Mike DeCourcy Picks UConn 14th, Behind DePaul

[Waquoit]

Don't get crazy.............

People forget. This year we have a junior talking about leadership. KEA took over as leader during his official visit.

 

[HooperScooper]

It had everyone back from a teams that had lost in the elite 8 the year before and they had added Khalid ElAmin so they were used to playing in big games.

El-Amin was on the team that went to the Elite 8 in 1998. He was a sophomore on the 1998-1999 championship team. So they had the whole starting line-up back from the Elite 8 team, which further emphasizes your point.

 

[Scot-e]

I am not making any comparisons except to say that chemistry and teamwork can go a long way. Look- we are in a better position with KO then either UK or IU was when they lost their HOF coach. I am not pumping up the team as much as I am pumping up the fact that we may not fall off a cliff to the degree those teams did after losing their HOF coach.

Why not? There is a chance we could finish in the top 5-6 in the BE this year if everything falls into place. Hope. It is part of being a fan and believing in your team. If some people on this board do not like optimism then I am going to be butting heads all year- so be it.

WE ARE DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mauconnfan]

People forget. This year we have a junior talking about leadership. KEA took over as leader during his official visit.

No doubt KEA was a leader and his personality/arrogance was much needed by that team........I can see Boat with a little KEA in him although he has more of a chip in his brashness, not quite the same but similar. Boat might actually turn out to be a better overall player but that doesn't always relate to team chemistry like KEA exemplified...........we'll see though but both he and Bazz are similar........and since we haven't seen Omar play I just don't think you can say he was better than all put together, but I get where your coming from Waq........

 

[Waquoit]

Me use (a little) hyperbole? That's unpossible!

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Me use (a little) hyperbole? That's unpossible!

 

[Tenspro2002]

And it isn't always about just having NBA players. It is about having the right players and the right chemistry. See the 2006 team as an example of one that lacked the right chemistry despite having good players, or last year's for that matter.

If were debating history (and I love doing that), I don't think the 2006 team lacked chemistry, per se. Let's not forget that team only lost two games in the regular season (BE opener @ Marquette where Steve Novak hung 40 on us, IIRC, and @ Nova).

The 2006 team's issue was losing focus down the stretch as basically our top 6 players were all looking towards their NBA careers. That and the lack of depth at PG.

 

[freescooter]

If were debating history (and I love doing that), I don't think the 2006 team lacked chemistry, per se. Let's not forget that team only lost two games in the regular season (BE opener @ Marquette where Steve Novak hung 40 on us, IIRC, and @ Nova).

The 2006 team's issue was losing focus down the stretch as basically our top 6 players were all looking towards their NBA careers. That and the lack of depth at PG.

That is a reasonable argument and one Calhoun himself supported. I guess the lack of a guy who could bring them back into focus is arguably a chemistry issue, though. Austrie was a good enough point guard to play a few minutes here and there to spot Williams. After all, they had played a bunch of games with him there during Williams' unfortunate situation. Calhoun just refused to use him, which I've always thought was a coaching error on his part.

 

[freescooter]

Intersting question, though, is if DeCoursey is correct and UConn finishes 14th or worse, is that the end of the kevin Ollie experiment? Or will there still be pressure to extend his reign?

 

[CTBasketball]

Intersting question, though, is if DeCoursey is correct and UConn finishes 14th or worse, is that the end of the kevin Ollie experiment? Or will there still be pressure to extend his reign?

It's the end.

 

[Kemba Time]

Did you miss Ollie's introduction speech? He said anyone who takes the escalator is a coward.

KO would not approve:

 

[Waquoit]

It's the end.

Not necessarily. It would depend on the non-qualitative metrics. But I would have to figure that if this team comes in 14th those would be pretty bad.

 

[freescooter]

I get the idea that you don't make this strictly about wins and losses. We lack the horses to win 25 games this year. But we are also not Depaul or Providence. And if we finish behind them, something is very wrong.