Recruiting has to get better

[willie99]

Gonzaga was national runner up last year

and were robbed

 

[mauconnfan]

Finally a voice of reason.
Our recruiting is vastly substandard and that includes next year's batch of 80 to 200 crew. Period.

Expect nothing more than an at large 12 seed at best. We aren't beating Cincinnati nor witch state at this rate.

I am sure superjohn is not thrilled with the likes of you calling him a voice of reason. There's only a couple worst labels on the Yard to have with your confirmation on them.

 

[HawkHusky]

I really like our Freshmen. They just need experience. And we're all gonna love Akinjo next year.

 

[David 76]

This thread is a bummer, but let's be realistic for a second.

1.) This was a program coming off a loss of scholarships. Even with that, they somehow salvaged a national title AND landed some big recruiting classes rankings-wise. These guys have had a lot of obstacles and it's clear they can GET talented guys. Now coaching/developing, sure - we can talk all day about that, but they can get those guys.

2.) I don't care who you are or who you come up under or what program you have. Recruiting is hard and for a lot of coaches, it can take 4-5 years just to get some sort of idea of what you CAN get, what you SHOULD get and what you can and should get that you can get the most out of. Ollie's had some huge hits (Hamilton, Gilbert probably ends up being that, grad transfers have been useful almost across the board) and has had some embarrassing misses (name one).

But for him and every coach - it's finding a balance between reality and what actually, really works - and the kind of style you want to play. I think Ollie's getting closer to that. He's brought in some guys with the TALENT to play his style, but in terms of their mental makeup and Uconn-y ness... they weren't there. He's found some kids with bigtime UConn-y ness, but short on talent. This is the closest he's come in any year to finding a better balance throughout his roster. This is a dramatically better team than a year ago. World's better.

But

3.) This year, Ollie seems to have a team that, well - he likes and thinks he can coach - and so far - has done well with. He wants to play a style where guards can create. I'm not sure how effective that style will ultimately be - but it's clear that's what he's looking for. And he's got that. He's got older, rock solid players who he's either cultivated or grabbed as grad transfers/transfers that are good pieces. He did a good job making us serviceable up front this year - it's clearly an area we need to get better in. Defensively, you really can't argue with the results sans last year - Ollie's passed with flying colors in getting guys who can play D.

All things considered, this is the first year i've sat back, watched games and said - 'ok, I don't love everything, but there's a foundation here and an actual road map to what we need to get to take that next step.' These are UConn style kids - maybe not the talent level we had with Callhoun - but the opportunity to build back towards that is clearly there this year in a way it just hasn't been in the past few years. So a whopping four games into a season, I feel better now about the program than I have in a long, long time and where it's overall trajectory could be.

What's better is business/Dollars and cents aside, the AAC seems to be committed to getting better at hoops. Wichita will help. SMU has maintained in spite of challenges. Cincinnati is good. Houston is building to something, and even though Temple and Memphis are solid/unspectacular programs, they're not less offensive than say - a St John's in the Big East. The competition will be good and if we can keep our non-conference schedule challenging, we'll get the looks we need to keep the program's profile in an OK spot for a few more years.

We need bigs. And a Thabeet, Okafor kind of big... we need a shooter, maybe two. But all the other pieces are kind of there.

My question mark is whether Ollie's NBA style one on one, guards have the freedom to create individually philosophy can translate at the college level. I'm skeptical for a few reasons - but first and foremost because college kids aren't NBA kids and you need a very specific kind of kid to be able to run in that system. The second thing, is that you have to keep your recruiting at an incredibly high level at the guard position to do that - and expecting Gilberts and Adams type players every year isn't realistic. The third problem is that if you're a big or a scoring wing, i'm not sure how excited i'd be about coming to a program where everything is going to depend on someone else's creativity. The other part of me says that the one and done type kids might see some success here and say - 'hey, this guy is running a system that's going to help me at the next level' and might be tempted. Who knows. I'm more skeptical than I am optimistic, but nowhere near to the degree that i'd dismiss it outright. I'm willing to give it a shot.

So I dunno - I think we'll ultimately be OK - but we're a gun slinging, fun team... we'll probably play over our heads. We'll win some games we have no business winning. We'll lose some that'll be total head scratchers... all for the same reasons. We'll see.

But what I do know - is there's a road map. It's really, really, really clear what we do well. It's really clear what we've got a chance to do better. It's clear we've got a chance to get a lot better and turn a few heads in March... it's also clear we're really flawed and the wrong match ups will spell long nights. Plain and simple.

But i'm ok with that. That's a big step forward considering 2 of the last 3 years.

Best Post!!!!

 

[mauconnfan]

He had 5 pts and 6 rbs vs Oregon, all from the line but not a 0. I do agree he’s gonna need to contribute more, we’ll see how he rebounds vs Arkansas shooting wise.

