Thoughts on our big men (4/5) situation

[UChusky916]

Just some thoughts here...

Outside of Drummond (who was an exception), what quality big men (especially centers) have we landed lately?

The latest list Chev provided on his recruiting update at uconnball doesn't have a lot of Centers listed either in 2013/2014 and for the future. According to Chev's update, we're now a long-shot for Obekpa, and if we miss on Hayes, what other quality bigs are we even in the mix for?!

Considering we only have TO and EW for the 4/5 right now, this is a glaring need.

It's obvious we have been landing some decent guards (Bazz/Boat/Lamb/Calhoun). I attribute this largely to Ollie's presence. He's a great teacher and is an appealing coach to play for with his reputation.

This begs the question... who is our big-man coach? Why can't we attract any quality big men lately? (I consider AD an exception who simply wanted to represent his state for a year before going pro).

To be completely honest, our bigs haven't been developing much either. AD somewhat improved throughout the year, but was non-existant in our tourney game. AO took a step forward and then a big step back. Rebounding and boxing out has been a big issue.

What's even more concerning is the programs inability to attract some major recruits when you account for our school's tradition of putting solid big-men into the league. Yeah, the postseason ban is a glaring issue. But after this year, we don't have to worry about it. We have OOGLES of playing time available at the 4/5 for the next 3+ years and we can't seem to even garner any interest from recruits.

We shouldn't have had to resort to putting Roscoe at the 4. Why don't we have a solid PF/Center combo?

Do we need a better coach to work with our bigs and develop them? More importantly, I think we need a bigs coach who can relate to the kids (like a Kevin Ollie for the guards). It seems as though there is a large disconnect between the coaching staff and the bigs. Am I the only one sensing this?

 

[huskymagic]

Just some thoughts here...

Outside of Drummond (who was an exception), what quality big men (especially centers) have we landed lately?

The latest list Chev provided on his recruiting update at uconnball doesn't have a lot of Centers listed either in 2013/2014 and for the future. According to Chev's update, we're now a long-shot for Obekpa, and if we miss on Hayes, what other quality bigs are we even in the mix for?!

Considering we only have TO and EW for the 4/5 right now, this is a glaring need.

It's obvious we have been landing some decent guards (Bazz/Boat/Lamb/Calhoun). I attribute this largely to Ollie's presence. He's a great teacher and is an appealing coach to play for with his reputation.

This begs the question... who is our big-man coach? Why can't we attract any quality big men lately? (I consider AD an exception who simply wanted to represent his state for a year before going pro).

To be completely honest, our bigs haven't been developing much either. AD somewhat improved throughout the year, but was non-existant in our tourney game. AO took a step forward and then a big step back. Rebounding and boxing out has been a big issue.

What's even more concerning is the programs inability to attract some major recruits when you account for our school's tradition of putting solid big-men into the league. Yeah, the postseason ban is a glaring issue. But after this year, we don't have to worry about it. We have OOGLES of playing time available at the 4/5 for the next 3+ years and we can't seem to even garner any interest from recruits.

We shouldn't have had to resort to putting Roscoe at the 4. Why don't we have a solid PF/Center combo?

Do we need a better coach to work with our bigs and develop them? More importantly, I think we need a bigs coach who can relate to the kids (like a Kevin Ollie for the guards). It seems as though there is a large disconnect between the coaching staff and the bigs. Am I the only one sensing this?

No your absolutely right husky916. For a program as storied and as great as ours, we are having a difficult time attracting 4 and 5 star big men. Even the guards we get our usually underrated or late bloomers that Calhoun has the wisdom to spot and attract. There are exceptions but our big guys especially are stagnant and not developing well. The problem is that Calhoun lately has been hampering the growth of the big guys because he substitutes so often and takes somebody out after an mistake making them nervous and hesitant. You have to let guys play their games and not worry about being taken out for every little mistake.

Despite the reports of how great Calhoun's staff is its a bunch of baloney. They are for the most part useless and dont command the respect of the players like a head coach does. However, there isnt much you can do with guys like Olander and Bradley. You need to recruit guys who are athletic and or strong and have some basketball skills. Then you can develop those guys like a Hilton Armstrong.

We need to be going hard after Bradley Hayes and either Devonta Pollard or Amile Jefferson aka Roscoe Smith 2.0. If we get those guys and possibly Josh Gray a really good point guard out of Texas then we can compete for championships next 2-3 years. Calhoun needs to go hard after these guys and make an offer for them. You dont need to wait for the 2013 class these guys can help our team for the next 3-4 years.

