Kisunas released from LOI

[BaZZnBOAT]

Anybody who thought this is about 2018-2019 is missing the boat. Hurley is building for the long term and it seems pretty clear he doesn’t see any of Ollie’s recruits as being part of that process. Despite his obligatory we’ll win with the guys we have press conference comments, I suspect he gets that next year ain’t gonna be pretty. There is not a lot of talent there. And given Ollie’s recruiting history not shocked he isn’t too upset about these guys leaving.

The talent really isn't as bad as you think.

 

[August_West]

*&^$#@!$'

So much for my tie dye Lithuanian hoops shirt.

You would think your Lithuanian pipeline connections could sell the kid on UConn.

I mean the Jewish UConn fans closed the deal on Henefeld, Scheffer, Katz and Cohen-Mintz.

You could have invited the kid over for some šaltibarščiai.
You need to step up your game, Alex.

I blame you for this one.

 

[ctchamps]

I haven't read anything that says Kisunas wanted to be the number one option or a three point shooter. Quite the opposite. he seemed like a guy that wanted to be the workhorse. It seems like this was a mutual decision and there were some red flags about Kisunas's ability, but I'm not a big fan of trashing a kid that had committed to our school. Good luck Lukas.

If I was trash I’d say it’s trash trashing someone. But since I’m a class act I won’t say it and just stay classy.

 

[Kembacity]

we're tanking for the #1 overall pick after next season, right? its a bold move but I like it
/s

 

[UConnSwag11]

The posters that were here during the season are back now. They weren’t during the Hurley hiring

 

[the Q]

The talent really isn't as bad as you think.

What do think the talent's ceiling is?

What seed?

I'm really curious what people think this talent level looks like.

I guess i have to add in the qualifier that you need to tell me how many games Gilbert is playing for you in that projection. Maybe it's one with 0 and one with him healthy just to get a gauge.

 

[the Q]

we're tanking for the #1 overall pick after next season, right? its a bold move but I like it
/s

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

What do think the talent's ceiling is?

What seed?

I'm really curious what people think this talent level looks like.

I guess i have to add in the qualifier that you need to tell me how many games Gilbert is playing for you in that projection. Maybe it's one with 0 and one with him healthy just to get a gauge.

It has some obvious holes. We still have to fill out 3 scholly's. For me to answer that question at this time would be pointless.

 

[Tenspro2002]

This is disappointing, you can always use intelligent big guys.

I really hope Hurley isn't going to try to win here wih 4 guard lineups. If he does he won't last long unless he recruits 4 guys who shoot the lights out right off the bat.

We already have a handful of raw bigs under the "throw on the wall and see what sticks" approach. We don't need any more of those guys, we need studs.

As I've said elsewhere, none of the recruits were worth losing sleep over.

Hurley is looking to significantly upgrade the talent. It might have to wait until 2019, but that's better than waiting until 2021 because all our schollies are tied up with mediocre talent.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

The talent really isn't as bad as you think.

I agree, a core of Jalen (if back), Vital, Sid, AG, Diarra, and Carlton can be a competitive team with the right coaching. Not world beaters, but much better than 14-18. It seems realistically that Akinjo isn't interested in coming to UConn without Ollie, so be it. Beyond that, losing a couple of three-star recruits is not the end of the world when you're making a significant program transition.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Isn't there a dead period coming up in April? Hope the board doesn't get to antsy waiting for news during that time as we probably won't hear much.

We will be models of good behavior. Same as it ever was.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

This is disappointing, you can always use intelligent big guys.

I really hope Hurley isn't going to try to win here wih 4 guard lineups. If he does he won't last long unless he recruits 4 guys who shoot the lights out right off the bat.

If we had 4 guards

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

Is this really a surprise or hard to understand? Seems pretty obvious and expected to me.

Ollie’s strategy and objective was always “positionless basketball” and that is what he used to attract these recruits.

Hurley’s strategy and objective is the complete opposite. If you watch his teams, he has clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and positions for his players.

Ollie ran a lot of iso plays and individual focus. Hurley is more of a designed team plays offense.

It isn’t just the coaching change that is driving the change of plans with the recruits (although that would be enough reason in my opinion). But the completely different strategy and even culture of the program by definition will attract (and need) very different types of players and kids.

These decisions are best for both the UConn program AND the players in the long run.

 

[Kembacity]

I was going to drop the quote in there verbatim, but I thought someone would call me out for not including the meme, and I'm working over here... kind of

 

[the Q]

I was going to drop the quote in there verbatim, but I thought someone would call me out for not including the meme, and I'm working over here... kind of

It's my favorite line from the entire movie (with the obvious set up by Cotton).

I had to drop it. Even if I am working.

 

[businesslawyer]

Leave your politics in the Cesspool counselor.

Xenophobic much?

 

[beachin]

I can't be the only one who loves the confidence and vision Hurley has right away...he is making it clear that he has high expectations for the program and Kisunas/Mathews simply are not talented enough to be UConn players in Hurley's eyes

 

[CL82]

Xenophobic much?

