This team will never take the next step with Hurley as coach

[OkaForPrez]

That’s really a cheap shot or an apples to oranges comparison
2018 had 10 new players many just emergency replacements. Blame KO for that if you want. Then lost Gilbert. They were 5-0 when he was healthy. Even with the scrubs they had just beaten SMU when the NCAA probe leaked dooming that season.
We never know what KO would have done with that team but if he didn’t win 20 The BY would have hammered him.
That team of misfits also played the best schedule we played since 2011-12
2018-19 The whole team returned (minus Larrier.) including Gilbert being healty most of the year. Plus 3 Hurley recruits one a decent PG guard.

I wasn't taking a shot, fair or cheap. I was setting a baseline for what Hurley inherited and what he's done since.

Your explanations are fine, but they don't undo where we finished. And the schedule is irrelevant when using kenpom as a barometer because that's factored into the metric.

Edit to add: If we give the KO team the benefit of the doubt losing Al, what then do we do to this year losing Bouk?

I have a lot more thoughts on a conversation that compares Hurley and KO, but I'd rather we all just move on.

 

[Husky25]

Fun fact: How many schools outside the P6 conferences have won a national championship in the last 30 years? (I will give you a hint, it is one school.)

Two actually. I know this because, besides my own personal entertainment, it was my go-to argument to maintain FBS football during the middle rounds of conference realignment. Then Villanova had to go and rain on my parade.

UConn did not start transitioning to Div. 1A football until 2000 and did not join the Big East until 2004.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Two actually. I know this because, besides my own personal entertainment, it was my go-to argument to maintain FBS football during the middle rounds of conference realignment. Then Villanova had to go and rain on my parade.

UConn did not start transitioning to Div. 1A football until 2000 and did not join the Big East until 2004.

Big East is and always has been what would today be called the P6.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think there are few fanbases that understand this better than ours.

Those of us whose interest in the team predates Calhoun appreciate fully well the struggle and journey. In all honesty, as sad as it may sound in the scheme of things, there are few things that have brought me more pleasure in life than UConn basketball, precisely because our story is so freaking great.

Unfortunately, that type of success can lead to expectations that make it difficult for some to enjoy the journey when it doesn't lead to the post-season, for repeated seasons.

But even when you do still appreciate the journey, championships are always the goal.

I think this thread is an example of how low expectations are for the UConn fanbase when multiple posters are equating the fact that Hurley has a few highly ranked recruiting classes with Calhoun winning 3 national championships.

 

[UCfor3]

This thread is a disaster, should've been locked up a while ago.

Yep. People don't realize how far in the hopper this program was. Also don't realize that some unfortunate things happen along the way that slow down progress. It's like tantrum central around here everytime we lose.

 

[Husky25]

Big East is and always has been what would today be called the P6.

P5(6) is a football designation where the big money was. UConn was in the house at mealtime, but they did not have a seat at that particular table in 1999.

 

[Waquoit]

I think this thread is an example of how low expectations are for the UConn fanbase when multiple posters are equating the fact that Hurley has a few highly ranked recruiting classes with Calhoun winning 3 national championships.

This is baloney. Nothing wrong with having realistic expectations. And JC wasn't JC from the get go. I think Hurley's had a better 1st three years.

 

[OkaForPrez]

I think this thread is an example of how low expectations are for the UConn fanbase when multiple posters are equating the fact that Hurley has a few highly ranked recruiting classes with Calhoun winning 3 national championships.

I'll speak for myself in defense of patience, which it appears you're defining as low expectations. I expect UConn to return to a perennial tournament team with a few hiccups here and there. That's what we were under Calhoun and I have reasonable confidence we're back there for good under Hurley.

I am thankful for every National Championship we've seen and would count any additional we experience as a blessing. Each past NC was one as well. I don't think its appropriate for anyone to expect that as a standard, even for a program as successful as ours.

Just over 2 seasons ago we fired our coach because he had run the program off the rails. Nobody with a reasonable eye can say that the talent we were getting around that time is anywhere comparable to what we're getting now in Jackson, Sanogo and Bouknight for starters.

Players were not developing just a few years ago. Vital, Whaley and Carlton have all improved massively under Hurley.

