This Year’s Lineup

[Mr. French]

I really have no idea where this information comes from. I think Finkelstein may be parroting without watching to have a talking point.

Braylon was not exactly guarding SGA in an Indiana public league. And his team throws him at the top of a 1-2-2 to generate fast break dunks.

He's super athletic and hustles out there so the potential is real, but in all the games I watched he didn't really have much opportunity to demonstrate defensive IQ. His team just doesn't run the kind of high level help defense and on-ball physicality he'll need in D1.

To piggyback here, the tape is 1:14:20 or so… Vecenie says he’s a “monster defender” and Fink says “people in the state of Indiana were saying he was the best defensive player in the state BEFORE they talked about him being the best shooter.” So they’re both very high on him. They don’t view him as “just” an elite shooter.

Again I don’t know the extent of their scouting but these are 2 guys that don’t just say random stuff like this. I’d be stunned if they both talk extensively about his defensive ability without watching him.

 

[Lafayette]

A lot of differing opinions on Mullins, but the key is all say he is one of if not the top shooter in the class.

• Then there are those saying (Field of 68 - Dauster) he can dunk contra to people's perspective on white kid from Indiana
• Then there are those saying (Veceine, Finkelstien) he's a monster defender.

IDK what we get with him in D1, euro-blend offense, tough man defense, but I want to be pleasantly surprised by the team D this year, not try to pin expectations high.

But it appears most think our Offense will be top 5 by consensus so have we turned into Alabama? I hope not.

 

[Mister P]

My two cents- Furphy and Mullins are going to be pushing established/experienced players for minutes. They may not be getting starter minutes at the beginning of the season but they'll be knocking on the door by mid-season.

We are fortunate to have a veteran team this year with at least two juniors ( I think Mullins over Stewart) and two seniors in the starting lineup, along with veterans on the bench. Their talent and experience should ease the early season pressure on Reibe, Furphy, and even Mullins to an extent, benefiting their maturation.

Both Reibe and Furphy should improve throughout the year as they adjust to college ball. Mullins, with his position and skill set, should produce more than them from the start.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Stewart or Mullins at the 3 is the only debate for the starting lineup.

Put me in the groups suggesting Stewart will start the season at the 3 but may not finish the season as the starter.

Smith as back up PG is set. Riebe will get minutes at the 5 spot. Ross is going to get inconsistent minutes. Furphy is the wild card.

That's the 10-man rotation. Injuries, foul trouble and match ups will determine everything.

 

[Lafayette]

Stewart or Mullins at the 3 is the only debate for the starting lineup.

Put me in the groups suggesting Stewart will start the season at the 3 but may not finish the season as the starter.

Smith as back up PG is set. Riebe will get minutes at the 5 spot. Ross is going to get inconsistent minutes. Furphy is the wild card.

That's the 10-man rotation. Injuries, foul trouble and match ups will determine everything.

This but we have positionless in Mullins and Furphy as a 2 or 3. Either way I think Stewart starts at the 3 and either Mullins or Furphy can spell him and be in a 3 guard set with Silas and Solo or just be a 3.

 

[Colin G]

Does Furphy have the handle for that? He certainly has the BBIQ.

Didn’t Hurley mention it could be a possibility?

 

[HooperScooper]

Didn’t Hurley mention it could be a possibility?

I think he did in that media session after the open practice a couple weeks ago. I couldn't find a written direct quote on it. Just this from a Register article from the media session.

Furphy, from Tasmania, is a freshman with international experience playing for the Tasmanian and Australian national teams. Most recently he played in the 2025 U19 World Cup with Australia and averaged 16.7 points 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in seven games.

He is more of a wing than a point guard, but he can handle the ball well enough to provide depth at the point.

 

[Lafayette]

I think he did in that media session after the open practice a couple weeks ago. I couldn't find a written direct quote on it. Just this from a Register article from the media session.

Furphy, from Tasmania, is a freshman with international experience playing for the Tasmanian and Australian national teams. Most recently he played in the 2025 U19 World Cup with Australia and averaged 16.7 points 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in seven games.

