Following a national title two years ago, former coach Jim Calhoun and the UConn basketball program have hit a bit of a rough patch.
A three-game suspension by the NCAA, for failure to create an atmosphere of complaiance, to begin the 2011-12 season was the beginning of a tumultous turn for the Huskies team as they crawled to a 20-14 record and early exit in the NCAA Tournament last March. Adding fuel to the fire, this year it was announced the team would be ineligible for 2013 postseason play after repeated poor academic performance and failure to reach the proper standards.
Now, the GSR (Graduation Success Rate), measuring student-athlete progress toward graduation and good academic standing, was released Thursday for students entering college from 2002-2005 and UConn registered a horrific 11%.
The NCAA average for men’s basketball is 68%, meaning they whiffed by over 50%, for those scoring at home.
Calhoun has already retired, whether it was due to increasingly failing health or understanding the continued impending doom his Huskies were facing is unclear, and Kevin Ollie takes over the program with a one-year contract. Not only is his future recruiting pitch hindered with potential postseason eligibility concerns but he is also missing a host of players that have transferred elsewhere or entered the NBA Draft last June.
Hope they enjoyed their national title because it could be a long few years for the UConn faithful.
Featured Image: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
About Jason Smith