Hurley talks about the transfer portal shuffle

[HooperScooper]

“Adapt or die,” Hurley said Wednesday night. “You’re going to have to blend, in the recruiting process, high-impact guys who are freshmen who are ready to go right away and help you win, and guys who need a little more development but have the talent to have a role here, and then being strategic with transfers.”

“You’ve got to adjust and be smart enough to adapt and try to build relationships a lot quicker,” Hurley said. “I got into coaching for relationships that build over time and grow over time and coaching a team that has that consistent continuity. But it’s a much different game than it was two or three years ago. I’m going to be agile and adjust.”

“I’m going to get this team and program so much better,” Hurley said. “We’re going to continue to get better seeds in the NCAA Tournament. We’ve got a core of big-time players in Adama, Andre, Jordan, Tristen coming in, the best perimeter group, when the ball goes up, we’ve ever had, with some outstanding front court players. We’re in a great place.”

Dom Amore: Transfer portal gives, takes and forces UConn men’s coach Dan Hurley to adapt to new reality

The UConn men's basketball program has been hit with a wave of transfers, to be expected in an era when the transfer portal is filled with more than 1,300 players. Navigating this new world of college basketball will be the challenge for coach Dan Hurley, as he builds a team for his fifth season.

www.courant.com

Free link:

12ft |

12ft.io

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Does he really say, "Don't sleep on Springs" in the full article?

 

[CardiacAndre7]

The best perimeter group is….interesting

 

[mauconnfan]

Sorry but seeing is believing for me. Long ways to go for me to believe “better seeds” as well as “best perimeter group”!

 

[Hoophound]

“Adapt or die,” Hurley said Wednesday night. “You’re going to have to blend, in the recruiting process, high-impact guys who are freshmen who are ready to go right away and help you win, and guys who need a little more development but have the talent to have a role here, and then being strategic with transfers.”

“You’ve got to adjust and be smart enough to adapt and try to build relationships a lot quicker,” Hurley said. “I got into coaching for relationships that build over time and grow over time and coaching a team that has that consistent continuity. But it’s a much different game than it was two or three years ago. I’m going to be agile and adjust.”

“I’m going to get this team and program so much better,” Hurley said. “We’re going to continue to get better seeds in the NCAA Tournament. We’ve got a core of big-time players in Adama, Andre, Jordan, Tristen coming in, the best perimeter group, when the ball goes up, we’ve ever had, with some outstanding front court players. We’re in a great place.”

Dom Amore: Transfer portal gives, takes and forces UConn men’s coach Dan Hurley to adapt to new reality

The UConn men's basketball program has been hit with a wave of transfers, to be expected in an era when the transfer portal is filled with more than 1,300 players. Navigating this new world of college basketball will be the challenge for coach Dan Hurley, as he builds a team for his fifth season.

www.courant.com

He sounds rattled. What I like about Dan is that he’s hungry and energetic. He may be rattled, but he’s going to fight like a mofo to fix it.

 

[superjohn]

The best perimeter group is….interesting

What does that quote mean because what we have right now sure as s^&t isn't the best perimeter group we've ever had. I hope it means we have some more perimeter studs lined up.

 

[drayenob]

So where does it leave the Huskies? With junior Andre Jackson, sophomore Jordan Hawkins and Newton in the backcourt; junior Adama Sanogo, sophomore Samson Johnson, redshirt junior Richie Springs and freshmen Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban in the front court and five scholarships to offer, four if Class of -2023 incoming guard Stephon Castle decides to reclassify to 2022. Hurley would like to add two more players who can help immediately, and with more than 1,300 in the portal, it’s become a like eBay. You can find almost any type of player you want or need. Hurley wanted a big point guard who can score and he landed the 6-foot-5 Newton who averaged 17.7 points, 5.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds for East Carolina, and had a 25-point game against UConn two years ago.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Sorry but seeing is believing for me. Long ways to go for me to believe “better seeds” as well as “best perimeter group”!

He's improved the team every single season and has added more talent to the program every single year.

It's not a stretch to think that Newton Hawkins and Jackson could be our best perimeter group under Hurley either.

 

[shizzle787]

Honestly, the only kid I’m disappointed to lose is Floyd Jr. Even with him, we didn’t know what we were going to get. To me, he just like a de-committ.

 

[MJKI]

Another curious no mention of Samson there. Two interviews post transfer and no mention of him. Odd….

 

[HuskyHawk]

The other day I asked about 3 star HS players uncommitted and a kid people said committed to Columbia. Some asked me why. Because this new reality means that you’ve got to find the Christian Vital of the future. Have to take a few kids who are thrilled to be at UConn and know they won’t play until Junior year. Hurley confirms it. Those kids waiting to play are not going to be 4* top 100 players. If injuries hit, as happened with Vital, they may get a chance sooner.

Springs may finally get his shot with Akok leaving. He’s now on the depth chart. Will probably surprise like Whaley did when he finally got a chance.

 

[SouthBayHusky]

Sorry but seeing is believing for me. Long ways to go for me to believe “better seeds” as well as “best perimeter group”!

Make sense. I mean having a coach that has gotten us back into the tournament and a progressively better seed each year would definitely make me doubt those words too.

 

[Slappy]

What does that quote mean because what we have right now sure as s^&t isn't the best perimeter group we've ever had. I hope it means we have some more perimeter studs lined up.

