I'm starting to think it isn't Ollie.

[VAHuskyFan]

He doesn't pick these guys. He takes what he can get.

This is a nihilstic view of the role of a college basketball coach. Players just arrive on campus, like snow in winter. KO, sadly, has no say in the process.

Let’s pretend that no players in the Top 100 ever have any interest in coming to Connecticut and there is nothing KO can do about it. (Note: this is not actually true and it would be worth asking WHY we are paying KO $3M/yr if it actually were true).

There are 600+ more players who will start at the D1 level. You’d think a National Champion coach from a school with 4 banners that routinely plays in prestigious invitational tournaments and nationally televised games would be well placed to pick from among these remaining players. He’s literally spoiled for choice.

KO’s job is to build a team with complementary strengths and some measure of depth. Yes that’s harder in the AAC than the ACC, but it’s certainly achievable for a good coach.

Instead, KO seems to have simply decided to take the highest-ranked players who are willing to come here. The result is a group of players that are somewhat incoherent together, with a glaring shortness of depth in certain positions.

Ultimately, you may be right that KO is not actively “picking” players so much as he is “taking what he can get.” But if so, that is an indictment of KO’s recruiting, not a defense.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

In the four games he played, the team scored over 70 points in each of them. There is no question this would be a better team with him.

He was a defensive demon just learning where he fit on offense our additional pts primarily came on steals. For anyone who has a concept of B.B. rewatch the MS game until he was injured we were a much scappier bunch.
Maybe our win total wouldn’t be that much more butthe energy he brought would have prevented those embarrassing blowouts and kept real fans interested . With some normal learning his offense would also improve.
Having an one additional shooter and a having a bunch that brings it on defense every night and this becomes a pain in tne butt team to play. With our inexperience in front and brutal schedule the NCAA might have been a stretch but this would have been a good NIT team. More importantly only stupid front runners can’t support a team like that. But who needs them?

 

[Lefty2one]

This is true. Jalen does have his limitations. (No left hand, not a great shooter, not a great athlete)

He's a pretty damn good athlete. There aren't many college PGs around who you can draw up a backdoor alley-oop for and have them finish with a two-handed dunk. His speed in the open court is among the best in the country and his body control in traffic is elite.

 

[jibsey]

He's a pretty damn good athlete. There aren't many college PGs around who you can draw up a backdoor alley-oop for and have them finish with a two-handed dunk. His speed in the open court is among the best in the country and his body control in traffic is elite.

Jalen has thrown up 103 3 point attempts and shoots 31%. He shoots 40% from the field. These are not elite stats. I grant you that if he played with better players it could be different. Overall he’s a good player and a so so shooter.

 

[KembaStepback]

He's a pretty damn good athlete. There aren't many college PGs around who you can draw up a backdoor alley-oop for and have them finish with a two-handed dunk. His speed in the open court is among the best in the country and his body control in traffic is elite.

I think NBA scouts would disagree with you. He's a combo guard with no left hand. He absolutely lacks explosion. I've seen him dunk maybe twice all year. He's a very good player but has some things to work on

 

[Paesano]

He doesn't pick these guys. He takes what he can get.

My god. Please, for all that is holy, TELL me you are being sarcastic.

 

[AdamaNation]

Jalen has thrown up 103 3 point attempts and shoots 31%. He shoots 40% from the field. These are not elite stats. I grant you that if he played with better players it could be different. Overall he’s a good player and a so so shooter.

Athlete >shooter

 

[Scrutineer]

This is true. Jalen does have his limitations. (No left hand, not a great shooter, not a great athlete) but his skills and saavy are very good. What hurts him most is teams keying in on him because we lack any other true scorers. Not to mention that hes gotta be getting tired. He plays so many minutes. I feel bad for Jalen. If he had some talent around him he wouldn't force as many shots as he does sometimes. This is why I keep bring up the AG injury. If he's on the ball, Jalen can play off the ball and do some other things. It also means less of AA.

I think Jalen would benefit from another year in Storrs. Not sure it will happen. I don't know his family situation or whatever so we will see. I don't see him transferring.

Maybe not always right, but never in doubt.

