Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Bad blood with UConn spills over into basketball transfers

Eric Hoffes is reporting that UConn will not allow Alex Oriakhi to transfer to BC. Unfortunately there is little BC or Oriakhi can do about it. I've been told the interest was mutual, and Oriakhi liked the idea of playing close to home in the ACC and on a team that needed a big man. Unless public pressure forces UConn to change its stance, he will move on to some other opportunity. What's curious about the whole thing is that he is still available to major programs like North Carolina and Kentucky. UConn doesn't seem bothered by the rich getting richer. But a school like BC -- which just finished last in the ACC -- is not allowed.


We know the history, but clearly the UConn leadership doesn't believe in bridge building or looking out for a player's best interest. The only reason Oriakhi is immediately available is because of UConn's violations. They flaunted the rules. But they are taking the players down with them by limiting his choices.


For any wondering, this is not about Steve Donahue. For all I know he has a good working relationship with Jim Calhoun. This is more about the BC-UConn pissing match.


The mistake UConn leaders are making is that this sort of move won't be forgotten. When Gene is retired and an expanded ACC comes up for proposal, do they think we will be supporting them or Rutgers? This will not end well but UConn has never been one to see the big picture.

17 comments:

Ryan said...

I don't blame them. Blame GDF for his public and idiotic comments about blocking UConn from ACC membership. Can't have it both ways.

Ryan said...

For the record, I would hope BC would do the same thing if the situation were reversed.

Knucklehead said...

It does not seem right either logically or based on my knowledge of NCAA regulations that the current univeristy can decide the schools to which an athlete may transfer.

Oriaki is a good player but he decided to play for Jim Calhoun and he has to be completely vetted by the school looking to sign him.

Boston College should not trust anything related to the University of Connecticut. The last thing Boston College basketball needs is some past NCAA transgression of Oriakis being levied against them. I would put nothing past Jim Calhoun

Knucklehead said...

It does not seem right either logically or based on my knowledge of NCAA regulations that the current univeristy can decide the schools to which an athlete may transfer.

Oriaki is a good player but he decided to play for Jim Calhoun and he has to be completely vetted by the school looking to sign him.

Boston College should not trust anything related to the University of Connecticut. The last thing Boston College basketball needs is some past NCAA transgression of Oriakis being levied against them. I would put nothing past Jim Calhoun

Big Jack Krack said...

Calhoun is a miserable individual.

Although he is a very wealthy man, he remains a little weasel as evidenced by his words and deeds.

Having said that, Gene DeFilippo is no warm day at the beach. But I'd venture to guess that Calhoun's animosity towards BC preceded DeNapoleon - all Gene did was stoke the flames.

I think the student athletes should be allowed to choose where they want to go when their school is hammered by the NCAA. I'm not well versed in the process, but if a little weasel can prevent you from going where you want to go - that stinks. Period.

mod34b said...

I love this! UConn has just placed another nail in its "big-time sports" coffin.

So sorry UConn, there will be no ACC invite for you scrounges.

Too bad in the short term for BC hoops though.

ATL -- Nice job publicizing this

Unknown said...

"For the record, I would hope BC would do the same thing if the situation were reversed."

The situation was reversed already and BC let the student transfer to UConn.

http://www.metro.us/boston/sports/article/947532--shakim-phillips-former-nj-football-star-transferring-to-uconn

mod34b said...

A few recent Gems from UConn when they were trying to act all nicey-nice

Asked for a response to DeFilippo's assertion, UConn president Susan Herbst was conciliatory.

"I don't believe in institutions fighting each other," Herbst said. "We are colleges and universities, after all. I have absolutely nothing against any educational institution, Boston College included. And we never would."

mod34b said...

Conn Gov and BC Double Eagle Malloy told The Courant he held conversations with Boston College and said "What is important is no further dam­age be done to the relationship [with BC]," Malloy said. "That time and energy go into making what should hap­pen pos­sible."

mod34b said...

The view from the Hartford COurant: "It's no secret that UConn is seriously interested in a move to the ACC, but far from certain that the ACC will add two more teams, and if it does, whether BC has the power and inclination to blackball UConn. Let's hope the adults in the room, UConn president Susan Herbst and her BC counterpart, William J. Leahy SJ, can work through this."

mod34b said...

UConn was, is and always will be two-faced.

Matt said...

I wonder if Malloy is more loyal to BC or UConn

Knucklehead said...

This article does not mention Boston College being blocked.
http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-men/hc-uconn-oriakhi-0328-20120327,0,6068317.story

Where does it say Boston College is blocked on the E. Hoffes site

ModA36 said...

It is time for uconn and bc to let this petty nonsense go. Who started it? Who cares? These institutions should be bigger than uconn's former president, Calhoun and gdf. It is Pathetic to watch. And it won't end until gdf is gone.

I really don't understand why people are dying for rutgers over uconn. Does anyone remember any great Rutgers games at conte? I sure don't. But I saw many great games going back to corny Thompson, eArl Kelley, Donyell Marshall, ray Allen and others. Even if you hate them, isn't it more fun to root against uconn than seeing wAke, nc state and all these schools we have nothing in common with? At least when uconn came in the gym was electric.

EL MIZ said...

i agree with modA36. its petty to let this stuff continue; are we really going to hold it against UCONN forever? (it doesn't seem so with the phillips transfer to there).

they are obviously too moronic to realize that its for their own good to mend the bridge. still, i haven't seen this reported anywhere so i'm not sure how accurate it is.

oriyaki would be a huge addition to next year's team. i think we make the tournament with him and humphrey as seniors.

neenan said...

Why battle UConn?

Over the past? No.

Over the future? Yes.

Much as BC does not want a rival football power in New England, esp. UConn, UConn does not want to give BC any ground on the hops front.

neenan said...

err, hoops.