Calhoun vs Oriakhi

[TRest]

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."

Maybe I just don't get it but I don't see the appeal for other programs in taking AO for a single season. How many double-doubles did he get this year compared to last?

 

[UConnSwag11]

Do you think uconn is using ulm as evidence? Bc didn't they appeal after this came out?

 

[upstater]

Do you think uconn is using ulm as evidence? Bc didn't they appeal after this came out?

They already appealed prior to the ULM decision.

 

[UConniki]

Maybe I just don't get it but I don't see the appeal for other programs in taking AO for a single season. How many double-doubles did he get this year compared to last?

THink HOFSTRA. Jamal Coombs-McDaniel !

 

[champs99and04]

Fishy is absolutely right that Alex is being influenced by the wrong people. A kid like Shabazz seems to be incredibly loyal to Calhoun through the think and thin, while on the other hand Alex seems to be more loyal to Coombs. You'd be naieve to think that Alex and Coombs haven't had conversations about the way Calhoun coaches. Coombs clearly didn't enjoy playing for Calhoun and I think Alex is starting to understand what Coombs was feeling last year with all the quick hooks.

The season started pretty poorly for Alex right off the jump when he was pulled from the starting lineup, Coombs tweeted about it, and then Alex pretty much agreed with him and ripped Calhoun.

I would love to have Alex back, but unforunately, the writing appears to be on the wall assuming the tourney ban is not lifted (and the ncaa hasn't given much indication that it will be). The people closest to him have been growing increasingly frustrated with JC and the lack of leeway Alex gets. While their reaction is understandable, they should keep it to themselves, because Calhoun has three National Championship rings and they have none. If Alex can tough it out one more year Calhoun will get him drafted in the first round.

It's going to be awfully tempting for Alex to transfer to Hofstra where he can get his 15 shots a night, play against inferior competition, and play with his buddy Coombs. While they will be two of the best players on the team, Hofstra ultimately will not compete for more than a tournament bid. I hope Alex makes the right decision, commits himself over the off-season, and takes Calhoun's word as the gospel.

 

[tzznandrew]

There was just an article where everyone talked about how much Oriakhi loves Calhoun. Maybe that's damage control, but in-game emotions are sometimes less telling than the things we can't see.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I wouldn't put much stock in the quote of a player hours after the season ended horribly. Caron Butler also "declared" for the NBA the night after his freshman season ended in the NIT.

 

[sparky]

Alex is a product of todays kids-spoiled. If he doesn't get his way he pouts. If he is listening to Jamal Coombs-McDaniel that's his loss. Perhaps he and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel can play on the same rec league team. JC is a tough guy to play for ala Knight. I know as a player I could have played for Knight and I am sure I could play for JC too, but these guys are not for everyone. As for next year, he has nowhere to go, and AD and JL could leave for the NBA, but I would love to have them back. We need an offense that allows us to spread the floor and feature JL and not our dribbling skills. Boat penetrates and runs into a crowd in the lane. Bazz is a 2 and hasn't been healthy, hopefully with boat more experienced and bazz healthy we will thrive.

 

[cohenzone]

Fishy is absolutely right that Alex is being influenced by the wrong people. A kid like Shabazz seems to be incredibly loyal to Calhoun through the think and thin, while on the other hand Alex seems to be more loyal to Coombs. You'd be naieve to think that Alex and Coombs haven't had conversations about the way Calhoun coaches. Coombs clearly didn't enjoy playing for Calhoun and I think Alex is starting to understand what Coombs was feeling last year with all the quick hooks.

The season started pretty poorly for Alex right off the jump when he was pulled from the starting lineup, Coombs tweeted about it, and then Alex pretty much agreed with him and ripped Calhoun.

I would love to have Alex back, but unforunately, the writing appears to be on the wall assuming the tourney ban is not lifted (and the ncaa hasn't given much indication that it will be). The people closest to him have been growing increasingly frustrated with JC and the lack of leeway Alex gets. While their reaction is understandable, they should keep it to themselves, because Calhoun has three National Championship rings and they have none. If Alex can tough it out one more year Calhoun will get him drafted in the first round.

It's going to be awfully tempting for Alex to transfer to Hofstra where he can get his 15 shots a night, play against inferior competition, and play with his buddy Coombs. While they will be two of the best players on the team, Hofstra ultimately will not compete for more than a tournament bid. I hope Alex makes the right decision, commits himself over the off-season, and takes Calhoun's word as the gospel.

