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

[whaler11]

Kevin Ollie is right around the 10th highest paid college basketball coach in America. We deserve better than what we've seen the past three seasons. With a program with a history like UConn, top notch facilities and the salary to match it, 1 NCAA tournament bid the past 3 seasons doesn't cut it.

The narrative that we are limited as a program as to where KO takes us is BS. The conference isn't attractive, but the program still has cache and the salary more than anything else would allow us to bring in a solid coach.

KO will always get credit for the National Title run and he earned that. The pattern of middling regular season success and this past seasons abject failure is more of an indication to me about his capacity as a head coach than catching lightning in a bottle with the best player in college basketball for that season over 6 games. They don't contradict each other. You can achieve the apex of success in a game, but then also fall off the mountain.

More so concerning than the up and down results of the past 3 years is how the bottom fell off this off season. Given the injuries, this past season would be difficult, but there was at least some hope that returning Jalen, Gilbert and Larrier, and then adding a top recruit in MAL, that we could make some noise next year at least in the AAC.

The fact that so many players are leaving (spare me the public comments of support for KO, if they truly believed what they are saying, why would they leave) and the stories that have come out about KO and how he's been running the program are what is really painting a dark picture here.

I want KO to succeed and prove me wrong. I love the idea of the continuity of a former player keeping UConn elite. However, nobody is bigger than the program. KO needs to get his act together, because at $3M a season, there would be a lot of guys out there that would be up for the challenge.

The conference argument is absurd.

Can't get the final four because the conference holds you back? Sure.

The conference being an issue as an excuse for this? If the conference is bad shouldn't it be easier to be competitive in it and not finish 6th?

 

[tentoes4rings]

Kevin Ollie is right around the 10th highest paid college basketball coach in America. We deserve better than what we've seen the past three seasons. With a program with a history like UConn, top notch facilities and the salary to match it, 1 NCAA tournament bid the past 3 seasons doesn't cut it.

The narrative that we are limited as a program as to where KO takes us is BS. The conference isn't attractive, but the program still has cache and the salary more than anything else would allow us to bring in a solid coach.

KO will always get credit for the National Title run and he earned that. The pattern of middling regular season success and this past seasons abject failure is more of an indication to me about his capacity as a head coach than catching lightning in a bottle with the best player in college basketball for that season over 6 games. They don't contradict each other. You can achieve the apex of success in a game, but then also fall off the mountain.

More so concerning than the up and down results of the past 3 years is how the bottom fell off this off season. Given the injuries, this past season would be difficult, but there was at least some hope that returning Jalen, Gilbert and Larrier, and then adding a top recruit in MAL, that we could make some noise next year at least in the AAC.

The fact that so many players are leaving (spare me the public comments of support for KO, if they truly believed what they are saying, why would they leave) and the stories that have come out about KO and how he's been running the program are what is really painting a dark picture here.

I want KO to succeed and prove me wrong. I love the idea of the continuity of a former player keeping UConn elite. However, nobody is bigger than the program. KO needs to get his act together, because at $3M a season, there would be a lot of guys out there that would be up for the challenge.

Great post. What troubled me most is not only the number of losses but all the blowouts where the team just appeared to quit once they got popped in the mouth, many times on national tv. That's not UConn basketball and I for one won't tolerate it anymore.

We talk about attendance a lot and posters say what fairweather fans we have. The Senior Day game against Cincinnati comes to mind. It was a noon game and I debated whether I wanted to drive three hours round trip for a noon campus game to see us get blown out. After a torrid stretch by Rodney, Cronin adjusted defensively, KO made no adjustment to what Cincinnati was doing and we got embarrassed on national tv.

Many of us have tried to remain optimistic and give the team unwavering support but seeing the opposing coach repeatedly outcoach KO and the team quit has gotten old quickly. Let's hope introspection by KO coupled with him getting tougher kids changes this disturbing recent culture.

