Omar Calhoun is a terrific offense of player...

[ChrisSmith]

Unfortunately he's not doing any of those things, and we're almost 30 games into the season, because he's either not physically able to or he's lost confidence. Or probably some of both.

Have you seen him do any of those things well in the last 2 months?

That's the point of my post. I'm challenging him (not him directly, but from a discussion standpoint on a message board) to stop popping off shots and try to do the little things.

 

[ChrisSmith]

Can't disagree more. His job is to shoot when he is open. KO is giving him the opportunity. He just hasn't responded. KO then sits him down and doesn't play again in the game. I like that KO hasn't given up on him. We don't see practices where he maybe hitting these shots. Right now he is snake bitten. I hope he keeps working hard and hopefully he will contribute before the end of the year.

He is a bad shooter. His job should not be to shoot open threes.

 

[ctchamps]

It's not bashing. It's critiquing. He came in and popped off 3 quick shots, all of which missed, and two of which led to Cincy baskets.

I'm not saying anything inappropriate or rude. These kids are big kids, they play basketball at UConn - they're fair game for respectful criticism.

At least get it right. As a passive viewer it behooves you to be accurate. First offensive sequence he took was a drive to the lane, Cincy collapse it's defense and he kicked it out to a wide open RB who missed his three point shot.

The next two shots were wide open threes on plays that were run for him to get open. He missed them but not like earlier in the season. One was half way down.

The last play was a drive to the hoop. Unfortunately NG and DD did not seal their players. This isn't enough of a liability on offense to make an entire thread about the player.

I would have been far more concerned if his defense was poor. It wasn't. He played great defense and the player he was guarding was blanketed by him, he ran through screens and kept his player from scoring.

 

[mauconnfan]

I already went through this in another thread so don't really feel like getting into a long argument again, but the bolded part is my problem with this post. This isn't a video game. Omar is a human being, and like the McDonald's All-Americans that sit the bench at Kentucky, if you ignore him, his development is going to stagnate, and he's likely going to transfer or give you very little next year. Getting him a few minutes now and seeing if you can get him going a little bit is a good thing, especially since the rest of our offense is having some serious issues right now.

Yeah he's human, they all are. I don't understand why you would play him knowing what the result is? You're right it's not a video game, you can't suddenly make a guy who's not playing good a different guy. All the more reason……..Facey would at least get a rebound!

 

[Rico444]

They should be, but they're not in his repertoire And stop talking about two shots. He's taken 75 threes this year and made 25%. He is a bad three point shooter right now. It's not a small sample. Its 75 attempts.

If you think he's just a terrible shooter overall, then you're ignoring the fact that he's coming off of two fairly invasive surgeries. It takes some more time than others to get back to 100%. One or two shots and 5 minutes per game isn't going to kill this team. But benching Omar or telling him he's not allowed to shoot pretty much guarantees he contributes nothing else to this program moving forward.

 

[ChrisSmith]

At least get it right. As a passive viewer it behooves you to be accurate. First offensive sequence he took was a drive to the lane, Cincy collapse it's defense and he kicked it out to a wide open RB who missed his three point shot.

The next two shots were wide open threes on plays that were run for him to get open. He missed them but not like earlier in the season. One was half way down.

The last play was a drive to the hoop. Unfortunately NG and DD did not seal their players. This isn't enough of a liability on offense to make an entire thread about the player.

I would have been far more concerned if his defense was poor. It wasn't. He played great defense and the player he was guarding was blanketed by him, he ran through screens and kept his player from scoring.

What did I say that wasn't accurate?

 

[Rico444]

Yeah he's human, they all are. I don't understand why you would play him knowing what the result is? You're right it's not a video game, you can't suddenly make a guy who's not playing good a different guy. All the more reason……..Facey would at least get a rebound!

So you're OK giving up on Omar? You're ignoring that he's probably going to transfer if we bench him. If you feel that way, that's fine. But don't act like we can just put him in street clothes the rest of the year and have him come in next season like nothing happened.

 

[ctchamps]

What did I say that wasn't accurate?

You said he took three threes. He took two.

 

[ChrisSmith]

If you think he's just a terrible shooter overall, then you're ignoring the fact that he's coming off of two fairly invasive surgeries. It takes some more time than others to get back to 100%. One or two shots and 5 minutes per game isn't going to kill this team. But benching Omar or telling him he's not allowed to shoot pretty much guarantees he contributes nothing else to this program moving forward.

I said bad. Not terrible. I didn't say why he is a bad shooter. I agree with you - I think it's surgery related. That said, he is a bad shooter. He may not be in a year (I hope not). But he is right now. 25% from 3, 32% from 2. That's a bad shooter.

 

[ChrisSmith]

You said he took three threes. He took two.

Where did I say that? At least get it right. As a passive viewer it behooves you to be accurate.

 

[Rico444]

I said bad. Not terrible. I didn't say why he is a bad shooter. I agree with you - I think it's surgery related. That said, he is a bad shooter. He may not be in a year (I hope not). But he is right now. 25% from 3, 32% from 2. That's a bad shooter.

Why do you care? He's probably not going to be here next year if Ollie listens to you and tells Omar to stop shooting.

 

[mauconnfan]

So you're OK giving up on Omar? You're ignoring that he's probably going to transfer if we bench him. If you feel that way, that's fine. But don't act like we can just put him in street clothes the rest of the year and have him come in next season like nothing happened.

