Since some want to chalk it all up to recruiting

[cohenzone]

Who knows how long KO will last, but there is at least one big in the current group who doesn’t seem
like a bad recruit. Carlton, if coached well and progresses has a lot of potential. Needs some added muscle, but has an idea how to play the post.

 

[80shusky]

What a refreshing take. Between this and the 300 other threads and posts that say exactly the same thing 15 different ways I'm so glad I dropped in this morning.

 

[Horatio]

The problem is also injuries and being able to Put a full team on the court. Last year we went into games with 6-7 players. This year we're down three players. It's a bad combination of a recruiting, injuries and players that just can't compensate. We are currently without TL and Gilbert and we get nothing (zero) out of Cobb and and DO.

 

[CTBasketball]

I think Carlton was a diamond in the rough, but his potential will be coupled will Ollie’s ability to coach bigs.

Whaley and Carlton aren’t bad, so you gotta give credit where it’s due. As much as I want him fired, gotta look at both sides. These two are nice pieces that can contribute.

 

[Candyman]

I think Carlton was a diamond in the rough, but his potential will be coupled will Ollie’s ability to coach bigs.

Whaley and Carlton aren’t bad, so you gotta give credit where it’s due. As much as I want him fired, gotta look at both sides. These two are nice pieces that can contribute.

Except Ollie already had a better Carlton in Steven Enoch. Enoch was more polished than Carlton and would have been huge for us this year. Boneyard hated on Enoch and some still do cause of his defense. Ollie never played him in a losing season cause he wanted to play Brimah and not develop Enoch. Then acts shocked when Enoch transfers. Also, Durham was coming off two knee surgeries and needed time on the court. There is a reason that big time programs wanted both of them.

Ollie is to blame for losing those two. Also, who is our shooter next season? He still didn't recruit a shooter. Akinjo is streaky three point shooter and who knows about Mathews but he isn't known as a deep threat. So we are stuck with streaky three point shooters and two guard's Gilbert and Akinjo who will absolutely go one on one in Ollies hero ball offense.

 

[upstater]

Except Ollie already had a better Carlton in Steven Enoch. Enoch was more polished than Carlton and would have been huge for us this year. Boneyard hated on Enoch and some still do cause of his defense. Ollie never played him in a losing season cause he wanted to play Brimah and not develop Enoch. Then acts shocked when Enoch transfers. Also, Durham was coming off two knee surgeries and needed time on the court. There is a reason that big time programs wanted both of them.

Ollie is to blame for losing those two. Also, who is our shooter next season? He still didn't recruit a shooter. Akinjo is streaky three point shooter and who knows about Mathews but he isn't known as a deep threat. So we are stuck with streaky three point shooters and two guard's Gilbert and Akinjo who will absolutely go one on one in Ollies hero ball offense.

I would take Carlton over Enoch 99.9% of the time. The kid has great feel around the hoop, and actually scores.

 

[Candyman]

I would take Carlton over Enoch 99.9% of the time. The kid has great feel around the hoop, and actually scores.

You made my point which is why this team is where it is.

 

[upstater]

You made my point which is why this team is where it is.

I made your point that Enoch is better than Carlton by saying Carlton is better than Enoch?

 

[polycom]

I made your point that Enoch is better than Carlton by saying Carlton is better than Enoch?

I think he is saying that since we have Carlton and not Enoch and our team is playing poorly that Enoch is actually better.

 

[Candyman]

Carlton is developing cause no one else is on the team who can play the position. Enoch had Brimah who he just loved to play or Ollie would go small with Facey. Carlton would be transferring at end of season also if he had those two in front of him. Enoch is a talented post player who wasn't given a chance to develop. A few games ago Carlton traveled twice had his shot blocked and shot an airball baby hook. Ollie still playing him. Enoch would never see the court again if he did that. So your seeing Carlton get better while you seen Enoch's mistakes and that was it.

Anyway thats my opinion and as I said Enoch was not not liked on the BY as most say he sucked which and I couldn't disagree more.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

the NC showed he can coach.