Geez, I can root for Huskies South. My nephew who lives with us is starting Hofstra in the fall.

But really, it's hard to know why a kid gets to thinking a certain way. The kid is a captain, he was given a central role by the coach, who, if he didn't understand how JC works after 2 seasons, I don't know where his mind was all that time.

Seems to me that both he and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel do not want to look at their own short-comings as a reason why the coach might be having reservations about their playing time. That JC is hard to play for is hardly a secret and both of those kids committed so (too?) early that they had plenty of time to further look at UConn before they actually signed on the dotted line. Obviously, some kids can't perform under the quick hook and it could be that if Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was given long stretches on the court. he would have showed more, but it isn't as if he wasn't given a chance. AO is a whole other story. He had plenty of playing time and played himself into the doghouse, especially not doing the things everyone has witnessed him doing for 2 earlier years, particularly rebounding. On a young team that required a lot of maintenance, he became one of the higher maintenance kids on the team, and maybe the highest given the fact that he should have been the least. Yes, he seems like a good kid, but he isn't ready to make decisions for himself and look himself in the eye. I wish him well whatever he does.

 

[Vancat]

AO's Dad just posted this:
"Well, it is over that simple. The team was disorganized from the onset. Kids were nba oriented as opposed to winning. Am not surprise talents alone don't winner. Team spirit was dead nobody saw this not the coaching staff. It was ugly. It takes 5 to win a game not 2 hungry g. Uconn is a pg program I have said this time & time"

(Not sure what a pg program is.)

 

[dogpause]

I don't agree about Alex having so much physical ability. I tihkn he seriously lacks fine motor skills, and that can't be taught. He shoots from closer to the baslet than anyone, yet he misses a high percentage of shots. He just doesn't have the tools except for a muscular body.

 

[TRest]

AO's Dad just posted this:
"Well, it is over that simple. The team was disorganized from the onset. Kids were nba oriented as opposed to winning. Am not surprise talents alone don't winner. Team spirit was dead nobody saw this not the coaching staff. It was ugly. It takes 5 to win a game not 2 hungry g. Uconn is a pg program I have said this time & time"

(Not sure what a pg program is.)

We are rated pg (pointguard must be 13 and over to attend).

 

[UCDaveD]

Alex would be a tweener in the league.

 

[wpq4elamin]

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.

someone should respond back that it would have been a lot less of a fiasco if his son had provided 12/8 every game.... as most people probably expected after the way he played in spots last year (including the tourney)

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Fishy is absolutely right that Alex is being influenced by the wrong people. A kid like Shabazz seems to be incredibly loyal to Calhoun through the think and thin, while on the other hand Alex seems to be more loyal to Coombs. You'd be naieve to think that Alex and Coombs haven't had conversations about the way Calhoun coaches. Coombs clearly didn't enjoy playing for Calhoun and I think Alex is starting to understand what Coombs was feeling last year with all the quick hooks.

The season started pretty poorly for Alex right off the jump when he was pulled from the starting lineup, Coombs tweeted about it, and then Alex pretty much agreed with him and ripped Calhoun.

I would love to have Alex back, but unforunately, the writing appears to be on the wall assuming the tourney ban is not lifted (and the ncaa hasn't given much indication that it will be). The people closest to him have been growing increasingly frustrated with JC and the lack of leeway Alex gets. While their reaction is understandable, they should keep it to themselves, because Calhoun has three National Championship rings and they have none. If Alex can tough it out one more year Calhoun will get him drafted in the first round.

It's going to be awfully tempting for Alex to transfer to Hofstra where he can get his 15 shots a night, play against inferior competition, and play with his buddy Coombs. While they will be two of the best players on the team, Hofstra ultimately will not compete for more than a tournament bid. I hope Alex makes the right decision, commits himself over the off-season, and takes Calhoun's word as the gospel.

Do you know Alex personally?

 

[Inyatkin]

He has to stay for his senior year if only to avoid an 0-for-5 on the most dysfunctional recruiting class in history, and not just our history.

 

[champs99and04]

DB I do not know Alex personally, but it's just the impression I get. I could be way off of course, I'm just trying to connect the dots here:

Father has spoke out against program and direction of the team multiple times on social media

Terrible body langauge on court

Coombs, his best friend, transferring possibly due to a rocky relationship with Calhoun

Alex's comments earlier in the season pointing to frustration due to lack of playing time

I think Alex does love playing here, however, it's easy to think about how things would be if they weren't always so strict. Just a hunch.

