Missouri tonight

[Waquoit]

If, however, on their way out they told you to , I'm guessing that might overshadow some of the good times.

When did AO tell JC to go ef himself?

 

[Hume]

Not a Doyel fan, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day. I think he got this one right. AO was only mentioned in passing but he fit right in with what the premise of the article was.
http://www.cbssports.com/general/bl...ri-didnt-care-so-lets-be-happy-missouris-gone

 

[zls44]

Alex wasn't tossed aside for a shiny new toy- Andre Drummond was, and is, ten times the player Alex is. Period. It was the absolute right decision.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Turd school, turd program, turd player, poor BigErn....

I have no idea who you are.

But, **** do I care about Missouri? Alex can end up working at Quiznos and I won't lose sleep over it, I just think "guys" like you and Mau sound like whiny ex-girlfriends when it comes to this kid.

Why don't you make one more entry in your journal about it and call it a day?

 

[Gurleyman]

You bust a gut winning the national championship, make the all-Tournament team and the coach tosses you aside a few months later to make room for a shiny, new toy. Anyone would be pissed, resentful. So he makes a few comments on the way out the door. So what? He an amateur, he doesn't have professional handlers and spin doctors working for him. I should be surprised about the amount of people who give a couple comments more weight than winning an NC, but I'm not. We're UConn fans, after all.

That shiny new toy argument is bunk. Top programs bring in talent every year. We brought in Khalid to a loaded team, and Ricky and Rash had to adapt. Rash's career frankly went into the toilet individually, but he was out there locking down Langdon as the final seconds ticked off 77-74 and has a ring. Never said "boo" publicly or privately - didn't threaten to transfer. Just kept working hard and trying to be ready when his opportunities came. Okafor and Boone co-existed as two bigs without much shooting range, the way AO and Drummond could have, and the highest rated recruit that year came off the bench (Charlie) and won a title. Boone played better than CV as freshmen and was a better fit - those minutes could have been earmarked for Charlie on paper, but Boone earned them and CV adapted. What started the downward spiral for Alex is that he allowed himself to be outplayed - not by Drummond, but by Tyler Olander. That's nobody's fault but his own, and unlike his predecessors trying to find a role alongside talented teammates, he didn't respond.

That said, I believe JC when he said that AO is one of the best kids he ever coached. I think he's a good kid, but immaturity and confidence issues struck, and I think he needed a bit of coddling and confidence-building at that point, which wasn't JC's thing, for better or worse.

I'll personally remember Alex for 2011 and let bygones be bygones for the rest of it, but he'll be in line behind Kemba, Lamb, Bazz, at the very least, if not Okwandu, Giffey and Beverly too.

 

[Adesmar123]

Leaving UConn could have been a life changing event for AO - a new opportunity to reinvent himself. But he seems to not understand his own weaknesses. He went to a program where the road to success might have looked a little easier. Its no coincidence that the Missouri coach was rated as one of the most overpaid coaches in America. Its obvious that AO worked on body strength etc. during the off season. But basketball is an incredible psychologically demanding sport.

Its funny how the better coaches are careful about transfers and the baggage that they bring with them.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

When did AO tell JC to go ef himself?

How did I know you were going to take that literally? You know what I meant.

 

[tzznandrew]

Alex wasn't tossed aside for a shiny new toy- Andre Drummond was, and is, ten times the player Alex is. Period. It was the absolute right decision.

Right.

Also--they didn't have to play the same position. There was no need to play AO at center, and he probably wanted some run at PF anyway. Hell, AO wanted AD on that team and imagined them co-existing.

 

[partial]

Doubtful that he'd be averaging more than he did at Mizzou if he had stayed. Keep in mind he played in a VERY weak SEC this year.

It's just a hypothetical, but he would have seen increased minutes and a much higher usage rate, a great recipe for more points even for average players let alone if he increased substantially in his efficiency and free throw shooting. In any case as you pointed out there's other factors, personally i think the biggest one is that i'm not sure he would have been as motivated if he stayed at UConn. This is all by just looking at his stats though. I haven't really seen him play game to game and the couple of times i saw a glimpse he was all thumbs.

 

[Waquoit]

How did I know you were going to take that literally? You know what I meant.

