Having a hard time learning to love Hurley

[Bongo Fury]

No coach is above reproach so questioning Dan Hurley is definitely fair. I too wish he'd get himself a Blaney-type as a respected consigliere on the bench. It can only help.

Blaney coached him at SH. There is an influence.

 

[willie99]

It's pretty funny how all of these threads are started by posters with <50 posts and it's always all the same comments. And by funny I mean massively annoying

It's pretty funny how all of these threads are started by posters with <50 posts and it's always all the same comments. And by funny I mean massively annoying

Kids, they think they know everything. 😀

Youth is wasted on the young

 

[bazzdog]

Maybe it's the fact that without fans, the mics pick up almost everything. So this year we were treated to 40 minutes of Hurley screaming into our living rooms. Through every. Single. Play. Rick Pitino is another incessant screamer. He did this even with the Celtics--shocker the players eventually quit on him. I don't believe Calhoun did that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he screamed when he was upset with a player or a ref, but he didn't bark orders in real time on what players should do on every possession. Do players just ignore him? How the heck do you concentrate on the play and also focus on the advice coming from your maniac coach on the sidelines?

Also.............we have to talk about the mask thing. He takes it off to talk to refs, players, and the other coach, then he puts it back on when he walks away. Is this dress rehearsal? We're a year into the pandemic. Everyone knows by now that's the OPPOSITE of what you're supposed to do. He's either being ignorant or willfully non-complaint. Neither is a good look. Especially on a team that had multiple Covid related pauses.

Plus, he just doesn't have a warm personality. Yes, Calhoun was a nut, yes he could be a total jerk, but he still often seemed like a basically likable, down to earth guy. Hurley just doesn't seem to have that soft touch to balance out his angry lunacy. So I almost get more of a Bobby Knight vibe than a Jim Calhoun vibe. Calhoun seemed relaxed and comfortable in his own skin much of the time. Hurley constantly seems like a string that's about to snap--even in interviews where he's trying to be calm.

If they don't win--like, really win--in the next couple of years, I predict he's going to quit. Mental health sabbatical. Best thing. Otherwise he might murder someone!

Thanks for your interest in UConn basketball

 

[MTBingNinja]

I learned how to swear from Jim Calhoun.

I was at a game sitting close to the bench, Calhoun was screaming and dropping F-bombs while directly near the bench were two nuns. 😇

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Maybe it's the fact that without fans, the mics pick up almost everything. So this year we were treated to 40 minutes of Hurley screaming into our living rooms. Through every. Single. Play. Rick Pitino is another incessant screamer. He did this even with the Celtics--shocker the players eventually quit on him. I don't believe Calhoun did that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he screamed when he was upset with a player or a ref, but he didn't bark orders in real time on what players should do on every possession. Do players just ignore him? How the heck do you concentrate on the play and also focus on the advice coming from your maniac coach on the sidelines?

Also.............we have to talk about the mask thing. He takes it off to talk to refs, players, and the other coach, then he puts it back on when he walks away. Is this dress rehearsal? We're a year into the pandemic. Everyone knows by now that's the OPPOSITE of what you're supposed to do. He's either being ignorant or willfully non-complaint. Neither is a good look. Especially on a team that had multiple Covid related pauses.

Plus, he just doesn't have a warm personality. Yes, Calhoun was a nut, yes he could be a total jerk, but he still often seemed like a basically likable, down to earth guy. Hurley just doesn't seem to have that soft touch to balance out his angry lunacy. So I almost get more of a Bobby Knight vibe than a Jim Calhoun vibe. Calhoun seemed relaxed and comfortable in his own skin much of the time. Hurley constantly seems like a string that's about to snap--even in interviews where he's trying to be calm.

If they don't win--like, really win--in the next couple of years, I predict he's going to quit. Mental health sabbatical. Best thing. Otherwise he might murder someone!

I like Hurley and hope he stays here 20+ years. We won’t find a better recruiter than him. The players seem to enjoy playing for him. They play hard. His coaching will eventually get better.
we ain’t gonna find a better all around recruiter/coach than Hurley.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I feel the same about Bouknight. If Uconn goes out in the first weekend of the tournament. Bouknight basically accomplished nothing while at Uconn. He’s basically another Andre Drummond. Sorry but not sorry.