I've started to wonder if that's true. Much like the Kemba NC, we were lead by a player that had tremendous will and ice in his veins. Not sure the offensive scheme was any better in 2014, we just had a better player with the ball in his hands as the clock wound down and a better supporting cast. I could be way off on this as the memory slips with age.

 

[80shusky]

Except Ollie already had a better Carlton in Steven Enoch. Enoch was more polished than Carlton and would have been huge for us this year. Boneyard hated on Enoch and some still do cause of his defense. Ollie never played him in a losing season cause he wanted to play Brimah and not develop Enoch. Then acts shocked when Enoch transfers. Also, Durham was coming off two knee surgeries and needed time on the court. There is a reason that big time programs wanted both of them.

Ollie is to blame for losing those two. Also, who is our shooter next season? He still didn't recruit a shooter. Akinjo is streaky three point shooter and who knows about Mathews but he isn't known as a deep threat. So we are stuck with streaky three point shooters and two guard's Gilbert and Akinjo who will absolutely go one on one in Ollies hero ball offense.

Enoch has the physical tools and better size than Carlton, but Carlton is way ahead of him offensively and as far as defensive positioning etc. Calling Enoch more polished than Carlton is a stretch. It remains to be seen who will be the better college player of course but given what we saw last year I politely disagree with your post.

 

[jibsey]

Carlton is developing cause no one else is on the team who can play the position. Enoch had Brimah who he just loved to play or Ollie would go small with Facey. Carlton would be transferring at end of season also if he had those two in front of him. Enoch is a talented post player who wasn't given a chance to develop. A few games ago Carlton traveled twice had his shot blocked and shot an airball baby hook. Ollie still playing him. Enoch would never see the court again if he did that. So your seeing Carlton get better while you seen Enoch's mistakes and that was it.

Anyway thats my opinion and as I said Enoch was not not liked on the BY as most say he sucked which and I couldn't disagree more.

Enoch for all of his D lapses was handled poorly by KO who was married to Brimah from day 1. Brimah, a great intimidator and shot blocker couldn’t rebound or score unless it was a throwdown. Even though our season was toasted last year, he didn’t let Enoch get the floor time. Brimah would put up lines of 3 points and 2 rebounds so sure Enoch was pissed. Now KO owns the roster he recruited and disinherited. He owns the roster that can’t shoot. But he’s staying on the ship.

 

[Lefty2one]

Enoch was a clueless defender and couldn't finish inside if anyone was within five feet of him. He had an impressive physical profile, that's it.

 

[borninansonia]

Rick Pitino saw enough in Enoch to offer him a scholarship. Pitino knows talent when he sees it.

 

[Husky68]

Carlton is developing cause no one else is on the team who can play the position. Enoch had Brimah who he just loved to play or Ollie would go small with Facey. Carlton would be transferring at end of season also if he had those two in front of him. Enoch is a talented post player who wasn't given a chance to develop. A few games ago Carlton traveled twice had his shot blocked and shot an airball baby hook. Ollie still playing him. Enoch would never see the court again if he did that. So your seeing Carlton get better while you seen Enoch's mistakes and that was it.

Anyway thats my opinion and as I said Enoch was not not liked on the BY as most say he sucked which and I couldn't disagree more.

Enoch may well turn out to be a good player but so will/did Drummond but at UConn for his one year Drummond did not know how to play basketball. Individual skills development are on the players. You telling me Calhoun was the big factor between Kemba as a sophomore and a junior? Facey got plenty of playing time, he's the one who wouldn't/couldn't shoot.