And it's also pretty clear that we're still ascending as we continue to round out the program with simply more talented players.

I would disagree that those who are content with where we are right now and optimistic about the future have low expectations.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

P5(6) is a football designation where the big money was. UConn was in the house at mealtime, but they did not have a seat at that particular table in 1999.

Is your official position that the Big East was not a major conference in 1999?

 

[Husky25]

Is your official position that the Big East was not a major conference in 1999?

My official position is that UConn was a member of the Atlantic 10 football conference in 1999.

It is also my position that 30 years ago from now (and where you wrote the post to which I responded), dates back to the 1990-1991 season. Duke won that year and from then on, only UConn and Villanova have won men's basketball championships as members of a conference outside the P5(6).

It's an argument I know well. I made it for nearly a decade. Major Championships are difficult, if not near impossible for programs without at least a Div. 1 football program. It 100% had to do with money, which really only started to flow primarily through football in the early 90s. This is what gave the 'Novas, Georgetowns, Louisvilles, and UNLVs of the world a shot in the 80's/early 90s.

Current-day Villanova is the exception that proves the rule. Gonzaga is knocking on the door, but I would not give them much of a chance in a normal year (i.e. fans in the stands). Hopefully UConn can get back to that level as well.

I trust in Hurley, by the way.

 

[freescooter]

Points allowed is relevant when you consistently holds teams below their season average. Don't die on this hill

Only if you can score more than you hold them to

 

[freescooter]

I remember when people were saying the same thing about Jim Calhoun. He can't win the big one

No joke

Hurley has had two classes for heaven's sake, this type of thinking is beyond silly

Absolutely true. Many were saying he did a great job but he will never get them over the hump. It will take someone else to do that. There was even a proposed replacement. Tom Penders who coached Rhode Island at the time.

 

[dogpause]

He just seems to push the wrong buttons over and over in close games. He's had enough time to prove himself. He's a much better recruiter than coach.

Eight pages of replies and your original post still hasn't received even a single Like. No further comment needed.

 

[Get a Job]

Eight pages of replies and your original post still hasn't received even a single Like. No further comment needed.

Imagine if the Dislike button was still a thing!

 

[Fishy]

He just seems to push the wrong buttons over and over in close games. He's had enough time to prove himself. He's a much better recruiter than coach.

lol.

 

[UofCT]

Lol apparently it’s Hurleys fault that Ollie couldn’t recruit any shooters

 

[Hungryhusky99]

Lol apparently it’s Hurleys fault that Ollie couldn’t recruit any shooters

What are you talking about? The best shooter he has is from Ollie. He has 3 recruiting classes here now and not 1 shooter. Hawkins may raise that number to 1.

 

[PAHusky]

Anyone who thinks KO deserved another minute as coach and that he didn't have a major part in setting this program back a significant amount is either related to him or simply delusional.

Hurley is not a perfect coach. Hurley is a good coach now and certainly has the potential to be a great coach. He recruits at a high level and his players seem to be both talented and possess good character. This is much more of a team under Hurley than it ever was under KO, minus the championship run steered by senior leadership (though KO does deserve credit as well).

Anyone making judgments on whether we can win a natty with Hurley right now is just talking out of their rear. If, in four or five years, Hurley has brought in the same number of recruiting classes that look like this year's and he still isn't getting to the next level, then it's a conversation. Anyone who thinks it is now is trolling or just doesn't understand how hard it is to rebuild a program that has bottom out into a national contender with historical expectations hovering as a perpetual sword of Damocles.

 

[Psolo12]

I just can't believe that these idiots actually want to jump shit on Hurley. Where would we go? Who would we bring in? He's done a hell of a job in two and a half years most of which has been riddled with a global pandemic. Take a Xanax.

 

[husky429]

Whenever I see Adama running up to the player at the top of the key, he comes so close to getting a foul called .... yeah not sure either why - then has to sprint all the way back leaving his guy so far.

Blitzing screens like that works best when it's done on the wing. Force the other team to either pass cross court or into the corner. There's too many easy passes right to the wing when we do it at the top of the key. It doesn't generate TOs at the rate it needs to as all.

Blitzing screens isn't something Adama (and Clingan) will be good at. We need to limit that coverage for when we have Whaley/Akok/Johnson at the 5... or switch our matchups on D to get a quicker guy in the PnR defense instead.

