After 12 years on the UConn men’s basketball coaching staff and 43 years overall as a college basketball coach, George Blaney has announced his retirement, UConn has announced.
Blaney, 73, served as UConn’s associate head coach under former coach Jim Calhoun and also as an assistant coach for Calhoun and last year for first-year head coach Kevin Ollie. He is now a special assistant/advisor to Ollie.
“I always said I would know when it would be the right time to go,” Blaney said on a press released issued by UConn. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my years at UConn, but I think for me, this is the right time.
“Coaching with Jim has been so special for me. We have always been such great friends and that just made for a wonderful working relationship. His passion for the game, for the kids, and for UConn is what made him such a special coach.
“And I am just so excited about Kevin. I said right from the get-go that Kevin Ollie is a superstar coach and he certainly showed it last year. And I think this year’s team is going to be terrific.”
Blaney brought a wealth of basketball knowledge with him when he joined the UConn staff before the 2001-02 season after coaching stops at Stonehill, Dartmouth, Seton Hall, Rhode Island, and for 22 years as head coach at his alma mater, Holy Cross.
“Coach Blaney is just a great basketball coach … just the way he puts basketball and life in perspective,” Ollie said in UConn’s release. “He’s been somebody I can confide in, no matter what the situation. Not only was Coach Blaney a great help to me last year through the transition to head coach, but he helped me when I was an assistant, helped me in my whole path to becoming a college coach. And of course, his decades of coaching experience have been invaluable to me on the bench.”
Ollie, who coached UConn to 20 wins in his first season with the Huskies, promised to keep in close contact with Blaney. UConn was on an NCAA probation from the postseason in 2012-13 but will be free to play in the postseason in 2013-14.
Blaney retires from UConn, school announces
UConn in the clear for now, others could be in trouble for 2015 tournament
The academic progress rating (APR) can be an insanely confusing subject.
Kevin Ollie and Shabazz Napier (AP)
So I’ll break this down as simply as possible: UConn, banned from the tournament last year because of a low APR score, is eligible in 2014. Based on their recent scores, the Huskies look to be in good shape for 2015, too.
Some other notable programs may not be.
To qualify for the 2014 tournament, teams need a four-year APR of 900 or a two-year score of 930. But in 2015, the four-year minimum shoots up to 930 while the two-year becomes 940. The following programs, all eligible in 2014, might be in trouble for the 2015 tournament.
*Current four-year rolling APR is in parentheses; single-year scores are listed below.
Providence (915)
2009-10—904
2010-11—917
2011-12—929
2012-13 — ??
Rhode Island (926)
2008-09—940
2010-11—896
2011-12—813
2012-13—??
Texas A&M (912)
2009-10 — 846
2010-11 — 907
2011-12 – 920
2012-13 — ??
Southern Illinois (904)
2009-10—860
20010-11—837
2011-12—962
2012-13—??
Houston (908)
2009-10—960
2010-11—900
2011-12—938
2012-13—??
Central Florida (920)
2009-10—933
2010-11 — 964
2011-12—885
2012-13—??
UTEP (914)
2009-10—913
2010-11—909
2011-12—957
2012-13—??
NCAA releases APR data, UConn eligible for 2014 postseason
Kevin Ollie (AP)
The NCAA released its annual academic progress rating (APR) Tuesday, and UConn, as expected, is in the clear.
The Huskies men’s basketball program, banned from the 2013 postseason because of subpar academic marks, scored a 947 in 2011-12, lifting their two-year average well-above the required 930. So, after a one-year hiatus, the Huskies are eligible for postseason play.
“Our men’s basketball team again had an outstanding APR score for the second-straight season and I want to congratulate the student-athletes, coach Calhoun, coach Ollie and the rest of the coaching staff for that accomplishment,” said UConn AD Warde Manuel. “I think it is particularly noteworthy that they earned these scores during a time in which they were playing incredibly competitive basketball, particularly in their great run to the national championship in 2011.”
The NCAA reformed its academic standards in August 2011, resulting in new benchmarks for tournament eligibility. Schools can qualify for the 2014 NCAA tournament with a 930 two-year average or a 900 four-year average. By 2015, tournament eligibility will be based on a four-year APR of 930 or a two-year score of 940. Beginning in 2016, all teams must clear the four-year standard of 930.
UConn Men’s Basketball Single-Year APR
| Year | Single-Year APR | |||
| 2003-04 | 941 | |||
| 2004-05 | 889 | |||
| 2005-06 | 978 | |||
| 2006-07 | 981 | |||
| 2007-08 | 909 | |||
| 2008-09 | 844 | |||
| 2009-10
2010-11 2011-12 |
826
978 947 |
Memphis to host 2014 AAC tournament
FedEx Forum (courtesy of BigEast.org)
The FedEx Forum in Memphis will host the inaugural American Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament, the league announced Tuesday.
According to various reports, Memphis emerged as the favorite weeks ago, beating out venues in Hartford and Philadelphia.
“We are very excited to have the first American Athletic Conference championship at FedExForum,” said AAC commissioner Mike Aresco. “We received significant interest from many outstanding venues. FedExForum is an outstanding facility and the Forum, the city of Memphis, the University of Memphis and the local community will combine to create a wonderful inaugural event that our teams, coaches, administrators and fans will embrace and enjoy.”
The 2014 league tournament will be played from Wednesday, March 12 to Saturday, March 15. All games will be on the ESPN networks, and the championship game can be seen on ESPN.
The deal with the FedEx Forum is reportedly for one year. Aresco said last week that the league would “re-examine things as the year went by.”
“We might even wait to see how the tournaments pan out next year before we make a decision on the longer-term plan,” Aresco said.
The league will take the same approach with the women’s tournament, which will be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in 2014.
