What another UConn title means for Dan Hurley's legacy

[HooperScooper]

Borges spoke to Bob Hurley Sr. and Geno for the article.

Now, Hurley is out to join Wooden in the record books. Can UConn win a third straight national title this season? Bob Hurley Sr. — John Wooden's disciple, Dan Hurley's dad — believes it's possible. He's seen every workout this summer.

"I love what (the coaches) see," Hurley Sr. said. "I don't believe, individually, they're as talented as last year. Very few teams would be. As Danny would say, 'We may not be as good as we were last year, but there's nobody in the country better than we were last year, either.' Maybe this version is going to be good enough."

What another UConn title means for Dan Hurley's legacy: 'John Wooden and Danny. How about that?'

If the UConn men's basketball team wins a third straight title, Dan Hurley will etch his name next to legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.

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What another UConn title means for Dan Hurley's legacy: 'John Wooden and Danny. How about that?'

 

[husky429]

If we 3-peat, DH is the best college coach in the history of the game. Bar none.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Without having one of the most impactful centers this year it’s going to come back down to if we can have the best guards in the country.

 

[aceboon]

Without having one of the most impactful centers this year it’s going to come back down to if we can have the best guards in the country.

guards & wings

 

[RuffRuff]

Crazy to hear that Senior gets every days practice tape, holy moly. Talk about hoops lineage.

This year is fascinating in that some ways it’s gravy given last two runs. Then it’s also this massive opportunity to become a legend of the sport. These opportunities are few and far between, and the narrative and pressure will pick up the deeper success into the season goes. Can only hope it’s an NC final between Danny Hurley going for legendary status, against Duke and the great Cooper Flagg, who spurned these same Huskies. Talk about narrative galore and ratings machine. Bring it.

 

[superjohn]

guards & wings

Hurley keeps saying over and over the season and reaching their goals will come down to guard play. He knows the center position won't be what it was with Sanogo and Clingan/Clingan and Samson but he thinks he has enough there and their different strengths will compliment each other again at that position. He knows he has the best talent in the country on the wing with a bunch of talented 6'7ish guys. It's going to come down to how Mahaney, Diarra, Ball, Nowell can replace Tristen and Cam.

 

[aceboon]

Hurley keeps saying over and over the season and reaching their goals will come down to guard play. He knows the center position won't be what it was with Sanogo and Clingan/Clingan and Samson but he thinks he has enough there and their different strengths will compliment each other again at that position. He knows he has the best talent in the country on the wing with a bunch of talented 6'7ish guys. It's going to come down to how Mahaney, Diarra, Ball, Nowell can replace Tristen and Cam.

I'm fully aware because my ears also work, I don't think we need to have the best absolute guard unit in the country to win the tile because the wing play will be that strong, I think both groups(guards/wings) in tandem can carry them

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Without having one of the most impactful centers this year it’s going to come back down to if we can have the best guards in the country.

You say that, but who is the dominant center this year? What team can Clingan us?

 

[IndyLives]

Crazy to hear that Senior gets every days practice tape, holy moly. Talk about hoops lineage.

I hope Danny is giving him some of that NIL money. He's basically acting like a free Assistant Coach for Danny!

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

You say that, but who is the dominant center this year? What team can Clingan us?

It’s not as much about a singular dominant center but more so controlling the paint.

We’ve had a huge advantage there over the past 2 years.

 

[jibsey]

The guy is in the BBHOF so we trust his eye test but he is comparing to the finished product he saw in the championship game and maybe as the season goes on he will alter his view of the talent as it develops.

 

[nomar]

If we 3-peat, DH is the best college coach in the history of the game. Bar none.

I agree. Nobody has ever taken 2 teams that different to 2 consecutive titles. Doing it 3 times in a row would, IMO, elevate him straight to the top.

The odds are very much against him, even moreso than last year, but all he's done is defy the odds.

 

[Methalius]

I agree. Nobody has ever taken 2 teams that different to 2 consecutive titles. Doing it 3 times in a row would, IMO, elevate him straight to the top.

The odds are very much against him, even moreso than last year, but all he's done is defy the odds.

I can't agree. I know it was a different time and there have always been allegations of not having a level playing field back then but regardless of that, John Wooden's UCLA Bruins won back to back titles then took a year off and then won 7 straight titles and then won one more the year after the 7 straight for 10 titles in 12 years. While I believe it is harder now than ever to win and this might be an even more impressive achievement I can't say that winning 3 straight is more impressive than 10 in 12 years and 7 straight.

 

[nomar]

I can't agree. I know it was a different time and there have always been allegations of not having a level playing field back then but regardless of that, John Wooden's UCLA Bruins won back to back titles then took a year off and then won 7 straight titles and then won one more the year after the 7 straight for 10 titles in 12 years. While I believe it is harder now than ever to win and this might be an even more impressive achievement I can't say that winning 3 straight is more impressive than 10 in 12 years and 7 straight.

Sure, reasonable minds can differ.

Put less generously, Wooden benefited from rampant cheating that handed him the clear #1 talent, year after year, and the tournaments were nothing like they are today.

That doesn't mean Wooden isn't #1. I just think if UConn wins this year, it would be a more impressive achievement.

