Hurley chasing after first NCAA tournament win at UConn
Back in October, coach Dan Hurley made his usual appearance at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce breakfast to preview the upcoming UConn basketball season.
He talked about his team’s personnel and Big East championship potential.
During a conversation after his speech, it was clear that Hurley had yet to fully move past last season, one that ended with a second straight disappointing NCAA tournament first round loss.
Hurley spoke about the extra burden that comes with coaching at a four- time national championship program as opposed to his previous stop at Rhode Island, where fans are thrilled just to qualify for March Madness, and being a favorite as opposed to an underdog.
“A first round game at UConn is a lot different than a first round game at Rhode Island where you haven’t been to the NCAA tournament in 18 years…,” Hurley said. “There’s a freeness, a looseness, a pressure-less feeling when you coach at a place like Rhode Island.
“I think when we get back to that moment, it’s going to be something that the coaching staff will carry. But I think this team is so different that I don’t think we’ll have that many players that will walk on the floor that were part of those games. I think it will be a burden for me to carry and rightfully so.
“But I think that’s the beauty of having such a new team that if we put ourselves back in that position, I don’t think they’ll be wearing it. Obviously, it will be something internally that will definitely be going through my mind maybe in the middle of the night when I wake up, but not necessarily during the work process.”
About five months later, Hurley was reminded of his comments on Sunday after watching the NCAA tournament Selection Show with his team and earning the No. 4 seed in the West Region. UConn will face No. 13 Iona at 4:30 p.m. Friday in first action in Albany, N.Y.
His feelings have changed since last fall.
Hurley is consumed by things that happened this season and what’s ahead rather than losing his first two trips to the NCAA tourney as UConn’s coach.
He’s focused on preparing his team to face upset-minded Iona, a Metro
“Right now, we're going to the tournament with high hopes and really just coming together through everything and trying to go on a run.”
UCONN’S ANDRE JACKSON
Atlantic Athletic Conference champion led by Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
“Maybe somewhere deep in the subconscious,” said Hurley when asked Sunday if he still carries the burden. “Your focus goes to your opponent, what you just didn’t do well.
You just get so consumed with that, that goes out the window as you play a season and maybe start to believe in your team.
“Sometimes, when you haven't played a season and haven't gone through a whole year with your team and you're not sure if you're good, you're not sure if you're tough, and you're not sure if the group is even going to be a tournament team, maybe some of that creeps in – fears and doubts.
“When you feel like you've got a strong team, it's different. What do they say? Greatness fears no consequence.”
Heading into the tournament with a strong team helps Hurley sweep away any fears and doubts.
The Huskies ( 25- 8) finished the regular season as a top 10 ranked team for the first time since the 201011 season when they stood at No. 9.
They have more talent and depth than the team that lost, as a No. 5 seed, to No. 12 New Mexico State, 7063. They have more scoring options. Sophomore Jordan Hawkins, who sat out last postseason due to a concussion, is coming off an All-Big East first team regular season.
Defense was to blame
Defensively, they need to be better than last March.
“Our defense was the reason why we failed last year,” Hurley said.
The Huskies have a legitimate chance to make a deep run. They're favored to reach the Sweet Sixteen, needing to beat No. 13 Iona and then either No. 5 St. Mary's or No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth University in the second round to move on to Las Vegas.
It won't be easy, though.
Only three Huskies – juniors Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson, Virginia Tech transfer Nahiem Alleyne – have previous experience playing in the pressure-packed NCAA tournament, each appearing in two games.
“Right now, we're going to the tournament with high hopes and really just coming together through everything and trying to go on a run,” Jackson said.
Hurley, who went 2-2 in the NCAA tourney at Rhode Island, is confident that his team will take the court on Friday with the right frame of mind.
The Huskies won't be thinking about past tournament failures.
“For us, it's about the mental part, creating the joy and excitement of playing in the tournament and not being an uptight team,” Hurley said. “We were an uptight team last year. The year before, during the COVID NCAA tournament, that was such a strange experience and nothing like last year's experience.
“I just want my guys to be that perfect combination of intensity and play with swagger and confidence.”