Traci Carter (Committed to Marquette)

[7774]

That's a cool, glib comment but are you seriously saying that there's no cause for alarm with respect to recruiting? That's really what you're saying?

A+ for your Enoch comment. I remember when Kentucky took a look at him and backed off as soon as they saw UConn involved.

I think most everyone would like to get a high level recruiter on staff if possible. Doesnt change the fact that people's chicken little routines are comical.

His comments may have been cool and glib. They were also factually accurate. We did beat out those schools for those players.

 

[sammydabiz]

Bummer, that would have been a nice benefit of a poor season. Don't rule it out completely just yet. Put some more thought into it and maybe you'll reconsider.

Awwwwww, is cupcake sad?

Sorry to disappoint .....

 

[7774]

If you guys want to make me the "bad guy" so be it, I'm ok with that. My self esteem isn't based off of how many "likes" I get.
But to turn a blind eye to our recruiting problems, and continue acting like nothing is wrong . That's the real travesty.....we just finished the regular season of the American (not the B1G, ACC, etc) in sixth place! If you're not embarrassed by that, and terrified by what next year may look like... Than there's nothing I can say to help you take your blinders off.

A whole season with TSam as our primary ballhandler does sound promising.....

So if we're good next year will you stop posting? Since, you know, there is no way we're going to be good.

 

[7774]

Awwwwww, is cupcake sad?

Sorry to disappoint .....

I'm not sad. We were National Champions 4 years ago. We're defending National Champions right now. We've had a disappointing year, but I think we will be good next year. Plus you just brought up cupcakes, and they are delicious.

 

[sammydabiz]

So if we're good next year will you stop posting? Since, you know, there is no way we're going to be good.

Nope sorry again.....your just gonna have to endure me precious

 

[RipCity]

That's a cool, glib comment but are you seriously saying that there's no cause for alarm with respect to recruiting? That's really what you're saying?

A+ for your Enoch comment. I remember when Kentucky took a look at him and backed off as soon as they saw UConn involved.

This is a bit hyperbolic. Our recruiting may need to improve, but it isn't THAT bad. I want an assistant coach to aid in recruitment as much as you.

Also, other big schools would have jumped in on Enoch if it wasn't painfully obvious he would choose UConn. We should just hope the same type of thing happens with Tremont Waters and Hamidou Diallo.

 

[7774]

Nope sorry again.....your just gonna have to endure me precious

Yeah I know. It's always the know it alls that won't put their money where their mouth is.

 

[Matrim55]

I think most everyone would like to get a high level recruiter on staff if possible. Doesnt change the fact that people's chicken little routines are comical.

Especially when they're regarding a player ranked lower than Terrence Samuel was as a senior.

Carter has said he wants to come into a situation where he can play right away. Coming into UConn, he's behind one of the best PG recruits in the nation, a guy who played meaningful minutes for an NCAA title team, and an upperclassman with NBA bloodlines.

I am like 7% concerned about recruiting, 15% about game-planning, 24% about free throws, and the rest about season-to-season improvement of the guys who are already here.

I would be happier if we'd landed him. But on the list of things I think will impact this program next season and in the years to come, where Traci Carter decides to spend the next 4 years of his life is pretty ****ing low.

 

[sammydabiz]

Yeah I know. It's always the know it alls that won't put their money where their mouth is.

No speeky english?

 

[Matrim55]

Also, other big schools would have jumped in on Enoch if it wasn't painfully obvious he would choose UConn.

I believe it was Rankin who tweeted that KU, Louisville and Arizona all went after him hard, then immediately backed off because KO A) got there first, B) made the right impression, and C) the kid was smitten.

We should just hope the same type of thing happens with Tremont Waters and Hamidou Diallo.

My belief is we won't have to hope for that. We're coming off of several years of recruiting sanctions and scholarship reductions, and ended up having to scramble late for guys like Amida & Lubin, while being unable to get to guys like Perkins (losing him still hurts) and a few others as early and often as we wanted.

That is not the case with the 2016 and especially 2017 classes. If we whiff on Kegler, King, Jackson or whoever else next season, then I will start to worry. If we sign a bunch of 3-stars in 2017, then I will full-on ****ing panic.

The only thing that could make me lose sleep now, however, is if Adams and/or Enoch ask out of their LOIs.

 

[7774]

No speeky english?

It's ok, I don't blame you for backing down.

 

[BUConn10]

If you guys want to make me the "bad guy" so be it, I'm ok with that. My self esteem isn't based off of how many "likes" I get.
But to turn a blind eye to our recruiting problems, and continue acting like nothing is wrong . That's the real travesty.....we just finished the regular season of the American (not the B1G, ACC, etc) in sixth place! If you're not embarrassed by that, and terrified by what next year may look like... Than there's nothing I can say to help you take your blinders off.

A whole season with TSam as our primary ballhandler does sound promising.....

