Simi Shittu Update

[djct1999]

It's really quite simple. A perceived strength has become a weakness which has led to underwhelming results on the court and a disastrous one off it. Last year was one of the worst we have seen in the past thirty and the future doesn't really appear to be much better. Of course, things can change quickly. If they don't and next year has any resemblance to last year, this staff has to go. KO was always about personal relationships and relating to the kids, not about X's and O's. He has dug himself a deep hole and now has 8 months to climb out of it.

 

[upstater]

It's really quite simple. A perceived strength has become a weakness which has led to underwhelming results on the court and a disastrous one off it. Last year was one of the worst we have seen in the past thirty and the future doesn't really appear to be much better. Of course, things can change quickly. If they don't and next year has any resemblance to last year, this staff has to go. KO was always about personal relationships and relating to the kids, not about X's and O's. He has dug himself a deep hole and now has 8 months to climb out of it.

It's not Xs and Os. And we know that because his excellent relationships lead to wins over Donovan, Izzo, Hoiberg, Calapari, Jay Wright? Or because he had such great talent that national championship year?

 

[ucp990411]

Pikiell would come running.

Doesn't matter if it's Rutgers. As long as they pay, no way he leaves The Big 10 for the AAC.

 

[pj]

Figuring out how to coach an 8 guy team to greatness is not the only responsibility of a head coach. Finding the guys who can make up that 8 guy team, and complement each other so well that they can be great together, and who want to respond to your coaching, is another responsibility. It's the latter that he's struggled with. He can learn, and he's gotten onto his staff a few highly regarded recruiters who are strong where he's been weak.

 

[ucp990411]

Figuring out how to coach an 8 guy team to greatness is not the only responsibility of a head coach. Finding the guys who can make up that 8 guy team, and complement each other so well that they can be great together, and who want to respond to your coaching, is another responsibility. It's the latter that he's struggled with. He can learn, and he's gotten onto his staff a few highly regarded recruiters who are strong where he's been weak.

And we still lose a top 80 recruit to Rutgers.

 

[pj]

And we still lose a top 80 recruit to Rutgers.

Past screw-ups resonate. It takes years to prove to skeptics that you have fixed the problems.

 

[ucp990411]

Past screw-ups resonate. It takes years to prove to skeptics that you have fixed the problems.

With that thinking we are in for some rocky times.

 

[djct1999]

It's not Xs and Os. And we know that because his excellent relationships lead to wins over Donovan, Izzo, Hoiberg, Calapari, Jay Wright? Or because he had such great talent that national championship year?

You need to stop living in 2014. The arguement is stale. I will take a sample set of 90 games over 6, it's a lot more revealing.


Why isn't Pitino on that list? Oh yeah, because he beat us by a combined 60 plus points that year.

To weaken your argument further, 2014 was won by kids who overlapped with Calhoun. The further removed Coach Calhoun is from the program, the worse it gets. See a trend?

 

[upstater]

You need to stop living in 2014. The arguement is stale. I will take a sample set of 90 games over 6, it's a lot more revealing.

Why isn't Pitino on that list? Oh yeah, because he beat us by a combined 60 plus points that year.

To weaken your argument further, 2014 was won by kids who overlapped with Calhoun. The further removed Coach Calhoun is from the program, the worse it gets. See a trend?

No, Pitino lost multiple games to Josh Pastner that year, and couldn't beat him. Couldn't beat Calipari multiple times either. And Calipari couldn't beat Donovan all 3 times they played. And Donovan couldn't beat Ollie the 2 times they player.

The array of coaches Ollie beat is much more meaningful than any head-to-head.

AND it was about Xs and Os.

The idea that Calhoun has somehow taught Daniels, Boatright, in the 1 year he had them, and that this was more meaningful than the 2 or 3 years Ollie had them, it's completely bogus. This board denigrated Napier during his sophomore year. He ramped up his game during his junior and senior years.

And it's not only that. The 2014 team was lacking in talent compared to the 3 of the 4 teams it beat in succession. (With the exception of Florida). You can't credit the talent on that team for the victories for the simple reason that they were the ONLY recent champ to win with only 1 NBA player. That was a true TEAM effort, more of a team than almost any recent one that anybody can think of.

And the Xs and Os were solid.

 

[djct1999]

No, Pitino lost multiple games to Josh Pastner that year, and couldn't beat him. Couldn't beat Calipari multiple times either. And Calipari couldn't beat Donovan all 3 times they played. And Donovan couldn't beat Ollie the 2 times they player.

The array of coaches Ollie beat is much more meaningful than any head-to-head.

AND it was about Xs and Os.

