Oriakhi is the last of the 'old guard' (very long post)

[UConnSportsGuy]

The Oriakhi situation shouldn't be too much of a big surprise for those who have been close to the program for a while now. Oriakhi is part of the 'old guard' at UConn that has been purged for the most part. Here is the history:

Oriakhi came into the program at a time when we were bringing in a different type of player (different from the type of kids and players that UConn normally brought in). There was a run of recruiting classes that were full of players that were coming to UConn because of our earlier success and the reputation of UConn as an 'NBA factory'. Calhoun had worked well in the past with kids who were all about basketball, were gym rats, and had a very strong work ethic. For a few year run, we were getting elite and athletic basketball players, but they were not the same type of kid/player as we had in the past (and have gotten in the past couple years). They did not have the same priorities as the previous kids and did not react well to the coaching style of Calhoun and were not completely 'all in for the team no matter what'. They did not have complete respect for the coaches and the team concept.

This can all be traced back to the coaching staff at the time. Calhoun has the final say in the players and the recruits, so he is ultimately responsible. But he also relies heavily on the assistant coaches for the recruiting and evaluation of players and kids (as he always has). But unfortunately, the people he was relying on and trusting for this evaluation and recruitment for a few years just were not what Calhoun really needed. They were cutting corners and were attracting a certain type of kid to the program. We had a period of years in which we were bringing in kids who were here for themselves and their future NBA careers and were not completely bought into the program and the full 'team concept'. Calhoun learned the hard way that these assitants were driving the program into a bad place. This was manifesting itself not only on the court, but in the locker room, around campus, and throughout the university (the APR problems are also related to this as well)...just the entire aura of the program. There was just a different culture of this group of assistants which attracted a certain type of kid and player...who ultimately did not mesh well with Calhoun and the UConn program.

We had this whole discussion a couple of years ago and the focus and debate was centered around Dyson. It was an ugly fight here on the Boneyard that got very ugly. All the focus was on Dyson. But in reality, it wasn't just Dyson...he was just the poster child for the kids we had in our program for a few years running.

Here is a history of our recruting classes for context:


2006
Hasheem Thabeet
Gavin Edwards
Doug Wiggins
Ben Eaves
Stanley Robinson
Jonathan Mandeldove
Jerome Dyson
Curtis Kelly

2007
Donnell Beverly

2008
Ater Majok
Scottie Haralson
Kemba Walker
Nate Miles

2009
Darius Smith
Jamaal Trice
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel
Alex Oriakhi

2010
Shabazz Napier
Tyler Olander
Roscoe Smith
Michael Bradley
Jeremy Lamb

2011
Andre Drummond
DeAndre Daniels
Ryan Boatright

2012
Omar Calhoun

and keep in mind that Coombs-McDaniel and Oriakhi committed to UConn a couple of years earlier when they were sophmores...when the Wiggins/Dyson/Kelly/etc were also committing to UConn.
Take a look at that list and the history. Think about the kids and players recruiting during the late 2000's and then those in the past couple recruiting classes. There was a clear shift made between the 2009 and 2010 recruiting class in terms of the type of kids and players were were recruting and bringing into the program. Kemba Walker was the exception and was a Godsend to the program. He was reminder for Calhoun of the type of player UConn used to have and he works so well with. That is when Calhoun made a change in terms of the recruitment and players coming to UConn. Out were Andre LaFluer, Patrick Sellers, and Beau Archibald (although it did take a year for LaFleur to find another landing spot first). And these were the years where Tom Moore was in a leadership role on the staff too. That is not to say that those coaches are bad people or had evil motives. But they just weren't up to the level that we were used to and to the level that Calhoun needed. UConn and Calhoun got greedy and got away from the what made them successful and the culture and program that they had built. Notice since then, how Calhoun has brought back so many people from the earlier years to try to bring back the culture and program that we used to have and want to have (Ollie, Freeman, Hobbs, Miller).

So our program hit a very rough patch that lead to not only problems on the court, but also in the class room and in the locker room. We had some spurts of success and had a lot of natural talent. But the culture was cancerous and a change needed to be made. Calhoun realized this and made some changes. But that created a transition of players, coaches, and cultures. And Oriakhi is the last of the 'old guard' who is now isolated and not part of the 'future'.

