Dan Hurley on UConn's Jayden Ross: "A Switch Has Been Flipped."

[HuskyWarrior611]

Hurley was on Jon Rothnstein’s College Hoops Today podcast and had some pretty glowing comments on Ross.

Would be a great development if Ross ends up being a big time contributor on the team. He looked super confident in the Rhode Island scrimmage.

Dan Hurley on UConn's Jayden Ross: "A Switch Has Been Flipped."

UConn coach Dan Hurley has high praise for sophomore Jayden Ross.

www.fanduel.com

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Not a long article. The longer content is the podcast itself in the article.

 

[Sphinx]

I assume Ross starts at the 3 tomorrow night, and he may be awfully hard to dislodge. And don't expect Ball to give up the 2 easily. When there's talent lined up at each position, no player can afford an injury, and McNeeley now finds himself having to battle back from the bench. Ross is clearly the superior defensively, and he's a shooter. Will be interesting.

 

[NewBlood]

I assume Ross starts at the 3 tomorrow night, and he may be awfully hard to dislodge. And don't expect Ball to give up the 2 easily. When there's talent lined up at each position, no player can afford an injury, and McNeeley now finds himself having to battle back from the bench. Ross is clearly the superior defensively, and he's a shooter. Will be interesting.

Wow, I am glad for the young man if he has earned a starting position. Just shows how deep and talented this team is. No one is going to give you anything Jayden, you have to take it!

Nowell-Mahaney-Liam-Stewart-Reed

That's our back up 5. That is a top 5 BE starting lineup

 

[dogpause]

It's amazing what passes for an article now -- one paragraph and a byline is all you need. Many posts on this forum contain more words, and required more thought.

 

[Chin Diesel]

For those who didn't watch the 10 minute video from the summer, where they had a five-minute in-depth video of the coaches in their meeting room before practice, they were talking about how Ross just had to figure out what they want him to be- a dawg on D and a catch and shoot and finisher at the rim. Hurley specifically mentioned how Ross was struggling with dribble penetration and how Hurley didn't care because Ross wasn't going to be doing that in games. It was a great display of Hurley noticing a deficiency and simultaneously dismissing it because UConn doesn't need that skill from that player.

Skip to around the 4:35 mark to see the discussions about Ross.

 

[RuffRuff]

Wow, I am glad for the young man if he has earned a starting position. Just shows how deep and talented this team is. No one is going to give you anything Jayden, you have to take it!

Nowell-Mahaney-Liam-Stewart-Reed

That's our back up 5. That is a top 5 BE starting lineup

One of the more interesting notes out of the podcast was Hurley suggesting they may go big 2-4, which insists seeing Ross at the 2 at times. We’ll likely see combinations of AK, Liam, Stew, Ross in those spots, especially if we’re struggling on the glass. He referenced that’s one way they can make up for any drop off at the 5 this year.

The more you listen the more you sense there is unlikely to be very much time where you’ll ever see 2 of Mahaney/Nowell/Diarra on the floor together.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Well at last we will see how what looked like incredible upside take shape. I still think he will play some guard but if he starts I imagine it will be at the 3. He looked more locked in on defense and I believe he will create match up issues for other teams if he plays guard.

If he is a Swiss Army knife that can cover three positions that will be invaluable. He would become a key to our success this year.

 

[NJHusky]

Also a testament to how the coaches adapt to the personnel they have. Best coaches imo adapt their system to fit the players, not making players use coaches ‘system’

 

[Drame]

One of the more interesting notes out of the podcast was Hurley suggesting they may go big 2-4, which insists seeing Ross at the 2 at times. We’ll likely see combinations of AK, Liam, Stew, Ross in those spots, especially if we’re struggling on the glass. He referenced that’s one way they can make up for any drop off at the 5 this year.

The more you listen the more you sense there is unlikely to be very much time where you’ll ever see 2 of Mahaney/Nowell/Diarra on the floor together.

I heard that too but I took it to mean that Mahaney and Diarra were fighting for the 1, because he was talking about Mahaney in the same breath. Most people had Ball and Mahaney fighting for the 2 spot.