 

[GemParty]

One fix would be shaking up the coaching staff. Are Blaney/JC tied at the hip? JC finishes contract, Ollie slides into Blaneys spot for the next few yrs. By doing this we could add another recruiter who......wait for it.....can work with our Big guys too. Maybe DMarshall or another young stud. After last season, I'm not sure how much Blaney adds to the staff. Although, if he is the angel to Calhoun's devilish side, and keeps him from having high blood pressure, fine keep him. But how many second in commands don't do any recruiting? Is that common?

 

[huskyniner]

Oriakhi was a McDonald's All-American.

 

[bobbygt]

I think it depends on what your definition of 'lately' is. Outside of UK the past few years, with Cousins, Davis, and Noel, there is no program in the entire country that consistently recruits big men 'well,' and I'd even go as far as saying that Uconn does more than any other program with recruiting big men and making them into nba players.

2011- AD

 

[SouthTampaBill]

If we hold back on recruits till next year, we will most likely be coming off a sub-10 win year which will not be too attractive to recruits

 

[NOTaDIME]

Like stated above consistent recruiting for big men is rather difficult even for big time schools like us, but I think over the last ten years we have to be close to the top if not the most consistent at getting big man talent. Here are some that come to mind: Hilton Armstrong, Emeka Okafor, Josh Boone, Charlie Villanueva, Hasheem Thabeet, Alex Oriakhi, Andre Drummond....those are really solid bigs.

 

[upstater]

Hilton Armstrong, Emeka Okafor, Josh Boone, Charlie Villanueva, Hasheem Thabeet, Alex Oriakhi, Andre Drummond, Jeff Adrien too. Heck, Charles Okwandu was a key during his senior year.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Hilton Armstrong, Emeka Okafor, Josh Boone, Charlie Villanueva, Hasheem Thabeet, Alex Oriakhi, Andre Drummond, Jeff Adrien too. Heck, Charles Okwandu was a key during his senior year.

I like that list. Upstater, remember the days when we were a donut team?

 

[huskyniner]

If we hold back on recruits till next year, we will most likely be coming off a sub-10 win year which will not be too attractive to recruits

The new practice facility will be. And the fact that we're still UConn.

 

[bmayuc]

Is Clyde Vaughn available?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dann]

I think it depends on what your definition of 'lately' is. Outside of UK the past few years, with Cousins, Davis, and Noel, there is no program in the entire country that consistently recruits big men 'well,' and I'd even go as far as saying that Uconn does more than any other program with recruiting big men and making them into nba players.

2011- AD

GTown

 

[uconnfan68]

If we hold back on recruits till next year, we will most likely be coming off a sub-10 win year which will not be too attractive to recruits

Except that playing time will be generous.

 

[bobbygt]

I think it depends on what your definition of 'lately' is. Outside of UK the past few years, with Cousins, Davis, and Noel, there is no program in the entire country that consistently recruits big men 'well,' and I'd even go as far as saying that Uconn does more than any other program with recruiting big men and making them into nba players.

2011- AD

Sorry, I don't know what happened to my post, but I had the list of uconn big men from the past few years.

Anyway, the criteria for recruiting well, in my opinion, should be:
1) their ranking coming in (this is one I actually feel is the least important, but it's more likely that a 5* is better, and will perform better, than a 3* or lower.
2) Whether the kid is actually good and how they develop and perform in college.
3) How well the team does with this player.

*2011- AD----Very highly ranked; we can all agree that AD was a quality big man recruit.
2010- TO and MB----TBD on TO and he still has the potential to be a good cbb player; was on a NC team; TBD but no surefire quality big man this year.
*2009- AO----Very highly ranked; was the starter on a NC team; quality big man recruit.
2008- Majok----Highly recruited; such a cluster**** of a career that we can't really say anything about anything. I'd say he could've been quality, but the NCAA and then personal reasons saw him leave.
2007- no big men recruits
*2006- HT, GE, JM----HT was a quality big man recruit; GE was so so and was stuck behind HT until his senior year; JM- oh boy.
*2005- Bynum----Very highly ranked; would've been a quality big man.
*2003- Boone and CV----Major part of a NC team; quality big men
*2002- Hilton----Quality big man.
*2001- Emeka---- Emeka

When I look at this list, I don't see any other program that has recruited big men that much better than uconn over the past 10 years. You have it all: nba players, national championships, All Americans, multiple defensive players of the year.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

If we hold back on recruits till next year, we will most likely be coming off a sub-10 win year which will not be too attractive to recruits

Sub-10 win year huh? How much can I wager on that?