And part of the problem with Vital it would seem is he thinks he needs to "shoot" when he comes in to actually impact. In every game he's come in and been taken out for poor shot selection soon thereafter. Against MSU they threw a cross court pass to him and the guy was already there. Maybe a ball fake would've had him flying past and take it hard to the hoop, find an open guy but NO he's going to take it nonetheless KO was pissed and should have been. He needs to come out play aggressive on D, fill lanes on the break, rebound the ball on both ends and let the game come to him. Don't rush shots you don't need to be the 3 point specialist coming in just the guy who does a bit of everything. With that better open looks will come. Until he took the ball to the hole in his 30 pt game he didnt make a shot either, time to learn.

 

[jibsey]

Vital gets this year's Amida Brimah award: 40 points against Coppin State followed by 1 point against a real opponent, Duke. CV gets 30 against Boston University and follows with zero against two better opponents in Oregon and Michigan State. Geez. No one expected him to be Mr 30 PPG, but how about 8-12?

If he’s our best 3 point shooter why didn’t we run plays to get him shots at the 3 point line? Every play was a guard driving the lane and flinging it up. Now our bigs did not rebound and putback...anything. I think against inferior competition our bigs can succeed but against better players this is what we’ll see.

 

[mauconnfan]

If he’s our best 3 point shooter why didn’t we run plays to get him shots at the 3 point line? Every play was a guard driving the lane and flinging it up. Now our bigs did not rebound and putback...anything. I think against inferior competition our bigs can succeed but against better players this is what we’ll see.

Bigs need to react quicker and better to doubles, Carlton had trouble and the Spartans made it tough in the young guy. Cobb is a better passer and would be a better inside-out big for us for some open looks, the others need to learn where the D is coming from and either make their move or get rid of it faster. It will take time.

 

[RichCTBB]

My question mark is whether Ollie's NBA style one on one, guards have the freedom to create individually philosophy can translate at the college level. I'm skeptical for a few reasons - but first and foremost because college kids aren't NBA kids and you need a very specific kind of kid to be able to run in that system. The second thing, is that you have to keep your recruiting at an incredibly high level at the guard position to do that - and expecting Gilberts and Adams type players every year isn't realistic. The third problem is that if you're a big or a scoring wing, i'm not sure how excited i'd be about coming to a program where everything is going to depend on someone else's creativity. The other part of me says that the one and done type kids might see some success here and say - 'hey, this guy is running a system that's going to help me at the next level' and might be tempted. Who knows. I'm more skeptical than I am optimistic, but nowhere near to the degree that i'd dismiss it outright. I'm willing to give it a shot.

This. His offensive system is incredibly frustrating to watch. Maybe it's because we've watched it run to the point of futility without adjustments. I can appreciate his vision, but the lack of adjustments and a back of plan is concerning. It doesn't help that we haven't had the proper personnel to execute his vision, but he should at least have an idea of what kind of adjustment the opposing team is going to make at half time and be ready to counter that. I have to wonder if they hold back certain parts of the playbook until the team can show that they've got a handle on the earlier chapters.

 

[Brochacho]

Ollie ignored Bonzie Colson to chase "better" players. I'd rather focus on getting the right players. Hopefully we did that with Polley, Carlton, Akinjo, Matthews, and Kisunas.

 

[ctchamps]

My question mark is whether Ollie's NBA style one on one, guards have the freedom to create individually philosophy can translate at the college level. I'm skeptical for a few reasons - but first and foremost because college kids aren't NBA kids and you need a very specific kind of kid to be able to run in that system. The second thing, is that you have to keep your recruiting at an incredibly high level at the guard position to do that - and expecting Gilberts and Adams type players every year isn't realistic. The third problem is that if you're a big or a scoring wing, i'm not sure how excited i'd be about coming to a program where everything is going to depend on someone else's creativity. The other part of me says that the one and done type kids might see some success here and say - 'hey, this guy is running a system that's going to help me at the next level' and might be tempted. Who knows. I'm more skeptical than I am optimistic, but nowhere near to the degree that i'd dismiss it outright. I'm willing to give it a shot.

This. His offensive system is incredibly frustrating to watch. Maybe it's because we've watched it run to the point of futility without adjustments. I can appreciate his vision, but the lack of adjustments and a back of plan is concerning. It doesn't help that we haven't had the proper personnel to execute his vision, but he should at least have an idea of what kind of adjustment the opposing team is going to make at half time and be ready to counter that. I have to wonder if they hold back certain parts of the playbook until the team can show that they've got a handle on the earlier chapters.[/QUOTE]
That would be my take. JC divided the season into thirds.

No matter how experienced his teams were he always insisted on developing defense first. It was his trademark. He knew teams could go cold on offense. Defense, particularly great defense, was far more predictable to be consistent.

With his more experienced teams he’d implement various offensive sets in the first third. Less experienced teams the process started second third. Initially he kept offense sets simple.

KO is following JC’s playbook imo. The strength and experience resides with the guards. As other players develop (hopefully) the coaches will implement other options.

 

[Allbite]

Explain to me how a kid who can't play more than makes up for losing three highly recruited players and our top incoming recruit.

None of those kids could rebound. They are now rebounding. Wilson is really a top 50, and he hasn't even started yet. Plus, those kids, with the possible exception of Ashton Langford, were pre-madonnas.