Chasing Ghosts: Calhoun looms large, but clouds parting at UConn

[HuskyHawk]

I don't think "sharpest knife in the box" was required we get where you were going. But KO is a very intelligent man when it comes to life and basketball mixed he's proven that. And because he uses some slang incorrectly doesn't mean the man wasn't intelligent there are few who understood how to work to become who he was and I'm sure many of us would like to have accomplished some of what he did.

Agree on the George/JC stuff, the staff and yes man but not on much of the rest.

I understand and accept disagreement on that point. I don't think he's that bright. I didn't when he was a player, an assistant or HC. And certainly not how he's handled being fired. I do agree that he once had a legendary work ethic, and he took coaching well at all stages as a player and assistant. In short I think he's good at executing other people's plans, which is indeed a valuable skill. A different skill set is needed to lead a program.

Edit: and in case anyone feels I'm being hyper critical, that skill of executing a coach's plan is something Brad Stevens really wishes Kyrie Irving had. It helped KO go from team to team to team in the NBA seamlessly.

 

[Chief00]

Was it "lock step" or just subservient silence?

Fair point, I don’t know his motivation just the behavior/actions.

 

[Chief00]

I understand and accept disagreement on that point. I don't think he's that bright. I didn't when he was a player, an assistant or HC. And certainly not how he's handled being fired. I do agree that he once had a legendary work ethic, and he took coaching well at all stages as a player and assistant. In short I think he's good at executing other people's plans, which is indeed a valuable skill. A different skill set is needed to lead a program.

He handled being fired poorly - in an epic manner. That’s a skill set every coach needs in any major sport.

 

[CL82]

He handled being fired poorly - in an epic manner. That’s a skill set every coach needs in any major sport.

That's a life skill. Always be gracious when you leave a job. You never know who's paying attention.

 

[UCDaveD]

That's a life skill. Always be gracious when you leave a job. You never know who's paying attention.

At least he didn’t write a 4 page letter.

 

[Dean Wormer]

Here's the quote that sticks in my craw:
"You want to nitpick about how [Kevin Ollie] ran his program, whether he ran afoul of violations or not, they're tertiary violations. So, to continue to talk about it like he was this bad guy and slandering him, we're only slandering ourselves." -- Former UConn star Ray Allen, on Ollie's firing and subsequent lawsuit (New Haven Register, July 2019)
Not. A. Good. Look.

 

[JMick]

Here's the quote that sticks in my craw:
"You want to nitpick about how [Kevin Ollie] ran his program, whether he ran afoul of violations or not, they're tertiary violations. So, to continue to talk about it like he was this bad guy and slandering him, we're only slandering ourselves." -- Former UConn star Ray Allen, on Ollie's firing and subsequent lawsuit (New Haven Register, July 2019)
Not. A. Good. Look.

Nobody cares.

 

[UofCT]

Here's the quote that sticks in my craw:
"You want to nitpick about how [Kevin Ollie] ran his program, whether he ran afoul of violations or not, they're tertiary violations. So, to continue to talk about it like he was this bad guy and slandering him, we're only slandering ourselves." -- Former UConn star Ray Allen, on Ollie's firing and subsequent lawsuit (New Haven Register, July 2019)
Not. A. Good. Look.

Ollie wouldn’t have had to cheat if he put the work in on the recruiting trail

 

[Peacefrog]

Here's the quote that sticks in my craw:
"You want to nitpick about how [Kevin Ollie] ran his program, whether he ran afoul of violations or not, they're tertiary violations. So, to continue to talk about it like he was this bad guy and slandering him, we're only slandering ourselves." -- Former UConn star Ray Allen, on Ollie's firing and subsequent lawsuit (New Haven Register, July 2019)
Not. A. Good. Look.

Ray is wrong, they are not "tertiary" violations. At least not to the NCAA.

 

[McLovin]

Ollie wouldn’t have had to cheat if he put the work in on the recruiting trail

Ollie's problem was not recruiting players. It was developing players and retaining players. He had many top 100 recruits even until the end.

 

[BFieldHusky]

He got a 3 year show cause penalty. Nothing "tertiary" there.

 

[bendm]

Nobody cares.

as long as Ray keeps smiling for the camera with top 50 recruits like cam thomas i'm good

 

[UofCT]

Ollie's problem was not recruiting players. It was developing players and retaining players. He had many top 100 recruits even until the end.

Good point

 

[ucp990411]

Good point about George in year 1 and Hobbs the next year. As I recall, Hobbs got fired late and that unfortunate timing led to Glen Miller becoming Associative HC just before the Hobbs firing/hiring. The KO/GM combination was a disaster on all fronts once it set in for some recruiting and seasons.
While GM saved his own butt after things went down by ratting KO out, he was in lock step with KO when all the incompetence was occurring.

Hobbs did not get fired. Always thought him leaving the school he played at and had coached at earlier in his career was odd but he must have seen what was coming. I give him credit for not talking crap about the man he was coaching under. Of course if he been fired for unknown reasons he may have talked.

