Hurley postgame presser

[RuffRuff]

we went into this season thinking we had too many mouths to feed and not enough minutes to go around. now i feel like we have too many minutes to go around.

you could tell me we return 8 guys next year or 2 and i'd believe it. but that's the off-season's problem. still games to win. nova is a can't-lose

Pretty funny when you look back on it - I recall the multiple posts trying to precisely allocate out minutes in understanding how we are going to keep all our NBA talent depth happy. Hysterical.

Lesson learned is that you really can't evaluate a player appropriately until you see them play real minutes against real competition in real situations. 2 minutes on the back end of a blowout shows little, high school film really doesn't show much beyond potential. It's even hard to understand how a player knocking it out of the park against soft mid majors will translate to high major physicality. Why it's always nice starting with the biggest, strongest, fastest athletes. At minimum, they'll at least have physical advantages (Ajax).

 

[jdb50]

The way St johns plays there is one player Pitino would take in a heartbeat. He took Richmond away from Seton Hall so it is quite likely he will do it to a BE team again. I don't see Hurley doing this.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

hate this quote... You evaluated the right type of guy from right type of family and told us about it sanctimoniously in numerous interviews. Now you call out their manhoods and desire because we can't execute on either side of court. It's the action of a flailing coach, looking for answers. What I'm drawing up doesnt work so you arent playing hard enough. We relive having only one guy who can dribble and a top 100 pg you recruited on the bench 2.0 (cole/diggins), but its because they arent playing hard and dont want it, and arent challenging each other in locker room. Youve got a big bench. If youve got a malcontent, never play them, or bench somebody. I've liked Dan Hurley, but not this.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Neither is A M, was Dan Hurley’s biggest off season priority and he’s unplayable. That’s all on Dan Hurley. We won back to back championships, we had the pick of the litter especially after turning down the Lakers job and Mahahey and Reed, and the two nonexistent recruits this year were supposed to replace 4 current NBA players and Ross is still with the team and Singare will never play. Thank him for the 2 ships but this team is poorly coached, can’t run an out of bounds play and wer’re probably not making the right tournament if any tournament after the arrogance of talking 3 peat all off season. He got lucky, with Cam Spencer who wasn’t his first choice and caught lightning in a bottle with DC. We just lost to a team that was 1-11 in league play and in a 9 game losing streak while we’re trying to solidify our post season position and delusional fans are talking about winning the BE. Seriously… think about that. This was inexcusable and possibly ends our chances for a berth in the tournament worse case. 7 point lead with 40+ seconds left in regulation 5 point lead with 30+ seconds left in overtime and lost because they apparently haven’t practiced an In bounds play all year. JMHO.

I said you were the epitome of an entitled fan the last time you posted. My opinion has not been changed. Seek help.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Did they offer him a lucrative contract? Wanting to talk and actually offering life changing money are two entirely different things.

I’ll let you have your head in the sand about that

 

[freescooter]

I don't believe anyone will get kicked out.

There are a few players who may leave, but it would be more due to their believing a different situation would be better for them than the staff convincing anyone to move on.

Would you prefer “advised to take his talents elsewhere?” Of course players will be, if not kicked out , strongly advised to leave. If a guy is not cutting it, then he will be gone. This isn’t 1957 anymore. It’s not even 2007, and coaches aren’t paid what Hurley is being paid because he is a nice man. He and they are being paid frankly to win basketball games. If someone doesn’t contribute to that goal, he won’t be around. Because if they don’t win games, Hurley will be the one “advised to take his talents elsewhere.” It’s too bad but college basketball is a what have you done for me lately business now.

 

[RuffRuff]

hate this quote... You evaluated the right type of guy from right type of family and told us about it in numerous interviews. Now you call out their manhoods and desire beacuse we can't execute on either side of court. It's the action of a flailing coach, looking for answers. What I'm drawing up doesnt work so you arent playing hard enough. We relive having only one guy who can dribble and a top 100 pg you recruited on the bench 2.0 (cole/diggins), but its because they arent playing hard and dont want it, and arent challenging each other in locker room. Youve got a big bench. If youve got a malcontent, never play them, or bench somebody. I like Dan Hurley, but not this.

