it's time

[HuskyBballFan]

We are talking in circles here, so to be clear, my point is because of Calhouns contract/health status and all the other negative stuff going on, it will be very difficult for this staff under current terms to land an top 50 recruit.

Yes, we are talking in circles. You keep bringing up that people think it's 2004 all over again but nobody is saying that. What I'm saying is that it may be 2010 all over again.

What we're going through now is nowhere near as unprecedented as you are making it out to be. Did you not remember the 2010 offseason - when we were coming off a terrible year, we were in the middle of an unresolved NCAA investigation and worried about a separate postseason ban, our head coach had health issues, and he didn't even have a signed contract? The Boneyard had 25 different "sky is falling" threads on a daily basis.

And if you're unimpressed with the recruiting class we brought in that year, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[djct1999]

Yes, we are talking in circles. You keep bringing up that people think it's 2004 all over again but nobody is saying that. What I'm saying is that it may be 2010 all over again.

What we're going through now is nowhere near as unprecedented as you are making it out to be. Did you not remember the 2010 offseason - when we were coming off a terrible year, we were in the middle of an unresolved NCAA investigation and worried about a separate postseason ban, our head coach had health issues, and he didn't even have a signed contract? The Boneyard had 25 different "sky is falling" threads on a daily basis.

And if you're unimpressed with the recruiting class we brought in that year, I don't know what to tell you.

I do remember that very well. And what happened? The school and Coach announced a new 4 year contract that he said he trully expects to coach for its entirety. Exactly my point. We need clarification like we received in 2010 for the program to regain some stability. With clarity and stability, the program then can continue to move forward. Without it, then this doubt and uncertainity will only escalate exponentially.

 

[upstater]

When Emeka first came to Storrs he was considered a project. He was hardly a blue chip recruit. That being said, Emeka flourished 3 years later. Oh wait, in the current situation, Calhoun wont be here for that development. In fact, best case scenario, for a 2013 recruit he will be here for 1. So my point is, because of that, recruits wont come. This isnt 10 years ago....its not even close. We are talking in circles here, so to be clear, my point is because of Calhouns contract/health status and all the other negative stuff going on, it will be very difficult for this staff under current terms to land an top 50 recruit.

Emeka was much wanted, by the Spring he had offers from Texas and Arkansas. He was a top 50 or 75 recruit. We got him after losing out on Jamal Sampson and Ike Diogu and a few others. He was pretty good his freshman year.

Again, you miss the point. I'm not arguing it's like 10 years ago. I'm saying that the caveats you brought up regarding the recruitment of players in the last class (when Calhoun's age and health were in question) were also there when Calhoun landed players like Jeremy Lamb and Kemba Walker and Emeka Okafor. Of the battles that Calhoun won outright, I can only think of AJ Price, Jeff Adrien and Rudy Gay as wins, and well, Andrew Bynum. But more often than not, the top 50 who come to UConn are of the Villanueva/Okafor/Kemba/Lamb variety, and their stories mirror those of Boatright and Daniels.

 

[upstater]

I do remember that very well. And what happened? The school and Coach announced a new 4 year contract that he said he trully expects to coach for its entirety. Exactly my point. We need clarification like we received in 2010 for the program to regain some stability. With clarity and stability, the program then can continue to move forward. Without it, then this doubt and uncertainity will only escalate exponentially.

Do you think the players are dumb?

You must.

Because if you really believe that Calhoun clarifying his status to fans (without you knowing if he's clarified it to players already) is going to change anything, I don't know what to tell you.

Calhoun at this point is year-to-year, and the players know that. Daniels, Drummond, Boatright, acknowledged that long before they even showed up to stores. And Omar Calhoun underscored that point as well.

 

[specialisthusky]

I do remember that very well. And what happened? The school and Coach announced a new 4 year contract that he said he trully expects to coach for its entirety. Exactly my point. We need clarification like we received in 2010 for the program to regain some stability. With clarity and stability, the program then can continue to move forward. Without it, then this doubt and uncertainity will only escalate exponentially.

we're not 4 years removed from a 4 year contract that coach said he trully expects to coach for its entirety...I'm pretty sure Calhoun isnt going into recruiting visits saying "hey I'm recruting you but i dont know if ill be there for this season." he's going in likely with Ollie next to him saying "I have two years left under my contract. Play for me for at least the next two years and let's kick as much ass as possible on my farewell tour, and then play for this 13 year nba vet if my time comes to an end...oh and did you see our practice facility?"

its not as doom and gloom as you want it to be. Its one year, followed by a likely Calhoun farewell tour, followed by a practice facility and the Ollie era. I don't understand how a Hall of Fame coach staying for the remainder of a contract or possibly longer is at all bad for a program that needs stability, yet there are people arguing we need to regain stability...so let's change coaches.

