John Fanta
College basketball broadcasters and reporters
Dan Hurley showed up at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, fresh off his “Good Morning America” set in Times Square, as the media liability car wash continued throughout the day.
When you win 12 straight NCAA Tournament games by a total of 260 points, win back-to-back national championships, and become the king of the sport, that’s life at the pinnacle of college basketball.
But Hurley, with his unconventional haircut, sharp gray suit, black leather shoes and socks that read “Certified as a pain in the butt,” was spotted in front of a media scrum of dozens of reporters. He never avoided what he wanted. know:
How about a three-peat?
“That’s the elephant in the room,” Hurley said of the feat achieved only by John Wooden and his legendary UCLA team, which won seven straight games from 1967-73. “We can’t walk away from this opportunity. If we don’t win three games in a row, what are people going to say? We only won two games in a row, and that sucks as a coach? But we understand the magnitude of this problem. ” This has to be a UConn champion to be remembered and celebrated. ”
Hurley is by no means satisfied with his program’s success over the past two seasons. In fact, listening to Hurley and his players, it’s easy to see that his approach to the new season has only intensified.
“If he’s changed, he’s gotten a little crazy,” Huskies point guard Hassan Diarra said of Hurley.
Fellow starter Alex Karaban, a preseason All-Big East selection, noted that Hurley’s strength and desire to win have reached new peaks this offseason.
“Hurley really wants another championship, but he’s coaching us the same way he always has,” Karavan said. “That intensity has always been there. Now it’s up to another level.”
At this time last season, the Huskies were picked third in the Big East preseason coaches poll behind Marquette and Creighton. The program responded strongly to conference regular season and tournament honors. Big East coaches couldn’t have made the same mistake two years in a row. That’s because UW was unanimously voted No. 1 in this year’s poll, receiving all 10 first-place votes and 100 points from the league’s head coaches. You are not allowed to vote for your own team.
Hurley may be easy to get caught up in the preseason hype. But instead, he focused on his players Wednesday, focusing on Karaban’s failure to be recognized as an Associated Press preseason All-American.
“Alex does a great job of drawing attention to himself,” said Hurley, a junior who has played a key role in the Huskies’ 68-11 record over the past two seasons and is touted as the team’s star player. He talked about stars. Leader for this year. “Perhaps if he had done more TikTok, he would have solidified his spot on the All-American team. We value the wrong things in sports. We don’t value champions, but maybe that’s a social issue.”
Karavan plans to use his exclusion from the All-America first team as a source of motivation.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been looked down upon for everything,” said Karavan, who averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last year. “But at the same time, I want to keep proving everyone wrong. That’s what’s going to happen this year.”
It’s a direct expression of what Hurley calls a “sick, morbid, obsessive” desire to win a third straight championship.
But Hurley won’t find much motivation from other Big East programs this season. That’s because the mutual respect for the University Con program among his fellow coaches couldn’t be higher. And what happened after the Huskies defeated Purdue 75-60 last April, ending a run of six straight championships averaging at least 23 points per game?
“I think they’re way ahead of us right now, and that’s not our goal,” St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino said of UW. “Comparing programs alone won’t get you there.”
Outside comparisons persist in the rivalry-filled Big East, but one thing was certain Wednesday: UW is at the top of the Big East and of college basketball.
True to his socks, Hurley is enjoying running a program that has been a total pain in the ass for all of the Huskies’ opponents the past two seasons.
That’s why Harley is back in Storrs, Conn., for another year of golden history.
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, including calling games on FS1, serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network and providing commentary on the Field of 68 Media Network. please follow him @johnfanta.
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