If you were AD

[Hugo]

Yes, house cleaning

Any new HC will demand to hire his own staff.

 

[Hugo]

You have no idea. I'm so glad you're not in charge. You know it would get worse with a new coach, right?

How could you possible know that ??????

 

[80shusky]

If I were the AD, I would have realistic expectations and trust the coaching staff and the process.

That's crazy! That's not what you are supposed to do. You are supposed to have wildly emotional reactions devoid of any actual thought.

 

[lange10]

Give Ollie this year AND next to see if the reset button he pushed 7 or 8 months ago is going to work. He has two good kids waiting in the wings NOW, and a decent start to next year's recruiting class. The program is in a much better place today than it was 7 or 8 months ago, have to see if that progress continues

The only way I let him go early is if there are too many more games like Auburn, that was an embarrassing performance. But if they play more like they did against AZ and Wichita St, then I give him this year and next

I’m not buying season tickets next year if Ollie is the coach. For years I’ve heard how hard I was on him. But the problems that exist now for Ollie have existed since he got here. Nothing changes.

 

[lange10]

Dan Hurley, Tom Moore, Donyell Marshall, Glen Miller.

Hurley is going to be picking his staff. David Cox is in his 4th year as a coach at URI, 2nd as associate HC so I'd expect him to be on the staff. Cox was the lead recruiter for 3 of the 4 recruits URI has coming in for 2018 - a top 25 recruiting class.

 

[UCweCONN]

Anyone who thinks Benedict is waiting until the end of the season to evaluate KO is reporting fake news. In fact he’s having weekly progress meetings with him right now. AD Dave is unbelievably forthcoming with fans and alums and he knows the current status quo is unacceptable....as does Ollie. At the end of day Ollie bleeds blue he’s just in so far over his head running every aspect of a big time blue blood program like UConn.

I also think he has a bunch of yes men on his staff. Kevin Freeman is director of basketball operations. How does he still have a job? I'd love to know what his typical day is like.

 

[willie99]

I’m not buying season tickets next year if Ollie is the coach. For years I’ve heard how hard I was on him. But the problems that exist now for Ollie have existed since he got here. Nothing changes.

If they play many more games this year like they played against Auburn and Arkansas, I'm with you.

But if their effort looks more like the games vs AZ and Wichita St, then they're going to win a bunch of games and we'll both be back

 

[lange10]

If they play many more games this year like they played against Auburn and Arkansas, I'm with you.

But if their effort looks more like the games vs AZ and Wichita St, then they're going to win a bunch of games and we'll both be back

You’re kidding right? They’re division 1 basketball players for UConn. The effort level should always be 110%. That even being an issue is alarming enough.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

If they play many more games this year like they played against Auburn and Arkansas, I'm with you.

But if their effort looks more like the games vs AZ and Wichita St, then they're going to win a bunch of games and we'll both be back

They got blown out by Arizona and Wichita won handily.

You wanna sit around and celebrate 15 and 10 point losses as good efforts?

 

[JMick]

If they play many more games this year like they played against Auburn and Arkansas, I'm with you.

But if their effort looks more like the games vs AZ and Wichita St, then they're going to win a bunch of games and we'll both be back

We're probably looking at a .500 season because of the up and down nature of the effort. That is on the coach. It means either he's not motivating them, demanding enough from them, or that he's recruiting the wrong guys.

 

[Tex-Lager93]

Outside of a scandal, give an example of a college coach who was relieved of their duties during the season for poor performance. It is just not done. KO gets at least until the end of the season to show some sort of progress. Everyone would like to stop the snowball, but firing him now screams panic, and there are buyouts, and kids who have committed to KO as coach, and if necessary, planning for finding a successor. By the way, if you get rid of KO now, those same players still will be offensively challenged, and that snowball won’t stop.

It’s already happened twice this year. And one was in our conference...Jeff Lebo at East Carolina. The other was Mark Price at UNCC. I don’t understand these trust the process comments. This is a sinking ship - a losing season followed by historic losses - the worst season and worst losses in the past 30 years. Yes - we will lose players and recruits - and it will be a rough ride. But, it’s better than watching this slow descent into oblivion.

