Hurley knows it might be tough getting particular photo of two Husky Hall of Famers that he wants
HOUSTON — It’s no secret that Uconn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley has often gone to both Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma for advice.
In mentioning both on Thursday, Hurley, yes, he went there. He acknowledged, mischievously perhaps, that the coaches are known to have a less-than-warm relationship. Auriemma, the Hall of Fame women’s coach, is already in Houston, and fellow Hall of Famer Calhoun, who held Hurley’s job through three national championship seasons, is on his way.
“Coach Calhoun, him and Geno, they are Uconn basketball,” Hurley said. “So just to have those two guys around … obviously it’s hard for me to meet with them together. But I get a lot of time with them separately. I hope to get a picture with the both of them. I know that will go viral if I could get those two guys together.”
Familiar face in Jalen Gaffney: At the end of each season, a college coach has to have tough, honest conversations with players.
After one such conversation a year ago, Jalen Gaffney chose to transfer from Uconn after three seasons with Hurley.
“I wanted to go somewhere I could be myself and play,” Gaffney told reporters Thursday as he arrived with his new team, Florida Atlantic, at the Final Four. “I’m happy for (Uconn) to be here.”
Gaffney and the Huskies could meet for the national championship, if Uconn beats Miami on Saturday and FAU beats San Diego State. Who would have dreamed of that when they parted company?
“I didn’t know too much about FAU,” Gaffney said. “Everybody knows who we are now. We try to stay humble and confident.”
Gaffney, 6 feet 3, from New Jersey, was one of Hurley’s first recruits to Uconn and he and James Bouknight used to talk about being the program’s next dynamic backcourt duo. Bouknight left after two years for the NBA Draft. Gaffney played a big role in Uconn’s initial turnaround late in the 201920 season, but neither his playing time nor productivity grew. Last season he averaged 12.8 minutes per game.
At FAU, Gaffney has played in 37 games, averaging 22 minutes, 4.4 points and 2.4 assists. He scored in double figures three times earlier in the season. Florida Atlantic (35-3) rolled through Conference USA, won the league tournament, and has beaten Memphis, FDU, Tennessee and Kansas State to get to the Final Four.
“Thrilled for Jalen,” Hurley said, “thrilled for his family that it has played out so great and that he’s had such a successful season. I have a lot of appreciation and gratitude towards Jalen, because just like the Bouknights and Isaiah Whaleys and Tyler Polleys and Akok Akoks, everyone, Christian Vital and Jalen Adams, he’s a huge reason why we’re here as a program.
“He helped us build the culture and begin to have success. I’ll always be grateful to him for that, he’s another reason why we’re here.”
Wong: Nearly a Husky?
Miami star Isaiah Wong, averaging 16.2 points and better known for his megabuck name-image-license deals, said he nearly committed to Uconn after a visit.
“You get a sense on the visit whether you’re going to get the gold or the silver,” Hurley said. “I think we always felt we were a little bit behind. But we imagined the potential backcourt of him and Bouknight. It was an exciting dream that didn’t come to fruition.”