Can't believe Hurley said this but you know who he is talking about.

[tuvent08]

Hurley has it right. Totally out of our minds.

The 10 basic requirements for being on the Boneyard:
1. Fully expects the team to score 100 or more points against any and all opponents.
2. Fully expects the team to hold any and all opponents' scoring to single digits.
3. Complains bitterly that the referees are out to get us and call fouls on UConn players for being on the court.
4. Convinces themselves that any opposing player coming within 6 feet of a UConn player has fouled him.
5. Understands the game and its strategy and flow better than any coach alive, especially the UConn head coach.
6. Calls for the immediate firing of the head coach if a UConn player misses any shot or commits any turnover.
7. Knows very clearly that anyone on the bench is a better player than a starter - the farther down the bench he goes, the better he is.
8. Cannot comprehend the lack of the head coaches understanding of when to call time outs and when to effectively substitute for a player on the floor.
9. Understands that any recruit that did not come to UConn and played for a school other than UConn that scored significant points against us in a loss is a result of the total lack of ability to recruit by the head coach and coaching staff.
10. Accepts as fact that the UConn program has the bluest blood of any 'blue blood.'

What say you? Did I miss any???

Lordy, #7. I am surprised that Rashool Diggins hasn't overtaken Wembanyama in the latest mock draft.

 

[polycom]

Y'all are not busy enough at work or retirement doesn't stimulate your mind enough but this is not even peak boneyard this is silly.

 

[Sole]

Geno has been complaining about pressure from fans and the burden of expectations for decades. The right kind of players embrace it and take it as a challenge to prove the doubters wrong

I read the women’s boneyard
board and its nothing like the mens.. some posters on the mens board attack players and it goes on for weeks..I never see posters attacking players on the women’s side

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Yes we (collectively the UConn fan base) can be overly demanding s. I'm pretty confident that Hurley knew this going in and wouldn't have it any other way.

That doesn't mean that he can't point out in an interview that being in a position to celebrate (first sweet sixteen for him and his players) should feel like an accomplishment, not relief that you passed a minimum standards exam.

 

[Scottobot]

I don't like it but I'll take a rowdy fanbase over the alternative. Go to a BC game a few times if you like passivity. Or go to a Bruins game when the Flyers or Montreal are in town. If you dare. I was in Athens when the World Cup was about to start 10- 15 years ago. The afternoon that the planes were coming in filled with the English soccer clubs terrified everyone. They closed their shops and restaurants that afternoon. I would too. Go to any big soccer arena in South America and you will notice chain link fence separating various fan sections. They mean business. We're not there yet.

I hear that. I go to both Oakland As games and SF Giants games, and even though the Giants games are more packed, the small crowd at Oakland is way better. Going to Giants game is like going to the opera. All sorts of rules about not going to get a beer or going to bathroom in the middle of an at bat. Stand are full of corporate ticket holder groups that are just at game to socialize and don’t really care who wins.

 

[Palatine]

I really encourage you to watch the entire interview.

It was in direct response to a question about if the players confidence has improved to their actual ability.

Dan wasn’t going after the fan base at all. Just saying that it’s a lot of pressure at UConn and now that the first 2 rounds are over “they can just go out and let it rip”.

Yeah, an immediate meltdown is a compliment to the fanbase.

 

[polycom]

I read the women’s boneyard
board and its nothing like the mens.. some posters on the mens board attack players and it goes on for weeks..I never see posters attacking players on the women’s side

The two boards are moderated completely differently...

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Most of us were raised by Jim Calhoun. A round of 32 loss will never be a satisfying season.
What other expectations would he want us to have?

 

[Waquoit]

Dan Hurley is like all of us- arrogant. The difference is that he knows what he is talking about and most of us don’t.

Not just that, he's doing the work and it's his ass on the line. We're just watching.

 

[Hunt for 7]

That's great ammunition for opposing coaches to recruit against. Saying our fan base makes it worse than others

I wish he would think about the things he says

Exactly, because we are recruiting players who just want participation trophy’s. He was talking about the first two rounds and the expectation of UConn fans that we expect sweet 16 runs. So by your logic the following recruiting pitch is. “ look come to our school because the university and the fans have no expectations, just come and enjoy yourself. But don’t worry about winning nobody cares”. Brilliant just brilliant!

