Hurley postgame presser

[Deleted at users request]

We got kicked in the balls in Maui but still held out hope that a huge turnaround could happen. No one saw this coming in the summer. No one.

I’ll never get proper credit on this board lol

 

[RuffRuff]

The 3 peat talk which Hurley totally backed, Alex coming back, and Mahaney expectations made it reasonable for us fans to expect a better team this year.
We got kicked in the balls in Maui but still held out hope that a huge turnaround could happen. No one saw this coming in the summer. No one. And the “experts” in preseason rankings all over the country didn’t either. The other teams never got their memos.
There are no more illusions now.

Easy to get over-excited about a staff who’s had the Midas touch the last few years, your leader coming back and new shiny objects. I know I took the hook. Wasn’t until the open practice that I saw things that made you go hmmmm.

On a most basic level staff has to avoid grabbing small undersized unathletic players in the portal, lol. If you’re gonna miss at least baseline it as a good athlete. Did they really think they could teach Mahaney to play defense? Everyone he’s going up against is bigger and faster and it’s not like the rest of the unit is collectively good at defense.

 

[Stinger92860]

I love Ross off the bench for defense. He ‘s a freshman playing time wise. This year is an evaluation year for most of these guys because we’re not winning a title. But in the next couple of years he’ll grow into a key bench piece FOR SURE.

Ross has 2 years left, in a couple of years he should have graduated. If you are suggesting he may be a nice bench piece during his Senior year, it could happen. If I am on the staff, I’m hoping the portal produces some nice players for us and the Freshmen next year are playable During primetime.

 

[RuffRuff]

Ross has 2 years left, in a couple of years he should have graduated. If you are suggesting he may be a nice bench piece during his Senior year, it could happen. If I am on the staff, I’m hoping the portal produces some nice players for us and the Freshmen next year are playable During primetime.

Ross is an interesting one - can’t see him as a starter until Senior year if at all. Does a kid like that stick around to be part of this program or move on to actually play?

 

[superjohn]

Ross is an interesting one - can’t see him as a starter until Senior year if at all. Does a kid like that stick around to be part of this program or move on to actually play?

I think the decision will be out of his hands along with some other players.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I think the decision will be out of his hands along with some other players.

Sounds like it will be an interesting and frustrating offseason.

 

[uconnever]

I think the decision will be out of his hands along with some other players.

With who we have coming and the portal, I would love to see him stay and continue to develop. I can see him being exactly what the staff thinks he is, just not this year. To me a defensive stopper in his size range is an important piece on a great team. It’s just too early for him. But when next years class become sophomores and some good pick ups in the portal, he would be very important for us as a senior stopper. Most championship level teams usually have one and he’s already here, because despite what anyone thinks, that year will be our next chance at a title if all goes well.

 

[Deleted at users request]

With who we have coming and the portal, I would love to see him stay and continue to develop. I can see him being exactly what the staff thinks he is, just not this year. To me a defensive stopper in his size range is an important piece on a great team. It’s just too early for him. But when next years class become sophomores and some good pick ups in the portal, he would be very important for us as a senior stopper. Most championship level teams usually have one and he’s already here, because despite what anyone thinks, that year will be our next chance at a title if all goes well.

I’m still of the opinion he has a chance to be more than a senior stopper.

If they get the chance, this summer will be huge for the sophomore group. This is their first year getting extensive on the court experience.

They’ve failed, know what they need to do better next season, and will have the opportunity to do so this summer. Depending on what Karaban does they will have the confidence and challenge of it being on them the same way it was for Hawkins and Andre as team leaders too. Unlike Karaban, I think they have the talent to shoulder that.

 

[RuffRuff]

I’m still of the opinion he has a chance to be more than a senior stopper.

If they get the chance, this summer will be huge for the sophomore group. This is their first year getting extensive on the court experience.

They’ve failed, know what they need to do better next season, and will have the opportunity to do so this summer. Depending on what Karaban does they will have the confidence and challenge of it being on them the same way it was for Hawkins and Andre as team leaders too. Unlike Karaban, I think they have the talent to shoulder that.

The thing is I bet Ross wants to be more than a defensive stopper. He’s going to want to be at least a 3-4 option. He’s a 6’7” kid with NBA dimensions, he didn’t come to UConn to be a stopper, lol.