Basketball is not that hard, the way Enoch played when he was in showed disinterest at best. How many good players get a chance to play and don't earn more playing time? Why was Hilton not the senior Hilton when he was a freshman or sophomore?
I looked at Enoch and Brimah stats last year and Carlton this year. Brimah played 24 minutes a game and Enoch 12 MAG and Carlton 13 MAG. Shooting %,rebounds per game, scoring average and turnovers in total:
Enoch - 41%, 2.3, 3.4, 32
Brimah - 57%, 6.1, 7.6, 50
So Enoch got half the playing time vs. Brimah (arguably against other teams lesser players) and shot 16% points worse, less rebounds per minute vs. a guy who couldn't rebound and more turnovers per minute than a guy who was a turnover machine? And that's the guy you wanted to play more? 12 MAG is enough to show if you've got it and Enoch didn't.
Carlton - 52%, 3.6, 4.3, 20
So Carlton is shooting better, rebounding better, scoring better and has less turnovers than Enoch in about the same playing time per game.
Recruiting better talent is on Ollie, Enoch playing as he played in 12 minutes per game was on him.
Since I was wasting my time anyway on this, thought would look up Hilton. His MAG per his career were 11, 9, 12, 28; so for 3 years he got Enoch type minutes. Compared Hilton senior year to Brimah for categories listed above:
Hilton - 61%, 6.6, 9.7, 77
So in Hilton's break out year in a few more minutes a game and with better players (Rudy, Marcus, etc.) he shot little better, scored a basket a game more, rebounded about the same (vs, guy who couldn't rebound) and had more turnovers (vs. guy who was a turnover machine). To show how poorly I remember things (so I checked it twice) Hilton actually had more blocks than Brimah 107 to 87.
I expect Ollie to try and win every game, that's what coaches do (even when they are bad at it). Playing Enoch more was not what a good coach should do given above stats. Could Enoch become a senior like Hilton, sure, but it won't be because Loserville did it for him it will be on Enoch.

 

[August_West]

Enoch was a clueless defender and couldn't finish inside if anyone was within five feet of him. He had an impressive physical profile, that's it.

In his first 9 minutes combined in the opening 2 losses to Wagner and Northeastern last year he was 1 for 9 in those 9 minutes. The dude was missing a shot a minute! Yeah let's give him floor time when on the other end he was guarding people with his ass with his back turned to them.

 

[Stainmaster]

In his first 9 minutes combined in the opening 2 losses to Wagner and Northeastern last year he was 1 for 9 in those 9 minutes. The dude was missing a shot a minute! Yeah let's give him floor time when on the other end he was guarding people with his ass with his back turned to them.

But he was part of the Ollie Exodus. That means he was a beast.

 

[CTBasketball]

Except Ollie already had a better Carlton in Steven Enoch. Enoch was more polished than Carlton and would have been huge for us this year. Boneyard hated on Enoch and some still do cause of his defense. Ollie never played him in a losing season cause he wanted to play Brimah and not develop Enoch. Then acts shocked when Enoch transfers. Also, Durham was coming off two knee surgeries and needed time on the court. There is a reason that big time programs wanted both of them.

Ollie is to blame for losing those two. Also, who is our shooter next season? He still didn't recruit a shooter. Akinjo is streaky three point shooter and who knows about Mathews but he isn't known as a deep threat. So we are stuck with streaky three point shooters and two guard's Gilbert and Akinjo who will absolutely go one on one in Ollies hero ball offense.

I loved Enoch down low, but he’s moved on and so should we. He’ll be a baller at UL.

 

[nomar]

KO's got our guys playing position-less basketball. They can't play point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward or center.

 

[3rdbass]

I think Carlton was a diamond in the rough, but his potential will be coupled will Ollie’s ability to coach bigs.

Whaley and Carlton aren’t bad, so you gotta give credit where it’s due. As much as I want him fired, gotta look at both sides. These two are nice pieces that can contribute.

Yes, but they should be backups and not starting for UCONN. That is the issue.

 

[nomar]

I loved Enoch down low, but he’s moved on and so should we. He’ll be a baller at UL.

Enoch sucked for us, truly. Shot 41% as a sophomore. 2.3 RPG in 12.1 MPG.

As a freshman, Carlton's shooting 52% and grabbing 3.6 RPG in 13.3 MPG. Also has a higher block rate.

 

[selles]

Yes, but they should be backups and not starting for UCONN. That is the issue.