 

[upstater]

No one is satisfied with this horrible season.

That being said, I'm convinced a lot of you don't know who Dom Perno is.

 

[JMick]

No one is satisfied with this horrible season.

That being said, I'm convinced a lot of you don't know who Dom Perno is.

That's relevant how?

 

[upstater]

That's relevant how?

Because the insular deluded entitled fanbase can't see this program in context, to what it was before Jim Calhoun. They can't see that it is not nearly as appealing as they imagine, especially in the current context. One can easily make a case for BC over UConn, a school near a city and inside a top conference, with lots of money coming in. But all BC has been able to muster as a head coach is Perno's cousin, Jim Christian. Sure, there's a chance you can find a young up and comer maybe. Good luck with that. The probabilities are against UConn.

I take tykurez point. Name the replacements.

This isn't an endorsement of Ollie. It's a realization that the program could be screwed. Yet in the posts I read, people have this idea that a savior is going to come on board.

 

[Stainmaster]

This isn't an endorsement of Ollie. It's a realization that the program could be screwed. Yet in the posts I read, people have this idea that a savior is going to come on board.

They think we will find another Calhoun soon enough if we fire Ollie. Nobody realizes how rare those are.

 

[JMick]

Because the insular deluded entitled fanbase can't see this program in context, to what it was before Jim Calhoun. They can't see that it is not nearly as appealing as they imagine, especially in the current context. One can easily make a case for BC over UConn, a school near a city and inside a top conference, with lots of money coming in. But all BC has been able to muster as a head coach is Perno's cousin, Jim Christian. Sure, there's a chance you can find a young up and comer maybe. Good luck with that. The probabilities are against UConn.

I take tykurez point. Name the replacements.

This isn't an endorsement of Ollie. It's a realization that the program could be screwed. Yet in the posts I read, people have this idea that a savior is going to come on board.

God you're a moron. Seriously. The program has already been built thanks to Calhoun. The infrastructure is there and so is the history. You should be ashamed to call yourself a what, a fan? Alum? Whatever you are.

We're not in a recruiting desert. We don't have shty facilities. We don't pay peanuts. But it's easier to think 16-17 is the best we can do right? Might as well not watch anymore, we're screwed and it will only get worse. Right.

 

[JMick]

They think we will find another Calhoun soon enough if we fire Ollie. Nobody realizes how rare those are.

People want competence. Few expect another Calhoun but if we can't even expect to make the tournament then we shouldn't bother having a program anymore.

 

[PAHusky]

Because the insular deluded entitled fanbase can't see this program in context, to what it was before Jim Calhoun. They can't see that it is not nearly as appealing as they imagine, especially in the current context. One can easily make a case for BC over UConn, a school near a city and inside a top conference, with lots of money coming in. But all BC has been able to muster as a head coach is Perno's cousin, Jim Christian. Sure, there's a chance you can find a young up and comer maybe. Good luck with that. The probabilities are against UConn.

I take tykurez point. Name the replacements.

This isn't an endorsement of Ollie. It's a realization that the program could be screwed. Yet in the posts I read, people have this idea that a savior is going to come on board.

The context for your argument is pre-Calhoun UConn. UConn has won four titles in the last 25 years, and BC has done nothing. Completely false equivalency. BC is hoping a coach can step in and build them up, while UConn is looking for a coach that can consistently maintain excellence.

I think a lot of the KO defenders on the board aren't really grasping the fact that no one who thinks that KO may eventually have to go have anything personally against the man. Everyone wants the program to do well, and if that's with or without KO at the helm so be it.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

They think we will find another Calhoun soon enough if we fire Ollie. Nobody realizes how rare those are.

This is why anybody with a brain doesn't take you seriously.

People want to contend for conference titles in a weak league and make the NCAAS.

Who here expects another Calhoun? The only people that draw parallels to Calhoun are people citing his early record along with K and other legendary coaches.

