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

[Lambeau]

Big opportunity for Ross tonight--can't wait to see the new Jayden. McNeeley's minutes may be limited to rest the ankle.
Or will it be Abraham at the 3?

 

[RuffRuff]

Sure, but there is literally a quote, from yesterday,where he's talking about Stewart breaking out this year. What he said weeks or months ago doesn't matter, despite your vested interest in having Stewart underperform

If you think I’m interested in Stew underperforming you have me pegged about as wrong as it gets. I’d be thrilled, like I would be for any Husky, to work their way into the lottery and be an absolute killer. I’m always most interested in seeing every kid on the team reach max potential. I try to keep some objectivity around it. I hope Stew crushes it, and curious to see what plus skills he presents this year.

 

[UCONNFAN179]

On multiple occasions he’s specifically pointed to Solo and Ross making big leaps, leaving out Stew. And in at least one he mentioned Stew having to catch up. I’m sure it’s motivational, but he’s omitting Stew from the leap convo for a reason. Will be curious to see how that looks on the floor.

It could be partly due to having AK. Solo's & Ross' leaps can potentially translate to additional minutes at the 2/3 immediately over other "comparable" players. No matter how much Stew improves, it's highly unlikely it'd be enough where he's taking away any of AK's allotted minutes.

 

[7774]

Big opportunity for Ross tonight--can't wait to see the new Jayden. McNeeley's minutes may be limited to rest the ankle.
Or will it be Abraham at the 3?

 

[JerseyAlum]

Love me Hurley psychology on display. Jacking up Ross and simultaneously being disappointed in his play or off court actions. Ross is not going to be a 2, he is a 3 by size and bk acumen and just needs to be better on catch and shoot 3s and driving to the rim.

Our backcourt "situation" is having too many guards.
1. Maheney - I see as a combo guard, 2 year starter, learning Hurley's offense
2. Diarra - A true point guard, can drive, hit a 3, dish, and protect the ball.
3. Nowell - I see as an understudy to Diarra - learning the college game, offense, and can shoot and dish.
4. Ball - I see as a shooting guard more than point or combo.
5. Diaby (walk on) - 6'5" will be used if Hurley wants to send a message to 1-4 above for lack of effort or decision making.

I can see a Maheney/Ball backcourt as much as I can see a Diarra/Ball back court...likely depends on opponent/game situations/trend of practices and play. Diarra/Maheney could still work as all guards can shoot the 3, drive, and dish and protect the ball.

Wings - AK, McNeeley, Stewart, Ross, Abraham - 2 will start and 3 will rotate in to give starters a rest, or sub in for fouls mounting, etc. Probably the most minutes will be Stewart and Ross but Abraham as a frosh can get 2-3 min and more if he plays well.

Centers - Johnson, Reed Jr, Singare - I predict 2 on the court at some point if we want really good big protection like Johnson and Reed Jr. with AK makes a hell of a front court. But largely one will play at a time.

So much of this is team chemistry though - which 5 gel best and that will take some games, and some practices to take shape.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

This is a championship college basketball program, not the G league. He will develop, but not at the expense of team goals.

I’m not sure why the assumption is that these have to be mutually exclusive.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

So he should have parked Donovan at the three point line because he needed that skill in the NBA? Donovan worked on it himself outside of games. Ross can do the same thing.

You’re talking to the wrong guy about 3 point shooting being a necessary NBA skill for someone who is 7’2 before he has a post game.

 

[Umami Zen]

Not sure where the concern on Ross's handle is coming from. Was a PG early in his HS career until he hit a growth spurt which dictated a change in position. Does he have a PG handle now? No. Is it functional for his CBB position as a SF/SG(3)? I think so. We have plenty of primary and secondary ball handlers on this team. He's going to be a key contributor for us this year when he's in the rotation.

Edit: Danny has said its very important to have excellent ball security-value the ball-and move the ball within our offensive schemes/sets. The ball moves much faster with a pass than a dribble. Jayden will play the role needed and not stop the ball from moving and finding the open man.

 

[RuffRuff]

Love me Hurley psychology on display. Jacking up Ross and simultaneously being disappointed in his play or off court actions. Ross is not going to be a 2, he is a 3 by size and bk acumen and just needs to be better on catch and shoot 3s and driving to the rim.

Our backcourt "situation" is having too many guards.
1. Maheney - I see as a combo guard, 2 year starter, learning Hurley's offense
2. Diarra - A true point guard, can drive, hit a 3, dish, and protect the ball.
3. Nowell - I see as an understudy to Diarra - learning the college game, offense, and can shoot and dish.
4. Ball - I see as a shooting guard more than point or combo.
5. Diaby (walk on) - 6'5" will be used if Hurley wants to send a message to 1-4 above for lack of effort or decision making.

I can see a Maheney/Ball backcourt as much as I can see a Diarra/Ball back court...likely depends on opponent/game situations/trend of practices and play. Diarra/Maheney could still work as all guards can shoot the 3, drive, and dish and protect the ball.

