Kevin Ollie killed the momentum.

[aceboon]

I'm with you on this.

D ham is our best player and he's legit.

But i can't understand everyone killing Gibbs on here over and over and nobody says a word about purvis who is outrageously inconsistent and out of control.

In our three big games this year, he was awful for the first 30-35 min then hit a few shots at the end.

He has no position and Doesn't really create for others (although he tries to) he's A very streaky shooter, and misses a ton of big shots. He's out of control and turns it over in key moments all the time.

Purvis is a decent player. And he can make some plays. But I don't see why his starting position and 25-30 min of playing time is guaranteed. Sadly we just don't have anyone better.

Purvis deserves more of the share but I can't give DHam a pass, too many times he is invisible when they either come out flat or let a game spiral away from them(Syracuse). If you can play to that level in the 2nd half, then you need to come out like from the rip and not when you are down damn near 20+ because like we've now seen against Gonzaga and MD, its too late. I thought he he had a breakthrough in the Mich game with those shots he hit in the 2nd half when Mich made a run but now its looking like an aberration.

 

[uconngb]

The ironic thing is: if Ollie has any kind of a sideline presence, works the officials at all throughout the preceding 38 minutes, they probably don't call that foul on Adams in the first place.

He is completely out of his depth when it comes to managing the officials.

This

 

[uconndoit]

If we had converted in next possessions, gotten stops and ended up winning everyone would be calling Ollie a genius for getting that T.

 

[Bonehead]

When a college BB team wins a game the coach is credited with a victory.
When a college BB team loses a game the coach is credited with a loss.

Ollie is most certainly responsible for each loss and each win, accordingly. Otherwise coaching records would not be kept.

Its great to see the difference between the FB board and BB board.

On the FB board, when a QB throws an interception it is Bob Diaco's fault and responsibility, and coaches are vilified if they ever use the E word (execute) in regards to their players.

On the BB board Ollie is not responsible for too much, the players don't execute, continuously start games in lulls and the losses are on them.

 

[minidarren]

He got p!ssed that one of his players made a mental mistake and Ollie matched Adams' mistake.

At least we know Ollie brings 40 minutes of intensity.


I'd like to see how the game plays out without the T, but remember Turtle was still shooting FT's even without the T.

Does he really bring 40 minutes of intensity? The last 3 games I have seen him spend about 50% of the game sitting in the chair with his face in his hands. He did the same thing last year!

 

[Kitaman]

We weren't going to win that game, and didn't deserve to. Ollie is not the only scapegoat here, there are about 6 others.

If a frog had wings . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[UConnDad]

Does he really bring 40 minutes of intensity? The last 3 games I have seen him spend about 50% of the game sitting in the chair with his face in his hands. He did the same thing last year!

Sounds a little bit like me!

 

[djct1999]

Not sure what happened, but this entire team from the coaching staff down to our last player is a deer in headlights.

 

[uchusky32]

The game was lost in the first half. Yeah we came back. We always do. But this group of players doesn't know how to win big games and KO coaches like he's coaching NBA players and lets them try to play out of their funk. It hasn't work since Bazz was here. He needed to use all his TO in the first half and got in some of the players ears early. He didn't and his frustration boiled over to getting a tech when he did. It was a petty call but In this day and age of free movement Adams impeded his movement and weakly bumped him. When you play scared and the other team plays aggressive refs adjust to the flow of the game.

 

[polycom]

You can't go down 20+ versus a good team and expect to win. Even though what Ollie did was boneheaded, we should have at least given them a game in the first half. We have some of the worst rotations and closeouts I've ever seen.

 

[Bonehead]

You can't go down 20+ versus a good team and expect to win. Even though what Ollie did was boneheaded, we should have at least given them a game in the first half. We have some of the worst rotations and closeouts I've ever seen.

HEY!

 

[Athlete94]

The offensive flow this team has through 8 games is minimal at best. Clearly they have talent, but the decision making and offensive schemes at times are just awful. The energy level past UCONN teams would bring to start these type of games was unmeasurable. I have yet to see that from this group. Is it Chemistry, too much one on one? Who knows?? Until that fire inside burns the same to both start and finish the game the same way , I'm afraid we could be in for a bumpy ride.

