Hurley on Coaching Rumors

[businesslawyer]

This is one hell of a take.

So because URI has been better for two years, they’re more nationally relevant? UConn is a historical program. Of course they’re at a low point, they’re firing a coach. It’s asinine to say that makes URI the better job.

UConn has been a top 15 paying school for a long time for basketball. I don’t think Pitt would offer any more money than UConn.

Hurley is a really promising coach, but let’s not act like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas or UNC would be at his door if they needed a coach. A program like UConn or Pitt is the logical next step for him.

Sorry. that's trolling.

We can argue how much better the AAC is than the A-Ten. But to argue that URI as a program is anywhere near UConn? Because it had two decent years?

 

[UConnStats]

This would be amazing. Two birds with one stone.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I knew where his head was at when he lost to Davidson.

 

[Danzz]

Of all the small things the NCAA can penalize, one thing they are not doing is outlawing talks of coaching changes before the season ends. It hurts the kids IMO. This is not fair to the URI team, even if I would love it if the coach did come over.

But I think they should make efforts to outlaw this. I mean, if they are limiting all sorts of other things like texts and stuff.

It is primarily the fans that keep the narrative going and you can't outlaw them. The NCAA has no control over fans so a law or rule would have no teeth.

 

[Blaneylover]

I don't really understand what UConn's selling point would be to Dan Hurley. I want him as much as the next guy but the A10 and AAC are comparable conferences while URI is nationally relevant and UConn is not at this point. Yes, we could offer him more money as URI barely pays him anything, but if he is looking for money, I feel as though there are P5 schools that could offer this guy more. If he is looking from a basketball perspective, URI is in much better shape currently from a national standpoint than UConn. Essentially, why would a guy like Dan Hurley want to come to UConn right now?

I disagree with everything in this post. The Atlantic 10 and the AAC are NOT comparable. The AAC, with UCONN and Memphis down this year, have a 2 seed (Cincinnati), a 4 seed (Wichita State) and a 6 seed (Houston) in this year's bracket. The A-10 has an 7 seed (URI), an 11 seed (St. Bonaventure) and a 12 seed (Davidson). Had URI not lost to Davidson, they would have been a 2 bid league. URI has been good for two years while UCONN has won 3 National Championships in the last 14 years and 4 National Championships in the last 19 years. The Atlantic 10 has won zero National Championships...for as long as it has been a league.

It is always better to be the guy that replaces the guy that replaced the legend than to be the guy that replaces the legend. Danny Hurley has proven himself to be a program builder (Wagner and URI) and has demonstrated an ability to recruit. He would be a great get for UCONN, but we shall see how things develop.

 

[bennyMr]

I don't really understand what UConn's selling point would be to Dan Hurley. I want him as much as the next guy but the A10 and AAC are comparable conferences while URI is nationally relevant and UConn is not at this point. Yes, we could offer him more money as URI barely pays him anything, but if he is looking for money, I feel as though there are P5 schools that could offer this guy more. If he is looking from a basketball perspective, URI is in much better shape currently from a national standpoint than UConn. Essentially, why would a guy like Dan Hurley want to come to UConn right now?

This is incredibly stupid

 

[reddevilhusky]

This would be amazing. Two birds with one stone.

HA love it

 

[businesslawyer]

It is primarily the fans that keep the narrative going and you can't outlaw them. The NCAA has no control over fans so a law or rule would have no teeth.

You can't outlaw talk of coaching changes. You can certainly ban one school actually negotiating with another school's coach during the season. Frankly, it's absurd the NCAA doesn't bar that.

 

[AdamaNation]

View attachment 29412

#HurleyWatch

Only saw one Pitt fan there, but caught a bunch of dirty looks from URI fans who noticed my UConn polo.

In other news, I saw Duke fans arguing about where they felt they were entitled to sit prior to their shoot around. Its always heartwarming to get reminders of just how miserable their fans are

Any DB sightings?