Wings - AK, McNeeley, Stewart, Ross, Abraham - 2 will start and 3 will rotate in to give starters a rest, or sub in for fouls mounting, etc. Probably the most minutes will be Stewart and Ross but Abraham as a frosh can get 2-3 min and more if he plays well.

Centers - Johnson, Reed Jr, Singare - I predict 2 on the court at some point if we want really good big protection like Johnson and Reed Jr. with AK makes a hell of a front court. But largely one will play at a time.

So much of this is team chemistry though - which 5 gel best and that will take some games, and some practices to take shape.

Hurley has recently stated running a lineup of 3 big wings 2-4, to help the 5s on the glass, is an option. Solo doesn’t qualify as a big wing. He’s also stated not for-seeing a lot of minutes of 2 small guards together.

Take a look at Duke, not that they’re the gold blueprint, but Foster and Proctor are neither traditional PGs and 6’5” and 6’6”. Their advantage is length to guard the 3. The game is changing, more position-less, less dribbling on ball. We will absolutely see a Ross or Liam at the 2. And it’s exactly how he recruited this last class of guards.

 

[August_West]

Sure, but there is literally a quote, from yesterday,where he's talking about Stewart breaking out this year. What he said weeks or months ago doesn't matter, despite your vested interest in having Stewart underperform

I get the feeling Stewie isn't the greatest practice player and that it may be similar to the Tristen situation where the styles of the coaching staff and the player aren't automatically aligned and will be feeling each other out to reach a mutually beneficial scenario.

 

[HooperScooper]

5. Diaby (walk on) - 6'5" will be used if Hurley wants to send a message to 1-4 above for lack of effort or decision making.

Hurley has enough "mouths to feed" and options. Unless things go horribly wrong (like the year Sami Ameziane had to play or during one of the Ollie years where a walk-on had to take the last shot in a 1 possession game) I'd be shocked if a walk-on gets any minutes besides garbage time.

 

[August_West]

I’m not sure why the assumption is that these have to be mutually exclusive.

They never are, not entirely, but it depends on what the teams needs are first and foremost.

 

[Umami Zen]

Hurley has recently stated running a lineup of 3 big wings 2-4, to help the 5s on the glass, is an option. Solo doesn’t qualify as a big wing. He’s also stated not for-seeing a lot of minutes of 2 small guards together.

Take a look at Duke, not that they’re the gold blueprint, but Foster and Proctor are neither traditional PGs and 6’5” and 6’6”. Their advantage is length to guard the 3. The game is changing, more position-less, less dribbling on ball. We will absolutely see a Ross or Liam at the 2. And it’s exactly how he recruited this last class of guards.

Valid points. Solo does play bigger than his size due to his wing span-athleticism-vertical jumping capability to help on the glass and disrupt on D and in passing lanes.

 

[UCTitleTown]

I think we're going to have to play with two basketballs this season with all these options.

 

[Scottobot]

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

So when Ross is healthy is he now projected to be a starter?

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

They never are, not entirely, but it depends on what the teams needs are first and foremost.

In a case like Ross, I don’t see how developing his dribble drive skills and working with him on it over the summer would harm the team. That’s what I don’t get about the either or. He has a reputation as a shooter already.

Like I’m pretty sure Lamb’s 3 point FG% went down his sophomore year but he wasn’t known for being any less of a shooter than he was while he picked up much needed play creation ability for his NBA future.

 

[Mr. French]

In a case like Ross, I don’t see how developing his dribble drive skills and working with him on it over the summer would harm the team. That’s what I don’t get about the either or. He has a reputation as a shooter already.

Like I’m pretty sure Lamb’s 3 point FG% went down his sophomore year but he wasn’t known for being any less of a shooter than he was while he picked up much needed play creation ability for his NBA future.

I think you’re conflating 2 things. Hurley never had the take that he doesn’t care if he ever develops it, nor did anyone ever suggest they do nothing to work on it in the offseason.

Hurley talking about him “not needing to do that” is specific to THIS team, right now. He’s going to keep developing every weakness, but you’re not going to hyper focus on something he can’t do NOW because he’s not asking him to do that role NOW. Hence the idea he “doesn’t care.”

It IS mutually exclusive because he’s only talking about right now, this roster, this skillset.

 

[dennismenace]

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.

Not surprised that DH leans quite heavily on Dog D. That has always been a hallmark of his teams. The shooting is now what separates his teams from the past ones. This will not change going forward so the shooters to be will have to demonstrate they are serious about defense. With a very deep, talented and dog bench he will get this point across. Going to be a different team for sure but really excited about watching DH and staff get these guys going.

 

[dennismenace]

In a case like Ross, I don’t see how developing his dribble drive skills and working with him on it over the summer would harm the team. That’s what I don’t get about the either or. He has a reputation as a shooter already.

Like I’m pretty sure Lamb’s 3 point FG% went down his sophomore year but he wasn’t known for being any less of a shooter than he was while he picked up much needed play creation ability for his NBA future.

