James Akinjo

[UConnStats]

I think the bad losses last yr aren't hurting things. That was ages ago. Hamilton is fine but I think you're over rating him. Purvis might be doing well in the G League but he was not a good college player as much as I liked him as a person/teammate. How many times did he step out of bounds? Are we gonna blame Ollie for that too? Brimah will not be in the NBA. He's not good enough on O or strong enough. Maybe that's on the S&C coach, but he never got stronger. That's on him. The team you're referring to, however, won the conference tournament and an NCAA tourney game. They lost to a loaded Kansas team. People want to fault him for that too? It took that team awhile to gel, since they had a lot of new guys, but eventually they found their groove.

We can find an excuse for everything, and Ollie has had some bad luck without question. At the end of the day, however, I can’t say that Ollie has exceeded expectations in any facet of his job since 2014. That is an indictment in itself.

 

[RipCity]

I think the bad losses last yr aren't hurting things. That was ages ago. Hamilton is fine but I think you're over rating him. Purvis might be doing well in the G League but he was not a good college player as much as I liked him as a person/teammate. How many times did he step out of bounds? Are we gonna blame Ollie for that too? Brimah will not be in the NBA. He's not good enough on O or strong enough. Maybe that's on the S&C coach, but he never got stronger. That's on him. The team you're referring to, however, won the conference tournament and an NCAA tourney game. They lost to a loaded Kansas team. People want to fault him for that too? It took that team awhile to gel, since they had a lot of new guys, but eventually they found their groove.

You shouldn’t have to make as many excuses for a head coach as you just did in this one post alone.

 

[the Q]

Money is the only thing keeping him as our coach

I totally believe you. That’s why I asked my question.

We as the university and state and taxpayers can’t afford to take on that freight.

 

[Kenny11]

This is the James Akinjo thread?

 

[husky99]

I totally believe you. That’s why I asked my question.

We as the university and state and taxpayers can’t afford to take on that freight.

We have cheap boosters as a collective whole compared to some schools. Football brings the big money in

 

[upstater]

We have cheap boosters as a collective whole compared to some schools. Football brings the big money in

Or, put another way, we don't have enough people who are out of their minds.

 

[husky99]

Or, put another way, we don't have enough people who are out of their minds.

I agree. I had a cousin who worked for Florida State athletics and he said boosters would donate huge money

 

[Matrim55]

Don't get too attached to this kid.

 

[UConnDan97]

I'm looking forward to Akinjo in a UConn jersey! Kid looks like the real deal and sounds like the real deal too...

 

[tcf15]

I'm looking forward to Akinjo in a UConn jersey! Kid looks like the real deal and sounds like the real deal too...

Don't get too attached to this kid.

 

[UConnDan97]

He's a UConn commit until he's not. I'll get as attached to him as I feel like...

 

[auggie22]

If you give him 2 more years and we continue to trend downwards our brand will be entirely tarnished and the ability to attract a coach who would be able to turn this train around would be basically zero. The time has come, even if that means losing a recruit like Akinjo.

If there is a reason to do it sooner, it would be to address lagging ticket sales associated with a mediocre team that is perceived to be on the way down (as opposed to a mediocre team perceived to be on an upswing).

 

[Son of Robert]

Great post, good look. Thank you.

 

[Paesano]

Are you guys already hearing stuff?

 

[Whtdmd]

looking forward to seeing him. He's got the attitude that we need. He will continue the line of successful UCONN PG in the last 20 yrs. Ollie, El-amin, Brown, Walker, Napier, Boatright, Adams, Gilbert and now Akinjo.

 

[8893]

Are you guys already hearing stuff?

He was seen going through a car wash with Ed Cooley. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[Whtdmd]

We have cheap boosters as a collective whole compared to some schools. Football brings the big money in

Accrediting Organization to Decide Fate of Plan to Merge 12 Community Colleges into One

We dont have the money, the state is now trying to save 18 million by merging all the Community colleges to one. The Connecticut state university is next with mergers coming after the spring semester. Susan is very smart, she sees the handwriting on the wall and will never waste 10 million dollars in plain sight. There is a 3 billion dollar deficit projected for 2018-2020. UCONN will have a bull-eye on its back if the state perceive it as a bastion of waste. The biggest MBB donor is a big Ollie fan. UCONN is not that powerful as a public institution. It can't wrest money out of the state like they do in the SEC.

 

[AntG168]

This kid is why we can’t fire KO mid season. We need our new coach to re-recruit this kid. I think a guy like Danny Hurley or another high profile coach can convince him to stay committed

 

[gtcam]

I admire your patience, but perception is part of reality, and the perception of him is as bad as the current product on-court.

He had a good roster lose back to back games against Wagner and Northeastern.

There’s a legitimate possibility that Hamilton, Purvis, and Brimah are all in the NBA next year. Ollie couldn’t make a team with those 3, and a great college player in Shonn Miller, a ranked team.

UConn has performed below expectations across the board every year since 2014. We play down to competition and despite having the highest rated recruits in the conference, we never end up developing them into the best team.

KO can end up being a good coach somewhere, but his time here has to be running out. Changing guard while you have two studs coming off injury/redshirt is the best way you can assure that the next coach has some talent to work with. Hopefully Benedict realizes this and makes a move this offseason.

Shonn Miller was a good college player - by no means was he a great player - if you want reality

 

[gtcam]

It's not unfair to fault KO for that - that team was too talented to be a 9 seed.

It ended up exactly where it should have - no better no worse in end result - the record yes was a disappointment but again it went as far as it could have

 

[gtcam]

KO is a dead man walking. Unless he can pull a miracle...

For some - if wishes were horses.................................
Thanks AD Husky99

 

[upstater]

looking forward to seeing him. He's got the attitude that we need. He will continue the line of successful UCONN PG in the last 20 yrs. Ollie, El-amin, Brown, Walker, Napier, Boatright, Adams, Gilbert and now Akinjo.

And Ollie had a lot to do with the play of at least 5 if not 6 of those guys!

By the way, you left out Marcus Williams and AJ Price.

 

[jibsey]

is Akinjo here without KO?

 

[Tuna]

If you give him 2 more years and we continue to trend downwards our brand will be entirely tarnished and the ability to attract a coach who would be able to turn this train around would be basically zero. The time has come, even if that means losing a recruit like Akinjo.

And how about one year? Or is it literally now or never for the entire future history of UCONN men's basketball in your mind?

 

[Captbluefin]

This is the James Akinjo thread?

Yes it is.... Nice job making a negative mess of this thread everyone..

These will be all the same people who will complain that we don’t or can’t get good players to come here.

Or blame others when a MAL situation happens. Who is going to want to play in front of a fanbase who wrecks the thread about them coming here?

Your a Idiot if you think a 17 yo does not check the thread about him coming to play here daily..

But if he decomits it will fit the narrative of all the all the “ fire ollie” crowd. They will say “ see Ollie cant even keep recruits” when they contributed to the negative campaign in the kids thread..


The kid has said he is coming here to play for KO !!!!

Plus he has blown up since then and other big schools are hot on him.. Recipe for heartbreak for us .. Have fun watching more Tremont Waters type threads about this kid at some other school.