Is anyone else excited?

[Huskymagic]

Even if there are no more defections there are a lot of holes that have to be plugged and I don’t see players available with the type of quality that will be better than what KO had to desperately grab after last years defections. And I expect more to leave. So next year will be the same as this year at best imo.

Unless the hire is an individual who has an incredible reputation, his results next season will be used against him by other programs even as the hopeful in this forum give him a pass. So the odds of him getting a good recruiting class two years from now are not great.

You and I are looking at probabilities, not absolutes. We’ve also checked our “anything is better than KO” at the door. On the one hand I’m relieved that the situation is changing. On the other hand I can envision a lot of scenarios that can end up just as negative as now or worse. Difficult to be excited when the odds are stacked against us.

Fleud our roster for the most part is terrible so other than Jalen, CV, Wilson and most likely Gilbert every other player is expendable.

That is good because if Hurley is coming in, we need to make room for his 4 man recruiting class. That is enough for us to be very competitive in the AAC.

You know Jalen, CV, will be extremely motivated considering what has happened and wanting to prove themselves nationally. Calhoun and Hurley Sr will also be on hand to help Hurley and the players.

PS: UCONN nation don't despair because we very well might have the same turnaround that Ohio St and NC State did this year under new coaches. Brighter days are ahead.

PS: 2019 top 10 recruits from Jersey Scottie Lewis and Bryan Antoine could be in play with Hurley at UCONN.

 

[Stainmaster]

PS: UCONN nation don't despair because we very well might have the same turnaround that Ohio St and NC State did this year under new coaches. Brighter days are ahead.

You think next year’s team has any shot at being ranked in the top 10 next year? Why are you drunk on a Sunday morning?

 

[Marty Jackson]

Even if there are no more defections there are a lot of holes that have to be plugged and I don’t see players available with the type of quality that will be better than what KO had to desperately grab after last years defections. And I expect more to leave. So next year will be the same as this year at best imo.

Unless the hire is an individual who has an incredible reputation, his results next season will be used against him by other programs even as the hopeful in this forum give him a pass. So the odds of him getting a good recruiting class two years from now are not great.

You and I are looking at probabilities, not absolutes. We’ve also checked our “anything is better than KO” at the door. On the one hand I’m relieved that the situation is changing. On the other hand I can envision a lot of scenarios that can end up just as negative as now or worse. Difficult to be excited when the odds are stacked against us.

you're assumption is that a team can't change course or turn around current trends.
A new coach coming in might have players willing to follow him.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I remember in the St Joe's game he came out at halftime and said "we'll win this game". .

All the more amazing that it was the Villanova game. It was an amazing moment.

 

[Paesano]

Even if there are no more defections there are a lot of holes that have to be plugged and I don’t see players available with the type of quality that will be better than what KO had to desperately grab after last years defections. And I expect more to leave. So next year will be the same as this year at best imo.

Unless the hire is an individual who has an incredible reputation, his results next season will be used against him by other programs even as the hopeful in this forum give him a pass. So the odds of him getting a good recruiting class two years from now are not great.

You and I are looking at probabilities, not absolutes. We’ve also checked our “anything is better than KO” at the door. On the one hand I’m relieved that the situation is changing. On the other hand I can envision a lot of scenarios that can end up just as negative as now or worse. Difficult to be excited when the odds are stacked against us.

Where is your usual optimism? Now you are a realist?!?!?

Sure, let's talk probabilities. We are more likely to be a respectable team again, some day, with a new coach than with Ollie. I will give you that the probabilty of success is not 100%. But it isn't zero, either. And it is higher that it would have been if we kept Ollie.

 

[ctchamps]

Where is your usual optimism? Now you are a realist?!?!?

Sure, let's talk probabilities. We are more likely to be a respectable team again, some day, with a new coach than with Ollie. I will give you that the probabilty of success is not 100%. But it isn't zero, either. And it is higher that it would have been if we kept Ollie.

We have no clue if the chances of success will be higher, the same or worse. I'm a UConn football fan and I've watched this type of scenario from that perspective. I've witnessed fans who wanted to get rid of RE1.0. They had the same degree of excitement when he left. We've seen how that's turned out.

