DePaul Post Game Thread

[superjohn]

This guy said Alex Karaban had overstayed his welcome. Maybe you think that's cool?

What does that have to do with coaches pushing players out to bring in players they think will do better?

 

[Deleted at users request]

Think Ball, Ross, Stewart, and Reed minutes this year will pay big dividends next year. I’m looking forward to them being the leaders on the roster the same way I looked forward to Hawkins, Andre, and Sanogo taking over.

We may need a PG out the portal though to ease Nowell in since he didn’t get his feet too wet this year.

 

[jibsey]

I'm not hoping one way or another - I'm curious to if he sticks or adjusts, as season to season is a fluid thing. It's easy to say this is what we are built on when you're coming off B2B's, but what happens when it doesn't work all that well the following year? He may not over-leverage the portal, and I'll respect. Culture & continuum are definitely important, but to what extent? There are teams winning without any continuity right now. There is a top 2 team that shoved a trio of 5 stars out the door to upgrade. I find the portal being a really interesting facet of today's optionality and how coaches use is successfully, or not. This staff is really smart, so curious to see how they respond to this season.

You're not aware of the flaws? Have you seen us play defense? We are small, soft, not fleet of foot, lack ball handling. We are losing our primary top 2 ball handlers in in McNeeley & Hass. We have unproven freshman and HS recruits coming in to plug those holes. This board has beat it to death. C'mon now. Do you think who we have coming back will all of a sudden develop into being wonderful in those categories? I'll tell yeah......

That’s why he’s going out to get a Newton. 2 would be better. Can you order those on Amazon?

 

[gtcam]

Yes, he is. And injuries are part of basketball. Being without one freshman (as great as he is), is no excuse for playing like that. So, every time Liam gets in foul trouble, or is hurting, the team is expected to limp along until he's back in? I've heard Hurley reference his absence WAY too much. Next man up.

Yeah Dan Hurley was always the "next man up" guy but maybe this time he doesn't really have the correct "next man up" on his roster?
I heard on a sports talk show of college hoops that two commentators were saying it looks and sounds like Dan Hurley is hiding behind Liam's injury. I don't agree but there is that perception out there along with the perception that Dan Hurley is coaching like he did in the early Dan Hurley UConn days- paying attention to the noise rather than the game.
I have to say that Dan Hurley is not where he needs to be and most likely where he wants to be - he needs to step back a bit and reflect. I feel he is more than capable to do so. Needs to mentor up perhaps.

 

[PAHusky]

Think Ball, Ross, Stewart, and Reed minutes this year will pay big dividends next year. I’m looking forward to them being the leaders on the roster the same way I looked forward to Hawkins, Andre, and Sanogo taking over.

We may need a PG out the portal though to ease Nowell in since he didn’t get his feet too wet this year.

Think you’re right on the pg portal need and a Karaban replacement if he leaves

 

[444JR]

Think you’re right on the pg portal need and a Karaban replacement if he leaves

Will Jaylin Stewart and Isaiah Abraham ever get a real shot if Dan Hurley goes portaling for another 4? The replacement would need to be the top 1 or 2 fours in the country to warrant that imo; fair play if that's what we get. Absolutely need the best PG in the portal. I like Darius Adams' skillset and physical profile, very similar to Tristen Newton albeit a 19yo. However, Tristen was no McDonald's All-American. Steph Castle and Liam McNeeley were both pretty damn good straight away.

 

[WiseWillie]

Team had no energy first half. No fouling because they just didn’t play hard. Corrected that late, carried it on and put DePaul away. Ugly at times but a huge game from Reed, clutch moments from Ball. Stewart was huge in the first half. Diarra is not 100% but we don’t have Nowell. Gut check game for him. Alex just frigid but made some great passes.

On to Marquette and hopefully we have Liam and Alex finds his shot.

This team is lacking an alpha dog. Alex was supposed to be it but it is obvious as the season unfolds that role just isn't in his makeup. He's an important piece of the teaming a great teammate who can offer advice based on his experience but he still is not a vocal leader. That is certainly ok but this team needs someone to be the leader and set the tone every game. It needs its alpha dog to get back from injury, to be the scoring example and kick some a** if the coaches aren't willing.

