I did. And while I obviously don't expect him to say "we'll be able to coast to another title", I thought his comments on the offseason workout programs were interesting: "We have a tough, strenuous training regimen that we do and it kind of weeds out players that are not dedicated. Then we can go in and reinforce that and say, ‘You’re not going to make it through the first day of practice if you’re in this type of shape, because you can’t even do these little things we’re doing now. It really opens people’s eyes up and they say, ‘We’re still working. We’re not sitting back and laying down on a national championship, we’re trying to build upon it.”
I'm sure this isn't much different than what goes on at various other programs, but in conjunction with other comments Ollie has made about how difficult his practices are, you kind of get a glimpse into why UConn seemed to be the team in the best shape last March. I thought this was interesting, too: “We’re just trying not to let complacency set in, where you just think it’s going to be done and you’re some kind of special team. You were a special team last year, but this is a whole different team and there are different opponents you’re playing against and you’ve got to come out with that hungry mindset again - that you’ve got something to prove each and every minute you’re on the basketball court. If you don’t do that, you’re going to sit down with me. Everybody understands that, and if you don’t you understand that, hopefully you do understand that soon once we get in practice."
You would have been surprised by how many people on this board thought Oriakhi and Roscoe were entitled to minutes in 2012 because of their roles on the 2011 championship team. Based on the comments above, that's clearly now how Ollie conducts business. It'll be interesting to see if any chemistry problems emerge if/when players from the championship team are displaced in the rotation. I don't get the sense anybody on the roster aside from Boatright is going to have a guaranteed starting spot.
Not sure how chemistry issues evolve when 3 starters are gone - Bazz, DD, Giff. Problems seem to evolve when Oriaki/Smith type playing time player wants to expand role or change role and is not capable or is not what coaches want.
Boat - he and coach want him to be PG.
Nolan/Brimah - both need to get better at what they are supposed to do (rebound, defend, finish) and both had enough problems doing these (e.g. Nolan finishing against Kentucky) such that all their concentration should be on that. Don't see Nolan looking to be the new DD.
That's it for "starters".
Kromah and Olander gone so reserves returning are:
Omar - needs to earn back starters role or at least get into rotation. Seems to know this and had good attitude while on bench. Will get time to prove what he can do at practice/games so expect he will do what he can and both he and Ollie will agree on what his role ends up being.
Samuel - see him needing to broaden his role to increase impact and into areas he may not be as good at. Kid can drive. Everything else is up for improvement. He and Ollie know this and he might have some downs before he gets better and might get passed in rotation (at least for a while).
Facey - only non/not much playing time guy returning. Could have anywhere from DD to Olander type role. A more offensive Roscoe at UNLV is where he can earn his keep, seems like he and Ollie would both lead him to that. If he is good enough to be a DD on offense, look out.
New guys - don't expect chemistry issues. A couple are older so with that comes some better concept of who they are as players, how they improve and how they make the team better. One is hopefully an Adrien type and for 1st year being beast in game is where you get minutes. Hamilton will be the kid with most undefined role initially, seems like from family that has lot of history with college athletics and with picking Ollie as coach he should understand and buy into what "10 toes in" means.
So with all the new pieces and the abilities/prior roles/projected new roles for the players don't see "roles type chemistry issues". If some guys just can't make their and Ollie's preferred role work then they either adjust or sit (say Omar can't get back to form or Cassell much better at running team than Boat or more likely just being better at it than Samuel).