 

[ec33]

I can't agree. I know it was a different time and there have always been allegations of not having a level playing field back then but regardless of that, John Wooden's UCLA Bruins won back to back titles then took a year off and then won 7 straight titles and then won one more the year after the 7 straight for 10 titles in 12 years. While I believe it is harder now than ever to win and this might be an even more impressive achievement I can't say that winning 3 straight is more impressive than 10 in 12 years and 7 straight.

It is about a lasting career as well. Creating a legacy.

DH cannot win 3 straight and then head to the Knicks. There would have to be a period of excellence that followed.

Three straight and 5 over 10 years and we can begin to compare eras.

 

[ec33]

Sure, reasonable minds can differ.

Put less generously, Wooden benefited from rampant cheating that handed him the clear #1 talent, year after year, and the tournaments were nothing like they are today.

That doesn't mean Wooden isn't #1. I just think if UConn wins this year, it would be a more impressive achievement.

While the cheating does factor in -- it wasn't "rampant cheating" compared to Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas this century.

 

[Methalius]

Sure, reasonable minds can differ.

Put less generously, Wooden benefited from rampant cheating that handed him the clear #1 talent, year after year, and the tournaments were nothing like they are today.

That doesn't mean Wooden isn't #1. I just think if UConn wins this year, it would be a more impressive achievement.

I agree. Back when UCLA was dominating I believe it was a field of 32 and not 68 like it is today. Additionally, the regions really played other teams in the Region. They never had to play like Kentucky or North Carolina unless it was in the Final Four. As you mentioned there have been allegations for over 40 years that UCLA Boosters would buy their players so it wasn't a level playing field. It is significantly more difficult to win consistently in NCAA Basketball today than it was 50-60 years ago. That is without even taking NIL money and one and done into consideration. I suppose I could be convinced that this is the greatest 3 year run in Men's College Basketball if the Huskies do indeed win it again this year. I also will say the way in which UConn has DOMINATED every team during the last two tournament runs is beyond mindblowing to me. I'd love to see these guys do it.

 

[HailUConn]

I believe when the dust settles, Dan vs Wooden talk is somewhat like that of Jordan vs James.
1a or 1b, depending on which fan house you are in.

 

[HooperScooper]

I agree. Back when UCLA was dominating I believe it was a field of 32 and not 68 like it is today. Additionally, the regions really played other teams in the Region. They never had to play like Kentucky or North Carolina unless it was in the Final Four. As you mentioned there have been allegations for over 40 years that UCLA Boosters would buy their players so it wasn't a level playing field. It is significantly more difficult to win consistently in NCAA Basketball today than it was 50-60 years ago. That is without even taking NIL money and one and done into consideration. I suppose I could be convinced that this is the greatest 3 year run in Men's College Basketball if the Huskies do indeed win it again this year. I also will say the way in which UConn has DOMINATED every team during the last two tournament runs is beyond mindblowing to me. I'd love to see these guys do it.

Even easier than 32 teams. UCLA won 9 titles between 1964 and 1973 when there were either 23 or 25 teams in the NCAA Tournament. It was 32 teams when they won it in 1975. Then obviously the 68 team tournament in 1995.

It's hard to compare different eras. The Yankees have won 27 World Series Championships but many of those years they won the AL, which had way less teams than today, and went right to the World Series. They're still World Series champions but how do you compare those to today's playoffs?

 

[navery12]

You say that, but who is the dominant center this year? What team can Clingan us?

Of the teams we know we're playing, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Zach Freemantle, Graham Ike, Kadin Shedrick are all great players who have the ability to take over a game. None are as good as Clingan, but we'll have to game plan around those guys and hope Reed and Johnson can somehow avoid foul trouble

 

[nomar]

Of the teams we know we're playing, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Zach Freemantle, Graham Ike, Kadin Shedrick are all great players who have the ability to take over a game. None are as good as Clingan, but we'll have to game plan around those guys and hope Reed and Johnson can somehow avoid foul trouble

I like Samson but he's gonna get in foul trouble. One potentially important factor will be whether Singare can add some real value this year as the 3rd big. I suspect we'll need him, due to fouls and/or injuries.

 

[IndyLives]

I could have coached those UCLA teams to Titles. So much talent discrepancy between UCLA and everyone else. What Danny is doing is doing today with recruiting, talent development, coaching strategies and execution hasn't been seen in a long long time.

 

[REB1094]

Wooden: 10
K: 5
Rupp: 4
Calhoun: 3
Knight: 3
Williams: 3

Those are the only coaches in the history of NCAA D1 Men's Basketball with 3+ rings. If UConn pulls off the 3-peat, Hurley goes from the best active coach to one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game

 

[AntG168]

Wooden: 10
K: 5
Rupp: 4
Calhoun: 3
Knight: 3
Williams: 3

Those are the only coaches in the history of NCAA D1 Men's Basketball with 3+ rings. If UConn pulls off the 3-peat, Hurley goes from the best active coach to one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game

That’s true if he wins one more at any point

 

[B1GEast]

I think Reed and Johnson are going to surprise many at the center position.

Reed's size and athleticism fits Hurley's offense well. I think he's going to have a huge impact on the season as well as Johnson.

Having Diarra and Karaban to lead the younger guys along is a luxury.