Hurley Presser

[PAHusky]

Honestly, why? Would the season be playing out differently if he'd been all "geez, I just hope we can sneak in with an at-large bid" all summer?
Talking about a threepeat was great. It kept us in the spotlight. How often do you get a chance for something like that? Basically never.
People want us to be both the biggest name in the sport and fly under the radar. It doesn't work that way.

I think there's a solid middle ground there that you're ignoring. You can address the elephant in the room without causing additional pressure. I'm cool with him acknowledging the threepeat etc. but I think he went too far in talking up the NBA potential of some of the players and it's a tactic that may not have worked with this group.

Again, I'm a keyboard warrior and not a back to back championship winning coach so I'm not saying I know what the best course is here. Don't disagree with you that having UConn in the news for chasing a threepeat is a big net positive.

 

[AllHusky]

This year probably Duke and Auburn. Auburn is snatching opponents' souls with their margin of victories like UConn did the past 2 years in the NCAAT.

So Auburn hanging in there without Broome, and Duke clicking on all cylinders since loss to Kansas. Be nice to mess Duke up this year.

 

[storrsroars]

We were never going to have a total reload after 2 chips, we just weren't. Florida went 8-8 in conference and only made the NIT semis after their two championships.

What are our issues?

• Total misrecruit of Mahaney
• Too little shot creation on the roster
• low basketball IQ defenders we figured we could coach up... and didn't.

We're not a bad team. Still top-25 with McNeeley. We're just comparing ourselves to one of the most perfectly constructed rosters of all time last year.

All of this is obvious now. The question I have (and I think many others) is that Dan has repeatedly said what he looks for in a recruit or xfer, and he's put together incredible rosters of pieces that fit almost perfectly. And to miss this badly is just... strange. So what is the difference with how he evaluated this squad when he was assembling it?

 

[RuffRuff]

So Auburn hanging in there without Broome, and Duke clicking on all cylinders since loss to Kansas. Be nice to mess Duke up this year.

Any team with a KP in both offense & defense in the top 20 is generally considered well balanced.

Rk	Team	Conf	W-L	NetRtg	ORtg	DRtg
1	Duke	ACC	16-2	+36.77	124.9	3	88.2	2
2	Auburn	SEC	17-1	+36.15	131.0	1	94.9	18
3	Houston	B12	14-3	+33.69	121.6	12	87.9	1
4	Iowa St.	B12	15-2	+30.56	121.9	10	91.3	6
5	Florida	SEC	16-2	+30.37	124.5	5	94.1	15
6	Tennessee	SEC	16-2	+29.18	118.9	22	89.8	3
7	Kansas	B12	13-4	+27.28	117.0	34	89.8	4
8	Alabama	SEC	15-3	+27.11	124.9	4	97.8	42
9	Illinois	B10	13-5	+26.91	119.5	19	92.6	10
10	Purdue	B10	15-4	+26.59	122.4	8	95.9	22
11	Michigan	B10	14-4	+24.84	121.2	14	96.3	25
12	Texas Tech	B12	13-4	+24.76	122.0	9	97.3	37
13	Michigan St.	B10	16-2	+24.42	119.2	21	94.8	17
14	Gonzaga	WCC	14-6	+24.15	124.2	6	100.1	59
15	Marquette	BE	15-3	+24.08	118.6	24	94.5	16
16	Arizona	B12	11-6	+23.73	119.2	20	95.5	20
17	Mississippi	SEC	15-3	+23.70	117.7	27	94.0	13

 

[ec33]

If Karaban makes free throws, and Diara gets a shooting foul, we are talking about how this team has championship moxy and finds ways to win. Yes they are flawed, but so is every other team in the nation. They get McNeeley back, they can go on a run.

Add in a couple of bad over-the-back calls.

 

[UConnJim]

Unfortunately, this is a flawed team, but it doesn't mean the team can't improve. This is a good shooting team, but it is a mediocre defensive team and rebounding is not good. Look at the starters' rebounds per 40 minutes and compare it to last year:

2023/2024: Clingan, Newton, Castle, Karaban, Spencer = 40.2 rebounds per 40 minutes

2024/2025: Johnson, McNeeley, Karaban, Diarra, Ball = 26.8 rebounds per 40 minutes

With McNeeley out: Johnson, Karaban, Diarra, Ball, Stewart = 25.0 rebounds per 40 minutes.

