Out Coached.......AGAIN

[Tuna]

The teams he’s put together after the National championship has been horrendous, I wonder why. Maybe cause they weren’t coached by Calhoun, they are coached by Ollie. So, you’re not changing my mind my friend.

Horrendous is a little extreme. I mean one of them won a game in the tournament. I'm sorry but no team is horrendous that is playing in the second round of the tourny no matter what their pedigree is.

 

[Matrim55]

Shabazz was learning from Kemba and Calhoun his freshman and sophomore year, then became a super star his junior and senior year. That does not mean it was Ollie’s doing.

This is an awful take. As bad as Ollie's been the last few years, neither you nor anyone else can take what he did in 2013 & 2014 away from him, nor should you want to.

No matter what's happened since, and what happens in the future, KO is a championship-winning coach who got more out of guys like Shabazz, Boat, DeAndre & Niels than anybody thought was there before he took over. He was phenomenal those first two seasons.

 

[Matrim55]

"Highly regarded" Hurely? 134-100 you think Akinjo or Matthews know of him? They need to do better if there's a change not settle.

Just listing his record is some crap, mau. What makes Hurley highly regarded is that he's twice taken over the worst team in the conference then turned it into one of the very best – consistent winners – in either 2 or 3 seasons. He's highly regarded because he's brought programs back from the dead, which seems like a useful job skill given where we're heading.

So let's look at it from a different perspective. If you remove Hurley's first year at Wagner & his first year at URI – the full-on "I have to clean up this trainwreck caused by the previous coach" years for both schools – his overall record is 112-39, or 75%. He also led URI to the tournament for the first time in decades, their first tournament win in decades, posted a winning season even when he lost his best player to injury, and has steadily recruited better and better classes.

He's one of the best young-ish coaches out there.

 

[intlzncster]

2006-2007 shot 32% from 3 as a team and 46% overall.
2009-2010 shot 31% from 3 as a team and 48% overall.
This year is 30% and 45%, respectively.

So, this is the lowest, but we've had other years nearly as bad. But, though those teams were really bad, at least they had young players full of promise...

Good catch. It's easy to forget. The players were in the pipeline, and there was an HOF coach on the sideline, so there was reason to be optimistic.

I remember those teams being bad, but I guess it's just watching how these guys are playing. It's not enjoyable basketball. Again, I can handle losing, I can handle missing shots, but really bad--and what often seems lackadaisical-- basketball just isn't fun.

There's also obviously significant recency bias here.

 

[Milo65]

If Ollie is fired I'd be so mad. There is no way firing Ollie would do this program good. They'd probably lose Akinjo. Not to mention guys who would transfer. You think the roster is bad now? If Ollie is fired itd be a dumpster fire.

No one on the team can shoot. All the big men are raw and undersized. Gilbert is out. I agree the offense isn't good but they're playing 3 on 5. Anderson is useless. No big man is any good.

The conference is hurting recruiting. I'm willing to give Ollie a few more yrs to right the ship.

Almost every team in the American has gotten better since joining the league, including Cincy. The conference excuses need to stop.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Deandre was a top 10 recruit. How many of those we've had since? How about top 20? Top 30?....After winning the NT in 2014, you'd think we'd have gotten some.

We are in the AAC, the AAC........ top tier recruits are not coming to the AAC. We need to focus our recruiting on under the radar 2 and 3 Star type players. The muckers and grinder type players.

 

[Matrim55]

We are in the AAC, the AAC... top tier recruits are not coming to the AAC. We need to focus our recruiting on under the radar 2 and 3 Star type players. The muckers and grinder type players.

This is utterly ridiculous. Since we've been in the AAC we've landed two McDonald's all-americans (Rodney after transferring, but still), two other borderline 5-star players (Hamilton & Adams), and a consensus national top 10 class (last year's).

Recruiting can get better, but it's been the least of our problems. Our ability to develop the talent that we've landed has simply murdered the program.

 

[superjohn]

Just listing his record is some crap, mau. What makes Hurley highly regarded is that he's twice taken over the worst team in the conference then turned it into one of the very best – consistent winners – in either 2 or 3 seasons. He's highly regarded because he's brought programs back from the dead, which seems like a useful job skill given where we're heading.