The Nowell situation is a tough read - Hurley goes into how he's had one of his best practices and it sets up for upcoming time, while also suggestive that health has been a very recent factor. We really don't know if it's attitude, practice play or health. I have no idea what to think, it all feels off when it's zero minutes in a dire situation. Continues to be a wait and see with time running out. We'll probably know in 3-4 games what is really going on.

Hypothetically speaking, if the two non Liam recruits don't work out, it could be 5 out of the last 8 HS recruits that aren't cutting the mustard, with two of the other three working being McD AA's.

I tend to think how the rest of the season plays out will still determine how much of a gutting this core requires. If it flames out, I can see wholesale as you really don't want to roll back a dysfunctional nucleus, fresh start in order. This is the part of the year that pushed guys like Jay Wright out.

 

[Kembafan]

I hate hate hate coaches that throw their players under the bus. (And players who blame anybody but themselves.)

In front of cameras and mics, always take the blame on yourself no matter the situation. Then in private, do what you want.

That said, Hurley won 2 chips b2b, so I'll cut him some slack.

 

[UCFan1513]

Part of Hurley embracing the changing landscape is also changing his approach. Great to be known as the guy who home grows talent, but once that isn't working you need to adapt. Glad he's adapting (rather than being stubborn) and insinuating he'll level up in the portal. St. John's and Kentucky are top 10/15 basically off the portal alone - that playbook works

 

[FfldCntyFan]

hate this quote... You evaluated the right type of guy from right type of family and told us about it sanctimoniously in numerous interviews. Now you call out their manhoods and desire because we can't execute on either side of court. It's the action of a flailing coach, looking for answers. What I'm drawing up doesnt work so you arent playing hard enough. We relive having only one guy who can dribble and a top 100 pg you recruited on the bench 2.0 (cole/diggins), but its because they arent playing hard and dont want it, and arent challenging each other in locker room. Youve got a big bench. If youve got a malcontent, never play them, or bench somebody. I've liked Dan Hurley, but not this.

If you believe we have enough guys playing hard I don't know what to tell you. We've heard it from one of our players that there are a lot of guys on the team that don't get the importance or urgency of the moment during games. The coach says something that indicates the exact same thing and we have posters claiming it's the coach's fault,

Why don't we just hand everyone a participation trophy and call it a season.

 

[freescooter]

Part of Hurley embracing the changing landscape is also changing his approach. Great to be known as the guy who home grows talent, but once that isn't working you need to adapt. Glad he's adapting (rather than being stubborn) and insinuating he'll level up in the portal. St. John's and Kentucky are top 10/15 basically off the portal alone - that playbook works

I’m not sure Hurley is adapting all that much. He has been very much a portal guy. Not for everyone but he hasn’t hesitated to bring guys in to fill needs or to add what can help. And for the most part his “development” guys have not really been needed lots of development. Thanks Sanogo, Jackson and Karaban were really good. Needed some development but they weren’t exactly Richie Springs when they got to Storrs. They all basically started as freshmen if not on day 1, by a few games in. McNeeley and Castle were studs. Clingon would have started for 347 of the 350 D 1 programs in the country. (I know somebody is going to correct the number here. Yeah, I know. I’m estimating. It’s the point not the details) Newton, Spenser, Diarra, Cole, all transfers, plus a bunch of others. Maybe somebody made a huge jump freshman to sophomore year but I can’t think who it was.

 

[superjohn]

If you believe we have enough guys playing hard I don't know what to tell you. We've heard it from one of our players that there are a lot of guys on the team that don't get the importance or urgency of the moment during games. The coach says something that indicates the exact same thing and we have posters claiming it's the coach's fault,

Why don't we just hand everyone a participation trophy and call it a season.

Hurley also says there's many games this year where they could've coached better.

Hurley put this team together, Hurley is the one who did interviews with every outlet talking about a three-peat, he's the one who was pissed off they weren't ranked #1 preseason, he's the one who said this is the deepest team he's ever had, he's the one who talked up individual players who haven't performed.

He's either way off on the talent this team has or he hasn't gotten the most out of his talent. I think it's a mix of the two along with putting together a structurally flawed team. I still think the sum is less than the parts.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Hurley also says there's many games this year where they could've coached better.