 

[UCweCONN]

I hope all of you "Give him another year" posters don't invest in the stock market. Yikes.

 

[kemba]

Typically in alignment with you 95% of the time. I just don't understand the benefit of waiting. The body of work is a sufficiently large experience to know things are not going to change. Perhaps $$ are a factor, but at what cost to the program. The damage being inflicted is costing more than his buyout in lost national brand name recognition, free media presence, ticket sales, lost royalty from branding, general applicant appeal, etc.. We are killing the golden goose.

And whats the benefit of doing it now? You aren't hiring a permanent coach now, there's no logical assistant to take over, you lose the recruiting class, you can't go after any recruits we're looking at now. You just make a terrible situation worse for the next few months. At least if you wait to the end of the year, while gauging interest and preparing for the change in the background, there's a chance you can make a quick good hire and have a somewhat smooth transition. Maybe keep some recruits in the fold. Not saying its likely, just don't see the upside to doing it now.

 

[willie99]

You’re kidding right? They’re division 1 basketball players for UConn. The effort level should always be 110%. That even being an issue is alarming enough.

so what about by statement do you disagree with again? why am I kidding?

the only thing I see here is you begging the question

 

[willie99]

We're probably looking at a .500 season because of the up and down nature of the effort. That is on the coach. It means either he's not motivating them, demanding enough from them, or that he's recruiting the wrong guys.

long way to go, I expect to see a more consistent effort and better play going forward

others don't, we shall see

 

[lange10]

so what about by statement do you disagree with again? why am I kidding?

the only thing I see here is you begging the question

I disagree with the sentiment that this team suddenly playing with effort each and every game (which shouldn't be an issue to begin with) being the deciding factor in keeping Ollie around another year.

 

[Danzz]

Finish out the season with ollie, meanwhile start putting out feelers for a replacement.

Feelers won't work because news travels too fast. Either fire KO or keep him but playing it half way is not the answer.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Reality check - my reality, anyway.

1. They won’t, and probably shouldn’t, fire Ollie during the season. But I would have to see some serious development in team and individual play, team chemistry, defensive intensity and offensive play to think he should be back next year, and I haven’t so far. There is no big with a single go-to post move, for example, and yet bigs keep posting up calling for the ball. The assist number is shocking, even with the unreliable shooting. And we give up way too many open threes.
2. I’m unimpressed by the coaching assistants. Recruiting by Chillious? Maybe. But your primary assistant has to be more than that. A lot more.
3. In the meantime, buy a subscription to Towson games and vet Skerry, watch how his team plays, not just the W’s and L’s. Do the same with Konkol and D. Hurley. Rebuild starts with a motivator who knows x’s and o’s, even more than recruits.
4. Everyone was thrilled when Adams was recruited, because of his ranking. He drives very well and makes difficult finishes, but is iffy at running the offense, draws defenders but rarely gives it up, and isn’t a reliable shooter from outside 12 feet. There are complaints about Ollie whining that plays don’t get run. Adams is the guy who has to run them, but Ollie can’t/won’t take him off the floor.
5. Larrier is a solid shooter, perhaps the only one on the team. As soon as he puts it on the floor all bets are off.
6. The young guys can be good players, but they’re not being put in a position to be what they can be. Adams, Larrier and Vital continuously hunt their own shots, so the others are underutilized, not given the chance to produce. Hence the lack of production by other starters.
7. They’ve had three games against high ranked teams - MSU, AZ, and WSU - that were winnable into the final 10 minutes. They fell apart primarily on offensive execution largely due to hero ball, and slacking on defense giving up those open threes.
8. They played better against Wichita, in the game until late. Yeah, it’s a loss, but they competed. I’m bummed, but better.
9. I’ll be astounded if Larrier and Adams are back next year. So Wilson, Polley, Matthews, Akinjo, Whaley, Carlton, Diarra, Gilbert(if) - those are the guys you will be counting on. A new coach starting there has plenty to work with. Teach them all to shoot. All of them. Now.

 

[Huskygrad88]

I would get Calhoun involved.

Ummmm...KO was JC's hand picked successor.