He is more of a wing than a point guard, but he can handle the ball well enough to provide depth at the point.

Not so much what Hurley said, but what he saw was Australia had Furphy handle the start of most offensive sets. Not so much bringing the ball down but getting it and knowing how to spot an advantage in near realtime. - this is what he wants of Silas, Malachi, Braylon and this Jacob.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not sure if this is the right thread for it, but after going through the other recruiting threads, there seems to be a consensus on BY that (barring injuries) Jayden Ross should not start games at UConn. Not this year, not next year. Never. I have a feeling Hurley would love the development angle if Jayden started at some point in his career here, but I don't think he'd force the issue if Ross doesn't grow his game a bit more.
Is there anyone on here who thinks there's a shot of him starting ever?

Yes - in fact I think he’s a front runner for next year. There is a reason Hurley has been keeping him around and Ross has been staying and it’s not to be a 4 year cheerleader. We should know this year if there is a shot or not. Rare do you see massive leaps between junior and senior year.

Me thinks Hurley is very tied to that Fab 5 class. He signed them the year of the first NC. The guy is super emotional, superstitious, has has lucky underwear for crying out loud.

I have this gut feeling he’s got two more years in him, will see through the last remnants of that class next year as the last ties to the glory run and then it could be the his swan song.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Not sure if this is the right thread for it, but after going through the other recruiting threads, there seems to be a consensus on BY that (barring injuries) Jayden Ross should not start games at UConn. Not this year, not next year. Never. I have a feeling Hurley would love the development angle if Jayden started at some point in his career here, but I don't think he'd force the issue if Ross doesn't grow his game a bit more.
Is there anyone on here who thinks there's a shot of him starting ever?

I don’t think there’s a consensus that he shouldn’t start ever. There’s close to a consensus that he would have to show a lot of development in his game to get to that level from what we’ve seen so far.

 

[HW611]

Is there anyone on here who thinks there's a shot of him starting ever?

I’m not going hard enough

 

[jibsey]

Stewart starts out of Hurley loyalty and his tenure but Mullins if
he shows he’s worthy probably plays greater overall minutes. Wouldn’t surprise me if it happens well before Jan 1.

 

[navery12]

Not sure if this is the right thread for it, but after going through the other recruiting threads, there seems to be a consensus on BY that (barring injuries) Jayden Ross should not start games at UConn. Not this year, not next year. Never. I have a feeling Hurley would love the development angle if Jayden started at some point in his career here, but I don't think he'd force the issue if Ross doesn't grow his game a bit more.
Is there anyone on here who thinks there's a shot of him starting ever?

This upcoming season, absolutely not. It's hard to predict for next season without seeing him this year, but as a guy who's likely not in the rotation this season it would be a pretty big jump to become a starter

 

[HW611]

Fwiw I think Ross is in the competition to start at the 3. I think Mullins has the lead but Ross is in there. Maybe even more than Stewart because I think he’s still a better fit for that position and what we need.

I can see him either having a big role there (off the bench even) and then taking over that spot next year. Stewart just seems like a 4 and I don’t see him as a better defender, having better handles, or being a better passer than Jayden. I think he’s a better rebounder, scorer, and maybe post defender. But those equip him at the 4.

 

[Hunt for 7]

So Stewart is now in the lead. I still have Mullins starting at the three. I just think Mullins is going to be too good to not be a starter. Plus Stewart coming of the bench first gives Hurley more versatility.

I really think we need Mullins to be very good if we want to get back to the top.

How soon it becomes clear that Mullins is a no doubt one and done player will be directly related to how well we start the season and then position ourselves for a high seed in the tourney.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Yes - in fact I think he’s a front runner for next year. There is a reason Hurley has been keeping him around and Ross has been staying and it’s not to be a 4 year cheerleader. We should know this year if there is a shot or not. Rare do you see massive leaps between junior and senior year.

