Calhoun & Warde have some Big decisions

[GemParty]

to make! Of coarse JC wants to stomp on the sidelines for a few more years, I'm not sure a daily tee time gets his juices flowing enough. Yet, at this point of Warde's career and where JC wants the program he built to go, I'm sure there's lots to discuss. It would seem that JC would want to leverage, his post coaching services, Ollie's talents/rep, & the NBA $$$ pipeline for that final push/naming donations on the practice facility, into a Family tree coaching option. UConn's a state school, new AD, new Pres, with a wave of bad pub, plus a ban. They are Also in No- Mans Land for a conference. Big decisions loom. What direction will the decision makers and JC take? Will they be on the same page for the future of the program? Should they be?

 

[freescooter]

You summarized very well where the programs stands now. And the upcoming issues. I could imagine Calhoun stepping down after next season, I don't think he'd do it with the post season ban coming up, and I can imagine him wanting to name a successor, but I think that ship has sailed. If he wanted to do that he needed to have retired after the 2011 season. I'm not that worried about the naming rights. I have little doubt that there is either some individual like Burton, Shenkman or Gampel out there who will make a big donation for the privilege or some local corporation will do it...I could imagine the Travellers Center or something...In many respects, the conference situation is the most worrisome. And Calhoun has almost nothing to do with it. But the Big East that we have known is going away. and the replacements are mostly questionable either academically (hi Memphis) or as far as basketball goes(SMU), or both. UCONN is clearly looking for an out somewhere. How that works out is going to have at least as much impact on the future as Calhoun's decision to stay through the end of his contract or leave next year.

 

[GemParty]

You summarized very well where the programs stands now. And the upcoming issues. I could imagine Calhoun stepping down after next season, I don't think he'd do it with the post season ban coming up, and I can imagine him wanting to name a successor, but I think that ship has sailed. If he wanted to do that he needed to have retired after the 2011 season. I'm not that worried about the naming rights. I have little doubt that there is either some individual like Burton, Shenkman or Gampel out there who will make a big donation for the privilege or some local corporation will do it...I could imagine the Travellers Center or something...In many respects, the conference situation is the most worrisome. And Calhoun has almost nothing to do with it. But the Big East that we have known is going away. and the replacements are mostly questionable either academically (hi Memphis) or as far as basketball goes(SMU), or both. UCONN is clearly looking for an out somewhere. How that works out is going to have at least as much impact on the future as Calhoun's decision to stay through the end of his contract or leave next year.

Thank you.

Here's another interesting financial way of looking at risk/ reward. Ollie get's the job and works for FREE. How?

Let's say Ollie gets 2 million a yr for 7 yrs. JC opens up his NBA rolodex, makes 14 phone calls; gets 1 million (approx) per player to go towards the practice facility/coaching hire general fund. Headline in the Courant......Free Ollie!

Now, XXX coach gets the job, the school prefers the Non family direction. Then, they can rely on themselves without as much help from JC and the family.

 

[Cheddie]

Thank you.

Here's another interesting financial way of looking at risk/ reward. Ollie get's the job and works for FREE. How?

Let's say Ollie gets 2 million a yr for 7 yrs. JC opens up his NBA rolodex, makes 14 phone calls; gets 1 million (approx) per player to go towards the practice facility/coaching hire general fund. Headline in the Courant......Free Ollie!

Now, XXX coach gets the job, the school prefers the Non family direction. Then, they can rely on themselves without as much help from JC and the family.

Don't you think JC might have already talked to his NBA alums about the facility, since they're in the middle of fundraising? And they're going to pay KO too? Sorry, don't see it. The program takes in enough revenue that I don't think Manuel is going to hire a coach just for the discount. Either he's good enough or he isn't.

 

[Waquoit]

Don't you think JC might have already talked to his NBA alums about the facility, since they're in the middle of fundraising?

No, I going to take JC's words at face value on this one.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

take it for what it's worth, but my good friend was told by drummond at a party over the weekend that Calhoun has already told the team he's retiring. Who knows if this is true, or if drummond was just saying things, but theres that.

 

[Vancat]

you would think that wouldn't be the only leak.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Agreed, I know hes not lying, but who knows if Drummond was just messing around. Just gotta take it for what its worth I guess

 

[upstater]

The question is, retiring when?

 

[freescooter]

If that's the case, he certainly owes it to the University to announce it sooner rather than later. It becomes more and more difficult to get a coach the closer you get to the season. I would hate to think that Calhoun would sully his legacy by pulling some stunt so that UCONN would have to hire one of his assistants. I doubt he would. And I doubt he's retiring until after next season.

 

[Hoophound]

No way is he retiring now. Even if he is, he would have told the team no more than 24 hours before the announcement. Kids can't keep a secret.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

One more season and JC moves past Rupp & Smith (Yes, it should have been this season). Two more seasons and he moves past Knight (Yes, should have been next season). Does this factor in?

 

[Edward Sargent]

take it for what it's worth, but my good friend was told by drummond at a party over the weekend that Calhoun has already told the team he's retiring. Who knows if this is true, or if drummond was just saying things, but theres that.

We know he's retiring the question is when. Also I wouldn't put too much into Drummond's tweets or whatever you call them.

 

[IMind]

One more season and JC moves past Rupp & Smith (Yes, it should have been this season). Two more seasons and he moves past Knight (Yes, should have been next season). Does this factor in?

I'd say absolutely. I think Knight is the big one for Calhoun.

 

[jrazz12]

Or Boeheim when all those wins get vacated

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I think JC has known for some time now that he'll never be able to catch K and even if he were able to build a lead against Boeheim (they were neck and neck for a while afew years back), JB would eventually pass him. My guess is that for a while now JC has targeted Knight as the last hurdle.

As far as retiring, I would not be surprised if JC told AD that it was a possibility solely to convince AD to turn pro. AD said repeatedly that he always wanted to play for JC. JC would be willing to force AD into the draft if he felt remaining was a mistake for AD.

My gut says that JC absolutely finishes his current contract and is even money to last an additional year beyond it.

 

[Ts5034]

take it for what it's worth, but my good friend was told by drummond at a party over the weekend that Calhoun has already told the team he's retiring. Who knows if this is true, or if drummond was just saying things, but theres that.

This actually ran through my head a few times after i heard Drummond was going pro. I thought that maybe the reason AD left is because he knows Calhoun wont be back. Its just another one of those things that we can debate until JC makes an official announcement.

 

[UConnfan8]

take it for what it's worth, but my good friend was told by drummond at a party over the weekend that Calhoun has already told the team he's retiring. Who knows if this is true, or if drummond was just saying things, but theres that.

your good friend must have been stoned. if he already told the team then word woulda gotten out already....theres no way shabazz would have stayed, no way boat would have stayed...any of them. Bazz already said a few days ago..."I'd only think about transferring if JC left".....bazz woulda been informed a while ago. Tell you're friend to go smoke more weed, seriously..smoke more weed.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

As to JC catching anyone in the wins department? I would not be holding my breath, unless UC is going to fill up on "cupcakes" early in season. i.e Fairfield, Sacred Heart, Hartford, Stony Brook, et.al. With the dearth of talented big men on next years club, and the fact that this team will have NOTHING to play for, I am not seeing many quality wins. "Quality" wins really means nothing anyway. UC's big job next year will be to play spoiler for other BE teams. I am looking at somewhere between 8-15 wins. 15 wins with next years club would be considered a "successful" season. Next season will be the "lost" season.