 

[WiseWillie]

just win....just win and make the NCAA tourney.

Wow. "Just win and make the NCAA tourney". What a revelation. How far we have come to accept reality. Merely 4-5 months ago Dan Hurley and the majority on this forum including yours truly were in heat talking about "3-peat". Did we ignore the reality of losing four players to the NBA? Did anyone including the coaching staff at that time think that the success of this season would rest on the shoulders of an injured freshman?

Was "3 peat" just a pipe dream? Well, at least it may have worked to drum up interest away from some of the big dogs with the big NIL $ and grab a couple 5-star recruits. Whatever. It is now what it is which is trying to make it to the NCAA tourney. Does this team have the heart to move forward and claim its rightful spot with the top dogs? Let's keep cheering them on and show all the media naysayers that UConn might struggle at times but we are UConn and we can.

 

[RuffRuff]

Will Jaylin Stewart and Isaiah Abraham ever get a real shot if Dan Hurley goes portaling for another 4? The replacement would need to be the top 1 or 2 fours in the country to warrant that imo; fair play if that's what we get. Absolutely need the best PG in the portal. I like Darius Adams' skillset and physical profile, very similar to Tristen Newton albeit a 19yo. However, Tristen was no McDonald's All-American. Steph Castle and Liam McNeeley were both pretty damn good straight away.

Who knows - no one knows what Abraham really is. There are some very good 4's out there, the kid at St Joe's, Fleming is a junior and would be a get. He's 6'9 240 and grabbing 16ppg along with 9rpg. He's also shooting 40% from 3. Jersey kid so maybe they bond over Bon Jovi, otherwise will be a portal war for him if he doesn't go draft. Darius is gonna be good, but he's so thin right now I don't know how effective he can be in year 1. Steph and Liam came in with ready to go physiques.

Yeah Dan Hurley was always the "next man up" guy but maybe this time he doesn't really have the correct "next man up" on his roster?
I heard on a sports talk show of college hoops that two commentators were saying it looks and sounds like Dan Hurley is hiding behind Liam's injury. I don't agree but there is that perception out there along with the perception that Dan Hurley is coaching like he did in the early Dan Hurley UConn days- paying attention to the noise rather than the game.
I have to say that Dan Hurley is not where he needs to be and most likely where he wants to be - he needs to step back a bit and reflect. I feel he is more than capable to do so. Needs to mentor up perhaps.

Care to share who made that hot take? Coaches with high standards who've elevated a strategy built around great talent do much better when they have that talent. Dialing it all back to accommodate limitations can be a big adjustment/buzzkill, especially after the luxury of 2 consecutive superteams. Fans are spoiled, but so are the coaches. Some want to call it just another portal recruitment cycle, but don't agree as this is unchartered territory for Hurley, who is a complicated dude. He's human, will be interesting to see how someone who has kissed greatness, and gotten a ton of attention for it, now responds after a year that isn't. His body language at the podium this year has looked defeated at times.

Dan Hurley was doing every podcast, interview, on the planet. Everyone wanted to talk to him. The Reddick interview was all about how advanced his offense was. He's been called the best coach in the sport, face of the sport. You don't think he loves that level of recognition? He took that into a preseason full of disrespect & 3peat talk every chance he got. The guy clearly loves the stage.

He crushed it on the HS side, but those kids likely won't ROI until they're sophomores.

Wow, solid stuff, good argument.

In a previous thread, you said you were looking forward to Samson Johnson not being here. You said Alex Karaban(!) had already overstayed his welcome. Now you're musing about which of Hurley's recruits he may move on from.

To me, being a UConn fan means rooting for the players on the roster. But you do you.

Please fact check when you quote someone. I did not say he overstayed his welcome, it's just that sensitive little kitties insert it. I said he overstayed. For his personal benefit in terms of NBA stock, last year was his high window. He came back for Hurley & the program (and NIL), and that is noble. He was a year younger off a B2B in a historically weak draft. The taken risk to increase his stock doesn't appear to be offering ROI. I feel for him.

