Omar Calhoun is a terrific offense of player...

[ChrisSmith]

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.

He's a bad player because he is a bad shooter that only shoots. I would like him to start doing the little things (defense, rebound, create opportunities for others). Then he would not be a bad player. Or next year he can come back as a better shooter and then he might not be a bad player either.

But right now he is a bad player.

 

[johnhuskies95]

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

That was in the beginning of the season, and Kromah shot 22% from three last year, worse than your whipping boy, Calhoun. It's not like Ollie or anyone thought he was a very good shooter at that point in the season.

 

[CL82]

I feel for him and agree with the posters who think he'll be back with a vengeance next year.

I do think that TS earned some of Omar's minutes. Key to have another ball handler to give Bass and Boat some rest.

 

[Gurleyman]

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

They were not bad shots. Open looks against a defensive minded team like Cincy are hard to come by. For example, when we got stagnant in the second half up by 8, Bazz didn't shoot 5 or 6 times when he had good looks from 3 (perhaps to be patient, perhaps his finger may have been bugging him). Typically that was the best look we had on those possessions and we ended up with tougher shots (once LK had a clean look from 15 feet after Bazz didn't shoot, which was a better look, so that wasn't always true).

They didn't go in, so the 0 minutes in the second half was an appropriate adjustment to go with the guys who were more effective. One game, the reverse may be true. I hope so. A guy who knocks down two quick threes off the bench can change a game (Albie in 1999, for example).

 

[DogMania]

Boy do a lot of folks love to kick our guys when they're down.

Here's my take on Omar. He's obviously not back a 100% from his hips surgeries and is playing poorly. I'm all for patience putting players out on the floor who are struggling though you believe give you the best shot of winning come March. But there comes a time in the season, which is somewhere in the last 2 to 3 weeks of the regular season, where you cut bait and hope for a better fate the following season.

Now if we didn't have any guards who have shown they can hold their own, I might wait a tad longer, but Samuel has been playing very well and contributing and deserves some of Omar's minutes. I'm still okay putting Omar out there once to see what he does, but if he doesn't have it, go with Samuel if you need to go to another guard while resting Bazz or Boat. I like the mix of Bazz, Boat, Kromah and Samuel manning the 1 & 2.

Omar still doesn't seem to be moving well and he's lost all confidence in his shot and game as a whole. I'd feel better if he could learn to do other things other than shooting 3s, like rebounding, find open teammates like he did with Boat in the first half, defending his brains out, but he simply hasn't been doing enough of those things and his deep misses often result in one-and-done's and run outs by the other team.

IMO, time to ride the Samuel train since he's contributing more, plus develop him for next season as well since we won't have Bazz at the wheel and might not have Boat either. Though I think the primary reason would be playing Samuel over Omar gives us a better chance of winning. He's been a great energy guy off the bench that seems to spark the team and provide contagious energy.

 

[ctchamps]

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

You got me. Not 3 three's but three quick shots. I will disagree with you they were not quick shots but I was wrong about the three's. I'm curious what you think about his pass out to RB which you chose not to point out. It was a great play.

The problem I have with the above comment you make to rico is that you are singling out one player. One or two bad shots by anyone in a game is equivalent with any bad shots so why single out OC.

If I were to use your logic I would only play SN because the other UConn players are very inconsistent. You are not getting much production from the five and four positions.

Why not single out the three missed free throws by NG which cost UConn four points? I wouldn't say NG cost UConn the game if Cincy came back and won it, but those missed FT's would have had and impact.

 

[UConnSwag11]

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

Won't happen. This board is ridiculous. They have 2 beers and find some kid on the team to rip regardless if we win. Happens every game every year. He's had hip surgeries, a wrist problem I believe and concussion symptoms. Completely different if he was healthy and kromah wasn't playing as well as he is. His two shots were great looks I was really hoping they went in for him. Instead of talking about how Terrence Samuel changed the game with his d and how solid he's been on defense, his speed and aggressiveness to the rim. But no people can't enjoy it.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Lmao @Rico444 officially has gone off the deep end.