So let's look at it from a different perspective. If you remove Hurley's first year at Wagner & his first year at URI – the full-on "I have to clean up this trainwreck caused by the previous coach" years for both schools – his overall record is 112-39, or 75%. He also led URI to the tournament for the first time in decades, their first tournament win in decades, posted a winning season even when he lost his best player to injury, and has steadily recruited better and better classes.

He's one of the best young-ish coaches out there.

I think Dan Hurley will be our coach next season.

 

[mauconnfan]

Just listing his record is some crap, mau. What makes Hurley highly regarded is that he's twice taken over the worst team in the conference then turned it into one of the very best – consistent winners – in either 2 or 3 seasons. He's highly regarded because he's brought programs back from the dead, which seems like a useful job skill given where we're heading.

So let's look at it from a different perspective. If you remove Hurley's first year at Wagner & his first year at URI – the full-on "I have to clean up this trainwreck caused by the previous coach" years for both schools – his overall record is 112-39, or 75%. He also led URI to the tournament for the first time in decades, their first tournament win in decades, posted a winning season even when he lost his best player to injury, and has steadily recruited better and better classes.

He's one of the best young-ish coaches out there.

If you remove a lot of years from a lot of coaches they’d look better, crap or not it’s his record. I’ve said he’s good, my opinion is we are settling for someone who may be a little better. Just not sure he’s as highly regarded as some seem to think. If he’s your guy then good for you agree to disagree.

 

[Saab04]

This is an awful take. As bad as Ollie's been the last few years, neither you nor anyone else can take what he did in 2013 & 2014 away from him, nor should you want to.

No matter what's happened since, and what happens in the future, KO is a championship-winning coach who got more out of guys like Shabazz, Boat, DeAndre & Niels than anybody thought was there before he took over. He was phenomenal those first two seasons.

The players who were coached by Calhoun for two years won that championship. Shabazz took Ollie for a ride bro. Calhoun handed Ollie a freaking championship. That’s a fact. What the hell has Ollie done since Calhoun players took him for a ride? You sound ridiculous.

 

[Matrim55]

The players who were coached by Calhoun for two years won that championship. Shabazz took Ollie for a ride bro. Calhoun handed Ollie a freaking championship. That’s a fact. What the hell has Ollie done since Calhoun players took him for a ride? You sound ridiculous.

You're confusing feelings with facts. Are you a Baby Boomer?

 

[Saab04]

You're confusing feelings with facts. Are you a Baby Boomer?

Feelings with facts? Lmfao!

 

[mauconnfan]

Feelings with facts? Lmfao!

You do need to quit this one not a good look you’re lost here.

 

[Saab04]

You're confusing feelings with facts. Are you a Baby Boomer?

Those two years Shabazz was the coach on the floor. Shabazz was the embodiment of a leader, a lot of that had to do with Calhoun. In those two years I saw a bit of Calhoun in Shabazz, he would get in all his teammates face, fired up! especially in boats face, just like Calhoun did. Since then, Ollie has done NOTHING!

 

[Saab04]

You do need to quit this one not a good look you’re lost here.

I’m lost? you guys are insane

 

[Tenspro2002]

Please stop the nonsense. Sure you need to give Shabazz credit he was amazing(so was Kemba so we take that away from JC?) but he had an awful soph year especially mentally and KO got him back. Also the guys you want to give JC credit for like Giffey and Deandre were no part of JC's plan nor were the very good until KO took them over. Boat was twice the defensive player as he was prior, he turned into a stopper. You can hammer KO all you want for the last 3 years it's awful but this BS of giving anyone else credit for the NC needs to stop.

I agree with you, but it's a subtle distinction: the 2014 core were KO's players, but JC's recruits.

KO's own recruits have been abject failures in either skill or attitude (i.e. he's not getting the right guys, or he's getting guys who were glaringly overrated). He's been horrible at the "general manager" aspects of the job, and we're well past the point that we can blame JC's sanctions. His in-game, in-season, and between-season coaching of those players has been pretty poor as well.

 

[Huskybass]

Horrendous is a little extreme. I mean one of them won a game in the tournament. I'm sorry but no team is horrendous that is playing in the second round of the tourny no matter what their pedigree is.

The team underachieved badly that season losing 10 games and receiving a far worse seed than they should have had. That lead to an early matchup with Kansas. A higher seed would have led to an easier path and likely a deeper run. The other 3 seasons (including this one) have been poor at best.

