That Confirms It

[Athlete94]

Coaches get to much credit and to much blame.

Yeah and it's all warranted.. coaches coach and lead.. players play..that simple..

 

[superjohn]

Coaches get to much credit and to much blame.

And get paid over 3 million per year for it.

 

[Okafour rings]

KO has not been great this season, I think most of us can agree. But, he has been working with a depleted, super young roster with no depth. Genuinely think, if these exist, that he should go to a coaching camp for a little in the summer, I know it sounds weird but his in game coaching needs some work. He doesn't make many adjustments, maybe due to personnel, but not 100% on it. Needs to use his timeouts strategically too. We'll be better next year, but starting to question how much better.

It was a depleted roster to be sure, but "super young"? Of the 7 players available for tonight's game, 3 were seniors (including a 5th-yr senior, 2 sophs and 2 frosh). The injuries happened to the younger guys. That isn't an overly young team.

 

[auror]

It's not all on Ollie.

The injuries sucked.

Player development has mostly not gone well, but hard to separate coach from player on that front.

But why the hell are we taking top of the key 3's with 25 seconds left in the shot clock when down 4 or whatever?

Why is Jalen pulling up for long 2s against anybody, ever? At any point? In his career?

 

[ctchamps]

They didn't waste a second.

So proud.

Just curious about something. Which way did freescooter lean with regards to Randy. Was he an RE apologista or one that wanted him gone well before RE left.

 

[ctchamps]

It's not all on Ollie.

The injuries sucked.

Player development has mostly not gone well, but hard to separate coach from player on that front.

But why the hell are we taking top of the key 3's with 25 seconds left in the shot clock when down 4 or whatever?

Why is Jalen pulling up for long 2s against anybody, ever? At any point? In his career?

Because Jalen was the only player who could drive to the basket and he was missing a couple of cylinders this game. So the play drawn up, unlike the Temple game in which he was healthy, was to drive and kick to Vance. Unfortunately ECU played Vance tightly. Jalen then made an attempt to go to the basket but ECU blocked the lane so he kicked it out to Rodney who had less than three seconds left on the clock when he got the ball.

 

[Danzz]

This game pretty much confirmed it for me that Ollie is going the way of Bob Diaco and JT III. Coaching is a big problem for us, player discipline, execution, and development are all problems. Ollie keeps setting records at UCONN taking us the way of Georgetown and St Johns. Losing games like this unacceptable with the players we had out there. Good to see Kevin Ollie has another great suit to look like a clown out there while his team keeps setting new lows for UCONN.

PS: Dwayne Killings is bad mojo. He doesn't do anything but provide a useless yes man for Ollie to bounce ideas with. He needs to be at the end of the bench move Ricky Moore up.

How the hell do you know what Dwayne Killings does or doesn't do or Ricky Moore for that matter? The fact is you don't know crap.

 

[ctchamps]

How the hell do you know what Dwayne Killings does or doesn't do or Ricky Moore for that matter? The fact is you don't know crap.

I'll wager he knows more about pimp suits than most of us.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

It was a depleted roster to be sure, but "super young"? Of the 7 players available for tonight's game, 3 were seniors (including a 5th-yr senior, 2 sophs and 2 frosh). The injuries happened to the younger guys. That isn't an overly young team.

3 players that were not expected to play much (Jackson, Vital and Durham)and a sophomore who was pretty much a freshman in terms experience (Enoch).

 

[Sea Goat]

And get paid over 3 million per year for it.

You don't pay a coach $3mm per year and then argue he's not responsible for team deficiencies. Sure there have been injuries, but the players left have regressed IMO. The reason you make the big bucks is that you figure how to be competitive in the face of adversity. He hasn't and he isn't very good at in-game adjustments. The whole staff has a perplexed look when things start to slide. Let's not forget the special chemistry and maturity of the 2014 team - all JC boys. Ollie was a great steward, but those guys willed themselves to victory.

 

[auror]

Because Jalen was the only player who could drive to the basket and he was missing a couple of cylinders this game. So the play drawn up, unlike the Temple game in which he was healthy, was to drive and kick to Vance. Unfortunately ECU played Vance tightly. Jalen then made an attempt to go to the basket but ECU blocked the lane so he kicked it out to Rodney who had less than three seconds left on the clock when he got the ball.