 

[7774]

I feel the same about Bouknight. If Uconn goes out in the first weekend of the tournament. Bouknight basically accomplished nothing while at Uconn. He’s basically another Andre Drummond. Sorry but not sorry.

No worries, we would never expect you to post anything that was thoughtful.

 

[Waquoit]

A little different. Calhoun was building from near-doormat. Hurley is building from stellar history.

Calhoun inherited better players.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

No worries, we would never expect you to post anything that was thoughtful.

So third place in a weak Big East and getting bounced in the first weekend of the tourney is okay with you. Sorry but I like Winners. Bouknight needs to leave a lasting impression and the Tourney is his last chance.

 

[CL82]

Smells like a Cuse fan. We don't want you to love Hurley.

Probably. You wonder why he’s here rather than hoping and praying for playing game matchup against Wichita State.

Spoiler alert: Cuse would lose.

 

[scotty0330]

You definitely did not watch or listen to JC coach at UConn. If you did then you definitely would have been this triggered by him too.

Yes yes and yes....

Calhoun being gone for a few years and everyone forgets how he undressed players who made mistakes on the court. I have never seen Dan Hurley humiliate a player publicly like Calhoun did regularly. He kicked the scorers table, slammed water bottles and He dropped m f’ers regularly on kids. Two different styles but to say calhouns methods were less severe shows you have a terrible memory or are ridiculously biased.

 

[jibsey]

I question whether you really watched or listened to Calhoun in his 25+ years at UConn

Most times Calhoun made a cactus seem like a soft blanket.

 

[Waquoit]

At a road game with no juice, I saw JC walk out onto the court with his patented exaggerated TO motions and once the whistle blew he screamed at a kid so loud you could hear it in the rafters, "You stupid mother father". That's not good coaching, even back then. Hurley doesn't do that.

 

[7774]

So third place in a weak Big East and getting bounced in the first weekend of the tourney is okay with you. Sorry but I like Winners. Bouknight needs to leave a lasting impression and the Tourney is his last chance.

Man you capitalized Winners and Tourney, that shows you mean serious business. Good one.

 

[dennismenace]

Every coach has their own idiosyncrasies, their strengths and weaknesses.
Taking over for a legend is terribly difficult and the immediate follower usually falters (as we have experienced).
Dan Hurley was the consensus pick by most everyone affiliated with the program and so be it. I will admit that he wasn't my first choice if given a vote.
Because he is the chosen one doesn't mean he is without weaknesses and Dan Hurley has his. One thing you cannot say is that he lacks passion for his job, the program, the school or his players. He is an elite recruiter who knows how to get to the recruit and their family - UConn will benefit hugely from this talent. He was and will be benefited immensely by being in the NBE.
He has much to learn as a bench coach and I still feel he should bring aboard a seasoned former P5 coach who can act as a mentor for a few seasons. Everyone can learn more no matter how long they have been doing something and the NBE is not URI or Wagner - it's a different level.
He received an extension recently which is well deserved and needed. We all want the program to succeed and for that to happen the coach has to be successful. Dan Hurley has some of the things that will allow him to do so and there isn't reason why he can't become a very effective coach and mentor himself. You don't have to love Dan Hurley to be able to appreciate both the good and bad.
I will criticize Dan Hurley when I feel it is warranted and others here should be allowed the same. Not all who dare criticize are trolls.
During the chat last night someone was critical of Dan Hurley keeping Sanogo on the bench during the last few minutes of the game, I myself was pissed at that decision also. At least two people questioned if that person was a real fan. Maybe it was the alcohol talking or frustration, but to me that questioning is evident way too much on the Boneyard lately.

Good take. The level of talent of both the players and coaches is at another level that is quite a leap from the A-10. Another approach would be to find an excellent young coach who has demonstrated superior "X and O's"
know how. I am sure they are out there. If he needs help (everyone does) he has to reach out and get someone to bring him up to speed. That's the quickest way to shore up any weakness if in fact there is one.
He and the staff are doing a phenomenal job of recruiting. Phenomenal. I think the kids relate well to him. I'm sure there are more than a few young coaches with the kind of talent to offer different ways to think about situations and study opponents that he could benefit from.

