Recruits overwhelmingly like Ollie as next UConn coach

[Clockshop]

http://www.ctpost.com/uconn/article/Recruits-overwhelmingly-like-Ollie-as-next-UConn-3770197.php

Let Ollie start coaching the beginning of the season while JC is out - see what he's got

 

[husky99]

clock you beat me... good read

 

[junglehusky]

And so it begins. Maybe for real this time?

FWIW I find it interesting, and perhaps encouraging, that pres. Herbst is taking the time to meet with bball recruits. Though I'm sure her exact words won't be "yes , Kevin Ollie will be the next head coach" it'll probably be reassuring.

Sent from my SGH-T679 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Clockshop]

cheers 99

Surprised the big guy Warde isn't going to be meeting him, or maybe it just wasn't announced to Duffy's media outlet

 

[UCONNfan1]

We certainly could do a lot worse than Kevin Ollie. I'm glad recruits really respond to him. He's a great role model to kids and young enough to be relatable to them. I'd be psyched if he were our next HC...

 

[husky99]

my only question is can he X and O coach

 

[Fishy]

Let's see some of these recruits actually commit before we fit him for a crown.

Just idle chatter til then.

And, for the love of God, don't let Ollie anywhere near a duck*ing bicycle.

 

[huskyniner]

my only question is can he X and O coach

This has been my only question all along, and one that will not be answered until he's actually thrown into game action.

 

[Ts5034]

Well that says a lot right there. If KO is the next coach, he WILL get top recruits. There is no doubt in my mind. As far as the X's and O's go im not worried at all. Ollie was well seasoned throughout his long basketball career. First of all he is a PG and i believe that is like the equivalent to baseball how a lot of catchers make good managers. He played 4 yrs for JC as we all know, then went on to play 13 years in the NBA for what it seemed like a new team every year. Thats a lot of different teammates, coaches and systems over the years. What im trying to get at is KO probably has an idea of what he thinks can work on the basketball court. John Calipari isnt the best X and O coach out there by any means but he gets his share of wins because he gets the players.

I know nothing is guaranteed and im sure there will be some bumps in the road early just like there are for every first time HC. Ive read a lot of posts saying how this would be a great time for him to take over since there wont be any pressure and expectations with the post season ban and i agree 100%. I want JC here for as long as possible but if he decides to hang it up now, im all for Ollie taking over. I just cant see a really big name coach wanting to take the job. Brad Stevens is not coming here either. This should get interesting and im sure there will be a lot of heated debates here.

 

[uconnfan68]

my only question is can he X and O coach

That's what a great assistant can do, although I'm sure KO has seen a chalkboard.

 

[superjohn]

Fishy, we aren't getting recruits because nobody knows what the hell is going on with Calhoun and he spends more time in the hospital than Dr. Oz. I think it's pretty clear Ollie is going to do wonders for our recruiting.

 

[partial]

As a fan I want to have some continuation; a coach that will connect to the awesome memories i have. However, if I were Warde Manuel I would not hire Ollie, not any time soon, and not 3 years from now. What other school would even consider him for a head coaching position, and are the names you're thinking of in the same metaphorical league as us?

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Well that says a lot right there. If KO is the next coach, he WILL get top recruits. There is no doubt in my mind. As far as the X's and O's go im not worried at all. Ollie was well seasoned throughout his long basketball career. First of all he is a PG and i believe that is like the equivalent to baseball how a lot of catchers make good managers. He played 4 yrs for JC as we all know, then went on to play 13 years in the NBA for what it seemed like a new team every year. Thats a lot of different teammates, coaches and systems over the years. What im trying to get at is KO probably has an idea of what he thinks can work on the basketball court. John Calipari isnt the best X and O coach out there by any means but he gets his share of wins because he gets the players.

I know nothing is guaranteed and im sure there will be some bumps in the road early just like there are for every first time HC. Ive read a lot of posts saying how this would be a great time for him to take over since there wont be any pressure and expectations with the post season ban and i agree 100%. I want JC here for as long as possible but if he decides to hang it up now, im all for Ollie taking over. I just cant see a really big name coach wanting to take the job. Brad Stevens is not coming here either. This should get interesting and im sure there will be a lot of heated debates here.

Brad Stevens? Stevens' Butler brand of basketball is a deliberate style of working the ball and the shot clock on most possessions. In other words BORING and it will not attract most high level 4**** recruits. Ollie is not my first choice at all BUT I would take him over Stevens in a NY minute. This Brad Stevens reference as the next UConn coach is just flat out a scary proposition! YIKES! Shaka YES! Stevens NOOOOO.

Stevens is a very good coach for his brand. His brand isn't UConn unless you want a complete overhaul!

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Fishy, we aren't getting recruits because nobody knows what the hell is going on with Calhoun and he spends more time in the hospital than Dr. Oz. I think it's pretty clear Ollie is going to do wonders for our recruiting.

Where is the evidence of that? It is pure speculation. Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand! Nothing is clear other than recruits have taken the UConn name of their list! So the only thing clear is we are not making the cut! Granted Jim "NOTaDIME" back Calhoun haha is a complete liability from a recruiting perspective at the moment which mitigates the end product Ollie is trying to obtain.

