Coach Ollie is Human

[Waquoit]

We get it, you support Ollie. A lot of us do.

A lot? I would say practically everyone supports Ollie. I support Ollie. But man, he screwed the pooch. I don't see how he gets it back. These cultsters have nothing to give us hope. Saying "We're UConn" and citing the good job he did years ago doesn't seem to help.

 

[CL82]

. Saying "We're UConn" and citing the good job he did years ago doesn't seem to help.

The fact that he won a natty under challenging circumstances for both the program and the team sure seems relevant to me. He's been there and that has value. Not a guarantee certainly, but it has value.

 

[Javjudah]

Let's be honest the All American conference is hurting recruiting in a major way. I remember Coach Calhoun saying he sold recruits on playing against Georgetown, Syracuse, St. John's... and playing in the Big East conference. Eventually we start winning and it became easier to recruit. It was definitely difficult to get top recruits to come to UCONN prior.
With this new generation no one cares about what you did years ago they care about now. Some may say UCONN is in the middle of no where, they play in the All American conference... The question is what are we selling that no else can? Come on people put your affinity for UCONN aside this is an uphill battle Coach Ollie is fighting. He will figure it out.

 

[CL82]

With this new generation no one cares about what you did years ago they care about now.

This is a silly meme that has popped up lately. The 2011 and 2014 natties are meaningful to kids being recruited now. They watched those games, most of which were really exciting basketball. Think today's guards didn't picture themselves as Kemba or Bazz?

 

[Javjudah]

This is a silly meme that has popped up lately. The 2011 and 2014 natties are meaningful to kids being recruited now. They watched those games, most of which were really exciting basketball. Think today's guards didn't picture themselves as Kemba or Bazz?

They can picture themselves as Kemba and Shabazz and play at other schools playing against better competition. Not Tulane, Tulsa, UCF, USF, Houston, Memphis...

 

[CL82]

They can picture themselves as Kemba and Shabazz and play at other schools playing against better competition. Not Tulane, Tulsa, UCF, USF, Houston, Memphis...

I'll agree that our conference hurts us, but that wasn't your point your trying make with this post.

With this new generation no one cares about what you did years ago they care about now.

To suggest that winning natties 2011 and 2014 is ancient history to today's college players is just nonsense.

 

[Javjudah]

I'll agree that our conference hurts us, but that wasn't your point your trying make with this post.

To suggest that winning natties 2011 and 2014 is ancient history to today's college players is just nonsense.

If this was the case don't you think Recruits would be begging Coach Ollie for a scholarship to come play at UCONN?

 

[CL82]

If this was the case don't you think Recruits would be begging Coach Ollie for a scholarship to come play at UCONN?

Um, just curious, how old are you?

 

[Javjudah]

Um, just curious, how old are you?

Irrelevant, but I have been a fan for about 30 years.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

they won a title a year before he retired....

They won a title the year after he retired too.

 

[CL82]

Irrelevant, but I have been a fan for about 30 years.

Okay. Your thought process sounds really young and I didn't want to be critical of it if you were a kid.

 

[Javjudah]

Okay. Your thought process sounds really young and I didn't want to be critical of it if you were a kid.

Very cute. I was thinking the same, it seems as though your thought process sounds really young and your mind and perception is stuck in a box. I don't play checkers, I play chess.

 

[UC313]

Popcorn time.

 

[Tenspro2002]

The fact that he won a natty under challenging circumstances for both the program and the team sure seems relevant to me. He's been there and that has value. Not a guarantee certainly, but it has value.

There's an enormous difference between what middle-aged fans value and what 18-year-old recruits value.

No recruit gives a s*** about how KO won a championship under difficult circumstances. They care about how much buzz, hype, and exposure they get, and about whether the coach is likely to help or hinder their goals at the next level. Recruits today take notice of the fact that:
1) UConn has been irrelevant on the national stage for 3 years, aside from maybe a tiny blip in March 2016 when we won 4 games in a row and had a little momentum and buzz
2) KO in 5 years has gotten one(!) player drafted in the first round, and that player is on his 3rd team in 4 years and might not see a second contract

KO will always have that championship, and we fans will always treasure it and his role in bringing it to fruition. But it doesn't do d*** for us on the recruiting trail.

 

[HooperScooper]

I don't play checkers, I play chess.

I don't care at all about the little pissing match but that is a very douchey saying. I once had a salesman use that line on me. It's just so douchey (I can't think of a better word).

 

[Javjudah]

I don't care at all about the little pissing match but that is a very douchey saying. I once had a salesman use that line on me. It's just so douchey (I can't think of a better word).

Its your opinion but it must have had some effect on you as you still have that encounter in your memory.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Its your opinion but it must have had some effect on you as you still have that encounter in your memory.

Yeah the effect is probably "I'm never going to buy something from a who says something like that."

 

[8893]

I play jarts.

 

[Palatine]

Let's be honest the All American conference is hurting recruiting in a major way. I remember Coach Calhoun saying he sold recruits on playing against Georgetown, Syracuse, St. John's... and playing in the Big East conference. Eventually we start winning and it became easier to recruit. It was definitely difficult to get top recruits to come to UCONN prior.
With this new generation no one cares about what you did years ago they care about now. Some may say UCONN is in the middle of no where, they play in the All American conference... The question is what are we selling that no else can? Come on people put your affinity for UCONN aside this is an uphill battle Coach Ollie is fighting. He will figure it out.

Let's be honest. Losing to Wagner and Northeastern is the thing that hurt us the most.

 

[Javjudah]

As a fan I like to look at things from all angles or like every move in a chess game there is a reaction. I am not on here to disrespect anyone just give my opinion, but I will not accept being disrespected.

 

[Javjudah]

Let's be honest. Losing to Wagner and Northeastern is the thing that hurt us the most.

I agree those losses hurt but it's not how you start it's how you finish. Majority of the players were new to the team. It takes time to jell... UCONN is always known as finishers, February, March and April belongs to us.

 

[8893]

Let's be honest.

Why start now?

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Let's be honest. Losing to Wagner and Northeastern is the thing that hurt us the most.

It wasn't true the first 14 times you said it.

I'm sure recruits were blown away with Rutgers W/L record last season.

 

[CL82]

There's an enormous difference between what middle-aged fans value and what 18-year-old recruits value.

No recruit gives a s*** about how KO won a championship under difficult circumstances. They care about how much buzz, hype, and exposure they get, and about whether the coach is likely to help or hinder their goals at the next level. Recruits today take notice of the fact that:
1) UConn has been irrelevant on the national stage for 3 years, aside from maybe a tiny blip in March 2016 when we won 4 games in a row and had a little momentum and buzz
2) KO in 5 years has gotten one(!) player drafted in the first round, and that player is on his 3rd team in 4 years and might not see a second contract

KO will always have that championship, and we fans will always treasure it and his role in bringing it to fruition. But it doesn't do d*** for us on the recruiting trail.

Disagree. Pretty much any kid who is a D1 recruit in watching March Madness and certainly the championship game. They'd be either freshman or sophomore in HS in 2014 and Bazz and Boat had a great run. Connecticut player have had a great success in getting to the NBA, I have to believe that most these guys are aware of that. Connecticut's success is modern era, not in the 50's.