Hurley Outcoached

[auror]

I made the comment that Hurley coached this somewhere out of hubris, stubbornness and ego.

He coached like he wanted to prove he could put a better small ball team out there than SJU could put out there. And he lost. Bigly.

Instead of putting the best team out there to exploit the opponents' weaknesses, he tried to coach against their strengths.

We didn't play a small ball lineup. We played our normal post-Bouk closing lineup. It's the lineup that has played the most minutes together over the last 5 games. It's got 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center. It was a 6'1" PG, a 6'4" SG, a 6'6" SF, a 6'8" PF, and a 6'9" center. That's about as prototypical a lineup as you'll see from a high major team. It had 2" in height and probably more in length over the Johnnies at basically every single position.

You can certainly make a case we should have played Sanogo over somebody, but the narrative that Hurley was trying to play a better small ball lineup or that Hurley was dictated into going small by St John's is just wrong and is getting repeated all over the place. He said that Sanogo couldn't guard anyone against a small ball lineup, not that he had to play a small ball lineup. And he didn't. Whaley is a big capable of guarding against a small ball lineup, so Hurley played him. We didn't play any smaller than usual, and it's our most experienced lineup in terms of age (aside from Carlton).

By playing what Hurley thinks is our best lineup, he attempted to play to our own strength. Whether you think he should've coached more to exploit St. John's weakness instead is certainly a valid question, and one of the hardest things a coach has to balance. It's entirely possible he got it wrong tonight. Did he get it wrong because he was stubborn? I probably would have at least tried Sanogo at some point between 10 and 4 minutes left, but I don't think it's ridiculous not to considering the game context and season history so far. We put Depaul away with the same lineup that lost it for us tonight.

 

[BostonBay]

Wow. If that's Hurley's answer for not playing Sanago for the last 10 minutes when the game completely shifted, then he really is not a top-level coach. There's tactical & strategic errors that every coach makes, and then there's incompetence. The fact he couldnt adjust when the game shifted 180-degrees & then defended his decision afterwards makes me think he's more fit as a recruiter and not a good coach. He's proven again and again he doesnt know how to push the right buttons with the game on the line. His record in close games has been abysmal. Its 3 years folks - enough of a sample size.

 

[superjohn]

We didn't play a small ball lineup. We played our normal post-Bouk closing lineup. It's the lineup that has played the most minutes together over the last 5 games. It's got 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center. It was a 6'1" PG, a 6'4" SG, a 6'6" SF, a 6'8" PF, and a 6'9" center. That's about as prototypical a lineup as you'll see from a high major team. It had 2" in height and probably more in length over the Johnnies at basically every single position.

You can certainly make a case we should have played Sanogo over somebody, but the narrative that Hurley was trying to play a better small ball lineup or that Hurley was dictated into going small by St John's is just wrong and is getting repeated all over the place. He said that Sanogo couldn't guard anyone against a small ball lineup, not that he had to play a small ball lineup. And he didn't. Whaley is a big capable of guarding against a small ball lineup, so Hurley played him. We didn't play any smaller than usual, and it's our most experienced lineup in terms of age (aside from Carlton).

By playing what Hurley thinks is our best lineup, he attempted to play to our own strength. Whether you think he should've coached more to exploit St. John's weakness instead is certainly a valid question, and one of the hardest things a coach has to balance. It's entirely possible he got it wrong tonight. Did he get it wrong because he was stubborn? I probably would have at least tried Sanogo at some point between 10 and 4 minutes left, but I don't think it's ridiculous not to considering the game context and season history so far. We put Depaul away with the same lineup that lost it for us tonight.

You're doing some serious gymnastics for what was terrible coaching today. He killed by far our biggest advantage in this game and killed our momentum. His reasoning was the inferior team was dictating the terms of the game.

 

[auror]

You're doing some serious gymnastics for what was terrible coaching today. He killed by far our biggest advantage in this game and killed our momentum. His reasoning was the inferior team was dictating the terms of the game.

Answer me how playing the lineup he thinks is our absolute best lineup is getting dictated to?

 

[superjohn]

Answer me how playing the lineup he thinks is our absolute best lineup is getting dictated to?

Answer me how he thought that was our best lineup when the player who was clearly the best player on the court wasn't in the game for the final 13 minutes?

 

[BlueDogs]

Hurley just isn’t a good in-game coach, yet. Just isn’t. I give him both Ls this season.

 

[UConniki]

The reaction today from our fan base is insufferable and embarrassing. If Sanogo should transfer because he didn’t play in the last 10, should Hurley resign and take his stellar recruiting classes because UConn has better coaching options on a website?