Yeah that play makes sense, but it was not the plays I was referring.

Vance took a top of the key "3" with a toe on the line while still moving with legitimately 25 seconds left on the shot clock. Stupidity. Jalen and Purvis took similar shots, if not quite as egregious.

Jalen took a few 1 foot inside the 3-point line pick and roll jumpers. Just yuck. I think he made 1/3. I get that he wasn't 100% healthy, but that's like the 3rd worst shot in basketball. It's never right to take it. (Unless you're Kemba and you've practiced the stepback enough to get it to a decent %, but even then, step back into a 3!)

 

[huskyrob1]

Is it ollies fault that Jalen had possibly his worst game of the year at maybe 70% today? Is it ollies fault the Rodney purvis continues to be the frustrating player he's been throughout his career going 2-14? Is it ollies fault that facey missed 6 free throws tonight and that him and brimah still can't touch the ball without the worry of a turnover in everyone's mind? We played like tonight and while I agree the coach deserves some of the blame a lot of this is on the players having to just step up and play much better.

Well it's the coaches that run the practices, right? I always thought practice was supposed to make you better and step up, at least according to Geno.

 

[ctchamps]

Yeah that play makes sense, but it was not the plays I was referring.

Vance took a top of the key "3" with a toe on the line while still moving with legitimately 25 seconds left on the shot clock. Stupidity. Jalen and Purvis took similar shots, if not quite as egregious.

Jalen took a few 1 foot inside the 3-point line pick and roll jumpers. Just yuck. I think he made 1/3. I get that he wasn't 100% healthy, but that's like the 3rd worst shot in basketball. It's never right to take it. (Unless you're Kemba and you've practiced the stepback enough to get it to a decent %, but even then, step back into a 3!)

I thought he made two of five. It appears he's more comfortable taking that shot than shooting the three when dribbling. He makes them at a good rate so it doesn't bother me. This game he gets a pass for gutting it out. I don't think he plays if Vital didn't suffer the concussion. One thing I've noticed is Jalen is much more comfortable taking the three when he's the off guard and get's the ball on the pass. It will be interesting to see how Alterique and Jalen play together with more than just four games.

The Vance shot made sense and I was impressed with that play even though it was a momentum killer. He was there before ECU set up. What I felt he did wrong was looking down to see if he was behind the arc when he stopped. He should have kept his eye on the basket the entire play. I want to see more aggressiveness from Vance not less. He's showing me things that I never would have guessed from the beginning of this season.

 

[ctchamps]

Well it's the coaches that run the practices, right? I always thought practice was supposed to make you better and step up, at least according to Geno.

If Kia Nurse doesn't come back from her injury I doubt UConn wins an NC.

 

[TheChamps990411]

I think a lot of it actually is on Ollie. 2 of our 3 primary starting seniors are exactly the same players they were when they stepped foot on campus 3 and 4 years ago.

Has it crossed your mind for even a second that maybe they just arent very good? Maybe they are playing to the level theyre capable of. I look at this team and while there is some talent here there is no A level talent out there and no JA isnt A level although hes close.

 

[jibsey]

Has it crossed your mind for even a second that maybe they just arent very good? Maybe they are playing to the level theyre capable of. I look at this team and while there is some talent here there is no A level talent out there and no JA isnt A level although hes close.

I think what you say rings true. Many want to blame Ollie, and then the players for not playing to their capabilities but I don't agree. We are lacking 2 big players that would have made a difference sure but Brimah and Purvis are lacking and Jalen has had to carry this load almost alone at times. We need a big time talent to add to the mix next year or it is likely to be more of the same that we saw last year and this.

 

[huskyrob1]

If Kia Nurse doesn't come back from her injury I doubt UConn wins an NC.

Yeah, you're right they really suck since Geno took her out of the lineup. Average margin victory is only 30 points now, and the freshman Dangerfield starting in her place just doesn't get it done. Nice post

 

[superjohn]

Has it crossed your mind for even a second that maybe they just arent very good? Maybe they are playing to the level theyre capable of. I look at this team and while there is some talent here there is no A level talent out there and no JA isnt A level although hes close.