None of the AO comments I've come across come close to "go ef yourself" even figuratively. And I see guys here calling compliments about his then-new teammates as slams against his former teammates. You guys all have ODS.

 

[RS9999X]

AO's no worse off and that was always the outcome. UConn was a risky proposition this year (from last year's perspective). Missouri looked safe. AO wasn't getting draft mentions for Draft 2013 so he chose to find another venue.

Good Luck to Him. He's still not getting draft mentions . I'd take him second round (Celtics)

 

[ZenConn]

The real question here isn't about AO. It's about when Quinn Snyder will call asking for his job back.

 

[Dogdeacon]

It seemed like there was a lack of communication on AO and JC part. AO went about it the wrong way he should have approached Calhoun in private rather then post things on twitter. The whole point of getting AD was to form a frontcourt duo, find a way for those guys to play together rather then make it a competition. You need to make sacrifices in order to win a championship. Communication is key when trying to put together a talented team, oh well it is what it is.

Maybe, but we haven't the foggiest idea of what communication went on from JC, only AO's version. I imagine Calhoun expected Oriakhi to bust his tail regardless and AO thought otherwise. So I don't think this is an accurate read. If you accept that fact that Alex O had a limited upside and you wanted to simply get the most out of that, then maybe some sympathetic communication and clarification of his role would have been helpful (even still I bet he got some of this from assistant coaches that can fill that good cop role). However my guess is Calhoun simply told AO to earn his playing time. That is how Jim Calhoun coached and doing it differently is contrary to what made UConn and UConn players successful.

When Calhoun got a player with extraordinary ability and potential he set the bar beyond what the player ever thought he could achieve. He demanded they strive for perfection. The UConn style player responds to this and achieves his NBA dream by surpassing what that individual thought he could do on the basketball court. And he realizes this is exactly how you become a professional. Ultimately this turns diamonds in the rough like Cliff Robinson, RIP, Ben Gordon, Kemba, Emeka, into gems. And it turns seemingly average college basketball talents like Travis Knight, Hilton Armstrong, Josh Boone, Jake Voskhul, Donny Marshall, Jeff Adrien and one Kevin Ollie into NBA players.

Some players did not respond to this approach and you can legitimately fault Calhoun for misjudging their athletic potential or mental makeup in recruiting them. This is the cause of too many transfers under Calhoun and a legit criticism of his program. But to say he should have coddled Oriakhi and settled for good when great was possible simply runs contrary to the method for excellence that Jim Calhoun expected and achieved at UConn.

 

[mauconnfan]

I have no idea who you are.

But, **** do I care about Missouri? Alex can end up working at Quiznos and I won't lose sleep over it, I just think "guys" like you and Mau sound like whiny ex-girlfriends when it comes to this kid.

Why don't you make one more entry in your journal about it and call it a day?

Nice one Big Crack.......keep the girlfriend and immature references coming! I wanna grow up and be like Big Crack and the other 2 Husky fans who like AO.....joke!

 

[WhereistheDove?]

None of the AO comments I've come across come close to "go ef yourself" even figuratively. And I see guys here calling compliments about his then-new teammates as slams against his former teammates. You guys all have ODS.

He burned bridges and that has nothing to do with comments about his new teammates. It has to do with the barbs and shots that he and his father took at the program on his way out. Again, had he just shut his mouth and told his dad to do the same, I assure you that only a tiny percentage of this fanbase would hold him in a negative light. But he didn't. He moped all year long and then passed the blame off.

 

[uconnell]

When did AO tell JC to go ef himself?

During a game when he was sitting on the bench and Calhoun leaned down to say something to AO. The camera was right on AO's face when he told Calhoun f off. You could see it plain as day.

 

[DoronElAmin]

Alex Oriakhi ‏@aoriakhi42 1h
Thanks to all the Mizzou fans for the support I'm happy I was a Tiger and I would choose Mizzou all over again! it was all worth it! MIZ

Alex Oriakhi ‏@aoriakhi42 1h
And for the rest of yu lames stop tweeting me about being a traitor it's over let it go

the guy doesn't know how to let things go.

 

[mauconnfan]

Glad I can't tweet.....LOL

And you know what I'm fine with what he says here, glad he enjoyed his senior year there and no UConn fan should attack him anywhere other than the Boneyard where we tell it like it is!!!