Whether you refuse to see it or not, there isn't a black/white elite top 5 program and nothingness.

Paying 3M for a coach with UConn's status should have us as a top 25 program. Period.

 

[BUConn10]

They think we will find another Calhoun soon enough if we fire Ollie. Nobody realizes how rare those are.

Nailed it, what a perfect summary of how people feel.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Why are we the only fanbase with 4 championships, numerous conference titles, tons of NCAA Tournament wins, for whom maintaining those standards is being "entitled" or "spoiled"?

Do the UK, KU, Duke, UNC, UCLA, IU fanbases have these arguments and trip over themselves to lower standards? No. They find the coach who is going to deliver.

 

[Stainmaster]

People want competence. Few expect another Calhoun but if we can't even expect to make the tournament then we shouldn't bother having a program anymore.

I couldn't contest this point more strongly if I tried. Consistency is a nice benchmark and an upgrade from where we are now, but people will never be satisfied. I would take a top 2/3 finishes in this conference, zero embarrassing OOC losses, and at minimum a berth in the tourney every year and be pretty content. I'm in the vast minority there. People will always be clamoring for more no matter what happens on the floor. People want us to return to the days where we were ranked in the top five, going head-to-head with Duke and Kentucky both on the court (hell, they want us outrecruiting both of those schools now, which did not happen under Calhoun mind you...), going 16-2/17-3 in conference, sending multiple lottery picks to the draft every year...and they will not be happy until that happens.

 

[tzznandrew]

Paying 3M for a coach with UConn's status should have us as a top 25 program. Period.

This is 100% true. But I think everyone agrees with this sentiment. It's just that some feel that circumstances both within and beyond KO's control have led to a few down years (and I'd say 2015 and 2017 are the major ones, as 2016 certainly met this standard by the end of the year). Given that, they think he will have them as a consistent Top 25 (hell, frankly I'm of the mind we should be consistently Top 10-15, not Top 25) with a little more time. If he doesn't get there, get rid of him. The other side of this debate sees much deeper issues. That's the problem here, and both sides of it are oversimplifying in the discussion despite wanting the same thing.

 

[Stainmaster]

Who here expects another Calhoun?

...

Whether you refuse to see it or not, there isn't a black/white elite top 5 program and nothingness.

Erm...

Why are we the only fanbase with 4 championships, numerous conference titles, tons of NCAA Tournament wins, for whom maintaining those standards is being "entitled" or "spoiled"?

Do the UK, KU, Duke, UNC, UCLA, IU fanbases have these arguments and trip over themselves to lower standards? No. They find the coach who is going to deliver.

This poster has been pretty explicit in other threads about using Calhoun's performance as his exact standard for determining what's acceptable in a coach.

 

[superjohn]

Nailed it, what a perfect summary of how people feel.

Nobody does strawmen like the Strawmaster.

 

[Stainmaster]

Nobody does strawmen like the Strawmaster.

Again, not my fault that posters on this forum have beliefs so ridiculous you think I'm making them up.

 

[JMick]

I couldn't contest this point more strongly if I tried. Consistency is a nice benchmark and an upgrade from where we are now, but people will never be satisfied. I would take a top 2/3 finishes in this conference, zero embarrassing OOC losses, and at minimum a berth in the tourney every year and be pretty content. I'm in the vast minority there. People will always be clamoring for more no matter what happens on the floor. People want us to return to the days where we were ranked in the top five, going head-to-head with Duke and Kentucky both on the court (hell, they want us outrecruiting both of those schools now, which did not happen under Calhoun mind you...), going 16-2/17-3 in conference, sending multiple lottery picks to the draft every year...and they will not be happy until that happens.

Lol. I think it's funny that the "anti-Ollie" faction are labeled the doom and gloom crowd and the "positive" posters expect us to be mediocre.

 

[superjohn]

God you're a moron. Seriously. The program has already been built thanks to Calhoun. The infrastructure is there and so is the history. You should be ashamed to call yourself a what, a fan? Alum? Whatever you are.