 

[awfuldan]

Don't forget: almost every player in the URI rotation is a senior. The majority of his kids are leaving next year no matter what happens in the tournament and no matter what their coach decides to do in the offseason. Pretty good time for him to choose to take a better job.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Don't forget: almost every player in the URI rotation is a senior. The majority of his kids are leaving next year no matter what happens in the tournament and no matter what their coach decides to do in the offseason. Pretty good time for him to choose to take a better job.

And zero of our better players are seniors, even if one did decide to leave.

 

[CT Rhody]

New member, most likely a RI fan... but this is just an awful take. AAC got three teams in higher seeds than the highest A-10 seed. A-10 was a one bid league last year. AAC has never been fewer than two.

The A-10 has been a 3-6 bid league since the AAC’s inception. Never a one bid league in that time period. It has more bids than the AAC since the AAC inception. Why all the inaccurate facts about the A-10?

 

[Danzz]

You can't outlaw talk of coaching changes. You can certainly ban one school actually negotiating with another school's coach during the season. Frankly, it's absurd the NCAA doesn't bar that.

In general I agree but schools would hire search firms to contact coaches without naming names but both parties would know who was who. I guess they could pass a rule prohibiting coaches from talking. End of season should be soon enough to get the job done.
Edsall bolting on his team immediately after a bowl game still bothers me and there is no way UConn should have rehired him.

 

[intlzncster]

Personally, I’d choose Pitt.

If the money's the same, UCONN is still the better job.

Quite frankly, the only thing Pitt has over UCONN is conference. And yet, it's much harder for a school like Pitt to win and dance in the ACC.

 

[8893]

-I would argue an easier path to NCAA tournament, as I don't think Cinci/Houston/WSU will be as good next year

The ACC has nine teams in the tournament. The AAC has three.

 

[intlzncster]

The ACC has nine teams in the tournament. The AAC has three.

But that's because the AAC as a whole wasn't that good this year. Not because there aren't more available. If you are a good team, you are getting in, with likely a good seed. Just perform.

 

[intlzncster]

Or coach himself out of the UConn job with a dismal performance.

If his team loses by 20 in the 1st rd, he's still near the top of the list.

If you eliminate guys based on 1 game, you're doing it wrong.

 

[intlzncster]

View attachment 29412

#HurleyWatch

Only saw one Pitt fan there, but caught a bunch of dirty looks from URI fans who noticed my UConn polo.

In other news, I saw Duke fans arguing about where they felt they were entitled to sit prior to their shoot around. Its always heartwarming to get reminders of just how miserable their fans are

I don't know why, but I love this little mini storyline of Pgh at the URI shootaround. cracks me up

 

[KingAG]

The A-10 has been a 3-6 bid league since the AAC’s inception. Never a one bid league in that time period. It has more bids than the AAC since the AAC inception. Why all the inaccurate facts about the A-10?

You are correct. But it really doesn’t matter. Saying Rhode Island is a better job than UConn is mental

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

The ACC has nine teams in the tournament. The AAC has three.

It should be easier for UConn to finish in the top 3 in the AAC than the top 9 in the ACC.
It's far easier to win the AAC tournament than the ACC tournament.

 

[8893]

If the money's the same, UCONN is still the better job.

I posted that mostly to troll; I would let myself be courted by both (and perhaps a few other suitors) and then decide, based on a variety of factors; the conference, expectations, facilities and "feel" among them.

As for the money, the conventional wisdom appears to be that Pitt will be in position to offer more. Even if the money is the same, the taxes and cost of living could make a big difference (although I know @storrsroars told me last year that Pittsburgh real estate has risen dramatically in the past few years).

I have zero insight on recruiting connections and how that factors into the analysis, but in terms of a place to raise a family, I also think the Pittsburgh area has a lot to offer and Pittsburgh itself is a very cool city imo. And dare I say, perhaps better positioned for economic prosperity for the near and long term?

 

[8893]

But that's because the AAC as a whole wasn't that good this year. Not because there aren't more available. If you are a good team, you are getting in, with likely a good seed. Just perform.

It should be easier for UConn to finish in the top 3 in the AAC than the top 9 in the ACC.
It's far easier to win the AAC tournament than the ACC tournament.

Syracuse made it this year.