 

[Deleted at users request]

The thing is I bet Ross wants to be more than a defensive stopper. He’s going to want to be at least a 3-4 option. He’s a 6’7” kid with NBA dimensions, he didn’t come to UConn to be a stopper, lol.

If the coaching staff agrees, he could have that opportunity next year. But based on people who seem to have some connection to the program on this board it doesn’t seem likely. And that’s disappointing.

 

[navery12]

The thing is I bet Ross wants to be more than a defensive stopper. He’s going to want to be at least a 3-4 option. He’s a 6’7” kid with NBA dimensions, he didn’t come to UConn to be a stopper, lol.

He might have those dreams, but that's not happening at UConn ever so it seems like an obvious move for all parties involved this summer

 

[Deleted at users request]

He might have those dreams, but that's not happening at UConn ever so it seems like an obvious move for all parties involved this summer

Kick out the guy who the NBA has inquired about as a future player in their league for a ready made MAC player with end of the draft potential at best. Best development staff in the country though.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

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.

 

[navery12]

Kick out the guy who the NBA has inquired about as a future player in their league for a ready made MAC player with end of the draft potential at best. Best development staff in the country though.

I have no idea what MAC player you're talking about because I certainly didn't say that. But if you think Ross is an NBA player all the power to you. I respect your ability to be publicly wrong about everything

 

[Deleted at users request]

I have no idea what MAC player you're talking about because I certainly didn't say that. But if you think Ross is an NBA player all the power to you. I respect your ability to be publicly wrong about everything

Dont tell that to me. Tell that to the people who invited him to Jayson Tatum’s camp.



But all you have when you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about or watching is to make up snarky comments.

 

[RuffRuff]

I have no idea what MAC player you're talking about because I certainly didn't say that. But if you think Ross is an NBA player all the power to you. I respect your ability to be publicly wrong about everything

It’s ultimately about getting reps anyway, so even if a MAC-like program, it would give him the chance to play more and in a position of choice. In today’s world he could go to a program thats better for him in the immediate and then jump back up to high major, if he does turn a corner.

 

[navery12]

Dont tell that to me. Tell that to the people who invited him to Jayson Tatum’s camp.



But all you have when you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about or watching is to make up snarky comments.

I'm aware of what you were referring to, not all of those guys are NBA players

 

[RuffRuff]

Dont tell that to me. Tell that to the people who invited him to Jayson Tatum’s camp.



But all you have when you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about or watching is to make up snarky comments.

Not an esteemed list - as soon as I saw Fletcher Loyer it really watered down the invite.

This legit means nada.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Not an esteemed list - as soon as I saw Fletcher Loyer it really watered down the invite.

This legit means nada.

There’s probably not a big talent pool to choose from since most coaches don’t like actually coaching up players these days.

When you just try to buy the best non-P5 players and avoid the hard work of guys who do have it, this is what happens.

It’s impressive that Ross was able to make that roster without playing at all last year.

 

[Glastonhusky]

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.

Agree, he won't be kicked out. I don't know what people expect from him. As I recall some services had him ranked outside of the top 100. He's a role player who may start by senior year. He gives us some length in the back court and could develop into a defensive stopper, any offense from him at this point is a bonus. If he decides there are better opportunities elsewhere, that's his decision, but he won't be kicked out.

 

[RuffRuff]

Agree, he won't be kicked out. I don't know what people expect from him. As I recall some services had him ranked outside of the top 100. He's a role player who may start by senior year. He gives us some length in the back court and could develop into a defensive stopper, any offense from him at this point is a bonus. If he decides there are better opportunities elsewhere, that's his decision, but he won't be kicked out.

I don't sense Hurley takes the approach of pointing at a kid and saying "you're fired", more a productive discussion with he and his parents as to what is best for him and his future, and for the program.

I know I'd pull like heck for him somewhere else, but like everyone else on this board my main interest is Uconn winning. In the day of NIL, I'm sure part of this is seeing how they can free up the kitty to go grab ROI, no idea what a kid like Ross would be getting, if anything. The one part of the equation that I'm yet to understand is how much of settling on AM was due to a budget constraint. As in did they take him because that's what they thought was best for what they could afford. Mahaney may have ultimately grabbed a year of good portal $$ at the peak of his value, so good for him, even if it is at Uconn's expense.

