An offer is in

[TRest]

Not really sure why his wife would object to leaving Rhode Island so much. I grew up right around where they live and it’s only super nice in the summer. Hurley would be making around $3 million a year so they could just buy a summer home in Narragansett. This way Hurley gets to advance his career and his wife gets to spend the nice part of the year in the area she loves so much. Anyone telling you that living in RI is any different from CT in the winter is crazy.

They could stay where they are if DH doesn't mind the commute. Too bad Route 6 was never made a real highway between Providence and Hartford.

 

[reddevilhusky]

They could stay where they are if DH doesn't mind the commute. Too bad Route 6 was never made a real highway between Providence and Hartford.

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.

 

[Uconnfanatic]

Yup. Was gonna reply the same thing. I've watched them three times. I think I've seen that style of D somewhere before.

Idk how he'd do running a program like UCONN, but he can damn well coach. And he targets the right kinds of kid, "tough guys who will listen".

Oats halftime interview, "we are the better team." Not even bragging or motivational, just matter of fact.

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.

 

[Matrim55]

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.

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.

 

[djct1999]

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.

Amen.

 

[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 DH 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 DH 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