I was personally being sarcastic with my last comment about nothing being wrong, poking fun at the subset on this board who equate being worried about the programs future to somehow being a bad fan. As if someone saying something not 100% about the Huskies means they should go root for Kentucky, thats BS reasoning and if it were universally accepted things would never improve. Recruiting is down and is currently below the level we as a program have become accustomed to, and need to play. I disagree with points made by guys like Matrim that because we won two recruiting battles (Adams, Hamilton) that we dont have any problems, the two events are not mutually exclusive. We can win a tough battle and then proceed to lose 4 guys who based on their offer lists would think UConn is a no brainer. For this program to compete at the level of play we have EARNED over the last twenty years, we need to recruit at the level of the programs we stand with, namely UK, Duke, Kansas, UNC etc, yet we are losing recruits to programs three or four levels beneath us, consistently. This is a problem no matter how you cut it.

 

[pnow15]

Especially when they're regarding a player ranked lower than Terrence Samuel was as a senior.

Carter has said he wants to come into a situation where he can play right away. Coming into UConn, he's behind one of the best PG recruits in the nation, a guy who played meaningful minutes for an NCAA title team, and an upperclassman with NBA bloodlines.

I am like 7% concerned about recruiting, 15% about game-planning, 24% about free throws, and the rest about season-to-season improvement of the guys who are already here.

I would be happier if we'd landed him. But on the list of things I think will impact this program next season and in the years to come, where Traci Carter decides to spend the next 4 years of his life is pretty ****ing low.

If he is worried about playing behind TSam and Sam Jr., we can't use him.

 

[sammydabiz]

I was personally being sarcastic with my last comment about nothing being wrong, poking fun at the subset on this board who equate being worried about the programs future to somehow being a bad fan. As if someone saying something not 100% about the Huskies means they should go root for Kentucky, thats BS reasoning and if it were universally accepted things would never improve. Recruiting is down and is currently below the level we as a program have become accustomed to, and need to play. I disagree with points made by guys like Matrim that because we won two recruiting battles (Adams, Hamilton) that we dont have any problems, the two events are not mutually exclusive. We can win a tough battle and then proceed to lose 4 guys who based on their offer lists would think UConn is a no brainer. For this program to compete at the level of play we have EARNED over the last twenty years, we need to recruit at the level of the programs we stand with, namely UK, Duke, Kansas, UNC etc, yet we are losing recruits to programs three or four levels beneath us, consistently. This is a problem no matter how you cut it.

A voice of reason, thank you BUHusky....for a second there, I thought I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone

 

[sammydabiz]

It's ok, I don't blame you for backing down.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

His comments may have been cool and glib. They were also factually accurate. We did beat out those schools for those players.

They're only factually accurate to the extent the players you mentioned had offers from those schools. But when that goes the other way you guys are the ones who say "Well, UConn made him plan B and Providence was all in on him." I could say that about at least one of the guys on your list but it kills the fantasy. By all means, continue to tell yourself that everything's rosy while we chase Marquette. Throw in a "doomed" every once in a while.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Absolutely. However, to say the program has seen a "significant drop off" and then support it using a list that shows 2 national championship does seem a bit odd doesn't it?

It is totally weird. No other way to explain it.

All those high seeds from the 90s to mid 2000s and go figure we win 2 titles as a 3 and 7.

 

[David 76]

There is reason for concern.
There is not reason to give up.
Just like the posters who never see a blemish on our program, those who always see the sky falling are predictable and annoying.

Between the everything is perfect and the everything sucks people and the resulting pi**ing matches, it is hard to have a conversation about the team.

 

[3rdbass]

Marquette started recruiting the kid when we did - everyone currently on his list got in at about the same time.

No matter where he goes, he's going to face being recruited over.

I know UConn's in a fix at this point, but he's the best available point guard out there and we need another ball handler.

If they can't get him, it might be time to call it a day.

Totally agree with this. We can't keep on missing on must need players to help fill out these classes. When we start reaching for TSAM's, and Phil Nolan as main contributors we know are recruiting is at a low point. These type of players might have been on JC's team but they weren't getting major minutes like they are with KO.

 

[David 76]

I believe Omar & Phil were JC's recruits. Which, I guess, proves your point.

 

[djct1999]

Totally agree with this. We can't keep on missing on must need players to help fill out these classes. When we start reaching for TSAM's, and Phil Nolan as main contributors we know are recruiting is at a low point. These type of players might have been on JC's team but they weren't getting major minutes like they are with KO.

Please stop with the hyperbole. Traci Carter was far from a must get. In fact, the difference in impact he would have vs. those other 3 star recruits we offered on this roster is negligible.

 

[Paesano]

Rumor has it we just lost a recruit to the culinary institute.

 

[upstater]

I believe Omar & Phil were JC's recruits. Which, I guess, proves your point.

Omar actually verballed after Calhoun stepped down. He was being recruited by Calhoun, but Calhoun stepped down in August, and Calhoun verballed in September. Nolan was a late addition.

 

[PRHusky]

Omar actually verballed after Calhoun stepped down. He was being recruited by Calhoun, but Calhoun stepped down in August, and Calhoun verballed in September. Nolan was a late addition.