 

[Kitaman]

Please take meds before posting.

 

[Drumguy]

Hilton Armstrong, Emeka Okafor, Josh Boone, Charlie Villanueva, Hasheem Thabeet, Alex Oriakhi, Andre Drummond, Jeff Adrien too. Heck, Charles Okwandu was a key during his senior year.

We could add Bynum to that list as well although he never played for us.

 

[mauconnfan]

No your absolutely right husky916. For a program as storied and as great as ours, we are having a difficult time attracting 4 and 5 star big men. Even the guards we get our usually underrated or late bloomers that Calhoun has the wisdom to spot and attract. There are exceptions but our big guys especially are stagnant and not developing well. The problem is that Calhoun lately has been hampering the growth of the big guys because he substitutes so often and takes somebody out after an mistake making them nervous and hesitant. You have to let guys play their games and not worry about being taken out for every little mistake.

Despite the reports of how great Calhoun's staff is its a bunch of baloney. They are for the most part useless and dont command the respect of the players like a head coach does. However, there isnt much you can do with guys like Olander and Bradley. You need to recruit guys who are athletic and or strong and have some basketball skills. Then you can develop those guys like a Hilton Armstrong.

We need to be going hard after Bradley Hayes and either Devonta Pollard or Amile Jefferson aka Roscoe Smith 2.0. If we get those guys and possibly Josh Gray a really good point guard out of Texas then we can compete for championships next 2-3 years. Calhoun needs to go hard after these guys and make an offer for them. You dont need to wait for the 2013 class these guys can help our team for the next 3-4 years.

Funny stuff guys.....do me a favor and check the benches and staffs of the majority of big time programs and let me know who the BIG guy coach is on theirs ok? Maybe Orlando Antigua of UK and Danny Manning but very few others have actual big men but instead get players who develop through coaching and working on their own.......an overrated thread as I see it.

 

[bazzdog]

Sub-10 win year huh? How much can I wager on that?

Yep-I want in on that too. We'll have 9 or 10 wins going into January. Jeezus-even w/o Roscoe this team can still win a BE regular season if DD becomes a factor and Wolf just holds his own.

 

[huskymagic]

Funny stuff guys.....do me a favor and check the benches and staffs of the majority of big time programs and let me know who the BIG guy coach is on theirs ok? Maybe Orlando Antigua of UK and Danny Manning but very few others have actual big men but instead get players who develop through coaching and working on their own.......an overrated thread as I see it.

Mauconn who really cares about the assistant coaches. You need to recruit better players and athletes in order for them to devlop into good players. Hilton, Okwandu, Gavin Edwards, Ater all were athletic bigs who had some skills. Those type of big men can be developed into good players. Guys like olander and bradley wont help. Wolf should definetely be starting next year over Olander if Calhoun decides not to recruit anyone this year.

Personally I believe he should be recruiting this year and the guys I already listed Bradley Hayes, Amile Jefferson or Devonta Pollard, and Josh Gray should be top priorities. We can win and contend for championships with those guys along with Boatright, Omar Calhoun, and Napier.

 

[Matt (Chicago)]

Mauconn who really cares about the assistant coaches. You need to recruit better players and athletes in order for them to devlop into good players. Hilton, Okwandu, Gavin Edwards, Ater all were athletic bigs who had some skills. Those type of big men can be developed into good players. Guys like olander and bradley wont help. Wolf should definetely be starting next year over Olander if Calhoun decides not to recruit anyone this year.

Personally I believe he should be recruiting this year and the guys I already listed Bradley Hayes, Amile Jefferson or Devonta Pollard, and Josh Gray should be top priorities. We can win and contend for championships with those guys along with Boatright, Omar Calhoun, and Napier.

Haven't we already discussed this huskymagic? It doesnt make sense to just say "Coach should recruit player A because he's good." Not sure if you're aware but there has to be mutual interest from the school and player, and in this case, there most certainly is not

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Hilton Armstrong's best non-Uconn offer was Lasalle. Gavin's was something like Northern Arizona. Okwandu I think had a Seton Hall offer at least.

I'm sure the fan base would be ecstatic if these were the type of big men we were recruiting now.

 

[AJC88]

Guys like olander and bradley wont help.

Olander, okay, he's not a jump out of the gym freakish athlete, so I agree with your assessment there.
But if you have ever seen Bradley in practice (I have) or in warmups (I'm hoping you've been to a game if you're going to make comments as you do), the guy is very athletic.