 

[Saab04]

The team underachieved badly that season losing 10 games and receiving a far worse seed than they should have had. That lead to an early matchup with Kansas. A higher seed would have led to an easier path and likely a deeper run. The other 3 seasons (including this one) have been poor at best.

And wasn’t Ryan Boatright the point guard that year? Another one of Calhouns players

 

[Huskybass]

And wasn’t Ryan Boatright the point guard that year? Another one of Calhouns players

No, if I recall correctly Boat went to the NIT his senior (2015) year and they got bounced right away.
The next year, 2016, was the lone NCAA tourney since Bazz left. It was Shonn Miller and Co.

 

[intlzncster]

The players who were coached by Calhoun for two years won that championship. Shabazz took Ollie for a ride bro. Calhoun handed Ollie a freaking championship. That’s a fact. What the hell has Ollie done since Calhoun players took him for a ride? You sound ridiculous.

Good thing Kemba decided to take JC for a ride on his way out. Solidified JC's legacy.

 

[Saab04]

Leader! Coach on the floor. Led his team to a championship.

 

[Tuna]

The team underachieved badly that season losing 10 games and receiving a far worse seed than they should have had. That lead to an early matchup with Kansas. A higher seed would have led to an easier path and likely a deeper run. The other 3 seasons (including this one) have been poor at best.

Thank you for clearing all of that up but I take it from your attempt to move the goal posts that you agree with my actual comment?

 

[joober jones]

I’ve said this before, but neither KO or Ricky could shoot a lick. I don’t know if Killings or Chill know a nice looking jumper when they see one, but it is kind of ironic that two of our coaches had about the ugliest jumpers in UConn history.

Ollie made 9 three point field goals in 13 NBA seasons.

 

[JellyBean]

Gotta disagree. We were not out coached. We just could not make a shot. People forget that we were in this game for 36-37 minutes. Even had a lead during that span. We just could not hit a shot. We make shots. Nobody talking about "Running an offense. Or sets" We just can't shoot.

 

[Sonova]

Gotta disagree. We were not out coached. We just could not make a shot. People forget that we were in this game for 36-37 minutes. Even had a lead during that span. We just could not hit a shot. We make shots. Nobody talking about "Running an offense. Or sets" We just can't shoot.

Coaching is more than hitting a shot (or not) in any game. It’s assembling a team of talents (like shooters and scorers) and putting your team in a position to utilize its best assets - this becomes evident when your team needs a score in the last 5 minutes or when momentum is teetering. It’s getting a stop when you REALLY need one (ever notice how teams “magically” bury a dagger three or get an offensive rebound in “winning time” against us?) It’s creating a culture of winning, accountability, imposing your will, etc. And it’s why our guy keeps failing. We have no reliable scheme. No “go to” to fall back on and rely upon when we need it. And, most sadly, we have no culture of winning anymore. It’s why JC used to go ballistic over mistakes during cupcake games when we were up 25. He knew that going under a screen or not boxing out or making a lazy pass when it seemingly didn’t matter, actually mattered. That taking plays off vs Sacred Heart would impact the culture which would then impact the outcome of an important game in March.

The easiest thing in sport is to give into losing. It gets dismissed/excused the few times, but then it grows. Unknowingly at first, like barnicles on the bottom of a boat. Excuses get made (“we ran into a hot team tonight,” “we just didn’t hit the shots we’re capable of,” “I’m really proud of my team for the way we fought,” etc). Losing becomes acceptable. No one actually gets “tired” enough of losing to make changes, expectations get lowered, players are held accountable and here we are.

So yes, we got out coached, out cultured, out everything’d. That’s what UConn basketball has become under KO. And it’s why we need a change.

 

[mauconnfan]

Coaching is more than hitting a shot (or not) in any game. It’s assembling a team of talents (like shooters and scorers) and putting your team in a position to utilize its best assets - this becomes evident when your team needs a score in the last 5 minutes or when momentum is teetering. It’s getting a stop when you REALLY need one (ever notice how teams “magically” bury a dagger three or get an offensive rebound in “winning time” against us?) It’s creating a culture of winning, accountability, imposing your will, etc. And it’s why our guy keeps failing. We have no reliable scheme. No “go to” to fall back on and rely upon when we need it. And, most sadly, we have no culture of winning anymore. It’s why JC used to go ballistic over mistakes during cupcake games when we were up 25. He knew that going under a screen or not boxing out or making a lazy pass when it seemingly didn’t matter, actually mattered. That taking plays off vs Sacred Heart would impact the culture which would then impact the outcome of an important game in March.