Having said that, We are UCONN, we always expect to win these games. This isn't the 80s when we accepted moral victories by keeping it close vs GTown, Cuse etc... Something needs to be done to fix this, at some point coaching can only do so much, if the players don't share that same passion to put that uniform on, the end result will show that. COACH will fix this or there will be changes sooner than later. I believe it will show soon, and they need to start with the pedal down hard vs Ohio State, this is a must win game.

The last thing is defensively. I'm ok with a big that isn't that gifted offensively, but where's that Kevin Freeman/Jake Voskul type guy. JC always had that type of guy, it seems like we are going away from that style. It's so obvious when a shot goes up and everyone is pretty much already assuming a miss and sprinting back to set up. There's nobody crashing the glass. That translates to the defense, either we don't teach how to box out or to close off driving lanes, but the interior defense is practically non existent. Frustrating! I hope we can recruit "that" guy soon, because I don't see him on our roster.

 

[Kembacity]

I'm assuming it might be TCF who is up on this but if anyone sees a nice GIF of the Ollie Technical I'd like to see it. I thought it was hilarious how cartoonish the papers flying was, and how as soon as he realized what he had done he immediately dropped to the floor to try to pretend it wasn't him

I am frustrated by the loss but I want to take enjoyment out of that scene

 

[UconnFanDC]

Regardless of Ollie's error, we had a horrible first half that put us in the situation we were in. Lets get more Jalen, Facey and more Ollie's energy throughout the game.

 

[gtcam]

wow. I have lost a ton of confidence and respect for him over this terrible stretch.

then go to another team and board

 

[gtcam]

Nobody saying he's not a good Coach, still need more time to say that either way. We're all so used to JC'S style, need to see what Ollie'S is before we see how he works officials etc. I think if he just yells at ref and not toss papers, we continue the run. Definitely a momentum killer.

Really? Have you ever coached at a high level? I have. The call on JA was pure crap, it was a touch foul at best BUT to call it when the momentum was swinging was/is a wrong thing to do by ant official at that stage of the game, if its blatant yes, but touch foul, no, unless JA continued to do that.
KO did not lose the game. the game was lost in the first half when Gibbs, Miller, Purvis and AB decided it was a vacation day in NYC rather than a work night.
KO was frustrated, I've been there, done that.
Until you are in his shoes.....................
KO has made mistakes but this was not one he made with premeditated action - it was reaction
Speaking of reaction, the players in white could have used some reactionary tactics on defense all night.
And for all those dolts who say "what does he teach/do in practice" - I am positive he teaches at both an acceptable level in both content and style, within the areas of tactics and execution BUT look who he is working with - he has no bench so these guys work against crap every day - Maryland seems to have studs in their 1-10 players.
JC had that luxury but the recent loss in recruitment has hurt them - think that doesn't make a difference?
KO is not the reason - lack of a PG (JAA will be there real soon), lack of a leader and a bunch of guys with a lax attitude is part of the problem.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Or the two missed layups by Adams that would've cut to 4 with a minute left.

He needs to work on his left hand. People pointed it out in his high school highlight videos, and it got real last night. Finishing on the left side of the rim with your right hand artificially raises the difficulty level.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

You do realize he has 2 years experience as a head coach?

This is his 4th year.

 

[Padutch5]

Ollie did something stupid. He can't do that and has to learn how to effectively work officials earlier in the game.

But there is no doubt that for the first time in a while, in the close games against good teams, tonight and vs Syracuse, we are not getting the calls. Check that. We are not getting any calls. The officiating feels one sides and the stats indicate so.

The only reason you call that on Jalen Adams at that point in the game after a team cut a 20 pt deficit to 3 is to save Maryland's skin. Which it did. And while Ollie can't lose it like that there is something going on with us when it comes to the officials. Feels like since Ollie has been coach we are on short end of the calls. He has been very subdued and was probably holding it all in since the Syracuse 2nd half.

Thank yo. Finally someone pointed out that it is a foul you don't call at that point of the game. In any event, let's focus and protest the complete disparity in the number of fouls called. And please don't give me the old line that they drove inside and we didn't . Not true in this game, at least in the second Half.

