense through.

 

[upstater]

For a guy who once diagrammed aggressive presses and utilized the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game, Calhoun has utterly abandoned in-game strategy. It's clear we have none.

Calhoun is still great at imposing a philosophy of toughness on his teams (see our defense in last year's Tournament), but his ability to adequately coach in-game, or to develop offensive sets over the course of a season, deserves some serious criticism.

He forgot how to do it over the summer.

 

[upstater]

not to be that guy, but was he ever a great in-game coach? i still recall watching us force johnny flynn to the left for 6 overtimes wondering when we'd realize that that strategy did not work. we also have gone under screens for the last 9 years and have wondered when he'd realize that that just gives up pen looks. JC is fantastic at the motivation/toughness factor. He also is a very good game planner. But, he's never been a true in-game adjustment guy. You just see the same stuff over and over. When it works, it's beautiful. When it doesn't, it is heinous.

Also, not to diminish the game plan or anything, but double teaming Elton Brand was far from "the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game." It seems pretty obvious to me. It was the execution and aggressiveness of the double that made all the difference.

Wins over Duke twice were all about in game coaching.

 

[champs99and04]

What's more likely, Hall of Famer Calhoun has forgot how to coach after 3 National Titles, or we have two inexperienced PGs that can't run the offense?

Not only do we have two inexperienced point guards, but this has to be one of the worst teams I've ever seen in terms of setting screens. Screen setting is one of those things that fans often don't notice, but it is so crucial

 

[UCweCONN]

Not only do we have two inexperienced point guards, but this has to be one of the worst teams I've ever seen in terms of setting screens. Screen setting is one of those things that fans often don't notice, but it is so crucial

What do you mean this team can't set screens?? I've never seen a team set more perfect illegal screens than our boys.

 

[Devland]

For a guy who once diagrammed aggressive presses and utilized the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game, Calhoun has utterly abandoned in-game strategy. It's clear we have none.

Calhoun is still great at imposing a philosophy of toughness on his teams (see our defense in last year's Tournament), but his ability to adequately coach in-game, or to develop offensive sets over the course of a season, deserves some serious criticism.

It's not the X's and the O's it's the Jimmy's and the Joe's

 

[geohusky]

The fan meltdown has begun

 

[champs99and04]

What do you mean this team can't set screens?? I've never seen a team set more perfect illegal screens than our boys.

ha...oriakhi and drummond seem to have mastered the "leaning into the defender running by with the official staring directly at you" technique better than any frontcourt in the country.

Another thing: Calhoun can coach offense, but his sets are very dependent on a point guard with an advanced understanding of how to use screens. Shabazz and Boatright clearly are not there.

 

[huskymagic]

For a guy who once diagrammed aggressive presses and utilized the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game, Calhoun has utterly abandoned in-game strategy. It's clear we have none.

Calhoun is still great at imposing a philosophy of toughness on his teams (see our defense in last year's Tournament), but his ability to adequately coach in-game, or to develop offensive sets over the course of a season, deserves some serious criticism.

I agree with you that the coaches and Calhoun is not making adjustments during the game, and also not have the team ready to play. How can you go play a good ranked team on the road in georgetown and not be up for the game and show some energy, passion, grit, toughness, especially since you dropped out of the ranking after being ranked number 4 to start off the year. Also, Napier is playing way too much, he is not a point guard like I have stated many times, he is a limited player and athlete who shouldnt play more than 20 minutes a game. Calhoun played him too much and left Boatright out for too long. The two little guard thing won't work against teams with big and quick guards like Gerogetown who were driving at will on our guards and exposing Napier and our front court's weaknesses. Frankly, I think Calhoun looks resigned to this being a down year for his team, and he doesnt see any answer coming from any player on the team. Boatright is still the best option and needs to play if possible all 40 minutes.

 

[61cygni]

Oh my god. Time to blow up the boneyard.

 

[HuskyFan32]

What's more likely, Hall of Famer Calhoun has forgot how to coach after 3 National Titles, or we have two inexperienced PGs that can't run the offense?

A little bit of both. Sure bazz is playing horrible but Ian it the coach's job to manage that stuff? I would say its mostly on bazz but JC can draw up some sets too. Our offense is a joke

 

[Tenspro2002]

Oh my god. Time to blow up the boneyard.

Usually that sort of comment is reserved for a thread that jumps the shark. I think we've actually had some reasonable discussion in here.

 

[Danzz]

For a guy who once diagrammed aggressive presses and utilized the most brilliant double-teaming strategy ever concocted in a championship game, Calhoun has utterly abandoned in-game strategy. It's clear we have none.

Calhoun is still great at imposing a philosophy of toughness on his teams (see our defense in last year's Tournament), but his ability to adequately coach in-game, or to develop offensive sets over the course of a season, deserves some serious criticism.

We have never been a great half court team. Probably the best half court PG was Price.

 

[boog204]

Are you fcking kidding me?

nope... can you give me an in-game adjustment that he has made this year? or for that matter in the past? I've never doubted his ability to game plan, nor to use halftime to make changes. but in the spur of the moment, when something is going awry, i honestly do not remember many occurrences of him making a major change. that's not to take away his greatness, and it has been discussed here before, that his stubborness in regards to game planning often takes precedence over an in-game adjustment. how else can you watch the last 4-5 games and justify his lack of action in offensive adjustments?