We're not in a recruiting desert. We don't have shty facilities. We don't pay peanuts. But it's easier to think 16-17 is the best we can do right? Might as well not watch anymore, we're screwed and it will only get worse. Right.

One of the dumbest posts I've seen in a while. I didn't know how to respond, thanks for doing the dirty work on this one.

 

[KingAG]

Why are we the only fanbase with 4 championships, numerous conference titles, tons of NCAA Tournament wins, for whom maintaining those standards is being "entitled" or "spoiled"?

Do the UK, KU, Duke, UNC, UCLA, IU fanbases have these arguments and trip over themselves to lower standards? No. They find the coach who is going to deliver.

Can we do better than Ollie yes? But that isnt the issue. The issue is will we, and i think those odds are low. Now we may disagree on how good ollie is which would change the criteria for "better than". I, and others think ollie has a ton of potential and has actually already delivered. He's a champion. He's struggled the last couple yrs, but its only his 5th yr coaching. Are we going to find a young up and coming stud of a coach willing to coach UConn in the AAC? I think a lot of you would get a real dose of reality if and when KO was ever fired. Young coaches with potential are not going to be lining up to take a job at a non-power 5 program. Coaches like roy williams, jay wright and guys of that ilk have no incentive to leave wherr they are. I guess my question would be who is this coach you all think would be this major upgrade.

We all want UConn to get back to where we were. And the hard truth for the ollie doubters is that KO is our best shot

 

[BUConn10]

Again, not my fault that posters on this forum have beliefs so ridiculous you think I'm making them up.

The best thing that happened to your argument in this thread was some bozo comparing Diaco to Ollie. If it weren't for that you'd have nothing to hold onto for the last 4 pages or so of bickering.

 

[tykurez]

Why are we the only fanbase with 4 championships, numerous conference titles, tons of NCAA Tournament wins, for whom maintaining those standards is being "entitled" or "spoiled"?

Do the UK, KU, Duke, UNC, UCLA, IU fanbases have these arguments and trip over themselves to lower standards? No. They find the coach who is going to deliver.

This is dense, even for you.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Erm...



This poster has been pretty explicit in other threads about using Calhoun's performance as his exact standard for determining what's acceptable in a coach.

Having a high standard for the program is different than expecting another Jim Calhoun on the sidelines and three national championships.

You're twisting his message. If other "blue blood" programs can have high expectations, we shouldn't feel any different. There pro KO camp thinks if he leaves, the program can't do any better. I don't believe that, but I hope he is the guy to do it.

 

[KingAG]

Having a high standard for the program is different than expecting another Jim Calhoun on the sidelines and three national championships.

You're twisting his message. If other "blue blood" programs can have high expectations, we shouldn't feel any different. There pro KO camp thinks if he leaves, the program can't do any better. I don't believe that, but I hope he is the guy to do it.

The difference between us and the blue bloods is we are in the AAC

 

[ctchamps]

Kevin Ollie was handed an elite, arguably top 10, college basketball program of all time with only a couple of seasons as an assistant coach and was paid handsomely to do so.

How is it lose-lose? Either start winning more games and the players and fans will embrace him again, or he continues to lose and he'll be relieved of his duties. Fairly simple.

Say what you want about the scholarship limited, the conference, the ban whatever. Those excuses hold up to a certain extent. The fact we are continually losing games against we have no business losing to and then are blown off the court by other 'peer' AAC programs has little to do with the aforementioned sanctions/league.

I don't hear a lot of people out here demanding Elite 8s and Conference Titles. I see a lot of people out there saying that 5th place regular season finishes in the AAC and no NCAA Tournament aren't acceptable for a) our programs standards b) the salary we are paying these coaches.

