I know what you are saying but every time it is discussed it potentially hurts the team chemistry and further impacts recruiting, whether you like it or not. The last thing we, as fans, should do, is perpetuate it. At least wait until it is feasible and reasonable to expect that it could push Manuel to write up an extension. Today's game accelerated the timing but it isn't happening after one game. It just isn't. So people should stop intead of feeding the fire. They aren't helping, period.
Exactly how does fans pointing out how WM let his ego get in the way of what's best for the program and the university hurt team chemistry? Answer: None!
1. WM should have recognized what most of us already knew. JC has always had an eye for potential and is usually right. He should have embraced JC's recommendation and not doubted it even though he didn't get his chance to do his national search.
2. Recruting, recruiting, recruiting. Recruiting is the life blood of a program. Yeah, you need a good coach to get them to perform as a team and to the best of their ability, but if in the end WM decides to sign KO, IMO he made KO's future a lot harder. I think there was a good chance that XRM would have committed here if he had known KO would be his coach next fall. If XRM had decided to come here, not only would we have gotten an impact player, but it might have attracted other good recruits. Maybe KO will get that extension soon, but it's not going to likely happen before the fall signing period and most of the damage has already been done in that regard, but if he can get an extension within a month or so, it might put KO and UConn in a little better position to get some solid uncommitted recruits next spring. If WM waits till the spring to sign him, more damage will be done since recruiting is a lot about relationship buidling and many recruits who might have been interested might have moved on.
I don't think talking about this here causes any damage. If anything popular opinion often puts pressure of its subject to take measures to turn it back in their favor. If KO is able to coach UConn to an undefeated record for a while the pressure will grow and grow to where the only way to turn the wave back will be to sign KO.
As for recruits being influenced by what we say here, please! A kid would have to have his head up his ass to not realize the situation and have the same concerns we're all talking about.
Bottom lline IMO is WM should have signed him to a 3 year deal with a moderate buy one the day after JC hung 'em up. Since that moment UConn is 1-0 on the court and 0-whatever on the recruiting trail. Doesn't take a genius to realize that.