Not good.

[Excalibur]

Fish I agree with you on Ollie. Here is my question if we somehow lose to USF in the opener of the AAC tournament which is not out of the question considering this team's mental state right now, what do you think the right course of action should be? How much leeway should Ollie get?

This weekend should have no bearing on any decision.

 

[QDOG5]

1. Did anyone else wish we WEREN'T on CBS yesterday?
2. We started 3 seniors all year. Despite the thin bench and injuries our record should have been better.
3. Expecting 25-6 next year is a reach. I'd settle for 24-7.
4. After the Cincy game I put on my 1999 NC tshirt and took my dogs for a walk. I want that competitive feeling again. Not sweating out a loss to ECU.

 

[CTBasketball]

W's and L's can be tallied. You can get some W's in this conference playing some pretty garbage basketball.

Quality of basketball, offense and defense, is what hurts to watch the most. We've almost regressed in those categories.

 

[upstater]

If it's all about P5 then explain Wichita State? Gonzaga? Hell, Cinci and SMU have been strong for those last three years in this league. Great coaches win anywhere. Stevens did it at Butler. UConn may not be in the same position as Indiana, Duke, UNC, UK or KU, but it's got more pull with recruits than WSU, Gonzaga and any other school in the AAC, along with most of the P5 programs. So that cannot be an excuse.

I don't want to fire him. I want him to learn how to coach college basketball. It isn't the NBA and he needs to stop acting like it is. He needs better advice from his assistants.

Gonzaga is the only one that is special. They have a singular coach who recruits very highly. If you're saying UConn can replicate Gonzaga, then I agree. But--chances are, UConn will not be able to do what every single other non-P5 has been trying to do now for ages: replicate Gonzaga. In fact, many P5s would love to replicate Gonzaga.

Cincy? I even mentioned them as example #1 of what we don't want to be. A good coach who seldom recruits top 100 players. And it shows. They bow out first weekend every year.

In fact, UConn had a better year than them LAST YEAR! Won the AAC championship--over Cincy. Beat Colorado, a P5 team. Many here are calling that a bad year. Well, it may have been a bad year, but it was still better than Cincy's year. And yet I agree with all of you that UConn should aspire to much more. My argument is the exact opposite of settling for mediocrity.

Cincy has been in that groundhog day loop for quite awhile.

SMU hasn't even done anything yet.

As I wrote earlier, I don't think it's a stretch to say a New England recruit might prefer PC over UConn for any number of reasons: conference, location, and if Ollie leaves, coach.

 

[boog204]

KO's earned one more year; that's what that title buys. Had Amida not caught the board against St. Joe's this might be it for KO. But that title gives him one WTF year. That being said, I have been extremely disappointed in the way we have played the past two years. No offensive cohesion, the same mistakes being made over and over again, and horrible fundamentals. The coach needs to be there to fix those issues and it has not happened. I cannot remember who posted it, but the gist was essentially that KO had one great year coaching (20-10, NCAA ban), one year with an incredible run (2014 title; many were not happy with how the team played at least 1/2 of that year), one bad year (Boat's SR year), one inconsistent year (last year) and one WTF year. That's basically 1/2 of his time here having been a bit eh overall. We have been decimated by injuries; we all know that. But there is talent on this team that has not gelled and worse yet, have looked lost for most of the season. That is as Fishy succinctly stated, is "not good."

 

[upstater]

So your solution is to keep a coaching mediocrity? If we get more of the same next year, how long can we survive that?

That's not my solution.

 

[upstater]

So we can't survive winning the league regular season and tournament every year, and being ranked in the top 25? But we can survive never winning a league regular season...ever, and not qualifying for the NIT? I don't understand your logic.

Stay with the guy that won the national championship. Don't fire him for a guy that won't sniff that.

 

[whaler11]

Pride. If putting on a UConn jersey doesn't mean that you expect more than that, then it doesn't mean anything and this program is done.

What I or anyone else expects is a separate issue.

