ESPN Insider: UConn popping up more on lists | The Boneyard

ESPN Insider: UConn popping up more on lists

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For those without ESPN Insiders (it's a lot less than 10% of the article).

3. UConn, Minnesota popping up more

On Monday, I did what recruiting guys do this time of the year. I opened up a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and began the tedious process of data entry. The goal was to create a list of the elite players and schools that are serious contenders. The exercise was visible confirmation that Kansas, which might sign three more from the 2014 class, is well positioned. Ditto for Kentucky and a host of others. However, while gathering the data, two names kept popping up: Connecticut and Minnesota.

Kevin Ollie, in his second year, and rookie Gophers coach Richard Pitino got after it with the senior class. The Huskies are involved with nine top-50 caliber prospects. Among the big-timers considering UConn are: Rashad Vaughn, Kelly Oubre, Jordan McLaughlin, Kameron Chatman, Abdul-Malik Abu, Josh Perkins, Quentin Snider, Leron Black and Paul White. Terry Larrier and Chinanu Onuaku like the Huskies, too. We’ll keep it real. The Huskies aren’t favored with Vaughn or Oubre, but they already have a visit set with Snider. At this time last year, I guarantee you UConn wasn’t rolling off the lips of prospects the same way it does now. Keep in mind that Ollie banked an early commitment from Daniel Hamilton. Rebuilding is a process, and Ollie’s clearly made positive recruiting strides.

Also, some stuff in there about how Paul White was playing so well before he got hurt.
 
The article also said the UConn will be doing an in-home visit with Paul White on September 11th.
 
Rebuilding is a process, and Ollie’s clearly made positive recruiting strides.
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Not to be the guy to pick out the slight from a very positive paragraph, but this pisses me off. Uconn is not rebuilding. We haven't gone anywhere. We are 2+ seasons removed from a national championship. We went to the NCAAs two years ago and would have last year. We are positioned this year to make a deep run. The fact that this upcoming class happens to be the first under ollie that offers significant playing time at many positions is the reason we are pulling in players. Its because we are UConn and we are reloading.

We are the most dominant program of the last 15 years, and we haven't gone anywhere. Rebuild this.
 
I definitely think that the uptick in Uconn recruiting compared to the last couple years...at least in perception has to make the Calapari's of the world a little nervous. I think Ollie is going to be a heavy hitter and those ridiculous recruiting class of Kentucky are going to be harder with another big dog on the block. Calhoun could always pull in his fair share, but his last few years other schools put doubt in recruits heads about how much longer he would be there, this coincides directly with Calapari's out of this world surge of recruiting prowess...not that has ever been Uconn, the more dogs in the fight are going make it harder for those schools to pull it off like they have the past few...Indiana now is a strong player again, Uconn will be a strong player and it looks like Minnesota is looking to get in with the big dogs...I love it, it is some rat race.
 
maineuconnfan said:
I definitely think that the uptick in Uconn recruiting compared to the last couple years...at least in perception has to make the Calapari's of the world a little nervous. I think Ollie is going to be a heavy hitter and those ridiculous recruiting class of Kentucky are going to be harder with another big dog on the block. Calhoun could always pull in his fair share, but his last few years other schools put doubt in recruits heads about how much longer he would be there, this coincides directly with Calapari's out of this world surge of recruiting prowess...not that has ever been Uconn, the more dogs in the fight are going make it harder for those schools to pull it off like they have the past few...Indiana now is a strong player again, Uconn will be a strong player and it looks like Minnesota is looking to get in with the big dogs...I love it, it is some rat race.
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Indiana is only going to be strong for a few more years. Crean is going to smell like an old hat soon. Of course, if they get rid of him for a better hire, then they can be strong again.
 
upstater said:
Indiana is only going to be strong for a few more years. Crean is going to smell like an old hat soon. Of course, if they get rid of him for a better hire, then they can be strong again.
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...and your basing this on what? Right now the IU brand is as strong as its been since probably the early 90s.
 
upstater said:
On Crean's coaching ability...
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I don't dispute the comment regarding his coaching ability, but perception is more important than reality (exhibit 1 - the squid) and IU is viewed as an elite destination. Unless Crean does what Dougherty did at UNC, I have a hard time seeing IU tumbling. Not that it would sadden me were they to tank...
 
OkaForPrez said:
Not to be the guy to pick out the slight from a very positive paragraph, but this pisses me off. Uconn is not rebuilding. We haven't gone anywhere. We are 2+ seasons removed from a national championship. We went to the NCAAs two years ago and would have last year. We are positioned this year to make a deep run. The fact that this upcoming class happens to be the first under ollie that offers significant playing time at many positions is the reason we are pulling in players. Its because we are UConn and we are reloading.

