Malik Newman Update

[David 76]

Those 4 "blue chip" teams include KU (for reasons I can't understand) and UNC which has been on a bit of a decline and is facing a major investigation. From a logical (not sentimental) perspective, It us, UK & Duke. I worry more about AZ. than Kansas or UNC at this point.
I think we are getting close to being judged for our championships and not our "pedigree". And what a wonderful world it will be!

 

[HooperScooper]

Newman and Stone would obviously be awesome, but we already have two solid guards and I really don't like the idea of recruiting over anybody just on principal. I don't care if other programs do it and recruits de/recommit and screw around all the time, I just don't want UConn to perpetuate that stuff (and I don't think it would do anything good for the long term image of the program). Just bring me Enoch and Comanche and Ill be happier than a pig in sh_t.

I hate the term "recruiting over". WTH does that even mean? A coach should accumulate as much talent as possible on the roster and let the players compete for playing time. Just like it's done at every level beyond youth sports. How is a coach supposed to know when recruiting a player if he's going to be better or worse than other players he has on the roster already?

 

[UCONNfan1]

I hate the term "recruiting over". WTH does that even mean? A coach should accumulate as much talent as possible on the roster and let the players compete for playing time. Just like it's done at every level beyond youth sports. How is a coach supposed to know when recruiting a player if he's going to be better or worse than other players he has on the roster already?

I totally agree with this. I realize there are only so many spots on a roster, but one never knows if there will be injuries, transfers, or kids jumping early. It seems like JC, and now Ollie, have done a fantastic job of getting mostly kids who stay at least 2 years.

I'm with you though - get the talent and stockpile it. Not like Kentucky, but what's wrong with having a terrific group of guards like Adams, Jackson, Cassell, Samuel, and Purvis? No reason at least 2 of the non-starters can't earn 10 MPG PT if they are good enough...

 

[intlzncster]

Or, even better, a guy who actually coaches bigs.

Did I hear 'Clyde Vaughn'? Where's chief?

 

[intlzncster]

I hate the term "recruiting over". WTH does that even mean? A coach should accumulate as much talent as possible on the roster and let the players compete for playing time. Just like it's done at every level beyond youth sports. How is a coach supposed to know when recruiting a player if he's going to be better or worse than other players he has on the roster already?

Yeah, as if these high school rankings mean duckck all in the end anyway.

 

[elduderino]

I hate the term "recruiting over". WTH does that even mean? A coach should accumulate as much talent as possible on the roster and let the players compete for playing time. Just like it's done at every level beyond youth sports. How is a coach supposed to know when recruiting a player if he's going to be better or worse than other players he has on the roster already?

Recruiting over, see Calipari coaching, see over guys like Kyle W and Ryan H for the next best thing, see not showing any faith or commitment in guys youve invited into your program. Its a revolving door program and UConn has zero rings as a revolving door, so why start now?

 

[intlzncster]

Recruiting over, see Calipari coaching, see over guys like Kyle W and Ryan H for the next best thing, see not showing any faith or commitment in guys youve invited into your program. Its a revolving door program and UConn has zero rings as a revolving door, so why start now?

Nah, if you are good enough, you play. If you are not, you don't. We've done a ton of 'recruiting over' in our time. Look recently at Michael Bradley and Andre Drummond.

 

[HooperScooper]

Recruiting over, see Calipari coaching, see over guys like Kyle W and Ryan H for the next best thing, see not showing any faith or commitment in guys youve invited into your program. Its a revolving door program and UConn has zero rings as a revolving door, so why start now?

I have no idea what that means. I don't subscribe to the practice of pushing guys out of the program to free up scholarships. I don't think UConn has done that. But there are only up to 13 scholarship guys on a roster. The best players play. So if a coach has 8 guys coming back for the next season, including 5 starters, the coach should go out and only recruit players that he knows are definitely worse than the 8 he has coming back? Think about what you are saying. It makes no sense.

 

[Scot-e]

Recruiting over, see Calipari coaching, see over guys like Kyle W and Ryan H for the next best thing, see not showing any faith or commitment in guys youve invited into your program. Its a revolving door program and UConn has zero rings as a revolving door, so why start now?

Recruiting over, see Calipari coaching, see over guys like Kyle W and Ryan H for the next best thing, see not showing any faith or commitment in guys youve invited into your program. Its a revolving door program and UConn has zero rings as a revolving door, so why start now?

Nonsense. . You get the best players you can and the ones that stand out in practice do not ride the pine. Any player that is not interested in that should go play for Kansas or UNC.