 

[husky429]

I just can't believe that these idiots actually want to jump on Hurley. Where would we go? Who would we bring in? He's done a hell of a job in two and a half years most of which has been riddled with a global pandemic. Take a Xanax.

Anyone calling for Hurley to be fired should be ignored. The defensiveness after any semblance of criticism is weird and delusional.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Late to this party...but the team went from getting embarrassed every other game a few years ago to having a cup of tea in the Top 25 this year before our best player went down for over a month. Barring injuries and a bad luck, I think we would be at worst a Top 15 team right now. IMO that's the direction in which I want to be going. I still yell at the TV but it's definitely not as much as the later Days of KO...

 

[Milo65]

Is this even for real? Are you serious?

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think there are few fanbases that understand this better than ours.

Those of us whose interest in the team predates Calhoun appreciate fully well the struggle and journey. In all honesty, as sad as it may sound in the scheme of things, there are few things that have brought me more pleasure in life than UConn basketball, precisely because our story is so freaking great.

Unfortunately, that type of success can lead to expectations that make it difficult for some to enjoy the journey when it doesn't lead to the post-season, for repeated seasons.

But even when you do still appreciate the journey, championships are always the goal.

You, like me, were probably sitting in the Field House in 1984, watching us go 13-15 and only 6-10 in the Big East. Before that it was worse still, but I watched and cheered on those guys. I still remember their names. Then in 87-88, a miracle happened. It was only an NIT championship, but it felt like more. It was distilled hope, and we drank it down while burning furniture in the Jungle quad.

Hurley rekindled the spark of hope that really started with that season. It hasn't gone out. It has gotten a little brighter each year. Bonfires will follow.

 

[Husky25]

You, like me, were probably sitting in the Field House in 1984, watching us go 13-15 and only 6-10 in the Big East. Before that it was worse still, but I watched and cheered on those guys. I still remember their names. Then in 87-88, a miracle happened. It was only an NIT championship, but it felt like more. It was distilled hope, and we drank it down while burning furniture in the Jungle quad.

Hurley rekindled the spark of hope that really started with that season. It hasn't gone out. It has gotten a little brighter each year. Bonfires will follow.

Apropos of nothing, I will never get used The Jungle or Frats being called anything except The Jungle or Frats.

 

[XLCenterFan]

Late to this party...but the team went from getting embarrassed every other game a few years ago to having a cup of tea in the Top 25 this year before our best player went down for over a month. Barring injuries and a bad luck, I think we would be at worst a Top 15 team right now. IMO that's the direction in which I want to be going. I still yell at the TV but it's definitely not as much as the later Days of KO...

Agreed. Anyone else remember sitting through back to back embarrassing annihilations - real annihilations - at the XL to Wichita and then Nova? That doesn't happen anymore. We were ranked and our best player - possibly the leagues (BE, not AAC) best player - missed extended time. Let's pump the breaks putting Hurley in the hot seat @BostonBay. Have you gotten any nasty DM's today? lol

 

[willie99]

Another Hurley = Calhoun argument.

People were saying that when Calhoun had lost three Elite 8 and three Sweet 16 games. Those are big games. What is Hurley's record in the second weekend of the Tournament?

Ridiculous analogy, Hurley simply doesn't have the time in yet.

And there's no way I think he's going to be as good as my avatar. I'm just pointing out silly people were bashing the GOAT too. It happens

 

[imno1]

We played like crap against Nova but am I the only one who thinks we can beat them if we get another shot? I’m curious to see how the team responds tonight on the road again. Oh and I’m a big Hurley guy

 

[Kenny11]

Whenever I see Adama running up to the player at the top of the key, he comes so close to getting a foul called .... yeah not sure either why - then has to sprint all the way back leaving his guy so far.

That’s what he’s being taught. Whaley excels at it. The problem is that opposing teams barely screen with Whaley’s man anymore. Adama is actually getting better at it but is still not good.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Agree with everything but Akok was ranked 31st and Sanogo 49th when they committed to UConn. The huge drops after they committed made no sense.

Sanogo's drop was because he was still supposed to be in high school this year, so it did make sense.