Hurley threads (merged)

[Scottobot]

One other stat regarding Hurley that is not talked about enough is how few blowout losses Hurley teams have. It seems like everyone has forgotten the 25 pt + embarrassments we had four or 5 times a year when Ollie was the coach.
Yes it is frustrating we are losing these close games, but we were right there on the road vs a hot top 25 team in Creighton. If Jordon gets his foot a few inches back on that last second shot, I think we pull that game out. We are right there .. so close … just need a little improvement. While with Ollie, we did things like lose to Wagner and Northeastern to start the season … get crushed by an unbanked Arkansas team by 35 points.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Yeah forget about “some combination of diarra , Alleyne and clingan “basically just put clingan in for Jackson - simple. The rest of those guys are nowhere near as good as Jackson or bring as much as he brings. But again, Hurley refuses to give clingan more mins. It was almost like last year in his minutes allocation where he just continued to give Gaffney tremendous amounts of minutes -I’m having flashbacks lol. Stubborn cat

'he just continued to give Gaffney tremendous amounts of minutes'
jalen played 12 minutes per last year.
this year, he's the starting point for a 23-2, ranked, team.

try again.

 

[gsmooth]

I often think about what could have happened with that 19-20 team. They were hitting their stride at the perfect time and were bringing a lot of momentum into the AAC tournament

Vital deserved a better ending

This will always be a forever "what if" question for me. Vital from mid January to March of that COVID year was money. When he was open for a 3 I always expected it to go in and it usually did. For most of his career he was a streak shooter, but for that mid January to March he became a pure shooter. And Bouknight was really coming into his own, too.

 

[Huskybass]

One other stat regarding Hurley that is not talked about enough is how few blowout losses Hurley teams have. It seems like everyone has forgotten the 25 pt + embarrassments we had four or 5 times a year when Ollie was the coach.
Yes it is frustrating we are losing these close games, but we were right there on the road vs a hot top 25 team in Creighton. If Jordon gets his foot a few inches back on that last second shot, I think we pull that game out. We are right there .. so close … just need a little improvement. While with Ollie, we did things like lose to Wagner and Northeastern to start the season … get crushed by an unbanked Arkansas team by 35 points.

UConn lost Eight games by 20 or more in Ollie's last season, and you're right the Hurley losses are almost always close...meaning that if a few things click this team be becomes a very tough out.

Definitely need to find ways to get good looks for Hawkins and Karaban and more minutes for Clingan. The potential is there, that's what makes this team so frustrating.

 

[Deleted at users request]

You're not asking for a lot - but I also don't think it's the end of the world for the program or Hurley if it goes down like that this season.

If it goes down like that this season like others have said, his seat should warm up. Hell the Seton Hall coach has been doing a great job with no resources Year 1 and went to an elite 8 with St Peter’s. Tri state guy. Hurley isn’t the only option if he can’t get it done.

 

[giddyup]

We could do a lot worse than Hurley. That said, anybody suggesting he is a great coach has lost all sense of objectivity. He hasn’t shown the ability to win when it counts, and he has a hell of a lot talent to work with and still can’t get over the hump.

 

[Matt1010]

If it goes down like that this season like others have said, his seat should warm up. Hell the Seton Hall coach has been doing a great job with no resources Year 1 and went to an elite 8 with St Peter’s. Tri state guy. Hurley isn’t the only option if he can’t get it done.

Huh? What has Holloway done that's so great? SH is 15-11 (projected to finish 17-14 ) and he's got the 128th ranked recruiting class coming in next year. They were a tournament team last year so that's not exactly starting off strong.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

We could do a lot worse than Hurley. That said, anybody suggesting he is a great coach has lost all sense of objectivity. He hasn’t shown the ability to win when it counts, and he has a hell of a lot talent to work with and still can’t get over the hump.

True, not yet.

And no guarantees, except...

He's our coach now, and it's one game at a time.

I'm rooting for him this season.
It's the only season we have.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Huh? What has Holloway done that's so great? SH is 15-11 (projected to finish 17-14 ) and he's got the 128th ranked recruiting class coming in next year. They were a tournament team last year so that's not exactly starting off strong.

I’m sorry, I need some of y’all to read man. What he did is there in plain writing in my post. He went to an elite 8. Why you chose to ignore that I don’t know.

 

[pj]

Here’s an interesting nugget for those worried about our road woes: The 2004 team, arguably our best ever- won ONE game on the road that year against an NCAA tournament team- Boston College.

