Oriakhi's Ride on the Escalator

[James]

What are these facts that shows we were better off with AO and no dre? drummond should have had nothing to do with AOs efficiency while he was on the floor, which was subpar. He was glued to the pine for a reason.

 

[Tenspro2002]

In what sense was the talent level different on the 2003 team compared to 2004, or 98 compared to 99? And how would 94 be a notch below considering it had basically the 95 team plus Donyell?

Maybe "talent" was the wrong word. I'll put it more simply.

The 2011 team wasn't as good a team as 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, or 2009.

And I would also argue that 2009 was the last truly dominant UConn team, alongside 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2004, and 2006. It's been a while since we had one of those.

 

[ctchamps]

Now read what I actually wrote. Which was to look at the Big East season.

By the way, I just don't agree on plus and minus. Some players make teams better without piling stats and others don't. I know there are more complex statistical models to try to get at that, but plus and minus -- while not meaningful necessarily over a game -- is very meaningful over the course of a 16 game conference season. If you are usually better with player A on the floor than player B, after a few games it stops being important if you can tell why that is.

Addition by subtraction applies this season. Shabazz did not get along with AO. He just hated AO's attitude last season. So it can be argued that UConn would have been substantially worse this season if AO stayed given SN's heroics. I'm glad AO went to Mizzou. The move was better for him and better for UConn.

 

[mauconnfan]

What are these facts that shows we were better off with AO and no dre? drummond should have had nothing to do with AOs efficiency while he was on the floor, which was subpar. He was glued to the pine for a reason.

THIS.....actually Alex should have been better with AD next to him!!! Anyone thinking otherwise is lost...............

 

[businesslawyer]

I am dead wrong? You are totally oblivious bus man..........there is NO comparison here unless you just don't know squat about the game!! This is a ridiculous statement and bias at best.......sorry but you are so far off!!

It may be wrong (it's not but I guess it could be). But there is no bias other than me disagreeing with you. Don't really give a crap about either Drummond or AO.

 

[Danzz]

What are these facts that shows we were better off with AO and no dre? drummond should have had nothing to do with AOs efficiency while he was on the floor, which was subpar. He was glued to the pine for a reason.

There are no facts. Oriaki was a starter on a championship team and was replaced by a freshman with more athletic ability. Drummond as a freshman was not a better contributor than Oriaki as a sophmore IMO. No question it got to Alex and he played worse and a major problem developed between he and JC.
Here is one fact for you: we won a national championship with Oriaki at the five and won nothing with Drummond starting. I'm not knocking Drummond, the kid is an incredible talent and Oriaki's attitude and play put him on the bench. WE may have been better off bringing Drummond off the bench. It was JC's job to get the most from his players and last year was one of his worst coaching jobs.

 

[7774]

No matter how many times you say that, you are dead wrong. Go back and look at the plus minuses during the Big EAst season. There was a material difference -- with the team being better -- when AO was on the court versus when Drummond was on the court. I know the fact doesn't square with your opinion, but the thing about facts is they exist even when they don't support your opinion.

You happen to have a link to these stats? I'd like to see a breakout of that stuff.

 

[Alum86]

He spent his last year in oblivion. Like trick shot Roscoe. Thank you Bazz and Tyler et al for staying. Time to take care-o-business next year.

 

[champs99and04]

There are no facts. Oriaki was a starter on a championship team and was replaced by a freshman with more athletic ability. Drummond as a freshman was not a better contributor than Oriaki as a sophmore IMO. No question it got to Alex and he played worse and a major problem developed between he and JC.
Here is one fact for you: we won a national championship with Oriaki at the five and won nothing with Drummond starting. I'm not knocking Drummond, the kid is an incredible talent and Oriaki's attitude and play put him on the bench. WE may have been better off bringing Drummond off the bench. It was JC's job to get the most from his players and last year was one of his worst coaching jobs.

Kemba might have had something to do with that.

 

[Danzz]

Kemba might have had something to do with that.

No arguement from me on that but the other players also had something to with it.

 

[CL82]

It only reflects on the Dad. The blaming AO for it is beyond unfair, bordering on the bizarre.

Well maybe not Biz. Alex had the chance to stop it privately of repudiate it publically and he did neither. Alex also made his statements about playing time, and being an automatic starter. I don't think people being offended by that is bizarre but it's fine if you do.

 

[mauconnfan]

There are no facts. Oriaki was a starter on a championship team and was replaced by a freshman with more athletic ability. Drummond as a freshman was not a better contributor than Oriaki as a sophmore IMO. No question it got to Alex and he played worse and a major problem developed between he and JC.
Here is one fact for you: we won a national championship with Oriaki at the five and won nothing with Drummond starting. I'm not knocking Drummond, the kid is an incredible talent and Oriaki's attitude and play put him on the bench. WE may have been better off bringing Drummond off the bench. It was JC's job to get the most from his players and last year was one of his worst coaching jobs.

Alex won a NC with Kemba at the 1.......that's the only statement which can be made here.......even at an underwhelming 10/7/3 his frosh year he was a better player than Alex was overall his soph year I could care less about what AO wears on his finger........Ao was lucky enough to have players who bought into the system his soph year while AD was unfortunate enough to have guys like AO next to him who QUIT!! There's the difference........sorry danzz but I have issues with anyone not recognizing the fraud this kid was!