While some of the comments are a little over the top....(extreme frustration from passionate fans including me) Hurley’s coaching was atrocious at best and coaching malpractice at worst....it is what it is.

 

[Salty Dog]

Just a really really disappointing loss today and I'm sure the whole team feels brutal. Channel that anger and beat Creighton this Saturday, and it'll be like it never happened. Let's ride dawgs.

 

[auror]

Answer me how he thought that was our best lineup when the player who was clearly the best player on the court wasn't in the game for the final 13 minutes?

So you didn't answer, great.

I will answer you: Because opinions on lineups are formed over hundreds of hours of practice and previous games, not just minutes of game time from the current game. Because that lineup had shown it could lock down multiple similar opponents and win multiple games in crunch time.

 

[Dabutlerdidit]

it’s seems like not playing zone was more important than staying with hot Sanogo.

we have to be ok with an emergency zone package or it’s gonna be a lot harder to accomplish our goals

 

[mauconnfan]

So you didn't answer, great.

I will answer you: Because opinions on lineups are formed over hundreds of hours of practice and previous games, not just minutes of game time from the current game. Because that lineup had shown it could lock down multiple similar opponents and win multiple games in crunch time.

Oh you're right but did it lock down anything? It was consistently torched and badly, with no help. The rotation on defense was putrid and the guards were allowing easy penetration to the basket. This wasn't just a minute or 2 it was the last 12 minutes of the 2nd half and nothing was done to change. Sorry but opinions here may be way off due to hours of practice but obviously there were many people who didn't do their jobs yesterday, many!

 

[djct1999]

Answer me how he thought that was our best lineup when the player who was clearly the best player on the court wasn't in the game for the final 13 minutes?

Sanogo was the best player on the court? Slow down. Are you part of that crowd that felt Polley or even Whaley can play themselves into the NBA draft after the Marquette showing? Sanogo looked great. Especially the first half. He wasn't the best player on the floor and isn't the reason why we lost. But go on preaching what you preach. I forgot, that in between all this goodness from Hurley over the last few weeks, that you still know more than him.

In fact, even Donny Marshall was questioning why we weren't pushing the ball up the floor quicker. Part of the problem was we played too slow. Sanogo doesn't help that.

It was a bad game that we should have won. We had horrible execution the entire second half. We are without our lottery pick on a team without a true second scorer. We still should have won. But to try to price Hurleyto perfection on this game, given these circumstances is ludicrous. Sure, I do think that Sanogo should have atleast got some run in the last 12. In no way do I feel that is why we lost. I blame Whaley's brutal defense, Polley's horrendous shot selection, and the fact our second and third best players can't make free throws far more than I blame Hurley.

 

[mauconnfan]

Sanogo was the best player on the court? Slow down. Are you part of that crowd that felt Polley or even Whaley can play themselves into the NBA draft after the Marquette showing? Sanogo looked great. Especially the first half. He wasn't the best player on the floor and isn't the reason why we lost. But go on preaching what you preach. I forgot, that in between all this goodness from Hurley over the last few weeks, that you still more know than him.

It's really not at all about knowing more than him. Dan Hurley has done a great job but if you watched that game and believe that Sanogo shouldn't have seen the floor in the last 11-12 minutes or think maybe he should have considered playing a zone as his guards and Polley were torched on the defensive end then you must have missed a lot. This is a board to discuss games would you prefer everyone to only be able to say "Hurley was great the team let him down"? He didn't have a good game and it started early when up 19-7 and coming out of the time out with a new lineup. Hopefully he's learning as well.

 

[husky429]

Answer me how playing the lineup he thinks is our absolute best lineup is getting dictated to?

I think the point everyone is making is that Hurley didn't know what our best lineup was. Your question doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Performance in practice can dictate who starts, and who gets in the rotation early on. When games happen, you play who is performing well. Sanogo was certainly our best big yesterday, and probably our best player. Doesn't mean he will be next game, next year, or ever again. But he clearly needed court time. Coach sat him the last 13 minutes of the game. Crunch time is the final 4 minutes--there's 9 minutes he could have played without impacting the crunch time lineup you claim is so important.

 

[djct1999]

It's really not at all about knowing more than him. Dan Hurley has done a great job but if you watched that game and believe that Sanogo shouldn't have seen the floor in the last 11-12 minutes or think maybe he should have considered playing a zone as his guards and Polley were torched on the defensive end then you must have missed a lot. This is a board to discuss games would you prefer everyone to only be able to say "Hurley was great the team let him down"? He didn't have a good game and it started early when up 19-7 and coming out of the time out with a new lineup. Hopefully he's learning as well.

