Some Guy: UConn close to signing Hurley

[sammydabiz]

I'd be surprised if URI doesn't regress back to the mean this upcoming season, with their senior class leaving. If Hurley stays and they have a mediocre year, he loses a lot of that momentum he's currently riding on. I just can't see him sticking with the Rhody program, there's very little upward mobility.

 

[goskis2018]

I can't believe we are in a coaching battle with URI and Pitt. KO should be banned from campus.

Hypothetical question: Lets say if Kevin Ollie was poached for an NBA job in 2015, how different would the pool of coaching candidates look compared to Danny Hurley? Do you think that the dropoff between a candidate the quality of Hurley and whoever the likely replacement would have been before the last couple years is really that dramatic?

 

[intlzncster]

The insiders say it's done. Some of the media says it's close. Some of the media says it's not close... yet. Chief says he's not telling. Someone come get me when there's white smoke.

Chief waiting for the final whistle to make his call.

 

[Deadrody]

How long do we let Hurley play a back and forth game? IMO UConn should start interviewing other candidates and make Hurley aware of this.

You mean, the game we don't even know if he's playing ? Oy

 

[2Infinity]

This just happened...Hurley announcement eminent?

Could be...or just a test of the system ahead of the snowstorm tomorrow.

 

[tcf15]

Yeah, and a plan for that should have already been in place well before UConn came calling for Hurley, but I don't know if there is one. It seems like it's been on Hurley's wishlist for a while now judging by this tweet from 2015:

And to add to that, if URI had made any headway on these wishes, would Hurley have made these comments after the Duke game?

"But there's a whole lot more room for this program to grow around these players, and that's absolutely essential if the University, and if the athletic department, our fans, want us to be able to get beyond this point as a program. You know, the investment's going to have to increase. But that's like that with any program that's trying to get better. You know, you have to rely on your expectations with your investment, and these players, you know, deserve to operate at the highest level of our league, if you want to stay there."

Based on this article from May 2017, it seems like URI was still lacking when it comes to investing in the program:

 

[intlzncster]

No way I'm working for a guy named Thorr Bjorn.

And here I was thinking that was a huge selling point. Riding shotgun with a goshdarn viking.

 

[djct1999]

Please note:
Dan Hurley will not make UConn. UConn could make Dan Hurley.

I want the guy, but its not the end of the world until we know who the next hire is.

 

[Marat]

 

[AdamaNation]

I can't believe we are in a coaching battle with URI and Pitt. KO should be banned from campus.

Ko wanted to be here. In fact. He won’t leave.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

How long do we let Hurley play a back and forth game?

20 minutes.

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

Please note:
Dan Hurley will not make UConn. UConn could make Dan Hurley.

I want the guy, but its not the end of the world until we know who the next hire is.

I mean...

 

[intlzncster]

I keep picturing Borg

I keep picturing:

 

[Kembacity]

I am getting a feeling he ain't coming here. I know I may be wrong big time. ACC v. the AAC? No brainer.

Keep in mind that he's in RI now and his family likes it there. If he comes to UConn they can literally stay there... can't say the same for Pitt. It'd be like if you had a great job offer states away at a good company, or the choice of an equally great job like 40 minutes away from your existing home. You can go with one option and not really change life all that much, that has to factor into it

 

[uconnphil2016]

Anyone think the seton hall opening is delaying things?

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

Anyone think the seton hall opening is delaying things?

It's not an opening...

 

[Jaybird65]

How long do we let Hurley play a back and forth game? IMO UConn should start interviewing other candidates and make Hurley aware of this.

If the AD has all of his eggs in Hurley's basket, then Hurley is in control....the AD must be pretty confident...hopefully...

 

[tzznandrew]

If the AD has all of his eggs in Hurley's basket, then Hurley is in control....the AD must be pretty confident...hopefully...

But we have no evidence of this one way or another.

 

[uconnphil2016]

It's not an opening...