 

[Rico444]

Last post I'm going to make on this, because frankly I'm sick of this argument, having gotten into it now two days in a row. Omar shouldn't be playing 30 minutes; hell, he shouldn't be playing 10 minutes. But just a couple of minutes for now is good for him, and good for the program moving forward. Terrance Samuel got minutes against good teams earlier this year and he had some struggles, but Ollie kept getting him some minutes when he felt the matchup dictated he should be seeing some. And now Terrance is the guy everyone is screaming to get out on the court (rightfully so, he's made a difference the last two games). Omar was a big part of our team last year. You bench him for the last few games of the regular season, the whole conference tournament, and the NCAAs? You tell him you can't get him even 5 minutes here or there, after he played 20+ minutes per last year, and you're telling him you have no confidence in him. If you want to give up on the kid and let him move on, that's fine. I'm glad our program doesn't operate that way. And I'll be sure to bump this thread next year when Omar is contributing to this team to remind you why you don't give up on a player with as much talent as Omar has, especially when all the player has done is kept his mouth shut and done exactly what Kevin Ollie has asked.

 

[mauconnfan]

Won't happen. This board is ridiculous. They have 2 beers and find some kid on the team to rip regardless if we win. Happens every game every year. He's had hip surgeries, a wrist problem I believe and concussion symptoms. Completely different if he was healthy and kromah wasn't playing as well as he is. His two shots were great looks I was really hoping they went in for him. Instead of talking about how Terrence Samuel changed the game with his d and how solid he's been on defense, his speed and aggressiveness to the rim. But no people can't enjoy it.

Not sure who had 2 beers? None here…….and the funny thing is people that sit here and ridicule people for liking the kid but being honest! That's the joke not the fact of whether his shots were good ones or not…….

 

[UCHuskies08]

Man if only ChrisSmith from the Boneyard could get in Ollie's ear. Our rotations would be perfect. After all, he knows best. He watches every practice. He's in on every discussion Ollie has with Omar. So, yeah, I'm just going to co-sign everything ChrisSmith says, because he's got the full view. Can't deny that.

 

[mauconnfan]

Man if only ChrisSmith from the Boneyard could get in Ollie's ear. Our rotations would be perfect. After all, he knows best. He watches every practice. He's in on every discussion Ollie has with Omar. So, yeah, I'm just going to co-sign everything ChrisSmith says, because he's got the full view. Can't deny that.

Thanks a lot I can't have his ear?….lol

 

[ctchamps]

Last post I'm going to make on this, because frankly I'm sick of this argument, having gotten into it now two days in a row. Omar shouldn't be playing 30 minutes; hell, he shouldn't be playing 10 minutes. But just a couple of minutes for now is good for him, and good for the program moving forward. Terrance Samuel got minutes against good teams earlier this year and he had some struggles, but Ollie kept getting him some minutes when he felt the matchup dictated he should be seeing some. And now Terrance is the guy everyone is screaming to get out on the court (rightfully so, he's made a difference the last two games). Omar was a big part of our team last year. You bench him for the last few games of the regular season, the whole conference tournament, and the NCAAs? You tell him you can't get him even 5 minutes here or there, after he played 20+ minutes per last year, and you're telling him you have no confidence in him. If you want to give up on the kid and let him move on, that's fine. I'm glad our program doesn't operate that way. And I'll be sure to bump this thread next year when Omar is contributing to this team to remind you why you don't give up on a player with as much talent as Omar has, especially when all the player has done is kept his mouth shut and done exactly what Kevin Ollie has asked.

I have no problem coming to the defense of a kid who's giving his all to Uconn vs. a bunch of people who hide anonymously behind their keyboard and rip these kids apart all the while doing nothing themselves in the games.

Don't stop.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

The vast majority of people here aren't ripping him, they just don't think he deserve PT. Sure some people are being jerkoffs, but it's ridiculous to say anyone
who thinks he shouldn't play is ripping him.

We don't want Tolksdorf to play either. Does that mean we hate him?

OC came in with a UConn lead missed two shots, turned it over abd played bad D. The lead was gone.

Is it all on him? Hell no.