Why would you make the decision to fire Ollie based on who they lose to in this tournament? Bring him back if they lose to Houston but fire him if they lose to USF? That makes zero sense.

 

[jibsey]

1. Did anyone else wish we WEREN'T on CBS yesterday?
2. We started 3 seniors all year. Despite the thin bench and injuries our record should have been better.
3. Expecting 25-6 next year is a reach. I'd settle for 24-7.
4. After the Cincy game I put on my 1999 NC tshirt and took my dogs for a walk. I want that competitive feeling again. Not sweating out a loss to ECU.

Exactly what I was thinking. Entire country saw us right?

 

[dennismenace]

Let's stipulate that at this time, given this year's circumstances, I don't think anyone in their right mind would want Ollie out. I think, given a national championship and a strong history of March productivity, regardless of whose players you think they were, he's earned a chance to crawl out of this hole. That year demonstrated that he can motivate and take a capable group of players where he wants them to go.

OTOH, if you were going to replace him after a bad year with a healthy and (allegedly) talented team, you're right that you wouldn't get a coach with "recent final fours and top recruiting classes." Those guys already have stable jobs mostly in P5.

That's not what I'd want, or expect. I'd want a guy who has an eye for talent regardless of national rankings and who can close on those guys he wants (coffee is for closers!); I'd want a guy who can X & O with the best of them, identifying the advantages his team has and utilizing them while neutralizing their disadvantages, putting pressure on the opponent on both ends of the floor; I'd want a guy who can motivate the team to be cohesive and to perform above their expectations consistently, playing aggressively and with effort, particularly as the season progresses. And this may be a no-name guy at a smaller conference school.

Kinda like Calhoun.

As your attributes continued I was thinking that it sounded just like JC....LOL
I think their is a change with the kids coming up in more recent years. I could see it in the latter years with Calhoun where many were just turning off to that style and more self centered. I think the big challenge will be trying to find kids with character (unselfish) and coachability (BBIQ/ mental toughness/listen, trust and DO) instead of the most athletic, long or talented. I think this is something the staff needs to address.
I don't believe that you can turn around someone's character that easily; especially with the competition and college campus challenges of D1 ball. I think we have to stick with KO but next year will be telling. Wish him the best. Someone mentioned JC's coaching alter ego G. Blaney and how they meshed together. I also remember JC saying he would never allow a recruiter like Tom Moore that much latitude again with
all the "athletes" but lacking in so many other attributes that are required to win at
top D1 level.

 

[7774]

1. Did anyone else wish we WEREN'T on CBS yesterday?
2. We started 3 seniors all year. Despite the thin bench and injuries our record should have been better.
3. Expecting 25-6 next year is a reach. I'd settle for 24-7.
4. After the Cincy game I put on my 1999 NC tshirt and took my dogs for a walk. I want that competitive feeling again. Not sweating out a loss to ECU.

I really laughed hard at #3.

 

[HuskyHawk]

What I or anyone else expects is a separate issue.

Why would you make the decision to fire Ollie based on who they lose to in this tournament? Bring him back if they lose to Houston but fire him if they lose to USF? That makes zero sense.

He isn't getting fired this year. But I'll be damned if the close to this year's basketball season doesn't resemble the close to the football season. A coach who seems to have lost the ability to get his kids to play. No effort. No hustle. No rebounding. Completely outworked on both ends of the court, even by a bad team like ECU. That's not on lack of skill, few D1 teams could look as bad as we did yesterday from a sheer effort and competence perspective. Losing to USF would be a further wake-up call to what is already obvious; some changes need to be made on that staff. Not Ollie however. Not yet.

 

[dennismenace]

See, I totally get what you are saying, but I feel as though you are bringing emotion into it way too much.

