UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley looking for freshmen to add depth, but 'got to earn it here'

[Waquoit]

So to recap the chain of events. On Friday, Hurley tells the press " "We want to get to nine (deep)...but I'm only going to play the players that are ready to play." On Saturday, Stewart gets extended time and produces. After the game, Hurley has that quote above "He becomes a guy who can now get into the rotation coming out of today.” I'd be shocked if he doesn't get real minutes against Gonzaga.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Hey does anyone have a good explanation on why JC started freshman Dehnam Brown over senior Tony Robertson?

Tony started all games from the year before on a team that was 1st place in the Big East and went to the elite 8.

Um, they don’t play the same position. Tony was behind sophomore Ben Gordon. Brown was 6’6” 220. Tony was 6’2.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Um, they don’t play the same position. Tony was behind sophomore Ben Gordon. Brown was 6’6” 220. Tony was 6’2.

Hey, he’s explained to everyone earlier in the thread that “he’s done his research” on all these things so he can’t possibly be wrong about the facts he’s presenting.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I only did that and continue to point it out because people here keep making the point that games against teams like Kansas and Texas etc are above his level.

I don’t think that’s the case.

My point is he has played in games against that type of talent pool and he was also a starter on one of the best AAU teams in the country.

I am fine if people want to debate his playing time and I see they’re point but I don’t get the higher competition/above his talent level argument.

I do relate more to the not understanding defensive assignments type of argument for his lack of playing time or the fact that they’re are just great players ahead of him.

Honestly, I can’t believe I’m having to argue such silly minute points but I’m only doing so because my argument has been blown completely out of proportion and attacked.

I’ve never argued that he should be a huge rotational piece just get a few minutes against higher competition and Hurley seems to be alluding to the fact that he will soon.

Edit:

I should also state and admit that I was a little bothered when Rob Dauster and a few posters on this board (not saying you) implied that the competition out here is a tier below and that guys like Stewart coming from here take longer to adjust.

That irked me because not only is this notion not true but in fact you could almost argue the exact opposite as the density of NBA and pro level players per person out here is among the highest in the country. There have been articles written about this.

So the homer in me felt a little insulted if I’m being completely honest with you

I think you’re taking it wrong. It’s not that those games are above his level, they‘re games with very little margin for error. So guys who adapting to the college game don’t tend to play much in those games, unless they have to. Solo played a lot because he had to. Castle is a special case, more ready than the others and expected to be a top 5 pick in the draft. Solo is next most ready.

Elmarko Jackson is a 5* McD AA who is only starting for Kansas because they had to kick Morris off the team. I don’t think any of us have anything but high expectations for Stewart and Ross next year. You come across a bit like the hockey dad who is upset his kid isn't playing over that skinny Gretzky kid.

 

[runner11]

I think you’re taking it wrong. It’s not that those games are above his level, they‘re games with very little margin for error. So guys who adapting to the college game don’t tend to play much in those games, unless they have to. Solo played a lot because he had to. Castle is a special case, more ready than the others and expected to be a top 5 pick in the draft. Solo is next most ready.

Elmarko Jackson is a 5* McD AA who is only starting for Kansas because they had to kick Morris off the team. I don’t think any of us have anything but high expectations for Stewart and Ross next year. You come across a bit like the hockey dad who is upset his kid isn't playing over that skinny Gretzky kid.

I was inclined to agree think the guy was an uncle or something but poster since 2011! Just a dude who reps Seattle very hard apparently.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I was inclined to agree think the guy was an uncle or something but poster since 2011! Just a dude who reps Seattle very hard apparently.

I’m sure. But it comes across similarly.

 

[QDOG5]

In the NIL/portal world we live in what are the odds of keeping an entire five man recruiting class for their sophomore years? I hope all five stay but my guess is it does not happen. College sports are living in a brand new world. I think UConn and Dan Hurley and staff are in a good place and I will put my faith in them.

 

[superjohn]

In the NIL/portal world we live in what are the odds of keeping an entire five man recruiting class for their sophomore years? I hope all five stay but my guess is it does not happen. College sports are living in a brand new world. I think UConn and Dan Hurley and staff are in a good place and I will put my faith in them.

There's a 0% chance all 5 freshman from this year stay for their sophomore year.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Hey, he’s explained to everyone earlier in the thread that “he’s done his research” on all these things so he can’t possibly be wrong about the facts he’s presenting.

I’m open to being wrong, but when I ask for these examples of freshmen Calhoun was so hard on, like everyone says, that succeeded later everyone is quiet. But when I make a small mistake like saying Dehnam started over Tony I get 6 replies saying the same thing.