 

[Hunt for 7]

Exactly, because we are recruiting players who just want participation trophy’s. He was talking about the first two rounds and the expectation of UConn fans that we expect sweet 16 runs. So by your logic the following recruiting pitch is. “ look come to our school because the university and the fans have no expectations, just come and enjoy yourself. But don’t worry about winning nobody cares”. Brilliant just brilliant!

And so many BY Polly Ana’s loved the post. Remarkable thinking kind of like supporting apathy by saying it’s ok not to care.

 

[87Xfer]

Sorry, I still think it comes up short of that quote. Defending the players from crazy people that you should pay no mind to. Framing it differently.

This quote was dire resignation, deserved or otherwise, you have a burden like nobody else if you come here.

The thing is, that isn't even true. All the big time schools have the same kind of pressures . Why single ours out like that? What's the point and the need?

what a meathead interpretation

 

[nomar]

I've been a Hurley defender and I respect that he wants to protect his kids but at a certain point I'd like him to stop making these kinds of comments.

It's one thing to complain about personal attacks on players but I get the sense he's bothered by a lot more, and he should just really ignore it. For example, the players are not attacked on this board, but I get the feeling he thinks it's a negative place. Again, while I'm on the pro-Hurley side and have obviously observed a lot of criticism for Hurley that I didn't necessarily agree with, that's just part of the deal, man. You stick to coaching and we'll stick to saying dumb stuff on a message board.

 

[Ha Who]

Check out this story from Fox Sports
Amid NCAA Tournament chaos, blue blood UConn looks as good as ever | FOX Sports

 

[runner11]

What a stupid take by the OP. College and Midwest people are less reactionary about college sports? Have you ever heard of football?

 

[LBird33]

Hurley has it right. Totally out of our minds.

The 10 basic requirements for being on the Boneyard:
1. Fully expects the team to score 100 or more points against any and all opponents.
2. Fully expects the team to hold any and all opponents' scoring to single digits.
3. Complains bitterly that the referees are out to get us and call fouls on UConn players for being on the court.
4. Convinces themselves that any opposing player coming within 6 feet of a UConn player has fouled him.
5. Understands the game and its strategy and flow better than any coach alive, especially the UConn head coach.
6. Calls for the immediate firing of the head coach if a UConn player misses any shot or commits any turnover.
7. Knows very clearly that anyone on the bench is a better player than a starter - the farther down the bench he goes, the better he is.
8. Cannot comprehend the lack of the head coaches understanding of when to call time outs and when to effectively substitute for a player on the floor.
9. Understands that any recruit that did not come to UConn and played for a school other than UConn that scored significant points against us in a loss is a result of the total lack of ability to recruit by the head coach and coaching staff.
10. Accepts as fact that the UConn program has the bluest blood of any 'blue blood.'

What say you? Did I miss any???

Just one. Thinks the coach yanks a player out to soon or too late when the make mistakes

 

[Sole]

Check out this story from Fox Sports
Amid NCAA Tournament chaos, blue blood UConn looks as good as ever | FOX Sports

Great article… we do have the greatest fans in the country… we come out and support them no matter where it is … and are very passionate.. but we do also have few idiots on social media

 

[king conn]

what a meathead interpretation

I will defer to your self description

 

[RJScootin]

Is the BY really that demanding? Half fans on here never thought the program could find a better coach than Kevin Ollie.

 

[Dogdeacon]

It is interesting that so many are bothered, either weirdly assuming he's talking about 'me' on the boneyard or twitter and weirder that folks think the random coach post-game comment is immediately part of the biosphere that every UConn recruit will become aware of.

1. It is normal to try and dissuade over reactions from fan base, at every level of sports the participants understand one team wins and one team loses each game.
2. It is entirely possible he's talking MOSTLY about people on instagram or tik-tok or wherever the players have social media accounts getting negative comments directly to these players. Regardless though, see #1 it is ok for coach to say its noise that isn't helpful to try and deter. If you feel shame upon hearing that, think more before you post that next something overly critical.
3. UCONN is and will get more recruits b/c this UCONN team is winning. They deserve the great pub and the fruits of their labors are some great accomplishments this year. Enjoy it now and enjoy later as the recruiting fruits fall into the 'yard for years to come!

 

[Madmannsucks]

He's getting paid 3 million a year to put up with the fan base. I really don't care if people criticize him unnecessarily, however obnoxious it is.