In terms of what is next for Oriahki....look for him to transfer to Hofstra or Providence. Is it a coincidence that Patrick Sellers is at Hofstra and that is where Jamal Coombs-McDaniel ended up? Don't be surprised if Oriakhi ends up there. Or Providence. LeFleur is now at Providence and they are now getting the type of kids that Uconn was getting back in the late 2000's. Ledo and Dunn are the types of players who came to UConn in the late 2000's, and now they are going to Providence. And Gerard Coleman is a good buddy of AO and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. So Providence could be a landing spot too (if the APR suspension holds and AO has no restrictions on the school...and thus can go to a BE team without sitting out).

Again, this is not meant to say that the 'old regime' of coaches and players were bad people or should be attacked. But it is just a different type of person and does not mesh well with what Calhoun does well and what makes him successful. Take a look at the history. With the benefit of looking at it after the fact it is clear. Calhoun realized this and made changes...and we are better off for it. And those close to the program can attest to this history as well.


So that being said....attack away at me!

 

[Walker11]

I just don't think what you wrote is factual. We may be attracting a different player than we did in the mid 90's but I don't see any difference in the players we are attracting now and from 2006.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

I just don't think what you wrote is factual. We may be attracting a different player than we did in the mid 90's but I don't see any difference in the players we are attracting now and from 2006.

We will see I guess. We will see if we have the same academic, off-court, transfer, and 'relationship with Calhoun' problems that we did with the majority of the 2006-2009 players. I think there has been a significant change in the kids...but we will know for sure over the next year or two if that truly is the case.

 

[Walker11]

Look at a headcase kid like Josh Selby who the staff went all in for and missed, ending up with Bazz. Hell, just look at Nerlens Noel who we are currently recruiting.

 

[suzyq]

Interesting, but in what universe does anyone advise a kid that going to Hofstra is going to help him more with the NBA than going to UConn?

 

[Husky999]

I don't think you are allowed to transfer to another school in the same conference.

 

[caw]

I somewhat agree that there was a shift in recruiting to try and get high quality kids, I don't believe Oriakhi should be thrown in with some of the other kids like Wiggins/Kelley/Dove

 

[UConnfan8]

well so much for ties with the tilton school thanks to Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and ao

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Yeah, let's dump on kids that took us to a Final 4 and won a National championship.

Get a clue. There isn't some mass culture change going on at UConn or anything else that needs to be read in between the lines.

This years team just wasn't that good. They went 20-14 and lost in the 8 9 game.

Just accept it.

 

[johnhuskies95]

This is complete BS. Oriakhi is a winner. Period. He's won AAU National Championships, Prep School National championships and a college National Championship. Name me another basketball player in the whole country who can say that.

On top of that, he has a 3.6 GPA this year and was named a captain by JC. Get real.

 

[Zionn]

And soft as hell, no heart, and no understanding of digging deep - sorry....just wanted to add to your list

 

[Hoophound]

I think there may be a bit more to sportsguy's theory than u are admitting. Belligerence toward coach was not very common until after 2004, then we started getting some kids with more issues. The current roster is full of great kids. It is better to let one or two go before their attitude becomes contagious.

 

[husky711]

I just don't think what you wrote is factual. We may be attracting a different player than we did in the mid 90's but I don't see any difference in the players we are attracting now and from 2006.

I completely agree with walker11 to be honest.. I don't feel like Thabeet, Edwards, Robinson (though he didn't reach his potential at UConn he definitely doesn't fit the type of player you describe), Beverly Haralson, Trice, or Darius Smith were the type of player you describe. Maybe add to that Ben Eaves and Dove, but I don't really know enough about them... they just were never the type of big time player that would be concerned purely with the NBA and themselves. Trice and Smith simply didn't really fit in the team... we over-recruited at the guard position and they were kind of the odd men out and chose to transfer as a result. That by no means has anything to do with the type of player/person they are.

Regardless, I can see the point you are making with regards to some players... but I really don't think this is the issue with Oriakhi as you seem to imply. He just seems to have a poor attitude and is letting his ego get in the way of becoming a better player and person.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm sorry but singling out AO for this season is almost as ridiculous as claiming that a vital (arguably as important as anyone not named Kemba) member of a national championship team is part of a crew that couldn't accomplish much.

If this season was part of the cost of last year's title run, so be it. AO, JL, SN, TO, NG (even Wolf & Bradley) all gave us far more than we could have hoped for in October 2010. If anyone warrants a mulligan for anything it is these kids for this past season.

