Caron Butler on how former players view UConn

[Madmannsucks]

Did anyone expect Butler to say anything different? Everyone knows Ollie was a terrible coach, his friends are never going to admit that.

OK, the problem is his "friends" are going to be less inclined to provide support for the program. They are turning away from the program. That is a problem.

 

[BlueandOG]

I do not fault his friends for backing him, but UCONN should not pay him if he violated the terms of his contract. This is not trivial money - this is real taxpayer money that the university needs to account for. I support a major donor kicking in to make KO whole (full disclosure - I love KO), but UCONN should not pay.

 

[Slick]

If Caron thinks that the school treated Ollie badly, he should listen to 80% of the fan base.

What does that mean exactly?

 

[UConnDad]

Anyone that believes it wouldn’t be better to have our NBA alums and other players around and supporting the program is wrong. We need that back. Should take that into account and get this behind us.

 

[Huskybass]

It's getting to the point where I wonder whether the program will ever be "healed" unless and until this resolves in a way that is perceived to be "fair" to KO, whatever that is.

While I understand what you are saying, the odds of that ever happening are extremely poor. I would be shocked to ever see KO as part of UConn basketball family again. I don't mean to be a pessimist, but this has just gotten too ugly to ever be repaired, in my opinion.

 

[Madmannsucks]

While I understand what you are saying, the odds of that ever happening are extremely poor. I would be shocked to ever see KO as part of UConn basketball family again. I don't mean to be a pessimist, but this has just gotten too ugly to ever be repaired, in my opinion.

I suppose the most awkward moment will be JC's funeral. I mean considering his age, medical history, etc....so many former players will be there. I am not looking ahead, just thinking out loud.

 

[BlueMAB]

The answer is B, so you win nothing. And you didn't provide any rationale for your answer.

Your opinion.

Hurley is catching hell for losing to two conference opponents on the road (where he admittedly deserves some criticism) while posters like you ignore losing back to back games to teams from the Colonial and the NEC "because of the AAC".

The answer is C. Because whether we're in the AAC or not, we have the facilities, tradition, and resources to attract a far higher caliber of recruit.

 

[BlueMAB]

Anyone that believes it wouldn’t be better to have our NBA alums and other players around and supporting the program is wrong. We need that back. Should take that into account and get this behind us.

Are they worth $10MM?

No.

We have a coach that has invited them back. Practically begged through the media. If they want to spite the program in defense of their guy, that's their decision.

Did anyone even make the argument that we're better off without them?

 

[superjohn]

I suppose the most awkward moment will be JC's funeral. I mean considering his age, medical history, etc....so many former players will be there. I am not looking ahead, just thinking out loud.

Weird thing to bring up and no Ollie isn't going to skip Calhoun's funeral, he's not that bad a guy.

 

[CL82]

I continue to be amazed that someone hasn't been able to broker a deal to put this to bed given the ripple effect it has had and continues to have the longer it remains unresolved. I knew Ray was in a funk about it but I wasn't aware of the extent to which it has apparently chilled relationships with other former players. I mean, as a simple business/goodwill proposition it just screams for resolution. We want these guys to continue to be proud ambassadors of the University and it sounds like that's not the case right now. Yes, I know the money has to come from somewhere and that's easier said than done, but someone should be able to make the connection between resolving this and courting more contributions from some of our NBA guys.

It's getting to the point where I wonder whether the program will ever be "healed" unless and until this resolves in a way that is perceived to be "fair" to KO, whatever that is.

UConn says KO breached the contract; was fired for cause and thus under its terms he due no more payments. KO believes that he should be paid as if he was not fired for cause. (An oft forgotten note is that UConn paid KO for 6 months (I think) after he was fired. So he's already gotten $1.5M as de facto severance.)

If Kevin left right away without the adverse publicity a settlement would have had more value to UConn. At this point, not so much. Given the relative merits of the parties' positions, what do you believe to be a reasonable resolution at this point in time?

 

[UConnDad]

Are they worth $10MM?

No.

We have a coach that has invited them back. Practically begged through the media. If they want to spite the program in defense of their guy, that's their decision.