 

[Excalibur]

furthermore, from dave borges.....
"If you’re asking me as someone who would advise a kid, I’d have a hard time telling him he’s gonna play for Jim Calhoun for four years."

Most of these kids don't think they're staying for four years anyway.

 

[djct1999]

Do you think the players are dumb?

You must.

Because if you really believe that Calhoun clarifying his status to fans (without you knowing if he's clarified it to players already) is going to change anything, I don't know what to tell you.

Calhoun at this point is year-to-year, and the players know that. Daniels, Drummond, Boatright, acknowledged that long before they even showed up to stores. And Omar Calhoun underscored that point as well.

I am really starting to think you dont understand the recruiting process. Unless Calhoun and the university clarify his future, coach in waiting, etc. the program will be a lame duck. recruits understand that and unless you start to, you may be one of those guys two years from now looking back, saying how did we get here. this notion that coach can continue "to do what he does" is the solution is dumbfounding to me. i do appreciate the loyalty to calhoun and i get it. i am not suggesting that the school fire him. but to draw comparissons to our past or to progress as status quo only makes the current matter worse.

 

[djct1999]

we're not 4 years removed from a 4 year contract that coach said he trully expects to coach for its entirety...I'm pretty sure Calhoun isnt going into recruiting visits saying "hey I'm recruting you but i dont know if ill be there for this season." he's going in likely with Ollie next to him saying "I have two years left under my contract. Play for me for at least the next two years and let's kick as much ass as possible on my farewell tour, and then play for this 13 year nba vet if my time comes to an end...oh and did you see our practice facility?"

its not as doom and gloom as you want it to be. Its one year, followed by a likely Calhoun farewell tour, followed by a practice facility and the Ollie era. I don't understand how a Hall of Fame coach staying for the remainder of a contract or possibly longer is at all bad for a program that needs stability, yet there are people arguing we need to regain stability...so let's change coaches.

unless he wants to reach on whats left with this class, he is recruiting kids for 2013-14 at w hich point he will have 1 year. what recruit will link their future to that? come on.

 

[AJC88]

What if Calhoun coaches after two years? Has he said anywhere that he wouldn't consider coaching after this current contract expires? I know he's 70 and has health issues, but if the guy is healthy I don't suddenly see his fire burning out because a contract expires.

 

[AJC88]

I am really starting to think you dont understand the recruiting process. Unless Calhoun and the university clarify his future, coach in waiting, etc. the program will be a lame duck. recruits understand that and unless you start to, you may be one of those guys two years from now looking back, saying how did we get here. this notion that coach can continue "to do what he does" is the solution is dumbfounding to me. i do appreciate the loyalty to calhoun and i get it. i am not suggesting that the school fire him. but to draw comparissons to our past or to progress as status quo only makes the current matter worse.

I don't think you understand the recruiting process, DJ. Calhoun never came out until September last year to the public that he was staying, yet DD, Drummond, and Boatright all committed long before then. Hmmm... maybe he does indeed tell players something when he sits down with them during visits.
Just because Coach isn't letting you in on his intentions doesn't mean he's keeping it a secret from recruits.

 

[djct1999]

Do you think the players are dumb?

You must.

Because if you really believe that Calhoun clarifying his status to fans (without you knowing if he's clarified it to players already) is going to change anything, I don't know what to tell you.

Calhoun at this point is year-to-year, and the players know that. Daniels, Drummond, Boatright, acknowledged that long before they even showed up to stores. And Omar Calhoun underscored that point as well.

when daniels, drummond, & boatright came, calhoun had 3 years left and the entire landscape was far more optimistic. i am pretty sure all 3 of those kids felt that they were 1 and done or 2. my guess is none of them expected to be in storrs after calhoun left.

 

[djct1999]

I don't think you understand the recruiting process, DJ. Calhoun never came out until September last year to the public that he was staying, yet DD, Drummond, and Boatright all committed long before then. Hmmm... maybe he does indeed tell players something when he sits down with them during visits.
Just because Coach isn't letting you in on his intentions doesn't mean he's keeping it a secret from recruits.

right. and roscoe left because he wanted minutes at the 3. at this point, we are losing quality players not gaining them. whatever calhoun is saying must be working.....right?

 

[HuskyBballFan]

I am really starting to think you dont understand the recruiting process. Unless Calhoun and the university clarify his future, coach in waiting, etc. the program will be a lame duck. recruits understand that and unless you start to, you may be one of those guys two years from now looking back, saying how did we get here.

And you understand the recruiting process? You think that the fact that Calhoun hasn't told Don Amore about his intentions for next year means that he's doing the same thing to recruits? You think that recruits read the Boneyard and Hartford Courant and say "oh my God, I don't know if Calhoun is coming back" or do you think that maybe they talk directly to the source?