Where's Adams going to go if he leaves? Are NBA teams looking for shooting guards with stat lines like: 40.9% FG, 31.1% 3Pt, 4.1 t0 3.1 assists to turnover ratio?

Giffey worked hard to become a great shooter by his senior year and hopefully Adams will too. Could be a really good team next year if they learn how to run some offense and commit to playing defense, improve their shooting and ball handling, and...........oh maybe that's not as easy as it sounds.

 

[KembaStepback]

Maybe not always right, but never in doubt.

Where's Adams going to go if he leaves? Are NBA teams looking for shooting guards with stat lines like: 40.9% FG, 31.1% 3Pt, 4.1 t0 3.1 assists to turnover ratio?

Giffey worked hard to become a great shooter by his senior year and hopefully Adams will too. Could be a really good team next year if they learn how to run some offense and commit to playing defense, improve their shooting and ball handling, and......oh maybe that's not as easy as it sounds.

I agree it's not that easy, however they young players will have gained a lot of experience. JC TP and IW are getting better every game. Adding a player like SW and getting AG back to pair with JA, JA2 and EW will help create a few more scoring threats. Which causes teams to have to guard everyone and not focus on just Adams.

 

[Mr. French]

This is a nihilstic view of the role of a college basketball coach. Players just arrive on campus, like snow in winter. KO, sadly, has no say in the process.

Let’s pretend that no players in the Top 100 ever have any interest in coming to Connecticut and there is nothing KO can do about it. (Note: this is not actually true and it would be worth asking WHY we are paying KO $3M/yr if it actually were true).

There are 600+ more players who will start at the D1 level. You’d think a National Champion coach from a school with 4 banners that routinely plays in prestigious invitational tournaments and nationally televised games would be well placed to pick from among these remaining players. He’s literally spoiled for choice.

KO’s job is to build a team with complementary strengths and some measure of depth. Yes that’s harder in the AAC than the ACC, but it’s certainly achievable for a good coach.

Instead, KO seems to have simply decided to take the highest-ranked players who are willing to come here. The result is a group of players that are somewhat incoherent together, with a glaring shortness of depth in certain positions.

Ultimately, you may be right that KO is not actively “picking” players so much as he is “taking what he can get.” But if so, that is an indictment of KO’s recruiting, not a defense.

Nicely done.

 

[huskyharry]

Alienated guys like who Jackson , Enoch , Durham cmon lol
Again we saw how they played Jackson was the closest to being counted on .. Durham wasn’t ready n still thought he could play n Enoch well

Absolutely, too many fallacious takes on this board. Enoch and Durham both got a much needed year to work on their game and they are on P5 teams. Jackson was tall wing with a good three point shit, what this team needs desperately. To state that Coach Ollie drove them off is ridiculous.
I suspect that Jackson was the one who planted the transfer thought in the minds of the other two.

 

[huskyharry]

I have some problems with Ollie but let's leave that for now.

Red Auerbach would have problems winning with this bunch.

They can't shoot.
They can't rebound.
They have mediocre handles.
They can't draw fouls.

Except for that we should be undefeated.

True.
Also, Coach Ollie is not teaching TL to shoot as soon as he touches the ball, not teaching the bigs to set moving screens an direction forget to box out and not teaching JA to take the ball one on four in the half-court. The offense ran well against Tulane...that is what they were taught.

 

[KodiacKemba]

Absolutely, too many fallacious takes on this board. Enoch and Durham both got a much needed year to work on their game and they are on P5 teams. Jackson was tall wing with a good three point , what this team needs desperately. To state that Coach Ollie drove them off is ridiculous.
I suspect that Jackson was the one who planted the transfer thought in the minds of the other two.

I know ppl don’t want Ollie here after this season n its fine .. it’s their opinion... ppl say Ollie wasn’t a great recruiter so he brings in chill, I want to see this through at least 2 years to see what this guy can do for uconn .. I really believe our 2019 class with chill Ollie n kill could be top 15 .... I’m not for losing recruits after they sign again

 

[Huskybass]

I know ppl don’t want Ollie here after this season n its fine .. it’s their opinion... ppl say Ollie wasn’t a great recruiter so he brings in chill, I want to see this through at least 2 years to see what this guy can do for uconn .. I really believe our 2019 class with chill Ollie n kill could be top 15 .... I’m not for losing recruits after they sign again

Do you realize that Chill's team went 9-22 last year, losing their last 13 games? Our staff isnt exactly crushing it.