 

[Paesano]

This narrative of becoming irrelevent is a bit overblown. We’ve won more championships than anyone else in the past 18 years. 2 down years does not make you irrelevant. There’s a reason we always get other teams best punch and it is very much because of the name on our jersey which in college b-ball is still very much relevant

Our recruiting says you are wrong.

 

[auggie22]

I disagree with the premise of your argument, we shall see. We do have recruits ranked as high as any we have had under the coach I love as much as anybody, JC. So I'm going to suggest that your statement is categorically incorrect. And AG is actually one of a dozen or so burger boys we've ever had.

I will concede we have to see if KO can get these kids to the next level, and it's unlikely he'll be as successful as JC in doing such because JC was arguably the best of all time in developing players.

Ollie will be here this current season unless something illicit is discovered. He MAY be here next year, too - particularly if the financial side of the decision cannot be resolved. But I think you are being far too generous to say he deserves another year. He buys the groceries and cooks the food - yet has not made an appetizing meal going on four years now. You say that he hit the reset button but don't acknowledge it was a reset of the mistakes he himself made. He does not develop or motivate talent. He is not a strategist. The rap on him now is that he is not much of a worker, either. He makes $3M.

I am sorry to say it, but short of a complete turnaround this season, there is no ray of hope that warrants another season.

 

[Jaker]

Too early to really make an informed opinion on Chili as a recruiter or an assistant. But the program should try to retain him. Although a new coach will probably bring his own people with him.

 

[mauconnfan]

Dan Hurley, Tom Moore, Donyell Marshall, Glen Miller.

Looks like an 0-4 to me.

Do better or don't do it. To just fire him to get someone who can't take you to the level expected is ridiculous.

 

[Jaker]

Feelers won't work because news travels too fast. Either fire KO or keep him but playing it half way is not the answer.

Yes you are right. But I still let the season play out. After all Ollie might walk on his own after this season.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Reality check - my reality, anyway.

1. They won’t, and probably shouldn’t, fire Ollie during the season. But I would have to see some serious development in team and individual play, team chemistry, defensive intensity and offensive play to think he should be back next year, and I haven’t so far. There is no big with a single go-to post move, for example, and yet bigs keep posting up calling for the ball. The assist number is shocking, even with the unreliable shooting. And we give up way too many open threes.

1. Shy of something near criminal (on KO's part) occurring between now and April there is no way he doesn't finish the season (as an in-season firing would not make much sense). I could well be wrong but due primarily to the buyout, unless he does something off the court that embarrasses the university, I don't see KO being relieved of his duties prior to the end of the 2018-2019 season.

   [*][*]I’m unimpressed by the coaching assistants. Recruiting by Chillious? Maybe. But your primary assistant has to be more than that. A lot more.

   I agree fully. I still see the first (of a few) things that started the fall of the program was when Donyell was overlooked (I believe in favor of promoting Ricky Moore to assistant and hiring Kevin Freeman as Director of Ops). My belief (I could again be wrong) was that KO didn't want someone with Donyell's veritas on his staff, basically preferring a weaker than possible staff out of comfort.

   [*]Everyone was thrilled when Adams was recruited, because of his ranking. He drives very well and makes difficult finishes, but is iffy at running the offense, draws defenders but rarely gives it up, and isn’t a reliable shooter from outside 12 feet. There are complaints about Ollie whining that plays don’t get run. Adams is the guy who has to run them, but Ollie can’t/won’t take him off the floor.

   This is a situation where there is sufficient blame to pass around. Adams has a ton of questionable habits on the floor (and possibly during practice as well) and he seems very content in falling back to them at critical times. KO (perhaps due to the limited roster over the past couple of seasons, perhaps due to his nature) has refused to punish JA (or any other player) for questionable, insufficient or even misguided effort. The thing is leadership starts at the top and this is fully on KO for not doing whatever is necessary to have the guy leading the team on the court demanding the best from all players, including himself, at all times. Granted, JA is not the type of PG we've become accustomed to here (he really isn't a PG) but there is no reason someone who wants to be the leader (JA obviously does) can't be required to be a leader.