Did anyone even make the argument that we're better off without them?

My point is they have value. How much is up for debate. Is it the allure to recruits, is it monetary donations, it makes an impression if they just rock our gear. And getting them back will have some cost.

 

[BlueMAB]

UConn says KO breached the contract; was fired for cause and thus under its terms he due no more payments. KO believes that he should be paid as if he was not fired for cause. (An oft forgotten note is that UConn paid KO for 6 months (I think) after he was fired. So he's already gotten $1.5M as de facto severance.)

If Kevin left right away without the adverse publicity a settlement would have had more value to UConn. At this point, not so much. Given the relative merits of the parties' positions, what do you believe to be a reasonable resolution at this point in time?

You didn't ask me, but I think another $1.5 would be more than fair. $3MM total

 

[BlueMAB]

My point is they have value. How much is up for debate. Is it the allure to recruits, is it monetary donations, it makes an impression if they just rock our gear. And getting them back will have some cost.

I get that, and I agree they have value. But Ollie wants $10MM. If he isn't ready to settle for anything less than the full $10MM, then what is UConn to do?

 

[Stainmaster]

I wonder what the Venn diagram between people complaining about the lack of talented players on the team and those downplaying the importance of Hurley being able to fully use our impressive cadre of NBA alumni when recruiting.

Probably a circle.

 

[Stainmaster]

Also, one of the most salient points re. this whole affair is that legal arguments only carry the day so far outside of a courtroom.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Weird thing to bring up and no Ollie isn't going to skip Calhoun's funeral, he's not that bad a guy.

Not that weird. I have recently seen a family squabble, which is why I thought of it.

 

[CL82]

You didn't ask me, but I think another $1.5 would be more than fair. $3MM total

I think $3M was the right number for walking away day 1 without a deliberate PR smear campaign. Today, I might go another $1M over four years, provided that KO put out a single statement indicating that he considers the issue resolved and professing his love for all things UConn. It is the statement that might be worth buying. The difference between that and $1.5M (over say 5 years) isn't a deal breaker.

 

[huskyinfl]

Good thing Kevin Ollie gets to write the ending to the Kevin Ollie story. He gets to decide how his story will move forward, not you maniacs. He will have great success again.

 

[BlueMAB]

Good thing Kevin Ollie gets to write the ending to the Kevin Ollie story. He gets to decide how his story will move forward, not you maniacs. He will have great success again.

This is a strange post. Could you quote the posters who said they want to write the Kevin Ollie story and/or prevent him from having any future success? I'd like to see that lunacy for myself.

 

[Rico444]

Why pay a guy who's contract (which is the only reason you'd pay him) says you don't have to pay him?

Because at least two legendary players in your program don't want anything to do with the program until this situation gets resolved?

 

[BlueMAB]

Because at least two legendary players in your program don't want anything to do with the program until this situation gets resolved?

Again, how are they worth $10MM?

 

[tentoes4rings]

I think that Ollie's experience at UConn looks very different to people in coaching and the business of basketball.

Ollie showed incredible loyalty to UConn when he didn't bolt after the 2014 championship and decided to stay at a school that had received a virtual permanent exile from big time basketball when we got left behind in the AAC. The AAC was a death sentence for UConn athletics. Most of the world recognized that there was no way the athletic program could be successful as the northern outlier in a southern mid-major conference. I think Ollie, who won a National Championship as an assistant in 2011 and another one as a Head Coach in 2014, had a big enough ego that he thought that he could pull off being the Gonzaga of the AAC.

Ollie was wrong. He chased recruits that he could have easily closed in the Big East, but didn't want to play at a mid-major, and then he ended up scrambling for players like Gilbert that were literally damaged goods. Even a lot of the players he closed decided they didn't want to be at a cold weather school that had been bounced out of the big time. Ollie should have better calibrated which recruits he could close at a program that was sliding down the basketball hierarchy, but there isn't a text book for managing a program down the path to irrelevancy. The closest historical comparable was Houston post-Guy Lewis and post-SWC, and Houston didn't manage it well either.

