Hurley's first 3 seasons

[metsfan2323]

I think he's done a great job and I wouldn't want anyone else. With that said, exceeded expectations is too much.

I think we're right where we t

It's the eye for talent, the ability to get them to commit to the school and player development that have stood out for me as beyond expectations. He's done a phenomenal job in those categories.

You have to grade on a curve as far as the win/loss record because his two best recruits have been injured the last two years. Obviously that matters a lot. You need a little luck to go on a tournament run and we have not been lucky the last two years.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

It's the eye for talent, the ability to get them to commit to the school and player development that have stood out for me as beyond expectations. He's done a phenomenal job in those categories.

You have to grade on a curve as far as the win/loss record because his two best recruits have been injured the last two years. Obviously that matters a lot. You need a little luck to go on a tournament run and we have not been lucky the last two years.

I guess I was thinking strictly within the context of on court results. The recruiting has exceeded my expectations that part is definitely true.

 

[Waquoit]

The discussion is about years 1-3 and that's the #1 factor for why those first 2 years were "disappointing".

The #1 factor for why those first 2 years were "disappointing" for some was because the two guys with the ball in their hands the most of the time were not team oriented. Since he inherited them and was trying to build a culture of inclusion, Hurley handled them with kid gloves when he could have just "my way or the highwayed" them. His approach worked. It might have cost him a few wins along the way, but the old guys ended up buying in and the team was firing on all cylinders at the end when COVID struck. How was that season disappointing?

Last year, everyone was cautiously optimistic about making the dance. And we made the dance in his 3rd year, how was that disappointing? Even without factoring in the key injuries. Hurley's been great. It took JC four years to make the dance at UConn and another 9 to make a FF. Dan Hurley is ahead of schedule.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Fair enough. I guess not everyone expected a little more so far. Maybe not even most. I didn't realize how many people were happy with the way last season ended.

I guess all I can fairly say, which I have said several times, is that I believe Hurley has been successful and has made progress, but yeah I was expecting a little better showing in the post-season last season. That's all. But maybe that's just me. So be it.

My initial point in this thread was to note, in response to the post stating that Ollie did nothing but crash and burn the program to the ground, that he did manage to win a National Championship in his second season. In my mind that's a lot more than a footnote, and is also important for perspective.

I think it's fair to say Hurley's "macro" results have been excellent (turning around culture, big recruiting successes, etc.), while his "micro" results have been OK.

We should have won more games last year -- 0-for-Creighton, the St. John's loss, Maryland were pretty bad -- and the nuances of playing time management and offensive schemes haven't been stellar at times.

But he also seems to be learning from it, based on the type of player he's bringing in. And he's having no trouble bringing in the guys he really wants.

 

[Huskybass]

What is Hurley's record without Bouk? I don't know what it is, but I don't see the point. I value both of their contributions.

My point wasn't to shortchange Bazz, Hurley, Calhoun or anyone else. I just hate to see the Ollie Derangement Syndrome blind people to the job he did those first two seasons. Do you think managing Bazz was easy? How about the Bazz and Boat dynamic? The suspension season? Of course he had help, but he wasn't beating a path to buck-a-shuck night then like many here suggest.

Hurley's accomplishments should stand or fall on their own. Those who can't measure them without reference to Ollie pee on their shoes while trying to make their point imo.

You have to view the big picture when looking at this. Ollie won a National Championship in his second season as Head Coach. He did so with a very stacked veteran team AND 3 very experienced Assistant Coaches in Blaney, Hobbs, and Miller. He also had Calhoun in his camp as an advisor or consultant. Ollie did a great job in those two seasons.

As time passed, those Assistants left or were fired and Calhoun was no longer part of the staff so to speak. Once "Calhoun's guys" (for lack of a better term) had cycled through the program, the results began to fall off. After two pretty mediocre seasons, the program suffered 2 losing seasons in a row capped off by the 2018-18 season where UConn lost a school record eight games by 20 or more points. The roster was full of guys with huge holes in their games, some chronic injuries, and in some seasons unfilled scholarships. When Ollie was let go, the program was in a pretty sad state.

