Jeff Jacobs: Ollie Will Fight, But Can He Get Better Leading Program?

[CTBasketball]

That's a quote from JJ. Take it with a grain of salt. My guess is JJ saw people arguing in a thread when that tweet appeared and many thought initially Rodney was directing it at KO. Most people now believe that Rodney was directing it at some of the players.

JJ just being JJ with this.

There was definitely a feeling of "we're going to do this ourselves" in the locker room last season.

 

[polycom]

She may have expected that after the NBA travel ended he'd be home with her and found that didn't happen with college recruiting. She had a reduced financial incentive to stay every year as their wealth rose relative to his earnings. It was a selfish and loveless move no doubt, but it's not too surprising that a selfish person might prefer to be rich and free to play around to being rich at home alone.

Lol what kind of speculation is this?

 

[whaler11]

this is like a soap opera

If this is really the issues with the friggin basketball program just let us know and most of us will come back in 2 years for the rebuild. Because if this nonsense is the reason they stink out loud there is no hope.

 

[upstater]

JC jettisoned a lot of guys in his time at UConn. And the same things could have been said about a number of them.

I don't have a great handle on what exactly happened with all these guys {I suspect it was individual to each), nor am > absolving ollie. Just saying this has occurred here before to some degree.

Even some of the guys who stayed don't have a good relationship with JC. I mean we know Oriakhi, but what about Gavin Edwards? Here we have a recruit ranked about 300, with barely any other offers, might not have gotten along at all with his high school coach, didn't start until senior year in HS, and the kid was molded into being the absolute best player he could ever possibly be, and he was not grateful in the least to Calhoun. It amazes me.

Anyone who believes it is always on the coaches couldn't be more wrong. I have to admit that I took it very badly when Oriakhi mouthed off to JC during the game. It was already a bad season when that happened, so I was like, hit the road!

 

[tcf15]

I dont understand how your the first one to call out that nonsense. A professional journalist shouldnt even imply such things with ZERO eveidence to back it up. That was jeff jacobs "piling on"

We're talking about the guy who called this celebration a "nefarious street sign" back in 2014.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo used words like "hate" and "despise" Saturday to describe his feelings for elements of social media. The lack of accountability drives him crazy. He's right, of course. And in that vein, we want to tread carefully, responsibly, here about the gesture that Samuel made. I fear somebody will go off, asserting I claimed this or that. I'm not claiming anything. I'm saying that Samuel's gesture looked like the "monocle" players make after a three-point play, yet it also looked close to a more nefarious street sign.

Jeff Jacobs column: It's all in good fun with UConn Huskies, even coach's playfully slapping a player.

 

[AntG168]

There was definitely a feeling of "we're going to do this ourselves" in the locker room last season.

Miss me with the anonymous sources. Rodney wasnt talking about Ollie. That is the actual idea of "Fake News"

 

[tzznandrew]

He needs to nail a big class in 2018 and he needs to be who we thought he was - an overachiever who fights for every inch.

This. I've read enough smoke to think there's fire behind the idea that KO perhaps hasn't fought as much as he said he would. Who knows why that is, and there's no reason to count him out yet. But...

 

[whaler11]

People are careful about what they say here for good reason - but if you don't want to see the parallels between where Diaco took UConn and where the basketball program is danger of going...

I firmly believe there are a lot of good posters here pulling punches because if you shine a light on this circus it's really hard to look at.

 

[intlzncster]

No, he is not spot on. A zone is not the UConn culture. Glen and his anonymous buddies should focus on him getting a job rather than making him so bitter and toxic no one will hire him.

A teachable moment after their sabbaticals Beau and Pat got jobs because head coaches want loyal assistants not back stabbers.

Triggered.

 

[AntG168]

People are careful about what they say here for good reason - but if you don't want to see the parallels between where Diaco took UConn and where the basketball program is danger of going...

I firmly believe there are a lot of good posters here pulling punches because if you shine a light on this circus it's really hard to look at.

The major difference is Diaco had never won anything as a head coach. To compare Ollie to Diaco is so unfair and disrespectful. Diaco was a complete disaster, Ollie has hit a rough patch. The situations are not at all similar. The only thing they have in common is they both coached at UConn....THAT'S IT

 

[CTBasketball]

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Miss me with the anonymous sources. Rodney wasnt talking about Ollie. That is the actual idea of "Fake News"

If you say so. Water over the dam.

 

[AntG168]

If you say so. Water over the dam.

Its not if I say so. Rodney himself on Instagram live said he was not talking about Ollie and I quote,"KO is like a father to me. I wish i could stay". Now if you want to be pessimistic and say rodney is lying have at it

 

[whaler11]

The major difference is Diaco had never won anything as a head coach. To compare Ollie to Diaco is so unfair and disrespectful. Diaco was a complete disaster, Ollie has hit a rough patch. The situations are not at all similar. The only thing they have in common is they both coached at UConn....THAT'S IT

It's actually not all they have in common if you are paying attention.

Like I said people don't share their thoughts and they pull punches for exactly this reason.

This is a rough spot? This is a full fledged tire fire with no realistic end in sight based on anything but faith.

 

[AntG168]

It's actually not all they have in common if you are paying attention.

Like I said people don't share their thoughts and they pull punches for exactly this reason.

This is a rough spot? This is a full fledged tire fire with no realistic end in sight based on anything but faith.

If you really put the two situations side by side you have to reach really deep to find the similarities. Last season Ollie had a TOP 10 recruiting class while Diaco had one of the worst. Ollie won a title, and conference championship and a winning season 4-5 yrs while diaco never had a winning season. Diaco was a certified lunatic while Ollie is universally still respected by opposing coaches amd former and current players. UConn mens basketball fams are spoiled. We have a losing season and we are now on parallel paths with the bob diaco uconn football era. That just isnt true. When we have consecutive losing seasons with 0-2 star recruits then you can compare the situations.

There are things to be concerned about, and many things to complain about. But lets keep the conversations honest amd stop sensationlizing our arguments to try and prove a point. Ollie is struggling but he is not Diaco

 

[whaler11]

If you really put the two situations side by side you have to reach really deep to find the similarities. Last season Ollie had a TOP 10 recruiting class while Diaco had one of the worst. Ollie won a title, and conference championship and a winning season 4-5 yrs while diaco never had a winning season. Diaco was a certified lunatic while Ollie is universally still respected by opposing coaches amd former and current players. UConn mens basketball fams are spoiled. We have a losing season and we are now on parallel paths with the bob diaco UConn football era. That just isnt true. When we have consecutive losing seasons with 0-2 star recruits then you can compare the situations.

There are things to be concerned about, and many things to complain about. But lets keep the conversations honest amd stop sensationlizing our arguments to try and prove a point. Ollie is struggling but he is not Diaco

He's not Diaco - nobody is that bad.

If you can't see some of the same flashing red lights you are either blind or being obtuse.

If you want to compare the results of someone who took over from Jim Calhoun and someone who took over from Paul Pasqualoini... well let's just say you aren't interested in 'honesty'.

 

[AntG168]

He's not Diaco - nobody is that bad.

If you can't see some of the same flashing red lights you are either blind or being obtuse.

If you want to compare the results of someone who took over from Jim Calhoun and someone who took over from Paul Pasqualoini... well let's just say you aren't interested in 'honesty'.

Thatd be a good point if Jom Calhoun left the program in a stable good position which he didnt. Did you forget Ollie inherited a post season ban and recruiting restrictions. Or did you purposely omit them to prove your point??

 

[whaler11]

Thatd be a good point if Jom Calhoun left the program in a stable good position which he didnt. Did you forget Ollie inherited a post season ban and recruiting restrictions. Or did you purposely omit them to prove your point??

Yeah damn that Calhoun leaving them with a bunch of good players.

Yeah I'm familiar with the history.

Have you missed the last three seasons?

 

[AntG168]

Yeah damn that Calhoun leaving them with a bunch of good players.