UConn could almost match last year's rebounding per 40 minutes with this lineup:

Reed, McNeeley, Nowell, Karaban, Diarra = 39.1 rebounds per 40 minutes.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Everybody looking for answers. Are we as good as the last two years, even with McNeeley. No. Are we still pretty damned good, top 25, going to the tournament. Yes. if this is the down year, we need to realize the down years under Calhoun were worse. Get in the dance, see who is hot, see what you can do. That's it.

As for the "Duke" model, the 5th year crap is almost done. If we are honest, it had a huge impact on our ability to construct that team last year. The change means the level of play is going to drop overall. That means good freshmen are now a bit more valuable. Seniors like Hass are still really valuable. We shouldn't be too surprised Duke is good, because everybody else is a bit worse. Hurley knows the portal can help, but not quite like before. Next year's class is our best ever.

Auburn looks great, who's the leading scorer? A 5h year senior. #2 scorer: senior. Then #3 a talented freshman. #4 senior. #5 senior. #6 senior.

Iowa State: Senior, Senior, Junior, Soph, Junior, Senior.

The model is the same as always, blend talent with experience. Talent with experience (Newton, Cam, Shabazz) is absolute rock solid gold. Nothing beats that.

 

[mihusky]

Yea, using the portal is proving to not be as "can't miss" as people would think.

Every season has had some "sure fire hits" turn into absolute busts and wastes of NIL money.

Let's be honest, Hunter Dickinson has been a huge disappointment for Kansas x 2 seasons now (for what he should have brought to that team).

Timberlake was a big bust.

Coleman Hawkins has been one of the biggest wastes of NIL money in the history of NIL so far.

Oumar Ballo has put up some good stats but has brought apathy and poor attitude to Indiana.

and we were so close to getting Timberlake instead of Cam...fortunate break

 

[FreeKlaiber]

All of this is obvious now. The question I have (and I think many others) is that Dan has repeatedly said what he looks for in a recruit or xfer, and he's put together incredible rosters of pieces that fit almost perfectly. And to miss this badly is just... strange. So what is the difference with how he evaluated this squad when he was assembling it?

He missed on Mahaney's ability to run the point or deal with physicality of Big East, and he overestimated his staffs ability to defensively coach up more offensive minded players to "the standard".

note-many of us thought he missed on Newton too, and were wrong, so story isnt written yet...

 

[uh-no]

I talk hoops, what's interesting, relevant and worth discussion. I don't bury my head myopically in only things Uconn as I'm a fan of the whole sport, and I'm am not a candidate for the lead singer from the Blue Glasses Band. I could see you on the fiddle.

I'm by no means a Duke fan, I just find their current model and transition from this past year really interesting given the circumstances.

you win some, you lose some in this portal world.

We nailed it last year. Duke seems to have done well this year.

 

[Captbluefin]

We lack the mature senior who can get a bucket.

AK is a battle tested veteran but he’s not a “ go get some buckets and stop the bleeding “ ISO guy

We had 2 last year Newton and Cam

 

[PAHusky]

We lack the mature senior who can get a bucket.

AK is a battle tested veteran but he’s not a “ go get some buckets and stop the bleeding “ ISO guy

We had 2 last year Newton and Cam

And Castle honestly. We’re missing anyone - regardless of age - who is really primarily a shot creator. McNeeley is great but he’s more of a maxed out Karaban in that even in HS he was more of an amazing secondary option than go to scorer. Ball can’t drive/finish as the rim well enough and Karaban is too slow foot speed wise to effectively take his man off the dribble as well.

Hoping for an offseason jump for Solo/another sophomore and/or the incoming freshmen get buckets for next year. For this year have to hope we can scrounge up enough points from somewhere each game

 

[UCTitleTown]

I'm fine admitting that this team isn't championship caliber. It would have been other-worldly to be a contender again given the amount of talent that has left over the past two seasons. The margin for error on the roster adds was very thin, and we missed on one of them. People seem to have forgotten that winning championships is really hard (which can happen when you basically average a championship every four years over a quarter century).

There are pieces on the roster, and what looks to be a very good freshman class coming in. No reason we can't be back in it next year and the year after if we can supplement well in the portal.