I am impressed that he has taken such big steps and if he has that kind of drive the summer may very well be where he can polish some of those skills like Kemba and Hawkins did. Good for him!

 

[dennismenace]

I remember reading once a couple of years ago when Ross first came into the program, an early recruiting story if you will, that Ross was playing the point as a fifteen-year-old, a sophomore in high school, before he suddenly shot up in height from like 5'11 to 6'4 or so, and his coaches moved him into the frontcourt. Just sayin.

Same thing as Andre J but not sure if his coaches moved him to the frontcourt.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I think you’re conflating 2 things. Hurley never had the take that he doesn’t care if he ever develops it, nor did anyone ever suggest they do nothing to work on it in the offseason.

Hurley talking about him “not needing to do that” is specific to THIS team, right now. He’s going to keep developing every weakness, but you’re not going to hyper focus on something he can’t do NOW because he’s not asking him to do that role NOW. Hence the idea he “doesn’t care.”

It IS mutually exclusive because he’s only talking about right now, this roster, this skillset.

Agree to disagree on the mutual exclusivity. I don’t ever see a reason to not want a player to work on something they’ll eventually need. I understand he doesn’t “need” it but it wouldn’t hurt the roster if that was a skill that we could teach him either.

Maybe the choice of words is the problem. Saying “it’s something we’re developing but it’s okay if he isn’t great right now with this roster” is a lot different than “I don’t care if he can’t do it because he doesn’t need to with this team.”

The latter sounds like reactive development when it affects winning instead of having a proactive development plan from the beginning for a player.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Maybe the reason Hurley said he is not going to be asked to do that, is because he knew the comment was going to be recorded and he used it to pass on some misinformation.

I think he mixed in a little truth, the comment about being a long lean quick defensive machine, because we need that from him, but from what I have seen Ross can go to the basket. He is not great but he is long with very good hops, he has nba size and athleticism he can get his shot off and that is the most important thing he will learn how to finish.

He has a super high ceiling and I think we should not underestimate what this kid provides this year.

And in his post game interview Hurley says if Ross was healthy he would have started. That could be a motivational volley. But in the same quote he also says Ross has been a beast getting to the rim……hmmmmmmm

 

[JerseyAlum]

And in his post game interview Hurley says if Ross was healthy he would have started. That could be a motivational volley. But in the same quote he also says Ross has been a beast getting to the rim……hmmmmmmm

Appreciate the info - Ross was inconsequential and now we (I?) know why. Starter? Not sure he would be > McNeeley, but watching the game las tnight Hurley really wanted to see 20+ minutes for 9 guys and the starting 5 got the minutes less Samson due to fouls gave Reed Jr enough time to shine. From a distance Reed Jr looked like Joel Embiid to my tired eyes.

Anyway I guess we will see vs UNH how Ross handles his time but must say:
1. Maheney looked comfortable but innocuous and quiet
2. Stewart was doing his best impression of Andre Jackson, Jr. nibbling at all stats
3. Nowell + Ball as the backcourt was fun to watch in spots in the 2nd half.
4. Anyone can bring up the ball based on the D - McNeeley did, AK did - I saw one or two where AK was bringing it up and dished to Haas who I didn't even think was playing.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Love me Hurley psychology on display. Jacking up Ross and simultaneously being disappointed in his play or off court actions. Ross is not going to be a 2, he is a 3 by size and bk acumen and just needs to be better on catch and shoot 3s and driving to the rim.

Our backcourt "situation" is having too many guards.
1. Maheney - I see as a combo guard, 2 year starter, learning Hurley's offense
2. Diarra - A true point guard, can drive, hit a 3, dish, and protect the ball.
3. Nowell - I see as an understudy to Diarra - learning the college game, offense, and can shoot and dish.
4. Ball - I see as a shooting guard more than point or combo.
5. Diaby (walk on) - 6'5" will be used if Hurley wants to send a message to 1-4 above for lack of effort or decision making.

I can see a Maheney/Ball backcourt as much as I can see a Diarra/Ball back court...likely depends on opponent/game situations/trend of practices and play. Diarra/Maheney could still work as all guards can shoot the 3, drive, and dish and protect the ball.

Wings - AK, McNeeley, Stewart, Ross, Abraham - 2 will start and 3 will rotate in to give starters a rest, or sub in for fouls mounting, etc. Probably the most minutes will be Stewart and Ross but Abraham as a frosh can get 2-3 min and more if he plays well.

Centers - Johnson, Reed Jr, Singare - I predict 2 on the court at some point if we want really good big protection like Johnson and Reed Jr. with AK makes a hell of a front court. But largely one will play at a time.

So much of this is team chemistry though - which 5 gel best and that will take some games, and some practices to take shape.

You still sure that Ross won’t play the 2 at all?

 

[Mr. French]

You still sure that Ross won’t play the 2 at all?

Most people on here just like talking.