That's not the issue. We've had plenty of young bigs play lots of minutes when they weren't quite ready (Knight, Voskuhl, Thabeet, Brimah). It happens. The issue is whether they ever get significantly better than they are right now. That's what's been the problem.

 

[nomar]

Rick Pitino saw enough in Enoch to offer him a scholarship. Pitino knows talent when he sees it.

Or he just didn't have money left after paying Bowen's dad.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

It's undeniable our current roster is a far cry talent-wise from what it was just four years ago. We can get into the wheres and whyfores of that but I'm not interested in that debate overall. My opinion is some of it is Ollie's fault and some of it isn't. I'm not changing that opinion.

What I really want to talk about is player development. There's credence to the idea that Ollie has struggled mightily to develop the players he does recruit.

I was formerly of the opinion that Brimah and Purvis were simply limited players who were already near their respective ceilings and that's why they never improved.

My opinion on that has changed somewhat. The evidence is this season. I'm very disappointed in what Jalen Adams, Christian Vital, and to a lesser extent Mamadou Diarra, Terry Larrier, and Alterique Gilbert look like at their current stages. They should be better, injured offseason or not. I remember Travis Knight having a broken wrist the same offseason before becoming a real force in 1995. AJ Price had to sit most of the offseason before 2008 and was the best player on that team. There are other examples, but you get the point.

I'm struggling to think of a player who has made a big leap under Ollie since 2014. Anyone?

I think it's Ollie's most obvious shortcoming, even moreso than his lineups and lack of game management. Player development has just stagnated.

 

[BlueDogs]

Recruiting rankings also don’t factor in need or system fit. You could recruit five elite centers and have the best “class” in the country, but it wouldn’t make any sense as a recruiting strategy.

A player outside the top 100 who fits a system and fills a need can bring more success than a top 100 player who is redundant or leaves a need unfilled.

Kevin Ollie was proof positive of this as a UConn player. Not the most heralded recruit, but was unselfish, played hard, fit with what Calhoun wanted to do, and made the guys around him better.

Point is, there’s a difference between recruiting highly ranked players and building a team that functions as more than the sum of its parts.

True, but he fails that test too.

 

[BlueDogs]

Who knows how long KO will last, but there is at least one big in the current group who doesn’t seem
like a bad recruit. Carlton, if coached well and progresses has a lot of potential. Needs some added muscle, but has an idea how to play the post.

He has the instincts and innate feel to be very good. Needs muscle and needs more offensive work. Can KO develop him? Don't have much faith.

 

[Austin316]

1. You need to shoot
2. You need to rebound
3. You need to play Defense
4. You need to Transition

Perfect the freakin basics and we win.

I have no clue what KOs acronyms are and idk if his players know either

 

[upstater]

Rick Pitino saw enough in Enoch to offer him a scholarship. Pitino knows talent when he sees it.

Back when Pitino was still at Louisville, and back before the craziness of his colossal flameout, you could read Louisville fans bemoaning Pitino's inability to develop bigs.

Go look at their roster the last few years. Do you see any bigs of note? Any big doing anything? When the fans watched tcf's Enoch 2016-17 video, they all said: perfect, he'll fit right in!

 

[SubbaBub]

I've started to wonder if that's true. Much like the Kemba NC, we were lead by a player that had tremendous will and ice in his veins. Not sure the offensive scheme was any better in 2014, we just had a better player with the ball in his hands as the clock wound down and a better supporting cast. I could be way off on this as the memory slips with age.

The NC was about getting the guys to play together, to get Boat comfortable with his role as sidekick and defensive stopper. Getting Giffey to take up the rebounding and post defensive slack from Daniels. Using transfer Kromah correctly (Doesn't have that option this year). Not deferring to Olander because he was a senior and having everyone buy into all of it.

I still contend that neither JC or anyone else wins that NC. KO was just as important as Bazz and Boat. The list of coaches he beat on tactics is ridiculous. Wright, Martelli, Hoiberg, Izzo, Donovan, and Calipari. Find a better NCAA vanquished list of coaches than that. Bazz didn't beat those guys alone.

It makes the locker room dysfunction the last 3 years all the more puzzling.