Dont want to hear it

[polycom]

Just kinda piggy backing in the earlier press about it. I don’t expect a jet to show up but if Kobe can call the women’s team before the title game last year....

What? Kobe and Geno are friends... through Team USA. What does that have to do with anything?

 

[CTBasketball]

We're not keeping an incompetent coach because of the 96th best player in the class.

 

[D$]

I agree 100%, Chief. This will vastly help KO's offense. Pro offenses thrive on shooting.

Any offfense thrives on shooting. It's kind of a critical skill for basketball.

Why are you so scared of the future without Ollie? There are better coaches out there. With UCONNs history, the facilities and the salary (even if there is a reduction) good coaches will be interested in the job. Stop being so afraid of change. It's needed.

 

[freescooter]

Barring some miraculous turn around Ollie is a dead man walking. Probably gone after the last game of the year. He might even be coaching the final few with his office in boxes knowing he is gone at the final buzzer. The next coach will likely have a tough year next year but here’s the difference: HOPE. If Ollie is back we have another dreary year to look forward to.

 

[Sonova]

We're not keeping an incompetent coach because of the 96th best player in the class.

Btw, it is HIGHLY likely that the NCAA will pass new transfer legislation in the next couple of months that will allow all division 1 basketball players to transfer once in their careers and be IMMEDIATELY eligible to play (in other words, they wouldn’t have to sit out for a year of competition). If you’re worrying about players leaving Ollie’s sinking ship now....look out.

And that is not remotely an endorsement for UConn to keep him. I wish we would have made a change last season. And as for all the apologists and Pollyannas who fear what a rebuild looks like, give me a break. Sign me up for a couple of years of pain in exchange for any progress and even a chance at a brighter future. What we have now is pain without hope or any reasonable reason to believe that things will get better. Even worse, we are collecting proof that things won’t improve. Hell I’d gladly take JC’s first season (where we went 9-19) where we saw signs that things could be different and better vs this continued s**tshow where a “highlight” is that more than 9,000 people showed up to the Witchita State game. And that doesn’t mean that anything less than JC will be a disappointment for me. Ollie has done the near impossible by successfully lowering my expectations so that a team who improves over the course of a season or even a team that remains largely intact over a few seasons sounds like an amazing and exciting state of being.

 

[KembaStepback]

You realize this is illogical? You have to put people in position to score. Cutting and screening and getting action going to the rim...it isn't impossible to draw up a play for anyone on the court. We don't need to be shooting 15 foot jumpers, with streaky scorers. We run a horrible offense that is the bottom line and it is on the coach.

How is it illogical? You need guys who can shoot or are good at scoring. They have 3 guys. None of them are considered lights out shooters either.

 

[KembaStepback]

So we keep KO to prevent this team from being in shambles? What are you watching, we haven't beaten a good team in a couple of years......good teams destroy us & bad teams take us to OT......what are we clinging to?

So if we fired KO's the players would all quit the team the next day and go where? Players will wait to see who the replacement is before leaving at seasons end realizing the next coach might be better. No guarantee we keep the 3 recruits if KO stays & no guarantee we lose them if KO goes.....again, the next coach may bring in better recruits, only Akinjo is top 100.

If you think this is shambles then the year after KO is fired would be rubble.

 

[KembaStepback]

Any offfense thrives on shooting. It's kind of a critical skill for basketball.

Why are you so scared of the future without Ollie? There are better coaches out there. With UCONNs history, the facilities and the salary (even if there is a reduction) good coaches will be interested in the job. Stop being so afraid of change. It's needed.

Why do you think a good coach would want this job? They're in a mediocre conference and they'd need to build a roster from scratch if Ollie's players leave. I'm not afraid of change, I just don't think it's time. I want to see how the next few years of recruiting go before I move on from KO.

 

[polycom]

Ok looks like someone is sniffing out an “ I’m righter than you” argument. I concede. I shall just concede that Jesus shuttlesworth should be enough to pull any recruit. Or is that too much of a leap?

