We Have To Take Hold Of Ourselves

[djct1999]

I promise you would know. Because yours is laughable.

Here's a question for you - did the staff fail miserably with AB?

Maybe we are talking about two different things. AB was a project that never materialized. I don't blame the coaches on AB. Not every one 7 foot or taller is destined to be great at basketball. But inbounds plays or getting position in the middle of a zone are both basic elements of basketball IQ. These are also elements this team can't grasp. That is 100% on coaching.

 

[Bagel&Cheese]

So you're saying the current staff can't develop the talent we recruit ? I'd go further and say that the talent is probably overrated, but the other issue is that these kids, with a couple of exceptions, have a low BB IQ which makes it difficult to develop the skills needed for a cohesive team effort. We just don't have enough complimentary players to put on the court, injuries or not.

All of the above is correctomundo! We need to recruit a deep shooting white boy.

 

[upstater]

I am not putting any emphasis on one game. I am looking at 4 seasons of data. Seems to me you are placing far to much worth on 6 games. Outside of 3 amazing weeks, KO's on court performance has been average. Below average if you hold him to his salary and what UConn standards should be. Its basic statistics. Wipe away the two tail ends and you are left with mediocrity. Run the same analysis with other coaches and you quickly see how badly KO has underperformed.

He won a national championship with less talent and less support than the teams he competed against. You are wrong. He outperformed with those kids for 2 years. When that class came in for Calhoun, it was blasted as the worst class at UConn since the 1980s. That class won the national championship. Get real.

 

[upstater]

I am not putting any emphasis on one game. I am looking at 4 seasons of data. Seems to me you are placing far to much worth on 6 games. Outside of 3 amazing weeks, KO's on court performance has been average. Below average if you hold him to his salary and what UConn standards should be. Its basic statistics. Wipe away the two tail ends and you are left with mediocrity. Run the same analysis with other coaches and you quickly see how badly KO has underperformed.

WRONG.

I couldn't have been clearer.

I specifically challenged your idea that they only performed well in 6 games.

It was 2 seasons.

 

[Palatine]

The problem is not not skill, it's will. In 2014 we had confident , strong willed players. Players like Giffey and Daniels, played hard and believed in themselves. Boat and Bazz had attitude.

I look on the floor and Adams is the only player who has that unshakable belief in himself. This team doesn't believe in itself. It's fragile.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

They haven' t lived up to it, even before the injuries. See Wagner. See New Haven exhibition.

Freshmen were supposed to be stars in the first two game of their careers?

 

[upstater]

The problem is not not skill, it's will. In 2014 we had confident , strong willed players. Players like Giffey and Daniels, played hard and believed in themselves. Boat and Bazz had attitude.

I look on the floor and Adams is the only player who has that unshakable belief in himself. This team doesn't believe in itself. It's fragile.

How was Daniels in 2012?

 

[djct1999]

WRONG.

I couldn't have been clearer.

I specifically challenged your idea that they only performed well in 6 games.

It was 2 seasons.

Wrong. They did not perform well. in 2012-13, they performed well given the circumstance. They finished 10-8 in conference. The championship year, they were 12-6 in a weak AAC. So yeah, they had a great 3 week run. Ironically, a run that was extended by Amida Brimah.

 

[djct1999]

How was Daniels in 2012?

As weak as your argument. Strike that, statistically stronger than your argument.

 

[upstater]

Wrong. They did not perform well. in 2012-13, they performed well given the circumstance. They finished 10-8 in conference. The championship year, they were 12-6 in a weak AAC. So yeah, they had a great 3 week run. Ironically, a run that was extended by Amida Brimah.

They performed very very well. That team had no business playing as well as it did.

They were excellent.

They were coming off a Calhoun punishment for Nate Miles two years prior, it dinged scholarships, they were coming off an APR ban in the tournament, one engineered so that multiple good players like Roscoe and Oriakhi could leave the team (without penalty), they were making the transition from Calhoun to Ollie (who was playing under an "interim" contract), and to top it off, they had an injured player coming back in Omar.

You also forget that in 2014 they lost Daniels for a chunk of the conference season.

Ollie performed miracles those 2 years. He developed those players. Coached tremendously.

 

[upstater]

As weak as your argument. Strike that, statistically stronger than your argument.

So it's a weak argument to point out underclassmen aren't as good when they are underclassmen as they are when they are upperclassmen?

With each post, you dig deeper into the loam of the lame.

 

[djct1999]

They performed very very well. That team had no business playing as well as it did.

They were excellent.