Yes but we are losing to D level talent.

 

[yukonyc212]

Has it crossed your mind for even a second that maybe they just arent very good? Maybe they are playing to the level theyre capable of. I look at this team and while there is some talent here there is no A level talent out there and no JA isnt A level although hes close.

Again... except for the fact that Purvis was a top 10-15 player in high school and a McDonald's AA. Not sure what more you can ask for than that in a recruit??

 

[MexicoHusky]

We literally had zero backup guards tonight. I can't remember ever being in that situation. And I'm not sure if you noticed, guard play is our thing.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Ok Brimah.... but what about Purvis? Top 15 player in college.. McDonald's All american? Started in the ACC as a freshman? What's his reason for being actually worse this year than 3 years ago?

Not ollies. Does Ollie get credit for Adams and faceys improvement? How about Vance and vital from when the beginning of the year? Are we only going to talk about players that make ollie look bad? Two players. One that we knew what he is as just a defensive presence. The other who plays his ass off but will never fix his shot or have confidence going to the rim. Maybe Ollie realized this and focused on the future with Adams and the rest. Hopefully it's addition by subtraction next year. Having larrier and Gilbert out, even diarra, threw off ollies idea for the season as he stated his goal was to have two pgs on the floor and those are extra bodies and points. Idc about Wagner they would've fixed that. Our seniors are not an extension of our coach on the floor like bazz and kemba. Next year Adams is the oldest on the team. We need to bring a senior and a big man

 

[UConnSwag11]

KO has not been great this season, I think most of us can agree. But, he has been working with a depleted, super young roster with no depth. Genuinely think, if these exist, that he should go to a coaching camp for a little in the summer, I know it sounds weird but his in game coaching needs some work. He doesn't make many adjustments, maybe due to personnel, but not 100% on it. Needs to use his timeouts strategically too. We'll be better next year, but starting to question how much better.

We only get four timeouts a game and with all the injuries do you want only one going into the second half? He needs confident and smart players and when purvis and brimah are gone I believe he'll have hat. Our freshmen are vey confident as is Adams even Enoch. We just need to be smarter which comes with experience. Also you can tell the entire team is gassed. This isn't kemba when he had other help. The entire team is exhausted

 

[mauconnfan]

Ok Brimah.... but what about Purvis? Top 15 player in college.. McDonald's All american? Started in the ACC as a freshman? What's his reason for being actually worse this year than 3 years ago?

He peaked at 10th grade as an athlete do I really need to spell it out to you guys or can we grab someone who knows a little about basketball. Do you even watch the games? He is what he is, can make some shots, plays good D most of the time but for a "superior athlete" he can't finish, doesn't change direction at all he's a straight at it guy, he's not a good passer at all and not a good ball handler. If he's not any of these by the time he walks through the door at Storrs he's not going to get much better they're all natural gifts. He wasn't going to be any better if he played for K, Pitino or anyone you care to replace KO.

Man this place is full of crap! Hard to believe this is the BY today it's pathetic.

 

[4UConn]

Oh stop the excuses. We have lost to East Carolina Wagner Northeastern. How much worse does it have to get before people get the point that he is just not a good head coach. The next time he calls a time out to stop a run wii be his first

He's definitely the worst coach in the country to have won a national championship.

 

[Candyman]

I think Ollie is average at best as a coach. Loses to Wagner and Northeastern with a fully healthy squad was unacceptable, don't care if it was the beginning of the year. Those two games were all coaching even if everyone had a bad game we should still win those games by 10.

Why on gods earth are they switching on Defense so much? They look lost and it showed, they never did this before this season. They needed to win this on Defense since everyone was hurt but they looked like a team that wants the season to be over.

This team will be better when Purvis is gone, Gilbert and Larrier are back. Purvis really hurts this team. Only Adams and sometimes Jackson can create on their own right now. Adams didnt have the hops yesterday and it showed but his turnovers were bad including the turnover that lost the game for us.