Jim Calhoun was out recruiting Bradley Hayes last week. You think his message to Hayes was "hey Bradley, I really think you should come to Uconn. I have no idea who your coach is going to be, but you should come anways." RJ Evans said the only way he wouldn't commit to Uconn is if Calhoun wasn't coming back...and two days after he said that he committed to Uconn.

I have no idea why Calhoun likes to play this cat and mouse game with the media every year. It may be that he just can't stand having to answer the question and has the "I'll tell you when I want to tell you" mentality. Who really knows. But I promise you that the fact that Calhoun hasn't told you his intentions doesn't mean that he's being as ambiguous with recruits.

 

[Excalibur]

Wrong inquiry. Compare where the program will be one year from now with Calhoun staying vs. how it will be under some nameless second rate coach. That's what we're going to get if we have to hire someone now. Nobody is taking the job in late Spring, with a postseason ban looming, players running out the door (and more leaving if there's a coaching change) and no practice facility.


I'm yet to hear a legitimate response to this.

And I'm still waiting -- because there is no response.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

And I'm still waiting -- because there is no response.

You are correct - no good coaches are coming here because they all want to go to Va Tech (sarcasm)

 

[AJC88]

right. and roscoe left because he wanted minutes at the 3. at this point, we are losing quality players not gaining them. whatever calhoun is saying must be working.....right?

Umm the state player of the year for New York isn't a quality recruit? I don't like to insult people on message boards but you sir are coming off as a genius.

 

[Excalibur]

You are correct - no good coaches are coming here because they all want to go to Va Tech (sarcasm)

I'm talking about timing. It seems that you and others want to have him leave now and try to find a legitimate coach in late April, which only increases uncertainty at the end of the recruiting year and probably gets us a less qualified in-game coach.

 

[upstater]

when daniels, drummond, & boatright came, calhoun had 3 years left and the entire landscape was far more optimistic. i am pretty sure all 3 of those kids felt that they were 1 and done or 2. my guess is none of them expected to be in storrs after calhoun left.

Where are you coming up with this 3 years left stuff? You're talking about the contract? Seriously? Boatright thought he was a one or two year max player? Omar Calhoun too?

I mean, you're out to lunch.

 

[djct1999]

out to lunch? what am i making up? when drummond, daniels, and boatright signed, did calhoun not have 3 years left on his deal. do you think for one minute that any of these three players viewed themselves as a 4 year player and would eventually play for someone other than calhoun. you are dillusional. again, if you think for once an incoming recruit is not concerned about calhouns tenure and who will be the next coach then you simply dont get the recruiting process.

 

[AJC88]

out to lunch? what am i making up? when drummond, daniels, and boatright signed, did calhoun not have 3 years left on his deal. do you think for one minute that any of these three players viewed themselves as a 4 year player and would eventually play for someone other than calhoun. you are dillusional. again, if you think for once an incoming recruit is not concerned about calhouns tenure and who will be the next coach then you simply dont get the recruiting process.

What we all clearly lack in understanding the recruiting process, you lack in reading comprehension skills. People have been negatively recruiting against Calhoun for YEARS saying that players won't play for him yada yada yada. You're making this sound like a new phenomenon. LAST YEAR HE DIDN'T SAY HE WAS COMING BACK UNTIL SEPTEMBER. If there was ever a chance he was going to retire, it was LAST YEAR. Yet, UConn lands one of its best recruiting classes ever.
My point- Just because he does not go to the media and tell them "Hey guys, I will be back this year", does not mean he will not. He is out recruiting RIGHT NOW. He's coming back, its pretty clear.

 

[djct1999]

What we all clearly lack in understanding the recruiting process, you lack in reading comprehension skills. People have been negatively recruiting against Calhoun for YEARS saying that players won't play for him yada yada yada. You're making this sound like a new phenomenon. LAST YEAR HE DIDN'T SAY HE WAS COMING BACK UNTIL SEPTEMBER. If there was ever a chance he was going to retire, it was LAST YEAR. Yet, UConn lands one of its best recruiting classes ever.
My point- Just because he does not go to the media and tell them "Hey guys, I will be back this year", does not mean he will not. He is out recruiting RIGHT NOW. He's coming back, its pretty clear.

i am not sure what you comprehend, sir...i mean genius.

 

[AJC88]

i am not sure what you comprehend, sir...i mean genius.

Good reply. Someone pokes holes in your entire argument and you reply with "genius".
But please, educate us all on how "the recruiting game works". I'm sure your ideas are far more based in reality than my experiences from befriending, and spending an enormous amount of time with recent football and basketball players and asking questions about how the process works. So, here's your chance, educate us.