They were coming off a Calhoun punishment for Nate Miles two years prior, it dinged scholarships, they were coming off an APR ban in the tournament, one engineered so that multiple good players like Roscoe and Oriakhi could leave the team (without penalty), they were making the transition from Calhoun to Ollie (who was playing under an "interim" contract), and to top it off, they had an injured player coming back in Omar.

You also forget that in 2014 they lost Daniels for a chunk of the conference season.

Ollie performed miracles those 2 years. He developed those players. Coached tremendously.

There is no question those two years(more so 2012-13) definitely highlight the best of KO, as a coach and as a person. I also agree that at that time, there was no better person who would make a better transition away from a legend. KO was a perfect fit. However, after KO signed an extension that made him a top tier coach, his on court performance deserves critique. Comes with the territory. Since the title, there isn't much of an argument that suggests KO has met expectations.

 

[MexicoHusky]

Every year, without exception KOs team has played it's best basketball at the end of the year. We've also only just started to recruit well. From Nolan and Omar until getting Dham we recruited either no players or bad players. This year's team was going to be good. It will be good next year. And an AAC tourney run may be possible if Adams can get right. I'm not worried.

 

[David 76]

I've had a hold of myself pretty constantly since I was about 11.

 

[David 76]

BTW, Daniels did not meet my definition of a strong willed player until after the regular season of his final year. Some memories are convenient.

 

[Mr. French]

A player's IQ is usually a reflection of his coach. And if you want a sample set of how mediocre this staff is, take a look at Ollie's overall regular season record in the American. FYI, at best, the American is the seventh ranked conference during that same span. I am not sure what the answer is or if there a better coach out there for this program. I do know that Ollie has been average at best and certainly not worth the money this state is paying him. Maybe I am old school, but in my world, coaches make players betters, not smarter players will improve the staff.

That's not true at all. Some players just don't get it.

If you think Ollie and his staff don't know how to teach fundamental stuff that they possessed as players and that other teams they've coached have possessed, then I think you're sorely mistaken.

I think so far the main complaint should be pointed at the fact that too many recruits have not been high IQ bball players, or at the least haven't shown it yet... Ollie is recruiting well, rankings-wise, and he can coach. I think the issue is some of the players' IQ / missing certain qualities.

 

[Mr. French]

BTW, Daniels did not meet my definition of a strong willed player until after the regular season of his final year. Some memories are convenient.

So true, these are kids and they develop or fail to develop at random rates.

People who think KO can't coach because some guys haven't developed to their standards or expectations is not right.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It isn't just one thing. Several players have disappointed. Facey was highly regarded and should have been playing the way he is now by his sophomore year. Enoch...where is the improvement? Brimah goes without saying. Purvis has regressed in his shooting ability.

Meanwhile, Coach Ollie has not coached with the level of intensity and enthusiasm he showed in 2013-14. He also has not prepared the team well. They consistently start poorly and look confused, as if they received no advanced scouting on the other team or it was completely wrong. That's on the staff, and it has cost us games. Yesterday was one of those days. Shorthanded yes...but that shorthanded team, when properly motivated and with proper coaching adjustments at halftime, outscored Houston. That tells me that they could have won. So who is that on? The players? Yes. The coaches? Yes. Could we have overcome that lousy play and lousy coaching if we had all our injured guys? Sure, because we'd be a vastly more talented team than Houston, one that should win by 15, so we'd manage a 4 point win.

That's what I've seen the last two years. A team that plays below its capabilities almost every single game.

 

[LIUCHusky]

So it's not recruiting. (I agree) It's not Ollie( I am neutral) Then what is it? It is something and that something is internal. Outside of an amazing three week run, KO's teams have consistently under performed. I am so tired of the excuses. As a loyal UConn fan, it sickens me to watch the dumpster fire the men's programs are becoming. It starts with accountability. DB has already swung and missed. I think the real issue with KO is his staff. As much as I love the family concept and loyalty, a few on the staff have to go.

Do you honestly feel his first UCONN team under performed? In my opinion that team over performed. To win 20 games with no incentive to play in the post season was a tremendous accomplishment.

 

[pj]

It isn't just one thing. Several players have disappointed. Facey was highly regarded and should have been playing the way he is now by his sophomore year. Enoch...where is the improvement? Brimah goes without saying. Purvis has regressed in his shooting ability.