I agree that Sanogo should have seen the floor and with his play in the first half and their is no question he earned it. I do not think for one minute his absence is why we lost this game. Its a big difference. People are on here emphaticaly stating that we lost because Hurley chose not to play Sanogo. To me, that is ludicrous and not well thought out. Hurley felt that a shorter, more experienced lineup would combat St. John's speed and momentum. Is he that wrong? With a minute left in the game, we still should have won. To blast Hurley and say the reason we lost was because we didn't play a freshman who still is widly inconsistent as the reason is a headscratcher.

 

[djct1999]

I think the point everyone is making is that Hurley didn't know what our best lineup was. Your question doesn't make a whole lot of sense

Maybe he should poll the boneyard after every time out.

 

[djct1999]

It's really not at all about knowing more than him. Dan Hurley has done a great job but if you watched that game and believe that Sanogo shouldn't have seen the floor in the last 11-12 minutes or think maybe he should have considered playing a zone as his guards and Polley were torched on the defensive end then you must have missed a lot. This is a board to discuss games would you prefer everyone to only be able to say "Hurley was great the team let him down"? He didn't have a good game and it started early when up 19-7 and coming out of the time out with a new lineup. Hopefully he's learning as well.

Furthermore, if Sanogo was going to make such a difference, who was he in for? Give me this lineup that would have had a different outcome.

 

[Onions]

Furthermore, if Sanogo was going to make such a difference, who was he in for? Give me this lineup that would have had a different outcome.

Sanogo, Whaley, Martin, Adams/Gaffney (pick your poison), Cole. We win.

 

[mauconnfan]

Furthermore, if Sanogo was going to make such a difference, who was he in for? Give me this lineup that would have had a different outcome.

Easy one, in for Polley. Why not?

 

[Deepster]

I have to admit. I am a little surprised how the Yard went from years of apathy to suddenly knowing everything that's wrong with the team and coach in a handful of games.

Just step back and think for a second....

1) They're without their first round draft prospect.
2) They've had practice and games severely impacted by COVID (like this Wednesday's game...)
3) You have a new blend of players, deep roster and it's going to take time to figure out which combinations work.
4) You also have good players and smart coaches on the other side who might get a leg up for stretches of a game.
5) You have a coach who has shown humility and is willing to work harder to get better.

I used to say it about Calhoun, I never said it about Ollie, but I'll say it about Hurley. Sit in the back seat, look out the window and enjoy the ride. The Coach drives the car. Let him get us where we need to go.

 

[mauconnfan]

I have to admit. I am a little surprised how the Yard went from years of apathy to suddenly knowing everything that's wrong with the team and coach in a handful of games.

Just step back and think for a second....

1) They're without their first round draft prospect.
2) They've had practice and games severely impacted by COVID (like this Wednesday's game...)
3) You have a new blend of players, deep roster and it's going to take time to figure out which combinations work.
4) You also have good players and smart coaches on the other side who might get a leg up for stretches of a game.
5) You have a coach who has shown humility and is willing to work harder to get better.

I used to say it about Calhoun, I never said it about Ollie, but I'll say it about Hurley. Sit in the back seat, look out the window and enjoy the ride. The Coach drives the car. Let him get us where we need to go.

Oh I will sit in the car and enjoy the ride I like him. But being in the backseat yesterday I just hope when he lost control of the wheel we didn't swerve into anything on my side Deep. I hear you but only to a point, yesterday was not good. A loss which should not have happened and he had some control of. By no means all on him, but he could have done some things to take control rather than letting Andersen do just that.

 

[Deepster]

Oh I will sit in the car and enjoy the ride I like him. But being in the backseat yesterday I just hope when he lost control of the wheel we didn't swerve into anything on my side Deep. I hear you but only to a point, yesterday was not good. A loss which should not have happened and he had some control of. By no means all on him, but he could have done some things to take control rather than letting Andersen do just that.

Wow. Even you? Maybe you should go back a few years and re-watch one of those 18 pt first halves against East Carolina.

 

[Greathusky]

Polley was our savior 2 games ago. No way to forsee he would stink up the floor this time.

Still Sanogo should have been in there at the end.

 

[HuskyBoi]

this place is crazy. is there an expectation that we win all of our games and finish the season with 1 loss? we are gonna lose games. especially lose games now with our BEST PLAYER OUT. we have a coach that is still learning about this team and himself and how to adjust without bouknight. Why does this place turn into a middle school cafeteria food fight after a loss. I get it, it sucks that we lost. I am also disappointed but I do not feel the need to come on here and start going after the head coach or our players. This is the Big East and every game is tough and this is what we signed up for. But you need to know that we are not winning every game this season and the challenge of winning became exponentially harder once bouknight was out.