And yes, SJ frustrates me. Call me crazy but I prefer having centers who can rebound effectively and impose some level of physical presence to generate a brand of team toughness. I don't prefer finesse 5's with bad hands.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Please fact check when you quote someone. I did not say he overstayed his welcome, it's just that sensitive little kitties insert it. I said he overstayed. For his personal benefit in terms of NBA stock, last year was his high window. He came back for Hurley & the program (and NIL), and that is noble. He was a year younger off a B2B in a historically weak draft. The taken risk to increase his stock doesn't appear to be offering ROI. I feel for him.

And yes, Samson Johnson frustrates me. Call me crazy but I prefer having centers who can rebound effectively and impose some level of physical presence to generate a brand of team toughness. I don't prefer finesse 5's with bad hands.

it’s also interesting that guys with limited ceilings like Newton and Karaban are given the advice to come back to improve their draft stock but guys like Andre Jackson were pushed out the door with a similar grade to Karaban.

But that’s a whole other discussion.

 

[navery12]

it’s also interesting that guys with limited ceilings like Newton and Karaban are given the advice to come back to improve their draft stock but guys like Andre Jackson were pushed out the door with a similar grade to Karaban.

But that’s a whole other discussion.

Probably because Karaban came back and has improved his draft stock, and that wouldn't have happened with Jackson

 

[superjohn]

Probably because Karaban came back and has improved his draft stock, and that wouldn't have happened with Jackson

What makes you think AK improved his draft stock and Jackson couldn't have improved his draft stock?

 

[navery12]

What makes you think AK improved his draft stock and Jackson couldn't have improved his draft stock?

Karaban was being mocked in the early 2nd round last year and is now routinely in the low 20s. I think the disappointment over his season is being severely overstated by a lot of people here.

I guess Jackson could have improved his draft stock if he came back, but he was never going to become good at the things the NBA wanted in college so I'm skeptical. I don't see a world where he was a 1st round pick as a senior

 

[HuskyHawk]

Karaban was being mocked in the early 2nd round last year and is now routinely in the low 20s. I think the disappointment over his season is being severely overstated by a lot of people here.

I guess Jackson could have improved his draft stock if he came back, but he was never going to become good at the things the NBA wanted in college so I'm skeptical. I don't see a world where he was a 1st round pick as a senior

What? People are seeing Karaban in round 1 this year? I don't believe it. I think he's hurt his stock if anything.

 

[navery12]

What? People are seeing Karaban in round 1 this year? I don't believe it. I think he's hurt his stock if anything.

Yes, there's a whole thread on here about NBA mock drafts and he's routinely been in round 1. We'll see what this most recent bad stretch does though as more updates are made

 

[444JR]

Who knows - no one knows what Abraham really is. There are some very good 4's out there, the kid at St Joe's, Fleming is a junior and would be a get. He's 6'9 240 and grabbing 16ppg along with 9rpg. He's also shooting 40% from 3. Jersey kid so maybe they bond over Bon Jovi, otherwise will be a portal war for him if he doesn't go draft. Darius is gonna be good, but he's so thin right now I don't know how effective he can be in year 1. Steph and Liam came in with ready to go physiques.


Care to share who made that hot take? Coaches with high standards who've elevated a strategy built around great talent do much better when they have that talent. Dialing it all back to accommodate limitations can be a big adjustment/buzzkill, especially after the luxury of 2 consecutive superteams. Fans are spoiled, but so are the coaches. Some want to call it just another portal recruitment cycle, but don't agree as this is unchartered territory for Hurley, who is a complicated dude. He's human, will be interesting to see how someone who has kissed greatness, and gotten a ton of attention for it, now responds after a year that isn't. His body language at the podium this year has looked defeated at times.

Dan Hurley was doing every podcast, interview, on the planet. Everyone wanted to talk to him. The Reddick interview was all about how advanced his offense was. He's been called the best coach in the sport, face of the sport. You don't think he loves that level of recognition? He took that into a preseason full of disrespect & 3peat talk every chance he got. The guy clearly loves the stage.

He crushed it on the HS side, but those kids likely won't ROI until they're sophomores.