Both Nolan and Omar were on the roster as freshmen when Calhoun retired in September 2012, so what you are saying is impossible.

 

[7774]

They're only factually accurate to the extent the players you mentioned had offers from those schools.

Right, so factually accurate.

But when that goes the other way you guys are the ones who say "Well, UConn made him plan B and Providence was all in on him."

Fairly certain you won't find any post from me stating something like that.

I could say that about at least one of the guys on your list but it kills the fantasy.

I didn't create a list.

By all means, continue to tell yourself that everything's rosy while we chase Marquette.

Never said everything was rosy. If fact, I said in this thread I think we need to get a high level recruiter on staff if possible. Just not a nitwit who thinks the sky is falling.

Throw in a "doomed" every once in a while.

Sorry, never thown in a "doomed" before.

But hey, I'm happy to make you the same offer I made to sammy. Since your posts indicate you know everything is going to be a disaster going forward, we can set some reasonable standard of "goodness" for the team next year. Something you know they obviously cannot achieve (like sweet 16 level). If they achieve it, you will never post again. If they don't, I will never post again.

 

[huskiesnyc]

Omar actually verballed after Calhoun stepped down. He was being recruited by Calhoun, but Calhoun stepped down in August, and Calhoun verballed in September. Nolan was a late addition.

Omar verballed in June 2011 and Phil May 2012, both JC recruits.

 

[lange10]

Please stop with the hyperbole. Traci Carter was far from a must get. In fact, the difference in impact he would have vs. those other 3 star recruits we offered on this roster is negligible.

Carter was well regarded as a 4-star/top 100 recruit prior to getting injured last summer.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Championships matter more to fans than recruits. How many titles has Kentucky won, yet what do their classes like?

This point doesn't really support your thesis.

 

[CTBasketball]

Saying that we got stuck with Lubin, Brimah, Cassell, Facey, and Samuel because of the recruiting sanctions and loss of post-season play in 2013 is the worst excuse ever.

The only year that the post-season ban year should apply is Omar's class (2012). Sure we lost scholarships, but high end recruits didn't pick us because they were worried if they couldn't beat out Phil Nolan and Samuel for play time.

Let's not make excuses that we lost recruiting battles for Noah Vonleh, Akoy Agau, and XRM - and had to settle with Brimah/Facey/Samuel because of sanctions and bans. Also we lost out on pretty much every recruit in 2014 outside of Daniel Hamilton.

The reasons why we're recruiting so poorly is because of our conference and KO's inability to close the deal. He's going to get better - he started recruiting like 5 years ago. All these other guys are masters at it - were competing with top schools for top recruits.

 

[FASTEDDY]

Anyone on this board who DOESN'T think that UCONN has a BIG RECRUITING PROBLEM is either CLUELESS or just ISN' T PAYING ATTENTION.

Great we got Adams (Stud) and Enoch (Project with Good Upside Potential) but they are very local kids who we should be able to get. Yes, I totally understand that it wasn't easy getting these guys and I congratulate the staff for securing their commitments but we really should be able to get these guys as they are in our immediate area and we were coming off of a national title.

We recruited a TON of players and have gotten absolutely none of them except for the above mentioned 2 guys. don't kid yourselves, we went after a lot of really good guys and went after them hard and we COMPLETELY STRUCK OUT. Its actually really embarrassing. We went after at least 15 good to very good guys and for one reason or another have gotten none of them. This is a BIG PROBLEM if WE BELIEVE WE'RE a REAL PLAYER ON THE NATIONAL SCENE. A BIG-TIME PROGRAM just doesn't lose battles to the Marquette, VCU (they've clubbed us hard a couple of times now), PC, SJU, etc. All of the above programs (not big-time national powers) have whipped up on us recruiting wise. We really aren't recruiting on the same level as teams that we like to consider ourselves on par with: Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Carolina etc.

Keep on kidding yourselves, but what leads you to believe that next year's recruiting will be any better when we are still in the American and will be coming off of an NIT year.
Last year, all your yahoos in this board were saying how we were involved deep with a huge amount of really good players and KO was in early on them etc. etc. etc. Well we basically struck out on nearly every single one of them. Then when we needed a guy at the end / Spring (something Calhoun was GREAT at doing), we could get a marginal Top 100 guy away from Marquette that is several levels below us on the prestige scale (and has a very young coach with no NBA credentials to speak of).

I know our Conference is a problem but unfortunately its something that we simply can do nothing about at this time. My own opinion is that the staff is not real good at recruiting and there is an issue there. I know this sounds crazy with the head coaching experience on the staff but they are either just getting outworked or out recruited by these other staffs. We need a RECRUITER. Why not get someone intimately tied-up with the AAU scene? Someone like a Book Richardson on Arizona. A similar guy with a similar background who can get us into places where we have not done too well: NJ, Philly etc.

I think there is too much blind UCONN loyalty on the staff and we are only taking UCONN guys and not considering others from outside "the family".

There's a problem and they need to identify and fix it ---- QUICKLY!