Why would a kid being recruited now care what Ray Allen has to say, serious question. Kids are different these days I doubt they care. There are so many other NBA players we could use to recruit players. Secondly, recruiting isn't as big of an issue as player development is. What Ollie player is exponentially better than from his first day on campus to his last day?

 

[D$]

Why do you think a good coach would want this job? They're in a mediocre conference and they'd need to build a roster from scratch if Ollie's players leave. I'm not afraid of change, I just don't think it's time. I want to see how the next few years of recruiting go before I move on from KO.

I'm not sure what line of work you are in, but aside from what I already mentioned, there is something called ambition. There are a lot of young, ambitious coaches out there (asst and head) that would die for this job. And they would have no concerns about rebuilding the roster, because they are likely confident and smart managers, and will build out a staff that complements each other with X's and O's, recruiting, etc. Not to mention the opportunity to come in at rock bottom in any situation is generally viewed very favorably by the type of leaders we want and need! Giving a few more years will effectively kill the program.

 

[KembaStepback]

I'm not sure what line of work you are in, but aside from what I already mentioned, there is something called ambition. There are a lot of young, ambitious coaches out there (asst and head) that would die for this job. And they would have no concerns about rebuilding the roster, because they are likely confident and smart mangers and will build out a staff that complements each other. Not to mention the oppprtunity to come in at rock bottom for the program. Giving a few more years will effectively kill the program.

What would change in 2-3 yrs then? If there are young, ambitious coaches out there why wouldn't they want the job in 2-3 yrs? Why does it have to be now? I don't know what line of work you're in, but loyalty is something too. As much as Im not a fan of Chief''s shtick, I think the Blaze strategy is a good one and I think it needs time. If in 2 yrs we're still doing the same stuff, I'd be fine firing him.

 

[Dibbie]

So, firing Ollie will be more disruptive than JC retiring and a post season ban? I think not.

I would prefer another bad year, due to a transition, over the long term effects of prolonged mediocrity (at best).

 

[Dibbie]

What would change in 2-3 yrs then? If there are young, ambitious coaches out there why wouldn't they want the job in 2-3 yrs? Why does it have to be now? I don't know what line of work you're in, but loyalty is something too. As much as Im not a fan of Chief''s shtick, I think the Blaze strategy is a good one and I think it needs time. If in 2 yrs we're still doing the same stuff, I'd be fine firing him.

Add 2-3 more years of sucking, the further UCONN falls off the basketball map, causing long term recruiting issues.

 

[D$]

What would change in 2-3 yrs then? If there are young, ambitious coaches out there why wouldn't they want the job in 2-3 yrs? Why does it have to be now? I don't know what line of work you're in, but loyalty is something too. As much as Im not a fan of Chief''s shtick, I think the Blaze strategy is a good one and I think it needs time. If in 2 yrs we're still doing the same stuff, I'd be fine firing him.

Blind loyalty is a death sentence. It's about production and success. Over the last few years, has KO produced? Has he had successful teams? You have to cut your losses. You can't say oh, if the same is happening in two years, then fine, we can fire him then. The program is teetering now. The respect and name brand has been materially impacted already. Don't we want to save it? If yes, action needs to be taken at the end of the season.

 

[nokhere]

What would change in 2-3 yrs then? If there are young, ambitious coaches out there why wouldn't they want the job in 2-3 yrs? Why does it have to be now? I don't know what line of work you're in, but loyalty is something too. As much as Im not a fan of Chief''s shtick, I think the Blaze strategy is a good one and I think it needs time. If in 2 yrs we're still doing the same stuff, I'd be fine firing him.

Do you seriously believe we will be in a better position 2-3 years from now? The program is irrelevant right now, its days after the new year and the only hope we have of making the tourney is winning the AAC tournament. The team has "fight" except when they don't. Ollie looks overmatched and overwhelmed on the sidelines and has for a while. Why you think progress will all of a sudden start showing is just blind confidence. We need to change, addition by subtraction. Blow it up. Better now than later.

