How long does Ollie have left to prove he can win again at Uconn?

[upstater]

I believe in sticking with Ko for the long term. If he had to change the process of recruiting and change done of the kids-- I'm behind him. It's always disappointing when someone leaves early or transfers and we were hit hard. That being said-- let's move forward get behind KO.

Getting behind your coach counts for a lot. When recruits read this board, all they see is that KO should be fired if he goes .500 next year.

This matters. Message boards give a view into the tenor of the fanbase, and the recruits think Ollie is almost done. Opposing recruiters have been telling them that for years, but now the UConn fanbase is confirming it.

 

[ctchamps]

Unless next year is a complete fail AD Dave gives him two years with this shakeup.

The Boneyard will be different.
If there are no decent recruits this spring the volume goes up to can him now.
If we get Diarra, Harris and a decent big the volume to give him another year goes up.
If we get Diarra, Harris, and some major additional surprise the volume goes up for two years.
If we get great recruits and there is a repeat of this season the volume of people in this forum who will not wait for two years goes up.

The reaction of the Boneyard is more predictable than the team's future.

 

[upstater]

Unless next year is a complete fail AD Dave gives him two years with this shakeup.

The Boneyard will be different.
If there are no decent recruits this spring the volume goes up to can him now.
If we get Diarra, Harris and a decent big the volume to give him another year goes up.
If we get Diarra, Harris, and some major additional surprise the volume goes up for two years.
If we get great recruits and there is a repeat of this season the volume of people in this forum who will not wait for two years goes up.

The reaction of the Boneyard is more predictable than the team's future.

While it wasn't nearly as bad in 2013 and half of 2014, it was still really bad.

 

[tentoes4rings]

You mean he should have forced Diarra out at the end of this season? I'm pretty sure nobody knew about this injury. He played through it in highschool, and sure as snow wouldn't have disclosed it in the recruiting process.

I'm saying the overall combination of leaving 2 scholarships unfilled, sticking by Durham and possibly not doing complete due dilligence on a kid in their backyard was a recipe for trouble.

I think it's just as plausible that the staff knew about Diarra's knee condition but were okay with it to maximize our odds of landing his close friend Diallo. Water under the bridge, here's hoping they will turn over every rock in the future to not be blindsided by any of these things going forward.

 

[MASSconn]

Getting behind your coach counts for a lot. When recruits read this board, all they see is that KO should be fired if he goes .500 next year.

This matters. Message boards give a view into the tenor of the fanbase, and the recruits think Ollie is almost done. Opposing recruiters have been telling them that for years, but now the UConn fanbase is confirming it.

You think recruits base their decision on fanboards? Lol

 

[John]

You think recruits base their decision on fanboards? Lol

no, but recruits parents are definitely influenced.

 

[upstater]

You think recruits base their decision on fanboards? Lol

Where does it say that in my post?

 

[upstater]

I'm saying the overall combination of leaving 2 scholarships unfilled, sticking by Durham and possibly not doing complete due dilligence on a kid in their backyard was a recipe for trouble.

I think it's just as plausible that the staff knew about Diarra's knee condition but were okay with it to maximize our odds of landing his close friend Diallo. Water under the bridge, here's hoping they will turn over every rock in the future to not be blindsided by any of these things going forward.

If a former top 10 kid like Durham injures his ACL (one knee, not 2 knees, the 2nd knee happened after he signed) and then wants to commit to UConn, would you counsel not taking him in the future?

Whatever risk there was with him playing, the fact is that he played this year and didn't reinjure his knee.

Alterique Gilbert too injured his shoulder during the all-star game after he signed.

As for Diarra, no one has ever shown here that he had issues with his knees.

 

[David 76]

I think jumping on Ollie for injuries is a new low. Probably his fault he got divorced and he surely is still affected in a manner that prohibits him from doing his job three years later.

 

[freescooter]

What if the next guy can't do it either?

Then you keep trying until you find a guy who can. Look that's how it rolls. If you are trying to say only Ollie can succeed here and if he doesn't no one else will I don't know what so tell you. Btw I'd give the new guy 3 years not 5. In hoops recruiting classes are very different. If you aren't going in the right direction in 3 you ain't going in the right direction.

 

[David 76]

Then you keep trying until you find a guy who can. Look that's how it rolls. If you are trying to say only Ollie can succeed here and if he doesn't no one else will I don't k
now what so tell you. Btw I'd give the new guy 3 years not 5. In hoops recruiting classes are very different. If you aren't going in the right direction in 3 you ain't going in the right direction.

And if in that three years he had 2 great years and a NC, would you fire him two years later?
I agree that you have to move on as many times as necessary, but with injuries, NCAA penalties, CR, this is too soon. People should calm down and give him 2 years to re-prove himself. We know what he is capable of doing.