Why should those in charge of the program allow valuable brand power whither away over time purely for the sake of nostalgia? This is a super successful franchise in a huge, highly competitive field. Since 1990, the "15 years" I think you were coyly referring to, our brand has skyrocketed in value, think of us as a stock. Each of us with a UConn degree has quite literally increased the value of their degrees with the success of UConn. I'm sure your UConn diploma from 1965 wouldn't be nearly as valuable without the blood, sweat and tears from the Calhoun era which I believe played a big role in UConn's rapid expansion as a university both in size and academic rank and reputation. The "CEO" in charge needs to protect the value of the product. I'm sure shareholders wouldn't be happy if Microsoft's CEO justified year after year poor performance on the fact that he is old enough to remember when Microsoft products were developed in Bill Gates' mother's garage. That is flawed logic and unnecessarily sentimental. At some point the program needs to evaluate the direction it's heading and I think that time is approaching in the next coming years.

Interesting comment. I worked in the financial and accounting field since 1970 and UConn grads in that field were very highly regarded back then as they are today. I don't see, at least in that field, where basketball had anything to do with it. It just made for great conversations among people when you worked with a grad because practically everyone in the state became a fan no matter where they went to school once the Calhoun/ Big East era got rolling.

 

[Pudge]

Quite frankly ...

If you have to post your opinion multiple times in slightly different language in the same thread - including the OP - I understand. It is a frustrating season. And KO chose a path. He would not go after Andrew White or others, like he went for Shonn Miller - Sterling Gibbs, last year. That was a choice because WE (UCONN) still have that available. (though I agree that Gregg Marshall or Shaka Smart types aren't rotating to Storrs). Terry Larrier was a choice, a kid with 3 years of eligibility. Get 11 (or more) stacked up and develop. See if you get to solid role defined team by year 3 to go FAR in March Madness. KO did achieve something in the three classes. I see talent all through those names.

I think in terms of comparables. Matt Painter is number One in the B1G today. He's been at Purdue since 2005 after following their legend. He had two under .500 teams about 4 years ago, now he is building to a higher run in MM after two good solid years of making the NCAA. A lot of mediocre years.

See: I think KO is still a young developing coach. And we ARE a development Program. We were better roster wise than Syracuse this year. But injuries and just the arc of this program dragged us at times. We weren't better than Cincinnati or SMU with all our 13. SMU was a surprise ... until you see them on the floor. Houston beat us, but I would argue that we could have supplanted them with a full complement of a roster. Sampson is a really damn good coach. And this conference is getting better top to bottom. Smith & Dawkins & the SMU guy are solid.

I think WE have a guy in KO who is frustrated as well. And Jim Calhoun is near and certainly involved. There will be a hard long evaluative process this March and April. KO would leave before the UConn AD steps into this. So ... the issue is twofold: Who do you think is going to come in and do better? (remember not only brand but the GOODWILL of 40 guys and Calhoun and all that built up equity) and ... I also agree with the earlier post about looking in the mirror. You are a entitled whiny fanbase and you should stay the last 8 minutes of the Seniors last game. The Seniors? That is a narrative. KO not only inherited Calhoun's guys, he got tagged with crippling sanctions Day one. It is the 11 guys stacked up from Jalen Adams through MAL,Carlton,Polley that is our future. I think we are going to be solid 2018-2019. And Ollie proved one thing to me in 2014 NC: he knows how to define roles for a Team. As far as the overall HC job, he is still not there yet. And Jim Calhoun? Everyone of 350 programs wishes they had that bastard.

 

[dennismenace]

why is it a stupid argument? If we lost that first game, do you think people on the board would give Ollie any rope at all this point? He did a marvelous job with the team in the post season and taking over for Calhoun.

What accounts for such a drop off then? Is it the divorce? Ollie doesnt seem like he has that same fire as when he first started.

Have to wonder if you are right. Some times he is animate on the sidelines like he used to be; other times (a lot) just sitting with sad faces. If this is a big problem I hope he gets help. I just don't know but the body language is really saying something. Grief can be devastating.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

@Pudge Good post. Think you hit on a lot of good points.