 

[Chief00]

Hobbs did not get fired. Always thought him leaving the school he played at and had coached at earlier in his career was odd but he must have seen what was coming. I give him credit for not talking crap about the man he was coaching under. Of course if he been fired for unknown reasons he may have talked.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear - my understanding is Hobbs got fired at GW - was then hired at UConn when Jim still had influence - but it was after Miller became Associative Head Coach. My thought is if Hobbs had been fired before that by GW, he would have gotten that position. George wasn’t returning, hence the position opened up.

KO and GM leading the squad was a disaster waiting to happen. Quite frankly, KO basically replaced JC and George’s leadership council with GM and got the expected result.

 

[ucp990411]

Sorry if I wasn’t clear - my understanding is Hobbs got fired at GW - was then hired at UConn when Jim still had influence - but it was after Miller became Associative Head Coach. My thought is if Hobbs had been fired before that by GW, he would have gotten that position. George wasn’t returning, hence the position opened up.

KO and GM leading the squad was a disaster waiting to happen. Quite frankly, KO basically replaced JC and George’s leadership council with GM and got the expected result.

So why did Hobbs leave?

 

[AdamaNation]

To be honest, this is pretty well done. I think the consensus is that we are about to turn the corner heading into Hurley Year 3/Entering the Big East Year 1. Hopefully this truly is the start of our rise again

With all our seniors having seen a lot of court time every year they’ve been here, in their respective roles. Josh Tyler Isaiah Sven a junior adams will give us a lot of upper class experience. Now for that to be winning experience.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

So why did Hobbs leave?

1 part join fellow UConn alum and ex-GW colleague as Assoc HC of a B1G-categorized program, and 1 part evacuating a ship going down? No?

 

[Chief00]

1 part join fellow UConn alum and ex-GW colleague as Assoc HC of a B1G-categorized program, and 1 part evacuating a ship going down? No?

And more money

 

[ucp990411]

And more money

I get it about Hobbs. Chief, how is Ricky Moore doing, what is in his future? We owe him - not just for 1999 but without him Ray does not get a chance to make the shot to win the 1996 BE championship. I really wish Dan Hurley could have kept him. Thought Ricky got screwed in the KO fiasco. One of my all time favorites.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

And more money

Sherlock; yup, see B1G-categorized job

 

[TheChamps990411]

To be honest, this is pretty well done. I think the consensus is that we are about to turn the corner heading into Hurley Year 3/Entering the Big East Year 1. Hopefully this truly is the start of our rise again

This is. just look at how the recruiting has picked up. Akok looks like he's going to be an impact player from day 1, Bouknight appears to be NBA level athlete and guys are developing just look at the steps Carlton took in his second season. I think this team while it may not make the tournament it will be in the hunt come March and I think they'll be fun to watch again.

 

[Excalibur]

Sad really. I think KO could have been our coach for as long as he wanted if he continued to work hard and be engaged... and if he continued to use JC as a resource. Most coaches would be grateful to have access to that level of wisdom and expertise. Hurley is. He just had Calhoun come in and address the team.

I've said this before but I truly believe that from 2012 - 2014 no one could have done a better job than Kevin. From 2014 on, pretty much anyone could have.

I don't know whether this is true, or if Ollie was just overwhelmed once all of the aspects of running a major college program fell on him, and it just took a few years for it to manifest itself.

 

[CL82]

I don't know whether this is true, or if Ollie was just overwhelmed once all of the aspects of running a major college program fell on him, and it just took a few years for it to manifest itself.

Even if that's the reason, it still is true. For whatever reason the wheels fell of the bus after 2014. He looked outstanding until then and miserable afterwards.

If KO gets an NBA job after the 2014 natty. He's remembered as one of the all time greats at UConn. What makes it sad, from my perspective is his fall is largely self-inflicted, whether that's disinterested neglect or inexperience it was fixable by Ollie.

 

[Pudge]

I don't know whether this is true, or if Ollie was just overwhelmed once all of the aspects of running a major college program fell on him, and it just took a few years for it to manifest itself.

It is hard for some to admit one thing … Kevin Ollie was superb at taking 8 man rotation and creating a TEAM that won. Those weren't fluke wins in MM in 2014 and they were competitive all year.

The Problem is that - now we can put it in words - running a College Program is a multifaceted CEO job. He lacked evaluation skills that many guys gain through years of watching HS/AAU games and coaching at lower levels; he lacked strategy management because he hadn't been coaching at those lower levels (the NBA frankly prepares you for some things but not the full spectrum); he clearly doesn't understand the full importance of interaction with the University and mentoring kids through academic years; in contrast to Calhoun - we clearly see his motivational focus was lacking; and I think we'd all agree that he was not near as good in player development - PRACTICE HABITS - as the previous guy.

Plus his personal life sucked.