UConn to play Boston College in 2K at MSG
ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that UConn men with play Boston College in their 2K Sports Classic opener at Madison Square Garden in November.
The Huskies are scheduled to open the season Nov. 8 against Maryland at the Barclays Center and then play two home games in the 2K before playing BC at MSG. Katz also reports the Huskies will play at Washington (in a return series) along with host Harvard and Stanford in December.
A look at UConn’s 2013-14 roster…
Here’s a look at UConn’s 2013-14 roster following the addition of George Washington transfer Lasan Kromah, a fifth-year senior with immediate eligibility. Kromah figures to absorb R.J. Evans’ minutes from a year ago.
A 6-foot-5 guard noted as a solid perimeter defender, Kromah played for UConn assistant Karl Hobbs as a freshman. Hobbs was the head coach at George Washington from 2001-11.
Shabazz Napier and Tyler Olander (AP)
STARTERS
PG — Shabazz Napier, senior: Had one of the best individual seasons of any point guard in program history.
SG — Ryan Boatright, junior: Dynamic athlete and scorer. Struggled as point guard in Napier’s absence.
SG — Omar Calhoun, sophomore: Showed solid progress throughout freshman season.
F — DeAndre Daniels, junior: Long, physically-gifted wing who put it all together in final five games.
F — Tyler Olander, senior: Had a disappointing season as the starter (4.3 points, 3.7 rebounds).
BENCH
G/F — Niels Giffey, senior: Glue guy who struggled with jumpshot during junior campaign.
F — Kentan Facey, freshman: The highest-rated of UConn’s three newcomers. A lanky 6-foot-9 athlete who will be counted on to rebound and block shots.
F — Phil Nolan, sophomore: Averaged 6.3 rebounds in final three games.
G — Lasan Kromah, grad student: Long, active defender whose scoring numbers have dipped each year.
G —Terrence Samuel, freshman: Physical point guard in the Kevin Ollie mold.
F — Amida Brimah, freshman: Ridiculous wingspan (reportedly 7-foot-5), but underdeveloped offensive skills.
F — Leon Tolksdorf, sophomore: Spot-up shooter who played sparingly a year ago.
G—Brendan Allen, junior: Scholarship player last season reverts to walk-on status.
*G—Rodney Purvis, sophomore: Will sit out 2013-14 season as a transfer. Can practice with team.
*C—Enosch Wolf, senior: Suspended indefinitely since Feb. 11, Wolf has been permitted to return as a walk-on. It’s unclear if he’ll opt to do so.
UConn lifts suspension on Wolf, reportedly adds GW transfer Kromah
UConn added one player Tuesday and welcomed another back from suspension (kind of).
Enosch Wolf (AP)
Shortly after CBS’ Jon Rothstein reported that George Washington transfer Lasan Kromah was headed to UConn, the school announced that suspended center Enosch Wolf would be eligible to return as a non-scholarship player.
Wolf, suspended indefinitely after a Feb. 11 arrest, is expected to make a decision about coming back for his senior year within the next few weeks, according to UConn.
It seems his scholarship will go to Kromah, a 6-foot-5 guard eligible immediately as a graduate student. Recruited to George Washington by former coach Karl Hobbs (now an assistant at UConn), Kromah averaged double-figures in three seasons with the Colonials. He missed his entire sophomore year with a left foot injury.
This past season, Kromah posted averages of 10.1 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting just 22 percent from the 3-point arc. He’ll join a deep backcourt of Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright, Omar Calhoun and incoming freshman Terrence Samuel.
If Wolf chooses to return, he’ll battle for playing time at the center spot with returning starter Tyler Olander, rising sophomore Phil Nolan and incoming freshmen Kentan Facey and Amida Brimah. DeAndre Daniels, among the most improved players in the Big East, figures to start as a stretch-four.
Prior to his suspension, Wolf had been the team’s most productive center, performing well against N.C. State (12 points, nine rebounds), Marquette (six points, seven rebounds) and Providence (six points, five rebounds). But on Feb. 11, the 7-foot-1 junior was charged with third-degree burglary, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct following an early morning altercation with a female student. According to the police report, Wolf “grabbed the hair of the victim and pushed her head” and “knocked the glasses off of the victim’s face with his hand.”
Charges against Wolf were dropped after his completion of a domestic violence diversionary program. Although his counseling was no longer court-mandated, Wolf told reporters on April 24 that he continued to remain in the program.
Wolf’s attorney, Rob Britt, said the counseling helped Wolf “address alcohol, which was an important part of the equation.”
Notes/Quotes with Daniel Hamilton: “They treated me like family”
I caught up with 6-foot-6 swingman Daniel Hamilton, the first recruit in UConn’s 2014 class. Some highlights:
*On deciding so early: “I already knew what school I was going to go to. A lot of coaches will call you and text you and I just wanted to get it over with early and be free.”
*On relationship with Kevin Ollie: “I’ve known him since about 9th grade at Crenshaw, that’s when he first started recruiting me and (my brother) Isaac. He just continued to key in on me even though Isaac committed (to UTEP), he continued to recruit me.”
“Ollie is a well-known guy, a lot of people knew him (at Crenshaw) and a lot of people looked up to him.”
*On his decision: ” I told (Ollie) the day I got home from my visit. I got home on Sunday, but Monday I told him I was going to call him. I thought about it on the plane, talked it over with my parents and I called him and told him I was coming. I waited until Friday to tell the media.”
*On playing weaker competition in AAC: “At the end of the day UConn is going to end up playing some big-time schools non conference. Once you get to the NCAA tournament, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing against, you have to go out and perform.”
Other schools heavily recruiting Hamilton included Texas El-Paso (his brother, Isaac, is an incoming freshman), Colorado, USC, Arizona and Arizona State. He”s rated as a top 30 prospect in the 2014 class.