So yes, Ollie did a great job those first two seasons. Unfortunately, the broad responsibilities of a Head Coach include talent evaluation, recruiting, roster management, player development, etc. Ollie clearly was not up to the task in several of those areas and the results in 2016-17 and 2017-18 strongly demonstrated that.

Moving on to the Hurley era... I think any reasonable fan gives Hurley a pass in year one as he was in the process of building a new foundation. Years 2 and 3 were both heavily impacted by Covid, and Bouk's injury and the choppy schedule both likely contributed to a bit less success than many of us would have liked to see. But there's no denying that the culture of the program, level of talent, and enthusiasm regarding the program are vastly higher than when Hurley took over.

So yes, Ollie gets credit for leading the team to a National Championship. However, the decline of the program after that is also largely on Ollie as discussed above.

I guess that's a long winded way of saying that I am very happy with the state of the program today given what Hurley stepped into when he took over.

 

[GoatHouse]

To have any coach come into UConn and not win a national championship would be seen as a failure with our success over the past 20 years. We've been blessed with the fortune of 4 national championships.

That run that Calhoun/UConn went on with 4 championships in 20 years is absolutely unbelievable. Extremely rare and unlikely to be replicated. Simple as that. In addition to being talented and well-coached teams, there is a tremendous amount of luck that goes into any National Championship run.

How many games were down to the wire in 2011? 2014? One shot here, one shot there and we could be look at 2 or 3 championships.

What is reasonable to ask of Hurley is to continue to get better everyday as a coach and as a leader as his team progresses. Focusing on the process > the product.

 

[bigknight3]

I love the recruiting classes, and that is a great sign for us to get to where we want to be. I'm happy about them, but that's not indicative or predictive of on court success. It absolutely gives you better odds of getting there, but at the end of of the day you still have to win games. We haven't done that yet. Even last season, we had no real good wins. The people above us in league ate our lunch. Creighton 3 times Nova once. You have to start beating teams at the top to be the top. Our best win? Would have to be USC at Mohegan, I guess. A good win no doubt, what was our second best? It's good that we are beating who we are supposed to now (mostly) , let's take it further.


I just don't like to hang our hat or brag about recruiting success until that success yields on court results. It sounds like something a Cuse fan would say.

Aren't better odds predictive of positive outcomes...

 

[Husker Husky]

Analyzing Hurly (or any coach) is a fools game. For the love of god; the landscape of college basketball is a devastated wasteland. No one, not even the mighty Duke will be able to predict what their next season, let alone the next few seasons will look like, Transfer portals, guys leaving for the NBA, NIL, it will make the Pitino & Calmari "one & done" years look like a cakewalk.

Take every season like you've just awoken from a coma and watch every game on the edge of your seat. You might actually like it.

 

[Husky Alien]

You have to view the big picture when looking at this. Ollie won a National Championship in his second season as Head Coach. He did so with a very stacked veteran team AND 3 very experienced Assistant Coaches in Blaney, Hobbs, and Miller. He also had Calhoun in his camp as an advisor or consultant. Ollie did a great job in those two seasons.

As time passed, those Assistants left or were fired and Calhoun was no longer part of the staff so to speak. Once "Calhoun's guys" (for lack of a better term) had cycled through the program, the results began to fall off. After two pretty mediocre seasons, the program suffered 2 losing seasons in a row capped off by the 2018-18 season where UConn lost a school record eight games by 20 or more points. The roster was full of guys with huge holes in their games, some chronic injuries, and in some seasons unfilled scholarships. When Ollie was let go, the program was in a pretty sad state.

So yes, Ollie did a great job those first two seasons. Unfortunately, the broad responsibilities of a Head Coach include talent evaluation, recruiting, roster management, player development, etc. Ollie clearly was not up to the task in several of those areas and the results in 2016-17 and 2017-18 strongly demonstrated that.

Moving on to the Hurley era... I think any reasonable fan gives Hurley a pass in year one as he was in the process of building a new foundation. Years 2 and 3 were both heavily impacted by Covid, and Bouk's injury and the choppy schedule both likely contributed to a bit less success than many of us would have liked to see. But there's no denying that the culture of the program, level of talent, and enthusiasm regarding the program are vastly higher than when Hurley took over.

So yes, Ollie gets credit for leading the team to a National Championship. However, the decline of the program after that is also largely on Ollie as discussed above.

I guess that's a long winded way of saying that I am very happy with the state of the program today given what Hurley stepped into when he took over.

Damn! I had to read all that just to get to your last paragraph on how you really felt about Hurley.

 

[Husky Alien]

In fairness to Ollie though I just want to say that he did have marital issues during our darker days in hoops at UConn and that in it self can drag anyone down. Some people can handle it and some can not. Not sure if this was part of his issues in coaching in his last few years but he definitely did seem like he was not enjoying his job at that point in time.

 

[Husky Alien]

Analyzing Hurly (or any coach) is a fools game. For the love of god; the landscape of college basketball is a devastated wasteland. No one, not even the mighty Duke will be able to predict what their next season, let alone the next few seasons will look like, Transfer portals, guys leaving for the NBA, NIL, it will make the Pitino & Calmari "one & done" years look like a cakewalk.

Take every season like you've just awoken from a coma and watch every game on the edge of your seat. You might actually like it.

I like it now and I didn't have to go in a coma to like it.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

The results aren't middling overall, he's turned around the program. From the staff he put together to building it the right way where there will be sustained success to his recruiting it might be even a little more than I expected and I wanted Hurley to be our coach since before we hired Ollie. With that being said you are in the minority if you didn't expect us to have a tournament win by the start of year 4.

He's done an amazing job loading the roster with talent, that has to translate to some sort of tournament success. He's said it and the fanbase expects it, now it's time to do it.

With 5:07 remaining in the Big East semi-final game, something like RJ's ill-advised circus shot in a clogged lane needed to have been excised from the play book and replaced with a pass out to someone open on the outside for a good shot...but the team didn't get to play enough games with Bouknight back in the lineup to take care of this essential remaining hurdle. That spelled the season's outcome.

Instead, RJ suffered an injury, and things did not come together in a way that many of us thought & hoped would happen. It resulted in a lowered seed and a poorly played game against Maryland, which became a disappointing end to the season.

Injuries & COVID-19.

We were one of many teams whose final disposition could be summed up that way.

I enter this season without the impatience some have signaled. I do not want, and do not think it's inevitable that the team won't get to the 2nd weekend of the NCAA Tournament, but I have room for expectations akin to an historical 3rd year. Doing so aligns with seeing a 'lost year' in many dimensions of my life and that of others, and ascribing that to the close of the 2019-20 season and last year in its entirety.

Others have pointed out obvious successes and areas for improvement within the program. I've done so elsewhere. I regard Dan Hurley's 3rd season as superior to that of his predecessor, and I believe that this year's season performance will exceed that of his predecessor's 4th season, which could still result in an NCAA Round 2 exit, but from a higher seed, rather than having come from winning an 8/9 matchup.

My larger expectation is that the program will continue to ascend in the following season, where the previous season 5 did not do that, and I anticipate seeing a continued positive trajectory that will include many challenges that come with such growth and stature.

Because thid thread was begun by a URI partisan, I'll submit that Dan Hurley has been game-coaching against better coaches, having his teams face more skilled players, competing against more elite programs in his recruiting battles, needing to learn how to utilize a caliber (and even size) of players that were previously beyond his reach, and navigating a number of new realities that govern roster construction.

The worldwide pandemic has been a wild card above and beyond all of that, though it is fully applicable to all coaches and programs.

 

[Husky Alien]

With 5:07 remaining in the Big East semi-final game, something like RJ's ill-advised circus shot in a clogged lane needed to have been excised from the play book and replaced with a pass out to someone open on the outside for a good shot...but the team didn't get to play enough games with Bouknight back in the lineup to take care of this essential remaining hurdle. That spelled the season's outcome.

Instead, RJ suffered an injury, and things did not come together in a way that many of us thought & hoped would happen. It resulted in a lowered seed and a poorly played game against Maryland, which became a disappointing end to the season.

Injuries & COVID-19.

We were one of many teams whose final disposition could be summed up that way.

I enter this season without the impatience some have signaled. I do not want, and do not think it's inevitable that the team won't get to the 2nd weekend of the NCAA Tournament, but I have room for expectations akin to an historical 3rd year. Doing so aligns with seeing a 'lost year' in many dimensions of my life and that of others, and ascribing that to the close of the 2019-20 season and last year in its entirety.

Others have pointed out obvious successes and areas for improvement within the program. I've done so elsewhere. I regard Dan Hurley's 3rd season as superior to that of his predecessor, and I believe that this year's season performance will exceed that of his predecessor's 4th season, which could still result in an NCAA Round 2 exit, but from a higher seed, rather than having come from winning an 8/9 matchup.

My larger expectation is that the program will continue to ascend in the following season, where the previous season 5 did not do that, and I anticipate seeing a continued positive trajectory that will include many challenges that come with such growth and stature.

Because thid thread was begun by a URI partisan, I'll submit that Dan Hurley has been game-coaching against better coaches, having his teams face more skilled players, competing against more elite programs in his recruiting battles, needing to learn how to utilize a caliber (and even size) of players that were previously beyond his reach, and navigating a number of new realities that govern roster construction.

The worldwide pandemic has been a wild card above and beyond all of that, though it is fully applicable to all coaches and programs.

What can I say but well done @Hans Sprungfeld. What resonates with me is this "Doing so aligns with seeing a 'lost year' in many dimensions of my life and that of others,"
Nothing is more true in Hurley's 1st year as coach. We were more competitive that year than the preceding year with basically the same players as the previous coach and no one headed for greener pastures when he became coach. Let's just hope that the pandemic does not sabotage another year.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

What can I say but well done @Hans Sprungfeld. What resonates with me is this "Doing so aligns with seeing a 'lost year' in many dimensions of my life and that of others,"
Nothing is more true in Hurley's 1st year as coach. We were more competitive that year than the preceding year with basically the same players as the previous coach and no one headed for greener pastures when he became coach. Let's just hope that the pandemic does not sabotage another year.

Your final sentence cannot be ruled out, which is one of those, "I don't want to say this but..." situations

 

[Watchdog]

Perhaps the greatest accolade Dan Hurley has received, and potentially the most impactful for recruiting and future game results, is JB's recognition and appreciation for how Dan Hurley (and KY and TM) helped him mature and taught him life lessons as well as how to be a better player.

If you're a recruit and you heard what James Bouknight said about Dan Hurley when he was interviewed after his second Summer League game, where would you sign?

 

[Huskyforlife]

What ifs are lame, but I will always wonder what Bouk woulda looked like in the Tournaments without the injury. He was arguably the best player in college basketball before that.

 

[temery]

Perhaps the greatest accolade Dan Hurley has received, and potentially the most impactful for recruiting and future game results, is JB's recognition and appreciation for how Dan Hurley (and KY and TM) helped him mature and taught him life lessons as well as how to be a better player.

If you're a recruit and you heard what James Bouknight said about Dan Hurley when he was interviewed after his second Summer League game, where would you sign?

Nearest I can figure you have Jim Boeheim, KY Jelly, and Trademark all in one post. Please, at least attempt to type the full name.

 

[freescooter]

The #1 factor for why those first 2 years were "disappointing" for some was because the two guys with the ball in their hands the most of the time were not team oriented. Since he inherited them and was trying to build a culture of inclusion, Hurley handled them with kid gloves when he could have just "my way or the highwayed" them. His approach worked. It might have cost him a few wins along the way, but the old guys ended up buying in and the team was firing on all cylinders at the end when COVID struck. How was that season disappointing?

Last year, everyone was cautiously optimistic about making the dance. And we made the dance in his 3rd year, how was that disappointing? Even without factoring in the key injuries. Hurley's been great. It took JC four years to make the dance at UConn and another 9 to make a FF. Dan Hurley is ahead of schedule.

Lol. You’re joking of course. If you think there is any comparison at all between the program Jim Calhoun took over and what Hurley took over just look at the banners that hung in Gampel when each arrived. Oh wait, there was not Gampel when Calhoun came. And UConn was the only Big East program not to have made the Tournament as a big East member. And it was already the top league in the country. Not a watered down faux power league.

Hurley has been fine. His teams have largely spit the bit in big games so that needs to change going forward. He recruited really well so now he needs to start producing.

 

[tzznandrew]

I think he's done a great job and I wouldn't want anyone else. With that said, exceeded expectations is too much.

I think we're right where we thought we'd be.

In an abstract, my guess would have been a better Year 3 overall, a slight step back Year 4, and then the sort of near-permanent success from Year 5 on. This is based on the state of the roster at the time he took over, what it takes to recruit a roster that is excellent top to bottom and given players leaving early.

I did think we might have had a better Year 1 because of Adams returning, and injuries essentially derailed that year. Adams missed 7 games. Gilbert 8. It screwed up any chance they had getting rhythm. But you could see the improvement.

Year 2 was actually better than I thought it would be, and without Covid the team would have had 20 wins (only Tulane stood i the way) and may have found its way into the tournament.

The overall results of Year 3 are weaker than I'd like, but Covid and injuries to Akok, Bouknight, and Jackson obviously played major roles.

I'm not as high on some on Year 4. The roster is the most talented it's been in a very long time, but our most talented players are still Freshmen and Sophomores (or, in the case of Akok, coming off a major injury). There are a few things that can happen that could make this team a S16 team, but I'm expecting a more bubbly team than most.

Still, I'm happy with Hurley and where we are. The growth in essentially every player has been truly remarkable. For god's sake, Whaley didn't know where how to operate in an organized game at all—he was all over the place even two years ago—and now he's a very good role player.

The future is bright.

 

[AuRevoirAAC]

The elite coaching era from the past 25+ years is finally coming to an end (Calhoun, Pitino, Coach K, Roy, Boeheim, Izzo, Cal, etc.)

When all is said and done, I truly believe we secured a guy who will be considered an all-time great for this next era. (Hurley, Jay Wright, Chris Beard, Nate Oats, Juwan Howard, Scott Drew, Musselman, etc.)

 

[Waquoit]

Lol. You’re joking of course. If you think there is any comparison at all between the program Jim Calhoun took over and what Hurley took over just look at the banners that hung in Gampel when each arrived...Hurley has been fine. His teams have largely spit the bit in big games so that needs to change going forward. He recruited really well so now he needs to start producing.

Calhoun was a massive disappointment in his third year. That team underachieved so badly it hurt Cliff in the draft. If there was a Boneyard back then it would have buried him.

 

[the Q]

In an abstract, my guess would have been a better Year 3 overall, a slight step back Year 4, and then the sort of near-permanent success from Year 5 on. This is based on the state of the roster at the time he took over, what it takes to recruit a roster that is excellent top to bottom and given players leaving early.

I did think we might have had a better Year 1 because of Adams returning, and injuries essentially derailed that year. Adams missed 7 games. Gilbert 8. It screwed up any chance they had getting rhythm. But you could see the improvement.

Year 2 was actually better than I thought it would be, and without Covid the team would have had 20 wins (only Tulane stood i the way) and may have found its way into the tournament.

The overall results of Year 3 are weaker than I'd like, but Covid and injuries to Akok, Bouknight, and Jackson obviously played major roles.

I'm not as high on some on Year 4. The roster is the most talented it's been in a very long time, but our most talented players are still Freshmen and Sophomores (or, in the case of Akok, coming off a major injury). There are a few things that can happen that could make this team a S16 team, but I'm expecting a more bubbly team than most.

Still, I'm happy with Hurley and where we are. The growth in essentially every player has been truly remarkable. For god's sake, Whaley didn't know where how to operate in an organized game at all—he was all over the place even two years ago—and now he's a very good role player.

The future is bright.

Based on your first sentence, it does sound like they are right on track for what you said.

Getting Floyd acclimated this year for 2022-23 is only going to speed that process up as well.

 

[Vuce]

Totally right Waq. They won the NIT in 1988 and they had their nucleus back in 1989 and everyone was expecting and predicting an NCAA tournament bid. It didn’t happen and if Twitter or the Boneyard existed JC would have gotten torched. It’s also why 1990 was so out of the blue having lost Robinson and Gamble and thinking we would be a lower tier Big East team.

 

[tzznandrew]

Based on your first sentence, it does sound like they are right on track for what you said.

Getting Floyd acclimated this year for 2022-23 is only going to speed that process up as well.

Yup. I feel like we're where we're supposed to be. Injuries hurt all three years so far, so hopefully we avoid the injury bug for a little while—what, was 2016 the last year where the team wasn't severely impacted by injuries?