This is very strange. I think I had a dream last night that this happened that felt very real. I was wondering why no one had mentioned it lmao

 

[RipCity]

Hurley hasn’t even finished his meeting with URI yet people are saying there’s a “delay”. Just because we want it to be officially announced right away doesn’t mean anything is wrong. The paranoia in this thread is cringeworthy.

 

[his dudeness]

Lmao. the two types of cbb posters

 

[djct1999]

I mean...

What do you mean? Seems like people are in panic mode because we haven't heard anything official. We are still UConn and even if we miss on Hurley, I am confident DB will land a big name.

 

[8893]

But we have no evidence of this one way or another.

Except every report from anyone with an ounce of insight into our program here and elsewhere saying we’ve had our eyes set almost exclusively on Hurley since before Ollie was fired.

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

What do you mean? Seems like people are in panic mode because we haven't heard anything official. We are still UConn and even if we miss on Hurley, I am confident DB will land a big name.

I agree. But we wouldn't make Hurley. Hurley had made his own name the past 8 years at URI and Wagner. He doesn't need us.... We need him, or someone close to his caliber.

 

[tzznandrew]

Except every report from anyone with an ounce of insight into our program here and elsewhere saying we’ve had our eyes set almost exclusively on Hurley since before Ollie was fired.

Every report until the last two days had a list of coaches.

We've obviously narrowed in on Hurley, and pretty much everyone with some level of knowledge believes he's ours barring a hail-mary like URI building a practice facility.

If they land that hail-mary, I feel pretty okay that they'll go back to that previous list and pull up someone else who is pretty darn good.

But if they're this focused on Hurley at this stage, I suspect it's because our insiders are right.

 

[intlzncster]

Take it easy Whaler--all this arguing is gonna give you a heart attack. I need you there for the big wedding.

Are you kidding? Whaler:

 

[BRG 1]

The demands (upgrades) are interesting. Before Cooley came to PC he wanted upgrades to basketball offices, and they are currently building their practice facility. Since being hired they have been to 5 straight NCAA tournaments after years of mediocrity. PC hockey coach Nate Leaman demanded upgrade to Schneider Arena as a condition of hire. Since they rebuilt the arena they are a perennial NCAA tournament participant with a National Championship.
URI fans/alumni are right that the RI legislature has treated URI as second class citizens vis a vi PC, but they also recognize this rare opportunity they have with Hurley after years of struggle since the Odom days. This is why the KeaneyBlue message board has been blowing up.
Hurley is an emotional guy, and I expect he will take his time to talk to family and think before making a snap decision. This is URI's #1 sport as football is irrelevant with 3 winning seasons in 30 years. The fact that Hurley is giving URI a chance to consider upgrades clearly means it is not about $$$.
This coaching carousel is moving fast. Reminds me of frenzy of hiring / firing in the NFL after the regular season is over before the Super Bowl. As someone else said, Hurley is probably hyper aware that this could be his best opportunity for his career.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Keep in mind that he's in RI now and his family likes it there. If he comes to UConn they can literally stay there... can't say the same for Pitt. It'd be like if you had a great job offer states away at a good company, or the choice of an equally great job like 40 minutes away from your existing home. You can go with one option and not really change life all that much, that has to factor into it

Quite frankly, his love for the state of RI is a giant red flag.

 

[Hugo]

Except every report from anyone with an ounce of insight into our program here and elsewhere saying we’ve had our mind set almost exclusively on Hurley since before Ollie was fired.

I truly hope this is not the case. You always need a backup plan, regardless of how certain you are, because things happen. If we don't have a plan B and have to open the process up again, who knows what the end result will be. Hopefully, Bennett has a backup list he can call on if he has to.

 

[intlzncster]

I don't think the Pitt job is as bad as people are making it out to be... it's not like Pitt is a wasteland of a basketball school. They have a history of some success, are in the ACC, and Hurley has a track record of turning programs around, quickly. Not a bad gig for $3 mil+. Plus he can start fresh with his own footprint.

You're other points aside, this is NOT a plus. It's a big massive pile of negative. No matter how anyone tries to spin it.