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Good to see and glad to see it. Not sure why anyone would eventually want it any other way, unless of course you so perfect then I understand lol.
Perhaps we can stage some kind of dual recognition event with Bob Diaco?Kevin Ollie, our debt is settled. Welcome back to Storrs.
Don’t forget to add RandyPerhaps we can stage some kind of dual recognition event with Bob Diaco?
That’s one of the interesting things about the KO era - after that near loss to St. Joe’s, the game plans against every other team and coach were on point all tourney.For whatever else went wrong, that 2014 run was a super well-coached team. We beat Martelli, Wright, Hoiberg, Izzo, Donovan and Calipari.
Every game had different coaching tests, St. Joe's had the point forward thing going on, we opened up a lead on Nova with Bazz on the bench in foul trouble, we had to withstand a big-time counter punch from Michigan State when we were down 10 in the second half, Florida took Bazz out the game entirely and looked like they were going to beat us 100-10, and we made adjustments. We looked way better prepared for Kentucky than vice versa and only some foul trouble to Daniels and Boat after we got up 30-15 gave them some life.
Florida threw a 1-3-1 zone at us in the second half and we torched it with three lobs, and then when we got a lead we played with Giffey at center and let Young have his, but we matched them basket for basket. Then the lob worked again against Kentucky in the final in a key spot, and when they ran a double at Bazz on the last possession, we were ready for it and got Kromah to the line. Some of that is Bazz being savvy too, but the only time in that tournament when it felt like we were getting outcoached was at the start of Florida when their gameplan smothered us, and we couldn't do anything. And we won by double digits.
Maybe the assistants did most of that work and KO got lucky, but man, that team was super well coached. It was downhill from there, but I'll always say that title is his. Yeah Bazz and Boat were Calhoun recruits, but he had to take that team over after everyone else bailed and build up over two years with an entirely different system (and no offense to Olander, Nolan, and Brimah, but with a frontcourt that was typically outmatched).
I think it’s important to note that only 2 of these guys played for 2 full seasons under Ollie. Everyone else either transferred or was hurt. Injuries and transfers over a very bad 2 year stretch pretty much sunk Ollie.Ollie did keep UConn relevant. I agree that the AAC hurt UConn, but I think the biggest AAC problem was once Ollie blew up the program, the AAC would have hurt UConn's ability to turn around the program after Ollie was fired. Look at Ollie's recruiting classes in 2015 and 2016. Here were the top recruits and their recruiting rankings:
Jalen Adams #24
Steven Enoch #84
Alterique Gilbert #35
Juwan Durham. #50
Vance Jackson #77
Mamadou Diarra. #125
Christian Vital. #166
On paper, the recruiting looked good, yet his records were:
2016/2017: 16-17
2017/2018: 14-18
The problems Ollie had were poor scouting of recruits, injuries (some were previously known), poor development, and he didn't seem to recruit players to have an effective basketball strategy. I'm sure his cutting off Calhoun and his divorce didn't help either.
That was a classy move by Ollie.He's family. Still always a Husky. Never held a grudge with him and never will.
Move on. We have the right guy at the helm now and he's brought us back to the mountaintop.
Ollie did keep UConn relevant. I agree that the AAC hurt UConn, but I think the biggest AAC problem was once Ollie blew up the program, the AAC would have hurt UConn's ability to turn around the program after Ollie was fired. Look at Ollie's recruiting classes in 2015 and 2016. Here were the top recruits and their recruiting rankings:
Jalen Adams #24
Steven Enoch #84
Alterique Gilbert #35
Juwan Durham. #50
Vance Jackson #77
Mamadou Diarra. #125
Christian Vital. #166
On paper, the recruiting looked good, yet his records were:
2016/2017: 16-17
2017/2018: 14-18
The problems Ollie had were poor scouting of recruits, injuries (some were previously known), poor development, and he didn't seem to recruit players to have an effective basketball strategy. I'm sure his cutting off Calhoun and his divorce didn't help either.
We need Ollie and Shabaz back in the fold. They will help with recruitment.
People forget how bad Alterique’s injury issues were on the program at the time. Devastating.Ollie did keep UConn relevant. I agree that the AAC hurt UConn, but I think the biggest AAC problem was once Ollie blew up the program, the AAC would have hurt UConn's ability to turn around the program after Ollie was fired. Look at Ollie's recruiting classes in 2015 and 2016. Here were the top recruits and their recruiting rankings:
Jalen Adams #24
Steven Enoch #84
Alterique Gilbert #35
Juwan Durham. #50
Vance Jackson #77
Mamadou Diarra. #125
Christian Vital. #166
On paper, the recruiting looked good, yet his records were:
2016/2017: 16-17
2017/2018: 14-18
The problems Ollie had were poor scouting of recruits, injuries (some were previously known), poor development, and he didn't seem to recruit players to have an effective basketball strategy. I'm sure his cutting off Calhoun and his divorce didn't help either.
but would you be as forgiving if the program was still in shambles?As someone who was once merciless with Ollie, I'm now ready to let bygones be bygones and welcome him again as part of our family.
Grudges are stupid anyway.
The national media is full of incompetent bozos. I can see why they'd be talking about itI mean it was literally talked about on national radio and television this morning. But sure fishy. The same way Tristan Newton isn’t a pg.
Lol.
The transfers didn't just happen like an act of god, they happened for a reasonI think it’s important to note that only 2 of these guys played for 2 full seasons under Ollie. Everyone else either transferred or was hurt. Injuries and transfers over a very bad 2 year stretch pretty much sunk Ollie.
After that mass transfer exodus, combined with mass injuries, and then recruiting taking a nosedive while being in the AAC, there was nothing Ollie could do to get out of that hole.
People forget how bad Alterique’s injury issues were on the program at the time. Devastating.
Yea agreed. Love Jalen but he never developed his left hand, which is why he always had to contort his body for wild finishes from the left side of the hoop. Gotta imagine a more tuned in coach would have addressed that.Jalen Adams was probably the biggest "What If" guy in terms of coaching quality. Coming out of highschool he was more highly-ranked than (his teammate at Brewster) Donovan Mitchell. Incredible natural ability, maybe the most talented guy I've seen play at UConn to never get a sniff in the NBA. You start him under Hurley and I think he gets there.
STFUshould say “thank you for cleaning up the mess I made”
That is perfect… thats how you mend things..I donated to that after we won the championship…and I think a lot of people did… its go to help Mr Hurley win another oneYou won't find a post from me criticizing Ollie. I'll always appreciate the 2014 title.
Kevin, if you read this ... (please put "Boneyard" in the note section)
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Post Championship NIL Fundraiser
Let's do our best to take care of our players, and help a good cause. I was supposed to set this up the week before the tournament, but I forgot. Ben Renshaw (@Huuuusky) sent me the info on how to donate so they can keep track of how we (the boneyard) are doing. Not needed, but it'll help if...the-boneyard.com
Anyone ask Calhoun what he thinks of all this? People seem to forget that it wasn't Calhoun who walked away from KO, it was KO turning his back on Calhoun (and ultimately, the whole team).I‘m pro-healing, but also realize that the kind of damage that was done is not something you instantly cure with a Natty. Last night we reached a big milestone in the healing process. The damage was proved not to be irreparable and KO’s expression shows the kinship is still there. There is still a long road ahead and actions warranted on both sides to complete the healing but I‘m a lot more hopeful about it today than I was before.