We look clueless. Is it coaching?

[HuskyBballFan]

And yet it's more than you provided. UConn won because they had Bazz and Q didn't.

That is not a reason to conclude that Moore outcoached Ollie.

 

[Waquoit]

I made no claim that either side outcoached the other, so where is the need for me to provide anything? You're the one that stuck your chest out there with claims of Moore outcoaching Ollie. Burden is on you to back that up and you got nothing. When you actually have something in terms of game strategy, share it with the rest of the board, if its more of the same of Shaq-like quips during NBA on TNT, you can hold that.

You seem to equate "game stategy" with coaching. Strategy is just a subset of coaching. When I watched the game, it was apparent how well Q was defending. That's coaching. UConn's sets weren't popping guys open, hence the lousy shooting percentage. That's good preparation, coaching. UConn's eventually wore Q down because they had the best player. You would think that the inferior team, after giving up a lead late in regulation, would be shot in OT. Instead they fought back from a late deficit to force another OT. The coach gets credit for keeping them in it, even after their best guy fouled out. The Top 25 team needed 2 OT's to beat an NEC team, I'm not sure how one can say superior strategy won the game for them.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Instead they fought back from a late deficit to force another OT.

And you seem to be confusing "coaching" with " that happens during the course of a game." Uconn built up a lead in the first overtime, got the ball to their best foul shooters on every possession down the stretch, and knocked down every free throw. Quinnipiac had to hit two 3's (one well defended, the other poorly defended by Boatright) to tie it up. Other than Boatright's lousy defense on the second one, Uconn executed the end game as well as they could have. Sometimes the other team makes shots - it's no more complicated than that.

 

[aceboon]

Apparently Boat getting crossed out of his Nikes was a great coaching move by Tom Moore.

And you seem to be confusing "coaching" with " that happens during the course of a game." Uconn built up a lead in the first overtime, got the ball to their best foul shooters on every possession down the stretch, and knocked down every free throw. Quinnipiac had to hit two 3's (one well defended, the other poorly defended by Boatright) to tie it up. Other than Boatright's lousy defense on the second one, Uconn executed the end game as well as they could have. Sometimes the other team makes shots - it's no more complicated than that.

 

[sledog]

How I managed to stay awake for this game is unknown. Let me add, that for last 2 games, it seemed that the opponents mystically weaved thru the offense to the hoop. And a few (uncontested is kind) 3s. Were Q and NM that good?? or has the UConn flirtation with a national ranking this season been short lived??

 

[Husky68]

I'm not saying anything about Ollie there, dope. I'm just saying Ollie fluffers shouldn't get to use the inexperience card. And being critical about Ollie doesn't make one a hater. Ollie was clearly outcoached by Tom Moore. Does saying so out loud make one a hater?

Ollie was clearly out coached by Moore because ??????? Uconn did win, came back from 10 down at the 5 minute mark, overcame 2 late 3's by Q in OT and still won. Q clearly out rebounded Uconn. Not sure what Moore did re out coaching other than have his guys play like Tark's UNLV teams (refs ain't going to call all the banging fouls 'cause it would make the game 5 hours long).
How did Moore do against George Mason, was he clearly outcoached, score seems to suggest that. Could it be GM had some nice big players and had strength up front to negate Q's inside game?
You have noticed how clumbsy TO is haven't you? Against NM he looked like the freshman TO. TO, Wolf and Nolan are a tough inside combo to get much out of. Winning against Q sure as hell involved effective coaching by Uconn as talent between the 2 teams is pretty close, if Moore clearly outcoached Ollie then Q would have won.

 

[Tenspro2002]

People should have to realize/remember that this is Ollie's first coaching experience because this is, in fact, Ollie's first coaching experience. So it would be foolish to expect him to be K or Knight or Jim Calhoun right off the bat, and the wise approach would be to pipe down and watch to see if and how he and his team grow and develop over the course of the season.

Of course it's ridiculous to expect KO to have the coaching chops of a seasoned veteran.

On the other hand, top 10 programs don't waste their time developing a coach. They bring in a proven coach who can win right away and is champing at the bit for a high-profile position.

The question is really -- to mix sports metaphors -- do we consider ourselves in the class of the Yankees of the college basketball world or in the class of the Kansas City Royals?

