Jerome Dyson speaking to team

[Tenspro2002]

The 2009 team would have won the whole thing with a healthy Dyson. Change my mind.

I don't know if we would have won it, but it would have been an epic championship game against UNC.

 

[Mr. French]

I spoke with a kid who is coached by and trained by Dyson through AAU out in the PNW. Seems like a good guy and still loves the Huskies.

As a quick PS to this, I was just talking to his mom and he’s constantly training and playing as an incoming 8th grader 2028, I casually said “my fav team is UConn so maybe in a few years we’ll be talking about him as their newest commit” and mom said “oh his coach went to UConn he’s always telling him to go there.”

I asked who, she said his AAU coach and private trainer is Jerome Dyson “he’s a great guy and is great with my son.”

 

[Greedo]

Seriously! I was at UConn the exact years he was ('06-'10) and by the way he was talking, you'd think he played there 40 or 50 years ago.

The players usually stayed at Hilltop apartments which were considered one of the more desirable places on campus at the time, especially for freshmen.

Is this the first step in telling your grandkids you walked to school uphill both ways in a blizzard on a daily basis?

Lol I laughed when he said those run down dorms. I graduated in ‘12. Hilltop was swanky.

 

[dennismenace]

Football type. Fearless. That should be some talk(s) on toughness. Tell them Jerome.

 

[August_West]

He was playing at an elite level when he got hurt. It was a damn shame for him and the team.

He was and its a shame that we lost him for 2009 run, we could've used him, and then he torpedoed the 2010 season with his BS and determination to berate a tremendous but simple, kind hearted soul in Stanley Robinson. Jerome was that good for us and put it all on the floor, no doubt, but if Im going to say that I will also tell you that he was a merciless, bad teammate. (kids will be kids I guess)

 

[Deleted at users request]

He was and its a shame that we lost him for 2009 run, we could've used him, and then he torpedoed the 2010 season with his BS and determination to berate a tremendous but simple, kind hearted soul in Stanley Robinson. Jerome was that good for us and put it all on the floor, no doubt, but if Im going to say that I will also tell you that he was a merciless, bad teammate. (kids will be kids I guess)

In a perfect world he doesn’t injure his knee, we win the tourney, and him and Stanley go on to become first round draft picks so we don’t have to witness him as a leader which was ugly at times.

Wouldn’t necessarily say bad teammate as much as leader because he was great for everyone in 2009 in his role and he for sure gave it his all to win which he cared a lot about.

 

[superjohn]

He was and its a shame that we lost him for 2009 run, we could've used him, and then he torpedoed the 2010 season with his BS and determination to berate a tremendous but simple, kind hearted soul in Stanley Robinson. Jerome was that good for us and put it all on the floor, no doubt, but if Im going to say that I will also tell you that he was a merciless, bad teammate. (kids will be kids I guess)

He had a strange career at UConn. Played his balls off as a freshman, leaving teeth on the court. Was playing the best ball of his career as a junior and it would've been a coin toss as to who the national champions were between UConn and North Carolina had he not gotten hurt. Was basically unplayable by the later stages of his senior year and it felt like he kind of quit on the team. A really good but flawed player who had a bit of a rollercoaster career at UConn on and off the court.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

He was and its a shame that we lost him for 2009 run, we could've used him, and then he torpedoed the 2010 season with his BS and determination to berate a tremendous but simple, kind hearted soul in Stanley Robinson. Jerome was that good for us and put it all on the floor, no doubt, but if Im going to say that I will also tell you that he was a merciless, bad teammate. (kids will be kids I guess)

I don't know enough on the dynamic you've written about during his Senior year, but I always regarded it as him being asked to do too much in 2009-10 and being incapable of it, and showing up looking badly because of it. It was painful to watch.

Ever since, I've feared the somrthing similar might happen with the final years for Ryan Boatright, Jalen Adams, Christian Vital, and even RJ Cole, but the fanbase largely found it easier to blame the coach instead of the player.

 

[UCHuskies08]

After reading that Boston College article about how terrible their relationship is with former players, always warms my heart to see the number of guys we have back on campus and they are always shown proper love

 

[superjohn]

I don't know enough on the dynamic you've written about during his Senior year, but I always regarded it as him being asked to do too much in 2009-10 and being incapable of it, and showing up looking badly because of it. It was painful to watch.

Ever since, I've feared the somrthing similar might happen with the final years for Ryan Boatright, Jalen Adams, Christian Vital, and even RJ Cole, but the fanbase largely found it easier to blame the coach instead of the player.

