We are gonna need this guy

[ASweet3781]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeWVO0-RF3M

He's had such a bad year that you forget how many big shots he hit last year. Closest thing we had to a dagger 3 shooter on the wing since Rashad graduated. Had 15 last year vs Syracuse.

If we really want to make a run in March, we are gonna need some big shots from him.

 

[HuskyBoi]

He missed the stanford shot... TURNOFF
JK I want him to come back

 

[Huskybass]

Omar can flat out fill it up, but he is in an awful funk. I suspect he will need an off season where he dominates in pickup games and summer leagues to get his confidence and groove back. I think he still has some 20 plus point games left in a Husky uniform.

 

[CTPride]

I completely forgot about that

 

[tcf15]

Don't forget about this one, too:

 

[HuskiesAllDay]

Omar can flat out fill it up, but he is in an awful funk. I suspect he will need an off season where he dominates in pickup games and summer leagues to get his confidence and groove back. I think he still has some 20 plus point games left in a Husky uniform.

I really want to think its a funk, but how long can it go on until its not a funk and this is what he is? He seems like a great kid, but he has serious limitations. Limitations that he had last year, we just didnt have any other options. I will believe his surgery has something to do with it, but the rest I'm not so sure.

He has below average athleticism and quickness. His handle is well below average. He has a slow release and terrible form. Doesn't really play d or pass. I'm honestly not trying to rip him. unfortunately thats a pretty fair assessment. those limitations are real. Doesnt mean he will never get better. I sure hope he starts playing much better. I know he's better than he's been playing, I just don't know how much better

 

[ASweet3781]

I really want to think its a funk, but how long can it go on until its not a funk and this is what he is? He seems like a great kid, but he has serious limitations. Limitations that he had last year, we just didnt have any other options. I will believe his surgery has something to do with it, but the rest I'm not so sure.

He has below average athleticism and quickness. His handle is well below average. He has a slow release and terrible form. Doesn't really play d or pass. I'm honestly not trying to rip him. unfortunately thats a pretty fair assessment. those limitations are real. Doesnt mean he will never get better. I sure hope he starts playing much better. I know he's better than he's been playing, I just don't know how much better

I love how you say your not trying to rip him in a post where you did nothing but rip him.

He had all these limitations last year too right? And yet still hit a tough 3 at the buzzer to force OT against the #7 team? And still hit the go ahead 3 in the corner at PC? And still scored 15 big points against Syracuse and help break their zone?

He was no where near as bad last year in any area you listed. Hence why I hope we see some signs of the Omar from last year. You need players with balls out there to hit big shots in the post season. Shabazz and Omar have hit the biggest shots of anyone currently on the roster.

 

[HuskiesAllDay]

I love how you say your not trying to rip him in a post where you did nothing but rip him.

He had all these limitations last year too right? And yet still hit a tough 3 at the buzzer to force OT against the #7 team? And still hit the go ahead 3 in the corner at PC? And still scored 15 big points against Syracuse and help break their zone?

He was no where near as bad last year in any area you listed. Hence why I hope we see some signs of the Omar from last year. You need players with balls out there to hit big shots in the post season. Shabazz and Omar have hit the biggest shots of anyone currently on the roster.

Was waiting for this. Which of my arguments is false? Are those not his limitations. It's been over 15 games now. That's a pretty prolonged slump.


He's not very athletic or quick. His handle sucks. He has a slow and awkward release. And he doesn't play d or pass. Those are all true. He shot 32 percent from three last year. He just got more minutes because rj Evans was his competition.

What does Omar do above average? That's an honest question and if youre going to attack me i suggest you answer it.

i try to envision him breaking out of this "slump" and I can't do it because he's the same exact player as last year, he just gets fewer shots. Either a few shots fall game night or they don't. But that's what he brings to the table. He can't barrel his way to the hole like dyson. Or blow by someone. Or get by on athleticism. For a "shooter" he doesn't have a very reliable shot. And when it's not falling he can't bring anything else.

And did I say he completely sucks and has no hope? He hit one big shot last year. Jamaal Coombs had his moments too. Hitting two big shots doesn't mean he's athletic or quick or has a good handle It means he hit two open shots that I'm glad he did. But as you can see above when those shots don't fall (which they don't 70 percent of the time) he brings nothing else. Obviously I'm rooting for Omar but I think he's closer the player he's been this year than the superstar that some people think he is .

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I love how you say your not trying to rip him in a post where you did nothing but rip him.

