2025 Recruiting: Acaden Lewis final four

[awy]

open practice was like first night. but they'll prob expand on this stuff since the demand is demonstrably big

 

[ec33]

It's an unserious event, the coaches just want to introduce the players to the fans and get out of there with nobody getting hurt. Hurley hates it.

Hurley and staff have a strategy to get the recruits they want and First Night isn't a part of it. Why do you care about it when we have hands down the best program in the country and the recruiting formula works so well?

Jock Jams is UConn tradition, replacing it at games with some other corny music 18 year olds like at the moment isn't going to happen and shouldn't happen. Same goes for Guns N' Roses Welcome to the Jungle on defensive third downs.

Maybe when Hurley accomplishes the 3-peat we can stop questioning his recruiting. Until then make First Night an extravaganza and offer Toure a scholarship ASAP. The man is a blind squirrel who keeps finding nuts -- think how much better he would be if he listened to the Boneyard over how to find nuts?

 

[KingAG]

Who are these fans who need to be brought into the fold that don't even know it's going on? The building will be full.

Your point was about this event for recruiting. Hurley and staff don't view this event as their big tool to lure recruits, some lesser programs probably do. Again, I don't see why this is a thing for you when our recruiting is so excellent and we have the best program in the country.

Hurley runs a harcore practice for two hours before the event. I would have much preferred watching that than the actual event when I was younger and now but that's not how it goes. He could scrap that and have the players fresh for a dunk contest, three point contest and a serious scrimmage but that's not what he wants.

I live in southern CT. They don't promote to fans in this area at all. There is a whole half of the state who can be brought into the fold. Secondly, it will not be full. Last year they only used half of Gampel. Also, Why either or? I think you're overthinking what i'm saying. It's cool though. Go Huskies

 

[uconngb]

It's an unserious event, the coaches just want to introduce the players to the fans and get out of there with nobody getting hurt. Hurley hates it.

Hurley and staff have a strategy to get the recruits they want and First Night isn't a part of it. Why do you care about it when we have hands down the best program in the country and the recruiting formula works so well?

Jock Jams is UConn tradition, replacing it at games with some other corny music 18 year olds like at the moment isn't going to happen and shouldn't happen. Same goes for Guns N' Roses Welcome to the Jungle on defensive third downs.

Because, because....Duke....and Kentucky. You know, the programs we have run circles around for the last 25 years.

 

[uconngb]

I don’t think you’re understanding the point.

If we’re going to do it. Which we are. You maximize the event or it’s just a giant waste of time. The fans that need to be brought into the fold don’t even know it’s going on. The event is unserious and it’s not really for fans like me and you. I just feel the way we do it is a waste of time.

Also, don’t get rid of the tradition. But unless the athletic department starts to cater somewhat to younger fans our fanbase is going to get really old, really fast. It’s why I like how much better our social media team has gotten. It helps promote our program to a different demographic in this state. We need to keep growing our fanbase.

All in all it’s not a major issue. Just a thought.

You started off by saying we needed to do this to help our recruiting. Now you are saying it's to reach a broader fan base. I think we have both already pretty well covered and you should just let this one go. NO ONE cares abouts Midnight Maness or First Night or whatever the hell you want to call it and it sure as hell is not going to impact our product on the floor which, once again, has been fairly decent for 25 years running.

 

[rrskyjf]

Because, because....Duke....and Kentucky. You know, the programs we have run circles around for the last 25 years.

and then before the last 25 years, let's say 50 years before that, what has Uconn done?

 

[runner11]

I don’t think you’re understanding the point.

If we’re going to do it. Which we are. You maximize the event or it’s just a giant waste of time. The fans that need to be brought into the fold don’t even know it’s going on. The event is unserious and it’s not really for fans like me and you. I just feel the way we do it is a waste of time.

Also, don’t get rid of the tradition. But unless the athletic department starts to cater somewhat to younger fans our fanbase is going to get really old, really fast. It’s why I like how much better our social media team has gotten. It helps promote our program to a different demographic in this state. We need to keep growing our fanbase.

All in all it’s not a major issue. Just a thought.

I would rather skip it than continue like this. 2012 was the only good first night I can recall. Literally just book a good music act and you are 95 percent there. Or cancel, whatever.

 

[husky429]

The level of vitriol that comes attached to First Night with this fan base is something else.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

All I’m saying. And this wouldn’t make us unserious

Exactly. First night is for the students, players, recruits, etc, so if they enjoy it (and by most accounts they do) awesome let's do it.