Yeah I'm familiar with the history.

Have you missed the last three seasons?

Lmao. Your recollection of history is warped. Calhoun left him with an erratic shabazz, young boat, a very raw daniels, and niels(nobody envisioned him becoming what he became). Ollie turned those players into champions not Calhoun. Again failed. Im still waiting on these similarities between what diaco did and what ollie has done. What ollie did in the 2015-16 season diaco could only dream of doing. The yr beforr we lost a lot and it was boat and ths bums. Tbat yr was the direct effect of the recruiting violations. Last yr was bad. Everyone has theyre own reasons why some valid some not. But even in his worst yr it was more impressive than anything diaco did. You can say hes beem underwhelming. But as long as you push this diaco comparison you'll look foolish and lose all credibility

 

[pj]

This is a rough spot? This is a full fledged tire fire with no realistic end in sight based on anything but faith.

Faith is an essential part of life. Nothing difficult is accomplished without it. Including basketball national championships.

 

[TRest]

Yeah damn that Calhoun leaving them with a bunch of good players.

Yeah I'm familiar with the history.

Have you missed the last three seasons?[/QUOTED]
Diaco came here with a better coaching pedigree than KO. We now have to determine who the real KO is. Diaco showed himself right away.

 

[Huskybass]

Lmao. Your recollection of history is warped. Calhoun left him with an erratic shabazz, young boat, a very raw daniels, and niels(nobody envisioned him becoming what he became). Ollie turned those players into champions not Calhoun. Again failed. Im still waiting on these similarities between what diaco did and what ollie has done. What ollie did in the 2015-16 season diaco could only dream of doing. The yr beforr we lost a lot and it was boat and ths bums. Tbat yr was the direct effect of the recruiting violations. Last yr was bad. Everyone has theyre own reasons why some valid some not. But even in his worst yr it was more impressive than anything diaco did. You can say hes beem underwhelming. But as long as you push this diaco comparison you'll look foolish and lose all credibility

What have you seen over the past three seasons that causes you to be optimistic? I see an ever increasing mess quite honestly.

 

[AntG168]

What have you seen over the past three seasons that causes you to be optimistic? I see an ever increasing mess quite honestly.

Because that guy who won a national championship against all odds didn't die. He's still our coach. Will he deliver i have no idea, but neither do you. Im cool with ppl being down on the program. Its just the ridiculous comments that set me off

 

[whaler11]

Faith is an essential part of life. Nothing difficult is accomplished without it. Including basketball national championships.

Oh national championships are won based on the faith of fans. That makes perfect sense.

 

[Stainmaster]

Oh national championships are won based on the faith of fans. That makes perfect sense.

It's no less ridiculous than claiming that the program's status is reliant on "fan expectations."

 

[pj]

What have you seen over the past three seasons that causes you to be optimistic? I see an ever increasing mess quite honestly.

What makes me optimistic:
1. We got past the recruiting restrictions.
2. We got past the negative publicity associated with the APR ban and conference realignment.
3. We got past KO's growing pains as a head coach. He's hit his speed bumps that forced him to clarify his path as head coach. He's learned what characteristics he needs in recruits. He's learned what style he wants to play.
4. KO has asserted himself. He's begun to make this his program. He's migrated from the coaching staff he inherited from Calhoun to one that is more than 50% hand-picked by himself.
5. We have a great Athletic Director who gives his coaches the tools they need to succeed.
6. We have a coach who has won a national championship and is 7-1 in the NCAA tourney, also a strong record in the conference tourney. He knows how to win in March.
7. We have a coach who spent 13 years in the NBA, did it by mastering the little things, and earned the respect of everyone he played with. That's a great selling point for recruits.
8. We have a name brand program with best-in-class facilities.
9. We have an NBA strength and conditioning coach for the athletes.
10. We have a highly respected recruiter as #2.
11. We have a core of great players coming back for next year. Alterique, Jalen, Larrier mean we can play with anybody.

Do you need more?