Thanks George Blaney!

[ctchamps]

I'm sure we saw George in his last UConn game! Thanks for all his contributions to the program!

 

[Catsailor]

I'm sure we saw George in his last UConn game! Thanks for all his contributions to the program!

Nice, ditto!

 

[Calhoun's Court]

George should get a lot of credit for his time at UCONN.
Quietly making major contributions with players and game plans.

He was always the steady handed copilot.

If this was his last game Thank You George.

 

[BearJWS]

Has Blaney announced anything? I was surprised he came back since he's older than Jim Calhoun. He's 73, but seems to be in excellent shape physically & mentally.

That said, if George retires... Does UConn have any ideas who could replace him? I think UConn definitely needs a Big Man coach. Donyell would be great, but I don't think he's looking at college jobs, but rather NBA ones. And if Ray Allen ever came knocking at the door, how could anyone say "no"?

 

[husky99]

Loved that texas win where smith chucked the ball with to much time

 

[huskiesnyc]

Thanks George! Bring on D. Marsh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ctchamps]

Has Blaney announced anything? I was surprised he came back since he's older than Jim Calhoun. He's 73, but seems to be in excellent shape physically & mentally.

That said, if George retires... Does UConn have any ideas who could replace him? I think UConn definitely needs a Big Man coach. Donyell would be great, but I don't think he's looking at college jobs, but rather NBA ones. And if Ray Allen ever came knocking at the door, how could anyone say "no"?

No official announcement but things were said at the beginning of the season implying GB was staying to help with the transition. Who knows. Maybe he loved this season as much as all of us and sees the same promise we see for next years team and decides to prove me wrong. I would love to be wrong!

 

[BearJWS]

No official announcement but things were said at the beginning of the season implying GB was staying to help with the transition. Who knows. Maybe he loved this season as much as all of us and sees the same promise we see for next years team and decides to prove me wrong. I would love to be wrong!

Thanks for the follow up!
Blaney on the bench >>>> Blaney not on the bench

 

[art4life]

Who knows?
It wouldn't surprise me to see Blaney still on the bench next season.

I'm thinking either Hobbs and/or Miller are due for another HC job somewhere...

 

[FfldCntyFan]

George deserves a ton of credit for what he brought here, his basketball acumen and his ability to keep JC from boiling over more (and more completely) than he had over his last decade as our head coach.

I will be eternally grateful for BG being a part of the UConn family. I also want to see Donyell on our bench next season. It is a far more fitting location for him than Maine in the NBDL.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

No official announcement but things were said at the beginning of the season implying GB was staying to help with the transition. Who knows. Maybe he loved this season as much as all of us and sees the same promise we see for next years team and decides to prove me wrong. I would love to be wrong!

Oh, I hope you are not wrong, but it would be good for Coach Blaney to announce his intentions soon. I think it would be good for Kevin Ollie to bring in some coaches of his choosing to fill out the coaching roster as time moves forward. In time, it will be good for him to not have more than one "mentor" type coach, and that could be JC. The Huskies would benefit from a super-recruiter type.....it will be important for KO to start to land some higher rated players, not just offer a million of them. His task will not be easy with the breakup of the Big East, but even getting one or two for 2014 can get the momentum going again.

 

[ctchamps]

Oh, I hope you are not wrong, but it would be good for Coach Blaney to announce his intentions soon. I think it would be good for Kevin Ollie to bring in some coaches of his choosing to fill out the coaching roster as time moves forward. In time, it will be good for him to not have more than one "mentor" type coach, and that could be JC. The Huskies would benefit from a super-recruiter type.....it will be important for KO to start to land some higher rated players, not just offer a million of them. His task will not be easy with the breakup of the Big East, but even getting one or two for 2014 can get the momentum going again.

Looking long term I agree with you. But if the entire team other than RJ returns, there is a core of players that can put together something special next year. If Nolan continues to improve as rapidly as he did at the end of the season, if Wolfe's case turns out not to be serious, and if the recruits can contribute, this team has the makings to make a long run in the tournament next season. If GB has developed a bond with this years team, I would prefer that he remains one more season. Not a major need, but just don't want to mess with the mojo and chemistry.

 

[CL82]

I see Miller as KO's Blaney, but I'm not sure who plays the prime adviser role for Kevin.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I see Miller as KO's Blaney, but I'm not sure who plays the prime adviser role for Kevin.

Definitely looked like Miller was usually the first coach that Ollie turned to for advice.

 

[UConn5]

I would guess that Blaney provided some invaluable advice throughout the season. Maybe not with basketball tactics, but I can only imagine how many minute little things KO has to deal with and you wouldn't know to plan for them until you deal with them for the first time or someone tells you that you need to.

 

[BearJWS]

George deserves a ton of credit for what he brought here, his basketball acumen and his ability to keep JC from boiling over more (and more completely) than he had over his last decade as our head coach.

I will be eternally grateful for BG being a part of the UConn family. I also want to see Donyell on our bench next season. It is a
far more fitting location for him than Maine in the NBDL.

Blaney has always been one of the good guys in College Basketball. Level headed, good coach, excellent fundamental. He's not a salesman like a lot of other head coaches (ie. Calamari at KenSucky)

If you're listening, Donyell... the NDBL is not the way to build a resume. Come to UConn, develop some Big Guys for UConn... then become Temple's Head Coach down the road, so Donyell & Ollie can have some Epic conference battles! Everyone wins! F the NBA. Too much turnover!

 

[ctchamps]

Definitely looked like Miller was usually the first coach that Ollie turned to for advice.

At the beginning of the season GM was moved to the assistant coaching position instead of GB with GB's blessings.

 

[Kitaman]

If people think that Ollie performed his magic on his own they are very misled. Blaney, behind the scenes had 10 toes in and deserves partial credit. He was a great asset and his loss will surely impact this team one way or another.

Regardless of his history, his is in the UConn brotherhood forever.

I wish him the best!

 

[Cheddie]

Has Blaney announced anything? I was surprised he came back since he's older than Jim Calhoun. He's 73, but seems to be in excellent shape physically & mentally.

That said, if George retires... Does UConn have any ideas who could replace him? I think UConn definitely needs a Big Man coach. Donyell would be great, but I don't think he's looking at college jobs, but rather NBA ones. And if Ray Allen ever came knocking at the door, how could anyone say "no"?

Be interesting to see what KO does do if Blaney retires. If JC were still coach, Kevin Freeman would very likely step up as an assistant, with Ricky getting his job.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Looking long term I agree with you. But if the entire team other than RJ returns, there is a core of players that can put together something special next year. If Nolan continues to improve as rapidly as he did at the end of the season, if Wolfe's case turns out not to be serious, and if the recruits can contribute, this team has the makings to make a long run in the tournament next season. If GB has developed a bond with this years team, I would prefer that he remains one more season. Not a major need, but just don't want to mess with the mojo and chemistry.

I really have no idea what role that GB played with this team and with KO. It just seems that it will be important for Ollie to progressively put his stamp on things with "his guys." Perhaps he is secure enough to be able to have most of his coaches to be older and more experienced. The big issue that I would have is UConn's ability to recruit is going to be really, really important with the fall of the Big East. Now if Blaney could rework Omar's shot the way I believe he did with Kemba before his Junior year, then let's not rush for him to retire.

 

[mauconnfan]

Great staff - Miller and Hobbs are excellent and we all know George's history, a great basketball mind and gentleman!!

KFree and Ricky waiting to make their mark..........