He had all these limitations last year too right? And yet still hit a tough 3 at the buzzer to force OT against the #7 team? And still hit the go ahead 3 in the corner at PC? And still scored 15 big points against Syracuse and help break their zone?

He was no where near as bad last year in any area you listed. Hence why I hope we see some signs of the Omar from last year. You need players with balls out there to hit big shots in the post season. Shabazz and Omar have hit the biggest shots of anyone currently on the roster.

Amen

 

[johnhuskies95]

He won us the Syracuse game.

 

[Huskybass]

Omar is a scorer. Plain and simple. He grabs some boards, but his handle and passing are sub par. But make no mistake, when he is right, he can score the ball as well as anyone. He isn't right now. But there will come a day when he puts up 17, 21, or 26 and keys a win. I just fear that day will be next season rather than this one, but I have not lost hope. He will fill it up again.

 

[Strummer]

I really only have one wish for OC - I hope he becomes consistent, whatever his level is. I don't like streaky, and I'll take a sold 38% 3 point shooter all day over a guy who can score 20 one game and 2 the next. Just my preference. Surely a good coach with talent can ride the hot hand, and perhaps that's what Omar will provide at some point: a hot hand.

Would be very nice to see him have a game where he goes 3 for 5 from 3 and plays good all around ball.

 

[CTBasketball]

Send these to his twitter. Get him his mojo back.

 

[SixRings]

I'm not sure how anyone that watched the last game cannot see that he is limited physically right now. It's not a shooting funk. He couldn't come close to having the hops to dunk the ball. You also need that physicality with some confidence to shoot well. Dude is hurting from his surgeries. Maybe he had some setbacks in rehab. Hope for the best for him. Really.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I'm not sure how anyone that watched the last game cannot see that he is limited physically right now. It's not a shooting funk. He couldn't come close to having the hops to dunk the ball. You also need that physicality with some confidence to shoot well. Dude is hurting from his surgeries. Maybe he had some setbacks in rehab. Hope for the best for him. Really.

In retrospect this could have been a medical redshirt year.
But if he just has one vintage game in the tourny it was worth it.

 

[mauconnfan]

Whatever it is we can use him to regain his confidence which is no where to be found. While I agree he is limited as a ball handler and passer, he wasn't nearly as bad as this year. As stated above he needs time to regain his game and return as an impact player. He will not be a starter again in a UConn uni though so I hope he accepts a role moving forward because he could be a very good 6th-7th guy with the right mindset down the road.

 

[hooskies]

He will not be a starter again in a UConn uni though so I hope he accepts a role moving forward because he could be a very good 6th-7th guy with the right mindset down the road.

absolutely ridiculous to say he will never start again

 

[ctchamps]

Omar is a scorer. Plain and simple. He grabs some boards, but his handle and passing are sub par. But make no mistake, when he is right, he can score the ball as well as anyone. He isn't right now. But there will come a day when he puts up 17, 21, or 26 and keys a win. I just fear that day will be next season rather than this one, but I have not lost hope. He will fill it up again.

You just described Rashad. And yes people have forgotten how much Rashad regressed after getting that Staph infection on his leg.

The off season surgeries, lest we forget they were surgeries on both hips, have impacted Omar two ways. He did not have off season bb preparation and he's still trying to work with his "new" body. No different than a kid who is a guard and grows six inches having to readjust his handle.

In the last four games I saw a different step to OC's game. He was moving far more easily on the court, much better than anything I saw last season. But it hasn't translated to performance. A part of me says it is a mental funk that is holding him back. And part of me wonders how much this is some karma thing (Cronin)

 

[Strummer]

absolutely ridiculous to say he will never start again

Ridiculous to use the qualifier "never," maybe, but not ridiculous in the sense that it isn't likely to happen. If DD and RB stay for next year, then you have Daniels and Boatright and (Brimah/Nolan) as guaranteed starters. Who fills the next two spots? Purvis and Hamilton are the likely choices, no? If Boat leaves Samuel takes his spot.

In order to get a starting role next year, Calhoun would have to show something that he hasn't shown yet, which is consistency. There will be way to much talent on the team next year to start a guy who is streaky.

Good to have these problems.

 

[EricSD]

I'm rooting for Omar big time and wish the kid every success. I realize he's had to adjust to having a "new" body after those surgeries and understand he's struggling. For better or worse, in MCBB, time waits for no one, and there are guys coming in next year who will be gunning for playing time along side Omar. If he never gets back to whatever his "new" 100% is, he could find himself pushed out of the lineup again. I sure hope he gets it back, whatever his "it" is. I do get that his situation is a reality of college hoops, but I don't get the few people who have taken shots at him.