 

[storrsroars]

I posted that mostly to troll; I would let myself be courted by both (and perhaps a few other suitors) and then decide, based on a variety of factors; the conference, expectations, facilities and "feel" among them.

As for the money, the conventional wisdom appears to be that Pitt will be in position to offer more. Even if the money is the same, the taxes and cost of living could make a big difference (although I know @storrsroars told me last year that Pittsburgh real estate has risen dramatically in the past few years).

I have zero insight on recruiting connections and how that factors into the analysis, but in terms of a place to raise a family, I also think the Pittsburgh area has a lot to offer and Pittsburgh itself is a very cool city imo. And dare I say, perhaps better positioned for economic prosperity for the near and long term?

Pitt is basically starting from scratch. They have none of their old NYC pipeline and are well removed from having any kind of "personality" other than boring Jamie Dixon ball. I don't know where Hurley has had his greatest successes in recruiting, but how well he can do in the NYC metro would be a key. Outside of the Ivies, Pitt is one of the most urban campuses in the East and country and suburban kids don't do nearly as well as city kids.

Pitt also talked to Tom Crean within the past week. And with Matta declining Georgia, I think those are the top two targets with Hurley perhaps third. Heather Lyke's connections are B1G and I'd assume she'd go there to fill the job.

 

[UConnStats]

Pitt being liked to names that aren’t Hurley = Great sign

 

[HawkHusky]

I think Hurley either comes to UCONN (if offered) or stays at URI (family related).

 

[intlzncster]

Syracuse made it this year.

Yeah, but I'd argue that's because it's Syracuse. If Wake has that resume, I don't think they're in.

 

[TJT]

New member, most likely a RI fan... but this is just an awful take. AAC got three teams in higher seeds than the highest A-10 seed. A-10 was a one bid league last year. AAC has never been fewer than two.

I was curious as to the two leagues NCAA history since the AAC came into being. I was a bit surprised by what I found when I looked things up.

The A-10 has sent more teams to the tournament (18 for the A-10 and 15 for the AAC) and has actually also earned more NCAA units (24-22) than the AAC even with UConn's 2014 national championship. The AAC trumps the A-10 with a national championship but comes up short on other NCAA Tournament performance metrics.

NCAA BIDS AND UNITS BY LEAGUE SINCE 2014
2014 AAC: 4 (11 units*) / A-10: 6 (10 units)
2015 AAC: 2 (3 units) / A-10: 3 (5 units)
2016 AAC: 4 (5 units) / A-10: 3 (5 units)
2017 AAC: 2 (3 units) / A-10: 3 (4 units)
2018 AAC: 3 / A-10: 3
TOTAL AAC: 15 (22 units) / A-10: 18 (24 units)

* UConn National Championship

 

[UConnNick]

Yeah they are in for it. Because the job was never posted I believe they already have the coach ready. URI fans have it coming to them. If URI loses, Friday we could possibly see Hurley to UConn

It would be like the old Yankee Conference days when they were our arch rival and we used to routinely kidnap the Rhody ram mascot. He spent plenty of time grazing in Storrs. If we pull this off we get to keep "The Ramnapping Trophy" in perpetuity, with Hurley's name on it.

 

[UConnStats]

Yeah, but I'd argue that's because it's Syracuse. If Wake has that resume, I don't think they're in.

They were basically even with BC. And they got in over St. Mary’s. Messed up...

 

[intlzncster]

Even if the money is the same, the taxes and cost of living could make a big difference (although I know @storrsroars told me last year that Pittsburgh real estate has risen dramatically in the past few years).

I have zero insight on recruiting connections and how that factors into the analysis, but in terms of a place to raise a family, I also think the Pittsburgh area has a lot to offer and Pittsburgh itself is a very cool city imo. And dare I say, perhaps better positioned for economic prosperity for the near and long term?

In a vacuum, those are good points, but Hurley's family and connections are all in the Northeast. That's big.

I'm not certain how much cost of living affects a coaching decision, but I'm guessing not much. They do so well, that it becomes moot. CT has great schools if Dan Hurley decides to move his kids, so there's that.