Makai Ashton Langford asks for Release

[mauconnfan]

This is awful news no other way to paint it. Players are not too excited to play for KO especially when we are a mediocre team in the AAC. Right now it looks like we will miss the tourney again and to me that is unacceptable. I never thought KO would lose control of the program like this. KO better win and get us to the tourney next year or we need to go a whole new direction before we become irrelevant. KO won with JC's kids and doesn't have an idea how to build a winning program from what we have seen the last 3 years.

Please I'm okay with everything but "won with JC's kids" - rethink that one because it's way off. Unless you mean of course the kids who weren't all that good or had little impact for JC like Deandre, Giffey and even Bazz for that matter as his soph year was a crap storm? if that's what you mean then ok I get it.

 

[BUConn10]

You may be a great guy or gal but to be honest, I would want to go to battle with you on my side or a wing man

Thanks that's nice of you to say. Unfortunately I wouldn't say the same for you.

 

[Tenspro2002]

This is awful news no other way to paint it. Players are not too excited to play for KO especially when we are a mediocre team in the AAC. Right now it looks like we will miss the tourney again and to me that is unacceptable. I never thought KO would lose control of the program like this. KO better win and get us to the tourney next year or we need to go a whole new direction before we become irrelevant. KO won with JC's kids and doesn't have an idea how to build a winning program from what we have seen the last 3 years.

You take it too far when you say KO won with JC's kids. He won with JC's recruits, but KO largely made those guys who they were over 2 years culminating in the championship.

That said, you're absolutely right that KO hasn't shown at all that he has what it takes to build a winning program that can sustain success over the long term. He was somewhat shackled at the beginning, but what's happened personnel-wise the last 1-2 years, especially this offseason, is entirely on him, and it's not trending in a positive direction.

 

[mauconnfan]

I agree with hiring Chillious and letting Miller go given the replacement salary slot that got open.
I don't agree with how it was executed:
1) Looks like someone went back on a promise to keep it quiet until after F4 Coaches Conference.
2) Someone's superfan called Miller lazy, which wasn't smart given the circumstances and although I have been very critical of Miller - lazy was never a criticism. At times maybe complacent with old ways but never lazy. As a result, Miller's allies have posted stuff from PSA to Mass Rivals connected dudes.
3) I was criticized for suggesting KO get out in front of this with all remaining players and recruits - some thought that was babying them - but that's you need to do - provide guidance and attention - not just leaving people thinking WTF is happening.

OMG Chief worried about how they got rid of Miller who you crapped on for so long This place is a wild fire now seeing this BS.

 

[3rdbass]

You know what? If that happens, I'd be more than amenable to a change. But if we're missing the tourney in 3 out of 4 years, I'm quite confident that nobody worth their salt will even want to enter into a situation that dire.

We still have a legacy and top notch facilities and AD dedicated to winning. We can attract a good coach to help us through this hell fire if KO can't succeed. Next year is huge for KO if he hopes to stay at UCONN.

 

[3rdbass]

You take it too far when you say KO won with JC's kids. He won with JC's recruits, but KO largely made those guys who they were over 2 years culminating in the championship.

That said, you're absolutely right that KO hasn't shown at all that he has what it takes to build a winning program that can sustain success over the long term. He was somewhat shackled at the beginning, but what's happened personnel-wise the last 1-2 years, especially this offseason, is entirely on him, and it's not trending in a positive direction.

Mike Davis at Indiana did well with Bobby Knight's kids right after he left too, getting them to the championship game, and look were he ended up. Sorry KO hasn't proven he can sustain and build his own program.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Mike Davis at Indiana did well with Bobby Knight's kids right after he left too, getting them to the championship game, and look were he ended up. Sorry KO hasn't proven he can sustain and build his own program.

I didn't disagree with that. Right now, KO is on the Mike Davis/Tubby Smith trajectory.

Early success with some benefit from holdovers from the predecessor, but utter failure to build something successful on his own.

 

[3rdbass]

I didn't disagree with that. Right now, KO is on the Mike Davis/Tubby Smith trajectory.

Early success with some benefit from holdovers from the predecessor, but utter failure to build something successful on his own.

Exactly and unlike those blue blood programs we can't afford to stay mediocre due to our conference affiliation.

 

[intlzncster]

You may be a great guy or gal but to be honest, I would want to go to battle with you on my side or a wing man

This is a funny post

 

[Lefty2one]

Mike Davis at Indiana did well with Bobby Knight's kids right after he left too, getting them to the championship game, and look were he ended up. Sorry KO hasn't proven he can sustain and build his own program.

Same with Doherty at UNC, Tubby Smith at UK, etc. History is not on our side in terms of the chances that KO turns this around.

 

[Chief00]

When was the last time you actually played organized basketball, old man?

A while now - you need to respect the game and quit when you lose a step or two.

 

[mauconnfan]

You may be a great guy or gal but to be honest, I would want to go to battle with you on my side or a wing man

Would or Would not?

 

[UConn990411]

Mike Davis at Indiana did well with Bobby Knight's kids right after he left too, getting them to the championship game, and look were he ended up. Sorry KO hasn't proven he can sustain and build his own program.