 

[chiller99]

I dont have any problem saying it even if no one else agrees,I think this team has already over achieved. When looking at the roster pre season I thought this team would be a cellar dweller of the conference.

 

[aceboon]

Kansas did just what you described, Roy Williams prior head coaching experience was as a high school coach. He served 1o years as an assistant at UNC but I don't think that's far greater than the years KO put in the NBA and then alongside JC.

Of course it's ridiculous to expect KO to have the coaching chops of a seasoned veteran.

On the other hand, top 10 programs don't waste their time developing a coach. They bring in a proven coach who can win right away and is champing at the bit for a high-profile position.

The question is really -- to mix sports metaphors -- do we consider ourselves in the class of the Yankees of the college basketball world or in the class of the Kansas City Royals?

 

[ctchamps]

Very true. Unfortunately, the recruiting restrictions (scholarship reductions...) over the past couple years is showing now. Plus, a fair amount of bad press over the same time period (Nate Miles, APR, retirement questions,...) hasn't help recruiting either.

And the loss of players to the NBA and transfers.

 

[ctchamps]

One freaking loss and this board goes into meltdown mode! We are not going to pick up where we left off. This a new journey like it or not. Between JC leaving, sanctions and transfers, I expected to take a step back. Enjoy the ride!

Believe me this is not meltdown mode. This more like arctic chill than Three Mile Island or Chernoble

 

[Tenspro2002]

Kansas did just what you described, Roy Williams prior head coaching experience was as a high school coach. He served 1o years as an assistant at UNC but I don't think that's far greater than the years KO put in the NBA and then alongside JC.

Conversely, then UNC did the other thing that I described -- bringing in championship-caliber coach Roy Williams. Granted, that was a special circumstance where UNC was Roy's dream job and UNC was able to lure him away from another blue-blood. But if we really consider ourselves in the company of UNC, Duke, Indiana, and Kansas, we should at least be able to hire a proven high-major coach if we desire.

 

[aceboon]

Conversely, then UNC did the other thing that I described -- bringing in championship-caliber coach Roy Williams. Granted, that was a special circumstance where UNC was Roy's dream job and UNC was able to lure him away from another blue-blood. But if we really consider ourselves in the company of UNC, Duke, Indiana, and Kansas, we should at least be able to hire a proven high-major coach if we desire.

Yea, that's after they ran Doherty out there, who came in with headcoaching experience, UNC had no choice but to hit a homerun with their next hire. Going back to my example of Williams that you so quickly sidestepped, his first year coaching KU they were banned from the postseason, just like UConn is.

 

[caw]

Conversely, then UNC did the other thing that I described -- bringing in championship-caliber coach Roy Williams. Granted, that was a special circumstance where UNC was Roy's dream job and UNC was able to lure him away from another blue-blood. But if we really consider ourselves in the company of UNC, Duke, Indiana, and Kansas, we should at least be able to hire a proven high-major coach if we desire.

UK hired Sutton from Arkansas, Pitino after he was looking to come back from the NBA, Tubby moved from Georgia, Gillespie from TA&M, Calipari came from Memphis.

UNC went with Doherty from ND and then Williams from KU

KU took Self from Illinois

IU took Sampson from Oklahoma and Crean from Marquette.

The scenario closest to UConn's is probably IU, where Mike Davis actually did a decent job for his first few years. Then he fell apart because he couldn't recruit.

 

[PomonaHusky]

And the loss of players to the NBA and transfers.

Very true also. Particularly the transfers (which stemmed from the NCAA ban...). I would think most coaches that have been successful getting kids into the NBA (i.e., Calhoun) have a good understanding of which players will leave for the NBA and recruit accordingly (to fill the expected vacancies following NBA departures).

 

[caw]

Very true also. Particularly the transfers (which stemmed from the NCAA ban...). I would think most coaches that have been successful getting kids into the NBA (i.e., Calhoun) have a good understanding of which players will leave for the NBA and recruit accordingly (to fill the expected vacancies following NBA departures).

They actually did a decent job of filling for the player that was expected to head to the NBA. Lamb -> Calhoun.

I don't count Drummond as he was a last minute add to the team.