Do we have better options at this time? Yes, we do.

It's not personal, it's basketball.

 

[ctchamps]

The vast majority of people here aren't ripping him, they just don't think he deserve PT. Sure some people are being jerkoffs, but it's ridiculous to say anyone
who thinks he shouldn't play is ripping him.

We don't want Tolksdorf to play either. Does that mean we hate him?

OC came in with a UConn lead missed two shots, turned it over abd played bad D. The lead was gone.

Is it all on him? Hell no.

Do we have better options at this time? Yes, we do.

It's not personal, it's basketball.

Where was his defense bad?

 

[mauconnfan]

The vast majority of people here aren't ripping him, they just don't think he deserve PT. Sure some people are being jerkoffs, but it's ridiculous to say anyone
who thinks he shouldn't play is ripping him.

We don't want Tolksdorf to play either. Does that mean we hate him?

OC came in with a UConn lead missed two shots, turned it over abd played bad D. The lead was gone.

Is it all on him? Hell no.

Do we have better options at this time? Yes, we do.

It's not personal, it's basketball.

Well stated CHB…….

Now let's end this thread and talk about the W………..All good!!

 

[ChrisSmith]

They were not bad shots. Open looks against a defensive minded team like Cincy are hard to come by. For example, when we got stagnant in the second half up by 8, Bazz didn't shoot 5 or 6 times when he had good looks from 3 (perhaps to be patient, perhaps his finger may have been bugging him). Typically that was the best look we had on those possessions and we ended up with tougher shots (once LK had a clean look from 15 feet after Bazz didn't shoot, which was a better look, so that wasn't always true).

They didn't go in, so the 0 minutes in the second half was an appropriate adjustment to go with the guys who were more effective. One game, the reverse may be true. I hope so. A guy who knocks down two quick threes off the bench can change a game (Albie in 1999, for example).

Any three pointer is a bad shot for a 25% three point shooter.

 

[Gurleyman]

Well stated CHB…….

Now let's end this thread and talk about the W………..All good!!

See, I don't think that's well said at all. Denham was struggling his sophomore year and got benched for Rashad, but we don't beat Duke without him hitting a couple big shots late in the first half to keep us in striking distance. Albie had a knee injury as a sophomore late in the year and started struggling, but he gave us separation against Iowa with a couple big second half threes. Over the course of a long postseason run, you need guys to step up at different times. Who knows what the halftime score would have been against Butler if Beverly and Okwandu didn't hold the fort defensively while we couldn't score with our key guys in foul trouble?

Samuel has played well and deserved his second half minutes today and deserves minutes going forward. But looking ahead, we already have a non-offensive threat at the 5, so Samuel being in there leaves us vulnerable to junk defenses on Bazz. A mediocre OC at least can pull defenders out, if we can somehow get him built back up to mediocre. Samuel spotting up in March won't draw defenders. There may be more days like today when Samuel is a much better option with his D and hustle, and there may be a day when we need to look for a perimeter shooter against packed in defenses (such as what Stanford did to us with their zone). Having more arrows in the quiver gives you a chance to make adjustments.

If you bail on him entirely, you'll never have that option. If you give him spot minutes now, you can keep him mentally engaged and feel like there's a point to the extra work in practice. If as a team, you can't overcome a missed shot or two in the first half, you have bigger problems or you're just looking for a scapegoat.

That said, If OC doesn't have a game soon where he knocks down a couple, we may have to just shorten our rotation in the postseason and leave him out unless we are totally desperate and have nothing to lose. But for now, it behooves us to try to get him going.

 

[ChrisSmith]

Man if only ChrisSmith from the Boneyard could get in Ollie's ear. Our rotations would be perfect. After all, he knows best. He watches every practice. He's in on every discussion Ollie has with Omar. So, yeah, I'm just going to co-sign everything ChrisSmith says, because he's got the full view. Can't deny that.

You're the worst kind of message board poster out there. Instead of respectfully offering an opinion or a counterpoint, you just slam anyone who has an opinion because they aren't the coach.