 

[mauconnfan]

Wow. Even you? Maybe you should go back a few years and re-watch one of those 18 pt first halves against East Carolina.

No why would I we are supposed to have the answer now right? I mean these slip up losses shouldn't happen if indeed we do. Doesn't matter if it was JC, Ollie or Dan this one needs to be questioned Deep, a bad show not playing the one guy who dominated St Johns on the inside when in. Like our guards not having an answer stopping them we should've made it uncomfortable for their small line up on the other end no doubt. Don't get me wrong I like the man, but to just ignore what should have been a W, sorry never could do that even with JC.

 

[Deepster]

No why would I we are supposed to have the answer now right? I mean these slip up losses shouldn't happen if indeed we do. Doesn't matter if it was JC, Ollie or Dan this one needs to be questioned Deep, a bad show not playing the one guy who dominated St Johns on the inside when in. Like our guards not having an answer stopping them we should've made it uncomfortable for their small line up on the other end no doubt. Don't get me wrong I like the man, but to just ignore what should have been a W, sorry never could do that even with JC.

So, there's questioning what happened......and there's a bunch of overweight, bald, middle aged guys who think they know more than a Top 25 D1 coach that comes from a HOF coaching lineage.

Like the threads giving out "tips" on how to shoot FT's better. .

 

[mauconnfan]

this place is crazy. is there an expectation that we win all of our games and finish the season with 1 loss? we are gonna lose games. especially lose games now with our BEST PLAYER OUT. we have a coach that is still learning about this team and himself and how to adjust without bouknight. Why does this place turn into a middle school cafeteria food fight after a loss. I get it, it sucks that we lost. I am also disappointed but I do not feel the need to come on here and start going after the head coach or our players. This is the Big East and every game is tough and this is what we signed up for. But you need to know that we are not winning every game this season and the challenge of winning became exponentially harder once bouknight was out.

But don't you really want to win the ones you can and potentially should win even with him out? I mean c'mon you can peek at the schedule and know what's in store without Bouk in the lineup. I'm guessing no one here expects to win them all not even close. I said it would be tough to go 3-3 in the next 6, well that just changed to 2-4 because of this loss.

 

[mauconnfan]

So, there's questioning what happened......and there's a bunch of overweight, bald, middle aged guys who think they know more than a Top 25 D1 coach that comes from a HOF coaching lineage.

Like the threads giving out "tips" on how to shoot FT's better. .

Good news is I'm not bald.

 

[Chin Diesel]

So, there's questioning what happened......and there's a bunch of overweight, bald, middle aged guys who think they know more than a Top 25 D1 coach that comes from a HOF coaching lineage.

Like the threads giving out "tips" on how to shoot FT's better. .

Well, considering UConn's head coach is a bald middle aged guy, I think we are in good company. Unless you are correlated weight to intelligence and fat shaming.

 

[BParkDog]

We didn't play a small ball lineup. We played our normal post-Bouk closing lineup. It's the lineup that has played the most minutes together over the last 5 games. It's got 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center. It was a 6'1" PG, a 6'4" SG, a 6'6" SF, a 6'8" PF, and a 6'9" center. That's about as prototypical a lineup as you'll see from a high major team. It had 2" in height and probably more in length over the Johnnies at basically every single position.

You can certainly make a case we should have played Sanogo over somebody, but the narrative that Hurley was trying to play a better small ball lineup or that Hurley was dictated into going small by St John's is just wrong and is getting repeated all over the place. He said that Sanogo couldn't guard anyone against a small ball lineup, not that he had to play a small ball lineup. And he didn't. Whaley is a big capable of guarding against a small ball lineup, so Hurley played him. We didn't play any smaller than usual, and it's our most experienced lineup in terms of age (aside from Carlton).

By playing what Hurley thinks is our best lineup, he attempted to play to our own strength. Whether you think he should've coached more to exploit St. John's weakness instead is certainly a valid question, and one of the hardest things a coach has to balance. It's entirely possible he got it wrong tonight. Did he get it wrong because he was stubborn? I probably would have at least tried Sanogo at some point between 10 and 4 minutes left, but I don't think it's ridiculous not to considering the game context and season history so far. We put Depaul away with the same lineup that lost it for us tonight.

Very nice post. Particularly like the consideration of our "closing group," which had played together in other games during the closing minutes.