 

[mauconnfan]

absolutely ridiculous to say he will never start again

Okay I'm ridiculous……..

Check back with me after Purvis and Hamilton join the team……..he's not any of them. He's good and i hope he makes it back to his potential, but as noted his skill set isn't above what we have coming in or even here at the moment. I take it back, if he gets crazy confident again and kromah or Giffey lose theirs, he could, I'll give you that!

 

[JLock819]

This kid missed an entire offseason, and probably the most important one for most kids. Not to mention many kids go through the "sophomore slump". I'm hopeful he'll find his groove again this year but after a full offseason to work on his areas for improvement I expect him to be an important contributor the next two years, regardless of who we bring in.

 

[ctchamps]

Okay I'm ridiculous……..

Check back with me after Purvis and Hamilton join the team……..he's not any of them. He's good and i hope he makes it back to his potential, but as noted his skill set isn't above what we have coming in or even here at the moment. I take it back, if he gets crazy confident again and kromah or Giffey lose theirs, he could, I'll give you that!

He said your statement was ridiculous. He didn't say you were ridiculous. He's leaving that for me.

 

[Huskybass]

Okay I'm ridiculous……..

Check back with me after Purvis and Hamilton join the team……..he's not any of them. He's good and i hope he makes it back to his potential, but as noted his skill set isn't above what we have coming in or even here at the moment. I take it back, if he gets crazy confident again and kromah or Giffey lose theirs, he could, I'll give you that!

You are not ridiculous on basketball related matters. When it comes to baseball though... oy vey. But on basketball issues you are sane on all issues non-Oriakhi.

 

[Inyatkin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeWVO0-RF3M

He's had such a bad year that you forget how many big shots he hit last year. Closest thing we had to a dagger 3 shooter on the wing since Rashad graduated. Had 15 last year vs Syracuse.

If we really want to make a run in March, we are gonna need some big shots from him.

If Giffey had hit the desperation 3 off the steal at the buzzer Gampel might have achieved liftoff right there.

 

[tcf15]

If Giffey had hit the desperation 3 off the steal at the buzzer Gampel might have achieved liftoff right there.

I was thinking about that when making the vid. Anyone think he makes that shot this year?

 

[tentoes4rings]

You are not ridiculous on basketball related matters. When it comes to baseball though... oy vey. But on basketball issues you are sane on all issues non-Oriakhi.

Agreed.

Basketball Mau, thumbs up
Baseball Mau, thumbs down

 

[ConnEd]

It's not uncommon for athletes coming off of injuries to take a full year to recover both the full, pre-injury function of the injured area (hips will definitely affect burst movements like stop-start and jumping) and to recover the confidence to move like you did before. OC's athleticism was not off the charts last year, but it is clearly reduced some this year.

I think we all need to look for some progress as the season concludes - albeit with weaker performances mixed in as you might expect from any underclassman - and overall improvement next season after a full summer of time in the gym working on both fitness and his game. Omar is definitely a scorer, and I expect to see him return to form. Let's all give him some time to get there. Thankfully, having Kromah + Giffey (even Samuel) gives us the luxury of not absolutely needing OC at his best this year.

 

[ctchamps]

It's not uncommon for athletes coming off of injuries to take a full year to recover both the full, pre-injury function of the injured area (hips will definitely affect burst movements like stop-start and jumping) and to recover the confidence to move like you did before. OC's athleticism was not off the charts last year, but it is clearly reduced some this year.

I think we all need to look for some progress as the season concludes - albeit with weaker performances mixed in as you might expect from any underclassman - and overall improvement next season after a full summer of time in the gym working on both fitness and his game. Omar is definitely a scorer, and I expect to see him return to form. Let's all give him some time to get there. Thankfully, having Kromah + Giffey (even Samuel) gives us the luxury of not absolutely needing OC at his best this year.

And last season he could have been limited by the hips and femur rubbing which necessitated the surgery. What I'm looking in his play isn't the change in outcome, but how he's moving on the court. Granted its one person's subjective observation, but I see a quickness in his step that wasn't there a month ago. And the quickness is better in all directions. He's also leaping better. His showcase leap, the alley 0op throw he missed is what everyone will focus on. But what about the two rebounds in the Houston game. They were assertive. He leapt as soon as the ball came off the rim.

I'm hoping this kid can get a couple of back to back games where things start to go right for him. Then we can start debating his contributions next season.