 

[gsmooth]

For those who didn't watch the 10 minute video from the summer, where they had a five-minute in-depth video of the coaches in their meeting room before practice, they were talking about how Ross just had to figure out what they want him to be- a dawg on D and a catch and shoot and finisher at the rim. Hurley specifically mentioned how Ross was struggling with dribble penetration and how Hurley didn't care because Ross wasn't going to be doing that in games. It was a great display of Hurley noticing a deficiency and simultaneously dismissing it because UConn doesn't need that skill from that player.

Skip to around the 4:35 mark to see the discussions about Ross.

Yeah I remember that. Somehow I remember Hurley yelling at the ball boy to "stop day dreaming" and at Tarris Reed when he says "get over here, Tarris. What are you staring at?", LMFAO.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Yeah I remember that. Somehow I remember Hurley yelling at the ball boy to "stop day dreaming" and at Tarris Reed when he says "get over here, Tarris. What are you staring at?", LMFAO.

Hurley was also amazed at Reed's lack of awareness on the softball field.
In coaches meeting Hurley straight up said they have to coach bad habits out of Reed.

 

[RuffRuff]

I heard that too but I took it to mean that Mahaney and Diarra were fighting for the 1, because he was talking about Mahaney in the same breath. Most people had Ball and Mahaney fighting for the 2 spot.

DH has now stated on multiple occasions a major key to this teams success is AM becoming a player between Newton and Cam. To me that tells me he’s preparing him to start, and to take the 1, as he’s also said he can’t see two small guards out there together often, especially when we have such depth/size at the 2-4.

It’s hard to see a situation once the tough tests start where Nowell gets much time this year. He’ll likely take the Diarra role next year. This sounds like it’s shaping up to be a full development year for he and Abraham.

 

[superjohn]

DH has now stated on multiple occasions a major key to this teams success is AM becoming a player between Newton and Cam. To me that tells me he’s preparing him to start, and to take the 1, as he’s also said he can’t see two small guards out there together often, especially when we have such depth/size at the 2-4.

It’s hard to see a situation once the tough tests start where Nowell gets much time this year. He’ll likely take the Diarra role next year. This sounds like it’s shaping up to be a full development year for he and Abraham.

Hurley also calls McNeeley the best freshman he's ever brought in and has said they're going to run offense through him at times. My starting 5 has always been Mahaney, Solo, McNeeley, Karaban, Reed.

 

[Hunt for 7]

One of the more interesting notes out of the podcast was Hurley suggesting they may go big 2-4, which insists seeing Ross at the 2 at times. We’ll likely see combinations of AK, Liam, Stew, Ross in those spots, especially if we’re struggling on the glass. He referenced that’s one way they can make up for any drop off at the 5 this year.

The more you listen the more you sense there is unlikely to be very much time where you’ll ever see 2 of Mahaney/Nowell/Diarra on the floor together.

I actually posted something similar before and right after the URI game. I don’t think Hurley wants any combination of those three smaller guards on the floor at the same time against the top tier teams. We can get away with smaller guards against a Sacred Heart and certain teams but there will be games that it has to be Solo or Ross at the 2. Stewart is going to have to get his minutes filling in 10 minutes a game for Karaban and 10 -15 minutes a game for McNeeley. Ross gets maybe 15-20 minutes a game for Ball. I would not discount a rotation that includes Karaban, Stewart, McNeeley, Ross/Ball and Mahaney.

The rotations will be complex and certain players have to be able to step in to different roles and do the job the role calls for. Example can Stewart rebound well enough to play minutes at the four. Can Ross defend well enough and add rebounding when he is at the 2. How does Liam improve defensively. And if we struggle to rebound and even though he is undersized does that provide opportunity for Abraham. Although a bit undersized he may already be our best rebounder after Reed.

 

[NJHusky]

Hurley also calls McNeeley the best freshman he's ever brought in and has said they're going to run offense through him at times. My starting 5 has always been Mahaney, Solo, McNeeley, Karaban, Reed.