They were all better than Dyson in their final year. Cole and Boat were great, sadly Boat had his worst ever game in his final one but he was great that season. Vital was playing the best ball of his career before Covid ended it for him prematurely.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

They were all better than Dyson in their final year. Cole and Boat were great, sadly Boat had his worst ever game in his final one but he was great that season. Vital was playing the best ball of his career before Covid ended it for him prematurely.

I don't disagree.

My point was that Jerome's final year attuned me to the possibility, such that I was tense with thoughts the same could happen with the others.

The common thread was being asked to do too much.

Boat didn't have enough surrounding him, and couldn't do it by himself. He was at risk of doing a Dyson, and avoided it.

Jalen's career was just too disjointed, as has been discussed elsewhere. Not enough other parts.

RJ's Creighton injury sunk the team in his Junior year, because he wasn't full-strength for the Maryland game. While his Senior year was improved and quite solid, I'd think, "He can do almost anything. Just don't ask him to do everything."

CV is definitely as you say. He was so shortchanged by COVID canceling the tourney.

I'm firmly in the camp that with Jerome, UConn-UNC would have been a great matchup and I'd have chosen the Huskies as U'd chosen 1999 over Duke. He was great in 2009.

As an add-on, I interpreted the video clip of Jerome as telling this year's Huskies to appreciate what they have, be ever grateful, and play as hard as they can. The parts about proved facilities and such were just an awkward context he added that may have given some the wrong impression. I'm glad he was invited and that he showed up.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I don't know enough on the dynamic you've written about during his Senior year, but I always regarded it as him being asked to do too much in 2009-10 and being incapable of it, and showing up looking badly because of it. It was painful to watch.

Ever since, I've feared the somrthing similar might happen with the final years for Ryan Boatright, Jalen Adams, Christian Vital, and even RJ Cole, but the fanbase largely found it easier to blame the coach instead of the player.

Yup, he pretty much missed out on an epic final four run and was asked to lead the team coming back from the knee injury. Emotionally, that’s a big task. Kemba wasn’t ready to run the show that year (something most of our all time great guards struggle with sophomore year) so Dyson had to handle a lot of PG duties too from what I remember. We had no half court offense but were one of the best transition teams in the country.

There was a lot of pressure to perform after missing out on his best year in a situation that wasn’t as ideal fit wise.

He did have some amazing battles with some all time great athletes at PG in MSG though with John Wall and Derrick Rose. Those were so fun to watch.

 

[Kenny11]

Jerome had a baby on the way during his final season, was partying hard and stressed that his nba chances were slipping. I always enjoyed watching him play until that season. Fun, hard nosed player

 

[Ratso]

Based on the clip, Jerome sure is jealous of the new Husky digs.

ya, probably nicer facilities/ amenities than some of those euro league teams he was on.

 

[superjohn]

I don't disagree.

My point was that Jerome's final year attuned me to the possibility, such that I was tense with thoughts the same could happen with the others.

The common thread was being asked to do too much.

Boat didn't have enough surrounding him, and couldn't do it by himself. He was at risk of doing a Dyson, and avoided it.

Jalen's career was just too disjointed, as has been discussed elsewhere. Not enough other parts.

RJ's Creighton injury sunk the team in his Junior year, because he wasn't full-strength for the Maryland game. While his Senior year was improved and quite solid, I'd think, "He can do almost anything. Just don't ask him to do everything."

CV is definitely as you say. He was so shortchanged by COVID canceling the tourney.

I'm firmly in the camp that with Jerome, UConn-UNC would have been a great matchup and I'd have chosen the Huskies as U'd chosen 1999 over Duke. He was great in 2009.

As an add-on, I interpreted the video clip of Jerome as telling this year's Huskies to appreciate what they have, be ever grateful, and play as hard as they can. The parts about proved facilities and such were just an awkward context he added that may have given some the wrong impression. I'm glad he was invited and that he showed up.

I agree, they were all asked to do too much. It always annoyed me that RJ caught a lot of grief from some fans. He was asked to do everything and was way better than any of us should've expected him to be.

I think it got to Dyson and he pretty much gave up at the end of his senior season. He couldn't stop turning it over and it led to bad body language and giving up on plays. I prefer remembering him for his hyper competitive play and the cerebral way he was playing as a junior before he was injured.

 

[HuskyV]

I always wanted to see Dyson play running back. Crossover dribble coming of a steal - he is running down hill to the rim. No one ever slowed him down

 

[CL82]

Not really all that relevant, but my kids waited to talk to him after a post game interview. He was incredibly gracious and gave them all the time they wanted. Not a huge thing, but not everyone would do it.