 

[djct1999]

Good reply. Someone pokes holes in your entire argument and you reply with "genius".
But please, educate us all on how "the recruiting game works". I'm sure your ideas are far more based in reality than my experiences from befriending, and spending an enormous amount of time with recent football and basketball players and asking questions about how the process works. So, here's your chance, educate us.

first, you havent poked a hole in anything, you started with the name calling. whats the point of a message board if everyone is simply going to agree and be "yes" people? as far as the recruiting process works, i guess i dont need to educate a so called expert. i assume you are the only one with football and basketball "friends".

 

[AJC88]

first, you havent poked a hole in anything, you started with the name calling. whats the point of a message board if everyone is simply going to agree and be "yes" people? as far as the recruiting process works, i guess i dont need to educate a so called expert. i assume you are the only one with football and basketball "friends".

Not saying that I am an expert at all. You keep saying that you know how the recruiting process works and we don't, so teach me what I didn't learn from, yes, my friends, who were athletes. Did I say one of your earlier posts was moronic? Yup, and I stand by that statement, because you just keep saying the same thing over and over without actually acknowledging that the same arguments have been made against UConn for years.
This is your chance, the forum is yours, teach us about the recruiting process.

 

[upstater]

out to lunch? what am i making up? when drummond, daniels, and boatright signed, did calhoun not have 3 years left on his deal. do you think for one minute that any of these three players viewed themselves as a 4 year player and would eventually play for someone other than calhoun. you are dillusional. again, if you think for once an incoming recruit is not concerned about calhouns tenure and who will be the next coach then you simply dont get the recruiting process.

You're out to lunch because you actually put credence in the length of deals. Calhoun is year-to-year and he has said as much repeatedly in the past. He was motivated to right right after the Final Four in 2008-2009. he just negotiated his current deal recently (it's less than 1 year old). You're the first and only person I've heard who thinks the length of his contract is a factor here at all. Calhoun has long said that he wants to retire soon. We heard about this stuff 4 or 5 years ago already. On the flip side, it's not like the school is going to push him out either if he doesn't have a contract. Do you honestly think people were worried last year when he didn't have a contract that the school would force him out? PLEASE!

 

[upstater]

What we all clearly lack in understanding the recruiting process, you lack in reading comprehension skills. People have been negatively recruiting against Calhoun for YEARS saying that players won't play for him yada yada yada. You're making this sound like a new phenomenon. LAST YEAR HE DIDN'T SAY HE WAS COMING BACK UNTIL SEPTEMBER. If there was ever a chance he was going to retire, it was LAST YEAR. Yet, UConn lands one of its best recruiting classes ever.
My point- Just because he does not go to the media and tell them "Hey guys, I will be back this year", does not mean he will not. He is out recruiting RIGHT NOW. He's coming back, its pretty clear.

I mean, you get it, a lot of other people get it, it's astounding that he doesn't get it.

 

[AJC88]

You're out to lunch because you actually put credence in the length of deals. Calhoun is year-to-year and he has said as much repeatedly in the past. He was motivated to right right after the Final Four in 2008-2009. he just negotiated his current deal recently (it's less than 1 year old). You're the first and only person I've heard who thinks the length of his contract is a factor here at all. Calhoun has long said that he wants to retire soon. We heard about this stuff 4 or 5 years ago already. On the flip side, it's not like the school is going to push him out either if he doesn't have a contract. Do you honestly think people were worried last year when he didn't have a contract that the school would force him out? PLEASE!

To further your point, he has also said he does not want to leave the program in bad shape.

 

[upstater]

first, you havent poked a hole in anything, you started with the name calling. whats the point of a message board if everyone is simply going to agree and be "yes" people? as far as the recruiting process works, i guess i dont need to educate a so called expert. i assume you are the only one with football and basketball "friends".

WOW! This is eye-opening. You say he was name-calling, and he said you lack reading comprehension. He criticized your skills, the same way you have repeatedly criticized my knowledge here. If you're going to engage in a conversation, you might consider refraining from doing things that get under your skin when someone criticizes you. Instead, you come back and call him a genius.

 

[djct1999]

WOW! This is eye-opening. You say he was name-calling, and he said you lack reading comprehension. He criticized your skills, the same way you have repeatedly criticized my knowledge here. If you're going to engage in a conversation, you might consider refraining from doing things that get under your skin when someone criticizes you. Instead, you come back and call him a genius.

it was a play on words from his previous post. if you can be condescending, you certainly should be able to understand hyperbole.

 

[AJC88]

it was a play on words from his previous post. if you can be condescending, you certainly should be able to understand hyperbole.

If you don't think that getting the gatorade player of the year from NY is a quality player, you're a genius. Sorry bud.