Calhoun totally gets it (no shock there)

[tentoes4rings]

WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK JIM CALHOUN WHY HE LEAVES BEFORE THE END OF THE GAME. THAT'S THE BURNING QUESTION.

He's in his mid 70s, past his bedtime, especially for a 9:30 tipoff.

 

[UCDaveD]

I'm shocked that Coach Calhoun is defending his hand-picked successor.

 

[BlueDogs]

Yeah, JC is giving a feel-good line. There is nothing complicated about what KO is doing. It's a basic failure to execute the most simpliest tasks well: playing D, boxing out, making good passes, moving without the ball, making foul shots... Poorly coached team plain and simple.

 

[CL82]

TBT

Hmm, starting to groom the public for baby Hurley?

 

[champs99and04]

It's interesting to hear Calhoun say that they need to simplify things because that's what I have been saying for a while. It's even more interesting to hear him specifically reference Boeheim and the zone when I mentioned 1,000 times last year that the source of the rift between Ollie/Miller was about man/zone principles.

It doesn't jive with the narrative of our best and brightest on here that KO is simple, but I think there is a chance they're not just playing street basketball and that Calhoun knew what he was doing when he turned the program over to him. It may in fact be the opposite in that he requires them to be sophisticated and autonomous in a way that they're not ready to handle.

 

[Waquoit]

It's interesting to hear Calhoun say that they need to simplify things because that's what I have been saying for a while...
It doesn't jive with the narrative of our best and brightest on here that KO is simple, but I think there is a chance they're not just playing street basketball and that Calhoun knew what he was doing when he turned the program over to him. It may in fact be the opposite in that he requires them to be sophisticated and autonomous in a way that they're not ready to handle.

How does this take jive with that opposing team saying “in terms of the actions they run and the game plan, [UConn is] probably the simplest scout I’ve seen.” Someone is full of baloney here.

 

[Deadrody]

The best part about this Calhoun quote is the fact that if he were a Boneyard poster, named something like HuskyDogForever or something, he would have been laughed off of the forum. Stuff like:

1) We've got to simplify??? Dude, we are the simplest team out there!
2) We have 5 guys who can play on the perimeter?? Wanna bet? 1 at best, maybe 2...
3) You have a lot of confidence in Kevin? Then you're an idiot. You're literally the last person with any confidence in him at all!

Sorry about the cynicism. But it is EXTREMELY refreshing to me to hear these words from Calhoun; a basketball mind that I have a great deal of respect for. If he says we have really good aspects and a very good back court, I believe him. If he says he has a lot of confidence in Kevin and that we have good players, I believe him.

Does that mean that Ollie gets a pass? Certainly not. He's gotta figure out how to maximize with these guys. But it certainly gives me more confidence that we'll get this sorted out and we'll be dancing in a few months...or at least that's my opinion of it...

So let me ask you all this: How likely would you have thought it would be that Calhoun would have publicly said bad things about Ollie ? 0.001% ?

I'm not necessarily discounting what he has to say, but obviously someone was going ask Calhoun about this and obviously he was going to give Ollie a thumb's up.

 

[August_West]

So let me ask you all this: How likely would you have thought it would be that Calhoun would have publicly said bad things about Ollie ? 0.001% ?

I'm not necessarily discounting what he has to say, but obviously someone was going ask Calhoun about this and obviously he was going to give Ollie a thumb's up.

he didnt give a Thumbs up though. He said he believed in him, but he also said he sees coaching changes (on the floor) that should be made

 

[UConnDan97]

So let me ask you all this: How likely would you have thought it would be that Calhoun would have publicly said bad things about Ollie ? 0.001% ?

I'm not necessarily discounting what he has to say, but obviously someone was going ask Calhoun about this and obviously he was going to give Ollie a thumb's up.

He doesn't have to comment at all. That's the point. And Calhoun is not the type of person that is shy about having his feelings heard...

Asked and answered...

 

[jibsey]

If I were KO, I would ask Calhoun to come in to assist informally with practice for 1-2 weeks. He’ll take itover anyway. My reasoning is sinple, if KO can’t turn this ship and soon he’s gone, and maybe just maybe coach can help make a difference. Talking on the phone and giving advice ain’t the same thing. KO would have to put whatever ego he has in his back pocket. It’s a longshot, probably to no avail but why not? IfCalhoun already does this then I’ve got nothing.

 

[UCFan1513]

He doesn't have to comment at all. That's the point. And Calhoun is not the type of person that is shy about having his feelings heard...

Yeah, but I mean if he's being paid to be a consultant/ambassador to the men's basketball program he's not going to trash it. It's clear he and Ollie don't have the greatest relationship, and he's not going to kick the team while they're down. And obliging to comment is probably very much in his job description as an ambassador for the program, and what ambassador is going to openly rank on his own product?