Interesting indeed. That team went 6-5 on the road, this year's team is 4-5 on the road so far. The Big East that year was stronger than the Big East this year. But, it can be hard to win on the road, and road losses don't necessarily point to failure in the tourney.

 

[Deleted at users request]

This will always be a forever "what if" question for me. Vital from mid January to March of that COVID year was money. When he was open for a 3 I always expected it to go in and it usually did. For most of his career he was a streak shooter, but for that mid January to March he became a pure shooter. And Bouknight was really coming into his own, too.

Think this was the only team that had truly defined roles that everyone played well.

They were so fun to watch.

 

[temery]

If we ever have another Boneyard Golf Tournament I'm gonna invite Hurley, Jackson, and a couple other players and point some of you out.

 

[NJHusky]

Interesting indeed. That team went 6-5 on the road, this year's team is 4-5 on the road so far. The Big East that year was stronger than the Big East this year. But, it can be hard to win on the road, and road losses don't necessarily point to failure in the tourney.

the prior year the team was co-champs of the BE and went to the S16

 

[auror]

I imagine that it is possible to pass the ball out of the low post. If AJ is posting up an opponent, none of our remaining players are being doubled. We should be able to run something to get someone open for a spot up after receiving the pass from Jackson.

You're right, we could run something like a Princeton offense with Jackson operating like a passing big in the high post. Unfortunately that's just probably too big of a change to make mid season.

 

[Matt1010]

I’m sorry, I need some of y’all to read man. What he did is there in plain writing in my post. He went to an elite 8. Why you chose to ignore that I don’t know.

"Hell the Seton Hall coach has been doing a great job with no resources Year 1", no he has not been.

 

[ElGreco]

Do you actually believe this?

Pretty much. Same starters and minutes??

 

[FfldCntyFan]

You're right, we could run something like a Princeton offense with Jackson operating like a passing big in the high post. Unfortunately that's just probably too big of a change to make mid season.

I was thinking Jackson in the low post (where logically the opponent would have to defend him). Once he receives the ball he either dunks it (if the defender doesn't have position) or passes back out to one of our shooters. I don't think it makes sense to have someone in the high post that you can't trust to make an open 15 ft shot.

 

[ElGreco]

Do you actually believe this?

Pretty much. Same starters and minutes??

 

[navery12]

Pretty much. Same starters and minutes??

The minutes have changed (less for Diarra and Calcaterra). The starters have changed, though that's just being pedantic with the Jackson injury. As for actual changes, there was a change to putting the ball in Newton's hands more than Jackson to get him gping. Early season there was a ton of Adama post ups and force feeding him, which is bad offense. Now it's a lot more driving and getting Adama the ball on the run. Hawkins is being run off screens a lot more than he was early in the season as well since he's been knocking them down. Although that one may just be in my head, but feels like it happens a lot more

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

The minutes have changed (less for Diarra and Calcaterra). The starters have changed, though that's just being pedantic with the Jackson injury. As for actual changes, there was a change to putting the ball in Newton's hands more than Jackson to get him gping. Early season there was a ton of Adama post ups and force feeding him, which is bad offense. Now it's a lot more driving and getting Adama the ball on the run. Hawkins is being run off screens a lot more than he was early in the season as well since he's been knocking them down. Although that one may just be in my head, but feels like it happens a lot more

I think that's all about right. But i don't think Hawk is coming off more screens. He's just getting the ball more because of the less force-feeding adama thing. Same actions, less as decoys, more as primary.

Newton is initiating more offense, but the actions themselves haven't changed much. I have said this before, but i will again... i wish we would run high ball screen with newton to start more possessions, but with ajax as the screener to draw his defender out. I would love to see him setting more of the stagger screens for Hawk too.

There have been changes. But i can understand wanting more. Everyone has a valid point here.

 

[Deleted at users request]

"Hell the Seton Hall coach has been doing a great job with no resources Year 1", no he has not been.

Well they’re tied in league play with us with a lot less talent. I don’t think they even have shooters. Shot 19% from three when they beat us.

 

[husky429]

i wish we would run high ball screen with newton to start more possessions, but with ajax as the screener to draw his defender out. I would love to see him setting more of the stagger screens for Hawk.

I think it's worth trying, but I'm not sure this is the answer. In that case, Jackson's defender would just drop to the hoop and deny Newton's drive to the rim completely. If his defender jumps over the screen, all we have left is an ineffecient mid-range J.

