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Lol... he needs help...

Yep. Hurley, Oats, and Keatts have all been HS coaches for about 10 years each, give or take a few. Just my personal opinion, but I think I'd specify that along with hiring a winner from lower levels... that winner need a long track record as a HC... I know some (plenty of?) assistants have found success as a HC, but to me, I really value high-level HS HC experience over most P5 assistant experiences. To me that's the difference between a guy like Hurley and Archie Miller.

That would certainly be interesting... Though I do think a lot of the qualities that make him a great CBB coach, would not transfer to the NBA... Doubt his shtick would go over too well with a bunch of grown men who make more than him and playing at a higher level than he ever has. Tbh I think the aspect of helping develop kids into young men is a big part of what he enjoys about coaching, cliche as it is.

I don't have the time to find the clips right now, but I'm fairly sure Hurley has actually made some pretty offensive comments about "hicks" not sure if that was in reference to the south or midwest though lol... point is, I think people can be fairly certain he is a northeast guy with a northeast-based family and that is unlikely to change.

Yes, in interviews when he was hired at Wagner, Rhode Island, and UConn, he's made references to having to convince his wife to let him take the job, because she does not like change and wants to be close to her family in Jersey City, where they are both from. I think Rhode Island at 3.5 hours was about as far as she'd ever be willing to go. UConn feels like a perfect fit for Hurley when you combine that with the fact that basketball is king there... he's already got it rolling and it's fueled by a regional recruiting pipeline he's built over a lifetime. I do not think there is any feasible amount of money that would make Danny Hurley jump right now. You never know... but the thing is, the Hurley family has shown time and time again that they're not necessarily motivated by money. Bob SR. could have left plenty of times over the years... a lot of that loyalty mindset exists in Danny... he coached HS for about 10 years and only made the jump to college because his wife essentially gave him the green light since she could see the need for competition burning within him, lol. He said Coach K told him in his final year at URI that he had to make a move now and he said that's what prompted him to being open to a change I believe. The only way I could see it making sense for him is if UConn becomes so diminished in conference re-alignments that he feels he can no longer be competitive on a national level (I don't see that happening personally). Even then, I think Hurley is the kind who would take pride in staying put and "beating the odds" despite conference challenges. I also think from an ego perspective, he'd love to be the indisputable top dog over Calhoun, but that's entirely my own speculation... he's just a maniac like that and I think he fits UConn like a glove.

I'm also blocked... he didn't like being called NGW on Twitter Edit: He also was hilariously tweeting some random guy's profile picture at me, because he was convinced I was that person's burner account... because that's definitely not something he'd do himself... and no way multiple people could take issue with what he states as if it's so certain. His behavior legitimately concerns me, tbh

Those are all good points/true. But doesn't negate that, going by last year as a guide, 70% of the portal is already in it. The benefit of being prepared for and engaging in the portal as early as possible, I'd think, would be to get an inside lane on the best prospects you think you can get. Yes, there will likely be some studs joining further down the line. But within that 70% that's already open for recruitment, I'd think there's at least one guard who would be a good fit that we'd be able to prioritize and land early in the portal. If teams still currently playing can do it, why can't we? Slow playing Walker is something I actually agree with, but if he's a back up plan, why are we spending time on him right now when we have starting slots to fill? The staff's record of evaluating talent on the roster/in the portal this past season does not inspire confidence. Having a voluptuous war chest of NIL and a head start in the portal - where we supposedly have better connections than last year - I don't think it's unreasonable to want/expect a high quality guard commitment soon. Suppose we will have to see how things look after the dead period

Yep. We skipped the tournaments to get a head start on the portal. Better connections this time around, they said. Huge payroll we can outspend others. "Our targets are still in the tournament" (there's now 4 schools in the NCAAT + the NIT). Sure some really good players may hit the portal late. We've got what, 5 or 6 spots to fill? Going off last year as a guide, 70% of the portal is likely already in it. We should have a head start on evaluating, making contact, getting visits, etc. Instead before the no contact period, we've got three cancelled visits (Leland Walker, BHH, and Hickman)... sure for various reasons, like Hickman being sick. But at the end of the day they've got to get it done. Other schools are managing to walk and chew gum at the same time. It's now April 1. Let's hope we get a guard soon.

...... Could just be a VA connection between him and XJ. Or something else.

I fall firmly into 4, but could also see a modified #3 - "not filling a lot of what need, but good enough to add to the roster as it stands right now"

Is TJ Power a rim protector? I have a hard time imagining Jeremy Roach leaving Duke but would be happy to be wrong.

FWIW I think we can be fairly sure Tuckers deal is 700-750kish. That was what we were paying McNeeley per Trilly Donovan and seems to be the going rate for 5 star HS players this cycle. No idea what the portal deals look like.

Respectfully... get this staff out of here. Watching Purdue celebrate a final four while we're on the couch and fans are debating how unsuccessful or not our recruiting is right now = vomit inducing

No Walker visit is fine by me... not getting to a full 13 scholarships, is not. If they don't get to 12, that should be unacceptable... total malpractice in back to back years. They've got to get it right this time around... please help us basketball gods

Just searching for reasons to believe they'll lose lol. I'm concerned about Bama getting hot and upsetting UConn. But if it ends up being UConn vs Purdue, I'm pretty confident UConn will run away with it. Becoming a huge Huskies fan for the next 8 days

NC State has 4 graduates and a senior in the starting lineup... I like that. Lol

Not a strong showing from the stripes in todays elite 8 games IMO.

Burns vs Edey could be fun I guess...

Not really related to this conversation but I regret to report Daniel Jacobson, the 7 footer they have signed coming in next year, is really REALLY good... We may hate his era as much as Edey by the end of it, though they do have very different play styles

Sorry if I missed it but have we had anyone on campus this past weekend?

Even without it, I think Clingan and Johnson surprise with their ability to hold their own. Not necessarily win head to head or "stop" him a ton but slow him down just a little and make their own impact on offense. I also think Hurley coming off a title and being the maniac he is on the sidelines, will get his way more than a lot of other coaches do. Not all of the time... but more often. It could be a competitive game but at the end of the day I think UConn has a way better team / supporting cast and trust Hurleys ability to scheme a good gameplan/make adjustments. I mean they absolutely destroyed B10 tournament champs Illinois while Purdue just slipped past Tennessee. Painter is good too but I just think their roster makes them way more one dimensional. Never say never, but my gut feel (which could and has been wrong plenty before) is the final score wouldn't be particularly close in the end, even if it is competitive for 20-30 minutes.

Edey won't get away with the same amount of stuff with Clingan on him, I don't think Hurley will allow it... maybe I'm giving him too much credit though. I do think Samson Johnson could have a surprisingly good day, maybe the x-factor IMO. I trust Hurley and staff to scheme for Purdue just fine, assuming Bama doesn't get hot... which definitely could happen. And no guarantee PU gets by their next opponent either. In a way, it will be sweeter if they play for the title and lose to UConn so they have no excuses about this year. Just losing to a better team.

They look like they're a pick up team in the half court

Please surprise me Rick Barnes.