 

[UCFan1513]

If I were KO, I would ask Calhoun to come in to assist informally with practice for 1-2 weeks. He’ll take itover anyway. My reasoning is sinple, if KO can’t turn this ship and soon he’s gone, and maybe just maybe coach can help make a difference. Talking on the phone and giving advice ain’t the same thing. KO would have to put whatever ego he has in his back pocket. It’s a longshot, probably to no avail but why not? IfCalhoun already does this then I’ve got nothing.

God I wish... Also worth noting is that Calhoun was coming to just about every practice during the 2014 season. Explains a lot after we've seen what Ollie can do on his own.

 

[mauconnfan]

you are the one constantly claiming all the players stink mau. look at your post about facey two posts ago.

its incredible in 6 years, KO hasn't managed to get a single player here who had any talent or skills to work with or any self driven will to succeed. crazy how that happened. just all of the completely empty cupboards.

As an aside, i think its funny that you constantly rip the players to shreds far worse than most of the criticism KO gets around here and yet you are the one who gets so offended and upset anyone someone speaks the truth about what is going on around here, accusing us of being overly negative or rooting for us to lose. #hypocrite

Yes I do and they did stink. What does this have to do with anything HAD? Was Facey a good player while here minus a nice run his senior year which he didn't finish well? Am I wrong and do you know he deserved more time? From what I saw he didn't and some guys never get better under any coaches, even the one's you deem so great. They have kids transfer from all the big schools, they go in great and come out not playing much. Then they don't get a lot better any where after else after they transfer either you know why, they aren't very smart and they don't understand the game. That's Facey that's Brimah and that will prove to be Enoch. These guys are not on KO, some others may be no doubt I don't deny that but these guys just don't have the sense to be real good. It's basketball 101 I'm sure you don't understand.

#foff

 

[RipCity]

Hmm, starting to groom the public for baby Hurley?

You know me... grooming old men

 

[superjohn]

Hmm, starting to groom the public for baby Hurley?

I will try and find out about Hurley, my dad and uncle grew up with Bob Hurley and my uncle has been friends with him forever. Not sure how much they talk anymore though.

What I do know is that Bob Hurley and Calhoun not liking each other is complete bullcr@p.

 

[UCweCONN]

WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK JIM CALHOUN WHY HE LEAVES BEFORE THE END OF THE GAME. THAT'S THE BURNING QUESTION.

It's either that or start wearing Depends. 2 hours is a long time to hold it at 75.

 

[jdb50]

Something that raised interest for me was the comment from Jay Williams in the Courant article a couple days ago saying that KO told him" the the grind of being in charge of a College program is completely different from NBA coaching or anything else."Is KO having second thoughts about doing this job? We have talent and he needs to get it moving in a way that gives us a chance to win. Can't look unprepared, get off to slow starts, play hard for ten minutes a game, and put teams on the floor that can't rebound, defend or play offense as a unit anymore. We need a strategy that all players buy into and execute.

 

[mauconnfan]

Not like you to beg the question, Mau. We're trying to account here for the WHY. Why was Kentan a good player for so little of his career. Part of the answer is that KO is not a teacher but an enabler -- if you can teach yourself, he'll gladly give you a chance to play. He didn't teach Giffey to play the 4, but he enabled him to show he could -- and that was all she wrote for Kelis Fisher's freshman year. Trouble this year is that KO has a bunch of guys who need teaching, a bunch of others who need prodding and only a few who need enabling.

I answered that. You can't teach those who aren't capable period. Mind you he needs to shy away from recruiting those guys so that is totally on KO, but no one was making AB or Kelis Fisher better they never understood the game and the nuances, no natural feel. The Giffey comparison is perfect thank you so much. A guy who listened, really understood the game and had the natural ability. He improved because he was a good student but it wasn't as much KO as it was himself, he was smart basketball-wise and did what he was asked. He's a basketball player, really simple, can put him out there and ask him to do a job he will at least try and he can play multiple positions. Same with Kromah, same with Deandre - smart, understand where to be and when on both sides of the ball. I don't care how anyone is coaching you after 4 years of basketball practice, 100 games if you aren't better it's on you as much if not more than anyone else. Thats the reality. And I'm not saying KO is a great molder of a player, just pointing out guys who wouldn't be any good for K or Izzo either.

There's your WHY.

 

[tower1]

From the Cuse game

Simple task 1 - Rebound
Simple task 2 - Play hard the entire game
Simple task 3 - Play smart and limit turnovers
Simple task 4 - Hit your free throws

#5 stop getting stuffed on dunks! Get off your feet elevate!

 

[mauconnfan]

I will try and find out about Hurley, my dad and uncle grew up with Bob Hurley and my uncle has been friends with him forever. Not sure how much they talk anymore though.