Meanwhile, Coach Ollie has not coached with the level of intensity and enthusiasm he showed in 2013-14. He also has not prepared the team well. They consistently start poorly and look confused, as if they received no advanced scouting on the other team or it was completely wrong. That's on the staff, and it has cost us games. Yesterday was one of those days. Shorthanded yes...but that shorthanded team, when properly motivated and with proper coaching adjustments at halftime, outscored Houston. That tells me that they could have won. So who is that on? The players? Yes. The coaches? Yes. Could we have overcome that lousy play and lousy coaching if we had all our injured guys? Sure, because we'd be a vastly more talented team than Houston, one that should win by 15, so we'd manage a 4 point win.

That's what I've seen the last two years. A team that plays below its capabilities almost every single game.

Apart from Enoch -- and underage big men are notoriously slow to develop -- you are basically putting your finger on this year's senior class. They appear to be -- how can I say this politely -- a bit dim. Slow learners. Remember they came in at a time of recruiting handicaps and uncertainty for the program. UConn was begging for players and couldn't be choosy.

Recruiting has picked up and there's every reason to think we've gotten smarter and more talented players recently. Jalen Adams has improved substantially. I think these concerns about Ollie will dissipate by March 2018.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Apart from Enoch -- and underage big men are notoriously slow to develop -- you are basically putting your finger on this year's senior class. They appear to be -- how can I say this politely -- a bit dim. Slow learners. Remember they came in at a time of recruiting handicaps and uncertainty for the program. UConn was begging for players and couldn't be choosy.

Recruiting has picked up and there's every reason to think we've gotten smarter and more talented players recently. Jalen Adams has improved substantially. I think these concerns about Ollie will dissipate by March 2018.

Not really. I think maybe this is an underachieving class of players, sure. But I also think that Ollie and his staff have generally done a lousy job of game preparation. Maybe we need better advanced scouts. Maybe we need better assistants. I don't know. But when the team looks unprepared for what the opponent is doing on offense and defense over a two year stretch, that's more than just the players. Because that "dim" senior class somehow, in the span of 15 minutes at halftime, figured out how to beat Houston. It's not proof, but it suggests strongly that the game-plan going in did not prepare them properly.

 

[ctchamps]

It isn't just one thing. Several players have disappointed. Facey was highly regarded and should have been playing the way he is now by his sophomore year. Enoch...where is the improvement? Brimah goes without saying. Purvis has regressed in his shooting ability.

Meanwhile, Coach Ollie has not coached with the level of intensity and enthusiasm he showed in 2013-14. He also has not prepared the team well. They consistently start poorly and look confused, as if they received no advanced scouting on the other team or it was completely wrong. That's on the staff, and it has cost us games. Yesterday was one of those days. Shorthanded yes...but that shorthanded team, when properly motivated and with proper coaching adjustments at halftime, outscored Houston. That tells me that they could have won. So who is that on? The players? Yes. The coaches? Yes. Could we have overcome that lousy play and lousy coaching if we had all our injured guys? Sure, because we'd be a vastly more talented team than Houston, one that should win by 15, so we'd manage a 4 point win.

That's what I've seen the last two years. A team that plays below its capabilities almost every single game.

Facey, Brimah and Enoch have one thing in common besides size. They all began playing basketball at a late age. Big men progress slower than guards and recruiting big men who are new to the game increases the problem. However most people continue to ignore or forget the events that occurred when these players were recruited. The coaching change and the APR sanctions severely handicapped KO's ability to recruit. These inexperienced players were pretty much all the staff had a chance to recruit the first two seasons. The blame does not lie with KO but with Jeff Hathaway and Mark Emmert. Those sanctions were vendettas and not justice.

When the sanctions were lifted KO was finally at an even playing field with other non cheating coaches. He got the consensus 2nd best big in the class when Durham committed. And what happens? The kid suffers his second ACL tear in two years, losing a second year of playing time and gaining a factor of fear he might do it again. This season KO gets a top big in Zach Brown and stops recruiting other bigs to go after players like MAL and Hamidou. And what happens? The kid implodes emotionally and the staff rightfully parted ways.

Sometimes events are in our control and we don't make the most of things. I'm not sure the recent failures are staff /player related but circumstances outside their control and that anyone short of a deity would have gotten similar results.

 

[ctchamps]

Apart from Enoch -- and underage big men are notoriously slow to develop -- you are basically putting your finger on this year's senior class. They appear to be -- how can I say this politely -- a bit dim. Slow learners. Remember they came in at a time of recruiting handicaps and uncertainty for the program. UConn was begging for players and couldn't be choosy.

Recruiting has picked up and there's every reason to think we've gotten smarter and more talented players recently. Jalen Adams has improved substantially. I think these concerns about Ollie will dissipate by March 2018.

