Seth Davis: How will we know if Ollie deserves the UConn job?

[mauconnfan]

We all know Calhoun knew how to motivate players. But not last year. He went from the ultimate motivator in 2011, to his team have horrible chemistry in 2012. Sometimes, **** happens.

Wrong kids and it is on Jim......but you can't motivate pu**ies and they had a couple the last couple of years.......some I'm sure he wished he didn't recruit when they were mere babies in Prep School......tough finish but he had nothing left to prove........can't have chemistry with selfish returning players trying to live off of a ring.......while it as on Jim, what was he to do? Throw them off the team or take the computer and cell phone from their father???? LOL

 

[mauconnfan]

In the end it will come down to how well KO handles the rigors of coaching in an high powered environment and can he perpetuate the excelence that is Uconn Basketball. His kids will play hard, but that is expected. How he handles x's and o's and carries himself in public will determine if he comes back.Uconn recruits not KO. We will get top players if we continue to play Uconn basketball.

Can't agree on this anymore....changing landscape in the Big East KO/staff are going to need to see UConn and it's rich history to people who will be SMU on their schedule not Syracuse..........I do agree they will get very good players as long as they remain among the hardest working teams, the most fun to watch and play basketball the way the kids like to. KO will see to that I believe.......

 

[upstater]

Wrong kids and it is on Jim......but you can't motivate pu**ies and they had a couple the last couple of years.......some I'm sure he wished he didn't recruit when they were mere babies in Prep School......tough finish but he had nothing left to prove........can't have chemistry with selfish returning players trying to live off of a ring.......while it as on Jim, what was he to do? Throw them off the team or take the computer and cell phone from their father???? LOL

Obviously not criticizing Calhoun. That's why I pointed out he did the best job of his entire career in 2011. He must have lost it over the summer. Or something.

 

[Chief00]

I hope Ollie succeeds. I know they will work and play hard. Other than that the cards are stacked against him - I will be rooting for them as hard as in any Championship season.

 

[diggerfoot]

Obviously not criticizing Calhoun. That's why I pointed out he did the best job of his entire career in 2011. He must have lost it over the summer. Or something.

I would not give as much credit to Calhoun motivating the 2011 crew as you do. It seems to me that Walker was one of those incredible people that, in addition to the benefits of his talent, drew people to his leadership. There were plenty of stories that year confirming this as a trait of his. That also helps to "explain" the sudden "inexplicable" turnaround. That seems to undermine my previous argument of whether one has it or not in terms of motivating, but not really. Calhoun always had it, but I think a variety of factors eroded his effectiveness at motivating in recent years.

 

[hungry husky]

I hope Ollie is able to recruit kids that want to stay at least 3 years. Haven't had many upperclassmen besides Kemba that have been able to carry this team. This is the third "young" team we've had in a row.

 

[Husky68]

It's that kind of thing that's concerning. I compare it to the whole testing phenomenon for teachers' assessment. What's in it for my kids?

I disagree with Davis on this. It should come down to whether Ollie can handle Xs and Os, team preparation. That's what Manuel should be looking at. The team last year didn't exactly improve much over the year.

If Ollie was coach last year and got the results Calhoun got, would you have given him an extension?

 

[upstater]

If Ollie was coach last year and got the results Calhoun got, would you have given him an extension?

Yes, if he fulfilled other more important criteria.

 

[HooperScooper]

We lost in the first round there Seth.

I initially thought the same thing but starting this past year it was actually called the "second round" since the first 4 games are now the "first round". So Davis is correct.