I actually think most of the fanbase is in the same place with KO. Sure there are some that think he needs to be fired today or some that think the program is doomed without him, but most of us are in the middle. I just think the outlier posts from either side has caused us the moderates to dig our heels in harder to our agenda when most of us think the same thing (kind of like politics).

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly ...

If you have to post your opinion multiple times in slightly different language in the same thread - including the OP - I understand. It is a frustrating season. And KO chose a path. He would not go after Andrew White or others, like he went for Shonn Miller - Sterling Gibbs, last year. That was a choice because WE (UCONN) still have that available. (though I agree that Gregg Marshall or Shaka Smart types aren't rotating to Storrs). Terry Larrier was a choice, a kid with 3 years of eligibility. Get 11 (or more) stacked up and develop. See if you get to solid role defined team by year 3 to go FAR in March Madness. KO did achieve something in the three classes. I see talent all through those names.

I think in terms of comparables. Matt Painter is number One in the B1G today. He's been at Purdue since 2005 after following their legend. He had two under .500 teams about 4 years ago, now he is building to a higher run in MM after two good solid years of making the NCAA. A lot of mediocre years.

See: I think KO is still a young developing coach. And we ARE a development Program. We were better roster wise than Syracuse this year. But injuries and just the arc of this program dragged us at times. We weren't better than Cincinnati or SMU with all our 13. SMU was a surprise ... until you see them on the floor. Houston beat us, but I would argue that we could have supplanted them with a full complement of a roster. Sampson is a really damn good coach. And this conference is getting better top to bottom. Smith & Dawkins & the SMU guy are solid.

I think WE have a guy in KO who is frustrated as well. And Jim Calhoun is near and certainly involved. There will be a hard long evaluative process this March and April. KO would leave before the UConn AD steps into this. So ... the issue is twofold: Who do you think is going to come in and do better? (remember not only brand but the GOODWILL of 40 guys and Calhoun and all that built up equity) and ... I also agree with the earlier post about looking in the mirror. You are a entitled whiny fanbase and you should stay the last 8 minutes of the Seniors last game. The Seniors? That is a narrative. KO not only inherited Calhoun's guys, he got tagged with crippling sanctions Day one. It is the 11 guys stacked up from Jalen Adams through MAL,Carlton,Polley that is our future. I think we are going to be solid 2018-2019. And Ollie proved one thing to me in 2014 NC: he knows how to define roles for a Team. As far as the overall HC job, he is still not there yet. And Jim Calhoun? Everyone of 350 programs wishes they had that bastard.

Calhoun is not nearly as involved on a daily basis as he was the first two years - when he was like a senior strategist. If he was more involved you would definitely not be seeing so many gimmick zones that give up offensive rebounds by the bushel.

 

[Vancat]

what would we be seeing?

 

[Pudge]

Calhoun is not nearly as involved on a daily basis as he was the first two years - when he was like a senior strategist. If he was more involved you would definitely not be seeing so many gimmick zones that give up offensive rebounds by the bushel.

You are a Forrest Gump character ... never know what chocolate we are gonna get and always in the name dropping circus.

I don't ever call my attorney ... but he's a phone call away. Calhoun has a legacy and he (plus 40 others) is near. Maybe not in the strategic meetings ... but not too far. (How far is that beach house? Chief?)

 

[champs99and04]

If next years team is in the vicinity of .500 again, something has gone catastrophically wrong.

I don't think we're at the point yet where the words "fire" and "Ollie" need to be put together. It's not worth thinking about yet, and I say that even in the face of three years worth of terribly coached basketball teams.

Great coaches can have poorly coached teams. Calhoun had more than his fair share and Ollie has had a couple now. He deserves at least to see the current recruiting class through their junior years before we even think of looking elsewhere. There is way too much good in the grand scheme to think otherwise - I suspect that there is some in the moment posting going on right now and that those thoughts will be revised in a couple months when we start seeing our players on all-American watch lists, etc.

 

[Chief00]

You are a Forrest Gump character ... never know what chocolate we are gonna get and always in the name dropping circus.