Irrational much? Relax counselor and stop digging. It isn't the way out of the hole.

 

[businesslawyer]

Irrational much?

I'm sorry. You're right and I'm wrong. Assuming a foreign born youngster has a comic book accent and making fun of it is perfectly fair game if he's no longer coming to UConn. Just normal grown up behavior.

We will have to agree to disagree. You can fire away. I've made my point.

 

[CL82]

I'm sorry. You're right and I'm wrong. Assuming a foreign born youngster has a comic book accent and making fun of it is perfectly fair game if he's no longer coming to UConn. Just normal grown up behavior.

We will have to agree to disagree. You can fire away. I've made my point.

No need to apologize, just leave this silly crap in the Cesspool.

 

[SubbaBub]

The talent really isn't as bad as you think.

Stats, eyeballs and record for the last two seasons suggest their might be. This team was horrible at shooting and running anything. They were also k inconsistent on D.

Can a coaching change fix all of that, maybe? But, shouldn't they have been better if commitment to fundementals was all that was keeping them from the Sweet 16?

 

[businesslawyer]

No need to apologize, just leave this silly crap in the Cesspool.

Jeez. I apologize that the facetiousness of the prior apology wasn't clear. That is a non-facetious apology for my lack of clarity.

 

[8893]

Xenophobic much?

Irrational much?

C'mon brothers. You're both better than this.

 

[CL82]

Jeez. I apologize that the facetiousness of the prior apology wasn't clear. That is a non-facetious apology for my lack of clarity.

No worries and as I said, no need to apologize. Having a bad day?

 

[tzznandrew]

Jeez. I apologize that the facetiousness of the prior apology wasn't clear. That is a non-facetious apology for my lack of clarity.

 

[YearoftheHusky]

What class, there are none left.

Nothing gets by you. Aside frim the joke of course. But beyond that, nothing gets by you!

 

[ctchamps]

Is this really a surprise or hard to understand? Seems pretty obvious and expected to me.

Ollie’s strategy and objective was always “positionless basketball” and that is what he used to attract these recruits.

Hurley’s strategy and objective is the complete opposite. If you watch his teams, he has clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and positions for his players.

Ollie ran a lot of iso plays and individual focus. Hurley is more of a designed team plays offense.

It isn’t just the coaching change that is driving the change of plans with the recruits (although that would be enough reason in my opinion). But the completely different strategy and even culture of the program by definition will attract (and need) very different types of players and kids.

These decisions are best for both the UConn program AND the players in the long run.

Nice write up. Of course the assumption is Hurley can attract the players that fit his system and are solid D1 players that can elevate the program from what took place the last several years.

I have hopes that happens but people and programs don’t survive on hopes.

This start of Hurley’s coaching career at UConn doesn’t surprise me anymore than what I expected this past season after losing MAL and 3 players.

There may be some decent recruits remaining for the upcoming season but there are many programs that have needs.

Last year we watched KO scrambling in April after the defections and every decent recruit went to other programs. DO and AA were brought in because nothing was left.

Hopefully Hurley has more success but if he doesn’t and if JA leaves and AG doesn’t recover Hurley’s job for 2018-19 might be more difficult than some posters are postulating. He and UConn don’t live in a vacuum. Every coach will use next season’s outcome if it’s bad to recruit against him.

 

[UCDaveD]

The funny thing is I don't think that @CL82 was even digging at Kisunas. He was making a joke about a previous comment saying Ollie promised him the world. The accent was merely for comedic effect, and was executed brilliantly.

 

[businesslawyer]

Nice write up. Of course the assumption is Hurley can attract the players that fit his system and are solid D1 players that can elevate the program from what took place the last several years.

I have hopes that happens but people and programs don’t survive on hopes.

This start of Hurley’s coaching career at UConn doesn’t surprise me anymore than what I expected this past season after losing MAL and 3 players.

There may be some decent recruits remaining for the upcoming season but there are many programs that have needs.

Last year we watched KO scrambling in April after the defections and every decent recruit went to other programs. DO and AA were brought in because nothing was left.

Hopefully Hurley has more success but if he doesn’t and if JA leaves and AG doesn’t recover Hurley’s job for 2018-19 might be more difficult than some posters are postulating. He and UConn don’t live in a vacuum. Every coach will use next season’s outcome if it’s bad to recruit against him.

Given that our season is over, it is incredibly difficult at the moment to guess whether we can have a decent team next year. On the one hand, if Adams comes back, Gilbert stays healthy, Carlton shows a big leap and we add at least decent depth with the open roster spots, we could have three AAC impact players (Adams, Gilbert and Wilson), decent play at the 4 and 5 and adequate depth, which could be enough to compete for an NCAA bid. On the other hand, if Adams leaves, Gilbert is not the player who signed with us and all we add with the open roster spots is talent at a level of our off season additions last year, we would have a substantially less talented team and would be relying on better coaching to even play up to last year's level.

Time will tell.

 

[JMick]

C'mon brothers. You're both better than this.

BL might be.... Idk about CL