An offer is in

[Huskymagic]

I like Hurley but Oats looks like the kind of young coach that could bring some real excitement back to the program. I don't why we get locked in on one guy like we do. I wish DB would at least brings Oats to Storrs for an interview. I suspect if he did, I suspect it would be clear that this guy brings a different level of confidence and enthusiasm and would be the obvious choice. I'm sure Hurley will do fine but I think this guy has a higher ceiling and could have us back at that elite level contending for championships every year. If it's not at UConn, he'll be doing at some other major program and we'll be regretting that we didn't make him our number one target.

If Nate Oats beats Kentucky today like he did Arizona then yes I agree that he should jump at the top of our list and it should be a 2 horse race between him and Hurley on who can make the better case to be UCONN's head coach.

Compared to Ollie they are both huge steps forward in coaching. Nate Oats players play with confidence, and he is a likeable coach who probably has higher recruiting upside than Hurley.

Oats is a likeable coach, intelligent, and a guy recruits will gravitate towards to.

 

[Matrim55]

Compared to Ollie they are both huge steps forward in coaching. Nate Oats players play with confidence, and he is a likeable coach who probably has higher recruiting upside than Hurley.

I like Oats a lot, and if we miss on Hurley I hope we kick the tires. But Hurley's brought multiple top 100 kids to freaking URI over the last four years, as well as a 5-star transfer. To Kingston!

He has a top 20 national recruiting class coming in this year and is recruiting a ton of high level players for 2019 as well. I'm not sure why there's a "Hurley's a subpar recruiter!" narrative happening here. It's weird, and not factual.

 

[Uconnfanatic]

I like Oats a lot, and if we miss on Hurley I hope we kick the tires. But Hurley's brought multiple top 100 kids to freaking URI over the last four years, as well as a 5-star transfer. To Kingston!

He has a top 20 national recruiting class coming in this year and is recruiting a ton of high level players for 2019 as well. I'm not sure why there's a "Hurley's a subpar recruiter!" narrative happening here. It's weird, and not factual.

I think they both can recruit. i just think Oats will prove the better coach and bring UConn to higher heights than Hurley with. None of us know for sure but I have seen enough to make him my first choice.

 

[djct1999]

I think they both can recruit. i just think Oats will prove the better coach and bring UConn to higher heights than Hurley with. None of us know for sure but I have seen enough to make him my first choice.

Give me one example of Oats' ability to recruit at a high major.

 

[TRest]

I could see why he wouldn’t want to do that commute though. An hour and a half each way would be pretty annoying to do everyday especially during the winter if the road conditions aren’t great.

I've tried a bunch of back road trips from Hartford to the Kingston area, they all sucked in different ways.

 

[tzznandrew]

I like Oats a lot, and if we miss on Hurley I hope we kick the tires. But Hurley's brought multiple top 100 kids to freaking URI over the last four years, as well as a 5-star transfer. To Kingston!

He has a top 20 national recruiting class coming in this year and is recruiting a ton of high level players for 2019 as well. I'm not sure why there's a "Hurley's a subpar recruiter!" narrative happening here. It's weird, and not factual.

It's crazy the people who are saying things like: "URI's offense is bad!" "He's a bad in-game coach!" "He can't recruit!"

It's like they assume because of the last 4 years that anyone who might want to coach here sucks.

Oats seems like a good guy. His team looks like a lot of fun. So did Keno Davis's.

You need a longer track record.

 

[Uconnfanatic]

Give me one example of Oats' ability to recruit at a high major.

Look at the two kids he's bringing into Buffalo next year and that's Buffalo. At UConn he should do even much better. He's got the kind of self confident, positive personality that kids will gravitate to. I'm not worried about his ability to recruit.

 

[Mr. French]

Even if he crushed the interview, hiring a guy with only 3 years of head coaching experience is too big a risk. Hiring a guy who's never recruited a top 100 player is too big a risk. Hiring a guy who has no footprint outside of upstate New York is too big a risk.

Benedict has to play the percentages here.

Other than his connections in b1G country, I’d pretty much agree. Hurley is “next in line” for a reason.

I think Oats could be a star, but 1) let’s see him do it a few years straight (I think he will) and 2) selfishly I’d love one of these guys to stay and build UB into a big time state U program...and I think he’s UB’s best chance at that in awhile.

Maybe he’s Buffalo’s Mark Few or Jim Calhoun.

 

[Uconnfanatic]

Other than his connections in b1G country, I’d pretty much agree. Hurley is “next in line” for a reason.

I think Oats could be a star, but 1) let’s see him do it a few years straight (I think he will) and 2) selfishly I’d love one of these guys to stay and build UB into a big time state U program...and I think he’s UB’s best chance at that in awhile.

Maybe he’s Buffalo’s Mark Few or Jim Calhoun.

If he's not gone this year, he will be next. He's going to be a really good coach for somebody. It will be too bad if it's not us.

 

[TRest]

If Buffalo gets annihilated today I will enjoy reading the new hot takes.