I don't ever call my attorney ... but he's a phone call away. Calhoun has a legacy and he (plus 40 others) is near. Maybe not in the strategic meetings ... but not too far. (How far is that beach house? Chief?)

Calhoun had "more than his fair share" of poorly coached teams - you got to be kidding me!! Look at the man's record of consecutive winning seasons and tournament success.

He use to observe both practice and games and give feedback - but since he started his ESPN gig - he no longer does that on a regular basis. This is not exactly a secret - he is on the road doing his ESPN Big10 thing - 9,000 people did not see him in the house yesterday.

 

[buddy]

My thoughts from the start. Once injured it never heals 100%. One of Geno's assistant, girl with long blonde hair. I recall she injured her leg. Out the whole season, came back and reinjured it . In fact maybe I am wrong, but she injured it a 3rd time and that was it. Isn't this Gilbert's second time?

I have been saying this for the longest time and yet I get a lot of flack for it. If a recruit has a preexisting injury, most of the time, that injury will recur. When it does heal, it is never back to 100%. I don't think UConn fans should hang their hopes on this guy will carry the team next year.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

why is it a stupid argument? If we lost that first game, do you think people on the board would give Ollie any rope at all this point? He did a marvelous job with the team in the post season and taking over for Calhoun.

What accounts for such a drop off then? Is it the divorce? Ollie doesnt seem like he has that same fire as when he first started.

Have to wonder if you are right. Some times he is animate on the sidelines like he used to be; other times (a lot) just sitting with sad faces. If this is a big problem I hope he gets help. I just don't know but the body language is really saying something. Grief can be devastating.

There may be another reason. Perhaps the body language on the sideline had more to do with frustration over just not being able to get this group of players to execute the way he wanted, no matter what he tried. There is a dichotomy on this board between those who blame the coaches, and those who fault the players. In watching the games I see many of the players making simple fundamental errors, unable to knock down simple open shots, not seeing the double teams and getting the ball knocked away, unable to box out, unable to put the ball on the floor and go past their man. I don't think the players gave up. Rather, I think this was what they were capable of, that many overrated their abilities, and that Ollie's sometimes morose sideline demeanor had more to do with frustration.

Remember that this current senior class was recruited a) after the departure of Calhoun, b) during the APR tourney ban season and c) before the 2014 NC. That gave us Samuel, Facey and Brimah. Purvis, another senior, was allowed to walk from NC St. Now we know why. He was losing PT to the less heralded Lorenzo Brown while he was there. Of those four only Facey developed more court sense, a more mature game, and significantly improved production, but even he was stunted by bringing in one season of Miller.

 

[Huskybass]

There may be another reason. Perhaps the body language on the sideline had more to do with frustration over just not being able to get this group of players to execute the way he wanted, no matter what he tried. There is a dichotomy on this board between those who blame the coaches, and those who fault the players. In watching the games I see many of the players making simple fundamental errors, unable to knock down simple open shots, not seeing the double teams and getting the ball knocked away, unable to box out, unable to put the ball on the floor and go past their man. I don't think the players gave up. Rather, I think this was what they were capable of, that many overrated their abilities, and that Ollie's sometimes morose sideline demeanor had more to do with frustration.

Remember that this current senior class was recruited a) after the departure of Calhoun, b) during the APR tourney ban season and c) before the 2014 NC. That gave us Samuel, Facey and Brimah. Purvis, another senior, was allowed to walk from NC St. Now we know why. He was losing PT to the less heralded Lorenzo Brown while he was there. Of those four only Facey developed more court sense, a more mature game, and significantly improved production, but even he was stunted by bringing in one season of Miller.

I think this is a well thought out post. I like KO. I want him to succeed as much as anyone. From 2012 to 2014 he had a swagger and exhibited confidence. That truly seems to be missing since Bazz left.

I truly hope that things come together next season with a full, healthy roster. I am not looking for miracles or another national championship, although that would be fantastic. I am simply looking to have a team that at least contends for an AAC regular season title and is somewhat relevant on the national stage. Given UConn's history since 1988, I dont think that is unreasonable.

 

[HuskyHawk]

There may be another reason. Perhaps the body language on the sideline had more to do with frustration over just not being able to get this group of players to execute the way he wanted, no matter what he tried. There is a dichotomy on this board between those who blame the coaches, and those who fault the players. In watching the games I see many of the players making simple fundamental errors, unable to knock down simple open shots, not seeing the double teams and getting the ball knocked away, unable to box out, unable to put the ball on the floor and go past their man. I don't think the players gave up. Rather, I think this was what they were capable of, that many overrated their abilities, and that Ollie's sometimes morose sideline demeanor had more to do with frustration.

Remember that this current senior class was recruited a) after the departure of Calhoun, b) during the APR tourney ban season and c) before the 2014 NC. That gave us Samuel, Facey and Brimah. Purvis, another senior, was allowed to walk from NC St. Now we know why. He was losing PT to the less heralded Lorenzo Brown while he was there. Of those four only Facey developed more court sense, a more mature game, and significantly improved production, but even he was stunted by bringing in one season of Miller.

Yeah I've heard this argument and...I'm not really buying this. Purvis was a McD AA and 5 star recruit. He has played very well at times. Adams was a five star recruit who has looked transcendent at times, and clumsy at others. Brimah has great days, but is indeed limited. Facey has actually been much better than anyone hoped. So have Vital and Vance as Freshmen. Enoch has some clear offensive skill, more than any big man in years honestly. So what happened...all of these guys just suddenly, en masse became unable to shoot or rebound or pass or dribble without it going off their foot? Unable to defend a 3 point shot or block out? Occam's razor tells me that isn't likely. No more likely than a team with Obi at safety being unable to stop Syracuse's passing game.

I don't think they were put in a position to succeed. I think that was true even before the two big injuries hit. I think they are running an offense that is archaic and easily defended. An offense that relies much too heavily on individual ability to break down an opponent. Let's be fair to Ollie, that's based on Calhoun's offense, and it did work for years, and in particular in years when we had exceptional one on one players. We don't this year and won't next year. They cannot keep running that offense. It needs to go to the scrap heap. A better PG isn't a magic cure either. It was obvious all year that nobody on that team has any real role on offense...constantly waving each other this way and that, weaving pointlessly out beyond the arc. Did you see other teams doing that? Who? Watch the better coached teams play offense and tell me you see anything that looks as sloppy and ill-defined as what we run. This isn't new. The offense sucked last year too, but at least the D was decent.

Defense, that's where the injuries hurt most. UConn D has always been a very high level of effort man. Purvis played it that way most of the year. Vital seemed to catch on. Adams...not so much. Vance...he got better but isn't there, and I wouldn't expect him to be. So they went to zone that they honestly looked like they didn't know how to play. In short, the lack of depth and inability to sub meant that the D had to too take too many pauses, during which opponents went on runs. If the offense wasn't garbage, maybe we withstand those runs.

 

[Pudge]

Calhoun had "more than his fair share" of poorly coached teams - you got to be kidding me!! Look at the man's record of consecutive winning seasons and tournament success.

He use to observe both practice and games and give feedback - but since he started his ESPN gig - he no longer does that on a regular basis. This is not exactly a secret - he is on the road doing his ESPN Big10 thing - 9,000 people did not see him in the house yesterday.

Seriously ... are you developmentally disabled.

Read the sequence of words. Then you impute something ... add words ... and go off on some idiosyncratic tangent. Where did you ever find this "more than his fair share" concept?

 

[Pudge]

Crazy theories.

It was Bazz? How about it was Stephanie and the divorce?