Yup. Ollie deserves tons of credit for what he accomplished with those players (too many people lately have been trying to dismiss the job he did those first two seasons), but sustaining that success is a different animal.

It's natural for a young coach to go through growing pains, but we do need to start seeing some signs of him turning things around. The coaching staff changes are a start, for better or worse.

 

[Chief00]

KO's lost buy-in and it's a dumpster fire. They need JC back in an active advisory role and start looking for a real coach that can build a long term program after next year if they flame out.

I agree the buyin is no longer there from some players.

 

[intlzncster]

That's not what this is about. It can't be. 3rd player to leave in the past week... it's something else.

Well this one has nothing to do with being in the program, because he never was there.

 

[CTBasketball]

Seriously. To me, this is worse than losing either Jackson or Enoch.

I said two days ago that if the only news we got this week was SE and VJ were leaving, and Chillious was coming in, we were net positive.

In another thread I mused on the team making the NCAAs. I was feeling pretty good about it...but this makes me much much less optimistic.

We need Chillious to bring in a few recruits. We need multiple quality players now. I still think we'll be better than last year so long as we are healthy, but sweet Jesus we need some more good news.

I agree with most of your post, but hear me out.

Chillious is a huge question mark. We hired him with the anticipation he could recruit the same way he did at UW. We're not a P5 school. We aren't guaranteed 2 games each vs. the likes of UCLA, Oregon, and Arizona. Here you'll get Cincinnati on a Sunday night and SMU on a Wednesday at 9pm. He will seriously have to earn his bread and butter, because he is not regarded as a good gameplan and X's and O's coach. He's a recruiter who has to recruit in a much tougher environment.

The NCAA's are still a possible goal. Feasible too IMO. We just can't have any injuries and we need to pray to God Jalen Adams takes the "leap" into UConn stardom. The frontcourt must play well from the beginning. We don't have any dependable front court players. If you look at our roster, we need everyone to outperform expectations if this team has any chance at being near the NCAA's. Its possible, but KO needs to KILL it next year, and he arguably has a tougher hand than last year post injuries.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

There are players available, as listed in posts above. Staff comes up with a suitable substitute, no harm no foul. But worried for next year if they don't. This team needs four solid guards. Right now there are 3, giving Gilbert the benefit of injury doubt.

Panic never helps.

 

[King Husky]

Well this one has nothing to do with being in the program, because he never was.

I'm assuming he was plugged in enough to hear the sentiment from some of the current players and be scared off by what he was hearing.

 

[3rdbass]

Please I'm okay with everything but "won with JC's kids" - rethink that one because it's way off. Unless you mean of course the kids who weren't all that good or had little impact for JC like Deandre, Giffey and even Bazz for that matter as his soph year was a crap storm? if that's what you mean then ok I get it.

Those kids we are all rated pretty high and both Giffey and Bazz had played well for JC. I agree that JC never used Deandre properly. Kind of like Marcus White who didn't come out until George Blaney played him at PF when JC was out sick. Either way like Tubby Smith and Mike Davis having success coach can be done. Sustaining it is more of the problem and KO is not showing that at all.

 

[Dove]

You get rid of Ollie and replace him with who?

Jim Calhoun.

Edsall has shown its the UCONN way.

 

[Chief00]

OMG Chief worried about how they got rid of Miller who you crapped on for so long This place is a wild fire now seeing this BS.

There is definitely a wrong way to fire someone - and KO is writing the book on it now.

 

[Stainmaster]

There is definitely a wrong way to fire someone - and KO is writing the book on it now.

Because he happens to be the coach of UConn MBB and not be named Jim Calhoun?

 

[intlzncster]

The NCAA's are still a possible goal. Feasible too IMO. We just can't have any injuries and we need to pray to God Jalen Adams takes the "leap" into UConn stardom. The frontcourt must play well from the beginning. We don't have any dependable front court players. If you look at our roster, we need everyone to outperform expectations if this team has any chance at being near the NCAA's. Its possible, but KO needs to KILL it next year, and he arguably has a tougher hand than last year post injuries.

Don't agree with that. We have an improved version of our best player back. Our second and third best players back (though admittedly recovering). A much improved Vital. A healthy Durham (hopefully). A healthy Diarra (hopefully). And a big gaping hole at center.

Our biggest question mark, and it is a big one, is health, as you mentioned. Health will be everything. We are thin right now. Let's see what happens in the last part of this recruiting cycle.

 

[mauconnfan]

Those kids we are all rated pretty high and both Giffey and Bazz had played well for JC. I agree that JC never used Deandre properly. Kind of like Marcus White who didn't come out until George Blaney played him at PF when JC was out sick. Either way like Tubby Smith and Mike Davis having success coach can be done. Sustaining it is more of the problem and KO is not showing that at all.

Bazz yes, knew he was a player but could someone get him to play for the team, with the team. JC fell short on that his soph year. Niels was never that guy as a soph that he was his last 2 years under KO not even close. Hell he was guarding all 5 positions by his senior year and physically an impact. Not at all under JC. Need to give the kudos with the crap is all I am saying here.

 

[sled dog]

Just saw on ESPN that Ashton-Langford has asked for his release. I thought the bleeding was over?!!?!?!?!?!?

Something is not right- loosing 3 kids this way within a week or so- must be more to it than we are aware of