 

[caw]

That '06 class was huge, with 9 kids. Thabeet, Edwards, Robinson and Dyson were all OK kids and players at the least. Eaves left but I don't think was a bad kid. Wiggins/Kelley/Dove were trouble makers. Miles was obviously a problem child but every other kid was a decent kid. Nobody since was nearly as bad as those 4.

 

[djct1999]

I also doubt he will be even allowed to go to Providence. Isn't there some sort of rule where someone cant transfer within the same conference?

 

[johnhuskies95]

I think there may be a bit more to sportsguy's theory than u are admitting. Belligerence toward coach was not very common until after 2004, then we started getting some kids with more issues. The current roster is full of great kids. It is better to let one or two go before their attitude becomes contagious.

I somewhat agree with his premise, but putting Oriakhi in that group is ridiculous.

 

[Hoophound]

You are over emphasizing the "bad kid" angle. I think "coachable", humble, eager to learn and introspective would be terms for kids that JC works best with. That's why KEA was considered such an oddball for us. He was very boisterous, but he played hard which is ultimately what JC cares about. Khalid aside, most of our best players are humble and have a quiet confidence. Look at the list-Ray, Caron, Mek, Rip, Ben, Donyell, KFree etc. It goes on and on. These guys that talk in public about team issues, get in trouble or get crappy grades aren't traditional UConn guys. We were once a respected and dignified program but it changed and may not get back there until we go back to that type of player. We have a great group right now but they need to take their lead from guys more like Roscoe and less like......

 

[Henry]

The Oriakhi situation shouldn't be too much of a big surprise for those who have been close to the program for a while now. Oriakhi is part of the 'old guard' at UConn that has been purged for the most part. Here is the history:

Oriakhi came into the program at a time when we were bringing in a different type of player (different from the type of kids and players that UConn normally brought in). There was a run of recruiting classes that were full of players that were coming to UConn because of our earlier success and the reputation of UConn as an 'NBA factory'. Calhoun had worked well in the past with kids who were all about basketball, were gym rats, and had a very strong work ethic. For a few year run, we were getting elite and athletic basketball players, but they were not the same type of kid/player as we had in the past (and have gotten in the past couple years). They did not have the same priorities as the previous kids and did not react well to the coaching style of Calhoun and were not completely 'all in for the team no matter what'. They did not have complete respect for the coaches and the team concept.

This can all be traced back to the coaching staff at the time. Calhoun has the final say in the players and the recruits, so he is ultimately responsible. But he also relies heavily on the assistant coaches for the recruiting and evaluation of players and kids (as he always has). But unfortunately, the people he was relying on and trusting for this evaluation and recruitment for a few years just were not what Calhoun really needed. They were cutting corners and were attracting a certain type of kid to the program. We had a period of years in which we were bringing in kids who were here for themselves and their future NBA careers and were not completely bought into the program and the full 'team concept'. Calhoun learned the hard way that these assitants were driving the program into a bad place. This was manifesting itself not only on the court, but in the locker room, around campus, and throughout the university (the APR problems are also related to this as well)...just the entire aura of the program. There was just a different culture of this group of assistants which attracted a certain type of kid and player...who ultimately did not mesh well with Calhoun and the UConn program.

We had this whole discussion a couple of years ago and the focus and debate was centered around Dyson. It was an ugly fight here on the Boneyard that got very ugly. All the focus was on Dyson. But in reality, it wasn't just Dyson...he was just the poster child for the kids we had in our program for a few years running.

Here is a history of our recruting classes for context:


2006
Hasheem Thabeet
Gavin Edwards
Doug Wiggins
Ben Eaves
Stanley Robinson
Jonathan Mandeldove
Jerome Dyson
Curtis Kelly

2007
Donnell Beverly

2008
Ater Majok
Scottie Haralson
Kemba Walker
Nate Miles

2009
Darius Smith
Jamaal Trice
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel
Alex Oriakhi

2010
Shabazz Napier
Tyler Olander
Roscoe Smith
Michael Bradley
Jeremy Lamb

2011
Andre Drummond
DeAndre Daniels
Ryan Boatright

2012
Omar Calhoun

and keep in mind that Coombs-McDaniel and Oriakhi committed to UConn a couple of years earlier when they were sophmores...when the Wiggins/Dyson/Kelly/etc were also committing to UConn.
Take a look at that list and the history. Think about the kids and players recruiting during the late 2000's and then those in the past couple recruiting classes. There was a clear shift made between the 2009 and 2010 recruiting class in terms of the type of kids and players were were recruting and bringing into the program. Kemba Walker was the exception and was a Godsend to the program. He was reminder for Calhoun of the type of player UConn used to have and he works so well with. That is when Calhoun made a change in terms of the recruitment and players coming to UConn. Out were Andre LaFluer, Patrick Sellers, and Beau Archibald (although it did take a year for LaFleur to find another landing spot first). And these were the years where Tom Moore was in a leadership role on the staff too. That is not to say that those coaches are bad people or had evil motives. But they just weren't up to the level that we were used to and to the level that Calhoun needed. UConn and Calhoun got greedy and got away from the what made them successful and the culture and program that they had built. Notice since then, how Calhoun has brought back so many people from the earlier years to try to bring back the culture and program that we used to have and want to have (Ollie, Freeman, Hobbs, Miller).

So our program hit a very rough patch that lead to not only problems on the court, but also in the class room and in the locker room. We had some spurts of success and had a lot of natural talent. But the culture was cancerous and a change needed to be made. Calhoun realized this and made some changes. But that created a transition of players, coaches, and cultures. And Oriakhi is the last of the 'old guard' who is now isolated and not part of the 'future'.

In terms of what is next for Oriahki....look for him to transfer to Hofstra or Providence. Is it a coincidence that Patrick Sellers is at Hofstra and that is where Jamal Coombs-McDaniel ended up? Don't be surprised if Oriakhi ends up there. Or Providence. LeFleur is now at Providence and they are now getting the type of kids that Uconn was getting back in the late 2000's. Ledo and Dunn are the types of players who came to UConn in the late 2000's, and now they are going to Providence. And Gerard Coleman is a good buddy of AO and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. So Providence could be a landing spot too (if the APR suspension holds and AO has no restrictions on the school...and thus can go to a BE team without sitting out).

Again, this is not meant to say that the 'old regime' of coaches and players were bad people or should be attacked. But it is just a different type of person and does not mesh well with what Calhoun does well and what makes him successful. Take a look at the history. With the benefit of looking at it after the fact it is clear. Calhoun realized this and made changes...and we are better off for it. And those close to the program can attest to this history as well.


So that being said....attack away at me!

Excellent post. I have felt some of the same things but could not put my finger on the problem. I also felt that the kids were playing just to put in their time before they left for the NBA and did not care about the program. Shabazz is a funny case. He seems like the type of tough kid who cares that we used to have but the other kids do not respond to him. So, whose fault is it? Shabazz's or the other guys? Maybe he should stay and the others should move on.

 

[Dann]

i agree for the most part with the op actually. there is a shift. were the guys from the 2000's good players? hell yea mostly and they got us to a f4 one of those years. no one is saying they were d3 players but its clearly a different type of off court kid were looking at. if you can't tell the difference then i dont know what to tell you. i thinks thats the sum of it.

blue-didn't pan out or hasn't got pt
red-troubles
oranges- problems but did produce on court
green-good for the program

2006
Hasheem Thabeet- very raw, developed over years at uconn but never fully translated beyond potential. he was on track school wise if i remember right.
Gavin Edwards- clashed with coach alot and also didn't finish school-apr. ok player at end of career.
Doug Wiggins- several issues with the law not just at uconn, same problems elsewhere.
Ben Eaves- tansfered after 1 year, didn't pan out.
Stanley Robinson- had off court baggage and imho becuase of it never was able to fully develope as a skilled wing player. was a stud ath who played well but clearly lacked some film time and skills learning. did he finish school?
Jonathan Mandeldove- where to begin here with him????
Jerome Dyson-rocky uconn career, had off court issues with the law at uconn. pre getting hurt was a good player for us, got hurt and when he came back it was me me me to the nba not team. didnt finish a class correct? so apr etc...
Curtis Kelly-i thought was a good kid that just didn't get enough time to develope and was overlooked becuase of thabet. he transfered to kst and had a decent finish to his career but nothing special.

2007
Donnell Beverly-was never more than a small bench part. was a good kid for the program and a competitor. no apr issues or off court issues.

2008
Ater Majok-raw as all possible, makes drummond look like god. off court baggage with handler and family and left. played overseas and eventually got drafted late 2nd round becuase he schools chairs. apr?
Scottie Haralson- wasn't getting time and didn't pan out. transfered after 1 year, doing ok now down south i think some 1 posted recently at uab was it???
Kemba Walker-enough said
Nate Miles-where to begin here? he lasted 4 weeks. arp and so on with him...
Chuck O.- raw big guy who was a role player at best towards the end of his career. no issues.

