I'm a little surprised. I did not think he was going to get a guarantee in the first round from any team, but I still he thought he would go. All his running mates are gone.
2024-25 UConn Men's Hoops: Defending the Throne Again
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
Definitely remains to be seen. You never know how a team will perform until the season starts but they should be one of the early favorites going into the season.
I definitely think they'll be good. Best coaching staff in the country and lots of talent, but they did lose a ton from this past year's team, and we just don't know yet how the new guys will do. I suspect they'll be a national title contender, but it's a little premature to call them the best team in the country.
Last year they returned Clingan, Karaban, Newton, Diarra, and Johnson. That alone would be a legit top-20 team's starting five. Next year they're returning Diarra, Karaban, Stewart, and Johnson. Ball too, but he barely contributed this past season.
The former group is way, way, way better than this latter group. Now they're adding some nice pieces too, but still...we don't really know how they'll do. I suspect very well. Because yeah, Hurley is a phenomenal coach and it's not like the guys they have don't have talent. They sure do.
Mahaney and Tarris Reed are huge pieces to add to the veteran group. Liam McNeeley may be the most talented player on the roster. Ahmad Nowell is another stud freshman. Of the sophomores, Ball and Stewart will take the leap to be big contributors. They’re a top 5 team or more on paper.
OT but whether its NCAA Basketball Tournament or baseball tourney UConn just beats Duke. Go Hook C!
Not the news I wanted to wake up to. Fuck fuck fuck.
I’m not sure it matters but the school needs to just completely back up the truck and say here’s 10+ million a year in perpetuity. Not that they could come close to matching what the lakers will bring…. But do something.
Also outside of the money this is kind of a weird fit for Hurley.
Someone talk me off the Charter Oak Bridge
I’m not sure it matters but the school needs to just completely back up the truck and say here’s 10+ million a year in perpetuity. Not that they could come close to matching what the lakers will bring…. But do something.
Also outside of the money this is kind of a weird fit for Hurley.
Someone talk me off the Charter Oak Bridge
Last edited:
If he goes to the Lakers, money will be a factor, but it won't be THE Factor. It will be about the challenge of coaching in the NBA. And I say, even as a Sixers fan, there are three jobs in the NBA any coach would have a hard time saying no to: the Lakers, the Celtics, and, especially in this case since his wife wants to stay near NJ, the Knicks job. But those latter two jobs aren't open nor opening up anytime soon (even if the Celtics lose the Finals), so this is the opportunity that's in front of him if he's looking to make that leap at any point.
Basketball coaching jobs simply do not get bigger anywhere in the world than the Los Angeles Lakers. It is THE job. Best league on earth. Historic franchise. Massive market. Living in LA for crying out loud. Enormous $$$.
Yeah @BaseballJones is absolutely correct. The Lakers job is the pinnacle of Hurley’s profession. We’re not talking about the Charlotte Bobcats here.
After listening to Woj… this definitely isn’t a done deal.
Hurleys decision comes down to two things.
1) Take the money and try to become a good to very good coach in the NBA. Which I do think he can accomplish at the NBA level.
2) Stay in the college game at UConn and get into the coaching legends circle (Wooden, K, Smith, Rupp, Phog Allen, Knight)…. And make a gripload of money in the process.
I can see him going either way. But I think he chooses the Lakers. I mean they might be throwing 20 million per at the guy.
After listening to Woj… this definitely isn’t a done deal.
Hurleys decision comes down to two things.
1) Take the money and try to become a good to very good coach in the NBA. Which I do think he can accomplish at the NBA level.
2) Stay in the college game at UConn and get into the coaching legends circle (Wooden, K, Smith, Rupp, Phog Allen, Knight)…. And make a gripload of money in the process.
I can see him going either way. But I think he chooses the Lakers. I mean they might be throwing 20 million per at the guy.
Last edited:
This is a big factor as well. I'm convinced that Jay Wright would still be at Villanova were it not for this.
Thank you for coming around today. You must be absolutely jizzing yourself right now.