 

[my2cents]

Any UCONN fan can see the direction of the program......down the tubes
We can disagree about how much is on Ollie....but with him, we are heading back to the Patriot league or NEC
He needs to go....sooner the better

 

[RJScootin]

What inju

I think jumping on Ollie for injuries is a new low. Probably his fault he got divorced and he surely is still affected in a manner that prohibits him from doing his job three years later.

What injuries did the team have when they lost to Wagner and Northeastern?

 

[Stainmaster]

What inju


What injuries did the team have when they lost to Wagner and Northeastern?

So the team wasn't going to gel and improve as the year went on. Got it, Nostradamus.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

So the team wasn't going to gel and improve as the year went on. Got it, Nostradamus.

UConn losing at Gampel to Wagner and Northeastern is unacceptable no matter how you slice it.

 

[Stainmaster]

UConn losing at Gampel to Wagner and Northeastern is unacceptable no matter how you slice it.

I'm looking forward to your reaction to Ollie's replacement's first WTF loss.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I'm looking forward to your reaction to Ollie's replacement's first WTF loss.

It would be the same.

You seem to think people have a vendetta against KO. That's not remotely the case.

People have legitimately high expectations for this program, which was one of the top 5 in the nation over the last 20 years of the JC era.

Whether it's KO or whether it's someone else who returns us to that level is immaterial.

 

[Stainmaster]

It would be the same.

You seem to think people have a vendetta against KO. That's not remotely the case.

People have legitimately high expectations for this program, which was one of the top 5 in the nation over the last 20 years of the JC era.

Whether it's KO or whether it's someone else who returns us to that level is immaterial.

"JC era"

If you guys are looking for someone to match the masterwork of the single greatest coach in the history of the sport, you will be disappointed for the rest of your lives.

 

[Tenspro2002]

"JC era"

If you guys are looking for someone to match the masterwork of the single greatest coach in the history of the sport, you will be disappointed for the rest of your lives.

What's your point? That we should lower our sights? Be OK being just another program, like a Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Stanford?

Why should we not demand more?

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I'm looking forward to your reaction to Ollie's replacement's first WTF loss.

Like @Tenspro2002 said, I want Ollie to succeed here particularly because he is a legacy Husky.

That doesn't mean he should get a lifetime pass either. Nobody is bigger than the program.

Why do you always talk in hyperbole? Nobody expects another Calhoun. As stated dozens of times, competing for AAC Regular Season/Tournament championships and being an NCAA Tournament team more often than not are the floor; that's not crazy.

 

[UConniki]

UConn losing at Gampel to Wagner and Northeastern is unacceptable no matter how you slice it.

+10

 

[UCDaveD]

UConn losing at Gampel to Wagner and Northeastern is unacceptable no matter how you slice it.

Damn near lost to Loyola Marymount too. And I believe we were in a tie game with Chaminade as late at 10 minutes through the second half.

 

[Stainmaster]

What's your point? That we should lower our sights? Be OK being just another program, like a Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Stanford?

Why should we not demand more?

Because some of us are multi-generation fans whose families packed the fieldhouse back when the program had to play Maine and UVM as part of its conference slate (which always makes me laugh when people whine about that - are you guys fans of UConn basketball, or of the other teams in the league?). We are fans of UConn not as a means to an end, but as an end in and of itself. Being one of the best programs in the nation under JC was something we all enjoyed very much, and we would like the program to return to a similar perch, but doing so is not a condition of our fandom. We all want success and are frustrated when it doesn't come, but some of us happen to not feel that near-perfection is our birthright. You and at least a dozen other people are only here because UConn started winning championships and sending guys to the lottery, with absolutely zero respect for where the program came from or how miraculous it was that we went from competing with America East schools to going toe-to-toe with Duke and UK over a ~20-year span. This program has been blessed with a rise unlike anything before it, and will never be duplicated again as long as college basketball is played.
God forbid if UConn turns into another Minnesota or Stanford, I'll still be following the team and watching and attending games like I always have. I predict that if that happens, within 6 months a the people crying about how they are entitled to more will quit board and chuck all of their Huskies gear into the garbage.

Furthermore, none of this is in our hands. "Demanding more" accomplishes nothing besides forcing the rest of the board to read irritating screeds written by grown men that would sound more appropriate coming from spoiled children. You guys sound like my younger relatives when their parents tell them they can't play with their tablet computers at the dinner table. Perhaps you think that by stirring discontent among the fanbase and convincing people that withholding their material support until the program reaches your astronomically high standards for "success" again, you're somehow a knight in shining armor. Not only is that beyond foolhardy, but only supporting a team when they're winning is not something to be proud of.

I'm expecting an avalanche of replies saying people don't like my attitude. To you folks, I say: congratulations, I'm not the biggest fan of yours either.