 

[TheChamps990411]

AO cracks me up. he dances before a game and is moving fluidly and effortlessly but get the ball in the post and moves like a rusty robot. he is so robotic and stiff in his movement and shooting touch its crazy. AO should comeback because his other options arent too appealing. declare for the draft and likely not be drafted in the first round which means no guarenteed contract or transfer and sit out a year. if he stays and jc doesnt retire he has another year of dealing with that situation. if i were him id declare for the draft but not sign with an agent and hope my workouts get me into the first round. if not you have to bite the bullet and comeback for another year and try to play well enough to be a first rounder.

 

[Brochacho]

I think AO is better off in the NBA than the NCAA. Just seems like a Jason Maxiell/Leon Powe type guy that would excel with 10-15 mpg to just grab some boards.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

AO is a bigger version of Tony Robertson (for those who have been around long enough to remember those days). I hope AO decides to stay and look in the mirror instead of blaming everyone else and listening to the people in his ear. It will be best for him in the long run and I think he will become a better person and player in the long run for it.

I noticed Tony Robertson sitting behind the UConn bench a game or two ago. I never thought I would see the day that Tony was part of the program as TR wasn't the most committed to the UConn program at the end of his time here. But with age and maturity, I am sure that he now realizes how much Calhoun and the program did for him and how immature he was being back then. I hope AO stays and the same thing happens to him...but again, I don't think the odds are in favor of that happening.

 

[Hi-Low]

How about Alex doing what is best for Alex....He commited to UConn as a sophmore in HS, he (along with Jamal Coombs-McDaniel) ALWAYS wanted to play for UConn and Calhoun...his freshman year he had a disfunctional team and a sick coach (sound familiar), but he played ok....his sophmore season was up and down but culminated in a Championship that he played a big part in....his junior season his best friend transfers, he is made captain but then rides the pine for olander, never jells with AD on the court and his coach is sick again for an extended period.

It's not a coincidence that Alex is the last player left from his class of AO/Jamal Coombs-McDaniel/Jamal Trice and Darius Smith....the staff did a lousy job with that group & the upperclassmen were head cases....dyson/robinson/edwards...thank god Kemba was around.

I can't be unhappy with AO because he didn't become Jeff Adrien...sorry coach but you have to take some of the blame for his lack of development. He hasn't been the stud we expected but he was a big reason we won Final 4, he has had to deal with 2 of his 3 years being a mess. If we are banned from NCAA next year he should transfer or declare for NBA....whatever he and his family think is best for him he should do and if he leaves I will thank him and wish him luck.

 

[caw]

He should do what is best for him. Declaring for the NBA would not be best for him (or at least declaring and not withdrawing), but if he likely won't find out about NCAAT eligibility until after the NBA draft deadline. He should declare just so he can hear what NBA GM's have to say about him. Then he should come back to school, somewhere. I think any decent junior who hasn't declared should do so, just to get feedback from GM's/scouts/etc.

I would love for AO to come back to UConn, work on his game and get better. If not, he would be best served going to a team that has a good coaching staff for bigs. I will root for him as long as it's not a team I hate and he's not playing UConn.

On the flip side, I also think his family and him have handled this very poorly. Making public declarations against the team and coach have not helped anything.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I can't be unhappy with AO because he didn't become Jeff Adrien...sorry coach but you have to take some of the blame for his lack of development.

The difference between AO and Jeff Adrien isn't something you can be taught by a coach. It's an attitude. It's a mindset.

My lasting memory of JA is him audibly yelling "gimme that !" while snatching a rebound. That was Jeff.

AO hasn't become Jeff Adrien not because he never developed a post move or because he can't hit a foul-line jump shot. AO hasn't become Jeff Adrien because he doesn't have Jeff's toughness, tenacity, and will.

 

[Hi-Low]

The difference between AO and Jeff Adrien isn't something you can be taught by a coach. It's an attitude. It's a mindset.

My lasting memory of JA is him audibly yelling "gimme that !" while snatching a rebound. That was Jeff.

AO hasn't become Jeff Adrien not because he never developed a post move or because he can't hit a foul-line jump shot. AO hasn't become Jeff Adrien because he doesn't have Jeff's toughness, tenacity, and will.

 

[Hi-Low]

Right and that's not AO...he can't change who he is....Jeff Adrien never smiled, that's why we loved him....AO has skills that could have been developed better.