Wait a second seriously Rico did you just ask that? I love your posts but to think we would play him despite bringing nothing to the table because he might transfer if he doesn't is ridiculous. It's a team and the coach does what's best for 2014 not 14-15………street clothes is an exaggeration but the pine is not. Only if in trouble or winning big…..otherwise nothing! His mental toughness to bounce back has been tested this year and it's not there, if he thinks he's strong enough to make it back next year no matter how much he plays the rest of the year he'll be back to prove me and others wrong. And I hope damn well he does, but not on this teams dime!

 

[ChrisSmith]

So you're OK giving up on Omar? You're ignoring that he's probably going to transfer if we bench him. If you feel that way, that's fine. But don't act like we can just put him in street clothes the rest of the year and have him come in next season like nothing happened.

I think saying he is going to transfer if he gets benched in the midst of a really bad year is a bit of a reach. And if he does, he does. Ollie can recruit.

 

[ChrisSmith]

Why do you care? He's probably not going to be here next year if Ollie listens to you and tells Omar to stop shooting.

That's a bit of a reach, and if it happens, it happens. I wouldn't advocate playing a bad player to keep him the program hoping he will be good the next year.

 

[Rico444]

Wait a second seriously Rico did you just ask that? I love your posts but to think we would play him despite bringing nothing to the table because he might transfer if he doesn't is ridiculous. It's a team and the coach does what's best for 2014 not 14-15………street clothes is an exaggeration but the pine is not. Only if in trouble or winning big…..otherwise nothing! His mental toughness to bounce back has been tested this year and it's not there, if he thinks he's strong enough to make it back next year no matter how much he plays the rest of the year he'll be back to prove me and others wrong. And I hope damn well he does, but not on this teams dime!

He's getting 5 minutes a game at this point, stop acting like he's killing this year's team. And he's not bringing nothing to the table, he's playing good defense.

I've seen Omar's ceiling last year, and I know that he's a better player than this. If you want to give up on him, that's fine. But just accept that he's not going to be here next year if you do.

 

[Strummer]

This thread sucks. These OC threads suck. Give it a G-Damned rest until 2014-15.

 

[uconnfan68]

Both of his 3s were in and out, and when he went to the bucket he got fouled. I'm not going to kick the kid when he's down; there are plenty here on the Boneyard who get off on that kind of thing.

Not trying to diss him, but for the sake of the team, he shouldn't be playing. He is a liability for us now. Games are too critical for him to shake off a season of rust.

 

[johnhuskies95]

He is a bad shooter. His job should not be to shoot open threes.

Remember when Kromah didn't shoot an open three against Indiana earlier in the year and Ollie went off on him? There would be a similar reaction if Omar passed up an open shot.

You're right, this is big boy basketball. If you're a guard and you're open out there, you shoot.

 

[ChrisSmith]

If you think he's just a terrible shooter overall, then you're ignoring the fact that he's coming off of two fairly invasive surgeries. It takes some more time than others to get back to 100%. One or two shots and 5 minutes per game isn't going to kill this team. But benching Omar or telling him he's not allowed to shoot pretty much guarantees he contributes nothing else to this program moving forward.

1 or 2 shots bad shots in a came like tonight or in the tournament can kill the team.

 

[ctchamps]

There is one UConn player that is thrilled with OC. Probably with DD as well. That guy is TO. He isn't getting the heat from this forum because there are two new whipping boys.

There really wasn't anyone on the team that was making shots. So why focus on a guy who only took three shots? The entire game was an offensive stink a roo. NG missed three free throws, one of which was the front end of a one and one.

So many bunnies were missed at the rim. And yet people need to single out the UConn guy who is have a difficult time. He didn't cost the team one game this season. His time has been reduced by the coaching staff because he's struggling. His defense has improved significantly and people don't want to comment about this. Just interesting.

 

[Rico444]

That's a bit of a reach, and if it happens, it happens. I wouldn't advocate playing a bad player to keep him the program hoping he will be good the next year.

So you think Omar's a bad player now? You try to say earlier in the thread that you're pulling for him, but you call him a bad player in a lost year coming off of two hip surgeries.

I'm really glad we have the coach we do, who doesn't give up on a struggling player and gives him a few minutes per game to try to get back on track. If Ollie benched Terrance Samuel earlier this year when he wasn't at his best, and didn't get him a few minutes here and there, we wouldn't be reaping the benefits like we are now.

 

[mauconnfan]

He's getting 5 minutes a game at this point, stop acting like he's killing this year's team. And he's not bringing nothing to the table, he's playing good defense.

I've seen Omar's ceiling last year, and I know that he's a better player than this. If you want to give up on him, that's fine. But just accept that he's not going to be here next year if you do.

I'm okay with that…….

 

[SixRings]

I thought Omar made progress this game - he hit the rim both tries.
Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[SubbaBub]

OC is being outplayed by better players (LK, NG, and now TS) plain and simple. It will only get worse next season if he doesn't improve. DD isn't earning his minutes either.

For the foreseeable future I'd be prepared for a rotation of Bazz, Boat, Kromah, Giffey, Brimah, Nolan, Samuel, DD Facey. TO could even get looks at the 4.

 

[ChrisSmith]

Remember when Kromah didn't shoot an open three against Indiana earlier in the year and Ollie went off on him? There would be a similar reaction if Omar passed up an open shot.

You're right, this is big boy basketball. If you're a guard and you're open out there, you shoot.

Kromah shoots 35% from 3. Calhoun shoots 25%. They are very different players.