What I do know is that Bob Hurley and Calhoun not liking each other is complete bullcr@p.

Yeah do that see if you can lure him to Storrs superjohn that would be great. Thank you

 

[superjohn]

you are the one constantly claiming all the players stink mau. look at your post about facey two posts ago.

its incredible in 6 years, KO hasn't managed to get a single player here who had any talent or skills to work with or any self driven will to succeed. crazy how that happened. just all of the completely empty cupboards.

As an aside, i think its funny that you constantly rip the players to shreds far worse than most of the criticism KO gets around here and yet you are the one who gets so offended and upset anyone someone speaks the truth about what is going on around here, accusing us of being overly negative or rooting for us to lose. #hypocrite

Mau rips on the players more than anyone on the board but lectures others whenever the coach who makes over 3 mil. per is criticized for his coaching and ability to run the program. Real stand up guy.

 

[August_West]

I will try and find out about Hurley, my dad and uncle grew up with Bob Hurley and my uncle has been friends with him forever. Not sure how much they talk anymore though.

What I do know is that Bob Hurley and Calhoun not liking each other is complete bullcr@p.

We can't wait

 

[superjohn]

We can't wait

Have I ever steered you wrong?

 

[Huskymagic]

From Courant article.

“I just think we’re fluctuating so much, with Alterique [Gilbert] out right now,” Calhoun said, “and when you fluctuate you’ve probably got to simplify. We need to figure out what we’re going to try to do every single night. We have really good aspects, we’ve got to find the best way to use them.

“It’s hard sometimes, because we’re trying to develop our front court, do this, this and that. We have a very good back court, five guys who can play on the perimeter, most teams don’t have that. And we’ve got to simplify what we do and hope to continue to work on what we’re really good at, and do that. Syracuse, you know what they did? Play a zone, protect the rim, and won because of the 2-3 zone. We’ve got to find our niche as the season goes on. I have a lot of confidence in Kevin. I think we have good players.”


That has ALWAYS been my biggest gripe with Ollie. I feel Ollie never sets a hook for the team to hang its hat on. We never have an identity. He shuttles players in and out too much and never gives a core a chance to become something. To establish something. Every year, not just this year. JC is spot on that we need to simplify and become something. Even if you fail at first, find a philosophy and STICK with it.
Injuries happen, things happen you must adjust. Jack of all trades master of none basketball is not winning basketball.

I agree with you that UCONN led Ollie teams have no identity, and we are trying to do much while doing nothing at all on the court.

Calhoun is a great guy and an even better coach, but you need to take his words here with a grain of salt. He is not going to be very honest about Ollie and the team publicly like us. He is indirectly saying that we have no identity and we don't utilize the talent we have correctly. That is all on Ollie. We have a 3 good players, after that there is a huge drop off in talent. Even the good players we have are either weak, out of shape, or undersized and don't play with intensity on both ends of the court.

Our front court is worse than many mid-majors.

PS: Right now we are worse than Rutgers. Think about that, Pikiell and Rutgers would probably beat us the way we are playing and with the collection of players we are throwing out there.

PS: Last year we had Jalen, Purvis, Kentan, and Amida in the starting lineup along with Vance and Vital and we weren't good. Last year's team had plenty of talent, size, and length and Ollie had them losing to Wagner, Northeastern, and East Carolina in one season. This year's team has nowhere near the talent.

 

[intlzncster]

I’m no basketball coach but it seems obvious to me the easiest fix with a high ROI is getting a 40 minute defensive effort.

They cranked it up late against Stony Brook and Columbia.

How about that intensity before being down dd in the 2nd half.

Same against Cuse. For stretch in the second half, I was thinking "finally, where has that been". Wasn't the whole 2nd half, but it was definitely there.

 

[Chief00]

No comment.

 

[mauconnfan]

Mau rips on the players more than anyone on the board but lectures others whenever the coach who makes over 3 mil. per is criticized for his coaching and ability to run the program. Real stand up guy.

You rip on players as well as the coach. Mine is not ripping just pointing out facts if you don't see them then that's ok. But when is the last time you even talked about a player? Oh you don't have time pounding your chest about how right you are about KO you forgot there were players, you're pitiful.

The fact Huskybass "Likes" you is all you need to know. Enjoy you're meeting with Danny Hurley and his dad. And you make fun of Chief - LOL

 

[Ts5034]

Where did this idea of Calhoun and Ollie not getting along start? If this is true, why is that the case? Im very curious.

 

[freescooter]

Ollie seems to recruit an awful lot of guys who don’t improve and wouldn’t get better no matter who was coach. Who is that on?

 

[mauconnfan]

Ollie seems to recruit an awful lot of guys who don’t improve and wouldn’t get better no matter who was coach. Who is that on?

Think we know that don't we? Another troll question which as been answered already even by Team Pollyanna.