Calhoun vs Oriakhi

[Kitaman]

When Alex was taken out the first time I thought I witnessed a disturbing exchange. Calhoun went to 'talk' (trying to be nice here) to Alex, stood in front of him as normal, and THEN Alex appeared to tell Coach to get 'the fruck' out of his face, dismissing him with his hand and rolling his eyes, and saying some other not nice things. He actually ignored coach. Calhoun seemed shocked and continued confronting him, Alex seemed to try to look around him all of the time to watch the game. At that time I didn't expect to see Alex in the game again.

Anyway Alex saw a couple more minutes and didn't see the floor again for the rest of the game and all of the 2nd half. Arguing between player and coach is common, but these two have seemed to become adversaries, and last night it came to a head.

Did anyone else see this or did I see it wrong?

 

[TheRogers]

Yeah saw that as well. It was after Alex was yanked for sagging instead of going up against the 3 point shooter.

 

[Robertelamin]

Does anyone think that Alex may have been front and center of the chemistry issues this year? He may have the worst body language of any Calhoun player I can remember. His whole throwing up his arms and questioning the ref after every missed shot and not getting back on defense drove me nuts the entire season. We had one co captain who love Calhoun and one who clearly didn't.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Id said that in another thread and I agree and I think Coombs is not helping the situation

 

[Vancat]

His father posted on FB
"The season was a fiasco".
he can't be helping either.

I was a big AO fan but not so sure any more.

 

[Fishy]

There are a lot of people telling Alex how things should be. One of those people is Jim Calhoun and the rest aren't.

He's listening to the wrong ones.

 

[MidTown Husky]

We go through this song and dance every year with some player. I'm surprised it's Alex this time around, but how can he not see the track record...frankly, if Calhoun wasn't all over him it'd be worse because it means he doesn't see the potential in you.

Someone asked Ray Allen how he is so productive so late in his career. I don't have the quote in front of me but I beleive he said something along the lines of how playing for Calhoun was the hardest thing he's ever done but everything else was easy after that. Even Alex's Dad is on record as saying the reason he sent his son to UConn was because he liked how Calhoun coached Emeka Okafor. Well, this is how he coaches - deal with it and make the millions at the end of the road.

 

[Vancat]

he'll get it some day. Some day long from today.

 

[MidTown Husky]

Didn't Alex have some quote or something after yesterday's game that left his return next year open ended? I didn't see that after but does anybody have the quote or where he said it?

 

[Vancat]

article in this morning's Courant.
If UConn exhausts all possibilities in its hopes to gain eligibility for the 2013 tournament under the NCAA's new academic standards,Alex Oriakhi, as a junior, could transfer and not be required to sit a year. Or he could go pro.
"I'm going to sit down with my family," Oriakhi said, "and talk about it and we'll make a decision."

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

article in this morning's Courant.
If UConn exhausts all possibilities in its hopes to gain eligibility for the 2013 tournament under the NCAA's new academic standards,Alex Oriakhi, as a junior, could transfer and not be required to sit a year. Or he could go pro.
"I'm going to sit down with my family," Oriakhi said, "and talk about it and we'll make a decision."

he aint gonna make the NBA

 

[caw]

I like Oriakhi, I think he's a good kid and a true "student-athlete." He is also a frustrating player to watch and there is obviously something going on with him and the coaching staff.

 

[UConn Hoops1]

he aint gonna make the NBA

I agree. He has zero future at the next level. I really don't see anything in his game that would even make him some decent money playing in Europe. Good luck with that Alex.

 

[UChusky916]

Listen, there's no question that Alex is a great kid.

HOWEVER, if he "sits down with his family," (no mention of Calhoun) then I don't see him coming back here, sadly.

Kid has worlds of potential. We saw it in Maui and last year's Final4. But he's turning into a headcase. Fishy is accurate, he's listening to the wrong people, as evidenced by his quote. I think his close bond with Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is pulling him in 2 directions at the same time.

When his head is on straight, he's a great asset to any basketball team. However I'm not sure his head has been on straight all year.

Shame.

 

[uconnric]

Listen, there's no question that Alex is a great kid.

HOWEVER, if he "sits down with his family," (no mention of Calhoun) then I don't see him coming back here, sadly.

