Durham transferring

[johnhuskies95]

KO coached five seasons for us. In 12-13, he did a fabulous job and with a team witout expectations kept us in the Big EAst race all year (and qualified for the NCAAs but for the ban he inherited). In 13-14, he won a national championship with a team very few saw as a Top Ten team. Yes, some wanted to criticize him for some regular season losses but if you're being realistic .... In 14-15 we were not good enough, but it was coming off a national championship with a team at apex of the pain from earlier scholarship restrictions. In 15-16, it was certainly solid. More regular season losses than we'd like, but conference tourney championship, one win in the NCAAs and then poor seeding running us into a much better team. And last year was a disaster. One that injuries contributed to certainly, but were there were also problems far deeper than that.

So five years. He succeeded strongly in 2 of them, mildly in 1 of them and didn't succeed in 2. We need to do better, but he has hardly driven the program off the cliff at this point. Let's see how they rebuild the roster and what happens. We've had years before where we think we're going to be very average and we achieve.

I seriously disagree that 2015-16 could be considered a "mild success". Winning the conference tournament was great, but we were a preseason top 20 team that had 5 double digit scorers in the starting lineup and a 5 star recruit off the bench. Going up against Kansas wasn't bad luck, it was the price you pay for finishing 6th in a below average conference.

 

[businesslawyer]

I think we all know that he won a national championship, and he was incredible coaching during it. But I would argue that 5 years worth of games questions how repeatable that is with Ollie.

OMFG. You mean that he's not as good as all the coaches who won a national championship and then won a second one? Quick -- how many current college coaches are on that list? Second question -- how many have been stuck on one championship outside of the P5?

 

[bballgrda]

@intlzncster, 99 posted possible transfers, saw the logic in the no transfer speculation rule so offered to pm people regarding what he's heard. It's a better way of doing things imo.

I don't disagree, was just stating that this one was out in the open.

 

[Fishy]

Ollie is likely in no danger of getting fired next year.

Which is good for him because he has absolutely set the program on fire this year.

On the grading scale of A through F, I'm wonder if giving him a G or an H is possible.

 

[ctchamps]

How could morale be high amongst remaining players lol? If I saw half of my teammates take off I'd be a little worried.

Because the kids know each other than we know them. Some poster recently posted he thought it was strange to see Christian playing with Vance in a pick up game. Between @UConNation post and that other post it makes sense that it wasn't a chemistry issue.

 

[FartMan69]

Do you only watch UConn basketball? There are a lot of guys around the country who know what they are doing.

He is under the impression UConn lives and dies with Ollie. It's his go-to when defending him, we can't do any better is what the main point is which is preposterous. Like the flow of good young coaches is suddenly non existent. Strange coming from someone who defends the program to belittle it by making one man bigger than the entire operation.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Evidence of morale?

 

[superjohn]

Yes, and I'm sure tons of them would leave their current jobs to come here.

Agreed. I hope Ollie is the right guy and I'm rooting for him but we would get the best available candidate if we figure out Ollie is not the guy.

 

[TopDogs]

 

[Lefty2one]

Nah. That wasn't what the team set out to do. Rose said they were a dream team. They were down Anthony, Rose and Noah, but the botton line is that they are terrible at assembling talent. Plenty of other teams tank with quality young talent. The Knicks have none, other than Porzingis and Hernangomez.

Rose is clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He's said a lot of idiotic stuff over the years, I don't know why you care what he says.

I didn't say they set out to tank at the start of the season, you said "they had five undrafted guys on the court last night" like it was a dig. They're doing that because they are, for once, tanking to end a season. Who cares what they set out to do at the start of the season? They benched Melo last night, they announced they were benching Rose as well before the news came out about his meniscus. They publicly stated they were going to restrict Melo's and Rose's minutes and rest them on the 2nd night of back-to-backs a few weeks ago.

They have Porzingis and Hernangomez and all of their draft picks going forward, for the first time in probably 20 years. It's hard to have young, quality talent when you've had one first round pick the last three seasons. They only have one bad contract in Noah. Rose didn't work out, who cares? He's a FA. Who else were they going to get to be their PG this past season? The Knicks are in the best position they've been in in a long time, yet everyone wants to fire Phil Jackson.