Put me in the category of hopeful. I'll reserve excitement when I see some evidence for excitement.

Please. UConn had become irrelevant over the past two seasons. Now there is hope that in time that will change. It was clear to anyone being objective that things were not going to turn around under KO. By any objective measure, the last two seasons were terrible. A very good coach can change lots of things for the better within 2 to 3 years. This notion that we should be afraid of change is mind boggling.

The next time I see crisp ball movement and high basketball IQ on the court I will be grinning from ear to ear, because just those two little things will signal that the program is on the road to recovery.

I'm aware of the possibility that things could turn out well. I'm just reserving my excitement until more evidence presents itself.

I'm a happy dude. I have a terrific relationship with my family and friends, I'm in a decent place financially, I'm healthy and I'm active. I'd love to live to 120 the current predicted upper limit of human mortality. I'm hopeful it happens but I'm not too excited about the prospects given the numbers of humans that reach that age. Now if I reach 105 I'll start getting excited.

Besides the "Pleeeeze" which is obnoxious by any standard, your statement "this notion that we should be afraid of change is mind boggling" misrepresents my viewpoint entirely. My fear is not change, but that UConn men's bb will turn out the same or worse and some of us will be have to endure the same old, same old, whining of fans who can't handle losing.

I hope that smile remains on your face because what we have in common is the desire for the men's team to do well. Where we differ is in our abilities to handle things when they are not going well. That my friend is the second constant equation in all of this that I'd love to see change. Based on what I observe that outcome has a lower probability of occurring than the team becoming successful under a new coach.

 

[ctchamps]

Fleud our roster for the most part is terrible so other than Jalen, CV, Wilson and most likely Gilbert every other player is expendable.

That is good because if Hurley is coming in, we need to make room for his 4 man recruiting class. That is enough for us to be very competitive in the AAC.

You know Jalen, CV, will be extremely motivated considering what has happened and wanting to prove themselves nationally. Calhoun and Hurley Sr will also be on hand to help Hurley and the players.

PS: UCONN nation don't despair because we very well might have the same turnaround that Ohio St and NC State did this year under new coaches. Brighter days are ahead.

PS: 2019 top 10 recruits from Jersey Scottie Lewis and Bryan Antoine could be in play with Hurley at UCONN.

I hope this or even better positive scenarios can be in the cards for the UConn men's bb future. Given that we hit each other pretty hard earlier in the season, I'm quite impressed that you approached my expressed concerns in a positive manner.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Excited? Hmmm, more of a healthy juxtaposition of past disappointment, reasonable current concern, and healthy anticipation of future upside potential. Onward and upward, National Flag Blue and White. Go UConn!

 

[Danzz]

Please. UConn had become irrelevant over the past two seasons. Now there is hope that in time that will change. It was clear to anyone being objective that things were not going to turn around under KO. By any objective measure, the last two seasons were terrible. A very good coach can change lots of things for the better within 2 to 3 years. This notion that we should be afraid of change is mind boggling.

The next time I see crisp ball movement and high basketball IQ on the court I will be grinning from ear to ear, because just those two little things will signal that the program is on the road to recovery.

KO had little to work with and that is on him. Does anybody really think that another coach would have got us in the tourney with this group?
I'm not defending KO because I saw a change in him the last two years and it was more about attitude or something else I can't put my finger on. He was not the same coach that we saw his first 2 years. He didn't all of a sudden forget X's and O's or how to teach but there was just something missing.
The coaching change will be good for UConn and good for KO. He is a really good guy and I wish him success. Unlike most, I believe he has a future in coaching but it wasn't going to be at UConn.

 

[ctchamps]

you're assumption is that a team can't change course or turn around current trends.
A new coach coming in might have players willing to follow him.

That is certainly possible. More than likely they'll have signed a LOI and have to sit out a year. But that certainly will mitigate some damage to the following years recruitment.

My assumption is that given the circumstances currently facing UConn (the conference, the FBI cloud over UConn even if it's just smoke and not fire, the financial positions of the AD and the state of CT., the contraction of ESPN's subscriptions, the degree of scandals surrounding college bb, the possibility that the NCAA will implode and the haves will bolt, the possibility that the NBA will set up a minor league model like baseball, the possibility that players will receive monetary compensation and UConn will not be able to match this) gives me pause that a coach who can bring in decent players, even if they have to sit out a season, will consider UConn.