 

[3uconn]

If Calhoun was to retire who do you guys think the University would look at for the job or who would be I te rested in the job? Also, do you thnk that their could be that good to great coach that would come to UConn?

 

[Dann]

i'll say it because no one else will

we would kill it on the trail recruiting wise with KO and who he has on the staff with him in the future(KH maybe evern a Ray or some 1 else). combine uconns bball history, all the nba players and ships along with a nba vet as your head coach who is black(i am not trying to be racist, please dont get me wrong. but a balck man who played for uconn then for years in the nba is a big adavntage on the trail vs old white guys as coaches) knocking on kids doors, game over we will never skip a beat. kids will eat that up to no end. its already happening. once JC gets healthy and leaves on good terms post ncaa issues and the pf being built were going to be the same monster we have been for years now. no school will be in better shape then us. none. the squid @ uk will do his thing until he leaves there when the ncaa finally sniffs stuff, coach k isn't going to be around for ever etc...KO and crew could be our next 30 years at uconn and i would be 100% behind it from the start. considering KO's bball career on the court and a couple years under JC, i'm not really scared at all about him with the x and o's. he is the future, get behind it and love it. were going to go from a 1 coach powerhouse to a all time powerhouse soon, join the ride or get off the pony.

 

[CL82]

If Calhoun was to retire who do you guys think the University would look at for the job or who would be I te rested in the job? Also, do you thnk that their could be that good to great coach that would come to UConn?

Yes another good to great coach would be very interested in coming to UConn it's a destination job. Shaka Smart is rumored to be interested. The only way Ollie gets a shot is if Jim leaves at an awkward time. I don't mind that happening this year but if it is at the end of the season, it should be the best available talent.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

i'll say it because no one else will

we would kill it on the trail recruiting wise with KO and who he has on the staff with him in the future(KH maybe evern a Ray or some 1 else). combine uconns bball history, all the nba players and ships along with a nba vet as your head coach who is black(i am not trying to be racist, please dont get me wrong. but a balck man who played for uconn then for years in the nba is a big adavntage on the trail vs old white guys as coaches) knocking on kids doors, game over we will never skip a beat. kids will eat that up to no end. its already happening. once JC gets healthy and leaves on good terms post ncaa issues and the pf being built were going to be the same monster we have been for years now. no school will be in better shape then us. none. the squid @ uk will do his thing until he leaves there when the ncaa finally sniffs stuff, coach k isn't going to be around for ever etc...KO and crew could be our next 30 years at uconn and i would be 100% behind it from the start. considering KO's bball career on the court and a couple years under JC, i'm not really scared at all about him with the x and o's. he is the future, get behind it and love it. were going to go from a 1 coach powerhouse to a all time powerhouse soon, join the ride or get off the pony.

You make fair points to be respected. There are very very strong counter arguments to some of the language in this post however. For another day...

 

[3uconn]

You make fair points to be respected. There are very very strong counter arguments to some of the language in this post however. For another day...

I completely agree with HuskyfanDan so BLIEDOGHOUSE I would love to know what those counter arguments are.

 

[superjohn]

Where is the evidence of that? I think you answered your own question when you said, "Calhoun is a complete liability from a recruiting perspective at the moment." we are UConn and would be an obvious destination for any top coaching candidates, the only guy I see out there that I could think of taking instead of Ollie is Shaka Smart but the more I learn about Ollie the more I like him taking over. Getting great players is pretty much the most importan part of having great teams in college ball and I have no doubt Ollie will be a big time recruiter.

 

[aboogieee]

Let's see some of these recruits actually commit before we fit him for a crown.

Just idle chatter til then.

And, for the love of God, don't let Ollie anywhere near a duck*ing bicycle.

// As mentioned in the article, prob not because of uncertainty //

 

[huskiesnyc]

Let's see some of these recruits actually commit before we fit him for a crown.

Just idle chatter til then.

And, for the love of God, don't let Ollie anywhere near a duck*ing bicycle.

Boatright, Daniels, Drummond, and Omar Calhoun were sort of high rated recruits, no? 4 top 50 recruits right there that have committed the past 2 seasons

 

[uconNYC]

I see no harm in giving KO a chance to prove himself. If he doesn't deliver it's not like there won't be any great coaches willing to come to UConn 3-4 years from now. In terms of facilities, fan base and institutional support UConn basketball won't be falling off the map anytime soon, so if anything we probably will have a better chance of landing a top coach down the road as they won't feel the pressure of immediately having to follow JC.

 

[61cygni]

What a turnaround from the push against Ollie coaching even a single game or so during Calhoun's missed games last year from this board.

 

[mauconnfan]

Fishy, we aren't getting recruits because nobody knows what the hell is going on with Calhoun and he spends more time in the hospital than Dr. Oz. I think it's pretty clear Ollie is going to do wonders for our recruiting.

Agreed he is already creating a stir among recruits and has impacted them...........but none are here as of yet. And he's doing this as an assistant which is how so many of the good recruiters become so successful. Again, I like KO as the eventual successor but not totally sold yet....you can't be there's not much to go on! As one parent said "...as long as JC is still the head coach and KO is with the program that's good enough for me..." Leave it as is there's still a lot to learn!!!