Hurley put this team together, Hurley is the one who did interviews with every outlet talking about a three-peat, he's the one who was pissed off they weren't ranked #1 preseason, he's the one who said this is the deepest team he's ever had, he's the one who talked up individual players who haven't performed.

He's either way off on the talent this team has or he hasn't gotten the most out of his talent. I think it's a mix of the two along with putting together a structurally flawed team. I still think the sum is less than the parts.

• He does believe that a few players on this team are far more talented than we've seen and he has attempted quite a few things to get them to reach that level.
• Yes, he hasn't gotten the most out of the talent, but the poosibility exists in some cases where maybe the player didn't get enough out of his talent.
• Dan Hurley & staff still believe the season can be salvaged, but there may be some on the team who still don't realize what it will take to get there and there is no way that's on anyone other than the individule players.

I still remember a meet and greet (about 16 years ago) where JC said about the 2006 team that he never understood why losses upset him so much more than it upset some of the players. He pointed out that there wasn't a game that season where they shouldn't have gone in expecting to win, which should have made a loss more infyriating, yet some of the guys never seemed to be too upset after a loss.

This team sadly may be in the same boat. Sometimes the players need some accountability too, it isn't always the coach.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

If you believe we have enough guys playing hard I don't know what to tell you. We've heard it from one of our players that there are a lot of guys on the team that don't get the importance or urgency of the moment during games. The coach says something that indicates the exact same thing and we have posters claiming it's the coach's fault,

Why don't we just hand everyone a participation trophy and call it a season.

Ok, who isnt playing hard?

Tarris sometimes seems lost, maybe JStew. Don't think they are dogging it though.

He blamed our failures on our kids not playing hard enough. So whom?

my point is, if he wants a lot of junkyard dogs, might need some Caron's and less nice guys that he is gonna complain later aren't tough enough or want it enough

 

[superjohn]

Ok, who isnt playing hard?

Tarris sometimes seems lost, maybe JStew. Don't think they are dogging it though.

He blamed our failures on our kids not playing hard enough. So whom?

my point, is if he wants a lot of junkyard dogs, might need some Caron's and less nice guys that he is gonna complain later aren't tough enough or want it enough

Those are the two players I really look at where their talent level isn't matching their production.

If you remember earlier in the season and even before the season started Hurley talked incessantly about Ross and never even really mentioned Stewart's name. He didn't really start giving Stewart big consistent minutes until he needed to due to injuries. Reed has shown he can he a beast when he's getting the ball thrown into him but for whatever reasons it seems like throwing it into him isn't really a part of our attack anymore and for whatever reasons I get the sense Hurley isn't enamored with him.

 

[Drfla]

Neither is A M, was Dan Hurley’s biggest off season priority and he’s unplayable. That’s all on Dan Hurley. We won back to back championships, we had the pick of the litter especially after turning down the Lakers job and Mahahey and Reed, and the two nonexistent recruits this year were supposed to replace 4 current NBA players and Ross is still with the team and Singare will never play. Thank him for the 2 ships but this team is poorly coached, can’t run an out of bounds play and wer’re probably not making the right tournament if any tournament after the arrogance of talking 3 peat all off season. He got lucky, with Cam Spencer who wasn’t his first choice and caught lightning in a bottle with DC. We just lost to a team that was 1-11 in league play and in a 9 game losing streak while we’re trying to solidify our post season position and delusional fans are talking about winning the BE. Seriously… think about that. This was inexcusable and possibly ends our chances for a berth in the tournament worse case. 7 point lead with 40+ seconds left in regulation 5 point lead with 30+ seconds left in overtime and lost because they apparently haven’t practiced an In bounds play all year. JMHO.

Lunardi has UConn as an 8 seed as of this morning. Still solidly in the tournament unless they play themselves out.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

Those are the two players I really look at where their talent level isn't matching their production.

If you remember earlier in the season and even before the season started Hurley talked incessantly about Ross and never even really mentioned Stewart's name. He didn't really start giving Stewart big consistent minutes until he needed to due to injuries. Reed has shown he can he a beast when he's getting the ball thrown into him but for whatever reasons it seems like throwing it into him isn't really a part of our attack anymore and for whatever reasons I get the sense Hurley isn't enamored with him.

