Aidan Mahaney says he would choose UConn again despite disappointing year

[RuffRuff]

Would love to know what each said to each other at their end of the season meeting. I doubt Hurley told him to outright hit the road but I'm sure they both knew going into the meeting that it wasn't beneficial to either of them to have Mahaney play another year at UConn.

I'd have to think Dan Hurley is pretty transparent in in those end of years convos so kids can go make the right decision for themselves. The portal is already open. I think this is what makes kids love him, they can trust him.

 

[DogMania]

I noticed the article this morning and felt is was a nice read.

I always rooted for him to succeed, but could tell early on that he was not a good fit for what Hurley brought him in for. He struggled executing the multi-action motion offense. Being decisive, knowing where to pass it, where to move and cut, is critical, especially for the both guard positions. He struggled often with his shot, and he was not quick or strong enough to prevent players front driving right by him, which was a problem with all of our guards throughout most of last season.

Note, none of this was his fault. He always worked hard and never seemed to complain, though you could see his confidence took a big hit in Maui and carried over throughout most of the season. Hurley kept on putting him out there, but eventually had to ride Diarra for excessive minutes which wore him down, even playing hurt the latter part of the season.

As for Mahaney being a bad fit, I don't think anyone saw that coming. Everyone was excited he chose UConn, including me. If Hurley was asked if he'd do it again, zeroing in on Aidan to fill the role he envisioned him for, he'd probably say no, or evade that question.

I don't know what lead guards were available when the staff was able to turn their attention to 2024-25 roster after winning the back-to-back NC. If they could have landed a Silas Demary type player, not necessarily as talented one, but one with his type of skill set, we might have three-peated.

Aidan just seems like a nice kid and good teammate. Hurley keeping in touch with him, shows he's a class act. It's simply unfortunate it didn't work out for him or UConn last year. I chalk it up as a learning experience based on the roster building decisions for the 2025-26 and the 2026-27 seasons.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Nice! I think Aidan appreciates the lessons he learned here. He’s not a point guard. He will make money overseas

 

[RuffRuff]

I noticed the article this morning and felt is was a nice read.

I always rooted for him to succeed, but could tell early on that he was not a good fit for what Hurley brought him in for. He struggled executing the multi-action motion offense. Being decisive, knowing where to pass it, where to move and cut, is critical, especially for the both guard positions. He struggled often with his shot, and he was not quick or strong enough to prevent players front driving right by him, which was a problem with all of our guards throughout most of last season.

Note, none of this was his fault. He always worked hard and never seemed to complain, though you could see his confidence took a big hit in Maui and carried over throughout most of the season. Hurley kept on putting him out there, but eventually had to ride Diarra for excessive minutes which wore him down, even playing hurt the latter part of the season.

As for Mahaney being a bad fit, I don't think anyone saw that coming. Everyone was excited he chose UConn, including me. If Hurley was asked if he'd do it again, zeroing in on Aidan to fill the role he envisioned him for, he'd probably say no, or evade that question.

I don't know what lead guards were available when the staff was able to turn their attention to 2024-25 roster after winning the back-to-back NC. If they could have landed a Silas Demary type player, not necessarily as talented one, but one with his type of skill set, we might have three-peated.

Aidan just seems like a nice kid and good teammate. Hurley keeping in touch with him, shows he's a class act. It's simply unfortunate it didn't work out for him or UConn last year. I chalk it up as a learning experience based on the roster building decisions for the 2025-26 and the 2026-27 seasons.

It would have taken more than just 1 player for that roster last year to Threepeat.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Does it matter? Unless it impacts you directly, you could do this with everyone and drive yourself crazy.

Does it matter? No not really but the same statement could be made not only about every post in this thread or even the thread itself. It is history it is over and I would think everyone would want to move on.

 

[HungryHu5ky]

Pretty sure UConn wouldn’t choose him again tho 😮‍💨

 

[NJHoops]

I've always thought Dan Hurley saw himself in AM.

The comparison of added ridiculously unhelpful cheap shots (a lot of Seton Hall fans versus some UConn fans and some program adjacent UConn people) seems similar. I’m not talking about deserved critiques but stuff that crosses a line. I think it’s more Jaylin and Jayden that he sees himself in so far. Danny had a respectable but not spectacular Big East career and always struggled to bring what he did in practice to games in a more consistent manner. If he had some of the mental supports and insights back then that he does now, it probably would have helped, but it was a different time.

Aidan could have said nothing, so I credit him for being able to see the big picture in all this. He appreciates a lot do the relationships he made in Storrs, and I’ll be rooting for him.

 

[CL82]

Would love to know what each said to each other at their end of the season meeting.

