"We're bulletproof"

[temery]

I think Danny has been saying that the team is bulletproof when it plays to its identity.

I need to see the quote in context.

I very much doubt he believes nor has told his players they are bullet proof. But that's the quote that has gone viral. And that's the quote that the SD St coach will use to motivate his players.

 

[KembaRunner]

it’s from the post game presser and didn’t come off as cocky the way he delivered it.

 

[temery]

it’s from the post game presser and didn’t come off as cocky the way he delivered it.

That's the thing about sound bites - it doesn't matter what was intended. The dumbest thing said is what will be quoted and goes viral.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Oh no we are going to give bulletin board material! If a team isn’t already highly motivated and ready to go by the sweet 16, they already have bigger problems.

That's the thing, right? Bulletin board material to whom? He's not calling anyone out or insulting them.

Nobody is going to have trouble getting up for a game against the #1 team and defending champ lol

This is a gigantic nothing-burger.

And if you're concerned that he's not tough enough on the team behind the scenes, pointing out their flaws, or challenging them to play at a championship level every minute, you don't know Dan Hurley.

 

[uconn_jack]

Suprised he would say that (even if it is a little out of context) considering how superstitious he is. Would have preferred him to say "almost" or "nearly" bulletproof at least. Or our resolve is bulletproof (maybe that's what he meant)?

 

[navery12]

Some of you people really need to lock yourself in a dark room and leave the phone outside, the internet is too much for you. This is a whole lot of nothing and acting like this is some terrible move by Hurley is idiotic

 

[TheHorde]

That's the thing, right? Bulletin board material to whom? He's not calling anyone out or insulting them.

Nobody is going to have trouble getting up for a game against the #1 team and defending champ lol

This is a gigantic nothing-burger.

And if you're concerned that he's not tough enough on the team behind the scenes, pointing out their flaws, or challenging them to play at a championship level every minute, you don't know Dan Hurley.

Boy oh boy the In Hurley We Trust is out the window for some folks. I’m giving him lots of rope until he proves his judgment is bad. And for two years it’s been impeccable. He’s very calculated. We can’t say he deserves the benefit of the doubt on a portal move or who we recruit or don’t recruit, and then question something like this imo.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Fixed.

Are you insane?

Last night, with your non-haiku you changed the entire direction of the game.

If you can't be part of the solution, don't be part of the problem.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Bill Murray would never say that.

This was last year. It was great at the time but we are now in 2024.

Stop trying to play hero ball and be part of the team. Please, throw out at least one Costanza quote to balance things.

 

[polycom]

Wow you all are a sensitive bunch. Just because your bullet proof doesn't mean you can't be poisoned or drowned...

 

[Deepster]

We’re the defending champs.
We had the best regular season in BE history.
We won the BET.
We are the #1 overall seed.
We curbstomped our first two opponents.

Do other teams need bulletin board material? If they’re not firing on all cylinders with 16 teams left is a quote going to get them over the line?

 

[gtcam]

Dan Hurley being Dan Hurley
Unfortunately, he isn't at the level of coaching maturity yet to understand that using words like bulletproof before you have no more games to play is very treacherous because it could come to bite you in the arse when you can't hit shots and forgot to wear the armored protection.
Needs to know when and what to say to the press.
It's his team, so be it.
Lets hope the string continues....................

 

[gsmooth]

We were so bad from the 3 and still won the game by 17. Let them score some garbage time buckets at the end to make the score look far closer than it should've been.

We're good baby.

From here on out though, UConn cannot have anymore 3 pt shooting games like that or they will be eliminated. The competition is only getting better and tougher.

 

[Inyatkin]

From here on out though, UConn cannot have anymore 3 pt shooting games like that or they will be eliminated. The competition is only getting better and tougher.

Must be nice to be able to see the future

 

[cohenzone]

The only time to say that is just after winning it all. Really dumb thing to say.

Exactly. In 1999 Duke was supposedly indestructible. Some team or other showed them otherwise.

 

[temery]

Some of you people really need to lock yourself in a dark room and leave the phone outside, the internet is too much for you. This is a whole lot of nothing and acting like this is some terrible move by Hurley is idiotic

Ali lost five times after saying he can't be beat.

What Hurley said wasn't calculated - it was just a brain fart that happened to make it to his mouth. If his team plays up to their potential, few people will remember. If not, it'll be mentioned in every March Madness article for days/weeks.

 

[navery12]

Ali lost five times after saying he can't be beat.

What Hurley said wasn't calculated - it was just a brain fart that happened to make it to his mouth. If his team plays up to their potential, few people will remember. If not, it'll be mentioned in every March Madness article for days/weeks.

Except it was very clearly calculated if you read the actual quote and not just the headline before blowing a gasket

 

[temery]

Except it was very clearly calculated if you read the actual quote and not just the headline before blowing a gasket

1) What was the actual quote?