You can't have all these things in a stew. Ollie didn't correctly and skillfully mix Daniels-Napier-Giffey-Kromah-Boatright-Brimah into a bulldozer in 2014; and then have zero feel for forming roles in a Team the last two years. And that Zone? I don't think, necessarily, it is because our kids cannot play defense ... as much as we were forced to play several zones we really have never taught in Storrs before due to - injuries. I do not think Ollie suddenly was exposed as much as the system that succeeded for so many years cannot juggle deficiencies throughout the play of 30 games. Long year. And hard few months to re-boot. Given the kids showing up for next October's Husky Run, we have all we need - save one solid Big. Yup ... crucial year.

 

[Huskybass]

Yeah I've heard this argument and...I'm not really buying this. Purvis was a McD AA and 5 star recruit. He has played very well at times. Adams was a five star recruit who has looked transcendent at times, and clumsy at others. Brimah has great days, but is indeed limited. Facey has actually been much better than anyone hoped. So have Vital and Vance as Freshmen. Enoch has some clear offensive skill, more than any big man in years honestly. So what happened...all of these guys just suddenly, en masse became unable to shoot or rebound or pass or dribble without it going off their foot? Unable to defend a 3 point shot or block out? Occam's razor tells me that isn't likely. No more likely than a team with Obi at safety being unable to stop Syracuse's passing game.

I don't think they were put in a position to succeed. I think that was true even before the two big injuries hit. I think they are running an offense that is archaic and easily defended. An offense that relies much too heavily on individual ability to break down an opponent. Let's be fair to Ollie, that's based on Calhoun's offense, and it did work for years, and in particular in years when we had exceptional one on one players. We don't this year and won't next year. They cannot keep running that offense. It needs to go to the scrap heap. A better PG isn't a magic cure either. It was obvious all year that nobody on that team has any real role on offense...constantly waving each other this way and that, weaving pointlessly out beyond the arc. Did you see other teams doing that? Who? Watch the better coached teams play offense and tell me you see anything that looks as sloppy and ill-defined as what we run. This isn't new. The offense sucked last year too, but at least the D was decent.

Defense, that's where the injuries hurt most. UConn D has always been a very high level of effort man. Purvis played it that way most of the year. Vital seemed to catch on. Adams...not so much. Vance...he got better but isn't there, and I wouldn't expect him to be. So they went to zone that they honestly looked like they didn't know how to play. In short, the lack of depth and inability to sub meant that the D had to too take too many pauses, during which opponents went on runs. If the offense wasn't garbage, maybe we withstand those runs.

Killer post. You raise a number of valid points that the apologists won't like.

 

[Mr. French]

Killer post. You raise a number of valid points that the apologists won't like.

Expect that our offense is archaic and based heavily on Calhoun's offenses, with the implication that Calhoun could run it properly and with the right players, whereas Ollie can't.

Other than that 60% of the entire post, the thing was spot on....i guess, I dno.

 

[ctchamps]

Killer post. You raise a number of valid points that the apologists won't like.

Which points. In one paragraph he points out that they were put in a position not to succeed (I'm assuming he was pointing to KO). In another he cites injuries impacting defense. Seems contradictory.

In another he points to stars but his analysis does not discuss positional players. From the newbies I would expect this but he follows football and understands positional players and how missing positional players is key to the overall functioning of the team. The intricacies of following a football team are far more difficult than basketball and yet hawk's analysis with regards to this basketball team are superficial at best.

The only contention I can remotely consider is why did everything seem to go wrong? Why did so many players miss so many shots? But even this point loses validity because players were extremely inconsistent. You'd get good games from different players throughout the season. If KO was in some way unable to motivate his players than you would not have expected games where Vital did well and Jackson disappeared and vice versa.

The inconsistency is more likely something about the players than the coaches and that doesn't necessarily imply the players are anything but human. I'm sure the horrible start to the season caused them to lose confidence in themselves and that the injuries to two starters exacerbated the problem. But even with this explanation I, like @HuskyHawk, cannot believe how so much went so wrong over this season. I just don't buy his razor. That it's on the coaches. Sometimes life deals us blows that are outside our control. I know many people who went through a period of one bad thing happening to them after another and they were blameless for all of it. There is only so much that is under our control whether we like it or not.