I know I’ve been slammed for being anti-Larry in the past and lord knows this post isn’t going to help.
But Larry, if Chris Hill or anyone cares about this program, should be down to 24 games to prove he is a coach. And there is one reason for that, HIS TEAM HAS QUIT ON HIM AFTER SEVEN GAMES.
Let me say that again, HIS TEAM QUIT AFTER SEVEN GAMES.
It took Ray Giacolletti a season to make that happen and he was having a nervous break down. Larry himself claims Jim Boylen’s team quit on him in Hawaii last year. I don’t believe that to be true, but lets say it is. At least Jim had just had a family crisis and oh yeah two years of winning basketball including a championship. He’s a light year better than Larry.
No one thought this team was going to win or even be close to good, you can’t have the lack of talent that we have and win basketball games, no matter how good the coach.
But being that every Ute fan spent over a decade watching the best defensive mind in the game, we know anyone can defend and anyone can rebound. Defense is about effort, about position, about heart. And it doesn’t take athletic ability to block out. It takes heart and the willingness to put your body on another guy and stand between him and the basket.
AND THE UTES AREN’T DOING ANY OF IT.
We were beaten by Adams St. in the preseason and didn’t look good. We struggled with San Diego Christian College. Our best effort was not being blown out by Montana St. We have been blown out by UNC Ashville and Fresno St. Fresno has lost to North Dakota St., Texas-San Antonio and Manhattan. FRESNO BEAT US BY 30.
The whole claim was that we brought in Larry because he was all about defense and discipline and we’re getting worked by everybody. We’re giving up a 1000 open shots, we’re being run off the boards.
When you only win one game in college hoops, its not just sucking, its like going winless in football. It’s a program killer. Especially when your coach can’t even get his team to do effort things.
And you can’t even blame this on Larry not having his guys. Most of this team are his guys and his best producers are Jim Boylen’s guys. Larry is oversigned for next year and the new guys aren’t even trying to work hard to win jobs for next season.
Larry made the decision not to keep players. And it was his to make. But if he can’t even get the ones he brought in to play hard for him, why would we leave it up to him to rebuild Ute hoops. Going 1 and whatever is truly rock bottom, we’d be fine making another change.
You have 24 games Larry. Prove to us you should be our coach.