 

[UconnFanNVa]

I think its a bad season!!! They happen! I understand. Good coaches sometimes make bad in game decisions, Ollie is no exception. Its funny though how short our memories are. We beat UK in the Championship... How? Because Ollie clearly out coached Calipari. They had more NBA talent and bigger guys, yet Ollie strategized and motivated on a level that Calipari could not compete with. I have a hard time forgetting that. Does that give Ollie a pass for life? Ofcourse not, but lets give him another season or 2 especially WITH a team that isnt decimated with injuries and lets see how he and the players respond.

I actually think a season like this primes us for something much better next season. The guys will be unified and have something to prove. Some of the extra fat will be trimmed (bye bye Amida and Purvis), and while Facey will be hard to replace, lets see how things shape up. If we have a healthy Larrier and Alertique and our freshman (now sophomores) arent improved and we are looking the same as we do this year... Then lets start a little conversation. Talking about canning Ollie at this point is a joke though if you ask me.

Are people really that dissapointed about losing last night. No Vital, and a gimpy Jalen.. Not to mention, the season is over for us!! Lets stop with the delusions of running the table in the AAC and getting a tournament spot.

Bring back the pizza and beer threads and relationship threads (no political threads!!) and get through another off season before we get all wound up. There is nothing to see this year if you are looking for winning. Its all about trying to set the stage for next year imo.

 

[mauconnfan]

I think Ollie is average at best as a coach. Loses to Wagner and Northeastern with a fully healthy squad was unacceptable, don't care if it was the beginning of the year. Those two games were all coaching even if everyone had a bad game we should still win those games by 10.

Why on gods earth are they switching on Defense so much? They look lost and it showed, they never did this before this season. They needed to win this on Defense since everyone was hurt but they looked like a team that wants the season to be over.

This team will be better when Purvis is gone, Gilbert and Larrier are back. Purvis really hurts this team. Only Adams and sometimes Jackson can create on their own right now. Adams didnt have the hops yesterday and it showed but his turnovers were bad including the turnover that lost the game for us.

Here's the funny thing, when he took the job over in a time of weakness for the program and won 20, then a NC was he average at best? I mean JC's players yes but none were great or impactful as they were when KO took them on. Deandre and Giffey certainly did very little until KO, Bazz became a leader under KO like no other in college (Kemba prior same thing). He fit the pieces together, made that calls as a coach that won it all. How quickly we forget?

His players now aren't smart at all - on him for sure - can't turn crap into diamonds. He has seen improvement in some Adams has been very good as a soph still learning, VJ is solid and will be a piece, Vital is more than one can imagine but that can't be KO right, he's a failure? LOL - while others who would have impacted are hurt, out for the season. How do we just brush this aside as if it happens all the time? Maybe it can at UK, KU, Duke but it can't right now where we are but it did.

The guy can coach, this crazy talk is really not like UConn fans, more like UConn spoiled whining fans.

 

[yukonyc212]

He peaked at 10th grade as an athlete do I really need to spell it out to you guys or can we grab someone who knows a little about basketball. Do you even watch the games? He is what he is, can make some shots, plays good D most of the time but for a "superior athlete" he can't finish, doesn't change direction at all he's a straight at it guy, he's not a good passer at all and not a good ball handler. If he's not any of these by the time he walks through the door at Storrs he's not going to get much better they're all natural gifts. He wasn't going to be any better if he played for K, Pitino or anyone you care to replace KO.

Man this place is full of crap! Hard to believe this is the BY today it's pathetic.

FYI, some publications I read called him the "best finisher in his class". Maybe he forgot when he got here? So he's not a good shooter, driver, finisher, passer, handles.... shoots 34% from the field. Also I would argue his d is terrible. He's always on the oppositions best perimiter player and gets lit up. Why does he play? Ya last night we were short a guy but at this point the season is a dumpster fire and Adams, Vital and Enoch should play all the rest of the minutes with the Brimah and Purvis coming off the bench.

 

[Greathusky]

I get the effect of injuries but this team has the collective basketball IQ of a walnut.

Isn't it upon the a coaching staff to teach and drill the fundamentals? Or is the argument that these players are too stupid in basketball to be taught?

I have no answers here other to wait for next year.

 

[EBonz30]

We had 3 100% healthy players. Fire Kevin Ollie for recruiting guys with the ability to get hurt.

I am getting to the point where I am embarrassed by being associated with this forum because of the way some of you treat our great coach, I don't know how much more of this I could take.