 

[CAHUSKY]

I don't subscribe to the practice of pushing guys out of the program to free up scholarships. I don't think UConn has done that. .

Really? Calhoun made it clear to a number of players over the years that they likely wouldn't see much playing time if they returned. Is that pushing guys out??? Maybe not, but we aren't innocent.

 

[elduderino]

Its agree to disagree time for me. I think a few of you guys are being a bit conveniently naive. Recruiting over has everything to do with the allocation of limited scholarships and nothing to do with fighting for playing time once you have one.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Its agree to disagree time for me. I think a few of you guys are being a bit conveniently naive. Recruiting over has everything to do with the allocation of limited scholarships and nothing to do with fighting for playing time once you have one.

You must not like the commitment of Jalen Adams then since we are basically recruiting over a guy like Sam Cassell Jr or Daniel Hamilton since we recruited over a guy like Omar. Maybe we shouldn't get any more bigs in fear that guys like Lubin or Nolan wouldn't get the playing time they deserve

 

[elduderino]

You must not like the commitment of Jalen Adams then since we are basically recruiting over a guy like Sam Cassell Jr or Daniel Hamilton since we recruited over a guy like Omar. Maybe we shouldn't get any more bigs in fear that guys like Lubin or Nolan wouldn't get the playing time they deserve

Youre not even in the same area code as what I argued here. If you were, you could understand that Im not opposed to any of our current players or recruits. But Im also not thrilled with Ali decommitt, the constant Turtle decommitt speculation, and our continued pursuit of "elite" guards when the well acknowledged need is for bigs. I do not want UConn to be any past, present or future version of Cal's UK.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Youre not even in the same area code as what I argued here. If you were, you could understand that Im not opposed to any of our current players or recruits. But Im also not thrilled with Ali decommitt, the constant Turtle decommitt speculation, and our continued pursuit of "elite" guards when the well acknowledged need is for bigs. I do not want UConn to be any past, present or future version of Cal's UK.

I understand now. I'm not happy with the Ali decommit either. But it happens all the time in college sports in general. We have no idea why he committed. It could of had nothing to do with him recruiting other players. You can't stop recruiting other guys just because you have a commit because you can't have a situation where you do have a decommit and then the program is left out to dry. Who said we aren't recruiting bigs either? We just had stone and Enoch on campus the past couple of weeks. I honestly wouldn't mind if Turtle left to make room for a guy like Malik.

 

[Dynasty]

I hate the term "recruiting over". WTH does that even mean? A coach should accumulate as much talent as possible on the roster and let the players compete for playing time. Just like it's done at every level beyond youth sports. How is a coach supposed to know when recruiting a player if he's going to be better or worse than other players he has on the roster already?

There is more to it than that.

Recruiting takes a certain level of commitment to what a coach is saying to you. Ali and Jackson felt comfortable enough to end their recruitment early and commit to UConn. Since we don't know how Coach Ollie recruited Ali and Jackson and what he said to them, so to make things easier I'll just use the consenus for what posters on the board seem to want for the class (2 guards, 1 big, 1 SF) and use it as Coach Ollie's sales pitch. If Ollie told Ali and Jackson that they would be the 2 guards in the class and he accepted their commitments then what reason does he still have to recruiting guards for? I understand keeping tabs on guys just in case but there seemed to a new offer to a new guard after game during evaluation period.

On the flip side, let's say at this time next year Ali and Jackson just enrolled to UConn and the staff is already on to the 2016 class then Coach Ollie doesn't owe Ali and Jackson anything since he kept his word about them being the only 2 guards in the 2015 class. If Ollie were to get 2 more guards in 2016 (say Tyus Battle and Derryck Thornton ) and they are better than Ali and Jackson and Ali and Jackson don't receive much playing time their sophomore year then it is their fault for not improving to the standards to the rest of the guards on the team.

Basically, what my extremely long point is is that if Coach Ollie thought there would be better guards out there then there was no need to allow Jackson and Ali to commit early only to recruit over them as if they weren't committed at all. I don't think recruiting over another player if he is already on the team is a problem. However, doing it while players are still in the recruitment process I don't think is okay.


* Of course assuming Jackson indeed decommit *

 

[7774]

There is more to it than that.

Recruiting takes a certain level of commitment to what a coach is saying to you. Ali and Jackson felt comfortable enough to end their recruitment early and commit to UConn. Since we don't know how Coach Ollie recruited Ali and Jackson and what he said to them, so to make things easier I'll just use the consenus for what posters on the board seem to want for the class (2 guards, 1 big, 1 SF) and use it as Coach Ollie's sales pitch. If Ollie told Ali and Jackson that they would be the 2 guards in the class and he accepted their commitments then what reason does he still have to recruiting guards for? I understand keeping tabs on guys just in case but there seemed to a new offer to a new guard after game during evaluation period.