 

[KembaStepback]

Blind loyalty is a death sentence. It's about production and success. Over the last few years, has KO produced? Has he had successful teams? You have to cut your losses. You can't say oh, if the same is happening in two years, then fine, we can fire him then. The program is teetering now. The respect and name brand has been materially impacted already. Don't we want to save it? If yes, action needs to be taken at the end of the season.

He has produced, actually. They won the conf tournament the year before last. Is everyone on this board 10 second Tom? No one wants to remember they won the conference tournament, which is a big deal!

 

[ZenConn]

KO needs to value shooting much more in his player evaluation - Chill is trying to implement that via his Blaze plan.

More than that. Work ethic would be a higher priority.

Most of the players under JC didn't come in as lights out shooters. Their shooting and game improved from spending hours upon hours in the gym. You know this doesn't happen nowadays with the current players apart from a select few.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Akinjo just signed his LOI...pretty sure that means he likes KO. We get chances with some big name guys yearly because of KO. That goes away if he leaves. Im pretty sure the players he has are loyal to him.

Yeah the players must be real loyal. Last years off season fiasco of transfers and decommits proves it. What makes u think the program isnt in shambles already?

 

[ZenConn]

Yeah the players must be real loyal. Last years off season fiasco of transfers and decommits proves it. What makes u think the program isnt in shambles already?

Hell, if its already in shambles, why not keep KO for another 3 years so we dont have to shell out the buyout.

 

[nokhere]

He has produced, actually. They won the conf tournament the year before last. Is everyone on this board 10 second Tom? No one wants to remember they won the conference tournament, which is a big deal!

This is the problem! We're fishing for any resemblance of success and the only thing we can find is an AAC tournament championship saved by a 3/4 miracle shot. But wait!!! He won a NC...sure did. But if you're still hanging on to that you haven't been paying attention. After this year (assuming they go .500 - which is generous), we will have missed the tourney 3 out of the last 4 years, and that one year was the adams prayer. If you want to sit back and try and find production in that you're missing the overall point.

 

[3rdbass]

He has produced, actually. They won the conf tournament the year before last. Is everyone on this board 10 second Tom? No one wants to remember they won the conference tournament, which is a big deal!

You are a hard head I see! We won the tournament on a prayer and we needed the Cincy win to even get in the tournament. Lesser teams can win a tournament as they can get on a roll. The problem is KO is not a consistent coach as shown by only one top 3 finish in the first 4 years of the league. I don't think we are finishing in top 5 this year in the conference. So let's make that once in five years. That is totally unacceptable for UCONN basketball. Remember that the team that made it 2 years ago had a lot better talent than we currently have now. KO's recruiting is getting worst every year as players realize he isn't the a good coach to lead them to the next level. I can't believe you don't see UCONN is falling into irrelevancy with KO as coach. We don't have a great conference to fall back on like the Old Big East. KO has to go after this season if not before.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Hell, if its already in shambles, why not keep KO for another 3 years so we dont have to shell out the buyout.

I dont know, why didnt the Giants keep McAdoo around for a few more years?

 

[SouthBayHusky]

I'm not debating whether he has done a good job recently. This yr and last have been tough to watch, but all of it isn't on Ollie, IMO. I just think a coach with a NC deserves another yr or 2 to turn the program around. Even with this yr being tough, I think we're trending in the right direction with recruits and Chill has helped.

Firing Ollie just pushes the reset button and puts us back in a terrible spot. I'm talking TERRIBLE. You think this is bad, you'd be WISHING for this when the best player on the team is Josh Carlton next yr if Ollie is fired. I'm critical of Ollie, but Im not ready for the program to completely dissolve.

I also feel like im being realistic. I don't blame Ollie for things that aren't his fault. Recruiting Gilbert? Come on. The inbounds pass from Anderson last night? Come on. You want to talk about his lack of big development and his lack of offensive sets (until last night) fine. We can discuss these things for sure. I am just seriously worried about the program if Ollie is fired. I think we are heading in the right direction. Lets see what 2019 recruits he can get. Play out the season and see where we're at.

