Came across the AD DB article today and read it.
Before then was basing my opinion on reading the OP’s extracts from it (sounded about 50/50 that KO will be brought back) and the subsequent barrage of replies from the BY.
My take after reading the article is that AD DB is not ok with what has happened the last 2 years.
Not on any level except that academically KO has done a great job. But that remark was said almost as a throwaway. As in here’s the one thing that I’m pleased with.
My biggest takeaway is that AD DB said (I’m paraphrasing) that missing the tourney is unacceptable. We should EXPECT, not “hope”, that we are in the tourney EVERY year. Hoping that we make the tourney is also unacceptable.
Everyone here debating the OP’s extracted quotes should read the full article. When I did so, I came away thinking that KO likely will not be retained. If he is, then he would’ve convinced AD DB that UConn will be a tourney team every year.
I think that’s still possible based on Jalen returns, and the other players who’ve been injured or ineligible return, all this years fresh return, and the recruits look better than expected. A perfect storm.