NO UCONN COACH could have maintained any level of success in the AAC. This conference was going to destroy UConn athletics, and even though we are going back to the big time, it may be too late. Ollie was a casualty of the conference debacle as much as anything, and I will not hold him completely responsible for UConn basketball's decline post-2014.

Then, after all that, UConn walks away from a contract that it had promised Ollie when he had a lot of other offers. That will leave a bad taste in a lot of people's mouth, like Caron's.

Oh cmon with all this talk that he had a lot of offers and was loyal to the school. I’m sure after 14 this was the case, but when he got the additional extension there were rumors about him going to Oklahoma City and other clubs but I firmly believe that was just great work by his agent and PR people, to get him another, more lucrative extension. After that extension he stopped caring and trying, stop blaming the AAC on everything.

 

[Rico444]

Again, how are they worth $10MM?

Because in the grand scheme of things, $10 million is nothing to the university. Having a relationship with a bunch of your former players that were instrumental in making this such a great program is more important.

Caron and Ray are two of the biggest ambassadors for the program to the NBA (Kemba being the only other one I'd put up there that is as well known to the casual NBA fan) and they're both on record saying that UConn screwed up here. I don't necessarily agree that Ollie deserves his money, but I'm more concerned with our former players feeling like UConn is still their home.

 

[BlueMAB]

Oh cmon with all this talk that he had a lot of offers and was loyal to the school. I’m sure after 14 this was the case, but when he got the additional extension there were rumors about him going to Oklahoma City and other clubs but I firmly believe that was just great work by his agent and PR people, to get him another, more lucrative extension. After that extension he stopped caring and trying, stop blaming the AAC on everything.

he has no idea if Ollie had other offers or not, but he will literally make up any argument to convince strangers on the internet he's right.

 

[Huskyforlife]

OK, the problem is his "friends" are going to be less inclined to provide support for the program. They are turning away from the program. That is a problem.

The alternative is worse.

 

[BlueMAB]

Because in the grand scheme of things, $10 million is nothing to the university. Having a relationship with a bunch of your former players that were instrumental in making this such a great program is more important.

Caron and Ray are two of the biggest ambassadors for the program to the NBA (Kemba being the only other one I'd put up there that is as well known to the casual NBA fan) and they're both on record saying that UConn screwed up here. I don't necessarily agree that Ollie deserves his money, but I'm more concerned with our former players feeling like UConn is still their home.

LOL. Whatever the amount is, It's always an insignificant amount when it's someone else's money.

If your argument is "UConn can afford it", it's a losing one.

“Anytime you’re losing more money than Rutgers, I would be worried,” Leeds said,

What's $10 million anyway?

 

[Rico444]

LOL. Whatever the amount is, It's always an insignificant amount when it's someone else's money.

If your argument is "UConn can afford it", it's a losing one.

“Anytime you’re losing more money than Rutgers, I would be worried,” Leeds said,

What's $10 million anyway?

You're allowed to have whatever opinion you want. Personally, I'm embarrassed that some of our most famous alums don't want anything to do with us right now. That's not going to change any time soon, and it bothers me.

 

[BlueMAB]

You're allowed to have whatever opinion you want. Personally, I'm embarrassed that some of our most famous alums don't want anything to do with us right now. That's not going to change any time soon, and it bothers me.

Gee thanks. I really appreciate you allowing me to have my opinion. You seem upset. Is it because I countered your argument with facts, or....?

Personally, I'm embarrassed that we had a coach who cheated, lied about it repeatedly, and then accused the school of racism as a last resort. The fact he ran the program into the ground while doing it is added embarrassment.

 

[Stainmaster]

The alternative is worse.

Don’t you want our coach to be able to effectively market UConn’s NBA legacy when recruiting? Pretty tough to do that when they don’t want to be associated with the program.

 

[Hi-Low]

Good thing Kevin Ollie gets to write the ending to the Kevin Ollie story. He gets to decide how his story will move forward, not you maniacs. He will have great success again.

Maybe he will, but remember he's the one that screwed up his tenure and ending at UConn. Programs don't run themselves so maybe if he cherished what he had a little more wouldn't be in this mess.