The Lakers hired a New England college hoop coach once upon a time- Joe Mullaney, Providence head coach who won 2 or 3 NITs when winning that meant something.
Mullaney coached there a couple years, and coached 5 more pro teams before returning to college.
What's perhaps most interesting about him being hired there was that PC hired Dave Gavitt to take his place. If Gavitt wasn't at PC at the right time, perhaps the Big East never gets started.
Mullaney coached there a couple years, and coached 5 more pro teams before returning to college.
What's perhaps most interesting about him being hired there was that PC hired Dave Gavitt to take his place. If Gavitt wasn't at PC at the right time, perhaps the Big East never gets started.
As a father of a son who struggles with mental health issues, I know that an important piece of maintaining their health is to be honest about oneself (and your limitations) at that moment in time. I could very well see D Hurley thinking that, at this moment in time, neither the NBA nor the Lakers is a good fit.
It would never happen, but it would be next level if Hurley announced that he was staying at UConn by showing up at Celtics Game 1 or 2, wearing UConn and Celtics gear.
Well Coach K told the Lakers to get lost so there's hope. Dan and staff have really become adept at college style play and using the college transfers to their advantage, it would be a shame to see them leave at the top of their game. Pitino is a cautionary tale.
Hurley’s comments about the challenge of the NBA are precisely what John Beilein said when leaving Michigan. Which feels like a bad omen.
The thing is, NIL, one-and-done and free transfers have made the college game is a very tough place for a coach who wants to develop players. So I get it. Still makes me sad.
Hopefully he comes to the conclusion that the time and place are not right. He really is in a unique spot now and UConn's window is still wide open.
The thing is, NIL, one-and-done and free transfers have made the college game is a very tough place for a coach who wants to develop players. So I get it. Still makes me sad.
Hopefully he comes to the conclusion that the time and place are not right. He really is in a unique spot now and UConn's window is still wide open.
Yeah. Hurley's tongue in cheek complaints about the portal probably held a fair amount of truth in them. I think the timing is kind of terrible for those hoping he will stay. College basketball is going to suck soon. It's slowly going to turn into free-agent minor league basketball with none of the unique features that have made it great. I think everyone sees the handwriting on the wall. Hurley has a fantastic set up at UConn, but he knows it's not a lifetime job. It's a great set up in an uncertain sport at a school that doesn't have a football team attractive to the power conferences.
Being an NBA coach isn't a lifetime gig either. But it presents new challenges, probably twice the money, and college jobs (such as they are) will be open to him if he ever wants to return.
I'm almost always wrong, but this feels like a done deal.
Being an NBA coach isn't a lifetime gig either. But it presents new challenges, probably twice the money, and college jobs (such as they are) will be open to him if he ever wants to return.
I'm almost always wrong, but this feels like a done deal.
I very much hope he stays, but I think you are very likely right on all of the above, particularly the bolded.
What do you mean slowly? It's already there. Around 2,000 players went into the portal this year. Uconn has obviously been a massive beneficiary of this due to Hurley being as great as he has been but because of that you're replacing around ~8-10 players on your roster annually from guys graduating, portaling out, or heading to the NBA early.
View: https://twitter.com/amorecourant/status/1800217644802683324?s=46
Sports Reporter for the Hartford Courant
Sports Reporter for the Hartford Courant
View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1800221050795688214?s=46&t=1S4eWjX_rzBBrpPNddRPAg
Eat shit, LAL. And a dahk day for @Ale Xander
Eat shit, LAL. And a dahk day for @Ale Xander
Lakers job made zero sense. It’s a job in name only. The team isn’t a contender and has barely any assets going forward in a western conference that’s getting younger and better.
This made my day. Casual UCONN bball fan because I live here but telling the Lakers to get fucked might make me go all in.
Last edited:
A high profile coach turning them down should be a reality check for both Lebron and the Lakers.
Can feel this all the way down in my plums.
Welcome aboard. We’d love to have you. It’s a good life.
Tough day for the Lakers, their fans, and AleX. Tragic.