Sanogo's defender will likely play at the rim too because Sanogo only shoots from the top of the key.

I'd be happy to be wrong here! I wouldn't mind running it a few possessions the first half of each game at all.

This is really just another example of how darn challenging it it to scheme around a total non-scorer.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

I think it's worth trying, but I'm not sure this is the answer. In that case, Jackson's defender would just drop to the hoop and deny Newton's drive to the rim completely. If his defender jumps over the screen, all we have left is an ineffecient mid-range J.

Yeah thats certainly possible, but it would also free up the start of the possession, and buy TN a little room to operate. Might preserve a few extra seconds at the start of possessions too.

Sanogo, you're right. No argument.

I would really like to get ajax in the screens for Hawkins. His defender would have no choice but to draw towards the 3 point line for fear of Hawk getting extra room coming off a screen . I think andre would make for a great roller either in the short roll, or all the way to the basket.

 

[husky429]

I would really like to get ajax in the screens for Hawkins. His defender would have no choice but to draw towards the 3 point line for fear of Hawk getting extra room coming off a screen . I think andre would make for a great roller either in the short roll, or all the way to the basket.

Andre can't roll because he is averse to contact of any form. That's why we use him as a lob threat from the short corner

Would like to see us use Karaban and Jackson to give Hawkins elevator screens. Karaban flares to the perimeter, Jackson goes into another screen (pin down for Sanogo?)

 

[HuskyHawk]

Andre can't roll because he is averse to contact of any form. That's why we use him as a lob threat from the short corner

Would like to see us use Karaban and Jackson to give Hawkins elevator screens. Karaban flares to the perimeter, Jackson goes into another screen (pin down for Sanogo?)

They tried using him for middle screens last game, but he's not great at it.

 

[auror]

They tried using him for middle screens last game, but he's not great at it.

Bulk is pretty important for setting good screens, especially ones in space.

 

[husky429]

Bulk is pretty important for setting good screens, especially ones in space.

Timing and chemistry too... it's not just as simple as "stand there" like some people seem to think.

Karaban seems to really get how to screen, and especially how to find open space afterwards. One of the many signals he's had some good coaching.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Timing and chemistry too... it's not just as simple as "stand there" like some people seem to think.

Karaban seems to really get how to screen, and especially how to find open space afterwards. One of the many signals he's had some good coaching.

Goes with the allergic to contact I think. I posted this in a different thread, but there are some real similarities.

Top Dogs Podcast: The Andre Jackson Conundrum

Wow, what a great podcast episode. I just listened to 30 minutes about where UConn is that I totally 100% agree with. That is not easy. I really suggest people give it a listen. He touched on two topics that I agree are the main keys for this team to be successful. To me, even more than...

the-boneyard.com

 

[1999GoodSon]

And if either of Hurley or Jackson have any attention toward or information from this forum at all, the pressure is amplified for both Hurley and Jackson.

Can we fans do any better here?
Can we put them in better positions in any way?

OP asked what Hurley should do. Many have answered what Jackson should do.

Why not therefore give attention to what we fans should do? This is the only area where we can make a change.

Agreed. As I've written many times, this obsessive criticism of AJ should stop completely. It's bad enough that Hurley and staff keep committing coaching malpractice by putting this kid in positions that he will fail, that opposing teams scheme to isolate him and taunt him, that his struggles have been reported in the media and now all these so called passionate UConn fans are in effect verbally bullying him relentlessly. Most of this entire thread is negative about Andre.

It's hard to understand how anyone who has raised young men or is part of young men's support system in any way can tolerate this, much less keep piling on this 20 year old outstanding guy.

With the way he's being treated, I admire that he has the courage to even step on a court. Imagine the pressure he is under? If all this continues status quo it's not a reach to say his entire basketball career may be in jeopardy, and if he's in college ball next year, I'd be surprised if it was here.

I've tried to be a supporter of the basketball suits, but with the way they've allowed him to be continually humiliated, I've lost respect for all of them. And don't think for a minute there aren't other young men and their families considering UConn that are seeing it too. Just stop.

 

[CL82]

If we ever have another Boneyard Golf Tournament I'm gonna invite Hurley, Jackson, and a couple other players and point some of you out.

If that actually were to happen, I’m in. Danny would destroy guys in terms of his knowledge of the game. Plus, he’s not exactly a shrinking violet. It would be enormously entertaining.