The old folks here worried about how serious of a program it makes us are just curmudgeons on a message board...who cares what we think, let the kids have fun

 

[superjohn]

I live in southern CT. They don't promote to fans in this area at all. There is a whole half of the state who can be brought into the fold. Secondly, it will not be full. Last year they only used half of Gampel. Also, Why either or? I think you're overthinking what i'm saying. It's cool though. Go Huskies

I wasn't there but they said the event was full capacity last year and it sold out in 15 hours, it also looked like a full building on the broadcast.

You seem to he arguing something different about UConn not doing a good enough job of marketing in Fairfield County. I've always felt this way and wish we got more of the big time money people down there to be a part of the program.

I was responding to you saying UConn doesn't use First Night as a recruiting tool like Duke and Kentucky do and then you transitioned to saying we don't get young fans into the fold and our old fans are dying off.

We also do have recruits at the event it's just not the thing Hurley and staff feature in their presentation to recruits. Isaiah Abraham and his cousin Patrick Ngongba were there last season, there will be players there this season.

 

[superjohn]

Exactly. First night is for the students, players, recruits, etc, so if they enjoy it (and by most accounts they do) awesome let's do it.

The old folks here worried about how serious of a program it makes us are just curmudgeons on a message board...who cares what we think, let the kids have fun

Nobody is worried about how serious of a program it makes us. We are a serious program, First Night isn't a serious event.

 

[KingAG]

You started off by saying we needed to do this to help our recruiting. Now you are saying it's to reach a broader fan base. I think we have both already pretty well covered and you should just let this one go. NO ONE cares abouts Midnight Maness or First Night or whatever the hell you want to call it and it sure as hell is not going to impact our product on the floor which, once again, has been fairly decent for 25 years running.

1. I never said we needed to do anything for recruiting. I wondered why we didn't do it more. Because we do use it at times.

2. The purpose of first night is to bring in casual fans and the student body to energize them for the season. We do a terrible job. No one in New Haven or Fairfield county knows it's even happening.

3. YOU don't have to care. If it's going to be half-assed it's a waste of time. Funny enough you agree with me that it's not accomplishing anything. Which is my problem with it. If we're going to have it, maximize the event.

4. There is really nothing for you to disagree with here. You're just being dense.

 

[KingAG]

I wasn't there but they said the event was full capacity last year and it sold out in 15 hours, it also looked like a full building on the broadcast.

You seem to he arguing something different about UConn not doing a good enough job of marketing in Fairfield County. I've always felt this way and wish we got more of the big time money people down there to be a part of the program.

I was responding to you saying UConn doesn't use First Night as a recruiting tool like Duke and Kentucky do and then you transitioned to saying we don't get young fans into the fold and our old fans are dying off.

We also do have recruits at the event it's just not the thing Hurley and staff feature in their presentation to recruits. Isaiah Abraham and his cousin Patrick Ngongba were there last season, there will be players there this season.

I don't think we disagree at all honestly. I just wish we'd do a better job of using first night as an event younger fans and recruits actually want to be at. It doesn't have to be our main attraction. Just a tool, in the way bringing recruits to a football game is. Braylon Mullins was quoted today as saying he wants to go to a school where he can have "fun". It's okay to showcase our rabid fanbase. First Night is one of the only opportunities. We're thriving. I trust what Hurley is doing.

And as far as first night last year they only used half of the Pavillion for fans. The stage took up the other half.

 

[superjohn]

1. I never said we needed to do anything for recruiting. I wondered why we didn't do it more. Because we do use it at times.

2. The purpose of first night is to bring in casual fans and the student body to energize them for the season. We do a terrible job. No one in New Haven or Fairfield county knows it's even happening.

3. YOU don't have to care. If it's going to be half-assed it's a waste of time. Funny enough you agree with me that it's not accomplishing anything. Which is my problem with it. If we're going to have it, maximize the event.

4. There is really nothing for you to disagree with here. You're just being dense.

You want our First Night to be like Duke and Kentucky and use it as a recruiting tool. As we've pointed out Hurley and staff use other things as recruiting tools and this event isn't important to them for that. The results speak for themselves.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

I live in southern CT. They don't promote to fans in this area at all. There is a whole half of the state who can be brought into the fold. Secondly, it will not be full. Last year they only used half of Gampel. Also, Why either or? I think you're overthinking what i'm saying. It's cool though. Go Huskies

Think about it this way. The hard practices symbolizes hard work and dedication, and the first night type events symbolize showmanship. Which type of recruit is Hurley trying to attract?

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

I don't think we disagree at all honestly. I just wish we'd do a better job of using first night as an event younger fans and recruits actually want to be at. It doesn't have to be our main attraction. Just a tool, in the way bringing recruits to a football game is. Braylon Mullins was quoted today as saying he wants to go to a school where he can have "fun". It's okay to showcase our rabid fanbase. First Night is one of the only opportunities. We're thriving. I trust what Hurley is doing.