The idea that Calhoun has somehow taught Daniels, Boatright, in the 1 year he had them, and that this was more meaningful than the 2 or 3 years Ollie had them, it's completely bogus. This board denigrated Napier during his sophomore year. He ramped up his game during his junior and senior years.

And it's not only that. The 2014 team was lacking in talent compared to the 3 of the 4 teams it beat in succession. (With the exception of Florida). You can't credit the talent on that team for the victories for the simple reason that they were the ONLY recent champ to win with only 1 NBA player. That was a true TEAM effort, more of a team than almost any recent one that anybody can think of.

And the Xs and Os were solid.

Ok, I read what you wrote and the arguement still is stale. Stop living in 2014. 4 years later, the program is a shell of what it was at that time.

KO was compensated for that run. Its long over due for him to earn it.

 

[pj]

Ok, I read what you wrote and the arguement still is stale. Stop living in 2014. 4 years later, the program is a shell of what it was at that time.

KO was compensated for that run. Its long over due for him to earn it.

We're seeing in real life how hard it is to succeed a Hall of Fame coach. There is no patience for growing pains. Even if you win a national championship, a few down years causes the fair weather fans to turn on you.

 

[upstater]

Ok, I read what you wrote and the arguement still is stale. Stop living in 2014. 4 years later, the program is a shell of what it was at that time.

KO was compensated for that run. Its long over due for him to earn it.

So your argument is that he didn't excel at Xs and Os in 2014.

The games were won by gutsy players whose gutsiness was instilled by Calhoun.

 

[superjohn]

We're seeing in real life how hard it is to succeed a Hall of Fame coach. There is no patience for growing pains. Even if you win a national championship, a few down years causes the fair weather fans to turn on you.

It's not the typical growing pains you expect from transitioning from a hall of fame coach. Ollie had unbelievable success right away but it has pretty much been a disaster since. You expect the x's and o's growing pains and overall lack of in game coaching experience but his utter lack of knowing how to run a program is unacceptable. He's created a situation where kids no longer want to play for him.

He doesn't have years to turn this around and there is simply no time for patience. He either wins right now and turns it around where kids again want to play for UConn or he is out. He gets paid over 3 million per year, there are expectations that come along with that.

 

[champs99and04]

There are plenty of people that I can have reasonable discussions with about Ollie and the future of the program. The folks who continually downplay what he did in 2013 and 2014 are not among them.

Shabazz was great. He also was not the greatest basketball player ever and he certainly wasn't anywhere near the national radar when Ollie first took the job.

Jalen Adams, incidentally, is going to be one of the best players in college basketball this year, so prepare your next charade now. The "Ollie can only win when he has great players" narrative will be compelling.

 

[djct1999]

So your argument is that he didn't excel at Xs and Os in 2014.

The games were won by gutsy players whose gutsiness was instilled by Calhoun.

My arguement is that using his title run in 2014 is stale. We all agree that those six games were great. It's the 90 since. To use 2014 as a reason to keep him around in 2019 is as absurd as you keep trying but failing to make this point.

 

[djct1999]

There are plenty of people that I can have reasonable discussions with about Ollie and the future of the program. The folks who continually downplay what he did in 2013 and 2014 are not among them.

Shabazz was great. He also was not the greatest basketball player ever and he certainly wasn't anywhere near the national radar when Ollie first took the job.

Jalen Adams, incidentally, is going to be one of the best players in college basketball this year, so prepare your next charade now. The "Ollie can only win when he has great players" narrative will be compelling.

no one is downplaying what he did. Some of us choose to focus on what he is doing.

 

[upstater]

My arguement is that using his title run in 2014 is stale. We all agree that those six games were great. It's the 90 since. To use 2014 as a reason to keep him around in 2019 is as absurd as you keep trying but failing to make this point.

Why do people imagine arguments never made?

The point was simple: His X's and O's are just fine enough to win an NC.

 

[JeepCSC]

Winning is not the same as x's & o's. The guy usually seen as the preeminent master of diagramming plays is Tom Izzo, someone who has ended his last 17 years with a loss. And most years the losses were to guys not considered a better tactician than him. Sometimes he got out coached, sometimes his teams got outplayed, sometimes both happened. But he runs a good program which sometimes turns out great seasons. At the end of the day, running the program well is the goal, while recruiting and x's & o's and motivation are just a few of the many roads to get there.

 

[Stainmaster]

no one is downplaying what he did.

Yes, people are.

 

[David 76]

dick1999,
KOs accomplishments get maligned daily here. It was Calhoun. It was Shabazz. It was the incredible talent of the team. Just stupid stuff coming from people, some involved in this thread.
It also happened with Calhoun btw. " He is past his prime. He should retire. He can't relate to modern players."
Benedict will decide Ollie's fate. In the meantime, rest assured we know your opinion and don't feel compelled to post it every day on every recruiting thread.