2009
Darius Smith- didn't pan out. transfered after year 1
Jamaal Trice-didn't pan out. transfered after year 1
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel- clashed with coach, off court troubles. transfered after year 2.
Alex Oriakhi-up and down on court 3 years, ao and dad are not using social media to well. transfer rumors are flying but we will see what happens....

see the issue above? not alot of green... we need green guys and a bit of orange is ok and common in most programs. some blue is ok but not a lot. but clearly the amount of blue and red here was horrible for those years. maybe u guys understand that now with the colors.....
half of our green guys that we actually had were not big time players.
in 4 years we have 4 true green players. one was a stud, 1 was a potential big guy and 2 were career bench guys/role guys. thats not going to cut it.
ao is the last of this group as the op was talking about. the jury is still out on him and most here including myself hope the best for the kid but lets be real with things.

so far in these guys young careers:
2010
Shabazz Napier-2 years of no off court or grade issues
Tyler Olander-2 years of no off court or grade issues
Roscoe Smith-2 years of no off court or grade issues
Michael Bradley-2 years of no off court or grade issues, has yet to play
Jeremy Lamb-2 years of no off court or grade issues
N. Gif--2 years of no off court or grade issues
E. Wolf-2 years of no off court or grade issues, has yet to really play

2011
Andre Drummond-1 year so far, extreme small amount of baggage off court pre uconn that turned out to be nothing. no grades or issues. raw big guy with great potential and got major pt.
DeAndre Daniels-1 year so far, some pt, clearly potential to develope. no grades or off court issues.
Ryan Boatright-1 year so far with off court pre uconn baggage, great player with high grades.

 

[Hoophound]

I somewhat agree with his premise, but putting Oriakhi in that group is ridiculous.

Really? Did I see what I thought I saw from Alex on the bench last night? Did Alex use Twitter to whine this season? Alex is a nice kid but he is wrong on this. First, you treat your coach with respect, especially a 69 year old HOF'er. Second, you don't whine and air dirty laundry on Twitter. He's lucky he wasn't suspended.

 

[DrewDog85]

The Oriakhi situation shouldn't be too much of a big surprise for those who have been close to the program for a while now. Oriakhi is part of the 'old guard' at UConn that has been purged for the most part. Here is the history:

Oriakhi came into the program at a time when we were bringing in a different type of player (different from the type of kids and players that UConn normally brought in). There was a run of recruiting classes that were full of players that were coming to UConn because of our earlier success and the reputation of UConn as an 'NBA factory'. Calhoun had worked well in the past with kids who were all about basketball, were gym rats, and had a very strong work ethic. For a few year run, we were getting elite and athletic basketball players, but they were not the same type of kid/player as we had in the past (and have gotten in the past couple years). They did not have the same priorities as the previous kids and did not react well to the coaching style of Calhoun and were not completely 'all in for the team no matter what'. They did not have complete respect for the coaches and the team concept.

This can all be traced back to the coaching staff at the time. Calhoun has the final say in the players and the recruits, so he is ultimately responsible. But he also relies heavily on the assistant coaches for the recruiting and evaluation of players and kids (as he always has). But unfortunately, the people he was relying on and trusting for this evaluation and recruitment for a few years just were not what Calhoun really needed. They were cutting corners and were attracting a certain type of kid to the program. We had a period of years in which we were bringing in kids who were here for themselves and their future NBA careers and were not completely bought into the program and the full 'team concept'. Calhoun learned the hard way that these assitants were driving the program into a bad place. This was manifesting itself not only on the court, but in the locker room, around campus, and throughout the university (the APR problems are also related to this as well)...just the entire aura of the program. There was just a different culture of this group of assistants which attracted a certain type of kid and player...who ultimately did not mesh well with Calhoun and the UConn program.

We had this whole discussion a couple of years ago and the focus and debate was centered around Dyson. It was an ugly fight here on the Boneyard that got very ugly. All the focus was on Dyson. But in reality, it wasn't just Dyson...he was just the poster child for the kids we had in our program for a few years running.