LOL. Was writing something very similar while you posted this.

 

[ctchamps]

Not really. I think maybe this is an underachieving class of players, sure. But I also think that Ollie and his staff have generally done a lousy job of game preparation. Maybe we need better advanced scouts. Maybe we need better assistants. I don't know. But when the team looks unprepared for what the opponent is doing on offense and defense over a two year stretch, that's more than just the players. Because that "dim" senior class somehow, in the span of 15 minutes at halftime, figured out how to beat Houston. It's not proof, but it suggests strongly that the game-plan going in did not prepare them properly.

UConn's options because of injuries were limited. Sampson game planned a zone which was designed to double down on any player who received an interior pass all but challenging UConn to win by making their 3 point shots. It wasn't a brilliant strategy given Kentan was shooting well from mid range and UConn was 342nd in the nation in making 3's. If Christian, Rodney and Vance made 3's in the first half, and they had open looks, Houston would have had to readjust. But that didn't happen until the game was over.

 

[djct1999]

Do you honestly feel his first UCONN team under performed? In my opinion that team over performed. To win 20 games with no incentive to play in the post season was a tremendous accomplishment.

No I don't. I think I am giving him a lot of credit by saying that is KO at his best. I don't think anyone could have a done a better job that year.

 

[djct1999]

So it's a weak argument to point out underclassmen aren't as good when they are underclassmen as they are when they are upperclassmen?

With each post, you dig deeper into the loam of the lame.

You are insufferable. I honestly feel after a certain point you forget what your initial point even is. You love playing the contrarian, regardless of accuracy.

 

[gtcam]

A player's IQ is usually a reflection of his coach. And if you want a sample set of how mediocre this staff is, take a look at Ollie's overall regular season record in the American. FYI, at best, the American is the seventh ranked conference during that same span. I am not sure what the answer is or if there a better coach out there for this program. I do know that Ollie has been average at best and certainly not worth the money this state is paying him. Maybe I am old school, but in my world, coaches make players betters, not smarter players will improve the staff.

That's a mighty big statement - a players IQ is the reflection of his coach?
Is a players attitude a reflection of the coach?
Are the players actions both on and off the court a reflection of the coach?
So the coach is the sole dictator of how the player thinks and acts?
The American may be the 7th ranked conference but during the short span of the conference life, how many NCs did Ollie win? How many Conference tournaments did he win? How many conference finals was he in?
Old school, New school, players get smarter because they want to, coaches are there to supply training and basics, its up to the player to take and run with it. In my opinion, a player like AB and to some extent, RP have not improved to the highest degree because they have decided not to work on the basics.
Don't be ignorant to think that if KO had another 7' big man who grasped the basics of footwork, positioning, rebounding and post moves that player would not be taking all ABs playing time.
KO won a NC, he's worth quite a bit in my eyes - he's not JC but he isn't Josh P either

 

[djct1999]

That's a mighty big statement - a players IQ is the reflection of his coach?
Is a players attitude a reflection of the coach?
Are the players actions both on and off the court a reflection of the coach?
So the coach is the sole dictator of how the player thinks and acts?
The American may be the 7th ranked conference but during the short span of the conference life, how many NCs did Ollie win? How many Conference tournaments did he win? How many conference finals was he in?
Old school, New school, players get smarter because they want to, coaches are there to supply training and basics, its up to the player to take and run with it. In my opinion, a player like AB and to some extent, RP have not improved to the highest degree because they have decided not to work on the basics.
Don't be ignorant to think that if KO had another 7' big man who grasped the basics of footwork, positioning, rebounding and post moves that player would not be taking all ABs playing time.
KO won a NC, he's worth quite a bit in my eyes - he's not JC but he isn't Josh P either

I think its pretty ignorant of you to assume AB and RP chose not to work on basics and didn't work hard enough to improve.

 

[OkaForPrez]

There's only been one real winner this season and that's the research study pinned at the top of the board. My god the data.

 

[upstater]

You are insufferable. I honestly feel after a certain point you forget what your initial point even is. You love playing the contrarian, regardless of accuracy.

Stop it. My point was simple. Everyone understood it.
But you.
To say that the 2014 team was battle hardened is right. The question is, were the players considered tough when they were frosh and soph?
It was very different around here then.
Plenty of people agreed with me on here that Shabazz was criticized his sophomore year, heavy criticism. His basketball IQ was rated lowly. Only you deny it. Daniels was ripped to shreds--EVEN in his junior year.
Deny it all you want--it is the truth.