So clearly people just don’t actually believe what they are saying. Because if they had an answer they would’ve for sure said it. Haha

 

[FearThePups]

We have two 5th year players, 2 sophomores and then 2 higher rated recruits than Stewart and Ross. I can’t imagine they came here expecting big minutes off the rip.

Put another way, we lost 60% of our starters for this year’s team. We have to be 100% sure our starting 5 have plenty of time to gel. That’s been tough with injuries to Clingan, Alex, Castle and Cam to start the season off. This is the first game that the aforementioned players have all looked healthier at the same time. Danny has time to blend in the backups and I think will do so, starting after the Zags game. Our first five Big East opponents aren’t very good. This team will meld. It’s only early December.

 

[FearThePups]

We're here to win, not coddle egos. If they aren't good enough to play, they won't play. Ross, Stewart and Singare knew exactly what kind of team they were joining.

Yeah, the defending national champs.

 

[JohnnyJr]

I’m open to being wrong, but when I ask for these examples of freshmen Calhoun was so hard on, like everyone says, that succeeded later everyone is quiet. But when I make a small mistake like saying Dehnam started over Tony I get 6 replies saying the same thing.

So clearly people just don’t actually believe what they are saying. Because if they had an answer they would’ve for sure said it. Haha

Do you think Signare has no chance ever being good here because he has two better players above him and won’t see the floor much this year?

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I’m open to being wrong,

It will serve you to stay open.

but when I ask for these examples of freshmen Calhoun was so hard on, like everyone says, that succeeded later everyone is quiet.

Don't impute any special meaning to that.

But when I make a small mistake like saying Dehnam started over Tony I get 6 replies saying the same thing.

Are you saying that you were wrong?

So clearly people just don’t actually believe what they are saying.

"[C]clearly" does not apply, except insofar as you have drawn such a conclusion based only upon what you are thinking, and not anything that you have presented with clarity to others and with which there is a consensus of agreement.

Because if they had an answer they would’ve for sure said it.

Upon what basis do you draw such a conclusion? Nothing that I can see.

Haha

Even if it's no more than cracking yourself up, laughter is good medicine for body and soul.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I’m open to being wrong, but when I ask for these examples of freshmen Calhoun was so hard on, like everyone says, that succeeded later everyone is quiet. But when I make a small mistake like saying Dehnam started over Tony I get 6 replies saying the same thing.

So clearly people just don’t actually believe what they are saying. Because if they had an answer they would’ve for sure said it. Haha

Albert Mouring

Albert Mouring College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Albert Mouring - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

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I’m sure there are others but it doesn’t matter. There was no portal then and no 5th year guys. So it’s absolutely pointless to compare this season with that era. In Calhoun‘s time we would not have Cam or Newton on the team. So guess where those minutes would go?

Calhoun also tended to fill out classes with lower ranked recruits. Hurley hasn’t done that nearly as much. With the portal you don’t need to keep those 3 stars and hope they are good by Sr. year.

 

[SeattleHoop]

I was inclined to agree think the guy was an uncle or something but poster since 2011! Just a dude who reps Seattle very hard apparently.

I’ll admit to that. I do.
I’m involved with a lot of the basketball community here and know people who know Jaylin but I don’t know Jaylin personally

Also, very excited to see a hometown kid actually choose my favorite program for once. It’s rare to see a kid from here go to UConn so I really want to see work out for everyone involved

 

[FearThePups]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Stewart is no stranger to elite competition. He will absolutely have a positive impact in bigger games as well. Just because he hasn’t had that opportunity yet doesn’t mean it’s impossible or even unlikely. Have a great weekend

Geez, give it a rest.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Albert Mouring

Albert Mouring College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Albert Mouring - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

I’m sure there are others but it doesn’t matter. There was no portal then and no 5th year guys. So it’s absolutely pointless to compare this season with that era. In Calhoun‘s time we would not have Cam or Newton on the team. So guess where those minutes would go?

Calhoun also tended to fill out classes with lower ranked recruits. Hurley hasn’t done that nearly as much. With the portal you don’t need to keep those 3 stars and hope they are good by Sr. year.

I appreciate the example. That’s 4 in an over 20 year span.

The point is though that that’s not a philosophy Calhoun typically subscribed to as far as making guys earn time before they played.

It’s actually kind of disrespectful to how consistently he had young guys prepared to play and play well by saying so.

I don’t think much about what transfers we would’ve wanted because I couldn’t think about wanting to start someone over a Josh Boone just because the portal was available. We were just fine without it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I appreciate the example. That’s 4 in an over 20 year span.