Here is a history of our recruting classes for context:


2006
Hasheem Thabeet
Gavin Edwards
Doug Wiggins
Ben Eaves
Stanley Robinson
Jonathan Mandeldove
Jerome Dyson
Curtis Kelly

2007
Donnell Beverly

2008
Ater Majok
Scottie Haralson
Kemba Walker
Nate Miles

2009
Darius Smith
Jamaal Trice
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel
Alex Oriakhi

2010
Shabazz Napier
Tyler Olander
Roscoe Smith
Michael Bradley
Jeremy Lamb

2011
Andre Drummond
DeAndre Daniels
Ryan Boatright

2012
Omar Calhoun

and keep in mind that Coombs-McDaniel and Oriakhi committed to UConn a couple of years earlier when they were sophmores...when the Wiggins/Dyson/Kelly/etc were also committing to UConn.
Take a look at that list and the history. Think about the kids and players recruiting during the late 2000's and then those in the past couple recruiting classes. There was a clear shift made between the 2009 and 2010 recruiting class in terms of the type of kids and players were were recruting and bringing into the program. Kemba Walker was the exception and was a Godsend to the program. He was reminder for Calhoun of the type of player UConn used to have and he works so well with. That is when Calhoun made a change in terms of the recruitment and players coming to UConn. Out were Andre LaFluer, Patrick Sellers, and Beau Archibald (although it did take a year for LaFleur to find another landing spot first). And these were the years where Tom Moore was in a leadership role on the staff too. That is not to say that those coaches are bad people or had evil motives. But they just weren't up to the level that we were used to and to the level that Calhoun needed. UConn and Calhoun got greedy and got away from the what made them successful and the culture and program that they had built. Notice since then, how Calhoun has brought back so many people from the earlier years to try to bring back the culture and program that we used to have and want to have (Ollie, Freeman, Hobbs, Miller).

So our program hit a very rough patch that lead to not only problems on the court, but also in the class room and in the locker room. We had some spurts of success and had a lot of natural talent. But the culture was cancerous and a change needed to be made. Calhoun realized this and made some changes. But that created a transition of players, coaches, and cultures. And Oriakhi is the last of the 'old guard' who is now isolated and not part of the 'future'.

In terms of what is next for Oriahki....look for him to transfer to Hofstra or Providence. Is it a coincidence that Patrick Sellers is at Hofstra and that is where Jamal Coombs-McDaniel ended up? Don't be surprised if Oriakhi ends up there. Or Providence. LeFleur is now at Providence and they are now getting the type of kids that Uconn was getting back in the late 2000's. Ledo and Dunn are the types of players who came to UConn in the late 2000's, and now they are going to Providence. And Gerard Coleman is a good buddy of AO and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. So Providence could be a landing spot too (if the APR suspension holds and AO has no restrictions on the school...and thus can go to a BE team without sitting out).

Again, this is not meant to say that the 'old regime' of coaches and players were bad people or should be attacked. But it is just a different type of person and does not mesh well with what Calhoun does well and what makes him successful. Take a look at the history. With the benefit of looking at it after the fact it is clear. Calhoun realized this and made changes...and we are better off for it. And those close to the program can attest to this history as well.


So that being said....attack away at me!

Interesting Post but still a waste of time,, Kids change, Time goes on,, you get the best kids you can year in and year out, you set your standards and every so often you make an exception see Caron Butler and Nate Miles.

Some kids just don't pan out the way you hoped, the reasons can be numerous and complex and in some cases have nothing to do with Uconn or Calhoun.

We didn't "click" or Jell this year, thats part of D1 basketball,

Btw if you have this much time on your hands, come over to me house I have plenty of Yardwork and home repairs you could help me with.

 

[caw]

This is complete BS. Oriakhi is a winner. Period. He's won AAU National Championships, Prep School National championships and a college National Championship. Name me another basketball player in the whole country who can say that.

On top of that, he has a 3.6 GPA this year and was named a captain by JC. Get real.

Jamaal Coombs McDaniels?

 

[SubbaBub]

It's been a tough year for AO on many levels. He was a key piece to a NC team.
Maybe he didn't think needed to improve, had a tough time adjusting to playing with AD, got tired of JC being on him for 3 years as the top big man, upset that Jamal Coombs-McDaniel left. I don't know.

It's up to him how his legacy will fill out, but he will always have a place in Uconn history. He's a good kid who wasn't ready to be the man.


Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

[NCHusky91]

I read a story or two last year that after the '10 season, Calhoun said to LaFleur and Co. to start recruiting some better kids or else. That said, I don't count Alex in that group, although I don't know what happened this year to make him play 4-5" shorter than his height and forget what the square on the backboard is for.