Kevin Ollie congratulates his alma mater | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Kevin Ollie congratulates his alma mater

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I have all the respect in the world for KO. Yes, I'm glad we moved on to Hurley, but what gets lost in the KO drama is that he was at the helm during arguably the worst time in program history - when we were in the AAC. No doubt that impacted his recruiting abilities, which I think negatively impacted his drive for success (and ability to coach altogether). On top of that, he went through a divorce, which only made things worse.

All that said, KO needs to be welcomed back into the UConn family. He's got one of the best stories as a UConn alum - a scrappy guy who had no business playing in the NBA for as long as he did yet forged a nice career for himself. UConn Nation is one big family. Yes we fight and disagree, but we need to be able to forgive (and there needs to be forgiveness from both sides here; although it's going to take a lot for UConn to do so given the lawsuit).
 
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I still think 2014 is the best coaching job in UCONN history. Took over after one of the greatest coaches, ever, had to deal with the ban, genuinely was working with a talent disadvantage not present for the other titles. I love Bazz, but he's a level below Kemba in terms of Kemba. To win a title with that team is genuinely incredible.
 
I appreciate KO’s contributions. Great coaching in 2014, and he set it up with the job he did during the postseason ban the year before. We would have one fewer title without him. Also loved him as a player, and he was the best recruiting advertisement we ever had…this guy had a decade in the league as a PG without averaging double figures at UConn.
 
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UconnFanDC said:
Smdh. He did give us #4, he was a vital part of the programs success as a player, but most of all, he's a Uconn guy! He put pride aside and congratulated the guys. No need for us to be petty!
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He also inherited a mess when he came in and still won.

Agreed. It's over. Time to move on
 
KO will always be UConn family and there will be chances for reconciliation, but I'm assuming that KO needs to want that at some point. He clearly spiraled downward after 2014 and I'm sure people tried to help him, including JC but sometimes things don't work out how we want them to when we want them to. There is no need to rehash the past. It is what it is. These relationships are damaged, but I doubt they are permanently lost.

It's also pretty weird that such a sad period also includes a national championship.
 
mussels said:
We were banned from post season play. Unless I’m misremembering, that’s the reason everyone jumped ship.
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The transfers that happened either 2016 or 2017. Durham, Enoch, Jackson, etc... (cant remember others)

And those guys were starters, and had to sit a year. Something has to be rotten for that many transfers with those circumstances.
 
SubbaBub said:
KO will always be UConn family and there will be chances for reconciliation, but I'm assuming that KO needs to want that at some point. He clearly spiraled downward after 2014 and I'm sure people tried to help him, including JC but sometimes things don't work out how we want them to when we want them to. There is no need to rehash the past. It is what it is. These relationships are damaged, but I doubt they are permanently lost.

It's also pretty weird that such a sad period also includes a national championship.
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I that’s because the sad period began after the national championship. By all reports KO was fine in the 2012-2013 and 2013–2014.

He could go along way toward redeem himself by recanting the allegations of racism and his smears of Jim Calhoun. I won’t hold my breath though. He traded his relationship with the school for $11 million. I won’t say it was a bad decision. That’s a choice said a lot of people might make. But, again, choices have consequences.
 
CL82 said:
I that’s because the sad period began after the national championship. By all reports KO was fine in the 2012-2013 and 2013–2014.

He could go along way toward redeem himself by recanting the allegations of racism and his smears of Jim Calhoun. I won’t hold my breath though. He traded his relationship with the school for $11 million. I won’t say it was a bad decision. That’s a choice said a lot of people might make. But, again, choices have consequences.
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If Ollie showed up to a game with Jim Calhoun he’d get a standing ovation. I’m not sure Calhoun is interested though
 
Everything that happened led to today. And I think we can all say we are happy with where we are now.

So I have no ill will. And he did bring us #4.

It's all love at this point!
 
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Ollie also had some incredible bad luck with injuries, players leaving early and stuck in that god awful conference.
 
AntG168 said:
If Ollie showed up to a game with Jim Calhoun he’d get a standing ovation. I’m not sure Calhoun is interested though
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The better question is, what reaction would you get if you came alone. I doubt we’ll find out, at least in the foreseeable future.
 
I am just happy that it was settled. Too bad it took a court of law, but family is family. You forgive and move on. KO represented everything you would want in a leader. We just saw a small part of the person. Just think, he is following a legend, the team is no longer in the big East and the pressure of winning a chip in the first year a team he coached was eligible. The hardest part of reaching the pinnacle is staying there. Recruiting while we were in a mid major league had to be a nightmare. IMO there needs to be some type if public reconciliation it would be good for all involved. They only if is I wonder how Hurley feels about him being recognized. He did have to deal with the remnants of that part of the schools history. He certainly has earned the right to have a say…..
 
CL82 said:
The better question is, what reaction would you get if you came alone. I doubt we’ll find out, at least in the foreseeable future.
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I think the reception would be much better than many anticipate. People tend to be much nicer and gracious in person than they are on the internet.
 
AntG168 said:
I think the reception would be much better than many anticipate. People tend to be much nicer and gracious in person than they are on the internet.
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In person, yes, usually. In large anonymous groups, often not. in any event, I doubt he’s coming in the foreseeable future. It’s probably for the best.
 
ibleedhuskyblue said:
The transfers that happened either 2016 or 2017. Durham, Enoch, Jackson, etc... (cant remember others)

And those guys were starters, and had to sit a year. Something has to be rotten for that many transfers with those circumstances.
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The whole NCAA is rotten now then no one is loyal they all leave good coaches.
 
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SubbaBub said:
KO will always be UConn family and there will be chances for reconciliation, but I'm assuming that KO needs to want that at some point. He clearly spiraled downward after 2014 and I'm sure people tried to help him, including JC but sometimes things don't work out how we want them to when we want them to. There is no need to rehash the past. It is what it is. These relationships are damaged, but I doubt they are permanently lost.

It's also pretty weird that such a sad period also includes a national championship.
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You're probably correct with some offering help but the AAC was just not for Uconn.
 
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