And as far as first night last year they only used half of the Pavillion for fans. The stage took up the other half.

I think the championships are a much better representation of how much fun recruits can have.

 

[KingAG]

You want our First Night to be like Duke and Kentucky and use it as a recruiting tool. As we've pointed out Hurley and staff use other things as recruiting tools and this event isn't important to them for that. The results speak for themselves.

You're not wrong. So why have First Night? It's a waste of time in it's current purpose and form. It's of no benefit. I'm bringing up the young fans as an alternative reason, that we're still doing a terrible job at. If it's not for recruiting than it should at least be for younger fans. If it's for neither....scrap it.

 

[KingAG]

I think the championships are a much better representation of how much fun recruits can have.

How old are you? Serious question. You sound like an adult. Not an 18 year old kid. We are recruiting the same kids Duke and Kentucky are. And None of you can answer the question of "Why have first night if it has no purpose".

 

[KingAG]

Think about it this way. The hard practices symbolizes hard work and dedication, and the first night type events symbolize showmanship. Which type of recruit is Hurley trying to attract?

I'm not advocating for an either/or

 

[TheHorde]

I'm not advocating for an either/or

Exactly. Why not AND? Nobody is making a persuasive argument as to why both couldn’t or shouldn’t happen.

 

[superjohn]

You're not wrong. So why have First Night? It's a waste of time in it's current purpose and form. It's of no benefit. I'm bringing up the young fans as an alternative reason, that we're still doing a terrible job at. If it's not for recruiting than it should at least be for younger fans. If it's for neither....scrap it.

Because it's a remnant of Midnight Madness which was the first time teams could practice and everyone still does it even though it lost what made it cool.

 

[superjohn]

How old are you? Serious question. You sound like an adult. Not an 18 year old kid. We are recruiting the same kids Duke and Kentucky are. And None of you can answer the question of "Why have first night if it has no purpose".

He's right though. We get a different type of recruit than other programs. You have to be unique to pick UConn, Ray Allen explained it well.

 

[KingAG]

Because it's a remnant of Midnight Madness which was the first time teams could practice and everyone still does it even though it lost what made it cool.

Yeah I know that. I keep repeating myself and i'm getting on my own nerves so I'll stop after this lol. I just hate dead weight. If we're going to have it let's make sure it benefits the program in some way.

 

[KingAG]

He's right though. We get a different type of recruit than other programs. You have to be unique to pick UConn, Ray Allen explained it well.

So if Acaden Lewis picks UK or Duke was he not a UConn "type of recruit". What about Niko Bundalo? Or the vast number of other recruits Hurley wants or has wanted that seriously consider Duke or UK.

 

[superjohn]

Yeah I know that. I keep repeating myself and i'm getting on my own nerves so I'll stop after this lol. I just hate dead weight. If we're going to have it let's make sure it benefits the program in some way.

I don't know what to tell you. Hurley doesn't want dunk contests and rappers. Everything he does is benefiting the program.

 

[KingAG]

I don't know what to tell you. Hurley doesn't want dunk contests and rappers. Everything he does is benefiting the program.

Never advocated for either. And their have been rappers and dunk contest at first night with Hurley here. They brought in Silento in 2018 or 2019 i forget haha. We have to stop this righteous attitude stuff lol

 

[superjohn]

So if Acaden Lewis picks UK or Duke was he not a UConn "type of recruit". What about Niko Bundalo? Or the vast number of other recruits Hurley wants or has wanted that seriously consider Duke or UK.

I'll think they're a little less serious if they are our top options and they pick elsewhere.

Obviously I'll think any kid is less serious if they pick a school based on First Night and what rapper a school gets.

 

[superjohn]

Never advocated for either. And their have been rappers and dunk contest at first night with Hurley here. They brought in Silento in 2018 or 2019 i forget haha. We have to stop this righteous attitude stuff lol

We don't have to stop anything, again the results speak for themselves. If you prefer the show Kentucky or Duke puts on then watch them instead.

 

[KingAG]

I'll think they're a little less serious if they are our top options and they pick elsewhere.

Obviously I'll think any kid is less serious if they pick a school based on First Night and what rapper a school gets.

Why do you keep mentioning rappers? It's strange.

And we just agree to disagree. Duke and UK send multiple guys to the league every year. A kid picking either school does not indicate they are "less serious". That's too righteous for my taste.

 

[TheHorde]

I'll think they're a little less serious if they are our top options and they pick elsewhere.

Obviously I'll think any kid is less serious if they pick a school based on First Night and what rapper a school gets.

Not at all saying that Duke’s First Night persuaded the likes of Flagg and Ngongba to commit there. But it unequivocally did not hurt Duke to have that event. And Hurley wanted those two guys. And those are just two examples.