If I was Jstew or Reed I honestly would have some questions about PT (along with the top 100 freshman), but they dont bring that D that Hurley requires. Maybe they don't bring it in practices. Maybe inconsistent. But they aren't dogging it.

Mahaney and Ross try really hard, but as a great man once said "playing poorly doesn't mean your not playing hard". Our issues are roster construction, but if we need to blame something else, blame the players desire. Pitino did same thing last year, but at least he didn't recruit that whole squad.

So who isn't playing hard?

 

[August_West]

Those are the two players I really look at where their talent level isn't matching their production.

If you remember earlier in the season and even before the season started Hurley talked incessantly about Ross and never even really mentioned Stewart's name. He didn't really start giving Stewart big consistent minutes until he needed to due to injuries. Reed has shown he can he a beast when he's getting the ball thrown into him but for whatever reasons it seems like throwing it into him isn't really a part of our attack anymore and for whatever reasons I get the sense Hurley isn't enamored with him.

He's not enamored with him. Your read is accurate. Remember the St. Johns game where people were wondering why Stewart didnt get much run in the 2nd half in a tight game? 4 minutes into the 2nd half Stewart was pulling on his shirt asking to come out of the game saying he had no wind. It doesnt take much deducing to wonder why you didnt see much of him after that.

 

[nycscooby]

He's not enamored with him. Your read is accurate. Remember the St. Johns game where people were wondering why Stewart didnt get much run in the 2nd half in a tight game? 4 minutes into the 2nd half Stewart was pulling on his shirt asking to come out of the game saying he had no wind. It doesnt take much deducing to wonder why you didnt see much of him after that.

I don't think that Dan Hurley doesn't like these guys but it sure seems like he is frustrated by them maybe above all on the team? He's been trying to light a fire under Reed's ass all season (the Grizzly thing) and if Seton Hall on Sat wasn't a game that absolutely begged playing Reed more than Samson and throwing the ball to the post then I don't know which other game would have been yet Tarris played only 9 minutes.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

From a talent standpoint we are at a great deficit compared to last year, and also compared to next year.

It's been well documented who has left and there is a void - no Tristen, no Castle, no Clingan. You can say Spencer, but I like Liam as a Spencer type...better shooter.

Next year is a talent draw like we've never seen: 3 McDonald's AA plus Furphy who might be the best of them. We get taller at guard, and taller in the paint. Likely Ball stays for his junior year, and so does Stewart, but if Mahaney leaves, or Ross does, or even Abraham does that opens the portal for PFs and PGs.

 

[jostar1]

I don't think that Dan Hurley doesn't like these guys but it sure seems like he is frustrated by them maybe above all on the team? He's been trying to light a fire under Reed's ass all season (the Grizzly thing) and if Seton Hall on Sat wasn't a game that absolutely begged playing Reed more than Samson and throwing the ball to the post then I don't know which other game would have been yet Tarris played only 9 minutes.

Same thing with Mahaney. Hurley gave him significant minutes early in the season, and told him he was going to rise like a phoenix. When he had a good game, Hurley ran out and hugged him, also head-butted him in another game. Hurley was clearly rooting for him. Mahaney has been given every opportunity at UConn but can't seem to get it together. Actually, he has regressed. I don't think it's an attitude thing with him because during the huddle he is riveted on what Hurley is saying,

 

[alphasigko]

Same thing with Mahaney. Hurley gave him significant minutes early in the season, and told him he was going to rise like a phoenix. When he had a good game, Hurley ran out and hugged him, also head-butted him in another game. Hurley was clearly rooting for him. Mahaney has been given every opportunity at UConn but can't seem to get it together. Actually, he has regressed. I don't think it's an attitude thing with him because during the huddle he is riveted on what Hurley is saying,

He is so gunshy and he is shooting (more aiming) not to miss. We all know that leads to distaster.

 

[F101Voodoo]

Inbounding is about the only ill we have a chance to though a slim one that we have a ghost of a chance to fix quickly but not by tonight. Yet would be nice.