On the flip side, let's say at this time next year Ali and Jackson just enrolled to UConn and the staff is already on to the 2016 class then Coach Ollie doesn't owe Ali and Jackson anything since he kept his word about them being the only 2 guards in the 2015 class. If Ollie were to get 2 more guards in 2016 (say Tyus Battle and Derryck Thornton ) and they are better than Ali and Jackson and Ali and Jackson don't receive much playing time their sophomore year then it is their fault for not improving to the standards to the rest of the guards on the team.

Basically, what my extremely long point is is that if Coach Ollie thought there would be better guards out there then there was no need to allow Jackson and Ali to commit early only to recruit over them as if they weren't committed at all. I don't think recruiting over another player if he is already on the team is a problem. However, doing it while players are still in the recruitment process I don't think is okay.


* Of course assuming Jackson indeed decommit *

So basically you admit you have no idea how these guys were recruited and then invent a scenario in which you feel they were treated badly.

That's like not watching a movie, making up your own plot to the movie, and then giving the movie a bad review.

 

[mauconnfan]

Recruiting depth is what it is……kids get hurt, things happen. You recruit kids who want to play, think they're good enough to play, have ten toes in!! If they want to be the team and need to play 35-40 minutes then this isn't the place and I am sure KO let's them know that. If you want to be a Husky you're going to work hard to become a better player, person and student-athlete…….if you want to be a basketball player readying himself for the next level then go to kentucky!

 

[intlzncster]

Youre not even in the same area code as what I argued here. If you were, you could understand that Im not opposed to any of our current players or recruits. But Im also not thrilled with Ali decommitt, the constant Turtle decommitt speculation, and our continued pursuit of "elite" guards when the well acknowledged need is for bigs. I do not want UConn to be any past, present or future version of Cal's UK.

That kind of thing happens from time to time. Mo Harkless comes to the mind. Cleveland Melvin too.

We're in no danger of becoming UK. Lot's of offers doesn't mean lots of commitments.

Would love to see them pick up a big by the end of the summer. I think they will too.

The reality is, you have to keep recruiting, because you don't know if someone is going to decommit for other reasons. If you get a decommit and you don't have the pipeline full/hot, you are out of luck. The game doesn't end when you get a commit.

 

[intlzncster]

So basically you admit you have no idea how these guys were recruited and then invent a scenario in which you feel they were treated badly.

That's like not watching a movie, making up your own plot to the movie, and then giving the movie a bad review.

If Ollie uses Jimmy's sales pitch (which, from interviews, I think he does iirc), then no playing time is ever promised. The company line has always been, "you get what you earn in practice".

 

[aceboon]

this board can be so damn weird at times. we get a committment from a kid that KO has been recruiting since his freshman year and we got talk of turning into UK and over recruiting kids, as if TSam/Cassell Jr/Purvis should be the only guards on the roster heading into 2015, and Purvis has the kind of talent where he can be gone in a year so we needed guards anyway. The staff is going after the same kind of kids they always pursued over the last 20 years, nothing has changed.

 

[aceboon]

Youre not even in the same area code as what I argued here. If you were, you could understand that Im not opposed to any of our current players or recruits. But Im also not thrilled with Ali decommitt, the constant Turtle decommitt speculation, and our continued pursuit of "elite" guards when the well acknowledged need is for bigs. I do not want UConn to be any past, present or future version of Cal's UK.

Diamond Stone, Chance Comanche, and Steve Enoch(2x) have all visited within the past month, and I'm sure other names will pop up during the July evaluation period. This myth that the staff is neglecting to pursue big men just doesn't add up to what is actually happening in real life.

 

[intlzncster]

this board can be so damn weird at times. we get a committment from a kid that KO has been recruiting since his freshman year and we got talk of turning into UK and over recruiting kids, as if TSam/Cassell Jr/Purvis should be the only guards on the roster heading into 2015, and Purvis has the kind of talent where he can be gone in a year so we needed guards anyway. The staff is going after the same kind of kids they always pursued over the last 20 years, nothing has changed.

The sky absolutely must fall. It must.

 

[pj]

Newman and Stone would obviously be awesome, but we already have two solid guards and I really don't like the idea of recruiting over anybody just on principal. I don't care if other programs do it and recruits de/recommit and screw around all the time, I just don't want UConn to perpetuate that stuff (and I don't think it would do anything good for the long term image of the program). Just bring me Enoch and Comanche and Ill be happier than a pig in sh_t.