I don't want them back, because they wanted to leave, but Oriakhi and Roscoe back on this team instead of Nolan and Tolksdorf and this is a very, very solid frontcourt again, esp. if Oriakhi isn't a whiny little...

I do think Nolan has a ton of potential, but he needs to gain muscle/weight. Tolksdorf, I haven't seen enough of to make a judgement.

 

[UConn Hoops1]

I hope this isn't gonna be something you continue to do all season, your posts regarding the coaching after every half/game are annoying as and we're only 4 games in.

I totally and completely agree. Holy ! How high could the expectations for this team be that, this early in the season, this nonsense has started. We knew going in that our overall front-court talent was a work in progress at best with so many players having little or no meaningful PT. Questioning coaching when this team has clearly, in the face of so many obstacles(from travel to new coach to a high level of talent loss from last year etc.,etc.), worked incredibly hard, has been totally responsive and committed to Kevin, and despite some horrendous shooting from the guards for the last 2-3 games, gotten great results. New Mexico is a good team with an established and proven coach. I think the critics on this thread are very definitely going to have ample time to eat their words. Cripes, NC State was a favorite to win the ACC and they got trashed by Okie State. Is Mark Gottfried getting thrown under the bus this early in the season?? I seriously doubt it. In fact, when I saw the headline in today's Waterbury paper(UConn Stunned By New Mexico), I wanted to get on the horn with the editor and ask him or her how desperate they really were to sell papers. "Stunned"?!!! Really?!!! How about coming back to earth.

GO HUSKIES!!! BEAT STONY BROOK!!!

 

[PomonaHusky]

They actually did a decent job of filling for the player that was expected to head to the NBA. Lamb -> Calhoun.

I don't count Drummond as he was a last minute add to the team.

I don't want them back, because they wanted to leave, but Oriakhi and Roscoe back on this team instead of Nolan and Tolksdorf and this is a very, very solid frontcourt again, esp. if Oriakhi isn't a whiny little...

I do think Nolan has a ton of potential, but he needs to gain muscle/weight. Tolksdorf, I haven't seen enough of to make a judgement.

agree 100%

I think the scholarship reductions prevented us from having enough high caliber players in the pipeline to deal with the transfers.

I wonder how Drummond may have impacted recruiting. That whole Summer of 2011 no one knew he was coming and then here he is. The top bigs in the 2012 class had to think twice about committing to a school where they might play behind Drummond if he stayed for a second year. But yeah, AO and Roscoe transferring is obviously the biggest issue now.

I wish our current bigs would learn to play more like Jake Voskuhl (he played his role perfectly).
1) play good position defense,
2) don't worry about blocking shots (the most over-rated stat in basketball, since the offensive team comes up with the ball ~50% of the time and when you don't get it, you're out of rebounding position, especially if you come from off the ball....memories of Ajou Ajou giving up many offensive rebounds),
3) but get your hands up, and box out,
4) set good solid screens,
5) don't try base-line dribble spin moves,
6) 3-4 FG attempts per game,
7) run the floor

 

[upstater]

Of course it's ridiculous to expect KO to have the coaching chops of a seasoned veteran.

On the other hand, top 10 programs don't waste their time developing a coach. They bring in a proven coach who can win right away and is champing at the bit for a high-profile position.

The question is really -- to mix sports metaphors -- do we consider ourselves in the class of the Yankees of the college basketball world or in the class of the Kansas City Royals?

Plenty of proven coaches get high profile jobs and fail, whether we're talking Gillespie, Weber, etc., many others.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

agree 100%

I wish our current bigs would learn to play more like Jake Voskuhl (he played his role perfectly).

Amen to that. I think the same thing watching TO get reach in fouls. 2 Games ago he gave someone the baseline to line him up for a block. Defense is feet, not hands.

 

[8893]

It was me, actually. I caused the loss last night. For the first two games of the tournament I drank the same lineup of beers at roughly the same time throughout the game (with an extra one on Sunday for the 2OT). Last night I drank some frou-frou white Burgundy wine instead, because I had been drinking it with my meal and didn't feel like switching to beer.

I ducked up. I am sorry for messing with the mojo, and I have to admit that I kind of knew it at the time. For my penance I am now going to drink a beer. Maybe more.