But we have hit rock bottom already— last year ( first losing season 30 years) and we are on par to repeat that dubious feat again this year with virtually new team. This is never happened. We’re beyond rock bottom, and there nothing to show this will change next year. Next year you say? We’re going to lose our two best players and replace them with a couple of high three star freshman and one top 100 freshman. I don’t understand this. That said I do not think he should be fired midseason unless there was a great coach lined up right now. . But to get him another season and then another is just madness. We are in our fourth season of under performance under Kevin Ollie, that’s enough of a sample size we don’t need a fifth season when the make up of the team is not going to be improved

 

[Sonova]

He has produced, actually. They won the conf tournament the year before last. Is everyone on this board 10 second Tom? No one wants to remember they won the conference tournament, which is a big deal!

I guess in a world of short memories and instant gratification, some people’s definition of a good season is micro thin. I don’t think most of the fans who think we need a new coach base their opinion of KO on one game or certainly on one play. It’s a much larger body of work that has brought people to this conclusion and place of no joy. If Jalen doesn’t hit a 3/4 shot, we don’t win the conference tourney (we go to the tournament though) and we’re defining that season as a baseline/minimum of what we should expect. Ollie is no better or worse of a coach because that miracle shot went in.

Similarly (though obviously different), if Amida doesn’t make the 3 pt play vs St Joe’s in ‘14, it’s an average (maybe even disappointing given the talent) season at UConn with a rather middling regular season and a 1st round exit to an A-10 team. Ollie deserves all the coaching credit in the world for what happened next, but the line between success and average/disappointing for him is a play here and a play there.

We used to win regular season championships and tournament championships and be ranked and win 25-30+ games without having to go deep in the NCAA tourney. Sure we had some disappointments in the tourney, but that aside many of those were really successful years in total. We got joy and success from regular season and big wins and the team getting better. It was rare (if ever) that one play defined success or failure because the overall body of work was so good and satisfying. I get it - I’m and I recognize that the world (and certainly sports) is no longer quite like that, but KO (and takes like this ^) have lowered the bar below what should be expected and tolerated.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

As much as Im not a fan of Chief''s shtick, I think the Blaze strategy is a good one and I think it needs time.

Holy moly . . . "the Blaze strategy" . . .

 

[ZenConn]

I dont know, why didnt the Giants keep McAdoo around for a few more years?

Because it's not in shambles like the basketball team. You need to stop exaggerating just to prove your point.

 

[Skiblets]

Well for one, the smaller courts and different defensive rules make it really hard to run a pure pro-style offense in college. So those that do, without tweaking it for the college game, are stupid. Also, its a lot easier to run with NBA-caliber shooters and star players (Westbrook, Carmelo, George) than it is with 0 shooters or stars.

Did I miss something? The NBA plays on a larger court? When the hell did that start? Or maybe you're wrong?

 

[Chief00]

As much as Im not a fan of Chief''s shtick, I think the Blaze strategy is a good one and I think it needs time. If in 2 yrs we're still doing the same stuff, I'd be fine firing him.

Oh come on, you’re a closet fan. Seriously, I would love if the Blaze strategy had a chance to work beyond the last recruits - Sid Wilson, Akinjo and Mathews.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Did I miss something? The NBA plays on a larger court? When the hell did that start? Or maybe you're wrong?

He meant an effectively smaller offensive space to work with within the perimeter, as the arc is higher/wider and the paint is bigger in the NBA

 

[SouthBayHusky]

He has produced, actually. They won the conf tournament the year before last. Is everyone on this board 10 second Tom? No one wants to remember they won the conference tournament, which is a big deal!

How can we forget. Yes, that’s the 1 year in four seasons we made the NCAA tournament, and practically needed to win that conference tournament do it. Of Course, that was the High Mark in four seasons — yes we remember that.