Whatever was said, I don't think it was a surprise. I suspect that Hurley is pretty transparent with players, given his own struggles in his playing history. I do think there was probably discussion of what the staff was looking to bring in during the off-season. Mahaney Undoubtedly understood that his season was less successful. Then both he and the staff had hoped.

I'm glad he values his experience here. He never seemed to quit and never complained, even though his envision role didn't work out. That's a quality kid. I wish him all the luck in the world as he finishes up his college career.

 

[glastonbury50]

I was at the Baylor game for his coming out party. That was a pivotal game in our shaky season. Once a husky always a husky.

 

[CL82]

Danny had a respectable but not spectacular Big East career and always struggled to bring what he did in practice to games in a more consistent manner.

I feel like that's a little understated. As an upperclassman, Hurley was good for about 14 points and 5 assists per game. If we get that from Demary, everyone here will be justifiably singing his praises.

 

[mauconnfan]

Think it was simple misfit based on thinking he could be a PG and I don’t blame Hurley. After watching the kid a lot at StMarys I would have agreed. Real nice player that many high majors wanted to deliver to their fans. Wish it worked and think he’s much better than we saw. Hope USCB gets that and more!

 

[NJHoops]

I feel like that's a little understated. As an upperclassman, Hurley was good for about 14 points and 5 assists per game. If we get that from Demary, everyone here will be justifiably singing his praises.

He’s my guy. I’m trying to play it cool so I don’t get the eye rolling, here she goes again blowback.

 

[RuffRuff]

Think it was simple misfit based on thinking he could be a PG and I don’t blame Hurley. After watching the kid a lot at StMarys I would have agreed. Real nice player that many high majors wanted to deliver to their fans. Wish it worked and think he’s much better than we saw. Hope USCB gets that and more!

it was a misfit, period. He couldn't guard anyone, and that was evident in the StM tape against athletic teams. Someone that can't defend athletic guards has to be ridiculously good offensively. This is the part that I still can't wrap my head around. I'm sure the staff knew Solo wasn't a great defender, and Liam wasn't going to come in playing great defense. Samson certainly isn't imposing much inside and AK is a slow footed guy. Why in the world did they think a non-athletic PG convert was the right defensive compliment to that roster?

 

[mauconnfan]

it was a misfit, period. He couldn't guard anyone, and that was evident in the StM tape against athletic teams. Someone that can't defend athletic guards has to be ridiculously good offensively. This is the part that I still can't wrap my head around. I'm sure the staff knew Solo wasn't a great defender, and Liam wasn't going to come in playing great defense. Samson certainly isn't imposing much inside and AK is a slow footed guy. Why in the world did they think a non-athletic PG convert was the right defensive compliment to that roster?

That’s a very good point and add an injured Diarra to this yikes. Agree for sure looking at it that way!

 

[NJHoops]

That’s a very good point and add an injured Diarra to this yikes. Agree for sure looking at it that way!

I’ll always be disappointed that we got an injured and physically diminished Diarra in his last year. He was a warrior out there and never complained, but he deserved better.

 

[glastonbury50]

You guys only know part of it. When I was at the Maui Invitational, you could see everything up close and personal-believe me it's a small gym. I was sitting 5 rows behind the ESPN announcers in the game against Memphis and near the UConn bench against Colorado and Dayton. I saw Aidan's facial expression when he was sitting on the bench and through the end-of-game handshake line and it was very evident he was hurting emotionally. I felt horrible for him and this went beyond basketball for me. I know the facial expression Aidan was showing it was that of a person that completely lost their confidence and was demoralized. I am sure you guys have seen the facial expression on someone when they screw up a big project at work or school or fails miserably at a test they so badly wanted to ace.

Remember, he lost his starting job after the Memphis game and barely played in the Maui Invitational after the first of half of the Memphis game. While me, my wife, and everyone there was having fun and enjoying the beautiful paradise despite UConn going 0-3, I saw a guy in Aidan that wanted to get the hell off of that rock as quickly as possible.

Used to call this bad body language.

 

[RuffRuff]

I’ll always be disappointed that we got an injured and physically diminished Diarra in his last year. He was a warrior out there and never complained, but he deserved better.

Given a chronic thing, I’d have to think the staff knew the potential for aggravation in an extended minutes role.

The player they needed was a physical & natural on-ball guy with some PG skills, like a Demary. There were a lot of options better than Mahaney, that I know. What furthers the puzzle is the only other option they looked at was a stiff spot up shooter. Just a really lazy process.

Look in the BE alone at who could have been a better fit, Neal from Creighton, Richmond, Poplar from Nova. Not perfect but big physical guards who could put the ball on the floor.

 

[alphasigko]

This kid is a real Mensch! I wish him the best this year and after!