Me thinks Hurley is very tied to that Fab 5 class. He signed them the year of the first NC. The guy is super emotional, superstitious, has has lucky underwear for crying out loud.

I have this gut feeling he’s got two more years in him, will see through the last remnants of that class next year as the last ties to the glory run and then it could be the his swan song.

Just so I understand you are saying in your opinion Hurley will only be coaching UConn for 2 to 4 more years?

How long is he under contract for?

I was hoping to see him making faces on the sideline for at least another 6 or 7 years minimum.

 

[superjohn]

Just so I understand you are saying in your opinion Hurley will only be coaching UConn for 2 to 4 more years?

How long is he under contract for?

I was hoping to see him making faces on the sideline for at least another 6 or 7 years minimum.

He thinks he could be done after next season.

 

[87Xfer]

He thinks he could be done after next season.

If that's the case does Luke and/or Kimani stick around to take the reins?

 

[bendm]

If Ross is starting this year then something went horribly wrong for Mullins and if he is starting next year it means we probably missed on Mingo

 

[Hunt for 7]

He thinks he could be done after next season.

Wow I must have missed that one….seems like common knowledge. Two more years then maybe give the nba a shot if he is given the opportunity.

He won’t even be 55 in two years.

 

[HooperScooper]

He thinks he could be done after next season.

Eh, he says a lot of stuff that isn’t true because he talks too much. I bet he’s here another 5 years. At least.

 

[superjohn]

Guys, I was talking about what RuffRuff thinks.

 

[jibsey]

Hurley is not going to do crossword puzzles in his living room and he didn’t want to go to the NBA for reasons he’s already given so he likely stays, but the question I have is why are UConn fans living in abject fear over this? This is not life or death for the program. Luke was the one with the brains behind the offense that wasn’t working until he showed it to Hurley. And he has the youth and enthusiasm to do the job. And maybe its Kimani with Luke as number 2. Either way we will be fine.

 

[REB1094]

From Braylon vs. Ross vs. Stewart, to Solo Ball won't start, back to Ross, to Hurley will stop coaching within 2 years

I love this site

 

[RuffRuff]

Eh, he says a lot of stuff that isn’t true because he talks too much. I bet he’s here another 5 years. At least.

Admit you love it. This isn't about true or not, it's a gut read. Call it a hot take, conversational fodder. Nothing firm about it, could easily be totally off. Rationale:

Only 55? You think there is a massive market for first time NBA HC's in their 60's? Hurley hasn't spent a day on the bench of an NBA franchise. Look around the league, HC's are pretty darned young and the ones that are older are lifelong NBA guys/ex players. Who knows what his marketability is in 2030. With all the movement in college sports annually, hard to predict what your perception is 5 years from now in a what have you done lately sport. What he has now is recognition that he's the best college coach in the game. Bill Self had that two years ago - what's his perception now?

It's kind of downhill after a B2B. Once that emotional momentum/high runs out, could really see him losing the stoke in the portal era. Another one bit the dust this week a few months after going to the F4. Pearl had an extension through 2030.

B2B got him out from being the third Hurley, check. He's contemplated moving on two years in a row, check. He's pumping a book, squeezing it in while he's still at the top. He's keeping his assistants and succession plan close, how long can they be patient? The last interview he talked about it didn't give me any firm feeling he's sticking around long term. He talks about it really matter of factly, pretty business like, leaves an out.

How tied is Hurley to Uconn when his Dad tells him to take the LAL job, a guy that stuck with the same HS program for decades? This is an urban jersey fam.

2 years gives him an opportunity to win two more titles, see through a class he's really close to. That 2027 year is going to be starting with a really bare slate of home growns. Two more years gives him either an opportunity to cement his legacy and go out on top, or tap out if starting to water down and to preserve some mystique.

The college coaching game is becoming a young coaches system fast. It's about running an operation, not as much passing wisdom down to young kids across 3-4 years anymore. As much a COO as a CEO. Getting harder and harder to find continuum with culture when you have to promise freshmen PT to come, that's the part Hurley thrives in.