 

[KodiacKemba]

Do you realize that Chill's team went 9-22 last year, losing their last 13 games? Our staff isnt exactly crushing it.

Romar team wasn’t it .. n they got a lot top talent to go there so to me chill did his job ...

 

[Mr. French]

Jalen has thrown up 103 3 point attempts and shoots 31%. He shoots 40% from the field. These are not elite stats. I grant you that if he played with better players it could be different. Overall he’s a good player and a so so shooter.

Athlete = shooter? Scorer? Player?

 

[Mr. French]

Athlete >shooter

See above: sorry, didn’t see this!

 

[Huskybass]

Romar team wasn’t it .. n they got a lot top talent to go there so to me chill did his job ...

NO. He didn't do his job at all. Bringing in top talent is only part of the equation. When you are the associate head coach, you should also be coaching and developing players in order to win games. Chili's teams have lost 25 of their last 36 games. Not exactly a success in my opinion.

 

[KodiacKemba]

NO. He didn't do his job at all. Bringing in top talent is only part of the equation. When you are the associate head coach, you should also be coaching and developing players in order to win games. Chili's teams have lost 25 of their last 36 games. Not exactly a success in my opinion.

Do u put a lot of stock in someone being an associate coach .?? I don’t, either you’re the man or you’re not .. don’t you want to see us get top talent again ?? I mean he’s only been here for a year I think , that’s y I’m saying I want to see this through .. the guy he brought in developed to become a nba 1st overall pick as well as 2 other first round picks ... but I know all coaches are working with their players on and off the court

 

[Huskybass]

Do u put a lot of stock in someone being an associate coach .?? I don’t, either you’re the man or you’re not .. don’t you want to see us get top talent again ?? I mean he’s only been here for a year I think , that’s y I’m saying I want to see this through .. the guy he brought in developed to become a nba 1st overall pick as well as 2 other first round picks ... but I know all coaches are working with their players on and off the court

The role of an associate head coach is much broader than simply being a recruiter. If his efforts don't translate into wins and success, is he really an effective part of the coaching staff? I am not trying to be harsh toward Chill, I just think our coaching staff as a whole is not very effective.

Watch 5 minutes of ANY ranked team and see how nicely they move the ball and the sets they run. Then compare that to a 5 minute UConn stretch. Our shooting woes are not solely because our guys can't shoot. Our guys also get worse looks than the guys on the good teams. That is a big part of coaching, whether it's the head coach or the staff as a whole.

 

[KodiacKemba]

The role of an associate head coach is much broader than simply being a recruiter. If his efforts don't translate into wins and success, is he really an effective part of the coaching staff? I am not trying to be harsh toward Chill, I just think our coaching staff as a whole is not very effective.

Watch 5 minutes of ANY ranked team and see how nicely they move the ball and the sets they run. Then compare that to a 5 minute UConn stretch. Our shooting woes are not solely because our guys can't shoot. Our guys also get worse looks than the guys on the good teams. That is a big part of coaching, whether it's the head coach or the staff as a whole.

Yeah I agree we need to be better at putting our guys in positions to score effectively , long droughts isn’t good for a lot of teams especially US but certain teams can get away with not scoring because of their defense like a Virginia, Cincinnati n so forth

 

[Palatine]

The way to end long droughts is to get to the FT line. There isn't a single UConn player who knows how to draw foul. Anderson is probably the only one who even tries to draw fouls. Vital gets to the line but it because he is aggressive not because he knows how to draw fouls.

Kemba could draw a foul in his sleep.

 

[Huskyfan4evr]

Saw a picture of Larry Brown at Gampel today. Could he be in town mentoring Ollie or is it normal for him to be around?

 

[AdamaNation]

See above: sorry, didn’t see this!

It’s all love fellow husky brethren!!