Please fact check when you quote someone. I did not say he overstayed his welcome, it's just that sensitive little kitties insert it. I said he overstayed. For his personal benefit in terms of NBA stock, last year was his high window. He came back for Hurley & the program (and NIL), and that is noble. He was a year younger off a B2B in a historically weak draft. The taken risk to increase his stock doesn't appear to be offering ROI. I feel for him.

And yes, Samson Johnson frustrates me. Call me crazy but I prefer having centers who can rebound effectively and impose some level of physical presence to generate a brand of team toughness. I don't prefer finesse 5's with bad hands.

Not just bad hands from SJ. He consistently makes the same boneheaded/head-scratching plays. He’s really more of a redshirt sophomore in terms of on court minutes, but Hurley’s decided to ride or die with him as the starter. Perplexes me. Doesn’t win many opening tips either! But I did love his drive and reverse layup for the 2nd bucket of the game vs Depaul. More of that positive aggression. Think he’d bring such a better dynamic as 15 minute per game back up that always plays 5 minutes at the 4.

 

[superjohn]

Karaban was being mocked in the early 2nd round last year and is now routinely in the low 20s. I think the disappointment over his season is being severely overstated by a lot of people here.

I guess Jackson could have improved his draft stock if he came back, but he was never going to become good at the things the NBA wanted in college so I'm skeptical. I don't see a world where he was a 1st round pick as a senior

Mock drafts are usually garbage. What updated ones are you looking at?

The first three that come up for me are these three and I don't even know if they're updated...

NBAdraft.net has him going 48th
Tankathon has him going 30th
SB Nation has him outside the first round

Karaban hasn't become good at the things the NBA wants.

 

[Deepster]

Mock drafts are usually garbage. What updated ones are you looking at?

The first three that come up for me are these three and I don't even know if they're updated...

NBAdraft.net has him going 48th
Tankathon has him going 30th
SB Nation has him outside the first round

Karaban hasn't become good at the things the NBA wants.

He can't create his own shot. He can't defend in the NBA. He's slower than the pace of the game.

On the flip side, he's got a great IQ, he potentially could become a tall 3 pt option off the bench.

He feels more like a really good Euro player than anyone who'll clock meaningful NBA minutes. And if you think that's hate speak, just look at the minutes Jordan Hawkins is (or isn't) getting with his skillset and jump shot.

 

[navery12]

Mock drafts are usually garbage. What updated ones are you looking at?

The first three that come up for me are these three and I don't even know if they're updated...

NBAdraft.net has him going 48th
Tankathon has him going 30th
SB Nation has him outside the first round

Karaban hasn't become good at the things the NBA wants.

Agreed that most are terrible, really the only ones I even pay attention to are the ones from Sam Vecenie or Jonathan Givony and even those are barely useful.

Vecenie had Karaban at 24 on his last update on 1/9

2025 NBA mock draft: After Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, a whole lot of questions

Givony's most recent update wasn't a mock but had him at 26

2025 NBA draft big board rankings: Top 100 prospects

Who made big jumps in the top 10? Where do the Duke, Rutgers players rank? Here's our final top 100 big board.

www.espn.com

 

[Hunt for 7]

So what you’re saying is Hurley has thrown in the towel on winning THIS year in order to develop players for NEXT year.

Nope not what I said. But if you think he is only planning for this year then you need a reality check. Creating dynasties means you have to be pragmatic about the players. The only way to get experience is through playing time. Of course this year is the focus but he has to be thinking about this year next year and how he keeps the train rolling.

Liam will come back this year and they will play the rotation they feel works best. I just happen to think that Ross will play because he has a skill set no one else on the team has. If Ball keeps on improving on defense then it may be different,

 

[Hunt for 7]

@Hunt for 7, I’m still puzzled about your comment that some DePaul player may or may not have gray hair and how that would effect booing. As for booing our team I’m not a fan but if others want to boo that’s their prerogative. The idea that we can boo more freely now because they are getting paid is strange to me. We all knew that players were getting paid before but now that we double know we can boo more freely? Also, no need for people to lecture that we should stop considering the players student athletes. They are students and athletes so the moniker still fits.

Men against boys is the point I was making. He is a fifth year senior and that is a huge difference. 18 yr old vs a 23 year old. We got Cam last year and his level of BBIQ he made everyone around him better. The players like Castle etc who can be special is what maybe 6 or 8 each year.