Is that your 5 against Sacred Heart or entire year? That might be the 5 in BE play but I don’t think there’s any way Hass and SJ don’t start first game. Just my .02

 

[superjohn]

Is that your 5 against Sacred Heart or entire year? That might be the 5 in BE play but I don’t think there’s any way Hass and SJ don’t start first game. Just my .02

McNeeley is out tomorrow. When the games matter and we're at full strength I expect it to be our starting lineup.

 

[NJHusky]

McNeeley is out tomorrow. When the games matter and we're at full strength I expect it to be our starting lineup.

Forgot about Lm. But was really focused on SJ and Hass

 

[Stew Crew]

Hurley was also amazed at Reed's lack of awareness on the softball field.
In coaches meeting Hurley straight up said they have to coach bad habits out of Reed.

Hurley said the same thing about Castle last year after one of the donor practices. Only, he didn't use the word, "habits."

 

[RuffRuff]

Hurley seems to always mention McNeeley anytime he’s asked about this years team. Even as recently as today with McAfee. He’s building him up. As it comes to leaps, it’s always Ball and Ross. The guy we aren’t hearing much about is Stew, for whatever reason.

Guess of an average time:

Ball, Ross and McNeeley at the 2 - 25/10/5

McNeeley, Ross and Stew at the 3 - 20/10/10

Karaban and Stew at the 4 30-10

Ball - 25
Ross - 20
McNeeley - 25
Stew - 20
AK - 30

 

[StllH8L8ner]

One of the more interesting notes out of the podcast was Hurley suggesting they may go big 2-4

Triple bigs?

 

[UConnStats]

Hurley seems to always mention McNeeley anytime he’s asked about this years team. Even as recently as today with McAfee. He’s building him up. As it comes to leaps, it’s always Ball and Ross. The guy we aren’t hearing much about is Stew, for whatever reason.

Guess of an average time:

Ball, Ross and McNeeley at the 2 - 25/10/5

McNeeley, Ross and Stew at the 3 - 20/10/10

Karaban and Stew at the 4 30-10

Ball - 25
Ross - 20
McNeeley - 25
Stew - 20
AK - 30

Diarra, Mahaney, and Nowell aren’t going to share 40 total minutes though. Something/someone is going to have to give. Whoever falls short of where they want to be in terms of their PT hopefully will stay locked in and come back ready next year. Injuries could shake things up too.

 

[LStudfellow]

Hassan Diarra is starting, until either he plays himself out of the starting role, or Mahaney plays that much better than him, consistently, over a number of games.

This is simple. Hurley is a loyalist and always defaults to the guy he knows and feels will get the job done. Furthermore, trust is also very important to him, which is why he does not start freshmen unless he has no other option.

People forget that Karaban was actually NOT the starter at the beginning of the year two years ago. Samson Johnson was and he got hurt. Then Karaban was installed as the starter and by the time Johnson came back Karaban had shown himself to be such a revelation that Johnson barely got on the court. In addition, Castle did not start at first last year either, and then after his knee injury it was a few games after he came back before he actually started. Once Hurley was satisfied that he was the better option, ONLY THEN did Castle start. But Hurley has always been deliberate with these decisions when he has the time and talent at his disposal.

It is that way again with the Diarra / Mahaney starting situation now.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I assume Ross starts at the 3 tomorrow night, and he may be awfully hard to dislodge. And don't expect Ball to give up the 2 easily. When there's talent lined up at each position, no player can afford an injury, and McNeeley now finds himself having to battle back from the bench. Ross is clearly the superior defensively, and he's a shooter. Will be interesting.

Yeah with Ross he’s going to be hard to take off the court once he’s a starter. He was so active defensively in the scrimmage. He just needs to clean his offense up. If he does that he’s a potential star in the making at this level.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Hurley specifically mentioned how Ross was struggling with dribble penetration and how Hurley didn't care because Ross wasn't going to be doing that in games. It was a great display of Hurley noticing a deficiency and simultaneously dismissing it because UConn doesn't need that skill from that player.

Skip to around the 4:35 mark to see the discussions about Ross.

This is not a great thing as a development coach to me and makes me sigh. Like if a player has a deficiency why is the mindset to coach around it instead of developing it?

Ross will need to learn that eventually at the next level. Punting on doing that for a year is not good development.