Probably “he” has ever had right? Obv not UConn proper

 

[PNolanFan]

I feel like 8-10 years ago and until recently there was a bit of a premium of getting mid 4 star players throughout your roster over 5 star guys.... If you look at the best programs over the last several years (villanova, virginia a few years ago, unc, baylor ect.) you will find teams stocked with 4 star recruits who are led by 4 star guys as upperclassmen and guys sit for a year or two until they are ready to take over. However there seems to be a bit of a change now whereas developing 4 star guys may actually be a disaster in this era if you are gonna bring a kid in develop him for a year or 2 and then watch him go star somewhere else. Would love to hope that Hurley will be ahead of this, maybe it really will be getting a few guys like Vital (3 star guys) and developing them to be the core of a team with talented freshman and transfers moving in and out

 

[ClifSpliffy]

might as well be talking aboot the lido shuffle for all the attention im payin to him lately.


and why is there a bit of a vibe on this thread aboot samsons prospects?

the progression starting at 2:36 is still legend. all i know is that among sool, cook, jmoney, corey, and javonte some fans somewhere mebbe just got a player who will leave their own legend there. i think joshy might be in line to be mayor of Houston. they liked him. a lot. just like me.

 

[superjohn]

Probably “he” has ever had right? Obv not UConn proper

Yep but I sincerely hope he knows he's bringing in more big impact players on the perimeter because Newton, Hawkins, and Jackson surely isn't going to cut it.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

He sounds rattled. What I like about Dan is that he’s hungry and energetic. He may be rattled, but he’s going to fight like a mofo to fix it.

Those quotes sound like a rattled guy? Really? Sounds like someone who is observant and adapting to survive and thrive in a new CBB landscape.

If you want examples of guys who are rattled, look no further than 95% of the posts by all the chicken littles in these transfer threads the past few days!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

He sounds rattled. What I like about Dan is that he’s hungry and energetic. He may be rattled, but he’s going to fight like a mofo to fix it.

What specifically leads you think he sounds rattled? I don't get that at all.

 

[connVA]

He's improved the team every single season and has added more talent to the program every single year.

It's not a stretch to think that Newton Hawkins and Jackson could be our best perimeter group under Hurley either.

Jackson thanks you for holding his beer and would like you to hand it back now

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Does he really say, "Don't sleep on Springs" in the full article?

Yes, but he has back issues so he needs the support that wooden slats provide.

 

[Kenny11]

Honestly, the only kid I’m disappointed to lose is Floyd Jr. Even with him, we didn’t know what we were going to get. To me, he just like a de-committ.

I’m disappointed to lose Floyd too. I actually thought he would overachieve here and be more than just a role player…but that was based on very little evidence and just a gut feeling

 

[PAHusky]

He's improved the team every single season and has added more talent to the program every single year.

It's not a stretch to think that Newton Hawkins and Jackson could be our best perimeter group under Hurley either.

I generally agree, but to play devil’s advocate - what do you consider “improved” year over year? We were ranked this year, but we didn’t win the conference/conference tournament/most importantly didn’t do anything again in the dance.

And I’d argue that the teams with Bouknight on them were more talented, as was any backcourt with him in it. I’m not sure anyone on next year’s team is a first round draft pick, let alone a lottery pick (Hawkins is probably the best bet, but he’s a long way away).

 

[metsfan2323]

What does that quote mean because what we have right now sure as s^&t isn't the best perimeter group we've ever had. I hope it means we have some more perimeter studs lined up.

he's obviously referencing his 4 year tenure.

 

[uconngb]

What does that quote mean because what we have right now sure as s^&t isn't the best perimeter group we've ever had. I hope it means we have some more perimeter studs lined up.

Exactly

 

[uconngb]

Make sense. I mean having a coach that has gotten us back into the tournament and a progressively better seed each year would definitely make me doubt those words too.

He lost both those games as a higher seed didn’t he?? Yeah, he needs to prove it to a lot of us.

 

[navery12]

I generally agree, but to play devil’s advocate - what do you consider “improved” year over year? We were ranked this year, but we didn’t win the conference/conference tournament/most importantly didn’t do anything again in the dance.

And I’d argue that the teams with Bouknight on them were more talented, as was any backcourt with him in it. I’m not sure anyone on next year’s team is a first round draft pick, let alone a lottery pick (Hawkins is probably the best bet, but he’s a long way away).

This

 

[Chin Diesel]

Those quotes sound like a rattled guy? Really? Sounds like someone who is observant and adapting to survive and thrive in a new CBB landscape.

If you want examples of guys who are rattled, look no further than 95% of the posts by all the chicken littles in these transfer threads the past few days!

What specifically leads you think he sounds rattled? I don't get that at all.

It's a bit of the old Mike Tyson adage.

Dan Hurley said he had a plan as a coach to slow develop relationships and players over time.

He got smacked right on the teeth and he's quickly pivoting to a new strategy.

He took a punch and had to shake it off. He seems to have gotten his legs back under him.

 

[djct1999]

So let’s get this straight, you chose to believe Hurley when he says Floyd really would have helped us this year but chose to not believe him when he says this core is our best perimeter group. It’s become embarrassing. Are you guys really UConn fans? Hurley took us from the depths of despair and has been better every season. Truth is, next years roster will be better than last years. Yet we still complain. We still are unhappy. We still criticize our coach. I don’t get it. Again, are you really a UConn fan? Ask yourself what you want here. To me, it seems most of you want Hurley to fail. Well, I can tell you firsthand you picked the wrong guy to root against.

 

[Deleted at users request]

This

View attachment 75579

Out of fairness, the 2021 team suffered from COVID and a Bouknight injury. That team healthy is better than this past years team. 11-4 with Bouknight.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I can actually agree with Hurley that this could be the best perimeter he’s had. Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson are NBA talents. Newton is our best pure PG since Adams and he’s 6’5. Bring in Castle and there’s a lot to be excited about. I just don’t want the wrong transfers coming in to take away from Hawkins and Jackson. Really want to see how we do leaning on them and Sanogo.