 

[navery12]

Look at the two kids he's bringing into Buffalo next year and that's Buffalo. At UConn he should do even much better. He's got the kind of self confident, positive personality that kids will gravitate to. I'm not worried about his ability to recruit.

And this right here in bold is why Hurley is above Oats for most people. We say Oats should do better at UConn. Hurley has already proven he can recruit at a high level at URI

 

[Uconnfanatic]

And this right here in bold is why Hurley is above Oats for most people. We say Oats should do better at UConn. Hurley has already proven he can recruit at a high level at URI

As far as I can see the two Buffalo recruits are just as highly rated as URI's recruits. I get that most of this board seems locked onto Hurley as the favored choice but he is no more a sure thing than Oats.

 

[tzznandrew]

As far as I can see the two Buffalo recruits are just as highly rated as URI's recruits. I get that most of this board seems locked onto Hurley as the favored choice but he is no more a sure thing than Oats.

Of course Hurley is the "more sure thing." Oats inherited a good team from Bobby Hurley that went 23-10 the year before. He's kept them playing pretty well, but he's never righted a ship. He's never been a head coach anywhere but Buffalo. He has 3 years of coaching experience at the D1 level.

Compare that to Dan Hurley.

And, consider, too, that Hurley has won the A10 outright, etc., a much better conference than Buffalo's.

I like Oats. I really do. But this program needs someone who can come in and fix things, not someone with little experience who has never righted a ship.

If Hurley rejects us, Oat's is a better option than most on the board. But Hurley is the best bed at the moment.

 

[Uconnfanatic]

Of course Hurley is the "more sure thing." Oats inherited a good team from Bobby Hurley that went 23-10 the year before. He's kept them playing pretty well, but he's never righted a ship. He's never been a head coach anywhere but Buffalo. He has 3 years of coaching experience at the D1 level.

Compare that to Dan Hurley.

And, consider, too, that Hurley has won the A10 outright, etc., a much better conference than Buffalo's.

I like Oats. I really do. But this program needs someone who can come in and fix things, not someone with little experience who has never righted a ship.

If Hurley rejects us, Oat's is a better option than most on the board. But Hurley is the best bed at the moment.

You can like Hurley more than Oats but I don't see him as any surer bet. I think they both will have good careers. I just think Oats has more upside.

 

[gtcam]

Give me one example of Oats' ability to recruit at a high major.

At Wagner and URI, please show me the proof that Dan Hurley has done the same, in the 1st three years at each

 

[navery12]

As far as I can see the two Buffalo recruits are just as highly rated as URI's recruits. I get that most of this board seems locked onto Hurley as the favored choice but he is no more a sure thing than Oats.

URI's class is ranked 29/34/26 nationally. Buffalo is ranked 66/75/65. Oats did a good job, but his recruiting is not on the same level as Hurley

 

[Matrim55]

As far as I can see the two Buffalo recruits are just as highly rated as URI's recruits.

URI have the 29th ranked class in the country, with recruit #s 70, 171, 207 & 243. Buffalo have the 66th ranked class in the country with recruit #s 142, 235 and unranked.

Honest to god, dude, just take the L.

 

[navery12]

At Wagner and URI, please show me the proof that Dan Hurley has done the same

See my post 10 inches above for proof of Hurley's recruiting

 

[gtcam]

URI's class is ranked 29/34/26 nationally. Buffalo is ranked 66/75/65. Oats did a good job, but his recruiting is not on the same level as Hurley

URI vs Buffalo
not even close to level playing field

 

[navery12]

URI vs Buffalo
not even close to level playing field

That's the whole point though. Oats is a really good coach. But he still has another step to go with getting a URI level job before he can be on the same level as Hurley. A few years from now he may be getting the same interest as Hurley is this year

 

[tzznandrew]

You can like Hurley more than Oats but I don't see him as any surer bet. I think they both will have good careers. I just think Oats has more upside.

We can go to Vegas, then.

Remember, that doesn't mean that I'm sure I'm right, or that I don't like Oats. But to look at both of their resumes, and the situations of the teams they inherited, and not see a difference in them, or what they might offer given UConn's current state, strikes me as willful ignorance.

 

[tzznandrew]

That's the whole point though. Oats is a really good coach. But he still has another step to go with getting a URI level job before he can be on the same level as Hurley. A few years from now he may be getting the same interest as Hurley is this year

He's never had to build a team from scratch. He might run a good program, but 3 years of coaching in the MAC--after inheriting and NCAA-tournament team--is worlds apart from taking two teams from the gutter and bringing them to the top, not just in the NEC, but in the A10.

 

[intlzncster]

I like Oats a lot, and if we miss on Hurley I hope we kick the tires. But Hurley's brought multiple top 100 kids to freaking URI over the last four years, as well as a 5-star transfer. To Kingston!

He has a top 20 national recruiting class coming in this year and is recruiting a ton of high level players for 2019 as well. I'm not sure why there's a "Hurley's a subpar recruiter!" narrative happening here. It's weird, and not factual.

People are now saying Hurley only got the guys he did just because of his brother Bobby. Who only coached with him 2 yrs at Wagner and 1 at RI.

Feels like a Clyde Vaughn situation where he was responsible for recruiting/developing a decade of big men despite being here for only 2 years.

 

[gtcam]

See my post 10 inches above for proof of Hurley's recruiting

One year does not make someone a great recruiter - do you know that Bobby Hurley recruited all the senior starters on this years URI team?
Not saying the guy isn't a good coach - that is very apparent but the guy is not everything some folks on this board profess him to be
Sounds like if Dan Hurley doesn't come to UConn there's going to be a rash of cliff jumpers
If he comes here I'll be happy to back him, as I did KO but if he doesn't it's not going to ruin my day because I know he's not the end all
Congrats to Dan Hurley and his incoming class - its good to see that he has improved - Jermaine Harris who is ranked #70 is a really good player
Lets look at his classes since 2015 as far as players national rankings
2018 - 4 players - 70, 171, 207, 243
2017 - 1 player - 198
2016- 4 players - 267, 273, 287, 324
2015 - 2 players - 232, 453

If you want to argue that he can take these kids and make them better players and mold them into his system - I agree 100% no doubt

But we are talking recruitment and I really don't see anything that makes me jump up and say he is a great or even a proven recruiter

If he comes to UConn - great

 

[intlzncster]

I've tried a bunch of back road trips from Hartford to the Kingston area, they all sucked in different ways.

Get an apartment 30m from Storrs. 40 min back to his home in RI. Probablem solved.

 

[intlzncster]

If he's not gone this year, he will be next. He's going to be a really good coach for somebody. It will be too bad if it's not us.

I don't think he's going anywhere this year anyway tbh. With his family situation, the commitment he and the Uni just made to the each other, and the fact he's got a great team coming back next year. He's got the kind of confidence to bet on himself, so I don't think he's worried about this being his shot.

 

[gtcam]

People are now saying Hurley only got the guys he did just because of his brother Bobby. Who only coached with him 2 yrs at Wagner and 1 at RI.

Feels like a Clyde Vaughn situation where he was responsible for recruiting/developing a decade of big men despite being here for only 2 years.

It is a fact that Bobby recruited the senior starters on this team and those kids play a huge part of the success of this team
That doesn't mean Dan Hurley cannot coach these kids
It doesn't make Dan Hurley any less attractive as a teaching coach but it does have some folks wondering if he can recruit at a higher level - that's all
Take it easy - you are most likely getting your wish that Dan Hurley might be UConn's next coach
My God some folks are so protective of this guy and any doubts or criticism is met with a "how dare you" just like "how dare you" say anything positive about KO because that might allow him to stay
KO isn't staying and Dan Hurley might or might not come to UConn
I understand the excitement of many who want Dan Hurley and if he is the best candidate - bring him on - I just want UConn to do their best due diligence in selecting the next coach and not have a knee jerk reaction - in my 55 years as a UConn fan and season ticket holder I have seen it in the past and it never turns out good (the KO hiring was one and I know and respect KO)- that's all

 

[intlzncster]

One year does not make someone a great recruiter - do you know that Bobby Hurley recruited all the senior starters on this years URI team?
Not saying the guy isn't a good coach - that is very apparent but the guy is not everything some folks on this board profess him to be
Sounds like if Dan Hurley doesn't come to UConn there's going to be a rash of cliff jumpers

That's not accurate. The story of the EC Matthews recruitment says otherwise. Danny sold him on URI, the program and it's family atmosphere.

Can Dan Hurley Coach the URI Rams all the Way to March Madness? - Page 3 of 3 - Rhode Island Monthly

I'm sure he did the same with at least some of the others. Where are you getting your information?

 

[Walker11]

It is a fact that Bobby recruited the senior starters on this team and those kids play a huge part of the success of this team
That doesn't mean Dan Hurley cannot coach these kids
It doesn't make Dan Hurley any less attractive as a teaching coach but it does have some folks wondering if he can recruit at a higher level - that's all
Take it easy - you are most likely getting your wish that Dan Hurley might be UConn's next coach
My God some folks are so protective of this guy and any doubts or criticism is met with a "how dare you" just like "how dare you" say anything positive about KO because that might allow him to stay
KO isn't staying and Dan Hurley might or might not come to UConn
I understand the excitement of many who want Dan Hurley and if he is the best candidate - bring him on - I just want UConn to do their best due diligence in selecting the next coach and not have a knee jerk reaction - in my 55 years as a UConn fan and season ticket holder I have seen it in the past and it never turns out good (the KO hiring was one and I know and respect KO)- that's all

Can you back up this claim that the Sr. starters came to URI solely because of Bobby? Did it detract from JC's recruiting when Moore or Hobbs or KO ran point on a recruitment?

 

[intlzncster]

Give me one example of Oats' ability to recruit at a high major.

Until you are at a high major, that's tough to prove. But he has some nice players coming in.