If we never got banned

[GemParty]

Do you believe, Ollie's two year period, would have turned out with a title? Explain-

 

[UChusky916]

Rothstein asked this question to Ollie on the CBS One2One session the other day.

Ollie said 'It definitely helped' for motivation. I think it made our guys more hungry. We were still being doubted and 'underdogs' every game in the NCAA tournament so I'm sure they still fed off of that. Not sure they win the title though because the hungry off-season preparation was key.

 

[tcf15]

I think of it this way- if there was never a postseason ban, does Shabazz come back for his senior year?

Even after coming off the post-season ban, he gave the NBA draft some serious consideration. With postseason eligibility comes more media coverage and Shabazz would have had more recognition for his junior season (which was criminally underrated, as I'm sure most of the Boneyard agrees). He could have also had the chance to make some more noise in the BET and the NCAA Tourney that could have helped Bazz become a late first round selection.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

It's an interesting question that leads to a million others. Would Drummond really have come back for a second year? I tend to doubt it, but if he did, what does the 2013 team look like? Good enough to make Calhoun push off retirement? Good enough to make a decent NCAA run that encourages Shabazz and others to leave early?

And of course, would it have changed the conference realignment story?

 

[aceboon]

if the ban doesn't happen I doubt Calhoun retires

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Not really relevant but I love how to media kept saying that Ollie won a national title in two seasons at UConn but they seem to purposely overlook how we were banned in 2013 so really it's one title in one season. Sure, the work they put in in 2012-13 made this season possible but he literally had no chance to win the title in his first season. Also, I think we would've been fairly dangerous if we were able to play in the 2013 tourney. It always comes down to guard play and three point shooting. All the Final Four teams that year shot great from deep (Louisville, Michigan, Cuse, Wichita).

 

[caw]

Do you believe, Ollie's two year period, would have turned out with a title? Explain-

Assuming Calhoun retires.

No

It results in back to back titles. Drummond, that is all.

 

[B1GEast]

If we never had gotten banned, we never would have won the title, this team played with a sense of passion and redemption.

Shakespear could not have written a better story or group of hero's. This was the stuff of Legends

 

[Horatio]

Everything worked out perfect but I do think that our beloved Roscoe Smith would've stayed in a Uconn uniform .

 

[OkaForPrez]

UConn wasn't going to do any damage in 2013 in the tourney. We were a 8/9/10 seed that had Bazz touch and go (out against Cinci, USF in against Providence) Giff out with a sprained finger, TO out and Omar out.

We had to gut it out for that providence win with RJ playing 30+ minutes. I think we would have been an early out in the BET, on the bubble, and likely a first round exit from the dance.

Not sure much would have changed.

 

[J187Money]

So many variables go into it. We were a Brimah FT away from getting knocked out in the first round.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

UConn wasn't going to do any damage in 2013 in the tourney. We were a 8/9/10 seed that had Bazz touch and go (out against Cinci, USF in against Providence) Giff out with a sprained finger, TO out and Omar out.

We had to gut it out for that providence win with RJ playing 30+ minutes. I think we would have been an early out in the BET, on the bubble, and likely a first round exit from the dance.

Not sure much would have changed.

I think the point is that the 2013 roster may have looked a little differently had we not been banned. Lamb probably still leaves. Oriakhi was unhappy but would he have wanted to sit out a year with only one year of eligibility left? Probably a decent chance we keep at least 1, and maybe 2, of Oriakhi, Drummond, and Roscoe.

 

[Scoe]

Well we used the tourney ban to our advantage. It was best for guys who weren't gonna be around for the 2013-14 season to leave. Calhoun waited as long as he could to retire so that Uconn would have to give Ollie the job and surrounded him with an experienced coaching staff. George Blaney stuck around for 1 more year in 12-13 to get Ollies feet wet. Calhoun was on a race against time with his age and health, so he gave the keys to KO and use 2012-13 as a test drive, and KO was here as an assistant the prior 2 years how much do you think he helped elevate Kemba's play in his final season.

 

[Deleted member 3149]

I remember before the Germany Michigan State game just hoping we wouldn't get blown out. I thought it was a useless season with a last-minute coach and a bunch of scrubs who decided to stick around. If it weren't for the chip on the shoulders of those young men, we wouldn't have won this year. Period. Incredible story, still wondering when 30 for 30 does a special on it.

 

[joober jones]

It was a move meant to screw us that backfired. It doesn't get much sweeter than that.

 

[Leebo]

Yes, I, believe, it, would, have.

 

[Durks07]

I remember before the Germany Michigan State game just hoping we wouldn't get blown out. I thought it was a useless season with a last-minute coach and a bunch of scrubs who decided to stick around. If it weren't for the chip on the shoulders of those young men, we wouldn't have won this year. Period. Incredible story, still wondering when 30 for 30 does a special on it.

What if I told you that sometimes the best laid plans backfire horribly? That scumbags are humiliated publicly as the s**tbags they are? That sometimes new beginnings lead to the same ending, and that sometimes, Michigan State plays away games in "B1G territory?" Presenting "This is What Happens When You Ban Us!" A 30 for 30 special.

This is a job for @tcf15. Please make this happen.

 

[Danzz]

Everything worked out perfect but I do think that our beloved Roscoe Smith would've stayed in a Uconn uniform .

And Roscoe staying may have changed things enough so we don't win 1 this year.

 

[Kitaman]

So many variables go into it. We were a Brimah FT away from getting knocked out in the first round.

Some injuries on the opposing teams didn't hurt either.

 

[Horatio]

And Roscoe staying may have changed things enough so we don't win 1 this year.

True. I think about the whole Deandre / Roscoe scenario . Would Roscoe be able to give what Deandre gave but with stronger post play and rebounding .
Would we win with Roscoe starting at the four and Deandre at the three and how that would eliminate the whole three guard play that we won with. A foward set of Roscoe and Deandre is pretty good. Tough call.

 

[CL82]

if the ban doesn't happen I doubt Calhoun retires

Disagree. I think Calhoun was hanging around because of the ban. It was his health that led him to leave. His desire to have Ollie as his successor led to the timing.

 

[CL82]

So many variables go into it. We were a Brimah FT away from getting knocked out in the first round.

Can you imagine what the Boneyard would have looked like the next day?

 

[elduderino]

Great question to consider, but way too many variables to efficiently analyze without writing a doctoral thesis on the topic. I know one thing, that we pulled down the NC this year. And I believe one thing, we wouldn't have if we weren't banned.

 

[Scoe]

It just shows that you don't with Jim Calhoun if you back JC into a corner he will beat you every time. You put us on probation fine well win it all in 2011, after we win it we get a loss of scholarships ok fine well still get Andre Drummond, you ban us ok I'm too old to do this I will use the tourney ban year as a chance to use that year as a year of experience for my successor, and we will win another national championship and I will be there to watch it. These are the challenges JC thrives off of and its been passed down to Ollie and you obviously saw in Shabazz and the guys. Now we gotta continue having that chip on our shoulder with our new wave of guys.

 

[intlzncster]

Can you imagine what the Boneyard would have looked like the next day?

Just forever ignore that thought. We've got enough neurousis to deal with, without having to dredge up more.