 

[intlzncster]

But i can't understand everyone killing Gibbs on here over and over and nobody says a word about purvis who is outrageously inconsistent and out of control.

Purvis is a decent player. And he can make some plays. But I don't see why his starting position and 25-30 min of playing time is guaranteed. Sadly we just don't have anyone better.

What does Gibbs offer that Purvis doesn't? Maybe a tick higher on the 3pt shooting? Purvis is stronger, quicker, better to the basket, a better leaper, probably passer, and most importantly, a much better defender. I'm not sure if Gibbs can play defense or not, because I've yet to see him do it.

 

[KingOPancakes]

What does Gibbs offer that Purvis doesn't?

Free throws...

 

[intlzncster]

Free throws...

But he can barely get into the lane to get any!

 

[mauconnfan]

The ironic thing is: if Ollie has any kind of a sideline presence, works the officials at all throughout the preceding 38 minutes, they probably don't call that foul on Adams in the first place.

He is completely out of his depth when it comes to managing the officials.

Yep been saying this since the Atlantis trip. Maybe work the officials more during the game like everyone else instead of being their friends then you won't blow up after keeping everything in?

 

[JMick]

I figured this was as good a spot to chime in. Wow! You lost respect on that?!?! I'd hate to be a family member or friend of yours and dare say make a mistake! Egad!

KO is a class guy. Now was that a bad time to lose your cool? H*ll yes! Did he cost them the game? No. Trimble was already going to the line, though I think it was a 1:1. If my memory serves me, didn't he hit the first FT but miss the second? If that was the case, we would have been down 2 possessions, though still some solid time left. That T definitely didn't help, but the ref's call was absurd since first of all, you don't make that kind of call late, and second of all, I don't think it was even a foul.

Lastly, the team put themselves in that horrible hole to begin with, down, what, 20 at one point? They actually outscored MD by 6 in the 2nd half.

KO usually does a good job of keeping his cool. I think he's earned a Mulligan. Let's hope he's learned from this. We all make mistakes in the heat of battle, and losing respect for someone in this type of situation seems like an overreaction to me, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

respect was probably the wrong choice of word.

 

[Worldwide]

Obviously Blaney retiring has had a much bigger effect then anyone of us could of imagined. We haven't looked good or won a title since he left. Free Blaney

 

[uchusky32]

Maybe Blaney would have whispered to KO to call a timeout when we were going down by 17 in the first half. I love KO but he isn't managing this team. He is allowing them to figure things out on their own. But they aren't pros. And aren't figuring things out. He needs to invest that emotion, when he swiped those papers, at the refs towards the players.

 

[willie99]

He needs to learn to just kick the signboards like Calhoun used to. It'll come with experience!

I'll start with the toughness, then maybe a few rebounding drills, and topped with an offensive set that doesn't end with an ally-oop, which the all damn world sees coming now

Kevin has a lot to learn still, and there is simply no comparison at this point in time

 

[Worldwide]

How many people on hear complain about rebounding but want a four guard line-up. Facey at center or Brimah with four guards will not help that.

 

[Matrim55]

Kevin has a lot to learn still, and there is simply no comparison at this point in time

So true - it took St. Jim 27 years to win his first title. Only took HCKO two!

Thanks for bringing much-needed perspective to this board.

 

[tentoes4rings]

The ironic thing is: if Ollie has any kind of a sideline presence, works the officials at all throughout the preceding 38 minutes, they probably don't call that foul on Adams in the first place.

He is completely out of his depth when it comes to managing the officials.

I agree 100%. This to me is by far his biggest weakness right now. Under JC it was common to see us make more free throws than the other team even attempted. Now many games like last night, that number is reversed. KO still seems concerned with being liked by every official. Most officials probably hated JC and how diligently he worked them but they clearly respected him and the results proved it. Had JC received that technical last night, you can be rest assured he would have been a mad Irishman that last 2:44 and we may have gotten a couple critical calls. Hoping KO learns this art but 4 years in I'm fearing it will just go against his nature and we'll have to find other ways to win.