Long Goodman article on the program

[tcf15]

Can someone point to something in the article that’s new? If you were paying attention?

Just to name a couple...Kevin Ollie's player development program for Vance Jackson and Kevin Ollie's lack of interest in going "ten toes in" to recruit a 5* player less than 25 miles away from the Storrs campus (which we knew was the case with MAL). Also a few telling quotes from former players, coaches, NBA scouts, and AAC coaches.

 

[UConnWingman]

"I love the program. I love UConn. I'm rooting for Kevin Ollie," said Calhoun, who declined to go further in depth about the current state of the program.

Ouch.

This from the guy who has done nothing but recycle the same dozen words for the past three months.

Please don’t dominate the rap jack, if you’ve got nothing new to say.

Rest assured, when history identifies the rats, you’ll be remembered as among the first off the ship and I’ll be in my deck chair listening to the orchestra.

So be it.

If you please, don't back up the track
This train's got to run today!

 

[Zionn]

Vance will be the gift that keeps giving....Sr that is.....

 

[superjohn]

Vance will be the gift that keeps giving....Sr that is.....

Yep.

 

[Northbound]

live look at 8893 on the ship

Now that’s funny right there

 

[UConnNick]

lol you people are insane. Goodman didn't quote the boneyard. he just happened to dig up the same information that posters have been writing about on the board for over a year. this should strengthen the validity of the accusations and instead you're dismissing it as #fakenews

You're absolutely right. He didn't quote the BY. Instead, he uses the same tactic the "Fire Ollie" crowd here uses. He quotes nothing but anonymous sources, third person hearsay, and unsubstantiated innuendo to support his narrative. Nothing in that article can be proven or disproven relating to comments from anonymous sources. I've yet to see one factual quote on the record from anyone in a position to really know what they're talking about, here or anywhere else. It's a garbage piece of 'journalism'.

That said, I have stated I'll be in favor of moving on at the end of this season if things don't dramatically improve by then. If half the stuff in the article about Ollie is true, it's time to do something about it when this season ends, if we remain on the same trajectory. Whether the AD can find a way to swing it financially is another matter.

 

[JMick]

You're absolutely right. He didn't quote the BY. Instead, he uses the same tactic the "Fire Ollie" crowd here uses. He quotes nothing but anonymous sources, third person hearsay, and unsubstantiated innuendo to support his narrative. Nothing in that article can be proven or disproven relating to comments from anonymous sources. I've yet to see one factual quote on the record from anyone in a position to really know what they're talking about, here or anywhere else. It's a garbage piece of 'journalism'.

That said, I have stated I'll be in favor of moving on at the end of this season if things don't dramatically improve by then. If half the stuff in the article about Ollie is true, it's time to do something about it when this season ends, if we remain on the same trajectory. Whether the AD can find a way to swing it financially is another matter.

anonymity has been an integral part of journalism since its conception. the fact that you can't accept that people close to the program need to keep that anonymity puts you in the delusional crowd.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

First, I read the OP & comments, then the comments showing ignored content, then Goodman's article. Here, pretty much all are on equal footing, and nobody is far out of bounds. Goodman is sufficiently more right than wrong here, but, unsurprisingly, hasn't got much on us other than the biggest audience for this apparent consensus. Only an unexpected turnaround could shift things, and I do believe that most here would welcome such a surprise no matter how much they doubt it will happen.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

The most concerning thing I read, regarding Vance:

"Jackson, who averaged 8.1 points and 26 minutes per game as a freshman, met with Ollie after last season and wanted to know what the plan was for him to be able to develop into more than just a spot-up shooter."

"[Jackson] wanted a clear plan going forward," the source said. "He didn't want to transfer, but there was no plan."

Huh? No plan for a player that we could've really used this season and beyond? No plan for a player who actually wanted to stay? If this is true then this is finally does it for me. He needs to be gone and we need a change.

I'd be very careful in interpreting those comments.

 

[Waquoit]

I just think the article is a piece of crap. Not lashing out at what was written. Clearly things aren’t well.

I understand. The truth hurts.

 

[UConnNick]

anonymity has been an integral part of journalism since its conception. the fact that you can't accept that people close to the program need to keep that anonymity puts you in the delusional crowd.

No, I get it, but total reliance on anonymous sources, by definition, makes any article somewhat less credible.

 

[noeynox]

"This UConn team wouldn't win any league in the country, including the America East," added one high-ranking NBA executive.

Sad, but true.

 

[pj]

I assumed that, but if I was Miller, why not go on the record? The place has been a tire fire since he left.

Why would anyone want to go on the record describing himself as the coach best liked by players? It would sound more credible coming from anyone else, so he'd prefer to give the impression that it came from someone else.

 

[noeynox]

Really made KO sound lazy. Squid came to see Diallo as much as him?Mal? No plan for Vance?

I keep hoping for a miracle turnaround from KO, but this seems hopeless. Dude is getting outworked.