 

[sled dog]

Really, it's getting to the point where people are rationalizing, "well they weren't that good...not a big deal...etc etc" and I get that. Durham was never going to be the player we thought he would be after those injuries. Vance would never survive KO and how he was being used. Enoch needed to go somewhere else to improve. MAL wanted to see other options...These guys are theoretically ALL replaceable.

But really...wtf are we going to do?? Are we going to be replacing these people with kids who can play next year?? Is there a plan?? Or does Ollie have his hands in his pockets and are really going to field a team of about 7 next year? Really I'm at a loss for words not because of the people transferring, but because of the sheer amount of it going on this year. I've never seen anything like this before. What the hell do we do now?

There has to be something going on- the 3 players who are transferring were almost guaranteed a lot of minutes next year. Enoch was the presumed starter at center, Durham seemed to have the best potential for a big- smooth, good foot work, quick on defense, good hands etc. and Vance Jackson who was either going to start or be the 6th man on the team. Makes no sense. And then our highly rated point guard changes his mind. Something is very strange and I think very wrong with the program. I wonder who is next??

 

[WrenchFan69]

Eric Cobb with morale-positive tweets as well

 

[sled dog]

Ollie has his hand in his pockets?

What exactly do you want him to do? Hold the kids for ransom?

There are not a lot of players left, and it's obvious that they are going after a few of the handful that are left, but the chances aren't great they'll come here so late in the game.

It's April.

Have not seen anything quite like this in the absence of a sanction or a scandal. Very strange and very discouraging

 

[johnhuskies95]

OMFG. You mean that he's not as good as all the coaches who won a national championship and then won a second one? Quick -- how many current college coaches are on that list? Second question -- how many have been stuck on one championship outside of the P5?

What are you talking about? I'm saying that since the title, Ollie has shown almost nothing that would lead people to believe we are even contenders. Winning an NCAA championship is incredibly hard and requires a lot of luck, I wouldn't fault Ollie at all if he never won one again. But I don't think it's asking too much that in 3 years he gives us at least one season where we have a fighting chance.

 

[nomar]

Rose is clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He's said a lot of idiotic stuff over the years, I don't know why you care what he says.

I didn't say they set out to tank at the start of the season, you said "they had five undrafted guys on the court last night" like it was a dig. They're doing that because they are, for once, tanking to end a season. Who cares what they set out to do at the start of the season? They benched Melo last night, they announced they were benching Rose as well before the news came out about his meniscus. They publicly stated they were going to restrict Melo's and Rose's minutes and rest them on the 2nd night of back-to-backs a few weeks ago.

They have Porzingis and Hernangomez and all of their draft picks going forward, for the first time in probably 20 years. It's hard to have young, quality talent when you've had one first round pick the last three seasons. They only have one bad contract in Noah. Rose didn't work out, who cares? He's a FA. Who else were they going to get to be their PG this past season? The Knicks are in the best position they've been in in a long time, yet everyone wants to fire Phil Jackson.

Porzingis are Hernangomez good, but that's literally all the Knicks have. Yes, they don't have more talent because they haven't had picks, but that's kind of the point isn't it? I'm glad the Knicks have cleaned up a lot of their mess (I live in NYC and prefer when the Knicks are good), but they've got a long, long way to go.

Don't get mad at me for the dig about the 5 undrafted players. Van Gundy and Jackson were laughing about it.

(The Rose reference was a joke. Nobody thought the Knicks were going to be very good this year.)

 

[businesslawyer]

What are you talking about? I'm saying that since the title, Ollie has shown almost nothing that would lead people to believe we are even contenders. Winning an NCAA championship is incredibly hard and requires a lot of luck, I wouldn't fault Ollie at all if he never won one again. But I don't think it's asking too much that in 3 years he gives us at least one season where we have a fighting chance.

I know what you're saying. You're saying "but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?"

You can't just "yada yada yada" past a national championship. They are not that easy to come by.