And I have further reservations that even if such a coach is willing to take the chance, he'll be able to fulfill our hopes. What is truly amazing about JC is that he accomplished something that is very rarely accomplished. Either we are overstating his accomplishment or we are overstating how easy it is to get someone in next season and meet our demands. I hope with all my heart I'm being pessimistic and not realistic.

 

[UConnNick]

And if Billy D. is a realistic option, we should go all in and open up the purse strings.

(1) He's a totally unrealistic option;
(2) We don't need more NCAA issues than we've already got. Pitino was his coach and mentor. Enough said.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Maybe I’m being naive, but with the right hire I don’t invision two terrible years. Depending on who stays, I think there are certainly pieces that a coach can build off of. I’m not expecting us to see Ohio State improvement like they saw with the new coach, but I can certainly see a > .500 finish.

If everyone stays you will accept anything above .500 .

If KO stayed with that same team winning 25 games would have been a disaster
for half the board.
Actually next year would have been the best team of returning players in 5 years.
If the new coach can’t win 20 plus games with that fictional team he is a loser.
The real question is who really is coming back and who if anyone does he bring in.
Then we can rationally discuss expectations.

 

[Calhoun's Court]

Excited about a new beginning.
But not excited about the returning group.
Hoping 2 things. First that a few of these guys see that they will not play here and leave -freeing up scholorships.
Secondly that the new coach can bring in some late talent this spring to shore up our dreadful offense.

 

[GetTheFacts]

Is Billy Donovan a realistic option? He probably wouldn't get fired until mid-to-late May (once the Thunder get bounced from the playoffs) and I would imagine UConn would like to hire a coach well before that.

 

[PAHusky]

We knew KO sucked the last two years and that next year wasn’t looking much better.

We don’t know who’s taking the reigns, but whoever it is means a fresh start with the potential for failure, yes, but also for a return to watchable basketball. If you know what’s behind door number one sucks, taking a chance on door two is exciting -regardless of the outcome.

All the fervent Ko supporters are now left with nothing more than predicting doom and trying to act wise by preaching cautious expectations.

 

[Huskybass]

KO had little to work with and that is on him. Does anybody really think that another coach would have got us in the tourney with this group?
I'm not defending KO because I saw a change in him the last two years and it was more about attitude or something else I can't put my finger on. He was not the same coach that we saw his first 2 years. He didn't all of a sudden forget X's and O's or how to teach but there was just something missing.
The coaching change will be good for UConn and good for KO. He is a really good guy and I wish him success. Unlike most, I believe he has a future in coaching but it wasn't going to be at UConn.

KO didn't change. The cast of players and assistant coaches around him did change though in a huge way. His first few years he had a veteran team with lots of talent. He also had Blaney, Hobbs and Miller as assistant coaches. Collectively, those guys had 5 decades of head coaching experience between the three of them.

KO replaced very knowledgeable assistants with his own guys who had nowhere near the experience or skillet. In addition, roster construction and recruiting was always a bit off. For example, this year we had 3 healthy guards. KO started all 3 in many games and had nobody left to spell the guys when they got tired.

Initially, KO had a great roster and a great supporting cast of assistants. Over time both were gone and the results that followed were pretty bad.

 

[tentoes4rings]

If everyone stays you will accept anything above .500 .

If KO stayed with that same team winning 25 games would have been a disaster
for half the board.
Actually next year would have been the best team of returning players in 5 years.
If the new coach can’t win 20 plus games with that fictional team he is a loser.
The real question is who really is coming back and who if anyone does he bring in.
Then we can rationally discuss expectations.

Nonsense. Where do you get this 25 win thing? We averaged 15 wins the past 2 years!! I'm sure if we took a poll, an overwhelming percentage of people here would be happy with 18-20 wins next year, with a team that plays the game with intelligence and heart. I'm excited to see better roster construction and much better coaching than we've seen the past two years. I'm confident and excited we'll see an upgrade in both areas.