My issue is when fans start going after individual players. There's no one on our team who isn't giving it their all every night. And they aren't being compensated to put up with the vile BS UConn Twitter will throw at them.

This. He doesn't like being criticized when his teams underperform. He came into a Blue Blood program with a rich history. Take your 3 mil plus bonuses and hush.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

Geno has been complaining about pressure from fans and the burden of expectations for decades. The right kind of players embrace it and take it as a challenge to prove the doubters wrong

Geno and the women's team get it from every direction. They lost in the final four at least twice to players playing out of their minds against them because of the aura and mystique that the NATIONAL MEDIA had created in relation to the greatest basketball program ever created. The nutty fans in CT aren't even close to the problem for the women

 

[Slick]

"Playing at UConn you deal with a lot more presure and criticism and, like, immediate meltdown on social media when you lose."

"It is more of a burden to play at UConn than it is an advantage"

The first statement might be true of college sports fans. But the second is aimed directly at a portion of our fan base. If there was ever an indictment of the Negative Nellies in Connecticut this is it. There is something in the character of folks from New England in general but Connecticut in particular that rings true in Hurley's quotes.

I see it in myself and have tried to step back from it. But darn, Hurley didn't pull any punches. It should make everyone think. And if you think this is true of everywhere, live in places like in the south or midwest. They are much less reactionary than the northeast.

Can we see a video of this statement?

 

[EnochRoot]

Here is the full quote.

"Playing at UConn you deal with a lot more presure and criticism and, like, immediate meltdown on social media when you lose. I think in the first round and even the second round of tournaments, it is more of a burden to play at UConn than it is an advantage"

I don't see how you can read that and not see he is talking directly at a portion of the UConn fan base.

First, fans in the midwest and the south are just as gung-ho about college basketball (midwest) and college football (south). Don't for a second think anything that's happened here (BY), or on Twitter doesn't happen at dozens of other schools.

Second, I think Hurley's talking about the fact UConn has had the most success of any college program in the first quarter of this century. Yet, the program had been driven into the ground by some previous coach (can't remember the name). He's indirectly saying the fans are antsy to get back to where they belong. Now that they've reached the S16, they can let it all hang out.

 

[CL82]

So is anyone else wondering if the Hurley quote above is at least in part caused by him reading the “Fire Hurley” thread, and not appreciating the mojo implications of it?

 

[auror]

Can we see a video of this statement?

 

[superjohn]

You don't think opposing recruiters will take it out of context? They will do so with honors.

It would be a weird thing to try and recruit against us with.

You don't want to go to UConn, they have the most passionate fanbase.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

So is anyone else wondering if the Hurley quote above is at least in part caused by him reading the “Fire Hurley” thread, and not appreciating the mojo implications of it?

How do you know that it isn't an attempt to stir the mojo up even further?

 

[BleedHuskyBlu]

Is there much of that on UConn twitter though? All I see from UConn Twitter is Mister fat balls and the other dorks and they worship at Hurley's feet and post about how they want to hang out with all the players. They're a bit embarrassing but all they do is promote how awesome UConn basketball is.

I don't doubt there are a few lunatics who creep onto the players social media after a bad game to flame them but every fanbase in the country has a few mouthbreathers.

If he's talking about the boneyard, it doesn't get personal here.

His presser was funny yesterday, he let an f bomb slip at the end.

I feel like a lot of the negativity is on Instagram in comparison to other social media apps.

When we went on our bad stretch I saw a lot of vile comments/posts towards AJax and Newton in particular you could probably still see them on post game instagram posts from that time period. And I’m sure the players were reading those comments as all young people do no matter how much you tell them not to read the negative comments because they are being made from people who hate their lives

 

[auror]

Hurley has said a few things lately that struck me is being a little tone deaf. Certainly, the quote above is one, but another one that comes to mind was his saying that providence was the best team in New England, and we were chasing them. If he wants to use that as motivation in the locker room, feel free, but saying it in a press conference just seems a little tone deaf.

The quote above makes me feel like Hurley is really feeling the pressure to succeed here. He’s a pretty tightly wound guy and that is part and parcel of what makes him a good coach, internal pressure to succeed. Hopefully a continued good run in the postseason will help him to take the pressure off himself.

The Providence quote was clearly just trying to blow smoke up their butt before the game so as not to give them bulletin board material. From the Belichick school of everyone on bad teams being incredibly impressive.