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Message: [QUOTE="dennismenace, post: 4995052, member: 6158"] On the plus side I keep in mind the idea that Dan Hurley is "the carpenter." Maybe more like "the architect" because what has been built and will continue to be is a group effort of some very talented assistant coaches who Dan Hurley has started to rely on more and more. But to me the beauty of 2024 was the recruiting and training of players who fit into the "culture." This might best be described as "integrated" like a system. Although it was systematized it (plays especially) there were always options based on assessing opponents' responses, our player talents and performances etc. Because it is so well planned with so many options our opponents become confused (and exhausted) running around like in the dark. This has to be demoralizing to opponents because they can't read it and respond to it. "We are going to do this and you can't stop us." In an odd way this reminds me of the Chicago Bears 1985. They were just completely devastating (on defense) because everything was based on stopping opponents from doing what they wanted to do. Mainly they overwhelmed opponents both physically and emotionally (fear) on defense and it was so intimidating that forced mental/emotional problems before the game even began. They gambled with all out blitzes because they had the talent and the plans which were different from everyone else. The normal response against that team would have been to make them pay by going deep against them. Much easier said than done. No one was used to playing against a team with that kind of talent/play options/physicality. It was just awesome and that is what we have become. Closest thing resembling our recent past to me was Villanova under Jay Wright. Highly organized from top to bottom and well communicated to every member of that team and staff. Our model appears to have a lot more flexibility which makes it more responsive than theirs. Our offense is so much more sophisticated that no one can call all the defensive "automatics" (on the floor defensive changes) that effectively adapt to it. LOL ask Perdue. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach