Praise for Hurley

[superjohn]

If this is a “tough” Hurley year moving forward then we are in spectacular shape. This season hasn’t even come close to a disaster. We’re just spoiled

I think it's considered tough because expectations were so high. Hurley talked non stop about a three-peat, he was pissed we weren't ranked #1 preseason, he went on and on about our depth, he said this could be our most talented team top to bottom...

We're obviously in great shape as a program.

 

[UConnDad]

When they were reeling in the second half, and Hurley brought in Nowell it was bizarre to me. Him basically saying to the fan base, you guys all wanted to see more Nowell, have at it.
The late game moves felt like a throw it against the wall and see what sticks moment from the madman. And it worked.

Fine line between madness and genius. What a comeback!

 

[RuffRuff]

I think it's considered tough because expectations were so high. Hurley talked non stop about a three-peat, he was pissed we weren't ranked #1 preseason, he went on and on about our depth, he said this could be our most talented team top to bottom...

We're obviously in great shape as a program.

The early season hype-fest will probably be explained at some point. Hurley is an emotional guy, not great at containing. Either it was a lack of containment, or some far off attempt at convincing this team they were better than they are. Maybe just wishful thinking. I can't blame him as that accomplishment is once in a lifetime, and he took an entire fanbase along with him.

Hangovers after championships have always been a real thing. Your season is stretched to the limits, it's an emotional ride. These days it eats into your portal shopping bandwidth. Mahomes came out this SB season saying he's not enjoying the SB experience as much. I firmly believe the coaching staff experienced a small hangover this spring/summer, not so much as losing the desire to win, but making them a little too confident in their system and short on time to do the little things that got them there. They'll recover - and I'm d@mn curious to see what they do.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

On manner where DH differs from how JC did things is that JC didn't mind sending negative messages to kids who he expected better from than what they were doing. DH seems to be sending messages only to attempt to boost a kid's confidence, belief in himself, in what he can become.

I'll wager that a lot of what he was saying earlier (threepeat, angry that we weren't ranked #1) was to get the players to believe it was possible.

Additionally, I'm not sure there was anyone with a foot halfway out the door prior to the Seton Hall game and as recently as a couple days before we beat Creighton (not long after St John's) Hurley reiterated to the team that they were captain of winning it all.

He did believe some things would have worked out better than they have to date but among those was a belief that the players would automatically treat every game as a life or death struggle.

 

[AntG168]

We also have to remember that the story on this season hasn’t finished being written. NC State made the final 4 last year. We have a punchers chance. And as UConn fans we are more aware than anyone else that just when they say UCant UCan. U-C-O-N-N UConn, UConn, UConn!

 

[UCLJ0211]

We are still 18-8 and one game out of 2nd place in the Big East. A lot of bball yet to be played.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[GoConn]

My brain can't comprehend how any UConn fan can hate on Hurley after what our team did the last two years.

You can not expect to be dominate every single year, its not how ANY sport works. A regression of talent and missing on players was bound to happen, similar how great GMs miss on 1st round draft picks - it happens.

Hurley has this team in a position to be in the tournament still, and next year should have a much better team.

 

[Kemba15]

I was commenting here all offseason that we’re a lot closer to the 25th best team than the 1st. I argued that Clingan was one of the most valuable players in recent NCAAB history and outside of that, losing 4 starters is extremely difficult for a coaching staff. Because of that I felt talent wise we were more like a 5 seed than a 1 seed—and that’s probably where we’d be if Liam didn’t miss a month.

Hurley has a big mouth and people use it against him whenever they can. I’d expect that from the general public but to see so many UConn fans have such little patience this year with him is truly shocking. Not to mention that his attitude is why he’s gotten such great buy in from players over the last few years—hardly an easy feat in the NIL era.

Even if you think he’s slightly underachieved this year, my god who really cares when we’re 12-0 in the last two tourneys with 0 close games.

Is it really worth complaining about throwaway comments in his post game pressers or him throwing up 3 fingers when doing media appearances?

 

[alphasigko]

My brain can't comprehend how any UConn fan can hate on Hurley after what our team did the last two years.

You can not expect to be dominate every single year, its not how ANY sport works. A regression of talent and missing on players was bound to happen, similar how great GMs miss on 1st round draft picks - it happens.

Hurley has this team in a position to be in the tournament still, and next year should have a much better team.

I do not read any 'hate" on Coach in these comments. Some criticism yes, some of which is deserved. Just because he won the last two Chips does not mean that he is exempt from criticism, and criticism is not the same as "hate".

 

[metsfan2323]

Just because he won the last two Chips

That is something that should buy a head coach a LOT of equity. We have also been bitten by the injury bug this year to two starters which probably cost us 3 if not 4 games, and the epic shooting slump from AK is certainly not Hurley's fault.

 

[Kemba15]

I do not read any 'hate" on Coach in these comments. Some criticism yes, some of which is deserved. Just because he won the last two Chips does not mean that he is exempt from criticism, and criticism is not the same as "hate".

It’s not hate (from most people) but it’s absolutely nitpicking. We’re a top 30/35ish team after dominating the last two tournaments. That’s pretty damn good to me lol

 

[Husky68]

It’s not hate (from most people) but it’s absolutely nitpicking. We’re a top 30/35ish team after dominating the last two tournaments. That’s pretty damn good to me lol

Without really anyone over achieving. Still lot of guys who can up their game and some coaching adjustments that can help. Not a bad place to be.

 

[F101Voodoo]

On manner where DH differs from how JC did things is that JC didn't mind sending negative messages to kids who he expected better from than what they were doing. DH seems to be sending messages only to attempt to boost a kid's confidence, belief in himself, in what he can become.

I'll wager that a lot of what he was saying earlier (threepeat, angry that we weren't ranked #1) was to get the players to believe it was possible.

Additionally, I'm not sure there was anyone with a foot halfway out the door prior to the Seton Hall game and as recently as a couple days before we beat Creighton (not long after St John's) Hurley reiterated to the team that they were captain of winning it all.

He did believe some things would have worked out better than they have to date but among those was a belief that the players would automatically treat every game as a life or death struggle.

I agree with most of what you said. After some thinking about it I likely was wrong believing that DH was pushing three peat to recruit. He likely was pushing it to boost this team to believe it was possible. An obtainable goal. Things did not work out as DH the coaches us fans our players wanted it to, or expected it to. We no longer have team continuity. The NIL, portal and having the player change schoolswithout sitting out one year is a factor. The loss of team continuity could be one factor why players do not treat every game as life or death. This has all altered what us fans can expect. We fans may have to alter our expectations or we will get more frustrated and fall harder into disappointment but let’s all still sliver in good possibilities until the end.

 

[AllHusky]

This 100%. He trusts 7. A few kids have one foot out the door. This is the most disjointed team Hurley has had here. It doesn’t help that this group was saddled with unrealistic expectations to start.

Who has one foot out the door? Oh that’s right, Boneyard rule about transfer speculating!! Don’t bring it up, anti MOJO

 

[QDOG5]

I think when DH was talking about a three peat over the summer he was setting expectations. Expectations that UConn basketball will be competing for the national title EVERY year. We all expect that. We know that we have the most titles in the last 30 years. I think DH was putting that expectation in the minds of everyone else. Current players, recruits, possible transfers, national media, etc. We all know the schools in football and basketball that have that "built in" expectation rep. DH wants us in that conversation all the time, every year. Me too.

 

[CL82]

I argued that Clingan was one of the most valuable players in recent NCAAB history

This. He erased a whole lot of "mistakes" on defense and was forced to be reckoned with on offense. Independent of that, just having to bang against that monster wore down opposing front courts. That's a whole lot to replace.

Which isn't to say he's the sole reason for our two championships, but he is a major reason and one that is incredibly difficult to replace.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

To be fair, Scrappy, you could spin gonorrhea as gold. And I mean that as a compliment.

Scrappy: "Hey, it means I'm getting some."

 

[Scoe]

Why are people talking about next year that's loser talk. Im not saying we'll 3 peat never really bought that to begin with. I just want these kids to have a bit of fun in March.

 

[NickDanger]

I'm glad this post is time-stamped 4:20. Otherwise, I'd think it was serious.

It's late February: for what possible positive purpose would you post anything about a necessity to be truthful about this year, and to premise it on the season having good moments and not so good moments?

The original post sought praise for a second half coaching job that resulted in a win that a large majority of fans would have thought was impossible. And you want to remind us of what had happened in the prior game? Again, for what possible positive purpose?

I don't care whether you think Dan Hurley is a good coach or a bad coach. In fact, I didn't bother to form any opinion on whether you were even saying he was a bad coach; that's in you. And I certainly don't think we're "lucky" to have DH as our team's coach.

Many people worked very hard for the results and good fortune that have come UConn's way. Luck isn't much different from a coin toss.

Please don't use your misperceptions and sloppy rhetoric as a basis for claiming any imperative to be truthful about year that's still in progress. For the third time - for what possible positive purpose would you urge such a course?

There are six regular season games, and two tournaments yet to be played. There are injuries to heal, and haikus to be written. Take your potheaded drivel elsewhere and get your head & heart & gut back into the season one day at a time. That's the reality.

Do you realize that random fans’ opinions do not actually have any impact on the success or failure of a team?

 

[NickDanger]

Why are people talking about next year that's loser talk. Im not saying we'll 3 peat never really bought that to begin with. I just want these kids to have a bit of fun in March.

Our “talk” as fans does not actually control the team’s play

 

[mauconnfan]

My brain can't comprehend how any UConn fan can hate on Hurley after what our team did the last two years.

You can not expect to be dominate every single year, its not how ANY sport works. A regression of talent and missing on players was bound to happen, similar how great GMs miss on 1st round draft picks - it happens.

Hurley has this team in a position to be in the tournament still, and next year should have a much better team.

See for me the argument that they lost players doesn’t work great. The year prior they lost Hawkins, Jackson and Sanogo all drafted as well as Alleyne and Calceterra two solid pieces. So if you look at roster construction he hit the jackpot with Cam while this year he didn’t with Mahaney. Not for nothing I think most expected him to be a perfect addition to the team but he’s not a PG so the failure to get the “next Tristen Newton” is a big piece of the issues with this roster for sure. And honestly based on some reports of the incoming class we are in good position for next year but still in need of portal magic.

Listen he’s a great coach it’s been proven already but he’s not immune from having bad games or even an off year. Injuries, roster misses, expectations of better growth, a proven player not being everything him as well as the gurus expected and just plain stubborness happen. As good as he was perceived to be the last 10 minutes of the game Neptune was even more so inept, that helps as well. Seton Hall was awful and while he mentioned in the Mad Dog interview “easy things like getting the ball inbounds” as part of the failure in that game by no means did he take that upon himself. Let’s be honest this wasn’t the only game we had trouble inbounding the ball he need to figure this out more than he admitted in the interview. Lots of bad 1st halves need to end as well, not sure how they get there but time is running out. The expectations were high but for they’re not anymore because it’s obvious this team is what it is. Happy to go out with 20-21 wins win a BE game or 2 get to the dance and win a game and see what happens.

Good talent coming in but a big hit or 2 is needed in the portal. Hate to say it besides the guys we lose there’s others I’m sure who don’t like how things were handled and will move on sorry to say. Huge offseason for the staff to get it back in ‘25-‘26.

 

[donyell34]

Well said Mau.

 

[Kemba15]

See for me the argument that they lost players doesn’t work great. The year prior they lost Hawkins, Jackson and Sanogo all drafted as well as Alleyne and Calceterra two solid pieces. So if you look at roster construction he hit the jackpot with Cam while this year he didn’t with Mahaney. Not for nothing I think most expected him to be a perfect addition to the team but he’s not a PG so the failure to get the “next Tristen Newton” is a big piece of the issues with this roster for sure. And honestly based on some reports of the incoming class we are in good position for next year but still in need of portal magic.

Listen he’s a great coach it’s been proven already but he’s not immune from having bad games or even an off year. Injuries, roster misses, expectations of better growth, a proven player not being everything him as well as the gurus expected and just plain stubborness happen. As good as he was perceived to be the last 10 minutes of the game Neptune was even more so inept, that helps as well. Seton Hall was awful and while he mentioned in the Mad Dog interview “easy things like getting the ball inbounds” as part of the failure in that game by no means did he take that upon himself. Let’s be honest this wasn’t the only game we had trouble inbounding the ball he need to figure this out more than he admitted in the interview. Lots of bad 1st halves need to end as well, not sure how they get there but time is running out. The expectations were high but for they’re not anymore because it’s obvious this team is what it is. Happy to go out with 20-21 wins win a BE game or 2 get to the dance and win a game and see what happens.

Good talent coming in but a big hit or 2 is needed in the portal. Hate to say it besides the guys we lose there’s others I’m sure who don’t like how things were handled and will move on sorry to say. Huge offseason for the staff to get it back in ‘25-‘26.

The point that some of us disagree with is that if an “off year” is still a top 30ish team then that’s not really worth ripping him over when you consider everything he’s delivered for us so far.

 

[jibsey]

3:43? He must be in Maui.
Danny has done a good job as has the staff. Tomorrow will be a good test. The team needs to bring it hard and then we’ll see. No excuses. We’re good enough or not. I want the win but being competitive to end would be good.