I think it's apparent at this point that Flagg is REALLY good and is a difference maker for the team that got him. Imagine if we had him now. Need bucket, he gets a bucket.

 

[uconngb]

I love DH but he should have been pumping the brakes on the threepeat chatter this off season rather than leaning into it. Not sure if he genuinely mis-evaluated the talent of this team or he decided that was the correct motivational tact but not great.

This is a top 15 or so team with McNeeley and borderline top 25 team without. Offensively, they're running the same sets but no one is a scoring option at all so it's all just empty motions. Last year you had every single kid on the floor who could get a bucket. This year Karaban can't handle being the alpha on offense, Ball is just exploring how to do anything other than shoot 3's really well and everyone else is up and down. Defensively, they're just not good and I'm not sure it's something fixable during the season. The sophomores are terrible (Ross is the best of the bunch and for a supposed defensive stopper hasn't shown much) and even the vets like Karaban or Diarra are getting a bit exposed (Karaban isolated one on one with no center behind him is ugly and Hass made his bones gambling for steals etc. and can't now).

DH infamously decided after New Mexico that he needed offense and could teach good offensive players to player defense, but I think even he underestimated how much work this group needed.

Great post you nailed it

 

[JMick]

He missed on Mahaney's ability to run the point or deal with physicality of Big East, and he overestimated his staffs ability to defensively coach up more offensive minded players to "the standard".

note-many of us thought he missed on Newton too, and were wrong, so story isnt written yet...

Besides Newton he's had a bit of blind spot filling the PG position. Hass doing better than I thought he would but he doesn't have a complete game and too much is on his shoulders.

 

[Excalibur]

I'll take the model that won consecutive natties, personally. Maybe I'm just a fool.

Consecutive championships with significant roster turnover as well. People acting like Hurley just got lucky with a couple of really good players . . .

 

[JMick]

I just got a chance to listen to tonight's post game and I'm glad he brought up the integrity of the sport related to officiating biases going into games. I brought this up earlier this year and some people thought I was crazy. It is a huge deal and is something that should be talked about.

 

[ValleyGuy]

Yea, using the portal is proving to not be as "can't miss" as people would think.

Every season has had some "sure fire hits" turn into absolute busts and wastes of NIL money.

Let's be honest, Hunter Dickinson has been a huge disappointment for Kansas x 2 seasons now (for what he should have brought to that team).

Timberlake was a big bust.

Coleman Hawkins has been one of the biggest wastes of NIL money in the history of NIL so far.

Oumar Ballo has put up some good stats but has brought apathy and poor attitude to Indiana.

You can add Storr to the list for Kansas. People thought he was going to be a cheat code for them.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I feel like, for the first time in two years, we've becom[e] fairly easily to gameplan/prepare for.

FTFY

 

[Hunt for 7]

I think it's apparent at this point that Flagg is REALLY good and is a difference maker for the team that got him. Imagine if we had him now. Need bucket, he gets a bucket.

Which is why so many were discouraged. Kid probably could have been on a team that would have won three in a row. Much better legacy than winning one with Dook before moving on. That was the whole point of the major disappointment. I think deep down we kind of all knew it might be a rough year just no one wanted to be the person to bring it up.

Yes with Liam and all the other parts playing their roles perfectly we are a second weekend team but with the other guy ceiling was much higher.

Also it has become pretty clear that there is not much difference between Reed and Samson and you could say the last several games we are better with Samson on the floor. Mahaney well what else I’d there to say…..

 

[jibsey]

Which is why so many were discouraged. Kid probably could have been on a team that would have won three in a row. Much better legacy than winning one with Dook before moving on. That was the whole point of the major disappointment. I think deep down we kind of all knew it might be a rough year just no one wanted to be the person to bring it up.

Yes with Liam and all the other parts playing their roles perfectly we are a second weekend team but with the other guy ceiling was much higher.

Also it has become pretty clear that there is not much difference between Reed and Samson and you could say the last several games we are better with Samson on the floor. Mahaney well what else I’d there to say…..

Flagg is unreal but what is forgotten is the talent level around him. Let’s count the 5 stars. Even without good coaching with that much talent they will be good.
How good? Picture adding 3 or 4 more Liam level players to our roster and what it would do.