 

[TRest]

Because some of us are multi-generation fans whose families packed the fieldhouse back when the program had to play Maine and UVM as part of its conference slate (which always makes me laugh when people whine about that - are you guys fans of UConn basketball, or of the other teams in the league?). We are fans of UConn not as a means to an end, but as an end in and of itself. Being one of the best programs in the nation under JC was something we all enjoyed very much, and we would like the program to return to a similar perch, but doing so is not a condition of our fandom. We all want success and are frustrated when it doesn't come, but some of us happen to not feel that near-perfection is our birthright. You and at least a dozen other people are only here because UConn started winning championships and sending guys to the lottery, with absolutely zero respect for where the program came from or how miraculous it was that we went from competing with America East schools to going toe-to-toe with Duke and UK over a ~20-year span. This program has been blessed with a rise unlike anything before it, and will never be duplicated again as long as college basketball is played.
God forbid if UConn turns into another Minnesota or Stanford, I'll still be following the team and watching and attending games like I always have. I predict that if that happens, within 6 months a the people crying about how they are entitled to more will quit board and chuck all of their Huskies gear into the garbage.

Furthermore, none of this is in our hands. "Demanding more" accomplishes nothing besides forcing the rest of the board to read irritating screeds written by grown men that would sound more appropriate coming from spoiled children. You guys sound like my younger relatives when their parents tell them they can't play with their tablet computers at the dinner table. Perhaps you think that by stirring discontent among the fanbase and convincing people that withholding their material support until the program reaches your astronomically high standards for "success" again, you're somehow a knight in shining armor. Not only is that beyond foolhardy, but only supporting a team when they're winning is not something to be proud of.

I'm expecting an avalanche of replies saying people don't like my attitude. To you folks, I say: congratulations, I'm not the biggest fan of yours either.

As someone who actually attended pre-BE teams in the Fieldhouse, I still think KO better get his ass in gear. And I paid good money to watch teams featuring Eddie Williams and Spider Ursury.

 

[freescooter]

So the team wasn't going to gel and improve as the year went on. Got it, Nostradamus.

Please. There is NO EXCUSE for losing those games. We should have enough to beat those teams playing 5 on 4. Combined they have maybe one player who could even make the UConn team. Neither team even sniffed their league title.

 

[Stainmaster]

Please. There is NO EXCUSE for losing those games. We should have enough to beat those teams playing 5 on 4. Combined they have maybe one player who could even make the UConn team. Neither team even sniffed their league title.

Okay, there's no excuse. Should Ollie have been fired the morning of November 12th? How does a season with Glen Miller as the interim sound?

 

[ConnHuskBask]

@Stairmaster again with the hyperbole. You're insufferable man.

People bring up not losing to Wagner and Northeastern, to which your only response is people shouldn't expect championships every season and I would know because I'm a pretentious 20 something who acts like they were there cheering the Huskies on against Vermont 40 years ago.

 

[Tenspro2002]

We are fans of UConn not as a means to an end, but as an end in and of itself....You and at least a dozen other people are only here because UConn started winning championships and sending guys to the lottery....God forbid if UConn turns into another Minnesota or Stanford, I'll still be following the team and watching and attending games like I always have. I predict that if that happens, within 6 months a the people crying about how they are entitled to more will quit board and chuck all of their Huskies gear into the garbage....Perhaps you think that by stirring discontent among the fanbase and convincing people that withholding their material support until the program reaches your astronomically high standards for "success" again, you're somehow a knight in shining armor. Not only is that beyond foolhardy, but only supporting a team when they're winning is not something to be proud of.

1) You have no idea what conditions -- if any -- determine my fandom
2) The assertion that people unsatisfied with the trajectory of the program will stop being fans is ridiculous. We are unsatisfied because we care, not because we're on the way to not caring.
3) Nobody is advocating withholding material support from the team. I have literally no idea how you read that into my post, or frankly anyone else's.
4) Again, nobody is not supporting the team. Support is not a synonym for cheerleading. Expressing concern over the team and its leadership is not a lack of support. I rooted for this team to win every game last year. But because I complain afterwards, that means I didn't support the team? Absurd.

I respect your perspective, even though I don't share it. But you overreach severely here.

 

[Stainmaster]

@Stairmaster again with the hyperbole. You're insufferable man.

People bring up not losing to Wagner and Northeastern, to which your only response is people shouldn't expect championships every season and I would know because I'm a pretentious 20 something who acts like they were there cheering the Huskies on against Vermont 40 years ago.

You say these losses are unacceptable. What, in your mind, is the appropriate consequence for such a loss?

 

[JellyBean]

I am going with "Retires Here" option. I am not a fan of firing coaches who are producing and running a clean program. Coach KO is doing well. Coach and his staff just needs to land 1 or 2 solid recruits, everyone stays healthy, and we will be back in the mix.