 

[Milo65]

Seinfeld taught us there's good naked and bad naked. When it comes to coaches, there's good mean and bad mean.

In this clip, Jim calls Boat a mother f-er. Just wondering if this is mean or bad mean? Asking for a friend? You are a true idiot! That’s an example of bad mean. Coaches that live, eat, support these guys can get away with calling their own players mother f-ers, that is good mean.

I don’t know you at all, so when I call you an idiot, that’s bad mean.

 

[MexicoHusky]

My man Dan Hurley and JB. discussing NCAA tournament run. And maybe their favorite pizza joint.

 

[OkaForPrez]

 

[weo777]

With Dan Hurley please take into account hes building this team now with his players and there have been some sweet surprises,,,Sanogo,,,cmon who would have thunk it and Andre just to name 2..This isnt the end of the book its the start and treat it as such

 

[KembaMan15]

It is so strange how a group of people who all want a common outcome to occur, with no physical impact on said outcome, turn on each other with quips and personal insults because of a disagreement. This is sports guys, it is entertainment. If you're attaching your identity to basketball to the point of getting upset at other people, you might need to turn off your computer and relax a bit.

 

[HooperScooper]

 

[Deadrody]

 

[Deadrody]

Ironically, still in my pictures folder....

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Weareuconn...unless you suck then I hate you and you can't be uconn

 

[Improviser]

It is so strange how a group of people who all want a common outcome to occur, with no physical impact on said outcome, turn on each other with quips and personal insults because of a disagreement. This is sports guys, it is entertainment. If you're attaching your identity to basketball to the point of getting upset at other people, you might need to turn off your computer and relax a bit.

Just a theory, but talking this way to a wife, will not lead to a good outcome, so the frustration gets taken out on anonymous, online strangers.

Also, even guys who are friends do insult each other at times with quips and barbs.

I don't disagree that civility is a good thing on a message board.

On the other hand, some posters seem to personally know each other whether from a common profession, living in the same town and sharing that maybe on a PM, or maybe ex college roommates, or from family like a poster saying "Dad" after a comment or first naming the poster after reading some common experience that only he and the other poster could have known.

 

[Waquoit]

It is so strange how a group of people who all want a common outcome to occur, with no physical impact on said outcome, turn on each other with quips and personal insults because of a disagreement. This is sports guys, it is entertainment. If you're attaching your identity to basketball to the point of getting upset at other people, you might need to turn off your computer and relax a bit.

Sit on it, Potsie.

(h/t SportsArt)

 

[Husky25]

I don't believe Calhoun did that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he screamed when he was upset with a player or a ref, but he didn't bark orders in real time on what players should do on every possession.

I'm not going to read through 6 pages and I'm sure others have chimed in over the previous 142 posts.

Be that as it may, consider yourself corrected because you are indeed 100% wrong.

 

[Get a Job]

At the risk of ostracism ...

Just a reminder to everyone here: It is neither an affront to all you value in life nor a reason to limit opinions just because you come upon a post with which you vehemently disagree.

And, by the way, this is the case in almost every area of life. I’ll keep it clean. Opinions are like anuses - everybody has one. Everybody also has a heart. You disagree? Post your own take, and the evidence to back it up. It’s okay to be wrong and inflame passions. It’s also okay for an opinion to be right yet inflammatory

By the way, here’s mine. Hurley is a dramatic step up in recruiting, with a very good eye for better-than-rated talent, motivation and team chemistry, and coaching defense. He is still a work in progress in in-game coaching and offensive creativity.

We get it. You're a doctor. No need to show off with your knowledge of the human anatomy!

 

[Deepster]

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

At a road game with no juice, I saw JC walk out onto the court with his patented exaggerated TO motions and once the whistle blew he screamed at a kid so loud you could hear it in the rafters, "You stupid mother father". That's not good coaching, even back then. Hurley doesn't do that.

I love the guy but that kind of stuff got increasingly cringeworthy toward the end. Specifically the walking out to midcourt to confront a kid and screaming loud enough to be heard in the nosebleeds.