This is a well presented summary of what you and many other posters have expressed. Most of us, even those who argue on points that might make things appear from your perspective too extreme a compromise, understand the seriousness of the problem and recognize the importance of immediate needs for improvement. But isn't that stating the obvious?

The question is what can you or I or anyone outside the AD do about it? I've asked Fishy the rationale for Benedict not firing KO now instead of waiting. Naturally he couldn't speak for Benedict, but he did discuss the salary and I think discussed optics.

We may not like how things have played out and are playing out, but none of our discussions are going to impact events, so at what point do we want to put this arguing to rest? I wanted to ask @whaler11 but I'll ask you instead. What value is there to be gained if everyone agrees with a particular point of view when that point of view influences nothing? Of course I'm asking myself this as I type!

 

[Stainmaster]

Having a high standard for the program is different than expecting another Jim Calhoun on the sidelines and three national championships.

You're twisting his message. If other "blue blood" programs can have high expectations, we shouldn't feel any different. There pro KO camp thinks if he leaves, the program can't do any better. I don't believe that, but I hope he is the guy to do it.

I'll let Tenspro answer this for himself if he chooses, but he has made arguments about a very explicit "Calhoun level" of success. From his posts, it's clear that coaching plays a role - "They find the coach who is going to deliver."

Jeff Jacobs: Ollie Will Fight, But Can He Get Better Leading Program? "Frankly, I think it was an insult to the program's history and a detriment to JC's own legacy that he forced upon us an unproven coach who it would take years to figure out how to run a program. That's not what elite programs do."

He wants the same levels of success JC frequently reached, and wants a coach who will get us there. How one can get there without a Calhoun-esque coach is beyond me...

 

[upstater]

God you're a moron. Seriously. The program has already been built thanks to Calhoun. The infrastructure is there and so is the history. You should be ashamed to call yourself a what, a fan? Alum? Whatever you are.

We're not in a recruiting desert. We don't have shty facilities. We don't pay peanuts. But it's easier to think 16-17 is the best we can do right? Might as well not watch anymore, we're screwed and it will only get worse. Right.

Uh-huh. I'm the moron.

You have no clue. No clue whatsoever.

 

[upstater]

The context for your argument is pre-Calhoun UConn. UConn has won four titles in the last 25 years, and BC has done nothing. Completely false equivalency. BC is hoping a coach can step in and build them up, while UConn is looking for a coach that can consistently maintain excellence.

I think a lot of the KO defenders on the board aren't really grasping the fact that no one who thinks that KO may eventually have to go have anything personally against the man. Everyone wants the program to do well, and if that's with or without KO at the helm so be it.

No, the context is AAC vs. Big East in its heyday.

Listen to the man himself: "I got kids to come here by selling the Big East."

You guys are totally clueless.

 

[upstater]

This is why anybody with a brain doesn't take you seriously.

People want to contend for conference titles in a weak league and make the NCAAS.

Who here expects another Calhoun? The only people that draw parallels to Calhoun are people citing his early record along with K and other legendary coaches.

Whether you refuse to see it or not, there isn't a black/white elite top 5 program and nothingness.

Paying 3M for a coach with UConn's status should have us as a top 25 program. Period.

And let me remind you all, that the so-called winners of this conference have been abysmal in the NCAAs. Abysmal. Cincy and SMU don't win games. UConn, in both of Ollie's 2 trips to the tournament, has won 7 more games than SMU has in all those 4 years.

 

[upstater]

Why are we the only fanbase with 4 championships, numerous conference titles, tons of NCAA Tournament wins, for whom maintaining those standards is being "entitled" or "spoiled"?

Do the UK, KU, Duke, UNC, UCLA, IU fanbases have these arguments and trip over themselves to lower standards? No. They find the coach who is going to deliver.

Oh my God.

And people call me a moron here when I said people can't see the real context.

READ THIS POST UP ABOVE AND TELL ME THE DELUSIONS AMONG THE FIRE OLLIE FANS AREN'T TOTALLY WACKY.