 

[nadav]

I understand. The truth hurts.

Jeff ‘the truth’ Goodman.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

anonymity has been an integral part of journalism since its conception. the fact that you can't accept that people close to the program need to keep that anonymity puts you in the delusional crowd.

Wait, I spoke too soon. A lot went out of bounds while I was writing. And still, it adds up to about the same.
Nevertheless, "conception"???
Maybe you also got it wrong with "delusional." I'm throwing you a rope.
It might not be too late to edit your comments, moderate their tone, find common ground, and stop with the unhelpful exaggerations that are well beyond necessary at this point.

 

[jorge34]

If you don't think everything in that article is true, just by mere observation of the way he coaches in-game, your head is in the sand.

 

[JMick]

Wait, I spoke too soon. A lot went out of bounds while I was writing. And still, it adds up to about the same.
Nevertheless, "conception"???
Maybe you also got it wrong with "delusional." I'm throwing you a rope.
It might not be too late to edit your comments, moderate their tone, find common ground, and stop with the unhelpful exaggerations that are well beyond necessary at this point.

yes it should have said inception. woops.

 

[Paesano]

Really. He could have gotten out of bed the morning of the day he wrote it and done nothing but read the BY as his only source of information.

Come on Nick! I know it would make it more credible to get names but this sounds pretty thorough:

"ESPN spoke to more than 30 former players, coaches and others close to the program about what's wrong with the program"

 

[TRest]

If JC doesn't come out and say KO can't coach his way out of a paper bag, the true believers will keep believing. I envy those with blind faith, makes life a lot easier.

 

[TRest]

Why would anyone want to go on the record describing himself as the coach best liked by players? It would sound more credible coming from anyone else, so he'd prefer to give the impression that it came from someone else.

I would hope Goodman would not quote someone puffing himself up like that. There are more than a few former assistants he can talk to.

 

[jorge34]

Come on Nick! I know it would make it more credible to get names but this sounds pretty thorough:

"ESPN spoke to more than 30 former players, coaches and others close to the program about what's wrong with the program"

Pretty simple to see those quoted obviously didn't want to go on record bashing ollie, who probably is a pretty good guy. He's just not a head coach and hurting the school.

 

[auror]

It was proven false by the mere fact that Tulsa made it as an at-large selection with a worse resume, and they play in the same conference.

From posts at the time:
"Syracuse's inclusion in the field wasn't close. He said the Orange had five top 50 wins, including at Duke and neutral-site wins over UConn and Texas A&M in the Bahamas that were the difference - Committee chair Joe Castiglione."
"Castiglione said Tulsa got in over its competition because of four top 50 wins. "
"Tulsa got in because they were 4-5 against RPI Top 50, UConn was 2-5 before the tournament, would have been 2-6 with Cincy loss."

I think UConn probably still gets in, but it definitely wasn't a lock just because Tulsa got in.

 

[HooperScooper]

Wow, this article is pretty brutal on Ollie. Who knows exactly how accurate this is, but if these things are all 100% true I don't know how you could stand up and say keep Ollie as the coach.

 

[Tuna]

The lack of effort with recruiting (Diallo, MAL) and coaching (Jackson) is stunning and the major takeaway from this article.

Jackson didn't like that there wasn't a plan for him to be the number 1 option. How could he be? He was slow, not a great ball handler, didn't have a great post game and played below the rim.

 

[selles]

I would hope Goodman would not quote someone puffing himself up like that. There are more than a few former assistants he can talk to.

Please. What former assistant other than Glen Miller is going to tell Jeff Goodman 'yeah when I was on staff Glen was the only guy who did anything'?

The Vance stuff is also clearly from Senior and has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Except for "there was no plan". That part's clearly true and will be the epitaph. There. Was. No. Plan. On court, off court, recruiting, you name it. No plan whatsoever.

 

[superjohn]

Wow, this article is pretty brutal on Ollie. Who knows exactly how accurate this is, but if these things are all 100% true I don't know how you could stand up and say keep Ollie as the coach.

You don't technically have to be standing when the ship sinks. 8893 already has his lounge chair picked out.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Jackson didn't like that there wasn't a plan for him to be the number 1 option. How could he be? He was slow, not a great ball handler, didn't have a great post game and played below the rim.

Jackson's take gains a little more credibility if you compare it to similar comments made by Durham after Durham transfered. Durham was upset that Ollie envisioned him simply as an "energy guy" with no defined role. His final comment in the same tweet was, "what am I doing here?"

Pretty damning.

 

[Waquoit]

I think UConn probably still gets in, but it definitely wasn't a lock just because Tulsa got in.

If that shot doesn't go in, the resume has 3 fewer wins.

 

[the Q]

Jackson didn't like that there wasn't a plan for him to be the number 1 option. How could he be? He was slow, not a great ball handler, didn't have a great post game and played below the rim.

With his mass, and lack of speed, he was a stretch 4 in the best sets.