   [*]Larrier is a solid shooter, perhaps the only one on the team. As soon as he puts it on the floor all bets are off.

   I'm curious as to what Larrier's best role (outside of being a scorer in a different setup than what we can offer) would be. He seems to want to be a 20 ft from the basket two (doesn't really have the game for that) and shies away from a lot close to the basket. He did look good at times yesterday and hopefully he'll continue to improve (it could be health of his knee or confidence in the strength of his knee). He's a bit too passive at the moment to be the offensive player we need and I believe he would be more effective if we had another forward who could play close to the basket and somewhat consistently score and rebound.

   [*]The young guys can be good players, but they’re not being put in a position to be what they can be. Adams, Larrier and Vital continuously hunt their own shots, so the others are underutilized, not given the chance to produce. Hence the lack of production by other starters.

   At different times (I believe against Columbia) we had one of Polley, Whalley and Carlton on the floor for decent periods of times. While the game didn't allow for it (once again a questionable effort) I would have loved to have seen a three to four minute stretch with all three (this may be our future front court) on the floor together. Each has some skill, good size and athleticism, each being someone that an earlier version of UConn could have turned into quite a productive player a few years in. Now there is only hope we can do that.

   [*]They’ve had three games against high ranked teams - MSU, AZ, and WSU - that were winnable into the final 10 minutes. They fell apart primarily on offensive execution largely due to hero ball, and slacking on defense giving up those open threes.

   This is the most frustrating part. The lead players seem to think they can turn it on at will. Quality teams, teams that win through will when talent is reasonably equal, teams that make runs in March (instead of disappointing their fans more often than not) always put in the effort. This team has taken a game off after every legitimate effort to date. That's on the coach. That's on the players. That's on everyone and everything involved with the program.

   [*]They played better against Wichita, in the game until late. Yeah, it’s a loss, but they competed. I’m bummed, but better.

   See my answer to #7. The effort against Tulsa will speak volumes.

   [*]I’ll be astounded if Larrier and Adams are back next year. So Wilson, Polley, Matthews, Akinjo, Whaley, Carlton, Diarra, Gilbert(if) - those are the guys you will be counting on. A new coach starting there has plenty to work with. Teach them all to shoot. All of them. Now.

If Adams and Larrier are gone so be it. They may have talent but neither is a guy a legitimate program can do without. I don't know what either sees himself as but I'll wager heavily that it is far above what most who make a living judging basketball talent sees them as. We will have some nice pieces next year and hopefully KO can learn to again be a teacher. Perhaps within the current freshman class there is someone who can be an on-court leader (something we haven't had since Napier).

 

[Stinger92860]

If you were AD

What's your plan for getting the MBB program back on track?

Follow the Louisville or UNC blue print. Why not, 2 years of probation is better than this.

 

[Glastonhusky]

I hope all of you "Give him another year" posters don't invest in the stock market. Yikes.

Buy low(now), sell high.

 

[RichZ]

If I was AD, I'd be averaging double digit rebounds in the...

Oh. Wait. That AD.

Never mind.

Emily Litella

 

[CardiffGiant]

Anyone who thinks Benedict is waiting until the end of the season to evaluate KO is reporting fake news. In fact he’s having weekly progress meetings with him right now. AD Dave is unbelievably forthcoming with fans and alums and he knows the current status quo is unacceptable....as does Ollie. At the end of day Ollie bleeds blue he’s just in so far over his head running every aspect of a big time blue blood program like UConn.

Most interesting post in this thread IMO. Not sure how these progress meeting go, but many would pay $ to be a fly on the wall to hear what is discussed. It almost sounds like an employee on probation, and the boss is constantly engaged in micromanaging or evaluating. One could see this being a nuisance that ultimately might lead to the employee leaving voluntarily.

 

[Tenspro2002]

This narrative of becoming irrelevent is a bit overblown. We’ve won more championships than anyone else in the past 18 years. 2 down years does not make you irrelevant. There’s a reason we always get other teams best punch and it is very much because of the name on our jersey which in college b-ball is still very much relevant

It will be 4 years in which we will have been relevant for about a week and a half in March 2016.

Current recruits don't care about 2014, nevermind 1999.