Development in CBB happens when you are on the court learning from your mistakes.

 

[Waquoit]

You're not aware of the flaws?

I know our flaws. They are listed ad infinitum everyday on the 'Yard. What are "glaring in-correctable flaws"? I have never heard the term before.

 

[RuffRuff]

I know our flaws. They are listed ad infinitum everyday on the 'Yard. What are "glaring in-correctable flaws"? I have never heard the term before.

Unless you're a foot transplant surgeon and know something I don't, foot speed, height and lateral quickness are not often something you can teach.

We're looking at a Uconn team that may have one of their worst defenses in the last 30 years, not the kind of d you can coach up as much as re-personnel. If you want to contend, that has to be a top 20 KP defense per standard metrics trend. We're 105 spots away, losing our best perimeter defender (Hass) and then counting on freshmen to upgrade.

Do you think rolling out a starting lineup of Aidan/Amhad, Solo, Mullins, Stew and Reed is going to be a good defensive team? That is a tiny team that does not make up for it in quickness. Do we think just a portal PG is going to elevate that group defensively? I have my thoughts, but we can wait until we actually get there and see how this season plays out to rummage through. For now, go Huskies.

 

[freescooter]

Such wisdom, coaches want the best players.

If you don't think there's a difference between that and trying to push players out the door, I don't know what to tell you. I do know the board has frowned on that sort of thing for some time.

If you don’t thing every coach, Dan Hurley included, pushes players out the door every year, well, I guess it’s kind of cute that some people are still so naïve.

 

[HooperScooper]

If you don’t thing every coach, Dan Hurley included, pushes players out the door every year, well, I guess it’s kind of cute that some people are still so naïve.

I don't disagree but which players do you think Hurley pushed out the door? Diggins? Floyd? Gaffney? Akok?

 

[RuffRuff]

I don't disagree but which players do you think Hurley pushed out the door? Diggins? Floyd? Gaffney? Akok?

I don't sense it's his nature to push out unless it's straight obvious it's not going to work. It hasn't been a lot so far in 7 years. Floyd didn't even set foot on the floor, so weird one. Diggins was a non playing freshman. With those two it almost seemed like he saw something early and just knew, quick recognition of misrecruiting. The other two just worked their way out.

 

[HooperScooper]

I don't sense it's his nature to push out unless it's straight obvious it's not going to work. It hasn't been a lot so far in 7 years. Floyd didn't even set foot on the floor, so weird one. Diggins was a non playing freshman. With those two it almost seemed like he saw something early and just knew, quick recognition of misrecruiting. The other two just worked their way out.

Hurley showed his disappointment that Floyd transferred so I think he wanted Floyd to stay. Same with Akok. Although his play after the serious injury was an issue that they discussed.

I'm sure Hurley doesn't just drop players but there's a way to do this that isn't so controversial. Diggins and Gaffney would be the ones I would say where Hurley was straight with them about their chances for playing time and they decided to transfer after being honest with them.

 

[superjohn]

Hurley showed his disappointment that Floyd transferred so I think he wanted Floyd to stay. Same with Akok. Although his play after the serious injury was an issue that they discussed.

I'm sure Hurley doesn't just drop players but there's a way to do this that isn't so controversial. Diggins and Gaffney would be the ones I would say where Hurley was straight with them about their chances for playing time and they decided to transfer after being honest with them.

That's a nice way of saying it but he clearly moved on from Gaffney and Diggins, they weren't staying if they wanted to stay.

 

[HooperScooper]

That's a nice way of saying it but he clearly moved on from Gaffney and Diggins, they weren't staying if they wanted to stay.

You're probably right but it's interesting that neither of them ever said anything bad about Hurley or UConn. I'm sure most kids that age don't take the high road when they think they were wronged. I know I wouldn't have at that age.

 

[superjohn]

You're probably right but it's interesting that neither of them ever said anything bad about Hurley or UConn. I'm sure most kids that age don't take the high road when they think they were wronged. I know I wouldn't have at that age.

It's not a case of being wronged. It's how it works now, coaches need to win and players know when they aren't cutting it. There's opportunities now for everyone, no more having to sit out a year.