I've got news for you - exactly what people SPECULATE MIGHT happen with Turtle is what DID happen with Leon Tolksdorf - there was a mutual realization that Leon wasn't good enough to get playing time at UConn and for the mutual benefit of each, he transferred to a school where he could play, freeing up a much-needed scholarship for UConn. In Turtle's case, he's never set foot on campus, so switching colleges is a much less uprooting thing than transferring was for Leon. It's not a big deal to switch commitments, if you find a place that is better for you. And UConn is not at fault for laying out a kid's playing time situation to him, or for recruiting the best basketball players it can. UConn would be at fault if it knew Turtle was not going to play, and didn't tell him so that he could find a school where he can play.

As long as UConn provides the scholarship if he wants to come, then UConn has done nothing wrong. I hope Turtle finds the best school for him, and UConn gets the best player it can. If that's Turtle, terrific.

 

[caw]

If Turtle decommits, and I put more faith in 99s post than any 24-7 garbage, it would be another odd recruiting year. Not complaining about the kids we have gotten but there have been some interesting results recently.

Ali is an odd case because it seems like a great fit, and most analysts thought it was when he committed, when he blew up and probably even today. It will be interesting to see where he goes. He's also from NYC and said that he liked the fact UConn didn't promise time and he grew up a fan. Just odd how far off this one has gone.

Turtle is also an odd one (if he goes elsewhere). Ollie has recruited him forever and offered him when he was coming off a pretty serious injury. I doubt one AAU season would turn Ollie off of him. Maybe Turtle doesn't think he can compete at UConn but that in itself is odd.

I personally like what I have seen from Turtle in the past, and think he can be a very good college player, though he may take a few years.

 

[sdhusky]

Those 4 "blue chip" teams include KU (for reasons I can't understand)

Maybe the fact they've won the Big 12 every year for the past 10. Maybe because they had two guys on top on the NBA draft.

UCONN is in front of KS in NC, which is huge. But virtually every other measure - wins, conference championships, all americans, FF, TV exposure - KS is in front of UCONN.

Its an elite program and beating them for recruits is tough and a big deal.

 

[champs99and04]

Youre not even in the same area code as what I argued here. If you were, you could understand that Im not opposed to any of our current players or recruits. But Im also not thrilled with Ali decommitt, the constant Turtle decommitt speculation, and our continued pursuit of "elite" guards when the well acknowledged need is for bigs. I do not want UConn to be any past, present or future version of Cal's UK.

I've read this post twice and am still trying to figure out what you're arguing. I'm also not thrilled with the Ali decommitt, but to me, that's an example of a kid being a kid rather than any sort of statement on UConn's recruiting philosophy. In regards to the Turtle speculation, it's just that, speculation. Unless and until the kid makes it clear that he doesn't see himself at UConn, I am going to assume that he's part of our long-term plan here. If he has a problem with our continued pursuit of kids like Adams and Newman, then he can either fight them for minutes or find another place to play. Under neither of those scenarios would I fault either the kid or the program. If Ollie were to revoke an offer after a kid had committed, then that would be something I'd be uncomfortable with. If another kid on the roster was forced out due to over-recruiting, that's another thing that would bother me. But if there are scholarships to use, you use them on the best players and don't think twice.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Am I the only one uncomfortable with the near assumptions that Turtle will decommit? I mean, is there any basis for that outside of what's been speculated about on this board?

 

[champs99and04]

Am I the only one uncomfortable with the near assumptions that Turtle will decommit? I mean, is there any basis for that outside of what's been speculated about on this board?

Husky99 was the one that really broke the dam on this front, and he's considered one of the insiders on this board (in addition to being a mod), so I think speculation at this point is fair game. Additionally, a couple of the recruiting guys on 247 have changed their picks from UConn to Georgia, so clearly this is picking up steam elsewhere.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Husky99 was the one that really broke the dam on this front, and he's considered one of the insiders on this board (in addition to being a mod), so I think speculation at this point is fair game. Additionally, a couple of the recruiting guys on 247 have changed their picks from UConn to Georgia, so clearly this is picking up steam elsewhere.

My bad, I must've missed 99's post. I don 't put too much stock in 247, considering their crystal ball picks with Hamilton.

 

[husky99]

Husky99 was the one that really broke the dam on this front, and he's considered one of the insiders on this board (in addition to being a mod), so I think speculation at this point is fair game. Additionally, a couple of the recruiting guys on 247 have changed their picks from UConn to Georgia, so clearly this is picking up steam elsewhere.

What I did was a no no for this board and should not have posted anything about a recruit leaving