 

[UConnSwag11]

We were never going to have a total reload after 2 chips, we just weren't. Florida went 8-8 in conference and only made the NIT semis after their two championships.

What are our issues?

• Total misrecruit of Mahaney
• Too little shot creation on the roster
• low basketball IQ defenders we figured we could coach up... and didn't.

We're not a bad team. Still top-25 with McNeeley. We're just comparing ourselves to one of the most perfectly constructed rosters of all time last year.

Need to change the offense. Go to throwing it into Reed and let him go to work. Surround him with shooters. Hurley has to change the offense to fit this team for this year due to lack of talent.

Hurley also needs to not have Diarra throwing acrobatic layups and three pointers. That’s not his game. Nowell should be in before Mahaney to relieve Diarra. Hurley also can’t have Karaban be option 1 or 2 on offense. When McNeeley is in he’s option 1 and Solo is option 2. After that it’s whoever’s open.

But the offense can still score as of now. Our defense needs to really get better bc I’m not sure if we’ll be able to go bucket for bucket with teams this hear. The defense is terrible and I think it’s a combo of three things - IQ, effort/toughness, and being flat-footed/standing straight up.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Flagg is unreal but what is forgotten is the talent level around him. Let’s count the 5 stars. Even without good coaching with that much talent they will be good.
How good? Picture adding 3 or 4 more Liam level players to our roster and what it would do.

But they have that every year and are not this good. He makes everyone around him level up. He clearly is a generational player and we are trying to accomplish something that is more like a once every other generation accomplishment. To me it just felt that should have been the closer and it was not.

Look at all the other teams look at Rutgers, Kansas, Arkansas even Kentucky with their googles of 5 stars but they are beatable. Dook and Auburn are the class of CBB and we all kind of knew Dook was going to ride this kid to places they have not gotten to recently. Hence the anger and frustration.

I really think Liam may be the 2nd or 3rd best freshman in the country but generational is generational and he makes everyone better much better. So kind of to your post Flagg is making higher skill set players all better. And I am over the 5 stars high school kids. Give me a real good junior portal player over most 5 stars.

 

[Drame]

Watching this now the only thing I take "issue" with is him legit saying we are a bad defensive team and that he's considered changes to the schemes but that previous years were very successful with it so we'll stay the course. It's a stubborn viewpoint imo and not really playing to the team's strengths/weaknesses, etc. I remember thinking JC was maddening at times because he ran the same stuff offensively pretty much regardless of personnel. DH is following the same blueprint defensively. We have bad individual defenders, our help defense is non-existent (how many straight line layups/dunks do we give up?), our hedging is ridiculously aggressive and forces bad defenders to rotate. It's been the same thing since the Memphis game (with some improvement obviously) and the rationale is, "well, we've been successful with this scheme before so we'll stick with it."

I think we are very soft and flawed and even if we had McNeeley throughout and were now 15-3 the same issues are still there. I feel like, for the first time in years, we've becoming fairly easily to gameplan/prepare for.

Ive been saying it all season. A pack line style defense would be perfect for this team. Virginia used it with the same type of rosters as we have this year. It helps keep our guys in defensive position for rebounds and prevents penetration.

I've always had my eye on next year after we spent this whole year developing our players. Ball should definitely stay. If McNeeley is outside the lottery I think he should stay too. He probably wont though. My worry is that Nowell is not getting enough run to be able to hand over the reigns to him next year. We dont have enough guys strong with the ball.

 

[cp176]

Solo Ball is a flat out scorer who is getting better at what he does best. The problem is that he is as bad a defender at this level as I hope he can been. Overall, I am confused actually baffled at the lack of defensive footwork on thiis team. Allowing anyone to get to the sideline then the baseline as well as into the middle with no effort to take space away and for the most part non-effective rotation to help just confuses me. They are all athletic enough to tighten things up. I am a man to man guy all the way but you have to be able to get it done. It isn’t Mahaney’s fault entirely that he is exposed defensively by some mediocre college players. If he wants to actually use him and get something out of him, I think that it is kind of obvious that the defensive scheme has to change At least when he is on the court. I would also kind of like to see both centers get the green light to shoot 10 foot jump shots. Them not being guarded at all at the foul line and above makes it almost impossible for anyone to penetrate to the rim even if they wanted to.