We are the most dominant program of the last 15 years, and we haven't gone anywhere. Rebuild this.
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We lost the greatest coach of our generation, got hit with some bullspit APR issues and weren't able to play in the NCAA tourney. We also lost one of college basketball's best leaders of the last 20 years in Kemba Walker. While I understand your point and generally agree I don't think its too hard to understand why an outsider would see it as a "rebuilding" process. If Calhoun was still here they would say reloading. With a new head coach and some NCAA issues they decided to go with "rebuild". Im not offended.
 
UCONNfan1 said:
I don't dispute the comment regarding his coaching ability, but perception is more important than reality (exhibit 1 - the squid) and IU is viewed as an elite destination. Unless Crean does what Dougherty did at UNC, I have a hard time seeing IU tumbling. Not that it would sadden me were they to tank...
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Coaches become stale. That's why I also disagree with those who think Ollie has 10 years. He's good enough to coach here for 10 years, but he needs to produce sooner. These guys have very small windows of opportunity before the recruiting noise messes with the program.
 
upstater said:
Coaches become stale. That's why I also disagree with those who think Ollie has 10 years. He's good enough to coach here for 10 years, but he needs to produce sooner. These guys have very small windows of opportunity before the recruiting noise messes with the program.
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if he doesn't produce by the end of his contract,he'll be gone. but we all know he can, and he will.
 
If KO has a nice regular season and a solid run in the NCAA tourney his stock will rise and the "popping up on more lists" will rise to a new level yet again........and closing will also!!;)
 
CAHUSKY said:
We lost the greatest coach of our generation, got hit with some bullspit APR issues and weren't able to play in the NCAA tourney. We also lost one of college basketball's best leaders of the last 20 years in Kemba Walker. While I understand your point and generally agree I don't think its too hard to understand why an outsider would see it as a "rebuilding" process. If Calhoun was still here they would say reloading. With a new head coach and some NCAA issues they decided to go with "rebuild". Im not offended.
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I agree wit that...unless the new coach is a proven coach, it is going to be considered rebuilding, thats just how it is...we can view it otherwise, because we are husky fans.
 
I didn't like the reloading comment either. However I can understand it. We lost AD, lamb to the NBA, AO and RS transfered. That was a huge hit. I can see how an outsider thinks we needed to reload.
 
mcs333 said:
I didn't like the reloading comment either. However I can understand it. We lost AD, lamb to the NBA, AO and RS transfered. That was a huge hit. I can see how an outsider thinks we needed to reload.
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Reload is a compliment given to the elite schools that replenish their crop of stars every year. As in the phrase "They don't rebuild, they reload". Not sure how you couldn't like it. Its an honor.
 
Is there still doubt that Coach Ollie will have a successful run at Uconn even after what he was able to do last year?:confused:
 
To add i believe he WILL NEVER leave the head coach job here for another school. Only way he`ll leave is for an NBA head coaching job that is just too good to pass up. I believe ultimately this will happen but no time soon obviously.
 
I meant to say rebuilding not reloading like the article stated. I agree with you on reloading.
 
upstater said:
Indiana is only going to be strong for a few more years. Crean is going to smell like an old hat soon. Of course, if they get rid of him for a better hire, then they can be strong again.
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Agreed. I said it before this past season, Crean will be canned within 4-5 years. Expectations were unbelievably high, and while they had a good season, they still got bounced in the sweet 16 as a one seed. Expectations will continue to be unreasonably high and I don't think Crean is a good enough coach to meet them. If he couldnt make the elite 8 with two top 5 picks, Watford, and a bunch of upperclassmen and shooters when is he?

Sort of see this similar to Chalie Weis at ND. Brought the program back from the dead but expectations are too high to be matched. Indiana should be thrilled with where they're at , but they (like ND) will inevitably want more and Crean will be gone.
 
We are involved with more top 100 players then any time I can recall in recent UConn history. It seems like this staff works harder and Ollie is generally liked. Maybe the opportunity to play for a former NBA player is appealing. UConn appears to have overcome our NCAA penalty and the new weaker conference regarding recruiting. Manual is also doing an outstanding job in scheduling out of conference opponents.
We won't get most of these players because the numbers simply work that way but all we have to do is land a couple of top 100 players every year. Ollie is off to a great start.
 
HuskiesAllDay said:
Agreed. I said it before this past season, Crean will be canned within 4-5 years. Expectations were unbelievably high, and while they had a good season, they still got bounced in the sweet 16 as a one seed. Expectations will continue to be unreasonably high and I don't think Crean is a good enough coach to meet them. If he couldnt make the elite 8 with two top 5 picks, Watford, and a bunch of upperclassmen and shooters when is he?

Sort of see this similar to Chalie Weis at ND. Brought the program back from the dead but expectations are too high to be matched. Indiana should be thrilled with where they're at , but they (like ND) will inevitably want more and Crean will be gone.
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Chip Kelly?
 
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