2). Not sure it matters to those looking to parse statements for juicy headlines.

 

[navery12]

1) What was the actual quote?

2). Not sure it matters to those looking to parse statements for juicy headlines.

It immediately lead into him critiquing the team's performance

We’re bulletproof,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said when asked about the teams’ dominant wins. “Elite offense, elite defense. Didn’t love the offensive rebounding today and didn’t love the second-half defensive rebounding but, again, 20 assists, seven turnovers, one player had 14-14-8, point guard had 20-10. It’s tough to lose when you have that level of quality.”

 

[temery]

It immediately lead into him critiquing the team's performance

We’re bulletproof,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said when asked about the teams’ dominant wins. “Elite offense, elite defense. Didn’t love the offensive rebounding today and didn’t love the second-half defensive rebounding but, again, 20 assists, seven turnovers, one player had 14-14-8, point guard had 20-10. It’s tough to lose when you have that level of quality.”

That changes nothing. "We're bulletproof: Elite offense, elite defense." That is what will be quoted.

 

[Tenspro2002]

That changes nothing. "We're bulletproof: Elite offense, elite defense." That is what will be quoted.

OK, and what is the expected impact of this?

 

[Husky25]

Sure, UConn by 17, but they were up by 30 and gave up 14 points with the starters on the court.

 

[SwingDog]

Hurley's the coach, and he can say what he wants. I'm not a fan of the "bulletproof" thing, and it's not the first time he has said it. I would much rather he say " When we play to our identity (i.e. elite defense and offense) we are very difficult to beat" but that's his prerogative. Maybe there is a bit psychology he is using against the next opponent too but I would leave comments like that for the sportswriters and fans, not from the team. And I think his comment puts not just SDSU, but the remaining field on notice.

 

[navery12]

That changes nothing. "We're bulletproof: Elite offense, elite defense." That is what will be quoted.

Maybe it will, but did the bulletproof comment fire up Northwestern yesterday and help them beat UConn?

 

[uconnever]

I'm sure San Diego State, of all teams, needed extra motivation for this game. We may or may not win, but this comment will have nothing to do with it either way.

Exactly

 

[dennismenace]

It immediately lead into him critiquing the team's performance

We’re bulletproof,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said when asked about the teams’ dominant wins. “Elite offense, elite defense. Didn’t love the offensive rebounding today and didn’t love the second-half defensive rebounding but, again, 20 assists, seven turnovers, one player had 14-14-8, point guard had 20-10. It’s tough to lose when you have that level of quality.”

That's kind of funny because all the media has been saying things like this as UConn has been hammering everyone for the better part of two years. The kids themselves hear it when they look at replays and read the press clippings. The thing about statistics (from Mark Twain) . "There are lies and there are damn lies and then there is statistics". Danny: Let the media do the hyping. You don't have to sell your product here. Are you trying to convince people that you have a great team? You don't have to do that. The players are demonstrating that on the floor and the media has talked ad infinitum about your practices and culture and your teams unselfishness.
It is self evident by results. This isn't about salesmanship to the audience. The team does that on the floor. BTW, when was the last time you heard a HOF coach makes comments like that?

 

[Waquoit]

Sure, UConn by 17, but they were up by 30 and gave up 14 points with the starters on the court.

So what? What happens in Garbage time never matters.

 

[ctchamps]

Two sides to every coin.

Opposition: Upside is we have not played our A game this tournament and opposing teams know it. When we play our best we’re unstoppable and opponents have seen that. So yes the statement will be used to motivate opponents but, depending on the character of opposition players, some will react with fear and some will take the statement and play better. It will create the same reaction like we are observing with individuals in this forum.

UConn: We have only three players with significant NCAA playing time under their belts. Alex is in a slump. Cam is off. Stephon and Jaylon are playing like freshman. Hass, Tristen and Samson are playing like they have all season long. Donovan is the only player who is playing better.

Sometimes coaches make statements to instill confidence within their own players. If I have to guess Dan’s underlying purpose for this contentious statement I would guess this is the primary reason for it.

He knows how it can be used by opponents. But he understands his players more and has concluded that one or more of them need to believe in themselves. A coach who is reflective, like Dan, a coach who is player oriented, like Dan, is focused on his players and his team’s needs.

If I’m correct he thinks one or more of them need to believe in themselves the way he believes in them. He wants one or more of them to know his demanding coaching and criticism of their play is intended to make them better players and not because they are poor players which certain players can mistakenly believe playing for a demanding coach.

This public statement, with the controversy it’s generating even among his own fans, demonstrates the power of words. The only individuals I’m sure Dan cares about regarding this statement are his own players.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Man this place can find a way to ruin pretty much anything.

 

[Husky25]

So what? What happens in Garbage time never matters.

The lead may have been too large to overcome, but it wasn't yet garbage time.