The easiest thing in sport is to give into losing. It gets dismissed/excused the few times, but then it grows. Unknowingly at first, like barnicles on the bottom of a boat. Excuses get made (“we ran into a hot team tonight,” “we just didn’t hit the shots we’re capable of,” “I’m really proud of my team for the way we fought,” etc). Losing becomes acceptable. No one actually gets “tired” enough of losing to make changes, expectations get lowered, players are held accountable and here we are.

So yes, we got out coached, out cultured, out everything’d. That’s what UConn basketball has become under KO. And it’s why we need a change.

12-25 from 3, 3-16 from 3 who do you think the better coach is? And try to stay away form the "coach who defended it better" because that's the way we shoot more often than not. So while it's possible we do need a change, for you to deny shooting was the reason we didn't find a way to win is idiotic period. It's not the only reason, but look at those numbers. One team can make open looks the other can not. Shoot the same % as them we win I believe Jelly Bean is more correct here than most would like to admit, only because of the obvious.

I will add that one coach recruited shooters and the other one doesn't have more than 1 or 2 who are both very inconsistent so that is a part of "coaching" too. Point is there is no denying our Huskies can't shoot.

 

[willie99]

Gotta disagree. We were not out coached. We just could not make a shot. People forget that we were in this game for 36-37 minutes. Even had a lead during that span. We just could not hit a shot. We make shots. Nobody talking about "Running an offense. Or sets" We just can't shoot.

this kinda thinking is not very popular around here

I might add that executing on both sides of the court is a whole lot easier when you have a bunch of returning players with significant experience over a roster of newbies, but the dumpster fire crowd doesn't like that thinking either

 

[Sonova]

12-25 from 3, 3-16 from 3 who do you think the better coach is? And try to stay away form the "coach who defended it better" because that's the way we shoot more often than not. So while it's possible we do need a change for you to deny shooting was the reason we didn't find a way to win is idiotic period. It's not the only reason, but look at those numbers. One team can make open looks the other can not. Shoot the same % as them we win I believe Jelly Bean is more correct here than most would like to admit, only because of the obvious.

Im not denying anything. If you read my response (and I wouldn’t blame you for skipping through that lengthy post), I was trying to say that it’s not as simple as shooting or statistics. Good shooting teams have more than just good shooters (and I don’t mean good passers - though that’s likely true as well). They consistently get good shots FOR their good shooters through their offense. We don’t do that. And good, well coached teams find ways to win on off shooting nights. Good coaches assemble talent that works - somehow someway.

If you can’t see that it’s more than “we just didn’t make shots” I don’t know what to tell you and I’ll have my own perspective as to who or what is idiotic (no wonder you’re so popular here). I guess we’re a well coached team except for those games where the other team scores more points or shoots it better?

 

[mauconnfan]

Im not denying anything. If you read my response (and I wouldn’t blame you for skipping through that lengthy post), I was trying to say that it’s not as simple as shooting or statistics. Good shooting teams have more than just good shooters (and I don’t mean good passers - though that’s likely true as well). They consistently get good shots FOR their good shooters through their offense. We don’t do that. And good, well coached teams find ways to win on off shooting nights. Good coaches assemble talent that works - somehow someway.

If you can’t see that it’s more than “we just didn’t make shots” I don’t know what to tell you and I’ll have my own perspective as to who is idiotic.

Whatever, your idiotic - I'm idiotic I could care less about your perspective or many others quite honestly. Pretty simple game make shots, win games. Is there more to it, yes there is at times but if our kids made shots down the stretch and many were open looks then we have a much better chance to win this one as Jell Bean proposed and you ripped. His reply was spot on but those who wish to always take it to the Fire KO level will do so. The kids competed hard, held a tough team to 16-42 from inside the arc but they made 3's and we didn't. There have been games where he has looked lost and got out coached sometimes even dramatically but this was not one of them. But feel free to pile on, it's the way of the BY.

 

[AdamaNation]

The team underachieved badly that season losing 10 games and receiving a far worse seed than they should have had. That lead to an early matchup with Kansas. A higher seed would have led to an easier path and likely a deeper run. The other 3 seasons (including this one) have been poor at best.

Any other seed would have.