The point is though that that’s not a philosophy Calhoun typically subscribed to as far as making guys earn time before they played.

It’s actually kind of disrespectful to how consistently he had young guys prepared to play and play well by saying so.

He had no choice. There weren’t enough players. It was pretty common that they played less early in the season and more later in the season. Which is how it was for Hawkins his freshman year. Calhoun had a short leash and yelled at those guys. But he had to put them back in because he didn’t have super senior transfers.

 

[Deleted at users request]

He had no choice. There weren’t enough players. It was pretty common that they played less early in the season and more later in the season. Which is how it was for Hawkins his freshman year. Calhoun had a short leash and yelled at those guys. But he had to put them back in because he didn’t have super senior transfers.

You say had no choice like he wasn’t very successful doing so.

 

[aburks41]

I think I just had an aneurysm reading this thread. Most freshman don’t even hit their stride until February, especially at this level. You can see very clearly that Stewart will get to that point, but he’s still learning and when this team is playing against top level competition like a KU or UNC, you shorten the rotation and play your best players. Why is that controversial? You don’t want to destroy a kids confidence by throwing him into the fire in a place the Phog. Guys like Ball and Castle are definitely a couple months ahead of Stewart, likely because Stewart arrived in Storrs late and then missed a month of practice with that injury.

If he’s not giving us 8-10 MPG by February, I’d be shocked. The talent is there. Give him a couple months to keep developing. He’s gonna be a really good player

 

[navery12]

You say had no choice like he wasn’t very successful doing so.

It's almost like something has changed in college basketball between the early 2000s and now...

 

[Deleted at users request]

It's almost like something has changed in college basketball between the early 2000s and now...

I mean you can make a pretty good argument that the teams and players during that time in college hoops are much better than they are today.

But that’s a whole other long discussion.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I’m open to being wrong, but when I ask for these examples of freshmen Calhoun was so hard on, like everyone says, that succeeded later everyone is quiet. But when I make a small mistake like saying Dehnam started over Tony I get 6 replies saying the same thing.

So clearly people just don’t actually believe what they are saying. Because if they had an answer they would’ve for sure said it. Haha

Here’s my take: I don’t think you are old enough to have watched many Calhoun teams. Period. Because if you were you wouldn’t be making this ridiculous argument. End of story.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Here’s my take: I don’t think you are old enough to have watched many Calhoun teams. Period. Because if you were you wouldn’t be making this ridiculous argument. End of story.

Another statement from you with nothing tangible being said I see.

Pretty on brand.

Your reasons for it being ridiculous “trust me bro.”

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Another statement from you with nothing tangible being said I see.

Pretty on brand.

Your reasons for it being ridiculous “trust me bro.”

I neither want, not do I have any reason, to be antagonistic toward either of you, but the best I'm getting from this comment is, "Dude, your argument is as bad as mine."

 

[KingAG]

I appreciate the example. That’s 4 in an over 20 year span.

The point is though that that’s not a philosophy Calhoun typically subscribed to as far as making guys earn time before they played.

It’s actually kind of disrespectful to how consistently he had young guys prepared to play and play well by saying so.

I don’t think much about what transfers we would’ve wanted because I couldn’t think about wanting to start someone over a Josh Boone just because the portal was available. We were just fine without it.

How old are you?

 

[Deleted at users request]

How old are you?

 

[RedStickHusky]

Hurley's philosophy seems pretty clear; I've rarely heard him discuss bench minutes without discussing mistakes... Not a question of talent, it's a matter of doing the things that fit what the team is doing. Takes time for everybody, more for some than others. And there are some young rotation players that we need to develop faster. All this while, you know, winning games and stuff. Despite his inability to win a close one (/s), I'm gonna trust the coach and staff.

 

[willie99]

It’s pretty well documented how much JC invested in freshmen whether they were ready or not.

He did not have this same mindset.

Only when he didn't have options

Pretty much every four years he had a freshmen heavy team and had to play them

Jim's standards for production were second to no one's

 

[NJHoops]

Someone better tell EC (Matthews) Jared (Terrell), Jarvis (Garrett), Cyril (Langevine), (Jeff) Dowtin, and Hassan (Martin) that their college coach never plays freshmen. Is that even what the discussion is at this point?

A way more interesting tangent to go on is thinking about Calhoun coaching with the way the current game is. My guess is he would have peaced out like Wright and them and enjoyed a well-earned break.

In the meantime, I might just watch the championship game from last year today and continue to enjoy this 9-1 start.