On top of that, you were not able to comprehend the point. I'm not criticizing Ollie for playing Calhoun. I'm criticizing Calhoun for not playing more like Samuels. Samuels doesn't come in and pop threes - he gets a bunch of steals. I want Calhoun to do something like that. Do what you can to help the team. Calhoun's shooting isn't helping.

 

[ChrisSmith]

The vast majority of people here aren't ripping him, they just don't think he deserve PT. Sure some people are being jerkoffs, but it's ridiculous to say anyone
who thinks he shouldn't play is ripping him.

We don't want Tolksdorf to play either. Does that mean we hate him?

OC came in with a UConn lead missed two shots, turned it over abd played bad D. The lead was gone.

Is it all on him? Hell no.

Do we have better options at this time? Yes, we do.

It's not personal, it's basketball.

I just want to see him do the little things when he's on the court and not shoot 3 3's a game (like he has averaged). Next year I hope he's more like what we expect and hope and a 15ppg scorer.

 

[Gurleyman]

Any three pointer is a bad shot for a 25% three point shooter.

If you're going to take that philosophy, then you're right - he shouldn't play. Because if he can't shoot when he's spotted up on balance with a clean look, then he doesn't have a function.

If you believe he is capable of being better than that, then you let him shoot his good looks, and tell him not to force the contested ones when he is more closely guarded or on the move. Which he has done lately.

 

[ChrisSmith]

If you're going to take that philosophy, then you're right - he shouldn't play. Because if he can't shoot when he's spotted up on balance with a clean look, then he doesn't have a function.

If you believe he is capable of being better than that, then you let him shoot his good looks, and tell him not to force the contested ones when he is more closely guarded or on the move. Which he has done lately.

See I think he can still contribute even if he doesn't shoot. He's long, he's a solid athlete. He can give 5-10 minutes a game without shooting three pointers.

 

[ChrisSmith]

The stat line I see is 4 minutes, 3 shots. 3 misses. 0 rebounds. 0 steals. 0 assists. 0 blocks.

I would love to get 8 minutes, 1 shot, 1 rebound and 1 steal or assist a game from Calhoun.

 

[Gurleyman]

See I think he can still contribute even if he doesn't shoot. He's long, he's a solid athlete. He can give 5-10 minutes a game without shooting three pointers.

My feeling is that we don't need another player cowering away from shots. We already have centers who don't score, and one very good shooter who will only shoot if the planets are aligned perfectly (Giff). It puts too much pressure on Bazz if guys won't take shots on open kick outs (or use the scrambling defense to their advantage with a ball fake and a drive). Then we have to keep swinging the ball back out to him at the end of the shot clock and hope he can do something.

Sometimes, not shooting the open shot is what kills a possession - not the mistake at the end under duress.

PS - lest anyone think I'm on Giff, he gets an A+ on defense today in the second half. Borderline flawless - both on ball and giving help and recovering. He singlehandedly took away about a dozen Cincy dribble drives. But he took zero shots and didn't create anything for anyone else, so he was basically a non-factor on offense. A fair trade off, since we had a lead the whole second half.

 

[UCHuskies08]

You're the worst kind of message board poster out there. Instead of respectfully offering an opinion or a counterpoint, you just slam anyone who has an opinion because they aren't the coach.

On top of that, you were not able to comprehend the point. I'm not criticizing Ollie for playing Calhoun. I'm criticizing Calhoun for not playing more like Samuels. Samuels doesn't come in and pop threes - he gets a bunch of steals. I want Calhoun to do something like that. Do what you can to help the team. Calhoun's shooting isn't helping.

That's funny because I think the people who post the snarky, assholish posts about our players ("Omar is a terrific offensive player... for Cincinnati" HAHAHAHAHHAH so funny bro) after every single game win or lose, nevermind a win over #11 Cincy, are the worst kind of message board posters out there. Message board warriors with incomplete information who, worst of all, are convinced they know everything.

What if Ollie is telling him to go out there and shoot every time he's open? Should he do it, or should he do what you say, to play like Samuel? Well, you and I have no idea what Calhoun is being coached to do, so to make definitive statements about how he should play like Samuel is silly.