 

[Huskymagic]

Ollie benefited greatly from Calhoun being around a lot the first 2 years, having Hobbs and Miller on the bench, and of course having good players that Calhoun recruited to UCONN like Napier, Boat, Griffey, and Daniels all high level recruits who were coached either 2 years or 1 year under Calhoun and got to play and practice against Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond, etc.

That's the real story and it's not a negative it's just the truth. Ollie gets credit of course for the title because he was head coach and coached well in the tournament, but having those players and coaches helped Bigly.

Since then with his own players, it's been a struggle finishing above 6th in the AAC with yearly losses to Tulsa. No NBA player produced and the old guard has been replaced and our ace recruiters can't beat Rutgers the Johnnies and Texas Tech for recruits. This is why people are rightfully concerned.

 

[Chief00]

No, Pitino lost multiple games to Josh Pastner that year, and couldn't beat him. Couldn't beat Calipari multiple times either. And Calipari couldn't beat Donovan all 3 times they played. And Donovan couldn't beat Ollie the 2 times they player.

The array of coaches Ollie beat is much more meaningful than any head-to-head.

AND it was about Xs and Os.

The idea that Calhoun has somehow taught Daniels, Boatright, in the 1 year he had them, and that this was more meaningful than the 2 or 3 years Ollie had them, it's completely bogus. This board denigrated Napier during his sophomore year. He ramped up his game during his junior and senior years.

And it's not only that. The 2014 team was lacking in talent compared to the 3 of the 4 teams it beat in succession. (With the exception of Florida). You can't credit the talent on that team for the victories for the simple reason that they were the ONLY recent champ to win with only 1 NBA player. That was a true TEAM effort, more of a team than almost any recent one that anybody can think of.

And the Xs and Os were solid.

Sorry, Chief00 has got to call you on this. In 2013 and 2014 Calhoun was still attached to the hip with the program. Jim attended nearly every practice and game. The descent started when Jim got the ESPN job and his time around the program diminished greatly and this past season it was almost nonexistent for reasons I prefer not to share.

 

[upstater]

Ollie benefited greatly from Calhoun being around a lot the first 2 years, having Hobbs and Miller on the bench, and of course having good players that Calhoun recruited to UCONN like Napier, Boat, Griffey, and Daniels all high level recruits who were coached either 2 years or 1 year under Calhoun and got to play and practice against Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond, etc.

That's the real story and it's not a negative it's just the truth. Ollie gets credit of course for the title because he was head coach and coached well in the tournament, but having those players and coaches helped Bigly.

Since then with his own players, it's been a struggle finishing above 6th in the AAC with yearly losses to Tulsa. No NBA player produced and the old guard has been replaced and our ace recruiters can't beat Rutgers the Johnnies and Texas Tech for recruits. This is why people are rightfully concerned.

BS

Daniels hardly played a freshman. Boatright developed greatly his 3 years under Ollie. People stuck it to Napier on this board during his sophomore year.

Miller was around for the last 3 years, Hobbs for 2 years.

You're totally wrong.

Daniels was high level. And he didn't play under Calhoun. Giffey high level? Say what (not Griffey by the way, do you even know what you're talking about)? Boatright developed under Ollie.

 

[upstater]

Sorry, Chief00 has got to call you on this. In 2013 and 2014 Calhoun was still attached to the hip with the program. Jim attended nearly every practice and game. The descent started when Jim got the ESPN job and his time around the program diminished greatly and this past season it was almost nonexistent for reasons I prefer not to share.

Wait, you're claiming Calhoun was teaching the team Xs and Os in 2014?

That's what you're saying?

 

[Whtdmd]

Ollie benefited greatly from Calhoun being around a lot the first 2 years, having Hobbs and Miller on the bench, and of course having good players that Calhoun recruited to UCONN like Napier, Boat, Griffey, and Daniels all high level recruits who were coached either 2 years or 1 year under Calhoun and got to play and practice against Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond, etc.

That's the real story and it's not a negative it's just the truth. Ollie gets credit of course for the title because he was head coach and coached well in the tournament, but having those players and coaches helped Bigly.

Since then with his own players, it's been a struggle finishing above 6th in the AAC with yearly losses to Tulsa. No NBA player produced and the old guard has been replaced and our ace recruiters can't beat Rutgers the Johnnies and Texas Tech for recruits. This is why people are rightfully concerned.

Your answer to everything is to fired Ollie and rehire Glenn Miller. I wonder why is that???