I do have a lower bar here than most for this year, though. The upperclassmen aren't the players with the most talent (except Akok) and shooting seems to be a problem. I'll be very happy to be wrong.

 

[freescooter]

Calhoun was a massive disappointment in his third year. That team underachieved so badly it hurt Cliff in the draft. If there was a Boneyard back then it would have buried him.

Did you see Cliff play as a freshman? I mean seriously. Nobody had him as a future NBA star. Yes Year 3 was a step back. First NIT Champ in many years to not get an NCAA bid the following year, but if you don’t get the difference between what Jim Calhoun inherited and what Hurley inherited I honestly don’t know what to tell you. Think DePaul today without the history Of DePaul. UConn considered it a successful season if we didn’t have to play in the 8-9 game in the Big East Tournament. If you asked every single UConn basketball fan if we would ever win a title, I doubt you would have found 1 who would say yes. We had people last season predicting it, with a very flawed team.

 

[mauconnfan]

Hurley is ahead of JC after 3 years. And JC inherited better players.

Better “potential” players or better players? Hate to say Perno was much worst than Ollie and while Cliff and Phil were obviously good players they became the players they were only because of JC. Same would go for Jeff King and the incoming frosh like Tate. Besselink got better finished his career very well under JC. And the 2 of his best having academic issues and him needing to play Economou and others way too much didn’t leave him with 3 great years. Add to that it was all up to JC to create the atmosphere for recruits to want to come to UConn, no history whatsoever. While Danny’s been solid and recruiting has been really trending upwards he was left some decent players and also the banners, facilities are a ton better than the Field House. There’s no comparison to me.

Having said all that many others have hit on the same things I think. I’m extremely happy we have Dan Hurley. He’s a breath of fresh air in his passion for the program and he has a great focus for the players to be sure they continue to strive to keep getting better. The program is coming back but he also needs to improve some of his ways in the offense and some substitution patterns at times. But overall you can’t be anything but excited for the future of the Huskies.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Lol. You’re joking of course.

^ Roll the projector, please...

Regrettably, you're a prisoner of your brand management strategy here, and it cripples several legitimate points that you made in the full post from which I've excerpted above, as well as in its 'doubledown' follow-up.

Fastened to an 'either/or' mindset, you completely ignore an apparent & available 'both/and' scenario in which the inarguable facts that compare history & circumstances between when JC arrived and when Hurley arrived are used by you to create a narrative that ignores and/or twists what's otherwise clear & appropriate throughout most of the discussion that's being pursued here.

That's perfectly fine enough if you want to be no more than a contrarian or gadfly a, but in doing so, you make it too easy & tempting for you to be ignored, dismissed, or the object of ridicule. At this juncture, you're aiming too low, and all I can responsibly do is point that out while conceding that you have potential to contribute far more valuably.

Maybe in time I'll just click dislike, but for now I'll keep trying to coach you up.

 

[Pudge]

guy (Huskybass) writes a solid cogent few paragraph essay on why Ollie success devolved into a nice few years of Hurley ... and you type - you don't like to read?

what are you doing around the Boneyard. There's a whole bunch of guys that don't write as well as that ... go find some twitter thread. Probably less words.

 

[Pudge]

Calhoun was a massive disappointment in his third year. That team underachieved so badly it hurt Cliff in the draft. If there was a Boneyard back then it would have buried him.

I don't agree with this. He was playing Greg Economou. Ollie gave Hurley a depth chart

 

[Waquoit]

Better “potential” players or better players?

Better players. Real time Cliff, Phil and Tate were light-years ahead of Vital, Gilbert and whoever you want to put 3rd. And Hurley finally got through to Vital, the best yet most difficult inherited player. I don't think Calhoun ever really got through to Cliff until after his draft snub. If he had, they would have made the dance.

And yeah I did see Cliff as a freshman, I went to all the games. At the time we were saying Perno was so stupid he didn't start his best player until late in the year. The idea that Cliff was a nobody who Calhoun miraculously turned into a star is a myth. Everyone knew he was good then.

Look, I agree that Hurley has to keep the progression going but to date the man has nothing on him.