 

[gars44]

You bust a gut winning the national championship, make the all-Tournament team and the coach tosses you aside a few months later to make room for a shiny, new toy. Anyone would be pissed, resentful. So he makes a few comments on the way out the door. So what? He an amateur, he doesn't have professional handlers and spin doctors working for him. I should be surprised about the amount of people who give a couple comments more weight than winning an NC, but I'm not. We're UConn fans, after all.

Have to agree. I didn't like the way he left, but basically it's a character thing and look how his father acts. You can't really blame the kid for being immature with an example like that. Alex seems like a good kid. I think he would have garnered more attention nationally had he stayed on this team in this situation. We might have won the big east regular season. Ollie would have handled him well.

 

[ctchamps]

No Alex needed Kemba.

Obviously! But Kemba is the known. Alex had and still has many weaknesses.

In many ways AO was limited in the championship season as he was this season. And Chuck often was put into the game when players were having their way shooting over Alex or setting screens that Alex could never figure out. IMO, even with Kemba, UConn does not win the BE tournament and the NCAA with only AO and without CO as a backup. CO was an important role player put in during key moments to assist with AO's weaknesses.

 

[UConn Hoops1]

Had he taken the high road, and kept his mouth shut (and found a way to shut his father's mouth), I would be rooting for him. Just transfer and play the game.
I don't believe that JC owned a plantation and treated his players that way..........

Hit the nail right on the head!!! Anything Alex did to get this program the NC was flushed as soon as he and his father started(and kept on) running their mouths before, during and after the transfer. I am extremely happy that Missouri lost. I don't hate Alex Oriakhi; but, even if he had stayed here, I never felt he had an NBA future. The skills,basketball IQ and emotional maturity were never there. UConn stands apart imo not just for it's accomplishments on the court but for all of the things JC did for players to get them a solid start in life regardless of whether or not they had an NBA future; and, the family atmosphere that is on display all the time in the manner in which ex-players continue to support the program. Alex(and his father) blew all of that up like it never mattered. He is going to be VERY disappointed on draft day. That's for sure.

GO HUSKIES!!!

 

[tzznandrew]

The plantation mentality (or however it was phrased) comment was the death knell. There are real racists out there, and comments like that trivialize a serious issue. Also, in accusing JC of something like that--and let's be honest, even if he somehow didn't really mean to imply racism it's impossible to avoid--not only insulted the institution, but also all the fans of both the institution and Calhoun.

It wasn't AO who said it. But, his dad is a lot of the reason for the sour feelings.

 

[BearJWS]

The plantation mentality (or however it was phrased) comment was the death knell. There are real racists out there, and comments like that trivialize a serious issue. Also, in accusing JC of something like that--and let's be honest, even if he somehow didn't really mean to imply racism it's impossible to avoid--not only insulted the institution, but also all the fans of both the institution and Calhoun.

It wasn't AO who said it. But, his dad is a lot of the reason for the sour feelings.

And one of the last people I would ever think of as racist is Calhoun!

 

[Dogbreath2U]

None of the AO comments I've come across come close to "go ef yourself" even figuratively. And I see guys here calling compliments about his then-new teammates as slams against his former teammates. You guys all have ODS.

The quote that bothered me was in reference to his talking about Calhoun trying to convince him to stay and Oriakhi said he was laughing at him (Calhoun) inside. Then there was the "mumu" thing. Whatever. I think that JC might have handled him a little differently, which would have included handling Drummond differently, but JC was going to do things his way as was his right. I have always thought that Alex is just not a talented as we hoped he would be. And, similarly to Roscoe, that is a hard thing for these kids to accept.

 

[BearJWS]

The quote that bothered me was in reference to his talking about Calhoun trying to convince him to stay and Oriakhi said he was laughing at him (Calhoun) inside. Then there was the "mumu" thing. Whatever. I think that JC might have handled him a little differently, which would have included handling Drummond differently, but JC was going to do things his way as was his right. I have always thought that Alex is just not a talented as we hoped he would be. And, similarly to Roscoe, that is a hard thing for these kids to accept.

This we know about Alex & his father, they expected to be coddled! Maybe he should have gone to Puke!