Kid has worlds of potential. We saw it in Maui and last year's Final4. But he's turning into a headcase. Fishy is accurate, he's listening to the wrong people, as evidenced by his quote. I think his close bond with Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is pulling him in 2 directions at the same time.

When his head is on straight, he's a great asset to any basketball team. However I'm not sure his head has been on straight all year.

Shame.

I like the kid too, but I agree his attitude this year has been a major problem for this team, all year long. Seems like he never really bought into playing with Drummond.

 

[August_West]

Maybe Calhoun vs, Oriakhi can be on the undercard of the Canseco vs. Shaq MMA battle. Im putting my money on JC

 

[jorge34]

How many times is the coaching staff supposed to tell this kid to box out, go up strong for put backs, and give effort on the defensive end of the court? How many times are they supposed to try and get him into the game by posting him up, only to watch him throw up bricks, or turn the ball over?

He hasn't gotten any better since his freshman year. He has actually gotten worse, as he was a rebounding monster then, and is inept now.

He could have an NBA career JUST based on the skill he does have to play defense and rebound.......he has shown it in spots (becoming more rare by the year).

It seems like somebody is in his head telling him coach and Uconn is holding him back, and that was CLEARLY evidenced by his behavior last night.

Good luck with that Alex.

 

[upstater]

I think Alex has the physical ability to play in the NBA.
Does he have the mental makeup?

Am I the only one with 90% confidence that the NCAA is going to change the rules and/or approve the waiver in a month or so?

I mean, UConn's case is no different than U Louisiana-X's case. So how do they explain the difference?

 

[jorge34]

I think Alex has the physical ability to play in the NBA.
Does he have the mental makeup?

Am I the only one with 90% confidence that the NCAA is going to change the rules and/or approve the waiver in a month or so?

I mean, UConn's case is no different than U Louisiana-X's case. So how do they explain the difference?

I think they will be eligible. Don't know how, just have faith they will.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Listen, there's no question that Alex is a great kid.

HOWEVER, if he "sits down with his family," (no mention of Calhoun) then I don't see him coming back here, sadly.

The good news for all parties involved is that Oriakhi has more time to make his decision than Lamb and Drummond do. Guys turning pro have to decide for good at some point in April, and we likely will not have a final resolution to the tournament ban. At least Oriakhi has more time to see what the deal is with next year.

 

[aceboon]

I think Alex has the physical ability to play in the NBA.
Does he have the mental makeup?

Am I the only one with 90% confidence that the NCAA is going to change the rules and/or approve the waiver in a month or so?

I mean, UConn's case is no different than U Louisiana-X's case. So how do they explain the difference?

NCAA can make the argument that ULL accepted a tourney ban this season, although they had no chance of actually making it, but its not like anything the NCAA does is ever logical.

 

[djct1999]

so if ao transfers and ad goes pro, who exactly will play in our front court? wolf and bradley? well, thats re-assuring.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

so if ao transfers and ad goes pro, who exactly will play in our front court? wolf and bradley? well, thats re-assuring.

It would be Olander and Roscoe to start and those 2 off the bench, yes.

Oriakhi is not likely to leave if the tournament ban is lifted. If the tournament ban is not lifted, next year is going to blow no matter who our starting front court is.

 

[djct1999]

It would be Olander and Roscoe to start and those 2 off the bench, yes.

Oriakhi is not likely to leave if the tournament ban is lifted. If the tournament ban is not lifted, next year is going to blow no matter who our starting front court is.

well, that makes me feel better. the writing is on the wall with tyler. first off, i would bet without actually knowing that tyler's +/- is most likely the worst on the team, by far. i do think that tyler has some skill for a big man. he has a nice mid range jump shot and is a quality passer. but this season showed, and as the season progressed it reaffirmed, that tyler has no lateral speed and simply cant compete with a high major big man. you cant teach that and no matter how hard he works in the offseason, the truth is tyler would have much more impact at a low to mid major than he ever will at uconn. if he plays 20+ mins next year, my guess is we will be in for a very long season.

 

[upstater]

NCAA can make the argument that ULL accepted a tourney ban this season, although they had no chance of actually making it, but its not like anything the NCAA does is ever logical.

I'd love to hear that logic from the NCAA.

It would make my day.