 

[CL82]

Evaluating players who you don’t have yet is an art, not a science.

And that evaluation is made infinitely harder if you've had a good enough season that you end up in the championship game. That gives everyone else the opportunity to investigate, evaluate, and recruit while you are still coaching games. I would greatly prefer if the NCAA would only open the portal after the last game of the season. In any event, yeah, we had recruiting misses. While that's not acceptable, it is somewhat explainable, given the current system.

 

[bmayuc]

I’m trying to figure out who you are referencing with this sentence. Fishy or Hurley?

ha, hurley.

 

[Drfla]

There’s probably not a big talent pool to choose from since most coaches don’t like actually coaching up players these days.

When you just try to buy the best non-P5 players and avoid the hard work of guys who do have it, this is what happens.

It’s impressive that Ross was able to make that roster without playing at all last year.

It may be impressive that he made the list without playing last year but I looked up stats of all college players on the list and unfortunately Jayden is at the bottom. Being an uber athlete and having a certain desirable body type doesn’t make you a basketball player.
Jayden may improve over the next 2 years and I hope he does, but if I’m the coach, I’m not counting on it especially if there are other more proven options available. Too risky IMO.

 

[alphasigko]

He looks distraught

As the self-described 'Best coach in the business' he should be both distraught and completely embarrassed by his team's performance in that game.

 

[alphasigko]

Dont tell that to me. Tell that to the people who invited him to Jayson Tatum’s camp.



But all you have when you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about or watching is to make up snarky comments.

From Ross's play it looks like he did not learn anything that stayed with him from that camp.

 

[Glastonhusky]

I don't sense Hurley takes the approach of pointing at a kid and saying "you're fired", more a productive discussion with he and his parents as to what is best for him and his future, and for the program.

I know I'd pull like heck for him somewhere else, but like everyone else on this board my main interest is Uconn winning. In the day of NIL, I'm sure part of this is seeing how they can free up the kitty to go grab ROI, no idea what a kid like Ross would be getting, if anything. The one part of the equation that I'm yet to understand is how much of settling on AM was due to a budget constraint. As in did they take him because that's what they thought was best for what they could afford. Mahaney may have ultimately grabbed a year of good portal $$ at the peak of his value, so good for him, even if it is at Uconn's expense.

I can't imagine someone like say Haggerty from Memphis would have cost us any more NIL money than AM. I haven't seen much of Memphis, but he looked pretty good against us. So I don't think it was a budget constraint, I think we wanted AM all along. I guess the staff just underestimated the adjustment needed for the step up in competition.

 

[RuffRuff]

I can't imagine someone like say Haggerty from Memphis would have cost us any more NIL money than AM. I haven't seen much of Memphis, but he looked pretty good against us. So I don't think it was a budget constraint, I think we wanted AM all along. I guess the staff just underestimated the adjustment needed for the step up in competition.

Probably right because otherwise an SEC school would have gobbled him up.

Haggerty - 21ppg, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 49% shooting, 42.4% from three. All American numbers, total stud, and only a sophomore (redshirted freshman year).

Javon Small - 18.6ppg, 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 43% shooting, 35% from three. Not Haggerty, but I'll take it.

Both of these kids on their third program, Small started at ECU (like Newton).

The AM selection beyond perplexing as no idea how you settle on a small 38% shooter out of a glacial white dude system. At the time, banking the staff saw the hidden upside, the reality is that there wasn't any.

 

[Huskyforlife]

And as has been stated here 100+ times already, the choice was not Brea vs Mahaney. It was Brea vs Ball and it was unequivocally the correct choice

If we took Brea, Solo would have transferred. Mahaney and Brea were not being recruited for the same spot.

This isn't 100% correct. They were worried some combination of Solo/Ross/Stewart would look elsewhere. It should've been easy to promise Solo a significant role if they were afraid of losing him. Brea has come off the bench in many games for UK, he was a 6th man at Dayton. This teams problem is lack of depth behind Solo/Liam, Brea would be a 150% upgrade on Ross/Stewart.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not gonna post all of Hurleys soundbites but there’s a few more interesting in Borges tweets if you want to look