 

[Stainmaster]

He is under the impression UConn lives and dies with Ollie. It's his go-to when defending him, we can't do any better is what the main point is which is preposterous. Like the flow of good young coaches is suddenly non existent. Strange coming from someone who defends the program to belittle it by making one man bigger than the entire operation.

After all the "raging inferno"/"dumpster fire" talk coming from your crew, I don't take you seriously when you accuse me of "belittling" the program. Once again, you can't have it both ways.

ITT people suggested the coaches of Monmouth, East Tennessee State, and FGCU as good coaches to look at in Ollie's stead. If those are our options? Hell yeah I'm sticking with Ollie. You think a guy who can't even make the tournament while coaching Monmouth, someone with absolutely zero experience recruiting the northeastern part of the U.S., or someone who plays South Carolina-Upstate on their conference schedule (and also flamed out at ECU when they were in a worse conference than this one) are upgrades over Ollie? What a joke.

 

[tcf15]

Fresh start, home ties play into Juwan Durham's exit from UConn

Terrapins coach Joe Fenlon said Durham's decision was not strictly based on basketball.

"There were many factors that Juwan weighed before reaching his decision," Fenlon said. "He just decided he needed a fresh start."

There also was a desire to play closer to home.

"Maybe that's in Florida, maybe it's somewhere close to the state for Juwan," Fenlon said. "He has some time to think this through."

 

[Huskybass]

Ollie is likely in no danger of getting fired next year.

Which is good for him because he has absolutely set the program on fire this year.

On the grading scale of A through F, I'm wonder if giving him a G or an H is possible.

Please stop. The apologists will see all the mean things you wrote and will literally cry in front of their ladies support group.

 

[CTBballfan243]

The common thread between the 3 players that transfered is that none of them could play defense (man to man defense) which is what UConn/Ollie want to play. Each player saw the writing on the wall and decided to hit the bricks rather than hit the bench.

 

[Stainmaster]

Please stop. The apologists will see all the mean things you wrote and will literally cry in front of their ladies support group.

Oh man, what a hardo you are!

 

[intlzncster]

Alright, let me shed some light that will hopefully calm everyone down. As @fleudslipcon said, I've known this was coming for over a week, but because of speculation rules I couldn't say anything on the board. Here's some info from the same source that told me Juwan was leaving that I hope will calm everyone down.

1) There is no team chemistry/hate KO mentality in the locker room
2) Both Vance and Juwan leaving were PRIMARILY because of being homesick. I know that a lot of us don't want to believe that because of what VJ Sr was tweeting.
3) Admittedly, there was some griping by the players that left over playing time (more so by Enoch and some by Vance I would assume), but it was mostly playing time. I know I know I know - "but there was going to be so much time open." That's true, but between a perceived lack of 'proper use' and missing home, 2 of these guys wanted to head back closer to home for that 'home cooked meal.'
4) MAL leaving was primarily because of Miller being let go - not because he was nervous about stepping foot onto a sinking ship
5) This is it. There isn't anyone else leaving. If I end up being wrong on this, I'll take whatever heat you guys can throw at me.
6) Morale is VERY high with the players that are left

This isn't a great look for the UConn Men's BB program right now, but it's not nearly is chaotic up in Storrs as many seem to think it is. Ollie has not lost control of this team.

Thank you. This is the type of insider info I love.
Not a single 'no softies' in there. Good post.

 

[JCSuperstar]

The common thread between the 3 players that transfered is that none of them could play defense (man to man defense) which is what UConn/Ollie want to play. Each player saw the writing on the wall and decided to hit the bricks rather than hit the bench.

If it's as easy as that, you have to wonder why Ollie and staff were either:

1. Unable to teach them man to man.
2. Unable to identify that they were incapable of learning man to man.

It's kind of a big deal and does not excuse them.

 

[Fishy]

The idea that UConn is lucky to have Ollie and that we'd be bottom fishing if we ever had to replace him is garbage.

We'd have no trouble.

 

[jibsey]

Durham was 6' 11" and weighed 195 pounds soaking wet. Maybe he saw himself in a different role than pounding against trees every day.